Friday, October 31, 2025

Mastering Medicare

Nonfiction

Mastering Medicare: 65 Things Everyone Should Know Before Age 65 is the no-nonsense survival guide to Medicare—written by a nationally recognized healthcare leader with over three decades of frontline experience.

Toil and Trouble - week blast

Romantic Horror Anthology

Date Published: 09-22-2025

Publisher: DCL Publications

The brew is hot and bubbling over with romance and terror in this twistedly beautiful anthology that welcomes the darkness of horror and the temptation of love's veiled promises. Six remarkable tales from six incredible authors fill this book of dark shadows and ancient whispers.

Toil and Trouble

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Accidental Paradise

Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?

To Eternity and Back

Nonfiction

Date Published: June 24, 2025

Publisher: BlackBox

The Multiverse comprises different realms of reality as apparent in its map.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Elizabeth Ann O'Handley will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A Gilded City Series

In the Hands of Women, (June 2023) takes the reader on an electrifying ride through the dawn of the 20th century, delving into the restrictive state of women’s rights, backroom abortions, the plight of immigrants to the Lower East Side of NYC and the prison system at Blackwell’s Island, all through the voice of a young O

Threadbare, (June 2024) is a historical novel written as a tribute to Jane Rubin’s great-grandmother, Mathilda (Tillie), who died from a ‘woman’s disease’ in the early years of the twentieth century. It explores the ultra-conservative late Victorian era through a Jewish female character living among the poor, struggling to build a garment company and pushing back against antisemitic and misogynistic values dominating the time. She acquired wealth, only to have life upended by a cruel, unexpected challenge.

Over There (June 2025) brings four family members of Threadbare and In the Hands of Women, all doctors and nurses, into The Great War, each facing down authentic challenges of the period. Meticulously researched and crafted on four stages, the reader experiences the jarring reality of trench warfare, magnificent rise of the American Hospital in Paris, unimagined medical innovations owed to the dedication of healthcare workers, and the universal, frightening impact war has on children.

read an excerpt...

I glanced at Nurse Hammond. Her head was bent to the wood floor, hands squeezed so tightly, I could see the white in her knuckles. The navy muslin dress worn beneath her white apron matched the dark circles under her eyes. I held back from the pack of students as they left the ward.

Nurse Hammond was at the end of her night shift, little time left to hear the full story.

“Nurse, were you in delivery during the twins’ births?” I whispered.

“I was.” She straightened her back, darting her eyes to the nursery.

I took a step closer to her. “Did anything unusual happen?”

After a lengthy pause, she rubbed her fingers, eyes downcast.

“Nurse Hammond, what happened?” I persisted.

“You know Adams, always impatient.” She turned her eyes from the floor then to mine. “He couldn’t stand the mother’s screaming and knocked her out cold with ether. Then he went in deep with the forceps, taking forever. I think he would have had more luck if he kept her awake and changed her position.” She took in a sharp breath. “But who am I to say? You can’t utter a word. I need my job. I’ve four children at home.”

I nodded, understanding. “You can trust me. Go home and get some rest.” I scurried down the hall to the nursery.

“Where’ve you been, Isaacson?” Dr. Adams barked as I walked through the doorway.

“My apology doctor, lavatory.”

Dr. Adams crossed his arms on his chest, haughtily shaking his head at the ring of men standing around the twins’ bassinettes. “See there, gentlemen? That’s what happens when women are allowed into the profession. Always needing to fix their hair.”

Blood shot to my face. How long would he get away with his negligence? I stifled my annoyance, while studying the infants. The smaller baby’s hand began to tremor.

about Jane Loeb Rubin...

Author, Jane Loeb Rubin has won numerous awards including the Historical Novel Society's First Chapters short list for Over There, released May, 2025 by Level Best Books. She will be speaking at numerous Florida events as listed on her website.

With an extensive healthcare background Ms. Rubin began writing in 2009 after a serious cancer diagnosis. She now has a four-book deal with Level Best Books (Threadbare-2024, In the Hands of Women-2023, Over There-2025, The Hat Trick-2026), following the fictional life of her great-grandmother’s family.

Threadbare, (June 2024) is a historical novel written as a tribute to Jane Rubin’s great-grandmother,
Mathilda (Tillie), who died from a ‘woman’s disease’ in the early years of the twentieth century. It explores the ultra-conservative late Victorian era through a Jewish female character living among the poor, struggling to build a garment company and pushing back against antisemitic and misogynistic values dominating the time. She acquired wealth, only to have life upended by a cruel, unexpected challenge.

The Hat Trick, Ms. Rubin’s work in process (May 2026) transports her family characters into the mid-1920’s in the years before the Borscht Belt in Sullivan County, NY.

Ms. Rubin, a graduate of the University of Michigan (BS, MS) and Washington University (MBA), retired from a 30-year career as a healthcare executive to begin writing full-time. She lives with her husband, David, an attorney, in Northern New Jersey. Between them, they have five adult children and seven grandchildren. Ms. Rubin’s work is available at all on-line retailers, Indigo Books, select Barnes and Noble Book stores and upon request from Level Best Books.

Readers Favorite Review: http://www.readersfavorite.com/book-review/over-there

Website: http://www.janeloebrubin.com

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

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

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Early Snow

Mystery

Date Published: 11-15-2025

The Wheels on the Stroller - Book Tour

Children's Book

Date Published: 2025

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing

Illustrator: Brian Dumm

Old Books and Faded Dreams

Historical Fiction

Date Published: September 14, 2025

Playing Rough

Love. Lies. And the Road to Redemption.

After five months in rehab, Trevor McNaughton is finally sober—and ready to rebuild his life with Gina, the woman who never stopped believing in him. A road trip is meant to be their fresh start, but their plans are quickly derailed when their former publicist, Paul Ryan, emerges with explosive claims: an affair with Gina, dark secrets about their band Perfection, and vicious speculation about their marriage.

Predestined

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel Byrne will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Retirees - Book Tour

Retirement has never felt so deadly

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: January 5, 2026

Publisher: Orrplace Press

Welcome to the idyllic yet eccentric retirement community of The Ocean’s Edge—where retirement has never felt so deadly.

Revenge Served Royal

Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Celeste Connally, and I really enjoyed it. Who wouldn’t enjoy a type of Regency setting without the slurpy romantic tinge in it? It had a baking contest and most fun of all in my opinion, it had a certain amount of humor, even sarcasm.

Excellent read. I’ll sure look for more.

Fire

Children’s Books → Health, Safety & Daily Life

Date Published: September 9, 2025

Fire can feel scary — but with Rick and Dan, children discover safety without fear.

Rick and Dan are just ordinary boys — but with them and their friends, learning about fire safety becomes an exciting and important adventure!

In this beautifully illustrated children's book, kids will learn the most important fire safety rules in a fun and engaging way. From knowing when to call 911 to how to safely exit a building during a fire, “Fire Safety Basics” helps children build confidence and stay calm — without fear or panic.

What makes this book special:

* Designed for kids ages 3–8

* Gentle, hand-drawn illustrations on every page

* Covers real-life fire safety tips in a playful, reassuring way

* Great for early learners, preschoolers, and elementary students

* Perfect for reading at home or in classrooms

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this book is a warm, thoughtful tool to introduce children to fire safety in a way they’ll understand — and remember.

About the Author

Born in the heart of Siberia, Russia, she pursued her passion for storytelling with a degree in Journalism. A mother of two, she blends life experience with creativity, crafting stories that inspire and guide children in meaningful ways.

Contact Links

Purchase Link

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

What Don't I Like! AHA!!!

I am 100% sure I am going to offend someone. I'm going to apologize because I am a retired librarian and the most important thing about being a librarian is that people must always be allowed to read what they want and must never be judged.

But now, I'm gonna say what I don't like!

My "Popular or Famous Books I Don't Plan on Reading" are mostly genres, but there are a few specific books.

Mostly I don't like romance but I really, really don't like silly stupid romance books. and I HATE vampire books. So there, I said it. And...I'm not gonna read these even though thousands of people have.

Here are a few of those titles: