The Tin Whistle Book by Kathleen Shoop ('Tis the Season)

Inspired by a true story... 

1854 

Jacob Gusky wakes up hoping Santa has arrived. And he has... but not for Jacob, one of two Jewish boys living at the Boys’ Home of Manhattan. When a friend gifts him a tin whistle, Jacob learns the power of giving, the joy in receiving, and hears what he considers to be the sound of happiness. 

1881 

Recently widowed and completely out of options, Frannie takes her daughter Molly to the Home for the Friendless. “You’ll be back before Christmas?” Molly asks. Frannie gives Molly half a quilt square and keeps the other, choking on her reply. 

Now a happily married father of three, Jacob Gusky owns Gusky’s Grand Emporium, Pittsburgh’s first premier department store. After unearthing the tin whistle from the orphanage, he is reminded of what it felt like to have nothing, and decides to make a difference in the lives of others no matter their faith. But with so little time before Christmas morning, can he even begin to give the orphaned children of Pittsburgh what he knows they need? 

When giving is more important than receiving...

I rated this book 5 *****'s 

When it rains, it pours

I enjoyed reading this short story. It is short but it is the best book that I read this year. If I could give it 10 stars and I would. 

I seldom cry while reading a book but I did sob with this emotional story. Life indeed is no guarantee. One day you are up and the next day you are down. When it rains, it pours. It is the reason that we should always be kind and humble. 

There are some good people out there like Jacob and his family. I would do the same. There are gifts that cannot be found or buy anywhere in the store. At the specific moment in that story, I sobbed. The tears in my eyes will not stop falling. It doesn't help that my Mom is halfway around far away from me.

Ms. Kathleen Shoop delivered the best book and Christmas for me and all her readers with this book. Please get your Kleenex ready. Trust me, you will need a box. 

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback   Audible

"This short novel is the MOST inspirational novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading."

"Beautiful, heartwarming story."

"A heartwarming and inspiring story. I highly recommend it."

"This is such a fantastic Christmas story with great characters and a very unique plot. There are also several wonderful messages on the importance of giving at this time of year. I am so glad I found this book."

"Terrific holiday story with well-defined characters and a setting that could have been any big city in the 19th century. Ms. Shoop’s novella reflects the good in human nature."

Above reviews from Amazon readers

"Writing this book was wonderful. Bringing aspects of the Guskys’ good works to life was more fun than I could have imagined!" ~ Kathleen Shoop

Also available...

Two days before Christmas, ornery Elliot Ebberts is tasked with school drop-off even though distracted by an important real estate transaction. In the holiday carpool chaos his extravagant, lucky coat goes missing. In a panic, he searches for his coat, tracing its path as it passes through the hands of good people in dire situations. Meanwhile, his plan to WOW his wife Libby with an ostentatious gift reveals Elliot’s shallowness to the world and mortifies his entire family. Is it too late for him to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, to remember who he is without all the trappings of the job that defines him? Can Libby and their children ever forgive him?

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback   Audible

About Kathleen Shoop

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. Kathleen coordinates Mindful Writing Retreats and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers.

I adore writing historical fiction (The Letter series, After the Fog and Donora Stories) but am having a blast writing romance like Home Again, Return to Love and Tending Her Heart (Endless Love series). Thank you so much for the time you take to read.

Follow the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon   Bookbub

Follow the tour

I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Win $50 Amazon.com Gift Card plus a copy of The Tin Whistle
Ending on Sunday 28th November at 11.59pm EST

Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE

Maybe We Should (Silver Harbor Book 2) Book by Melissa Foster

An emotional and sexy novel about guarded hearts, finding love, and families lost and found by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe We Will. 

After spending years wondering who she was, tattoo artist Cait Weatherby finally found her answers on the sandy shores of Silver Island. With two half sisters she never knew existed, a group of friends she adores, and a devastatingly charming admirer who flirts with her at every turn, she’s ready to figure out her next steps. The trouble is, Cait lives in the shadows of a dark past, and she can’t afford complications that might cause her to lose the family she’s only just found―complications like blue-eyed boatbuilder Brant Remington, who is as open as she is guarded. If only the sexy charmer would take the hint… 

Brant is Cait’s opposite in every way, but he’s drawn to everything about the sexy newcomer―from the quiet strength that rivals the caution in her mossy-green eyes to her tough facade that he can’t wait to strip away. 

As Brant works his magic, Cait’s walls come down. But as sweet as that feels, Cait knows how quickly good things can turn bad. It’s going to take more than a little trust to beat the ghosts of her past and claim the future they both deserve.

I rated this book 5 *****'s 

The power of fighting for survival

This is another outstanding book from Ms. Melissa Foster. The story is so powerful. It breaks your heart into million pieces but it is back up and beating as new chapters reveal. 

Cait and Brant's love story is another beautiful book from this series. A strong stubborn woman and a man who is so resilient to capture a woman of his dreams plus a dog that will make everything more exciting.  Facing your past to end that difficult chapter is not easy but Cait did it. She is my favorite character in this story. 

This book will make you cry, laugh, and fall in love with these two characters that are so perfect for each other. Once you start reading, you could never put it down. I do not know how does Ms. Melissa Foster writes stories each time that makes her readers so wild crazy-in-love with her characters.  This is a must-read. 

Available to buy from ...

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble   Paperback   Audible

**FREE in KU
The Silver Harbor series is published by Montlake Romance and will be available in paperback and audio formats, and exclusively in digital format for Kindle and Kindle apps. Download a FREE Kindle reading app HERE (or order the paperback)

Also available in audio!

"Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!" - NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely​

"You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that's fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won't want to stop reading. Every book's a winner!" - New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak 

"With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!" - New York Times Bestseller J. Kenner

Also available...

Maybe We Will (Silver Harbor Book 1)

When chef Abby de Messiéres returns to Silver Island with her sister to get their late mother’s affairs in order, she expected to inherit her mother’s bistro along with their childhood home, not to discover a half sister they never knew existed, and a handsome vacationer camped out on her mother’s patio. 

Workaholic Aiden Aldridge has been sent to Silver Island on a work-free vacation, armed with a “Let Loose list,” and ordered to get a life by the much-younger sister he raised after the death of their parents. After years of focusing on his sister’s well-being, he’s blindsided by his intense attraction to the gorgeous, free-spirited Abby. 

Aiden might not know much about chilling out, but he’s excellent at striking deals. He helps Abby with the restaurant in exchange for her help in tackling the items on his list. Sparks fly as Aiden and Abby work, and play, side by side. Intimate conversations lead to steamy kisses and undeniable passion. But there’s more to Aiden than Abby knows, and when the truth comes out, their new romance is put to the test, as the two find out if true love really can conquer all.

Available to buy from ...

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble   Paperback    Audible

**FREE in KU

Releasing April 26th 2022!

Maybe We Won't (Silver Harbor Book 3)

Full description coming soon!

Available to pre-order from ...

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Paperback

**FREE in KU

About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance and new adult romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites....

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Instgram   Pinterest   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page

Follow the Book Tour

I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

Click to get your FREE Love in Bloom Series Reading Order 

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Win A Little Bit Wicked ebook

Two Winners

Ending on Sunday 21st November at 11.59pm EST

Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE

What's Not True Book by Valerie Taylor

 

Join Us for This Tour from September 15 to October 12!

Book Details:

Book Title:  What's Not True by Valerie Taylor
Category: Adult Fiction 18+ 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Chick Lit
Publisher:  She Writes Press, 321 pages
Release date:  August 2021
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M What's Not True has several sex scenes and some bad language.

---

“What’s Not True…is an enthralling, character-driven story that will appeal irresistibly to fans of women’s fiction…Taylor’s prose is crystalline…she does not waste words, rather using them to create a tense, nerve-shredder that offers full entertainment to readers.” — Readers’ Favorite 5-star review

---

Book Description:

With her court date set for her divorce and her plans with the younger man in the rearview mirror, Kassie O’Callaghan shifts attention to reviving her stalled career. But things get complicated when she unexpectedly rendezvous with her former lover in Paris. After a chance meeting there with a colleague and a stroll along Pont Neuf, Kassie receives two compelling proposals. Can she accept them both?

But Kassie’s decision process screeches to a halt when her soon-to-be ex-husband has a heart attack, forcing her to fly home to Boston. There, she confronts his conniving and deceitful fiancée—a woman who wants not just a ring on her finger but everything that belongs to Kassie. In the ensuing battle to protect what’s legally and rightfully hers, Kassie discovers that sometimes it’s what’s not true that can set you free.

Though a standalone novel, What’s Not True is the sequel to What’s Not Said (September 15, 2020).

I rated this book 5 *****'s 

The story could happen in real life 

Some women are just after what they can get from a person. Evil intentions will surely reveal at a certain time.  Some women just want to be happy and moved on from the bad situations in their life. This story could happen in real life.

It felt genuine to me. What an amazing sequel to the first book. It gets through your emotions especially the other woman that soon-to-be wife. This book is one of a kind and enjoyed every chapters while I read this book. Some of my bucket lists were even mentioned in the story like the Paris. It was an eye-opener.

Fate surely plays a big role. It always pays off to the kind person. Kassie, is my favorite heroine. I am sure that most women can relate to her story. She is feisty and willing to do what is right. The author Miss Valerie Taylor is an awesome writer as well.

Buy the Book
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~Indie Bound
Book Depository

You'll Also Love The Award-Winning First Book in This Series:

Book Details:

Book Title:  What's Not Said by Valerie Taylor
Category: Adult Fiction 18+ 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Chick Lit
Publisher:  She Writes Press, 300 pages
Release date:  September 2020
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M:  has several sex scenes and some bad language.
​

---

2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women’s Fiction
2020 Canadian Book Club Awards Finalist in Fiction
Chosen as an August 2021 Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection
Featured by the international NoMo Book Club in May 2021

“Taylor’s dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing marriage drama.”
―Kirkus Reviews

---

Book Description:

What’s Not Said is a story about Kassie O’Callaghan, a middle-aged woman on a mission to divorce her emotionally abusive husband and start a new life with a younger man she met while on a solo vacation in Venice. When she learns her husband has chronic kidney disease, her plans collapse until she pokes around his pajama drawer and discovers his illness is the least of his deceits.

Then again, Kassie is no angel. The separate lives they lead collide head-on into a tangled web of sex, lies, and DNA. As she helps her husband find an organ donor, Kassie uncovers a secret, forcing her to decide whose life to save: her husband’s or her own.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
Bookshop.org ~ B&N ~ GooglePlay
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Valerie Taylor was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She earned a B.S. Marketing degree and an MBA from Sacred Heart University, as well as a graduate certificate in health care administration from Simmons University (formerly Simmons College). She had a thirty-year career in the financial services industry as a marketer and writer. Valerie is a published book reviewer with BookTrib.com; and a member of Westport Writers’ Workshop, Independent Book Publishers Association, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator.

​connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Sep 15 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 15 - Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 15 - I'm All About Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 16 - Review Thick & Thin - book review of WHAT'S NOT SAID / author interview 
Sep 16 – Pick a Good Book – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / author interview / giveaway
Sep 16 - AllBookedUpReviews (instagram) - book review of WHAT'S NOT TRUE
Sep 17 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 17 - Amy's Booket List – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / giveaway
Sep 21 – Welcome To MLM Opinion's Reviews – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE
Sep 21 - @twilight_reader – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID
Sep 23 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID / giveaway
Sep 23 - Review Thick & Thin - book review of WHAT'S NOT TRUE / guest post
Sep 24 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / giveaway
Sep 27 – Sadie's Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sep 27 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID
Sep 28 – Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / giveaway
Sep 29 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE
Sep 29 - Falling Into A Good Book - book review of WHAT'S NOT TRUE
Sep 30 – @twilight_reader – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE
Sep 30 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway 
Oct 1 – Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 1 - Books for Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID
Oct 4 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID / giveaway
Oct 5 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / giveaway
Oct 6 – Splashes of Joy – book review of WHAT’S NOT SAID / giveaway
Oct 6 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE
Oct 7 – Splashes of Joy – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / author interview / giveaway
Oct 8 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 8 - Books for Books – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE
Oct 12 - Books and Zebras  - book review of WHAT'S NOT TRUE
Oct 12 – Adventurous Jessy – book review of WHAT’S NOT TRUE / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

---

WHAT'S NOT TRUE Book Tour Giveaway

Lost And Found Book by Ronald L. Ruiz

Join us for This Tour:  September 20 to October 8

 

Book Details:
 

Book Title:  Lost and Found by Ronald L. Ruiz
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 292 pages
Genre:  Literary
Publisher:  Embajadoras Press
Release date:  June 2021
Content Rating:  R - Includes f-words and profanities throughout, one sex scene

 

 

Book Description: 
​ 

When community leaders began to doubt Abel Mendoza, the law practice he had spent years building began to crumble. It was the 1960s and there was but a handful of Mexican lawyers in California. Abel had worked tirelessly to earn respect in the courts, avoiding any semblance of a personal life to achieve his goals. Now, his personal and professional lives had collided and he found himself being rejected by the community that had previously supported and admired him. His fears of inadequacy kindled, Abel began to question who he really was, what he did, and where he belonged. A desire to avoid these questions and the people who had provoked them sent this small-town lawyer on a trip to escape not only his community but his own self-doubts, and into a relationship that changed his life completely.

I rate this book 4 ****'s 

This book is a wide-opener

I loved to read books about immigrants and their lifestyles. It is because I am an immigrant myself. I want to learn about their failure and their success. This book is a wide-opener. 

This book is so intense to read. It is very informative and fun as well. Abel never gives up his dreams despite being ridiculed, insulted, and lied to. He never quits until he finally succeeds. I felt sorry for him at the same time my hats off to him.

A beautiful story about life and how life is not easy especially if you are a person in color. I enjoyed reading this story. Abel's persistent not giving up is remarkable. The ability he has to please a woman he loved is very true to other people. Love is so powerful only if it is real and being reciprocated. 

Life itself for Abel is about trials just like his job and he succeeds by losing and winning some. I enjoyed the author's writing and am looking forward to reading more. 

 

Buy the Book
Amazon
add to goodreads

 

Meet the Author:

​Ronald L. Ruiz is the author of a memoir and six previous novels. His novel Giuseppe Rocco (1998) received the national literary prize, 1998 Premio Aztlán Award, and his novel Life Long (2017) was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2017. His work has been compared to Richard Wright’s Native Son (Publisher’s Weekly, featured review) and his writing described as “frighteningly real” (New York Newsday). Ron was born and raised in Fresno, California, and educated at St. Mary’s College, University of California, Berkeley Law, and University of San Francisco School of Law. Ron practiced law for over 30 years in California, as a Deputy District Attorney, criminal defense attorney, and Deputy Public Defender. He was appointed to the California Agriculture Labor Relations Board by Governor Jerry Brown in 1974, and later served as the District Attorney of Santa Cruz County, California. Ron retired from criminal law and continues to write every day.

Connect with the Author:  ​website ~ facebook ~ goodreads 

 

Tour Schedule:

Sep 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Sep 20 - Gold Dust Editing & Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 21 - Working Mommy Journal - book review / giveaway
Sep 21 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 21 - Splashes of Joy - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sep 22 – Cheryl's Book Nook – book review / giveaway
Sep 23 – Sadie's Spotlight -book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 27 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Sep 28 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 28 - Book Corner News and Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 29 – Kam's Place – book spotlight / author interview
Sep 30 – Rajiv's Reviews – book review / giveaway
Oct 1 – Just Another Reader – book review
Oct 5 – wottaread – book spotlight / author interview
Oct 6 – Books for Books – book review
Oct 6 - @twilight_reader - book review
Oct 7 – Review Thick & Thin – book review / author interview
Oct 7 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 8 – Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

 

LOST AND FOUND Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

Running on Diesel (The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside) Book by Melissa Foster

A funny, sexy, and emotionally riveting standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. RUNNING ON DIESEL is the perfect love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, strong family bonds, bikers, babies, and more! 

Desmond “Diesel” Black is a Nomad with the Dark Knights motorcycle club. He protects others with his life and always rides alone. Tracey Kline left the only family she had for a man who broke more than her spirit, leaving her untrusting and on her own. When a twist of fate reveals pieces of the other no one else sees, will they be able to help each other mend their past hurts and learn to trust the chemistry and connection that’s too strong to deny? 

~ 

The Whiskeys are perfect beach reads with depth of story, strong family ties, and a wealth of emotions. Small town love stories with happily ever afters guaranteed. The Dark Knights motorcycle club is not a typical MC book. These bad-boy bikers are tough, but they have hearts of gold...and they're not afraid to use them. For more hot WHISKEY love stories, check out Melissa’s other Whiskey novels below. And don't miss RIVER OF LOVE (The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor), the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!

I rated this book 5 *****

Grumpy and stubborn met and ignite a fire

This book has an amazing storyline. It is so emotional, laughs out loud, and is on fire. What happens when a grumpy and very protective guy met a very stubborn lady, it ignites a fire. Tough situations make Diesel and Tracy so imperfectly perfect for each other. All it takes is a stubborn lady who is fed up with his grumpiness and overprotective and boom the story is unstoppable to read.

Diesel and Tracy's story is so hot but also beautiful and emotional that it will make you appreciate life more. I know this is fiction but Ms. Melissa Foster hit it like it is a real story. Be prepared not only to be amazed but fall deeply in love with these two characters.

The story is so good that it is hard to put my Kindle down. I forget how many times I charged my tablet not only it is hot but the story is even hotter.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    Apple   GPlay   Paperback   Audible

Also available in audio!

About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented, the perfect beach reads for contemporary romance and women’s fiction lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites....

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Instagram   Pinterest   YouTube   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page

Follow the Book Tour

I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE

Zither! book by Jeffrey Hanlon

 

Join Us for This Tour from  September 27 to October 15

Book Details:
 

Book Title:  ZITHER! by Jeffrey Hanlon
Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 350 pages
Genre: Mystery, Humor
Publisher:  Zither Studios
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Content Rating:  G.

 

"A zany rollicking mystery adventure as compelling as it is hilarious." ~ Independent Book Review

"Hanlon’s humor shines bright and will leave fans of such madness wanting more." ~ Publisher's Weekly

Nominated for the prestigious Audie Award, Best Fiction 2021

 

Book Description:

A nutty religious cult rustles a herd of prime gazebos (huh??) and it’s up to bumbling P.I. Mars Candiotti to rescue them. Wannabe author Mars chronicles his quest in Jeffrey Hanlon's rom-com mystery Zither.

Guided by his magically prescient IHOP waitress, Mars strives to mitigate the shocking global consequences of the gazebo heist, even though he has no idea what the word mitigate means.

As Zither swallows its own tale, Mars finds it increasingly tricky to distinguish between real people and his rambunctious fictional characters. Zither becomes the romper room where his reality meets fantasy - and get frisky with each other.

Mars’ international odyssey leads to an explosive conclusion in Panama. Teevees around the world tune in to watch live coverage of “Carnage in the Canal”.

And amid the lunatic havoc that is Zither there is (of course!) an epic love story as Mars meets Marian, the brainy librarian he had dreamt of. Marian says his books are "slapstick existentialism with subjective reality couched in parable". (This is news to Mars). But is Marian real, or just another illusion in Zither World?

And in Mars’ klutzy (yet endearing) courtship of the enchanting Marian will he ever muster the nerve to ask her for a date???​

BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON ~ AUDIBLE

 

 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

I was born in a Southern California beach town.

My family moved to Northwest Oregon when I was 7. Or maybe when I was 8.

Had we stayed in the Beach Boys town, and knowing myself as I do now, I suspect I would have grown long hair, started a rock band, and been heavily into drugs. The rock band would probably have been pretty good. The rest of it, not so much. I’d likely have joined the ranks of those like Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.

We moved to a mountaintop. The last five miles to get there were gravel. The final two miles were steep and to the end of the road.

That’s where we lived: the end of the road, 22 miles to the nearest town.

Our closest neighbor, about a mile down the road, was a hermit who lived in a shack. He had a goat. About once a month the goat would visit us. Then the hermit would show up to retrieve his goat. I think the goat liked us better than the hermit, which is why the goat kept showing up. Goats are funny animals. I think they aspire to be house pets.

And speaking of animals, we had cats. Lots and lots of cats. Because we were remote and at the end of the road, unkind people – and ‘unkind’ is the kindest description I can use here – would dump their unwanted cats on or near our property. The cats would find our house. We gave them Fancy Feast and our love, and in turn they loved us.

My childhood friends didn’t visit too often. That was at least partly because when they did show up my father would say something like this: “Great! We have a job that could use an extra hand. Won’t take more than five minutes.” Well, that five minutes usually turned into an hour or two – volunteer labor! – and that friend would seldom visit again.

So my favorite childhood playmate was a 2000 pound Hereford bull, a big boy with horns spanning three feet. I’d go out in the pasture and the bull would strike a pose not unlike what you’ve seen in the movies where the bull was ready to charge, head down, eyeing me. But he wasn’t going to charge me. He just wanted his forehead scratched. And so I would scratch his forehead. He liked that, shaking his head every so often to show his approval. Then we’d elevate to a game that the bull might have called ‘Let’s see how far we can toss this little kid!’ and I’d place my right hip against his massive head and he’d toss me into the air like a sack of flour. Over and over, farther and farther, higher and higher. I could have done that for hours – I can fly! – but after a few tosses the bull would grow bored with the game and wander off. Probably to chase some cute heifers.

The nearest library was 30 miles away, and we ventured there often. It was a majestic old building, and the Grand Room had books on all four walls with reading chairs in the center. But that was not where I wanted to be. I figured all those books were popular books or books I was supposed to read. I wanted something different, so I would enter the room with a small sign that said ‘Stacks’. It was row after narrow row after row of books, floor to ceiling, dimly lit, dusty. It was like entering a cave. Filled with treasures!
It was in those Stacks that I discovered the likes of Kerouac and Heller and Huxley and Fowles and Steinbeck and Ellison and Bradbury and Hemingway and many many others.

As Stephen King said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

And those, each in their own way, was the inspiration for the first book I wrote at the age of eight or nine: ‘Pond Scum’.

It was illustrated.
 
Jeffrey currently lives at an undisclosed location on the shores of the Caribbean where he spends his days is shorts and sandals making up stories.

He has a pet goat.
 
connect with the author: website 

---

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Sep 27 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight
Sep 27 - Adventurous Jessy – book spotlight
Sep 28 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post
Sep 29 – Literary Flits – book spotlight
Sep 29 - Stephanie Jane - book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 30 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / guest post
Oct 1 – Kam's Place – book spotlight
Oct 4 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight
Oct 4 - Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post
Oct 5 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / guest post
Oct 6 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / author interview
Oct 6 – fundinmental – book spotlight
Oct 7 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight
Oct 8 – Lisa's Reading – book spotlight
Oct 11 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / guest post
Oct 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / guest post
Oct 13 – Laura's Interests – book spotlight
Oct 13 - Sefina Hawke Books – book spotlight
Oct 14 – @twilight_reader – book spotlight
Oct 14 - Books for Books – book spotlight
Oct 15 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview