Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Breath of Bones by Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer



About the Book



Book: Breath of Bones

Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer

Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy

Release date: June 18, 2024

When darkness falls, a new guardian emerges.

Kateřina Dubová has always aspired to walk in her father’s footsteps as a respected journalist, and the Second World War presents a unique opportunity for her to prove her worth to the world. A tip about an assassination attempt on a high-ranking Nazi official, Reinhard Heydrich, the “Butcher of Prague” leads Kateřina into the shadows of the Nazi occupation. Soon she discovers things are not as they seem.

As intrigue unfurls, Kateřina joins forces with Josef Loew, a descendant of the famous Rabbi Loew, renowned for creating a mystical guardian in the form of a golem to protect the souls of 16th-century Jews in Prague. In the chaos of war, some believe a new golem can once again bring help to those in need.

Like flickering candles in the abyss, Kateřina and Josef work to protect the innocent and end the evil that plagues their world. Yet, in their quest to save the Jewish people, have they inadvertently created a new danger? Could the very entity they had forged to protect become their greatest enemy?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Authors

Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, Breath of Bones, is a historical steampunk fantasy co-authored with her son Nathan Goyer.



Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author, who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his newest novel, Breath of Bones, which he wrote alongside his fellow author and mother, Tricia Goyer.

More from Tricia and Nathan

He Said/She Said: Behind the Scenes with Breath of Bones

By Tricia and Nathan Goyer

Writing Breath of Bones turned out to be one of the most surprising and rewarding adventures I’ve ever embarked on. Let me take you behind the scenes of how this all came to be.

It all started when I decided to treat myself to something special for my 50th birthday: attending the Realm Maker’s Conference with my son Nathan. I’ve been writing books for years, over 90 of them actually, but I’ve always stuck to what I knew best. Speculative fiction? That was Nathan’s thing, not mine. But, there we were, surrounded by an incredible community of sci-fi and fantasy writers and fans. It was inspiring..

Reconnecting with my old buddy Steve Laube at the conference was a highlight. “Come to the dark side,” he joked when I marveled at how amazing everyone was. I laughed it off, but little did I know how prophetic his words would be.

After that second conference, something strange started happening. Ideas began bubbling up in my mind, and they were far out of my usual writing lane. The trigger? Believe it or not, I was doing something as mundane as sweeping near my bookshelf, filled with my favorite books about Prague, when I got an idea. That’s when it hit me—blending the Jewish legend of the Golem with my love for WWII stories. When I shared the idea with Nathan, his eyes lit up. “I love it,” he said, and that was all the encouragement I needed.

The idea really took shape when I ran into Steve Laube again at another conference. I pitched it to him during my keynote, and his enthusiasm confirmed my need.

The most surreal part of this whole journey? I first met Steve when I was pregnant with Nathan. When Nathan and Steve were introduced, Nathan joked, “No wonder your voice sounds familiar.” I thought that was perfect!

It felt like things were coming full circle. I was writing a book in a genre I never thought I’d explore for an editor I’ve admired for decades, alongside my son, who, in a way, met Steve alongside me all those years ago.

Breath of Bones is more than just a book to me. It represents stepping out of my comfort zone, embracing a new genre with the help of an incredible community, and the unique joy of collaborating with my son. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to try something new. Also, the support of friends and loved ones can turn even the most daunting challenges into rewarding journeys. I hope this story inspires others as much as it inspired me during its creation.

He Said:

Writing Breath of Bones was certainly something I never expected to do. I had been trying to get my mother Tricia to write speculative fiction for a while, but I never thought she’d do it! It’s been very interesting to see her come to embrace the more fantastical side of writing.

When she asked me to write the novel with her, I was excited to do so. Writing something like this was right up my alley, of course, but co-authoring was a brand new experience that comes with its challenges and plenty of rewards. I really think it pulled out the best of both of us. What emerged is a story neither of us would have ever written on our own.

I may be revealing some of our secrets here, but when we first started writing, the only fantastical element in the whole book was going to be the Golem itself! I was proud of Tricia when partway through writing, she said, “This feels like another historical fiction book, we need to do more.” From then on, we dug in and got creative. There is so much to discover, and I can confidently tell you there is plenty more excitement to come as the Clockwork Chronicles continues.

I will also say Tricia isn’t the only one stepping out of their comfort zone. It’s been a learning experience for me to write within the bounds of actual history! Sure, there are spider tanks and giant machinations, but much of the story comes from people’s real experiences at that time and our carefully crafted characters who needed to take on these challenges. I loved both learning and writing about the true history. In fact, my favorite scene I wrote had no Steampunk at all. (But I’ll keep which scene a secret. No spoilers here!)

Writing Breath of Bones has been a fantastic learning experience for me. I’ve absorbed a lot of information writing alongside such an experienced author and have loved seeing the characters and storylines I created come to life in such interesting ways. Above all else, I hope all our readers can get lost in the world of Breath of Bones and go on an adventure they won’t forget anytime soon.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 29

Where Faith and Books Meet, June 30

Through the Fire Blogs, July 1 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 1

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

Lily’s Corner, July 5

Inklings and Notions, July 6

Blogging With Carol, July 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 8

Exploring The Written Word, July 9

Blossoms and Blessings, July 10 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 10

Simple Harvest Reads, July 11 (Guest Review from Mindy)

The Lofty Pages, July 12

Giveaway



To celebrate their tour, Tricia nd Nathan are giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2c562/breath-of-bones-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

Breath of Bones is the start to the Goyer and Goyer series, The Clockwork Chronicles. I enjoyed reading this book by the mother ad son writing duo. I am not a huge fan of this genre but found that this tale was one that held my attention from start to finish. It was full of adventure, danger, mystery and intrigue. I did not find it to be predictable and I was often curious to see what could possibly happen from scene to scene.

Breath of Bones will be getting four and a half stars from me. I have no doubt that fans of historical fantasy and or science fiction will love it. I would be interested in the next installment from The Clockwork Chronicles. 

I received a copy of Goyer and Goyer's Breath of Bones from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Tangled Secrets: A Suspense Thriller (Mirror Estate Series: Book 3) by S F Baumgartner



About the Book



Book: Tangled Secrets: A Suspense Thriller (Mirror Esate Series: Book 3)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

Release date: April 29, 2024

Two women. One targeted by an unknown enemy. One being accused of murder. Will they overcome their obstacles?

The twenty-five-year-old schoolteacher Grace Benson is living a quiet life until she receives a threatening note. Her life turns upside down when the FBI becomes involved.

The middle-aged wedding planner Sheila Mitchell comes home to find her husband dead before she’s knocked out. When she comes to, the murder weapon’s in her hand.

Will Grace survive? And will Sheila’s ex-husband, an FBI agent, clear her name? Who is targeting these women?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartner is a Christian suspense thriller author. She graduated from the University of Hawaii and the University of Cincinnati. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her cats, staying active, and binge-watching crime TV shows. She lives in Ohio with her family.

 

 

 




 

More from S.F.

Crafting “Tangled Secrets” was an exhilarating experience, as it brought clarity to several unresolved mysteries within the series. The enigmatic question of a leak or mole introduced in “Living Secrets” – specifically, the mystery surrounding how Lily’s secret was discovered – finds its resolution in this latest installment. Moreover, “Forgotten Secret” cast a shadow of suspicion over characters like Rook and Uncle Bill, whose motives and truths are finally unearthed in “Tangled Secrets.”

Inspiration for this narrative complexity came from diverse sources: a television episode sparked the concept of a daughter relinquished for adoption, while a film suggested the thrilling double life of a secret agent. These ideas were not only incorporated but also transformed to enrich the tapestry of the story, intertwining with elements of chaos and confusion to enhance the intrigue and excitement.

This series, starting from the prequel, has been a journey of dropping subtle hints and planting seeds that would flourish into the full narrative of “Tangled Secrets.” The series is a vast landscape of potential stories, each more compelling than the last. I hope “Tangled Secrets” not only captivates and satisfies but also invites readers deeper into its intricately woven world. Enjoy the latest dive into our unfolding saga.

Blog Stops


Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 26

Life on Chickadee Lane, June 27

Betti Mace, June 28

Stories By Gina, June 29 (Author Interview)

Boondock Ramblings, June 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 1

A Reader’s Brain, July 2 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 5 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, July 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 7

Fiction Book Lover, July 8 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, July 8

Lily’s Corner, July 9

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2c55f/tangled-secrets-celebration-tour-giveaway



My Review

After reading the first two books from S F Baumgartner's series, Mirror Estate series, I was excited to have the opportunity to continue the series with the third installment, Tangled Secrets. Grace and Sheila's story was full of danger, action, suspense, and mystery. There were a few twists and turns that I did not see coming. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what could possibly happen next. I thought it was a fantastic read.

I am giving Tangled Secrets a very well deserved five plus stars. I have no doubt fans of clean Psychological Suspense Thrillers will love it as much as me. I would be interested in reading more books from S F Baumgartner in the future.

I received a copy of S F Baumgartner's Tangled Secrets from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.