It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading?“. hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

A birthday supper, another fun trip to Goodwill (50% sale!) and lots of reading. A good week for sure – even with the rain.

I read 6 books this week: 2 contemporary romance. an historical fiction, a fiction, a new adult romance and a non-fiction.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. A powerful book, with a dual timeline, with dual narrators. Loved it.

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover. This is book 2 of the Slammed series, a new adult romance that I really enjoyed.

One Last Letter from Greece by Emma Cowell. After her mother dies, Sophie heads to Greece – a lovely romance in a lovely setting.

The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis. So enjoyed this dual timeline novel,

Kissing Galileo by Penny Reid. A quick, fun romance.

Grief is Love by Marissa Renee Lee. A valuable resource for dealing with grief. I found it very helpful.

What I am Reading Now

The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

What I am Reading Next

Keep it Moving by Twyla Tharp

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “Hidden Away at Promise Lodge” by Charlotte Hubbard

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Charlotte Hubbard’s Christian romance Hidden Away at Promise Lodge , which I read and am now reviewing.

Be sure to check the giveaway at the end of the post!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Book 7 in the Promise Lodge series by Charlotte Hubbard offers another wonderfully inviting Amish romance. The themes of community, faith, love, friendship are all woven through the book.

We have a closer look at the possible romances of two widows, Sylvia and Irene and two bachelors, Mose and Dale. Both widows are older than their respective partners and that adds an interesting twist.

It is the tornado though, that brings everyone in the community together, to repair and restore the destroyed buildings. Theirs is a true faith community, one that uplifts and cares about every member. It was wonderful indeed to see them use their time and talents to fix the damaged businesses.

Faith and prayer in this Amish community are highlighted throughout and give strength especially to Mose and Sylvia as she fights for her life.

I highly recommend this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions of the two couples and how their romances developed. (5/5*)

BLURB:

Returning to the fan-favorite world of the closeknit Amish community of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting of her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, Charlotte Hubbard continues to delight readers with uplifting tales of faith, family, and the blessings and happiness of true love and caring partnership.

There are no secrets among Missouri’s Amish community of Promise Lodge, as they share their joys, burdens, and blessings. But two visitors with a hidden agenda bring some surprising revelations—and unexpected saving graces…

When Karen Mercer and Andi Swann come to Promise Lodge for a week’s stay, the Kuhn sisters quickly detect the guests are not Plain folk, despite their kapps and homemade dresses. Entranced by the idyllic Amish lifestyle they’ve read about in romance novels, the visitors have gone undercover to revisit the place that was once the church camp where they spent happy summers. They mean no harm—but when the truth is uncovered, their deception has an intriguing impact on the faithful, hard-working community . . .

Meanwhile, amid bustling preparations for a spring wedding, a shy horse trainer is encouraged to share his colorful world with a newcomer awaiting a miracle . . . while the widowed baker of luscious Promise Lodge Pies sees a long-time friendship in a romantic new light. And in the wake of a destructive storm, Karen and Andi’s insider knowledge of the grounds may offer the safe passage they all need to renew and rebuild—stronger than ever . . .

EXCERPT:

“Look at how this place has changed since we went to church camp here,” Andi remarked as they stood at the entry to Promise Lodge. “This must be a new metal entryway sign, because I don’t remember it having sunflowers and wheat sheaves, do you? And this plot to the left was a mowed pasture for horseback riding, and now it’s planted in green beans and tomatoes—”

“Probably to be sold at this produce stand,” Karen said, nodding toward the wooden structure at the roadside. “And look at all the houses! And there’s a tiny home with a dock on the far side of Rainbow Lake. How cool is that?”

“The old timbered lodge and the cabins look just the same as I remember them,” Andi said wistfully. “Except the Amish here have obviously done a lot of painting—and that looks like a new roof. The summers we spent here as campers and counselors were some of the best times of my life.”

“Yeah, they were.” Karen pointed toward a large white barn. “And look at those adorable black and white cows! Everything looks too neat and perfect to be real—”

“But what about us?” Andi interrupted, her smile falling a notch. “Do we look authentic? We’re wearing these calf-length dresses we made and the kapps we ordered from a store in Lancaster County—and we’ve read hundreds of Amish novels—but what if they call us out as fakes? What if they make us confess in front of everybody at church and then—”

“They can’t do that, silly!” Karen reminded her with a chuckle. “We’re just taking a little trip down memory lane while we live the Amish life instead of just reading about it. If we stick to our script and imitate the way these folks do things, we’ll be fine, right?”

Andi sighed as though she wasn’t too sure about that. “But we made our phone reservation request and sent our money as though we were Plain, and the Amish think it’s a sin to lie. Maybe we should’ve—”

“But we didn’t,” Karen pointed out quickly. Her pulse was pounding with anticipation as she picked up the old-fashioned suitcase she’d bought at a thrift store. “If we follow our plans, we won’t have any problems. We’re just a couple of Amish maidels who’ve come to Promise Lodge for a week to check it out because we read about it in the Budget newspaper—which we did. Let’s walk to the lodge before you get cold feet and back out on me.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and their Border collie, Vera.

CharlotteHubbard.com

Facebook: Facebook    http://www.Facebook.com/Charlotte.Hubbard1

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Away-at-Promise-Lodge-ebook/dp/B0BKTY94N1/ref=sr_1_1

B/N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-away-at-promise-lodge-charlotte-hubbard/1142563585

https://www.christianbook.com/hidden-away-at-promise-lodge/charlotte-hubbard/9781420154412/pd/0154412

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Hidden-Away-Promise-Lodge/Charlotte-Hubbard/9781420154412

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to check in at all the stops along the blog tour for more c hances to win!

July 24:
1: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
2: Kenyan Poet
3: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
4: Sandra’s Book Club
5: Westveil Publishing
6: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
7: Hope. Dreams. LIfe… Love
8: Vickie’s Kitchen and Garden

July 25:
1: The Avid Reader
2: Literary Gold
3: Splashes of Joy
4: Welcome to My World of Dreams
5: Our Town Book Reviews
6: Cats in the Cradle Blog
7: Girl with Pen

July 26:
1: Novels Alive review
2: Gina Rae Mitchell review
3: Fabulous and Brunette
4: Hearts & Scribbles
5: Dawn’s Reading Nook
6: Long and Short Reviews
7: Let me tell you a story

July 27:
1: Punya Reviews…
2: Straight from the Library
3: Country Mamas With Kids
4: Christine Young
5: The Faerie Review
6: The Obsessed Reader
7: Moonlight Compass Books

July 28:
1: Beverley A Baird review
2: Southern Gal Loves to Read review
3: Joanne Guidoccio
4: It’s Raining Books
5: travel the ages
6: So Many Books
7: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews

Goddess Fish Blog Tour and Giveaway for “One Polar Bear” by Crystal Beach

 I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for Crystal Beach’s children’s book, One Polar Bear, which I read and am now reviewing.

Check at the end for the giveaway!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Being Canadian, this was such an especially appealing picture book, as it highlights many of Canada’s Arctic animals. It is also a fun counting book for young children, with colourful pictures . On each page was a special phrase of welcome in other languages – a very unique touch. This would be an interesting challenge for parent and child to explore the diversity of language and people.

The themes of friendship and diversity are brought out so well in the book. From the colourful spreads, the sweet story of friends helping their sick friend, to the rhyming language, this book has much to offer young children.

I highly recommend this book. How enjoyable to snuggle together and read this and discuss the animals and have a little math lesson as well.

BLURB:

One Polar Bear is a delightful rhyming book filled with lovable animals from the Canadian Arctic. Polar Bear is home sick and alone. His many animal friends drop by to cheer him up. This counting story celebrates individuals with a variety of abilities and disabilities, and the text helps teach the numbers one to ten. Canada is a country made up of many peoples and cultures. This book reflects this diversity by featuring the word “welcome” in different languages amongst its pages. One Polar Bear is a wonderful bedtime story and a beautiful way to educate and celebrate the differences in our world.

If you can be anything, be inclusive.

EXCERPT:

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Crystal Beach is an adoptive mother and caregiver of two children who have complex medical needs and disabilities. Her children are often represented in her work as strong, caring individuals with special gifts and powers. Her writing projects are intended to ensure financial support for her children’s future care.

Crystal has a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her focus is in children’s literature, publishing and journalism. She has had many careers including ten years as a MedA with the Canadian Naval Reserve, training as an EMT and continued studies in developmental psychology.

Her volunteer work has included Girl Guides of Canada and wildlife rescue and rehab.

She and her family live in Regina, Saskatchewan in a simple little house with two giant support dogs.

https://www.facebook.com/crystalbeachauthor

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Crystal Beach will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading?“  hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

It ended up being a quiet week as my hubby needed to take care. At least the headaches stopped and he is doing ok. A scare for sure – most likely a result of low blood pressure, which because of dialysis remains low. But it also meant I got to read more and we spent more time together too.

I read 6 books this week: 3 contemporary romance3, a woman’s fiction. an historical fiction and a thriller.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Woman by Lisa See.. So enjoyed this historical fiction, another wonderful book by See, this from 15th century China.

2 by Devney Perry

The Birthday List, which was a reread. It was as good as the first time I read it.

The Dandelion Diary. Another great read, this tho a novella.

A Postcard from Paris by . This was an enjoyable epistolary.

Who’s the Daddy by Tarryn Quinn. A quick romance that I did enjoy

The One by Audrey J. Col. This was a thriller and a book I reviewed for Goddess Fish, and really enjoyed

What I am Reading Now

The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

What I am Reading Next

Keep it Moving by Twyla Tharp

Goddess Fish Blog Tour for “The One” by Audrey J. Cole

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Blog Tour for The One by Audrey J. Cole, which I read and am now reviewing.

Be sure to check at the end for the giveaway info!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

Review:

The One by Audrey J. Cole quickly drew me in and had me in suspense all the way through. This was a psychological thriller that had twists and turns throughout. Who is to be believed? Sloane? Brody? Will Ethan solve the murder?

These three characters are interesting, flawed and captivate you. Ethan and Sloane’s points of view were both fascinating reads. We see their anger, distrust, and fears laid bare.

I found this a tense read, one that I had to know the outcome – but one I wasn’t expecting. It was well worth the read for sure. I highly recommend this thriller by Audrey Cole.

BLURB:

To save their marriage, Sloane must forgive her husband’s affair. Instead, she tries a more tempting option—settling the score. But will it prove to be a deadly mistake?

ER doctor Sloane Marks is shattered when she learns her husband Ethan slept with his partner at Seattle Homicide. She considers leaving him and joining The One, having gone to college with the popular dating app’s billionaire founder, Brody Carr. But at forty-two, Sloane feels she has no choice but to forgive Ethan if she wants a chance at creating the family she never had.

Months later, Sloane bumps into Brody, who’s recently returned to Seattle. In due time, Ethan worries she’s cheating. His suspicions are confirmed when he learns the rich app founder took Sloane on a freediving excursion in the San Juan Islands. When Brody’s famous wife dies in an accident, Ethan becomes the lead investigator in her death—which he suspects wasn’t an accident at all.

Caught between a distrusting husband and a powerful billionaire who protects his secrets at all costs, Sloane is in a fight for her life. And the only way out is to take matters into her own hands.

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EXCERPT:

Sloane starts to untie her robe as she shuts the closet door behind her. Ethan presses his palm against the wall beside the doorway, fighting the urge to fling open the door and demand to know who she was talking to.

Instead, he turns and sinks onto the end of the bed. She hates him. He can see it in her eyes. And he doesn’t blame her after what he did. But the last thing he expected was for her to seek comfort in another man. Maybe he was a fool to not consider this possibility. Some detective I am if I couldn’t see this coming.

He flexes his jaw, hearing her humming from inside the closet. She says she’s forgiven him. But she hasn’t. And she won’t. Not until she can understand what it’s like to make a stupid mistake. She’s achieved so much, and without help from anyone, that she’s forgotten what it’s like to be human. Driven herself to perfection.

Lately, he’s wondered if he’d be better off with someone else. A woman with hobbies instead of an all-encompassing, high-performance profession. One who loves Christmas and children. A woman whose perfectionism doesn’t illuminate all his own flaws. But he loves Sloane. Her drive, intellect, and beauty are incomparable to anyone else. Coming so close to losing her has made him realize it more than ever. And he’s not ready to give up.

He thinks of what she told the man on the phone. I wish you could be there tonight, too.

A lot of her physician coworkers were likely attending the gala. So, who is this guy? How did they meet?

Ethan looks at the roses lying beside him. They aren’t enough. Neither is the hotel he booked tonight. Nothing will ever be enough until Sloane can grasp what it’s like to be flawed.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Audrey J. Cole is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. Before writing full time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years.

Connect with Audrey:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AudreyJCole

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/audreyjcole

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/audrey-j-cole

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@audreyjcole

Website: https://www.AUDREYJCOLE.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Audrey-J.-Cole/author/B071GFZMLT

Link to buy The One on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPPZ7N8R

Giveaway:

Audrey J. Cole will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to check out all the stops along the tour for more chances to win!

June 27: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
July 11: Sandra’s Book Club
July 11: Gina Rae Mitchell
July 18: Beverley A Baird
July 18: Novels Alive
July 25: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read

It’s Monday! What are You Reading?

It’s time once again for Kathryn’s weekly meme, “It’s Monday! What are You Reading?“  hosted at Book Date, where we share what we’re reading and have read over the past week.

Like many places, we’ve had a wee bit of rain the past week. At least I don’t have to water. Then Friday night, my hubby spent 6 hours in emerg after a nasty fall and head injury. 3 staples, and a sore head, but luckily nothing worse.

I read 7 books this week, plus 2 PBs: 1 contemporary romance, a fantasy, a woman’s fiction. a memoir, an inspirational book, a paranormal and an historical fiction.

The Garden of Lost Secrets by Kelly Bowen. So enjoyed this historical fiction, with dual timeline.

All That We Are by Mariah Stewart. Another great read by this favourite author.

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. One of my fav. fantasy reads and starting again – a good comfort read.

Make Me Blush by Marie Johnston. A new author to me and such an enjoyable read. Will be reading more by her.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. A favourite paranormal series I’ve enjoyed – another comfort read.

House Lessons by Erica Bauermeister. I’ve enjoyed her novels and this was a fascinating memoir about a house renovation that brought many lessons.

Patches of Godlight by Jan Karon. This was a daily read for a month or so, of inspirational readings. A companion book to the Mitford series.

2 PBs I really enjoyed (especially the first)

Just One Little Light by Kat Yeh illus by Isabelle Arsenault

Hap-pea All Year by Keith Baker

What I am Reading Now

The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

What I am Reading Next

Keep it Moving by Twyla Tharp

Goddess Fish Book Blast and Giveaway for “The Place Beyond Her Dreams” by Oby Aligwekwe

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Book Blast for Oby Aligwekwe’s YA novel The Place Beyond Her Dreams

Be sure to check at the end for the giveaway info!

BLURB:

2021 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner for Young Adult Fiction!

2021 Indies Book of the Year Awards Finalist for Young Adult Fiction!

2021 Best Book Awards Finalist for Young Adult Fiction!

“We are most courageous at our weakest; when we believe we have faced what we fear the most and have nothing more to lose.”

Set against the backdrop of two warring towns, Oby Aligwekwe’s Young Adult debut—told from the viewpoint of her main character—is inspired by her West African heritage, fables, and spiritual beliefs. Ona’s journey reveals the power of choice, the true source of happiness, and, most importantly, the transformation one must go through to realize and eventually occupy their purpose.

At the sudden death of her grandfather, Ona’s pain transports her to mystical Luenah—a place of infinite possibilities, free of turf wars and other ills that plague the earthly dimension she lives in. In Luenah, where her grandfather awaits her, Ona learns she is an Eri, one bestowed with unique intuitive and spiritual gifts passed down from generation-to-generation.

On her 18th birthday, she returns to Luenah and is handed a box to deposit her “exchange” for love and happiness—her greatest desires. Burdened by her quest, Ona crosses paths with danger and heartbreak as the two men that love her dearly are viciously pitted against each other. As evil looms, she learns that dreams carry a hefty price, and no one is who they seem. Now, she must unmask the villain and save the one she loves, even at the risk of losing everything she holds dear.

“Young adults and older readers will be enchanted by this fantasy’s magic, romance, and life lessons.” (Booklife by Publishers Weekly)

EXCERPT

As my mind went around in circles pondering the purpose of their visit, as I’d become accustomed to, I caught a glimpse of the future—a small flash of Okem’s face staring intently at me. Before I could make any sense of what I’d seen, and figure out if it was good, bad, or completely inconsequential, my grandfather called me back to earth. Okem had taken the seat next to the couple and proceeded to watch me. I followed his gaze and noticed he’d been admiring the sparkly red shoes my grandfather got me the last time he visited London. “Dorothy’s shoes,” Papa had called them. They reminded him of the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

“Hello,” I said, grinning and waving my hand slowly when Okem looked up and gave me a faint smile.

“Hi,” he responded, leaning uncomfortably into his seat and locking his ankles.

One look at his clothes told me he was of a lower status. His intonation didn’t help matters. Before I got the chance to complete my assessment, my grandfather announced, “It’s concluded. Okem will stay with us. We’ll take care of him like our own. There’s no need to worry. He’ll go to school with all the other kids in the town, and in the future, he may even become a doctor and make you proud.”

Hearing my grandfather tell total strangers that their son would come to our house and distort the dynamics I’d only just become accustomed to, created the tightest feeling in the pit of my stomach. I remember wondering why my grandfather had not forewarned me.

Right then, I heard my grandmother calling.

“Ona…Ona.”

I excused myself and left the room. After a few steps, the image I’d seen earlier came back to me.

“Grandma,” I called, taking a second to stare at her delicately aging face. I admired the way the wrinkles formed a crescent around her mouth.

“Yes?” she answered, raising her brows.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Oby Aligwekwe is the award-winning author of Nfudu, Hazel House, and The Place Beyond Her Dreams—her third novel and Young Adult debut. In 2021, The Place Beyond Her Dreams won the National Indie Excellence Awards in the Young Adult Fiction Category.

When Oby is not working on her day job or whipping up stories, she enjoys traveling to exotic locations and bringing pieces of her travel with her. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her family and supports her community through her charity Éclat Beginnings.

Newsletter signup: https://www.obyaligwekwe.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obyaligwekweauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/obyaligwekwe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obyaligwekwe/

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/The-Place-Beyond-Her-Dreams/dp/B0C5BN8RCG/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684294212&sr=1-1

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Place-Beyond-Her-Dreams-Audiobook/B0C5BN2CW2?qid=1684294543&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=TM4SGC4D48MEE8ACFM9N&pageLoadId=m94vCe08PzgnG7La&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Be sure to follow the tour for more chances to win a $50 Amazon card! Check here

Book Blast and Review for “One Pale Reflection” by Tycho Dwelis

 I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Book Blast for Tycho Dwelis’s YA fantasy One pale Reflection, which I read and am now reviewing.

Be sure to check at the end for the guest post and giveaway info!

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

Brenden and his sister Lettie are forced to live with Mr. O’Brien, but it is not long before Brenden is drawn into majick. Ms. Dwelis has created a fascinating fantasy world, that is accessed through a mirror.

There is adventure and misadventures, illusions and evil, black and white majick. It makes for an enjoyable, stirring read, especially for young readers.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Brenden and Mr. O’Brien, and the action. This fantasy is well worth the read.

Book BLURB:

Brenden McCoy and his sister, Lettie, have just lost their parents and are going to live with a distant relative in Ireland. They don’t know him, don’t like him, and – even weirder – strange things keep happening around their new caregiver’s house.

Meanwhile, in a strange world beyond a mirror, a mercenary has been sent by his king to hunt down and kill a fugitive, a powerful and immortal wizard. Time is not on his side.

Athos the Key Thief builds an army, and soon everyone will be just another Thrall.

Will Brenden be able to solve the mystery beyond the mirror, find the truth behind his parents’ disappearance, and put to rest someone who cannot die?

Welcome to MirrorWorld.

Excerpt:

“I’ll be back for you.” Black Knife stooped to peck Ivy on the cheek and turned toward the stairs, leaving Benny and Ivy and their conversation about the weather. As he trudged up the stairs back to the main hall, Black Knife stepped as though his boots were made of lead. He absolutely loathed Satyrion.

Every month or so, she used him as a rodent for her dark experiments. Athos allowed it readily, eager to unlock more magickal secrets. His goal remained, as ever, to make Black Knife the perfect candidate for second in command. He wanted Black Knife to be like him, immune to magickal damage, if possible, and filled with dark secrets. Black Knife could almost see in the dark, and while he could not do any spell-based magick, like his master, he could call upon the energy within him to create flame.

This flame was particularly useful for burning everything someone had to the ground.

Black Knife snapped as he ascended the stairs, a spark igniting on his fingertips, reminding him of everything Satyrion had done to him. She had given him the power of fire. The process had been painful, involving the injection of potions and enchanted tinctures into his blood, but he now had the ability to call fire forth to his hands. He hated it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I’m Tycho (I also use the pen name Cassidy), and I love storytelling! I’m incredibly passionate about writing, art, and anything that allows me to create my own worlds. My goal is to write dreamy fiction for all ages that is unique, inspiring, and imaginative. I like to write about themes that include coming of age, magic realism, identity, relationships, and bullying. My books are intended for readers ages eight to twenty-five, and are meant to connect the world of the fantastical to everyday life.

I currently live in Colorado and have my MA in Publishing.

Links:

Website: tychodorian.com

Linktree (includes all of my newsletter, social media, and projects): https://linktr.ee/tychodorian

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRKUVUyS/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tychodorian

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tycho_dorian

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tycho_dorian

Giveaway info

Tycho Dwelis will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC and a signed print copy of the book (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to check all stops along the blog tour for more chances to win.

1: Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
2: Beverley A Baird review
3:  Rogue’s Angels
4: Fabulous and Brunette
5: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
6: Indie Author Book Reviews
7: It’s Raining Books
8: Kenyan Poet
9: Kit ‘n Kabookle
10: Literary Gold
11: Long and Short Reviews
12: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
13: Our Town Book Reviews
14: Straight from the Library
15: Sybrina’s Book Blog
16: The Avid Reader
17: Welcome to My World of Dreams
18: Books in the Hall
19: The Faerie Review
20: Boys’ Mom Reads!
21: The TBR Pile
22: Candlelight Reading
23: Sapphyria’s Books
24: Author C.A.Milson
25: Country Mamas With Kids
26: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
27: Coffee and Wander Book Reviews
28: Westveil Publishing
29: Let me tell you a story
30: Cats in the Cradle Blog

31: Inkspired

32: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’

33: The Obsessed Reader

34: Books Blog

35: Books all things paranormal and romance

36: Girl with Pen

Free Verse Friday for July – HOT!

Free Verse Friday is our year long poetry practice. On the first Friday of each month, Linda and I (and anyone else who joins in) will be writing a poem based on the theme of the month along with the photo taken relating to that theme or that inspired the poem.  I am choosing to write 30 word poems.

This month’s theme is “HOT”- so appropriate, as just like in the US. we are experiencing record breaking heat. We have also had wildfires all over Canada, .many uncontrolled and affecting the weather and air quality.

As I watched the weather report today, I jotted down words re4lating to hot/heat. In Canada our temperatures are measured in Celsius – so 29 is 84 in F and 35 is 95 F.

Here is the 30 word poem I created from my brainstorming.

HOT!!

29 today

Hot!

Humidex – 36+

Hotter!

Record breaking!

Another summer heatwave

Dangerous to man and beast

Heat advisories

Severe storms, rain, hail

Sunburns, heatstroke

Stay indoors

Keep cool

Hydrate!

Thought I’d share my process. I use a small journal – the left side for my brainstorming, trial phrases and then the written poem on the right. Then there is still editing as I ensure I have 30 words. A fun practice.

Be sure to check out Linda’s poem here.

Be sure to check out poets who have joined in the creative fun!

Check Cheriee Weichel’s here.

We’d love for you to participate as well. Add a link (or your poem) in the comments.

Our next poems will appear Friday August 4th. The theme is: VACATION.

Here are the topics for the next two months:
August-vacation
September-autumn

June One Word Check-In

We are mid way through 2023 and Lisa of Lisa Notes, asks us to check-in with our One Word – is it still working for us?

How do you answer these questions at this halfway point?

1. Why did I choose this word?

Back in December I was searching for a word that would help me to grow, to do more. I went through a long list pf possible words. But it ws “Stretch” that I finally settled on – both for physical and spiritual reasons. In January, my first One Word post detailed what I hoped for 2023 (check here)

As I said in January at our first che k-in: “So – stretch, grow, be fearless, get uncomfortable.”

2. Why do (or don’t) I want to continue with this word in the second half of 2023?

I haven’t stretched far enough – both in my knee which after a year since replacement, still isn’t 100%, I have also not stretched in my writing or my art. And so, I want to continue to pursue all these things, to stretch myself to achieve and do more.