M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧

About the Author

 DeCarol Jovanovic is a sleep advocate, entrepreneur, and mom of two. For more than 30 years, DeCarol has worked with children. During this time, she became certified as a newborn care specialist and developed a potty training song to encourage little boys and girls to pee on the potty.

Tinkle Tinkle Little One © has been sung by recording artists and little children around the globe. DeCarol is excited to share the Tinkle Tinkle Little One © song with parents and simple steps for using the potty with little boys and girls around the world.

DeCarol is a service disabled veteran who has served and deployed to overseas locations. DeCarol has worked in Okinawa, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and many locations in the USA. DeCarol completed undergraduate studies at University of Maryland University College (2005) and obtained a Master of Arts from Webster University (2008). DeCarol is also creator of “Don’t Wake the Baby” inspired signs.

Contact Link

Website

Amazon

by Delia Strange

Genre: SciFi Time Travel Historical Paranormal Vampire Romance

Eternal Life. 

Endless Love. 

Infinite Cost.

Amaranthine

by Delia Strange

Genre: SciFi Time Travel Historical Paranormal Vampire Romance

Eternal life comes at a cost

For centuries, Amaranthine has walked through time—an immortal bound by a gift she never asked for. From the opulent halls of the Roman Empire to the decadent jazz clubs of 1920s London, to the futuristic floating city of New Francisco, she has lived countless lives, loved deeply, and lost more than most could ever bear. With each new era comes new faces: lovers, rivals, and those drawn to the mystery of her eternal existence. But immortality comes with a price, and as the world changes, so too does the weight of the centuries she carries.

Torn between living for the future and haunted by the choices of her past, Amaranthine must confront the question that has followed her for an eternity: What does it mean to live forever when everything and everyone else fades away?

 

“This is the first book in a while that I have continued to mull over even after I’d finished reading it as it’s definitely a story that gets you thinking.”

~ Lynne Stringer, Goodreads Review

 

Amazon ebook * Amazon Audiobook * Audible * Apple * B&N * Google 

Kobo * Smashwords Bookbub * Goodreads

Marcellus took her hand, his touch warm, and without a word he led her deeper into the olive grove. The trees closed in around them and the world outside the grove disappeared, leaving only the two of them beneath the cover of night. The air smelled faintly of the earth and the lingering sweetness of ripening fruit, but all Amaranthine could focus on was the heat of his hand against hers, the certainty in his steps as he drew her farther away from the villa, away from everything she knew.

When he stopped, she nearly stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden stillness. Marcellus turned to face her, his gaze sweeping over her with an intensity that made her catch her breath. His eyes roamed her face, her body, lingering as though his look could somehow touch her skin. It wasn’t just a glance; it was deeper, heavier.

Slowly, deliberately, Marcellus ran his fingers up her arm, light as a breeze. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, thrilling and delicate all at once. His hand traveled over her shoulder, warm and sure, before brushing against her neck, where her pulse raced beneath his fingertips. He cupped her face, his thumb grazing her cheek as his other hand slid into her hair, gently cradling the back of her neck. The closeness of him—his soft breath against her skin, his scent unfamiliar and intoxicating—made her dizzy.

When he pressed his body against hers, she didn’t hesitate. Amaranthine’s arms wrapped around him as though it was the most natural thing in the world, her fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic. She could feel the heat of him through the thin cloth, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the thrilling, terrifying anticipation that hovered in the air between them. He leaned in, his lips so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath, and her body instinctively tilted forward, closing the last distance between them.

The kiss began softly, their lips brushing with a delicate hesitance, as though both of them were testing the boundaries of something new. It was sweet, tender, like a whispered secret exchanged in the dark. Amaranthine’s heart fluttered, the warmth of his mouth against hers sending gentle waves of pleasure through her body. Her hands tightened their grip on his tunic, pulling him closer, and for a moment, everything else faded away—her worries, her fears, even the nagging sense of not belonging. Here, in this kiss, she felt connected, as though they shared something deeper than words.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the kiss deepened. Marcellus’ arms wrapped around her waist, his hands pressing her closer, and the softness between them gave way to something more intense, more urgent. Passion overtook them both, their lips moving with a fervor that surprised her. Amaranthine had never kissed anyone before, but she felt as though she’d always known how, the way their mouths fit together, the way their breaths mingled in the cool night air. Her heart pounded faster, and a strange heat pooled in her chest, spreading through her veins in a way that made her feel alive.

Then something within her awoke. At first, she didn’t recognize it, mistaking the growing intensity for the natural progression of a kiss. There was a pull, a sensation inside her, almost like the drawing of breath, but deeper, fuller. She thought it was part of the magic of kissing, the way it could make someone feel as though they were floating, untethered from everything. No wonder people kiss, she thought, her mind hazy with the thrill of it. It’s wonderful. She let the sensation sweep over her, unaware of what she was truly doing. But then, after a moment, she noticed something different. Their lips had stopped moving. The rhythm they had found, the tender push and pull, had stilled.

Amaranthine opened her eyes, confused, and pulled back. Her breath caught in her throat. Marcellus staggered away from her, his face ashen, his once bright eyes dull and clouded. He looked gaunt, hollow, as though something had been drained from him. His skin sagged against the bones of his cheeks, and before her eyes, he aged—twenty years, maybe more—his youthful vibrance withering into something frail and brittle. He gasped, his hands reaching out toward her as though for help, but no words came. Then, with a final shuddering breath, Marcellus crumpled to the ground, motionless.

An only child with an active imagination, I created many stories in my head. My bookcase was overflowing, and I loved visiting the library. I’d always been a reader, but I hadn’t considered writing until a childhood friend said we should write our ideas down. Once I started writing my stories, I couldn’t stop.

I gravitated to stories of peculiar places and happenings. I loved twists and dark reveals, so my writing didn’t stray far from that. I was a fan of fantasy—of ancient Greek myths or contemporary paranormal stories. They captured my imagination and opened me to worlds of possibilities. There were no constraints on fantasy, no wrong or right answers; anything I dreamed up was acceptable. And then came H. G. Wells and science fiction, which also opened the door to paranormal and speculative fiction, my three favourite genres.

 

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

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

Enter the Amaranthine Giveaway Here

What happens when a retired professor sits down to write his memoir—with the help of an artificial intelligence? Dorothy and Me is a groundbreaking, deeply personal exploration of the evolving relationship between human and machine.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

Thought-provoking memoirs about technology and humanity  Reflections on creativity, consciousness, and digital identity  Conversations about AI ethics, memory, and the future of intelligence

Vincentia Schroeter dreams of building a family of her own and expects an easy pregnancy. She imagines following in her mother’s footsteps, surrounded by the love of children. However, when complications mount, she must face the likelihood that her wish will never come true.

As her sisters bear children, and women all around her share their happy baby news, Vin grows more envious than ever. The frustration continues as hard truths test her patience and faith and medical professionals deliver devastating blows. The only thing she knows for sure is that she is determined to become a mother.

A story of one woman’s harrowing path through trauma and disillusionment, Babymaking is a heartfelt memoir of vulnerability, rupture, and repair. Vin’s journey reminds us that hope and unconditional love have the power to lead us to the place we were always meant to be.

 Vincentia Schroeter grew up in a small town in central California as the fourth of twelve children. Intrigued by the many different personalities in her family, she knew by the age of sixteen that she wanted to be a counselor. She put herself through college and graduate school in order to pursue her dreams.

Vin is the author of the award-winning self-help book, Communication Breakthrough: How Using Brain Science and Listening to Body Cues Can Change Your Relationships (2018). She also co-authored a training manual on somatic psychotherapy that has been translated into three languages.

After a forty-year career as a psychotherapist listening to clients’ stories of pain and trauma, Vin felt drawn to share her own story. She now lives in San Diego with her husband Steve and enjoys pickleball, painting, and time with family, including her dog, Ren.

Website

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram: @vincentia_schroeter

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Based on a true story.

Set in the late 1890’s, The Brothers Brown – a family saga, Part 2 – For the Sake of Family is a sweeping frontier saga of love, guilt, and redemption – an unflinching portrait of a man’s descent into madness amid the unforgiving wilds of Indian Territory.

When Matt Brown boards a northbound train, he carries more than a pistol. He carries the weight of his brother’s death, a marriage strained to its breaking point, and a conscience at war with itself. A doctor’s brown vial of medicine offers fleeting relief but soon draws him into a darker world where pain and guilt blur into something far more dangerous.

His wife, Milla, proud and rooted in her Choctaw heritage, stands as both his anchor and his judge as the world around them shifts under the weight of change and loss.

From Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the wooded banks of Bokchito Creek, two families are bound by tragedy and love, vengeance and mercy. A celebration meant to heal ignites old resentments. A family gathering ends in bloodshed. And a winter dance turns deadly, forcing each to face the cost of survival, forgiveness, and the ties that bind them.

Steeped in the spirit of the Choctaw Nation and the rough mercy of the Old West, For the Sake of Family is a haunting tale of madness, murder, and the fragile hope that redemption can be found on the far side of ruin.

Excerpt

 With each step, the old man’s ankle rattles shook. The dried tails of rattlesnakes fastened to leather strips grew louder and faster as his steps grew heavier. Many of the men had rattles tied to their ankles as well, while the women’s moccasins tingled with strands of beads hanging from the fringe. 

 Matt watched in awe as the people danced. 

“Way-yak-un-way-yak-a,” the leader sang, striking the sticks in measured rhythm, one-and-a, two-and-a, one-and-a, two-and-a. On the twelfth beat, each pair of dancers turned to one another, their right foot kicked dirt inward as they voiced a loud, “woah.” 

Spellbound, Matt watched, mouthing the chant under his breath along with the dancers. Then his breath caught. Milla stepped into the firelight, dancing beside a woman he had never seen before. 

 He gasped aloud, never having seen his wife like this, dressed in full traditional attire, her body moving gracefully in the fire’s glow. For an instant, she seemed a stranger, and yet more truly herself than he had ever known. 

 She turned her head, eyes lifting toward the trees. Matt stumbled backward, ducking for cover. He had to get out of there. 

 He spun around and nearly collided with John. 

“Shhh.” John pressed a finger to his lips and grabbed Matt’s arm, guiding him quietly away from the gathering. 

About the Author

With no close relatives nearby, R.G. Stanford turned to online resources in search of extended family. That search became a twenty-year journey through genealogy websites, Federal Census records, the National Archives, and old newspapers. Along the way, R.G. Stanford uncovered incredible stories about her family and the people who once lived in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Compelled to record the truth of her family in the lore, sprinkled with imagination, R.G. Stanford is a history lover, a research buff, and a passionate genealogy enthusiast. She is also a mother, a grandmother, and a teller of stories, now living near Orlando.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Amazon Author Page

Date Published: December 9, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

The Hippocratic Oath dictates, “First, do no harm,” but what if success demands it?

The calm and compassionate Dr. Joyce Porter is proud to work at McArthur Fertility Institute, where miracles happen every day. Couples determined to conceive flock to the clinic, drawn by its unmatched IVF success rate and glowing reputation.

But behind the clinic’s shining facade lies a disturbing secret. When another doctor mentions a peculiarity in the facility’s methods, Joyce investigates. What she discovers is worse than she could have imagined. Now, she must decide whether to confront the institute’s renowned director about his unscrupulous deeds or compromise her ethics by turning a blind eye. She knows staying silent could destroy people’s lives, but speaking out could destroy hers.

As the line between healing and harm blurs, Joyce must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her patients, her integrity, and the future she still hopes to build.

About the Author

Her dedication to helping patients and students left her little time to write, but the idea for a novel stuck with her. Inspired by deeply moving stories of couples undergoing IVF, she developed her first novel, In Vitro.

Now retired, M.J. lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a spicy cat named Simon. She volunteers at a local elementary school, where she reads with kindergarteners to foster a love of books. Tai chi, crafting, and wine tasting are a few of her favorite hobbies.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook Page

Instagram

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Apple Books

Kobo

Date Published: December 9, 2025

A no-nonsense, heart-driven guide to help you break free from self-doubt and live boldly.

If you’ve ever held back because you didn’t feel smart enough, ready enough, or worthy enough, this book is your turning point.

In Unshrink Yourself, bestselling author and leadership coach Thanh Nguyen shares twelve small-but-mighty mindset shifts that help you silence your inner critic, let go of perfectionism, and finally step into your power.

With raw honesty, heartfelt stories, and practical reflection exercises, Thanh guides you through the exact steps she used to rebuild her confidence—from a voiceless immigrant teenager to an engineering executive, bestselling author, professor, and speaker who leads with courage and heart.

Each mini-shift is a simple yet profound change in how you think, speak, and show up every day. From accepting compliments and discovering your core values to rewiring negative self-talk and celebrating small wins, these shifts compound to transform how you see yourself and what you believe is possible.

If you’re tired of shrinking, second-guessing, and settling for less than you deserve… it’s time to rise.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Break free from self-sabotaging thoughts and limiting beliefs

• Replace fear with faith and self-criticism with compassion

• Speak up, stand tall, and own your worth

• Build confidence through consistent, courageous action

• Lead your life with authenticity, balance, and joy

You don’t need to be perfect—just present, brave, and willing to grow.

Because the world doesn’t need a smaller version of you.

It needs the real you—confident, courageous, and unapologetically alive.

It’s time to Unshrink Yourself.

Praise For Unshrink Yourself:

“If you’ve ever held yourself back, played small when you knew you had more to give, or wondered whether your voice really matters, this book is for you. It will remind you that the world doesn’t need a smaller version of you; it needs the fullest, boldest, most authentic expression of you.” —Jack Canfield. Co-creator, Chicken Soup for the Soul® series. New York Times Bestselling Author, The Success Principles™: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

“Unshrink Yourself helps readers grow into confident, values-driven leaders. Thanh Nguyen is a shining example of the Maxwell Leadership mission in action — to equip and empower others to lead with integrity, purpose, and passion. She embodies what it means to add value to people.” —Chris Robinson. EVP of Maxwell Leadership Team. USA Today Bestselling Author, From Drift to Drive: A High Achiever’s Guide To Breaking The Chains Of Complacency

“Unshrink Yourself fits right alongside works by Brené Brown and Mel Robbins… It reads like advice from a friend who’s done the hard work and is willing to share the messy parts. Through personal stories, studies, and practical steps, Nguyen shows how confidence can grow from the inside out. The book’s heart sits in its honesty. Nguyen’s strength is how she keeps things simple. She skips the jargon and focuses on what actually works. Her voice feels lived in, not performative. The book balances storytelling with action steps that make readers pause and think, then actually do something about it.” —Sam Wright, Book-Buy.

About the Author

 Thanh Nguyen is the co-founder of The Encourage Team and the bestselling author of Calm in Chaos: Mindfulness and Meditation for Busy Professionals. A certified leadership coach, keynote speaker, Professor in the Practice at Rice University, and longtime mindfulness practitioner, she is dedicated to helping individuals cultivate resilience, clarity, and courage through mindset mastery.

Originally from Vietnam, Thanh overcame financial hardship, language barriers, and personal adversity after immigrating to the United States as a teenager. With two master’s degrees—in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration—two U.S. patents, and more than twenty years of corporate leadership experience, she now channels her expertise into empowering others to live positively, lead courageously, and take inspired action toward their goals.

Contact Links

Website

BookBuzz

Purchase Link

Amazon

by Michael Forester

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure

Sometimes, nothing but the death of your father will do

Dragonsong

by Michael Forester

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure

Rebekah, noblewoman of Albion, has been driven to madness by the murder of her lover Vidar. In her torment she bargains with the Prince of Demons to turn her into a dragon. Thus transformed, she seeks to take revenge upon her father, Merlin, whom she is fooled into believing is responsible for Vidar’s death. To save the world from the ravages of Dragonsong, Merlin is forced to banish his beloved daughter to hell, regardless of the consequences for him personally. 

Behind the subterfuge stands Oberon, Captain-King of Elves. He does not foresee the devastation his jealousy and unrequited love for Rebekah will unleash upon Gaia when he frees her from Merlin’s spell and summons her from hell to support his war against Albion.

To save Gaia a second, Merlin is forced to travel back in time to prepare a warrior capable of overcoming the dragon through the power of the Sleep Stone. But he does not foresee the bond that will develop between the dragon and his own assistant, the Seer, Michael of Albion. If Lady Attie and Michael prove unable to return the Sleep Stone to the mouth of Hell in time, the Demon Army will be swarm out of Hell and overrun Gaia.

Time. Time is the key. Time is the only solution to Gaia’s destiny – but only if the gods of Asgard can find a way to stop it.  

 

What readers are saying:

“On a par with the epic of Beowulf, this modern day classic never ceases to amaze. Gripping, thrilling, twisting and turning, the plot of this epic piece of verse (an achievement unrivalled in the 20 the century, I’d say), will have you gripped from start to finish. Don’t just dream of dragons and elves, Kings and Warriors, heaven and hell: read about them and allow the mythology to soak deep into the fibre of your being! You, and your deepest soul, will be thrilled.” -Rod Boothroyd

 

Absolutely beautiful book I loved this book. It is a tale of wizards, demons, dragons, elves, love and treachery set around the Arthurian court but written in rhyme. I have not read any poetic literature for over 40 years since studying Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight at university so this book intrigued me. I am full of admiration for anyone who can write beautiful poetry but when they can also tell a story at the same time I find that quite remarkable. It is about the battle between elves and men, love stories ending tragically and deceit and treachery. I would urge people to read this even if they haven’t read poetry in a long time, I just found it so beautiful and the story will entrance you. The last lines as written by the Scribe are “Or wilt thou, reader, now persuade me once again to take my pen And make another story come to be? All I can say is that I really hope so!  – A 5 Star ***** Review By Breakaway Reviewers

  

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Michael Forester is a deafened author who lives between the New Forest and the sea. He is a full time author and public speaker, travelling both in the UK and internationally, speaking inspirationally and signing his books for readers in locations as far apart as the UK, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. He is the author of ten published books to date, on subjects as diverse as business strategy, spiritual inspiration and epic fantasy poetry.

Michael’s own journey has taken him from early years in academia into middle years in management training and Neuro Linguistic Programming. It has taken him from normal hearing to near-profound deafness and the life-changing arrival of a hearing dog, Matt. It has taken him through a miraculously survived suicide attempt in 2002, into a spiritual awakening.

He has travelled to over forty countries, from the Amazon Rainforest, encountering ecological devastation, to South Africa, experiencing post-Apartheid forgiveness; from a personal pilgrimage in search of the singing bowls of Nepal, to a first-hand examination of the darker side of economic modernisation in the Philippines, besides many other destinations.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

Enter the Dragonsong Giveaway Here

A Friday the 13thStory

by Tamela Miles

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

Check out this fateful cover reveal! 

A Hundred Black Sunrises

A Friday the 13thStory

by Tamela Miles

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

A hundred different ways to break your heart, a hundred different ways to take your last breath.

Sienna and Finn are exploring their strange attraction to each other until strange becomes something sinister. The clock is ticking as they fight to unravel the mystery of what draws them together on fateful Friday, the 13th.

**PreOrder Now for Only .99 cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Tamela Miles is a California State University San Bernardino graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She’s a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.

She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she does.

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

Follow the reveal HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

Enter the A Hundred Black Sunrises Giveaway Here