Rj's Adventures in Temecula

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Legre Zigre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Garbage In, Faster

 

Why AI Needs Conversation Architects

 

Business, Nonfiction

Date Published: April 19, 2026

Tilly and the Wisdom Trials

 

Children’s Fantasy Adventure, Educational Fiction / Learning Adventure,

Date Published: February 27, 2026

WORD UP!

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Howell 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.

Your Joyful Years

 

Empowering good health and happiness beyond 50

Self help, Women Health

Date Published: 20 March 2026

“An uplifting and empowering guide to later life that blends lived experience with science and practical wisdom, encouraging us not merely to age, but to thrive. I read this book as a middle-aged man and loved it … it is beautifully reassuring, humane, and optimistic.”

— Professor Chris van Tulleken, Clinician, Academic, TV Presenter, UK

Bloomers on Pikes Peak

 

Children's Historical

Date Published: 10-21-2024

Publisher: Solander Press

Unexpected Altars

 

Christian Devotional, Inspirational Personal Testimonies

Date Published: 11-15-2025

Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Everyday moments become sacred altars where God meets you.

Do you sometimes wish you could hear from God? Do you feel like you are too insignificant for Him to care about your daily battles with loneliness, grief, change, and doubts?

God talks to each of us – from the young husband and father who accidentally torched his home, to the claustrophobic pastor making her way through a historic tunnel in Israel, to the mystery author having a close call with a stink bug.

God can speak to us through that soft voice inside your head; or the perfect words for your circumstance uttered on Sunday morning; or He can come to you in a powerful revelation.

Turn your doubts into divine encounters. Discover how God is speaking to you today through these 101 inspirational faith stories. These stories will transform your doubts into powerful encounters with God’s grace, guiding you to find Him in unexpected places.

UNEXPECTED ALTARS is a collection of stories of faith from real people, just like you, who have experienced God’s grace and presence in their lives. Their authors pray that this Christian devotional will inspire your daily spiritual life. Each story is a powerful reminder that God meets us right where we are—building altars of worship in the ordinary and the extraordinary. Perfect for daily devotion, small group discussion, or personal encouragement.

Start your journey to find God in the unexpected! Order UNEXPECTED ALTARS today!

Read an excerpt...

The Hardest Climb

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail....

Isaiah 32:2

Growing up, my family had the opportunity to visit Israel a few times. On my first trip, we had heard about a waterfall at En Gedi, the desert oasis where King David hid from Saul. Our trusted tour guide started our group on the right path and then left us to find our own way. It was summer, and the sun was intense. After barely five minutes, I was already feeling desperate for some ice water; the lukewarm bottle I carried wasn’t cutting it.

Shortly into the hike, we encountered a man coming down the trail toward us. His face flushed, he looked hot and worn out. As he passed he said, “Don’t waste your time, it’s not worth it.” We paused, discouraged. We’d heard that the waterfall was beautiful, but this new account made us doubt. Was it worth further misery? The unanimous decision was to keep going. We resumed our arduous and uncertain trek.

Somewhere along the trail, the trees that initially served as a canopy for us disappeared. The sky was pure blue and gave the sun’s rays a clear shot. The heat became more extreme and the “path” soon turned to dusty, stone “steps”. Occasionally, we got off track and had to retrace our steps to find where we had gone wrong. I felt somewhat lost in the desert and wondered how long until we reached the end and if I’d have enough strength.

Finally, exhausted, we found the oasis. It was located in a protective rock cove and covered in vegetation. As I descended the path down into the cove, just seeing the water splashing off the green foliage made me feel cooler…or maybe the mist drifting through the air helped. We took off our shoes and waded into the pool. The hot desert we had just endured was a stark contrast to the cold, refreshing relief which now surrounded us.

Had we turned around any sooner, our efforts would have felt pointless. Had it been a cool day and an easy climb, we may not have appreciated God’s beauty as much as we did. We could have missed what became one of my favorite experiences of the trip. There are several small waterfalls along the way up, and our conclusion was that the stranger must have given up before having reached the waterfall.

As we headed back, we passed others in search of the oasis. They looked hot and weary. We simply advised, “Keep going, it’s absolutely worth it!”

Father, there are times in life when discouragement weighs us down, slowing or even stopping our progress. Help us encourage one another and build each other up. In whatever difficult trials and challenges we are experiencing, help us to not give up but instead remember that the best view comes after the hardest climb. Amen.

Sheerah Allison

 

UNEXPECTED ALTARS: MEETING GOD IN EVERYDAY MOMENTS is an anthology written by multiple authors, edited by JoAnne Alexander, and published by Lauren Carr for Oakland Community Church, a non-denominational church located in Charles Town, West Virginia.

All royalties from this devotional book will be donated to the building fund for Oakland Community Church's new building. Oakland's goal is to design a biophilic building that takes advantage of the beauty of our Jefferson County location.

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My Friends and I Spot series

 

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Early Snow

 

Mystery

Date Published: February 18, 2026

Narrator: Greg O'Donahue

Run time: 5 hours 20 minutes.

Circus Bim Bom

 

 

A Cold War Adventure

Historical Fiction/Cold War Fiction w/romance subplots

Date Published: 03-01-2026

Publisher: Bim Bom Books

;IGY6

 

 This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dean Sali 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.

I'll Be Seeing You

 Apprentice angel Gabriel Daniel’s first assignment in his quest to become a full-fledged angel is to give WW2 veteran, Frank Brennan, a second chance at love. With help from his mentor, senior angel Thomas, Gabriel takes Frank back to 1944 to Plymouth, England. There, Frank made his biggest mistake with love. His first time in 1944, Frank fell in love with Claire Cartwright, but when he found her kissing another man, he ended their relationship, despite Claire’s insistence that things weren’t as they appeared. This time around, Gabriel’s task is to convince Frank to trust in Claire’s love and fidelity, despite the evidence against her...

Call In The Dogs

 

Western/Cowboy,  Cherokee, Outlaw

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Write the West Press an imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Springfield, Missouri

Zog's Big Question

 

Some answers change you forever.

 

Zog's Big Question: An interplanetary tale of wonder, belief, and big questions.

 

Follow Zog, an inquisitive young alien from the planet Luminos—where everything is tested, measured, and understood—as he investigates mysterious reports from a distant blue world called Terra.

 

With the help of his new friends, Sam and Max, Zog explores a park, a church, a library, and a university — meeting people with many different ideas about life's biggest questions.

House of Cards

 

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you got this! - Book Tour

 

Honest Lessons on Life, Love, and Leveling Up

Personal Development

Date Published: March 24, 2026

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Lila's Journey

 

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 05-19-2024

Publisher: Mustard Seed Press

A Real Collusion

 

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Tilly and The Wisdom Trials

 

Children’s Fantasy Adventure, Educational Fiction / Learning Adventure,

Date Published: February 27, 2026

Wonder in the Garden

 

Nina loves spending time in her family’s garden, and so does her dog, Nube. They delight in all the wonders found growing there and all the spectacular colors—roja, naranja, verde, amarillo, morado. But mostly they just love to play, as it’s the perfect place for a game of hide-and-seek with its tall corn and enormous leafy veggies. It’s also a place to have the best al fresco meals with Nina’s loving extended family. Exuberant text sprinkled with Spanish and vivid, energetic art that captures the garden in all its glory make this the perfect book for celebrating the bounty of our gardens and the joy of spending a day there, learning, laughing, and lending a helping hand!

The Yellow Hair

 

A Nick Drake Novel, Book 10

Mystery, Contemporary Western, Native American Literature

Date Published: 04-30-2026

Publisher: Jackdaw Press

Forest Legend : The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

 

The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Science & Nature/Environment Science Fiction/Time Travel Literature & Fiction/Action & Adventure

Date Published: 03-31-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Almost There

 

 A Collection Inspired by True Stories of the Jewish Immigrant Experience

Forest Legend

 

The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Science & Nature/Environment Science Fiction/Time Travel Literature & Fiction/Action & Adventure

The Last Perfect Summer

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Karla Stover will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

you got this!

 

Honest Lessons on Life, Love, and Leveling Up

Personal Development

Date Published: March 24, 2026

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

God's Surprising Way

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. S. Jeyran Main 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.

See Me

 Skye Stone runs a local coffee shop called Coffee Is. Like the name of her shop, she likes things simple and to the point. But she’s more than just a businesswoman in Auralia. She’s fighting for her life as an Aeon and working hard to save her town and her world. Like the other Aeons, she uses her special ability in her battle against Dark Sides. Her’s is reading auras and connecting with her ancestors for help. After all, a lot is at stake, so she can use all the help she can get. But as darkness is getting harder and harder to thrive in, she’s not sure even her ancestors can save the day...

Laughing Through The Storm

 

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Your Joyful Years

 

Empowering good health and happiness beyond 50

Self help, Women Health

Date Published: 20 March 2026

Call In The Dogs

 

Western/Cowboy,  Cherokee, Outlaw

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Write the West Press an imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Springfield, Missouri

Eat Well Supplement Well Digest Well

 

A Nonconformist Approach to Optimal Health

Nonfiction / Health / Nutrition

Date Published: September 22, 2025

Lethal Fortune

 

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In today’s sensational world, how do you write a plot that has the sensitivity and beauty of a winery and the danger of people who thrive on cruelty, and somehow make it seem almost romanceful? I think it reads that way to us because we need a hero now and then, a good person. That is, most of all, what Lethal Fortune is about.

It is a special author who keeps you eagerly waiting for a new book in a series. Nolan has done that again. His stories and his plots are attention-getters. His settings of open seas and high-tech boats make me wish I were there each time. But it is his characters that keep me coming back. I’m dying to know what they are up to. What will Jake be doing? Are he and Sarah still together, and more than anything, is Cody ok?

She Knew Too Much

 

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Value Whispering

 

The Smarter Way to Market Your Small Business

Non-Fiction, Business, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Small Business

Date Published: January 26, 2026

If Two of Them Are Dead

 

Spy Thriller / Historical Fiction

Date Published: October 9, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

Words To Think Or To Sing

 

Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs really began?

Not with the words, not with the melody, but with a feeling.

Becoming a vision, becoming lines, becoming a complete piece of sonorous truth meant to be shared to unite people who resonate with it.

A mystical, fascinating process you can now be part of.

Connecting Goals Impacts Outcomes

 

Harnessing Structured Conversations for Customer-Driven Value Delivery

 

Non-Fiction (Business, Strategy, Product Management, Agile)

Date Published: January 26, 2026

The Obscura Syndicate

 

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Call In The Dogs

 

Western/Cowboy,  Cherokee, Outlaw

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Write the West Press an imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Springfield, Missouri

All or None

 

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running—investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

 

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer’s crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there’s another pressing problem—the plague of rats in his apartment block.

 

Detective Ryan’s hands are well and truly full.

Love, Life and Mother Nature

 

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Forest Legend The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

 

The Tale of Ol' Split Toe

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Science & Nature/Environment Science Fiction/Time Travel Literature & Fiction/Action & Adventure

Date Published: 03-31-2026

Publisher: Mission Point Press

Swept Away

 

Swept Away: A McLaren Mystery by Jo A. Hiestand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With all of the cameras and populated areas in today’s world, it doesn’t really seem possible someone could vanish. But it happens, doesn’t it? This time it happened on a beautiful beach on a gorgeous island. And it happened to the wife of one of McLaren’s old friends, one he hadn’t seen for years.

In Swept Away, Jo Hiestand has McLaren traveling to Bow Island. A vacation place, really. The kind that has trips for tourists, biking, sailing, even a pirate museum. Bow Island is a place that Dan and his wife, Ellie, have gone to often, although it is really Ellie who is the pirate enthusiast. Actually, her interests seem to lie more in the businesses that men own. At least it seems to be mostly men that McLaren finds Ellie spent her time with, men other than Dan, that is. So, did she run away, hide so she could be with one of her many “friends”? Did she drown, or was one of them jealous and made sure she got caught in a cave? Was she burgled, maybe pirated away? McLaren feels quite stumped throughout his work on the case. Hiestand makes it just as difficult for us to figure out who, if anyone, did away with Ellie.

There’s plenty of the author’s descriptive writing here, so you picture the pirate caves and enjoy the island. Her ability to help you become friends with her characters winds throughout.

But this mystery is so well-thought-out that you tend to lose the sense that the author thought of it all. It’s as if her character, former police detective Michael McLaren, has laid it out step by step as a good detective would. That mesh of “was it the character or the author” is her innate ability to make you know her characters, let them absorb you into the story. For me, characters are a huge draw to my enjoyment of a book. This one is a winner.


View all my reviews

The Brain That Breeds All Villainy

 

Speculative Fiction

Date Published: December 5, 2025