M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧

There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet

Published on February 3, 2025February 1, 2025 by mariacatalinaeganLeave a comment

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheresSomethingAboutYouOliviaBennet #ValerieGMiller #Historical

Historical

Date Published: 11-26-2024

Two women. Two generations. A lifetime of secrets…

Sydney, 1989. When a secret trunk belonging to her enigmatic mother is delivered, Olivia Bennet’s safe and predictable world is thrown into disarray.

Inside the trunk, long-buried secrets tell of a different life that is totally foreign to shy and unadventurous Olivia. Secrets she’s certain her mother intended to stay hidden.

For the first time, Olivia has hope of finding answers about her father, and along with it, her identity. But only if she has the courage to face who she truly is.

Sydney, 1964. Amidst the vibrant backdrop of multicultural inner Sydney, Rosemary Benito plans to leave behind her painful past and embrace the freedom her new home offers.

While her exotic beauty attracts unwanted attention, if she works hard enough in her new country, Rosemary can become whatever—and whoever—she wants. She just has to make sure her old life doesn’t catch up with her.

Neither woman can change their pasts. But if they’re brave enough, they both have the power to determine their futures…

A poignant family saga full of love and loss that spans two generations. There’s Something About You, Olivia Bennet, reveals the tender bond between mother and daughter, the undeniable ties that bind generations together, and the importance of belonging.

About the Author

Valerie G. Miller is an Australian author celebrated for her dual timeline historical fiction, weaving heartfelt narratives that resonate across generations. Rooted in her Italian heritage, Valerie brings rich cultural nuances to her stories, crafting tales that celebrate family, resilience, and the deep human need for belonging. Her short stories explore the intricacies of human connection, capturing the tender moments that bind people together and create a sense of home in each other’s hearts.

In addition to her writing, Valerie is training to become an accredited book coach, sharing her passion for storytelling and supporting aspiring writers on their creative journeys.

Originally from Sydney, Valerie now calls Brisbane home, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and a lively household that includes her dog and two cats. A lifelong lover of storytelling, she earned her Master of Letters in Creative Writing in 2021, further honing her craft.

Valerie is never far from her next story, always keeping a novel and a notebook tucked in her bag, ready to capture inspiration wherever it strikes.

Contact Links

Purchase Links

a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

The Staff of Beckoning

Published on January 31, 2025January 8, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

A Symphony of Spheres Book 1

by Praneet Menon

Genre: Epic Fantasy

When the world is not what it seems,

what will Adir do

when his identity collides

with the destiny, existence has in store for him?

The Staff of Beckoning

A Symphony of Spheres Book 1

by Praneet Menon

Genre: Epic Fantasy

“Menon’s storytelling is sharp and deliberate, blending high-stakes action with introspective moments … Addictively readable!” —BookView Review

The more we know, the less we understand …

Adir Nathar craved more than what he was born into. And existence obliged.

A mysterious death … an act of revenge! Adir flees Marafel, abandoning friends and family for safety and a fresh start. But, unbeknownst to him, he is pursued by the Khasmia Shadow, a secret society charged with a sole divine purpose—eliminate the destructive venna with the sacred Staff of Beckoning. The world of Leakarha itself is undergoing a seismic shift. Rakhor, terrible demonspawn, are emerging farther south from the Precipice than ever before.

Caught in the middle of it all, Adir is driven deeper into his own shadows, forced to face truths he never knew existed.

But this isn’t just Adir’s story.

From Naven to Ostarium to Cayan, this story unfolds through the eyes of a troubled father, a ruler fighting to secure her legacy, an heiress obsessed with knowledge, a woman torn by love, an archer chasing glory, a man harboring a hidden past, and a noblewoman caught between two worlds—each holding a piece of a greater truth waiting to be uncovered.

The Staff of Beckoning, the first book in the series A Symphony of Spheres, is an epic fantasy tale of identity, destiny, and purpose. Blending elements from science fiction, mythology, and dark fantasy, this gripping narrative is perfect for readers who enjoy complex characters, intricate world-building, and expansive sagas. If you’ve enjoyed series like The Wheel of Time, The Kingkiller Chronicle, and The Prince of Nothing, then this book is for you.

Amazon ebook * Audiobook * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

Born and raised in India, Praneet’s life began immersed in a medley of cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions that sparked his passion for storytelling. Then, he moved to the United States and has now spent more than half his life there. The two cultural backgrounds have led him to embrace a fusion of Eastern and Western philosophies that deeply influence his writing.

Praneet also spent the better part of two decades working as an engineer and flight instructor, which instilled in him a precision that he brings to his existence-building, pursuing that perfect blend of reality and fantasy. His exploration of philosophy and psychology at an early age allows him to imbue his stories with age-old themes of identity, purpose, and destiny. These themes play a central role in his debut novel, The Staff of Beckoning, Book 1 of the series A Symphony of Spheres.

Praneet lives in Vermont, embracing a homesteading lifestyle, community involvement, and writing while pursuing a master’s in counseling.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$ 20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Ominous Odyssey

Published on January 30, 2025January 27, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

by J.T. Kelly

(International Thriller Series Book 7)

Thriller / Sci-Fi / Time Travel / Romance

Date Published: October 1, 2023

WHO COULD SURVIVE IN A WORLD 50,000 YEARS AGO?

Ominous Odyssey is a thriller and a love story. It takes place four years after teenager Amos McCabe escaped from kidnappers. Now, with a degree in archeology and anthropology, he gets an invitation to work at a dig site in Italy south of Rome. Archeologists discovered the bones of nine Neanderthals. The young man can’t wait to learn the secrets of these prehistoric people.

The lead archeologist informs Amos there are tunnels they have not yet explored. His curiosity gets the better of him. The adventurer brings his headlamp and investigates before anyone arrives for work. When the young man reaches the end of the tunnel, something terrifying happens.

He discovers he’s been transported to an alternate universe of 50,000 years ago. The explorer soon realizes there’s no way to escape. What will become of McCabe? Has his exuberance gotten the better of him? Join Amos for an adventure of a lifetime, in a new world of wonder.

About the Author

J.T. Kelly gained a love for the European continent while living in Rome, Italy, for a year and traveling extensively. These incredible experiences provided indelible memories. J.T. combined them with his fond recollections of summers spent on Lake Maxinkuckee in northern Indiana. Coincidentally, it’s a place where other authors such as Kurt Vonnegut also enjoyed the area’s charms. Readers find that most of Kelly’s fictional novels begin at the lake where crimes occur. The stories frequently expand to Europe as the good guys search for the perpetrators.

Prior to developing his eight novels, Kelly honed his writing skills as an award-winning communications professional. An avid reader, J.T. has enjoyed numerous authors in the mystery, thriller & suspense categories. As a result, his followers will be hooked on the fast-paced excitement that rival many novels in these captivating and addictive genres.

Contact Links

Purchase Links

Damned Yankees

Published on January 30, 2025January 8, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

by Ray Deptula

Genre: Historical Fiction

Damned Yankees is a gripping tale set during America’s Revolutionary War, where loyalty is tested, and survival is anything but certain.

Damned Yankees

by Ray Deptula

Genre: Historical Fiction

Those who fight their nation’s wars are typically those least able to avoid it.

The world was, is now, and always will be a complicated and volatile place filled with those whose self-interests supersede more noble aspirations.

If history has taught us anything, it is that times may change, but human nature does not.

The competing interests and political tensions of the formation of our country were no more or less dysfunctional than they are today, with the best and worst of individual behavior continually on display.

Jack Halliday wants nothing more than to belong somewhere that provides him with security and values his worth.

In an uncaring world that devours the weak, he is forced to rely on his strongest attribute, his ability and willingness to fight, which ironically belies his benevolent nature.

Much like the fledgling union of the thirteen original colonies, Jack’s rebirth into autonomy constantly teeters on demise in a world where his decisions are all he can control.

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

Ray Deptula is a native of Wells, Maine, and a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.

He spent 24 years in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot and a political-military officer.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island with a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Damned Yankees is the first book Ray has published, having conceived of it while taking a Revolutionary War elective at the Naval War College.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$ 20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

The Marriage Agreement

Published on January 29, 2025January 21, 2025 by mariacatalinaeganLeave a comment

The Agreement Series Book 2

by A. Akinosho

Genre: Age Gap, Second Chance Contemporary Romance

The best laid plans sometimes crumble,

but fate has the perfect detour.

The Marriage Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 2

by A. Akinosho

Genre: Age Gap, Second Chance Contemporary Romance

The best laid plans sometimes crumble,
but fate has the perfect detour.

Ayodele

In desperate need of a solution, I’m about to lose everything—my education, my future—if I’m deported before finishing school. Osei, bless his heart, is willing to marry me, but his wandering eye would only bring more trouble than we need.

Enter Luke, my best friend’s brother, with a shocking proposal: a marriage agreement. A simple arrangement that could save us both.

He needs to escape the forced marriage his father’s pushing on him, and I need to stay in the country to finish school.

It’s a deal that works for both of us.

But neither of us expected that living together, pretending to be husband and wife, would blur the lines between what’s real and what’s just part of our agreement.

I didn’t plan on falling in love with Luke, but sometimes the heart doesn’t care about the plan.

Luke

There was always a girl—a girl I couldn’t get out of my head. When I finally find her, she’s with the one person I could never betray—my brother.

I’ve kept my distance, believing that Ayodele was off-limits, only to learn she’s only my brother’s best friend. But crossing that line still felt forbidden. So, I’ve watched her quietly, wanting what I thought I could never have.

Now, she desperately needs help, and I see a way to help her—and myself. A fake marriage would solve both our problems. She stays to finish school, and I escape the loveless match my father is forcing me into.

It’s the perfect solution.

Or so I thought. What was supposed to be just an agreement is becoming something else entirely. The connection I’ve tried to deny is impossible to ignore, and keeping my distance is no longer an option.

Maybe this was never supposed to be a plan, because, neither of us is sticking to the plan.

No problem, right?

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

The Handshake Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 1

He promised her the world,
Then, abandoned her at the altar.

Anne
I’m a realist, cynical about falling in love. Until I met Declan – the rich and powerful player. With his quiet determination, he dismantled my cynicism and made me believe.
Before I know it, I’m flashing a radiant smile, dressed, and eagerly awaiting him at the altar.
Only, I got the text – “I’m not coming” – shattering my world.
Regret is a waste of time; I stand by my original convictions.
Years later, he’s back demanding a second chance, how dare he?

Declan
I shook on the agreement without hesitation because I had zero plans to marry for love. Ever.
Years later, Anne crashed into my life. I find myself craving what I thought I didn’t need or want.
Unexpectedly, the agreement I made resurfaced, presenting me with a dilemma:

Marry as agreed or
Lose Anne forever.

Deal accepted, regardless of hurting Anne.
When I find Anne again, she’s engaged, far as I’m concerned, she’s still mine.
I’ll cheat, steal, and fight before I let Anne marry another.
All is fair in love and war. And this is war…hope he’s ready to fight?

The Handshake agreement is a contemporary an age gap, second chance romance with a Possessive MMC

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

A. Akinosho lives in her own little nest in Illinois. An avid reader and enjoy reading thrillers, suspense and romance novels (partial to romance genre). When, She’s not reading or keeping up with life. She enjoys writing and creating twist to stories. She loves writing about diverse characters, friendship and overcoming challenges through, what is perceived as a weakness.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

The Starlight Contingency

Published on January 29, 2025January 22, 2025 by mariacatalinaeganLeave a comment

Book 1

by Kyoko M.

Genre: SciFi Romantic Adventure, Space Opera

The Starlight Contingency is Titan AE meets Nikita!

The Starlight Contingency

Book 1

by Kyoko M.

Genre: SciFi Romantic Adventure, Space Opera

Orphaned siblings Scarlett and Duke Nam have had it rough. Cast aside by society, they’ve managed to stay afloat as thieves on the streets of Alexandria, Virginia. Things plunge straight to hell when a heist goes wrong and they’re on the run from the cops, but after they stumble into a nearby home to escape, something seemingly impossible happens – the house transforms into a spacecraft and leaves the Earth’s orbit.

Scarlett and Duke awaken to find that they are now prisoners aboard the Titan International Spaceship. The Earth has been destroyed by the Bergleute des Todes, AKA The Miners of Death. Scarlett and Duke are given the chance to become soldiers to fight the aliens who destroyed the world.

The only thing left for them is the hardest thing of all: Survival.

The Starlight Contingency is the new space opera from USA Today best selling author Kyoko M. (She Who Fights Monsters, Of Cinder and Bone).

Amazon * Falstaff Books * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

Kyoko M is a USA Today bestselling author and a fangirl. She is the author of The Black Parade urban fantasy series, the Of Cinder and Bone science-fiction series, and the Starlight Contingency space opera series with Falstaff Books. The Black Parade has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews. Of Cinder and Bone placed in the Top 30 Books in Hugh Howey’s 2021 Self Published Science Fiction Contest. Kyoko M has appeared as a guest and panelist at such conventions as Geek Girl Con, DragonCon, Blacktasticon, Momocon, JordanCon, ConCarolinas, and MultiverseCon. She is also a contributor to Marvel Comics’ Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda (2021) anthology as well as the Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson (2025) anthology. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Lit degree from the University of Georgia, which gave her every valid excuse to devour book after book with a concentration in Greek mythology and Christian mythology. She is currently working on a science fiction trilogy with Falstaff Books and her debut novel, The Starlight Contingency, released October 29th, 2024.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Print Copy of The Starlight Contingency,

$10 Amazon giftcard

– 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Candle in the Wind

Published on January 28, 2025January 21, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

by Kim Baccellia

Genre: Diverse Dystopian Thriller

Betrayed…Banished…Alone

Candle in the Wind

by Kim Baccellia

Genre: Diverse Dystopian Thriller

What if you discovered everything you’ve been taught is a lie?

For most of her life, seventeen-year-old Espie Hernandez’s world revolved around the Branch of Thomas, a cult-like haven in what’s left of a war-ravaged America. Their ruler, Reverent Father, keeps them safe from the Others, those outside the compound who wish to harm them.

Espie questions what she’s been taught and finds herself banished from the compound. She’s thrust into the harsh world beyond their walls with the mission to prove the Others actually have a plot against them. When tensions escalate, Espie must figure out who to trust before everything she loves is torn apart.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Award-winning author Kim Baccellia grew up in Sacramento, California, the oldest of seven. She has a business associate degree from Sacramento City College, a BS degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University, and studied post grad bilingual/bicultural education at CSUF.

She’s been a telemarketer, library helper at the Harold B. Lee library at BYU, assistant manager, sales clerk, tutor, bilingual teacher, and homeschool mother. Currently the author of four YA novels with another one coming out soon!

Author of YA paranormal CROSSED OUT and CROSSED FIRE. YA dystopia CANDLE IN THE WIND. Also the author of the urban diverse fantasy EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. Short Christmas Magic in the Holiday analogy MISTLETOE AND MAGIC. Re-releasing YA fantasy series under new titles in 2026! Currently working on a historical romance set in Tuscany.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$ 20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Not For the Faint of Heart

Published on January 27, 2025January 18, 2025 by mariacatalinaeganLeave a comment

Madcap Adventures Book 1

by Rene Vecka

Genre: Epic Fantasy Mystery Romance Adventure

What would you do to free the love of your life from prison?

Not For the Faint of Heart

Madcap Adventures Book 1

by Rene Vecka

Genre: Epic Fantasy Mystery Romance Adventure

What would you do to free the love of your life from prison?

Magic and mayhem meet mystery and humor in a four-way rumble. Romance gets a few licks in as well. Set in a post-Ragnarok world with dual protagonists. If you loved the Dresden Files, you’ll love Madcap Adventures.

As Rory proposes to Ingefær, the Shrine they’re visiting is set ablaze. Ingefær is jailed and threatened with hanging. Rory investigates, but is hounded at every step by soldiers. While Ingefær searches for ways to defeat the jail’s magic wards, the Shrine’s healer vanishes in a puff of smoke.

Will the couple get the chance to solve the Shrine fire mystery before the law postpones their nuptials forever?

Kirkus Reviews: …In Vecka’s fantasy novel, lovers are torn apart by a false accusation and must prove one’s innocence before a rigged trial…Vecka creates compelling difficulties and character challenges that help drive the fast-paced plot and add to the already exciting mystery narrative…A fun and entertaining fantasy that will keep readers guessing.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

I’ve been a reader of fantasy and science fiction since I was ten. Lord of the Rings is still my favorite. I now read Butcher (Dresden) and Salvatore (Drizzt), as well at Sanderson and others. The Mid Dreki Realm got its start with a comment with my then fifteen year old son. That kernel grew into a book, which split into two, and is now a five book series. I retired at 57 and began the process of becoming a writer. I’ve attended a half dozen conferences, read numerous books on the art of writing, joined critique groups, and immersed myself in the craft. I’m a member of Apex, a group founded by David Farland (Runelord).

I live in the foothills between Colorado Springs and Denver with my wife. Deer, turkeys, bear, coyotes, and my three children and 2 grandchildren occasionally drop by.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$30 Amazon giftcard,

Signed Paperback of Not For The Faint of Heart

-1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Übermensch

Published on January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

by D.L. Scarpe

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Übermensch #DLScarpe #HistoricalFiction

Historical Fiction

Published: 1/15/2025

A murdered boy. Tortoiseshell eyeglasses. A letter written by a young man to another that reads like a lover’s spat. One portable Underwood typewriter. Two confessions.

Will Babe and Manny live or die?

It’s the early 1920s and arrogant teenagers Noah “Babe” Lieberman and Roman “Manny” Loewe have it all: money, brains, freedom. They reside in the same affluent Chicago neighborhood, come from successful, respectable families, and enjoy privileged lives. Both are intelligent prodigies who graduated high school early. But Roman, an extrovert, is handsome and popular whereas Noah is average-looking and spends most of his time with birds and books. After meeting, they embark on a wild journey of vandalism, burglary, and arson. Their personal relationship escalates, and their criminal acts morph into more sinister behavior as the two flout the laws of the “common” man and live their version of the Übermensch, or “superman” as defined by Friedrich Nietzsche.

One hundred years ago, the world was stunned to learn that Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy, brilliant university students, had confessed to kidnapping and murdering fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks. Why did Leopold and Loeb do it? For “pure love of excitement, or the imaginary love of thrills, doing something different,” they said.

D.L. Scarpe’s Übermensch fictionalizes the Leopold and Loeb case, focusing on the reason why the gifted teenagers’ lives took such an unexpected turn, destroyed three families, and captivated the country in what was dubbed at the time as the “crime of the century.”

About the Author

D.L. Scarpe has always had stories rattling around inside her head, locked up tight, only set free on those endless childhood nights spent swapping tales with her best friend. The story-weaving continued into adulthood–her little secret. However, raising a family; managing a household; building retaining walls, patios, or fire pits from stones (rock “jigsaw puzzles”); refinishing oak floors and furniture; or helping her husband on a roof–although she tried to pay attention when on a roof–kept her too busy for that other side of her to come out. So, it remained a secret.

But kids grow up and bodies get too tired for physical labor, and now it’s time to pursue her own passions and dreams. Working on her bucket list, she picked three things that make her happy, and she’s pursuing them all with no apologies:

Writing.

Shoes.

Tattoos.

Contact Links

Purchase Link

The Empress’ Palace

Published on January 24, 2025January 18, 2025 by mariacatalinaegan1 Comment

The Nehel Series Book 2

By Joseph Kopel

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure

What is your stance?

The Empress’ Palace

The Nehel Series Book 2

By Joseph Kopel

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure

Four years following the first book’s events.

Empress Nehel must navigate the complexities of ruling a Jyistereerk at war — the Deken Karsaker — while facing personal struggles and unforeseen circumstances.

The balance, once restored, shatters again with the loss of the continent of Ryza, all while a lost realm to the Gesha revives. Yet, a conspiracy within the Kingdom of Fenn ignites doubt as Nehel faces harsh decisions in the tragedy’s aftermath.

A story of coming of age, first love, and personal growth. This gripping tale will leave readers on the edge of their seats as they journey through a world of magic, intrigue and unexpected twists.

Disclaimer: The Ebook version is intentionally simplified for easy access on different devices and doesn’t have interior designs. The contents remain unchanged from the printed version.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

The Empress’ Journey

The Nehel Series Book 1

Amid turmoil and despair, a new hope arises as a young empress.

The Gesha obliterated the once thriving but ailing Kingdom of Aranka, triggering an imbalance in Sankaris. Epidemics, wars, pollution, and madness plague the land as the protagonists pursue for answers.

A glimmer of faith spreads throughout the maimed world as the Promise. Her rise to power brings a much-needed balance, ensuring a fresh start and the dawning of a new era.

Will she unravel the mysteries behind these afflictions and restore the balance to Sankaris?

Join this captivating tale of humanity, resilience, determination, and the search for truths in a world gripped by darkness.

Disclaimer: The Ebook version is intentionally simplified for easy access on different devices and doesn’t have interior designs. The contents remain unchanged from the printed version.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Joseph Kopel is an imaginative author who has transitioned from Sci-Fi to Space Opera and now ventures into the realm of Fantasy with his debut in the genre.

What began as a hobby has grown into thirty-five years of writing. Being bilingual, he switched between English and Spanish. The greatest influences on him were the Latin American literature in Mexico City’s libraries and the most famous American Sci-Fi authors.

When he is out of any fantastic realm to be in the world of reality, he enjoys his time with his wife, three kids, and his two pets.

Currently, he lives in Northwest Missouri, in a small peaceful country town of only 250 people.

Facebook * Instagram * TikTok* Amazon * Goodreads