Spotlight and Giveaway: The Home Team by Dave Pratt

About the Book

Book: The Home Team

Author: Dave Pratt

Genre: Military / Romance

Release Date: November 11, 2025

Sam Anthem has always been a team player, leading his Home Team on secret missions around the world and chasing down bad guys for the U.S. government. But Sam has never had a place to call home or someone to go home to.
Consuelo Zamora has been serving as a missionary nurse, but her work has led her to be forced to work with some South American drug lords in order to provide medicine for the common people. After being rescued by Sam and his Home Team, Consuelo settles into a new position in Olympia, Washington, to work with a community center there. But somehow, trouble always follows her, and Sam Anthem seems to always be nearby to save the day.
When Sam is forced on a two-month vacation, he is introduced to a former covert ops soldier-turned pastor. But the vacation takes a turn when the Home Team comes under attack. As the team fights to stay alive against an unknown adversary, Sam begins to wonder if there is more to life than just the job. With his life on the line, Sam must decide between the job or his newfound faith and possible love.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

David Pratt is a native of most of the U.S. west coast, from Bakersfield, California to Anchorage, Alaska. A retired U.S. Army officer and private sector project manager consultant, he is based in Olympia, Washington, and spends the majority of his time living and wandering the Pacific Northwest with his wife and family. Mr. Pratt has wide and varied publication credits, including magazine articles and short stories in a variety of regional and national magazines and journals, and six fiction and nonfiction books. His guiding light in life is Our Lord Jesus Christ, and his focus is glorifying God in all he does. He considers his wife, family, and friends as some of God’s greatest blessings in his life.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

Stories By Gina, October 26 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 28

Vicky Sluiter, October 29 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

A Reader’s Brain, November 1 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 2

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 3

Guild Master, November 4 (Author Interview)

The Sacred Line, November 5

Fiction Book Lover, November 6 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 6

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Dave is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card! and an eBook copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d285/the-home-team-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Tour and Giveaway: Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy by Christiano Maki

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  BELIEVERS: SERVANTS OF SATAN by Christiano Maki
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  247 pages
Genre: Occult Suspense, Occult Horror, Occult Fiction, Supernatural Thriller
Publisher: Christiano Maki
Release date:  April 2025
Content Rating:  R for bad language, horror, death, killing, weapon use ​

Book Description:

A Suspenseful tale of greed, temptation, and the price of power.

How far would you go to possess the unholy?
​In this supernatural thriller, the boundaries between men and monsters blur as power and greed collide with forces beyond comprehension. What begins as a pursuit of the world’s most precious relics spirals into a war between the ruthless elite and the dark prophets of Satan himself. With every step deeper into the unknown, ambition fuels destruction, and those who believe they control their own fate soon realize--they were never in control at all.
As the will of men clashes with the temptations of the abyss, the institutions that claim to lead us are exposed for what they truly are: pawns in a game older than time. Those who seek to harness evil for their own gain will learn a harrowing truth--no one steals from the Devil and lives to tell about it.
This is not just a story. It is a warning. One that will haunt you long after the final page.
Because believers believe.

Believers is a darkly atmospheric supernatural thriller. If you like ancient mysteries, epic battles between good and evil, and the search for forbidden knowledge, then you’ll love Christiano Maki’s immersive and haunting tale of faith, ambition, and deadly secrets.

Buy Believers to confront forces beyond imagination today!

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ Audible
B&N ~ Apple ~ Kobo
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Christiano Maki is a storyteller with a unique blend of global perspective, rich imagination, and unyielding faith. Born into an internationally diverse family, Christiano's early years were spent moving between countries like Kuwait, Spain, and the United States, experiences that exposed him to a wealth of cultures and histories. He speaks four languages and has lived across continents, bringing an unparalleled depth to his storytelling.

With an MBA in business management and a background in everything from restaurant ownership to method acting, Christiano is a true Renaissance man. His journey into writing has been years in the making—a culmination of countless life experiences, late-night musings, and a deep sense of purpose. Believers, his debut supernatural thriller, explores the tension between light and darkness, faith and temptation, inspired by the injustices and moral complexities he observes in the world.

Christiano is not an author in the traditional sense, nor does he aspire to be. Instead, he views his writing as a legacy, a way to share his message and leave a lasting impact. His writing style is vivid and immersive, blending poetic prose with a suspenseful narrative, drawing readers into a world where ancient evils and modern ambitions collide. Beyond writing, Christiano is passionate about music, history, and helping others—a calling he sees as central to his life’s purpose. With Believers, he invites readers to question, to feel, and to confront the forces that shape our world.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

BELIEVERS Book Tour Giveaway

My Review: 

Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy is a great debut for the author, Christiano Maki.  I found that his talent as a master storyteller shined through all throughout this book. To be honest, I was not sure if this would a tale for me at first, but that quickly changed. The writing style was unique to me, which was refreshing to read something different. It did take me a few chapters to get used to it and understand what was going one. Once I caught on, I was hooked. I did not want to put it down. What a roller coaster ride adventure I was on. It was far from predictable and it was fun trying to figure out what could possibly happen next from scene to scene. I loved the good vs evil theme to it and the fight and will to survive. For me, it was a great way to spend a day inside during a rainy day. 

I am going to give Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy four and a half stars. I believe that readers who enjoy books from the genres of mystery, horror, suspense, and supernatural will no doubt enjoy this one. It is definitely worth a read and not to be missed. I would be interested in reading more by Christiano Maki in the future to see what journey they will take their readers and fans on next. 

I received a copy of Christiano Maki's Believers: The Hunt for the Unholy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Book Blast and Giveaway: What It's Like To Be Me by Elizabeth Ann O'Handley

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE ME

by Elizabeth Ann O'Handley

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE: Children’s Book

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

Well, one thing is for certain: everyone will feel something different after reading What It's Like to Be Me!

Why you ask? It is simply because every single one of us is completely unique; that is what makes us who we are.

The young girl in this book helps us understand that the journey of self-identification is not always easy. In some cases, maybe we just have not given it much thought. I mean, how often do we check in with ourselves? At times we are more focused on what others may think about us, while we are truly unaware of what we even think about ourselves.

With reflection, it is sometimes necessary, and useful, to see ourselves objectively.

The young girl in What It's Like to Be Me has to look within to find herself. Personal growth will usually assist us in accepting the reality of who we really are. As life changes and we grow through experience, it is up to us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Living your truth is a personal suggestion for making things a little easier when embarking on the journey of knowing exactly who you are. Every experience will change us, maybe a little, or maybe a lot. Who you are going to be in this world starts with you!

I wish you all a wonderful journey!
Truth, love, and respect always,
Elizabeth Ann O'Handley

Read an Excerpt

Preface

The world we live in can be unpredictable. Life will challenge us and give us reasons to question many things. Life may make us feel uncertain of a decision … make us feel uncertain of ourselves.

Let us help one another affirm our purpose so we can live in a world where we feel more in tune with ourselves.

Life is so beautiful, precious, and filled with meaning. Let us start by finding ourselves and then watch that beauty grow.

May we all find what we are looking for.

About the Author: 

What It's Like to Be Me is Elizabeth Ann O'Handley's second book. It was inspired by a visit to her hometown of Glace Bay, in the province of Nova Scotia.

Elizabeth graduated from Cape Breton University with a B.A. in 2005, and received a diploma in Acupuncture from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of British Columbia in 2011.

In realization of many things, Elizabeth is forever grateful for the love she continues to receive from her family and friends. She reflects on her experiences with a humble heart, and is very emotional about being true to oneself.

Elizabeth is convinced that storytelling can be an effective tool in helping anyone find their path.

Elizabeth is committed to creating positive content, in hopes that it will have an impact on all readers of her work.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47332435.Elizabeth_Ann_O_Handley
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/What-Its-Like-Be-Me-ebook/dp/B0FBX92WG4/ref=sr_1_1wuat

Giveaway:

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Secrets of the Heart by Vickie McDonough

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Heart

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2025

A Southern belle nursing a wounded stranger must choose between family duty and a love that defies everything she’s ever known.

Hannah Madison’s life is comfortable, well-ordered, and safe. She knows what to expect. Including her mother’s plans that Hannah marry Jamie Reed, the heir to the neighboring plantation. But her sheltered life is disrupted when she stumbles upon a seriously injured stranger in the Reeds’ barn. He seems to need her help. As she nurses him back to health, Hannah is drawn to the handsome man with amnesia that she calls Adam. And as her feelings for him grow, Hannah must decide whether to follow her heart or honor her family’s expectations.

Adam remembers nothing prior to the day he met Hannah. Nothing of his true identity or the dangerous secret he carries. All he knows is he can’t help falling for his graceful and kind caretaker. But when his memories return, he’s faced with an impossible choice— pursue his love for Hannah and betray his family, or sacrifice his own happiness to preserve his family’s unity.

Can Hannah and Adam find the right path when duty and love collide?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

 

 

More from Vickie

Most of my writing career I’ve been an author of western historical fiction set in the late 1800’s, but a visit to Charleston and Savannah while on vacation, stirred up a desire to write in a different time period. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, a state that is only 118 years old. I was quickly enchanted by Charleston’s rich history and fell in love with the centuries-old homes and cobblestone streets.

While in Charleston, my husband and I toured an antebellum plantation called Drayton Hall, which was built in 1738. It’s located on the Ashley River about 15 miles northwest of Charleston. Touring the magnificent old home gave me lots of fodder for a new series set in South Carolina. For instance, did you know that ballrooms were often located on a third or fourth story because you could get better cross-breeze which made the temperature a bit cooler, and it was less likely that mosquitoes would plague the guests on the upper floors.

Secrets of the Heart  is set 22 years after Mutiny of the Heart, book 1 in my Windswept Brides series. When I sat down to begin writing Secrets of the Heart, the only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to continue the story of the Reed family. I had thought the book would be mostly Jamie’s story, who was a young boy in the first book in the series, but the story took an expected turn. I ’ve always like forbidden love stories, where the hero and heroine seemed destined to be together, but everything is working against them. I had to add that to my story.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 18

Texas Book-aholic, October 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 20

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 21

Devoted To Hope, October 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

For Him and My Family, October 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 25

Simple Harvest Reads, October 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

The Mommies Reviews, October 26

Books Less Travelled, October 27

Cover Lover Book Review, October 28

Holly’s Book Corner, October 29

Pause for Tales, October 30

Stories By Gina, October 31 (Author Interview)

Alyssa Madjeski, October 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vickie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://sweepwidget.com/c/93122-0wx1a58l

My Review

I have enjoyed reading Vickie McDonough's Windswept Weddings series and was excited to have the opportunity to read the second installment, Secrets of the heart. I adored Hannah and Adam's story. It was full of adventure, love, and faith. It was wonderful going back in time with them. At under two hundred pages, it was easy reading this tale on my back porch this fall season. 

I am going to give Secrets of the Heart a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical romance. I look forward to reading the next book from the Windswept Weddings series. Dueling Hearts, to see what beautiful story awaits. 

I received a digital copy of Vickie McDonough's Secrets of the Heart from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Audiobook Tour and Giveaway: Thunderbird Rising by John H Thomas

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Thunderbird Rising: A Maxx King Thriller by John H. Thomas
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  366 pages
Genre: Thriller (Alt History, Espionage, Conspiracy) with some Sci-fi
Publisher: John H. Thomas
Release date:  May 2024
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: The plus is for some violence, and the theme of September 11, 2001

Book Description:

Maxx King is a former Army Ranger turned cybercrime investigator trying to get his life back on track when he has an unexpected confrontation with a ruthless Chinese spy. Struggling to understand the escalating violence, he discovers a clandestine US-China conflict centered around a device of unknown origins with the power to trigger massive natural disasters.

Caught between competing US government agencies, Chinese assassins, secret informants, and a rising number of deaths, Maxx must get to the truth before the next catastrophe strikes. Things get personal when it turns out his girlfriend, Gabby, has been working on the covert project and may be the source of damaging leaks that threaten national security.

The clock is ticking, and a break in the code reveals that something big will happen on September 11th, 2001.

Thunderbird Rising is an action-packed alternate-history thriller full of uncertain loyalties, deceit, and international espionage set in Seattle and New York City.

This conspiracy thriller is a great fit for fans of Jack Slater, Matthew Reilly and Steve Berry.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
B&N ~ BAM ~ Bookshop.org 
add to Goodreads

Meet the author:    

John lives in the Seattle area with his wife and the world's sweetest cat: Karmann. Raised in a nomadic military family, he is annoyingly curious, a consumer of whiskey, and a political junky at heart, but his greatest interests are his family and their collective shenanigans.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~ X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ 

goodreads

My Review

Thunderbird Rising is my first introduction to the writing of John H Thomas. It, also, the start of his A Maxx King Thriller series. Oh my goodness, what a roller coaster of a read it was for me. I found the alternate history to be intriguing. Living during the time of the tragedy of September 11, 2011, the novel did make me think about the "what ifs". It was thought provoking, action packed, suspenseful, and thrilling. I loved getting to know Maxx and taking the twists and turns right along with him. I never knew where else he was going to lead me from chapter to chapter. I thought it was a fabulous and hard to put down.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Thunderbird Rising. I enjoyed listening to the narrator, Scott Fleming. His performance was superb and a perfect addition to the book. His voice made it more exciting than it was already.

I am going to give Thunderbird Rising a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read exciting thriller fiction. I am looking forward in continuing the series with the second installment from A Maxx King Thriller series, Masters of War, to see what adventure author, John H Thomas, will take his fans on next. 

I received an audio version of John H Thomas' Thunderbird Rising from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Clara and the Cowboy by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Clara and the Cowboy

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

She’s the rancher’s daughter. He’s the reformed outlaw who became her father’s foreman. Love was never part of the plan.

Clara Bainbridge has loved Alec for years, long before she left for finishing school in Boston. And though she is convinced he loves her too, he seems determined to push her away now that she’s back. So when the handsome stranger who protects her during a stagecoach robbery reveals that he is her new neighbor, Clara begins to wonder if accepting his suit might be wiser than waiting for Alec.

Ranch foreman Alec McConnell has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and prove himself worthy of Colonel Bainbridge’s trust. When cattle start disappearing from the Cross B Ranch, Alec’s checkered past makes him the prime suspect. He must catch the real rustlers to clear his name, but his growing feelings for the Colonel’s daughter, Clara, threaten to undo everything he’s built. How can he protect her when his very presence in her life could destroy her reputation?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

 

 

 

 

More from Erica

Did you, like me, grow up watching westerns on tv? I watched often in reruns as the heyday of the TV Western was waning about the time I was born. But I watched Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, and more.

And so grew my love of the old west, of cowboys, cattle drives, frontier justices, and rolling tumbleweeds.

I also read westerns. Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, Abel Shott (Yes, that was the pen name of the man who wrote the series called Solo Strand: The Silver Kid.) I was a firm believer in The Code of the West.

So, when it came time to write my own ‘cowboy book’ I took much inspiration from the screen and the page.

Clara and the Cowboy is the story of Alec and Clara, a cowboy and the ranch owner’s daughter. There’s cattle rustling, gunplay, good vs. evil, a damsel in distress…all the best parts of western classic lore. I had such fun writing it, influenced by those who had written the genre before me.

The setting was chosen (Southwest Idaho) because of a series of books I had read as a teen, written by Glenn Balch, about a ranching family near Nampa, ID. I’ve never been to that part of the US, but I felt as if I had because I read those books (many times!)

As I look back on the hours I spent watching classic westerns on tv and reading western fiction, I’m reminded of the impact they had on my life. How they taught that good and evil exist in the world, and that it takes bravery to stand up and do the right thing. I learned that honor and integrity do not come without cost, and that actions have consequences.

Who would have thought that watching a rerun of The Big Valley would instill a desire to embrace the cowboy culture through my own fiction?

I hope you enjoy reading Clara and the Cowboy, and that perhaps it takes you back to your own childhood of rooting for the man in the white hat to get the girl he loves before the credits roll.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 14

Book Looks by Lisa, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 16

For Him and My Family, October 17

Devoted Steps, October 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 18

Devoted To Hope, October 18

Simple Harvest Reads, October 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Fiction Book Lover, October 20 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 20

lakesidelivingsite, October 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 21

She Lives to Read, October 22

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 22

Books Less Travelled, October 23

Blossoms and Blessings, October 23

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 24

Cover Lover Book Review, October 24

Bizwings Blog, October 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 25

Pause for Tales, October 26

Holly’s Book Corner, October 26

Jodie Wolfe, October 27

Vicky Sluiter, October 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://sweepwidget.com/c/93121-hnry6w4b

My Review

I have enjoyed reading Erica Vetsch's Brides of the West series and was excited to have the opportunity to read the fourth installment, Clara and the Cowboy. I adored Alec and Clara's story. it was fun, adventurous and romantic. I loved their scenes together and thought they had perfect chemistry. It was going back in time with these two and I did not want to put it down until the end.

I am going to give Clara and the Cowboy a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical romance. I look forward to reading the next book from the Brides of the West series. Lily and the Lawman.

I received a digital copy of Erica Vetsch's Clara and the Cowboy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Review: Jenny Kidd by Laury A Egan

 

Jenny Kidd (revised edition)

by Laury A. Egan

Publication Date: October 18, 2025

Spectrum Books, London

ISBN: 978-1-915905-61-1

182 pages. $15.99 paperback, $5.99 eBook

Cover photo: St. Mark’s Square by Thomas Stewart

Available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FR4GWMKP

“A twisted and sinister affaire macabre.”

—R.D. Hartwell

While spending autumn in Venice, a young American artist, Jenny Kidd, hopes to create a portfolio of paintings to launch her career and establish her independence from her tyrannical father. At the Guggenheim Collec-tion, she encounters Randi, a colorful British woman, who invites her to a masked ball at the Palazzo Barbon. There, she meets the seductive Caterina Barbon and her brother, Sebastiano, who entice Jenny into a world of glittering façades that cloak sexual per-version, art forgery, and murder. As Jenny struggles between her attraction to Caterina and her growing awareness that she is in danger, Jenny discovers an inner strength and spirit worthy of her infamous pirate ancestor.

“A little gem...a top-notch thriller…Jenny Kidd spins its web as languidly as an after-noon by the canals. Egan’s descriptions of the food, the art, and the general atmosphere are as purposeful as they are evocative. Her prose is full-bodied and elegant, and she makes prosecco and prosciutto as sumptuous as the work of Titian and Tintoretto. As delicious as Egan’s writing is when it comes to describing masked balls, four-course lunches, and miniatures painted in pastels, she also knows how to propel a mean action scene. The last twenty pages or so are a breathless rush of dark passageways, tense interrogations, and perfectly executed gore that leave you gasping and satisfied.”

—Jerry L. Wheeler, Out in Print

“A very compelling suspense novel, rife with stunning imagery and shocking plot beats. An eerie, glittering world.”

—Jennica Dotson, author of “A Reaper’s Folly”

“The plot becomes…dizzying in its twists and turns. Not only does this book offer a riveting story, but her sentences have a ca-dence that will carry you along. Once I had reached the half-way point in the book, I found it impossible to put it down.”

—Martha Miller, G & L Review

Laury A. Egan is the author of fifteen novels, including Fair Haven, Jack & I, The Psychologist’s Shadow, and The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers in addition to two collections: Contrary: Stories and a Play and Fog and Other Stories, and four volumes of poetry. Laury is also a fine art photographer, who lives on the northern coast of New Jersey. Website: www.lauryaegan.com 

My Review: 

I have been a fan of Laury A Egan's books for awhile now. I was excited to have the opportunity to read her Jenny Kidd. I was far from being disappointed. Jenny's story had me holding on to the edge of my seat from the start. It was full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. At under two hundred pages, I had it read in one sitting quickly. 

I am going to give Jenny Kidd four and a half stars. I believe those who love to read the genres of thriller, suspense, and mystery will not want to miss out on reading this one. As always, I will be eagerly awaiting more to come from the talented author, Laury A. Egan. 

I received a digital copy of Laury A Egan's Jenny Kidd from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.