Joie Lesin is here to tell us about her historical fantasy The Passenger.
There's also a great giveaway.
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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joie Lesin 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.
She’s a 1940s ghost whisperer.
Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home.
He’s the son of a ghost.
Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction.
Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?
The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found.
Read an Excerpt
Elizabeth’s stomach churned in nervous knots. She squirmed on the cloth seat, and her foot twitched. If he heard her erratic heartbeat, he’d realize how frantic she was—and hot. Perspiration built up on her forehead. Grabbing the metal handle, she rolled down the squeaking window, and inhaled the pure air. The fragrances of the forest filled her senses—the resinous scent of pine, the earthiness of soil, and damp detritus of fallen branches and decaying leaves. The surrounding land was alive, vibrant, and something more she couldn’t quite identify. Somehow, the vehicle they drove in and the path it traveled seemed out of place.
Gravel on the uneven road crunched and ground under the truck’s tires. Elizabeth sat straight in her seat and stole stiff, awkward glimpses at Giovanni. A frown marked his lips. His lean, well-defined face held soulful eyes bringing to her mind images of the sad little boy he must have been.
A thin red scar stretched down his right cheek and she itched to run a finger along the faded edges. She’d caress his stubble-shadowed chin and tell him how terribly his father missed him.
Instead, she stared out the truck window.
About the Author:
Award-winning, Minnesota-based author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and poet. She is most recently the author of The Passenger (The Wild Rose Press, 2024) and her work is also featured in Scribeworth Magazine. She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including mermaids and ghosts. Joie writes character-driven, emotional, atmospheric tales about heartache and hope.
Journey with unlikely heroes thrust into extraordinary
circumstances—a mundane worker transported to a realm of danger and destiny, a
mighty king confronting the terrible price of power, a battle-hardened
mercenary facing the ghosts of his past, a loyal emissary venturing into enemy
territory with nothing but faith, two companions racing against time to prevent
an ancient evil’s return, and a lone holy warrior seeking divine aid against a
darkness that threatens all creation.
These tales explore the moments that define us: when fear
must yield to courage, when ordinary souls rise to extraordinary challenges,
and when the darkness seems insurmountable, but the flame of hope refuses to
die.
From master storytellers Michael Magistro, James Andrews,
W.E. Wertenberger, Rob D. Smith, Jack Finn, JP Wilder, and Chris Mason comes an
anthology that will transport you to lands where magic and monsters reign, and
where heroes are forged in the fires of adversity.
Step beyond the threshold of safety, and discover what lies
beyond . . . the Cursed Edge.
The Savage Rat Lord by Michael Magistro:
A young fast-food worker falls into another world and finds his true
calling in a desperate village.
Denmýr by James Andrew:
A powerful warrior king faces dark truths about his family’s bloody
legacy and his ancestral sword.
The Many Mouths of the Endless Night by W.E.
Wertenberger & Rob D. Smith:
A mercenary
confronts childhood guilt in a city where rat-controlling street urchins stalk
the night.
The Last Emissary by Jack Finn:
A desperate kingdom sends its final messenger to a usurper’s court in
a last attempt to end a brutal war.
The Black Altar by JP Wilder:
Two companions discover a dark artifact tied to an ancient cult
seeking to open a forbidden gateway.
Heroes Never Die by Chris Mason:
A lone paladin, survivor of a sacred order, embarks on a quest to
reclaim divine power against cosmic horror.
Michael
Magistro is a Clovis, California-based author with deep
roots in the vibrant Bay Area. When not managing regional operations for a
Fortune 150 company, Michael channels his passion into crafting compelling
narratives that explore themes of redemption, legacy, rebirth, and the enduring
search for hope in the darkest of times. Outside of his professional and
creative pursuits, he enjoys powerlifting, devouring a wide range of media, and
cherishing moments with his family.
James
Andrews is a full time artist and designer living in
the Northeastern United States. This is the first step in his journey as an
author and he has many more stories to tell. When he's not sculpting dragons,
drawing comics, or writing, he spends all the rest of his time with his golden
retriever and his cat.
W.E.
Wertenberger is a writer of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Crime
fiction. He grew up in Northern Ohio and currently lives and works in Kentucky.
His most recent work has appeared in Savage Realms Monthly and Cirsova
Magazine.
Rob
D. Smith wanted to weave tales as soon as he plucked
his first Fantastic Four comic book off the grocery store spinner rack. He
honed his imagination with scribbled drawings in notebooks creating intricate
stories where he learned that his imagination was far greater than his art
skills. Words became his way of exploring the weird worlds in his mind. Since
then, he has had wide success in the crime, horror, fantasy, and weird fiction
genres.
Jack
Finn is a folk horror author and member of the
Horror Writers Association. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and
two clever dogs. His debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Prince Vlad (Anuci Press,
2024), explores dark and thrilling themes. In 2025, Jack’s werewolf
duology—Prey Upon the Lambs (April) and The Desolation of Hunters
(September)—will be released by Anuci Press, along with They Come When You Are
Asleep, an anthology of his short stories (Velox Books). His work has appeared
in notable horror collections, including Doors of Darkness, Horroscope 4,
Twelve Months of Horror, and more.
JP
Wilder also known as JP Vile, is a versatile author
and academic specializing in fantasy, science fiction, and pulp genres. Best
known for his Crusader series and Hunter Caine Pulp Stories, Wilder delves into
themes of war, honor, betrayal, and redemption through action-packed
storytelling. He has contributed essays and introductions to the Edge Weaver
Classics series, covering iconic works like A Princess of Mars and 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea. Wilder also explores historical mysteries and survival
strategies in his academic works. Holding an MBA and an MFA in Creative
Writing, he enriches his narratives with profound historical depth.
Chris
Mason is a fantasy and sci fi writer hailing from
Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of The Stars Fell (Science Fiction), as
well as The Dark Rider (Dark Fantasy). A fan of epic storytelling centered
around good versus evil, he can usually be found gaming on his couch with his
cats, Quincy and Rocky, or traveling in search of new inspiration.
Mary K. Savarese is here to tell us about The Star Writers Club trilogy, fantasy adventure, romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
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For it is written
in the stars...
The Girl in
the Toile Wallpaper
The Star Writers
Trilogy Book 1
by Mary K.
Savarese
Genre: Fantasy
Adventure, Romance
Spring into
Fantasy Adventure intertwined with Romance!
Enjoy the breakout novel, Book I of The StarWriters Trilogy, The
Girl in the Toile Wallpaper.Continue the adventure with The
StarWriters Club Book II (2024) and Return the Girl In The
Toile Wallpaper, Book III coming 2025.
Want Fantasy, Adventure, Romance?
Lyly's heart yearns for true love until family loyalty is betrayed by a greedy
Noble.
Imprisoned by the evil Wizard, she became The Girl in the Toile
Wallpaper.
That is, until fate beckons...
Will the young American tourist Tyler Charles remember his class physics in
time to reverse the ancient curse and save the love of his life?
Or will Lyly be doomed forevermore?
The Girl in the Toile Wallpaper is the break out novel and Book #1
of The StarWriters Trilogy by Author Mary K. Savarese. The
Girl in the Toile Wallpaper explores the fantasy genre, with
mysterious worlds, magic cats and romances through the ages. Set in the
medieval Tuscan cities of Siena and Florence, Italy, readers will relish in the
rich detail and beautiful scenes presented by Savarese.
Royal Dragonfly Book Award (20022) Winner in Science
Fiction / Fantasy & Young Adult Fiction
NYC Big Book Award (2022) Distinguised Favorite in Fantasy
Chanticlear International Book Awards (2022) First Place & Grand Prize
Finalist
Enjoy Book II of The StarWriters Trilogy, The StarWriters
Club; following the 2021 release of the award winning
fiction novel, The Girl in the Toile Wallpaper (Book I). The
Girl in the Toile Wallpaper explores the fantasy genre, with
mysterious worlds, magic cats and romances through the ages. Set in the
medieval Tuscan cities of Siena and Florence, Italy, readers will relish in the
rich detail and beautiful scenes presented by Savarese.
The StarWriters Club follows twelve new arrivals to the band that
surrounds Heaven. Together, they must train to deliver His Plan to the stars.
But when the evil Beck decides otherwise, the StarWriters are called into
action to save three members who were just sucked through the gates and into
the pits of Hell.
Follow our StarWriters as they trek across the villages of the band and learn
how His Plan is distributed by those working in His Plan room. Will the
good/evil clocks continue to click toward evil, or will our StarWriters prevail
and turn the fate of time?
It is only by combining their strengths and wisdom not yet learned that they
just might succeed. Perhaps by accepting their last few moments on Earth, they
might endure what awaits. For it is Written in the Stars!
I was born and
grew up in Brooklyn, New York, going on to earn a business degree in accounting
from City University, NY. Soon after I found myself working in insurance and
financing and went on to marry my wonderful husband. We moved to New England.
I have spent
thirteen years as a religious education teacher and have lived and worked in
New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. For the past decade, I have served as
a Eucharistic minister at my local Catholic church, bringing the Eucharist to
community nursing homes. After raising a family in CT, my husband and I became
Florida Residents though continue to spend time in CT where I continue in my
ministry
My debut novel is
a contemporary Spiritual Mystery that transcends three genres: Mystery,
Spirituality, and Romance. I love to write imaginative stories for all ages! I
hope you enjoy this story and look out for more to follow! Tigers Love Bubble
Baths & Obsession Perfume (who knew!)has received 5 Stars from Readers'
Favorites and global award from Royal DragonFly.
Howard Berk & Peter Berk are here to tell us about their Time Lock series, scifi action adventure.
There's also a great giveaway.
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A sci-fi-tinged
action-adventure with heart and humor, the TimeLock series is
set in the crime-ridden near future where a bold new technology transforms the
justice system and challenges America’s moral compass. Only one problem—what
happens if you’re innocent?
The Millennium
Paradox
Time Lock Book 3
by Howard Berk & Peter Berk
Genre: SciFi Action Adventure
The
Award-Winning series co-written by award-winning writer Howard Berk
(“Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible”) and Peter Berk.
Newly relocated to the charming Alaskan town of Caribou Bay
after bidding farewell to his best friends Morgan and Janine Eberly, Yoshi Ito
inadvertently prompts his boss, geneticist Dr. Emory Layton, to try a new
genetic acceleration protocol in a local prison. Using technology from the
TimeLock process, the experiment goes awry.
Instead of yielding the desired medical benefits, it generates a terrifying
outcome that infuses a convicted killer with superhuman powers.
As the killer begins to exact revenge upon his enemies, local helicopter pilot
Tom Brooks recruits the Eberlys’ help to stop the unstoppable force before the
residents of Caribou Bay—and possibly the whole world—are forever at the
killer’s mercy.
TimeLock stole
twenty years from Morgan Eberly’s life. A terrifying new version of the radical
technology might just end it.
Two years after the events of TimeLock, a new and unhinged
president of the United States approves an immoral and illegal plan to develop
a weaponized form of the TimeLock process for use on the battlefield.
But only one man, geneticist Dr. Lionel Garvey, can execute the program. When
both he and his wife Kiyoko are kidnapped in Kyoto, Japan, Morgan and FBI Agent
Janine Price receive a frantic text from Kiyoko’s brother, Yoshi.
Realizing they can’t trust anyone in their own government, Morgan and Janine
fly to Japan and team up with Yoshi for an unauthorized rescue mission. After a
daring raid of a research facility in Japan, the trio realize they have only
delayed the president's insane plan. They must now execute a dangerous assault
on a frozen corner of Siberia to accomplish their mission. Can Morgan and
Janine stop the president from unleashing a newly weaponized version
of TimeLock before it’s too late?
"A deftly crafted dystopian style science fiction
suspense thriller of a novel, "TimeLock" by the team of Howard and
Peter Berk is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover and
unreservedly recommended . . ." --Midwest
Book Review (TimeLock)
When everyman Morgan Eberly is arrested for a murder he
didn’t commit, he’s subjected to an experimental new technology that instantly
ages prisoners the number of years of their sentence. Now 43 and on the run,
can Morgan and rogue FBI agent Janine Price unlock the truth about TimeLock
before it’s too late to turn back?
An innocent man. A radical punishment.
The clock is ticking . . .
With crime rampant, the President authorizes a hugely controversial
program: TimeLock, a cellular acceleration process whereby select
prisoners are instantly aged the total number of years of their
sentence. In other words - three strikes and you’re old…very old.
A sci-fi-tinged action-adventure with heart and humor, TimeLock is
the first in a new series of novellas set in the crime-ridden near future where
a bold new technology transforms the justice system and challenges America’s
moral compass. Only one problem—what happens if you’re innocent?
What Readers
are saying about the series:
TimeLock is a
high-octane action thriller with a classic feel, reminiscent of Michael
Crichton or Tom Clancy. It’s familiar, but in all the right ways.
The central concept is brilliant . . . The novella is tightly paced,
and there’s not a dull moment. . . .The introduction is particularly engaging,
with an absolutely killer prologue that sucks you in right from the
start. Reading TimeLock, I felt like I was watching a movie . . . It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster of a
novella, with all the thrills you’d hope for, and a cracking start to a
series. - Read
the full review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whoa!! Okay so this was awesome and I have to say first off- I hope like hell
someone picks this up to make a movie or a show out of it!! This was a
super interesting premise so I was hooked. It moved at a great pace and I was
on the edge of my seat the whole time. -Book Blogger @gryffindorbookishnerd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I vastly enjoyed this quick read . . . The writing was keenly honed and
smartly detailed . . . In sum, was a well-plotted and shrewdly paced
action-packed thriller featuring slightly frayed characters and storylines that
were cleverly laced together with wry humor and witty snark.
--Empress DJ/Honolulubelle, Books
and Binding Book Reviews
An award-winning novelist and screenwriter, Howard Berk’s
credits include memorable episodes of such classic TV series as “Columbo,”
(including “By Dawn’s Early Light,” for which guest star Patrick McGoohan won
an Emmy), “Mission: Impossible,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Fall Guy,” “The New
Mike Hammer” and “The Contender,” starring “V” and “The Beastmaster” lead Marc
Singer. Howard Berk also wrote the feature film, “Target,” starring Gene
Hackman and Matt Dillon.
Peter Berk has
written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several
with his father, Howard Berk, which became the basis for the TimeLock series
of novels. IE also published Peter’s political murder mystery, First
Line of Defenseand will publish his forthcoming novel, Fireline. Peter and his
family live in Southern California.
Susan Horsnell is here to tell us about her contemporary romance One Year in Paris.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 07-25-2025
Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
When Annalise Garner arrives in Paris to study art, she’s chasing
quiet—far from her Southern roots, far from expectations. What she
doesn’t expect is to meet Jett Hunter, a star American soccer player
with green eyes, a bruised past, and a future under a constant spotlight.
Jett lives for the game. Annelise lives for the canvas. But when fate
intertwines their worlds on a rain-soaked street in the City of Lights,
neither is prepared for the slow-burn connection that follows.
As their hearts tangle between café tables and gallery walls, the
intrusion of the press and career choices threaten to pull them apart.
Jett faces pressure to return to New York.
Annalise wrestles with who she is beyond her art.
And just when they start to find their rhythm, a devastating injury changes
everything.
Set against the romance of Paris and the quiet beauty of rebuilding a life,
One Year in Paris is a tender story of love that endures the noise, finds
strength in the silence, and blooms where it’s least expected.
Excerpt
Chapter One
Paris, France.
March.
Paris smelled like warm bread, rain, and the kind of freedom you didn’t
realize you were starving for until you tasted it.
Annelise Garner pressed her sketchbook to her chest as she crossed Place du
Tertre, her long blond curls pulled into a loose braid and a soft, excited
nervousness fluttering in her chest. This wasn’t just a
vacation—it was a year away from all expectations. No cotillions, no
pageants, no family name to maintain. Just art, sunlight, and the faint
promise of something more.
She passed a café tucked between a bookstore and a patisserie, where
laughter spilled onto the street. A gust of wind tugged at her scarf, and she
caught it just before it flew—only to stumble directly into someone
walking briskly around the corner.
Hard chest. Expensive cologne. An arm around her waist, steadying.
“Whoa—pardon,” a deep voice rumbled. American, unmistakably.
Rough with surprise. Smooth with heat.
Annelise looked up—and found herself staring into the greenest eyes
she’d ever seen.
The man holding her was tall…Ridiculously tall. His hair was dark and
swept back in the kind of effortless way that meant effort had definitely been
involved. A few people nearby had slowed down to look. Some pointed.
“Y-you’re American,” she blurted in surprise before she
could stop herself.
He smirked. “So are you.”
“Atlanta.”
“New York.”
They paused.
“I’m Annelise.”
“Jett Hunter.”
And as he stepped back, letting her go with a soft brush of his fingers, she
noticed the gym bag over his shoulder, scuffed cleats peeking out the side.
That name…Jett Hunter. It tickled something in her brain. A memory from
a sports magazine her friend from back home, Abigail, had fawned over.
She blinked.
“You play soccer…”
He gave her a crooked smile. “A little.”
“How long have you been in Paris?”
“Two years…You?”
“Two months…I’m here studying art for a year courtesy of a
generous inheritance from my grandpa.”
“My contract ends in seven months.”
Annelise nodded. “I wish I could stay forever, but—” she
shrugged.
She didn’t give a reason and Jett didn’t know her well enough to
ask.
Jett Hunter didn’t believe in fate. He believed in timing—on the
field, in life, in love, if that was even something he still believed in at
all.
But when he spotted her again the next morning, crossing Rue des Abbesses with
a portfolio twice her size and sunlight catching in her golden hair, he felt
something stir.
She hadn’t seen him yet. She was juggling her sketchbook tucked under
one arm and what looked like a artists satchel in the other. Same soft curls,
same honey-sweet presence…Annelise.
He pushed his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose to be sure.
Yep. It was her.
Jett stood up from his table before he thought better of it, dodged a Vespa,
and stepped into her path just as she looked up.
She gasped, nearly bumping into him again, and blinked in surprise.
“You?”
He gave a crooked grin. “Starting to think you’re following
me.”
Her lips parted—then curved. “Or you’re following me.”
“Touché.”
She shifted the satchel and sketchpad awkwardly. “Do you usually begin
your mornings by bumping into strangers?”
“I had a need for croissants,” he explained. “And accidental
run-ins with beautiful strangers are a bonus,” he added.
Her cheeks colored faintly. It looked good on her. Real. Not rehearsed like
the women he usually met who were after him for nothing more than his fame and
fortune.
He nodded toward the café behind him. “Sit with me?”
She hesitated for a breath. Then nodded.
They sat under the striped awning, a plate of flaky pastries between them. Two
Americans in the heart of Montmartre pretending Paris wasn’t working
some strange kind of magic on them.
Annelise told him about her art studies and Georgia summers. She spoke briefly
of her political family, being an only child, how she used to sketch horses in
the back pasture and dream of painting sunrises in another country.
Jett told her about New York, the endless push of fame, and how Paris had been
a necessary escape. He didn’t mention the pressure from the club or the
headlines speculating about his focus slipping. Not yet.
“I prefer to keep to myself. I don’t usually do people,” she
admitted, stirring her espresso slowly. “They’re
too…complicated.”
“Yet here you are sat across from one this morning.”
Annelise looked up. “You’re different. You feel like—”
She stopped herself.
“Like what?” he asked softly.
“Like someone real.”
Jett became quiet. It had been a long time since anyone had said that to him.
Even longer since it felt true.
When Annelise stood to leave, she gave him a smile that felt like spring.
“Same café tomorrow?” he asked, not wanting to let her slip
from his life.
She looked over her shoulder as she walked away. “If the croissants are
this good again.”
He watched her go—shoulders relaxed, curls bouncing lightly, sunlight
wrapped around her like a promise.
Jett sat back in his chair, let the Paris air fill his lungs, and for the
first time in a long time, he didn’t feel like he was running toward the
next match or away from himself.
He just felt…here.
And that was enough.
About the Author
I’m an Australian author who writes in a variety of genres,
including Western romance, historical romance, Gay Romance, and contemporary
romance. I also have a Thriller Murder/Mystery, children’s, non-fiction
and young adult.
I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong,
independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series
include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series.
My books are known for their well-researched historical details and vivid
descriptions of the Australian landscape.
My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have won
several awards for my writing.
If you're interested in learning more about my books:
