Tag: books

Spotlight: MALIGN INTENT

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by Robert Craven

  

FROM 

sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com

Friday, April 25, 2025

Spotlight: MALIGN INTENT by Robert Craven


Genre: Crime Mystery

Summary: “Tag, bag and bury the bastard, Crowe…”

An August bank holiday should be about relaxation, taking time out to see family and friends and enjoying a beer or two. But when former gonzo journalist, Aonghus Hanafin is found hanging along a desolate estuary, the nearest SIO to the incident, Garda Inspector Pius John Crowe, is called to examine the scene.

Crowe has seen enough dead bodies in his time to suspect that Aonghus Hanafin wasn’t the hanging kind. He discovers a puzzling detail too; the late journalist had MS.

So how could Hanafin hang himself from a tree along a desolate estuary between two rural parishes?

Directed by his superiors to close off the former journalist’s death as a suicide, Crowe delves deeper and finds Hanafins death leads to a retired Chief Justice who is slated to take a prestigious appointment in Europe. Crowe gets to learn of a Swiss bank account, with over a million Euros in it that may be fuelling a lifestyle that the retired Chief Justice, Barry Gartland can barely afford.

In this contemporary neo-noir thriller, in Crowe’s investigation into how Hanafin died, loyalties blur and justice and truth are not always what they seem, placing him in the line of fire with a powerful elite…

… and may end up costing him his life …




Author Bio: Robert Craven is an award-winning author of thrilling fiction. His novel, “Eagles Hunt Wolves,” was the winner of the 2021 Firebird Book Award for best Action/Adventure. He was born on July 2nd, 1966 in Swinton, Manchester, and now resides in Rush, Co. Dublin with his wife and family.

Robert’s passion for writing began in 1992 when he submitted a short horror story, “The Chase,” to the speculative fiction magazine FTL, which was accepted and published. Since then, he has authored several books in various genres, including the Eva series (“Get Lenin,” “Zinnman,” “A Finger of Night,” “Hollow Point,” and “Eagles Hunt Wolves”), the Steampunk novel “The Mandarin Cipher,” and the crime thriller “A Kind of Drowning.”

In addition to his novels, Robert has also had short stories published in three anthologies and two articles published in The Oslo Times online newspaper. He is also a regular reviewer of CDs for the Irish Independent Review Ireland.


Purchase links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com

Kobo: kobo.com


Social Media links:

Website:robert-cravenauthor.ie

Goodreads: goodreads.com Robert_Craven

Claiming My Mate

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Wolf Hollow Pack Book 1

by Nicole Howl

Genre: Paranormal Romance

 


She was a servant. 

He was the Alpha Prince. 

The bond was never supposed to happen.


Claiming My Mate

Wolf Hollow Pack Book 1

by Nicole Howl

Genre: Paranormal Romance




Lily has spent the last year as a captive of the Huntington’s, the Wolf Hollow royals. They’ve been away touring their other pack lands, but they’re back now…and have turned her new life upside down.

Jason is the future Alpha and King of Wolf Hollow. He’s just biding his time until he can do whatever he wants without the threat of his father hanging over him – at least, he was until he met his mate.

With every aspect of their lives attempting to keep them apart, can Lily and Jason get a happily ever after?

 

**Get it for Only #99cents!**

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Nicole is a 32-year-old who still escapes into fictional worlds to avoid her adult responsibilities. It shouldn’t come as a shock then to find out that she will devour just about any book and has since she was a young girl. It doesn’t matter whether the book is dark, twisted, and full of smut or if it’s light, breezy, and sweet, she’s reading it.

Don’t be alarmed that she’d rather read a book than interact with you – it’s not your fault, she just doesn’t know how to people. Talk to her about what she’s currently reading or her favorite book and then you’ll find out she doesn’t know how to stop talking, so be careful what you wish for.

She lives with her husband of 5 years and her adorable dog-child, Ollie. She writes romance – paranormal, dark, contemporary, and more. Keep an eye out for her next book.

 

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Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers

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by Margie Pignataro

Genre: Nonfiction Literary Theory, Writer’s Guide

 


Check out the cover reveal for this free ebook that introduces neurodiverse writers (and neurotypical) to plot structures beyond the commonly used hero’s Journey. These plots are emotionally accessible, highly creative, and more “traditional” than you’d expect.

Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers

by Margie Pignataro

Genre: Nonfiction Literary Theory, Writer’s Guide


Born from a rejected dissertation proposal and reworked over the course of 15 years into a compelling exploration of narrative, Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers challenges conventional storytelling norms. This free ebook delves into how nontraditional plot structures resonate with neurodiverse writers, offering creative frameworks that align with their artistic and intellectual strengths—traits often mislabeled as obstacles.

Through engaging diagrams and dozens of links to free resources, this book examines storytelling across diverse mediums, from Oedipus the King to Squid Game, spanning novels, poetry, visual arts, television, film, theater, and even commercials. The Mona Lisa and Little Red Riding Hood provide illustrated and textual examples of each plot structure. Whether you’re a writer seeking fresh approaches or an artist questioning traditional narratives, this guide provides valuable insights into storytelling beyond the expected.

This ebook lays the groundwork for a forthcoming second edition, arriving next year, which will expand upon these ideas with deeper textual analyses, practical exercises, and hands-on guidance to help you craft your own unique narratives.

  

**Coming May 1st – and it’ll be FREE!!**




I have been writing with serious intent for thirty years. I’ve been published and produced multiple times. My education has focused on literary theory, theater history and criticism, as well as creative writing. I also sell my collage art in a Redbubble store.

I have been published as a playwright. I had articles about Shakespeare published, as well as blog pieces. I’ve self-published several novels and one book of poetry under the name Lady Ristretto. I have also worked as a freelance erotica writer with individual clients.

 

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Thea

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by Genevieve Morrissey

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

  


Poverty, prejudice, her mother’s addiction…in her quest for an education, 15-year-old Thea tries to navigate them all. But will a secret ultimately undermine her efforts?


Thea

by Genevieve Morrissey

Genre: YA Historical Fiction



Oklahoma City, 1925
Fifteen-year-old Thea Carter lives in a small garage apartment—Thea’s seventh “home” in four years—provided by her alcoholic mother’s employer, the morose and enigmatic Dr. Hallam.



School is Thea’s refuge and she’s an excellent student, but the parasitic Mrs. Carter’s instability continually threatens her dream of getting a high school diploma. In an effort to keep her mother employed and the two of them housed, Thea secretly takes on much of her mother’s work while at the same time navigating adolescence, friendships, and first love.



Dr. Hallam, impressed by her drive and intelligence, becomes Thea’s unexpected ally, but in addition to wealth and position, the doctor also has a secret that could ruin him, and shatter his bond with Thea.

 

“Thea is a coming-of-age tale with a lot of heart and charm. Author Genevieve Morrissey has written a moving story about a young girl’s journey of self-discovery…. Morrissey’s characters truly leap off the pages….. It’s a fantastic coming-of-age story for young adults and even older readers!”

– Reader’s Favorite Review


 

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Thea is the new historical novel by Genevieve Morrissey, author of the award-winning Marriage & Hanging and the popular Antlands science fiction series. She is an avid student of British and American social history who, through one of those strange little quirks of fate, spends most of her days talking with scientists. In addition to writing, Genevieve enjoys reading obscure books, travel, and solitude.

 

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Revary

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by Abigail Linhardt

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy Adventure

 


What if we could be the heroes we pretend to be? 



Revary

by Abigail Linhardt

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy Adventure



In a small Midwestern town, Celeste and her friends find escape from the pressures of senior year through their tabletop roleplaying games. But when Celeste stumbles upon a way to actually enter their imagined realm, fantasy becomes a reality.

Suddenly, the friends find themselves living out their greatest adventure. In Revary, they can be anyone they want: brave warriors, powerful mages, or cunning rogues. But as they explore this magical world of their own creation, they discover it is threatened by a mysterious force that is causing the fantastic world to vanish into darkness.

With Revary in peril and tensions rising in their world, Celeste and her friends must navigate the blurring lines between imagination and reality. As they fight to save their creation, they’ll confront fantastical dangers and the real-life issues they’ve been avoiding.

“Revary is a spellbinding journey that explores the power of friendship, the courage to face reality, and the magic of storytelling.” –ARC Review

 

 

**NEW RELEASE!!**

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Abi works part-time as a freelance ghostwriter, editor, audiobook narrator, and is one half of the partnership that owns Altered Reality Magazine. She hopes to one day make these passions her full-time job while she hunts for the next bohemian adventure.
She has published works of fiction, poetry, academia, and even won awards for her short stories in science fiction and horror. Her novel, The Trial of Two, was named an Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest 2021 self-publishing awards and won first place in the dark fantasy category in The BookFest Awards. Abi is also a proud mom of ferrets. She currently resides in Kansas.
She is one of nine children–all of whom share the creative spark.

  

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The Fourth Kinetic

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Clairvoyants Book 1

by Brady Moore

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 



X-Men meets Raising Dion! 


The Fourth Kinetic

Clairvoyants Book 1

by Brady Moore

Genre: YA Fantasy 



In this world, there are four strains of clairvoyants: Kinetics who can move objects with their minds, Prophets who have involuntary visions of the future, Readers who can delve into the innermost thoughts of others in an instant, and Aural who can transfer their consciousness to control the bodies of others.

At just 17 years old, Rion Grean is a Kinetic with no knowledge that he is not alone in his abilities. His protective mother had kept them constantly moving, even going as far as refusing to tell Rion about his father whom he never met. However, when an accident separates them, Rion finds himself being pursued by a covert militaristic force that sees his kind as dangerous anomalies in society. Suddenly thrust into a world filled with different factions of Clairvoyants, Rion must navigate through alliances and betrayals to determine who he can trust.

Despite his natural talents and intelligence, Rion has always struggled to make friends and find purpose in life due to his sheltered upbringing. But as he faces challenges outside of his comfort zone, he learns the true meaning of friendship and family. This is not a typical story of good versus evil; it is a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and the struggle to coexist in a society that fears what it cannot understand.

 

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Brady Moore was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began writing stories and drawing his own comic books at the age of ten and never looked back. After graduating high school he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In December of 2010, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies. Heavily influenced by film and television, his writing includes elements from multiple genres and multimedia styles. He currently resides in Charlotte, NC where he enjoys writing everything from poetry to movie scripts. His ultimate goal is to see one of his works adapted for the screen.

 

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Their Mended Hearts

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Cardinal Creek Book 2

by Angie Cole

Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Second-Chance Romance

 


A second chance at love… if they’re brave enough to take it.


Their Mended Hearts

Cardinal Creek Book 2

by Angie Cole

Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Second-Chance Romance



He’s a firefighter haunted by tragedy; she’s a nurse who never stopped loving him. Jon and Katie find themselves drawn back together, bound by shared history and the promise of healing and hope.

Jon Clemmons, a devoted firefighter, carries the heavy burden of guilt from losing his sister in a tragic accident. His pain runs deep, and he’s learned to keep others at a distance, afraid to let anyone see his scars.

Katie Deluca, a compassionate nurse, and Jon’s first love, has her own wounds, but she’s never stopped caring for him. When they’re reunited at a family wedding, old sparks reignite, and with them, old hurts that need mending.

As Jon and Katie draw closer, Jon’s troubled past, family secrets, and a volatile temper threaten to unravel the bond between them. Katie’s unwavering love gives him hope, but fears of reliving their painful past linger.

Will they find strength in each other to break free from the grip of old grief, or will their love slip away once more?

 

**Get it FREE March 28th – 30th!**

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Their Shattered Hearts

Cardinal Creek Book 1



He’s a firefighter with a broken heart. She is a nurse with a hidden secret and a heart that has been broken. Can love give them the strength to heal?

Will Deluca, a firefighter and ranch owner, hides his pain behind a rugged exterior. After the tragic loss of his wife, his days on the Rockin’ D Ranch are filled with hard work, caring for his two children, and carrying the heavy burden of unfulfilled promises. In the quiet hills of Texas, his world feels as empty as the vast plains.

When Anna Samuels, a compassionate nurse with a heart for healing, arrives in Cardinal Creek, she’s seeking a fresh start. Leaving behind heartbreak, Anna’s journey brings her to the ranch, where Will’s piercing blue eyes and quiet strength draw her in. Together, they find a spark of hope—something neither thought they’d feel again.

As their connection deepens, Will dreams of honoring his late wife’s wish to create a sanctuary for children with autism, blending his cowboy roots with a mission of healing. But his lingering guilt threatens to pull him back into darkness, jeopardizing their fragile bond.

Anna sees Will’s strength and kindness, but her secret—casts doubt over their growing love. Will her secret be the ultimate test of their love?

Set in the heart of Texas Hill Country, Their Shattered Hearts is a heartfelt story of second chances, featuring relatable characters, small-town charm, and the unyielding spirit of love. This western ranch romance will captivate readers who adore cowboy romance books with emotional depth and a loving MMC.

Will they find the courage to confront their demons and embrace the love they both deserve or will the ghosts of their pasts keep their hearts shattered forever?

 

**Get it for Only .99cents March 28th – 30th!**

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My journey as a romance author is deeply rooted in my personal experiences of love, loss, and resilience. The profound impact of the losses I have endured, including the passing of my grandparents and my parents, has shaped my perspective on life and love.

My own love story is one of healing and finding joy after heartache, and it mirrors the themes I explore in my novels.

As a survivor of grief and a believer in the power of love, I channel my experiences into crafting stories that resonate with the complexities and triumphs of the human heart. My writing is a testament to the idea that love can emerge from the most unexpected places, offering hope and healing. The one thing that can be learned from grief is that it’s a very personal experience and isn’t the same for every person.

 

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Vengeful CONspiracies

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A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 2

by Nicole Leiren

Genre: Cozy Mystery

 


Sadie encounters a nemesis from her past. 

Is it coincidence or is it something more sinister? 

Book 2 reveals the truth!


Vengeful CONspiracies

A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 2

by Nicole Leiren

Genre: Cozy Mystery



Sadie is settling into her new life in Wilson, Texas. She’s making friends and her business, Tesoro, is starting to thrive. But the past is never far behind. When two former team members come for a visit, they bring trouble in the form of a mutual enemy set on revenge threatening to disrupt Sadie’s fresh start.

 

She can’t turn her back on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The more Sadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the con this time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of her decisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question the choices she made leading to this point.

 

When their mutual enemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race to the truth reveals who can be trusted and who is running their final con. 

 

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Murderous CONsequences

A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 1


Sadie Sabatini thinks of herself as a modern-day Robin Hood who uses her gift as a skilled con artist to help those who have nowhere else to turn. Leading this life is rewarding, but the number of enemies are piling up. Sadie decides to lay low and start over with a new (and legitimate business) in the small town of Wilson, Texas, situated on a small peninsula in beautiful Lake Amore.

 

Trouble is never far behind though and her past catches up to her in a big way when a friend of a former mark threatens blackmail for his silence. When he turns up dead and Sadie is the prime suspect, she realizes this time she must protect herself. Her skills prove helpful as she digs deeper into the web of revenge, blackmail, and secrets to discover she’s not the only one with a past to hide.

 

As the threats mount, Sadie knows she’s closing in on the truth. She now worries that the few new friends she’s made in town are in danger because of her. With time running out, can she protect those around her and find the real killer before this new chapter in her life is conned out of a happy ending?

 

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Described by those who know her best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole Leiren likes to have fun — in life, with her characters and, of course, her readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets while traversing the country.

Nicole enjoys sharing the love, laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or happily ever after (usually both!)

 

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The Woke and the Dead

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Nostalgia City Mysteries Book 5

by Mark S. Bacon

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

 


Suspenseful political mystery starts when a sunbelt governor attacks Nostalgia City theme park.


The Woke and the Dead

Nostalgia City Mysteries Book 5

by Mark S. Bacon

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

The Governor vs. Theme Park = Murder

 A public war between a governor and a theme park lights the fuse on a story of hate groups, murder, corruption, racism, and political espionage.

 

Ex-cop turned theme-park cab driver Lyle Deming finds the body of a park visitor during an LGBTQ event. The dead man catered gay weddings. Was it a hate crime?

 Arizona governor Rod Gudgel—running for re-election—calls it a random shooting. He mocks Nostalgia City theme park for its inclusiveness, uses homophobic and racial slurs, and later challenges the safety of its rides.

 When park employees demonstrating for gay rights are killed and injured, Kate Sorensen, the park’s 6’-2½” public affairs VP, slams Gudgel’s unsympathetic response. Lyle searches for shooting suspects and finds himself too close to an armed hate group while Kate digs into the governor’s past, unearthing an impossible trail of malfeasance and enraging Gudgel allies.

 Kate and Lyle run into plenty of blind alleys, deception, and dead ends, as they hurry to take down the governor and help the FBI solve hate crimes.

 With Lyle’s wry humor and Kate’s unflappability the story moves quickly as puzzles and subplots multiply and loop together threatening the park, their relationship, and their lives.

 

**PreOrder Now for Only $2.99!**

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**Don’t miss the rest of the series!!**

Find them on Amazon! 


Mark S. Bacon began his career as a Southern California newspaper police reporter, one of his crime stories becoming key evidence in a murder case that spanned decades.

Before turning to fiction, Bacon wrote business books, one of which was  printed in four languages and three editions and named best business book of the year by the Library Journal. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Denver Post, San Antonio Express News, and many other publications. Most recently he was a correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Death in Nostalgia City, the first in his five-book series, was recommended by the American Library Association. Desert Kill Switch, the second series book, was the top fiction winner in the 2018 Great Southwest Book Festival.

Bacon gets some of his ideas from experience as a police reporter and also from his work as a copywriter for Knott’s Berry Farm theme park. He taught university journalism in California and Nevada and is trying to teach his golden retriever to stop pulling the leash.

 

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Would You Rather…

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part of The Haunting of Pinedale High Series

by Kimberly Baer

Genre: YA Paranormal

 


The luck of the draw has never been riskier.


Would You Rather…

part of The Haunting of Pinedale High Series

by Kimberly Baer

Genre: YA Paranormal



Pick a card, any card…

Would you rather be an amazing artist or a brilliant mathematician?

Would you rather lose your mother or your father?

Would you rather roast to death or freeze to death?

It’s a silly game hosted by a substitute teacher, an exercise in exploring the workings of the teenage mind. Twenty-three students make their choices, and the game is forgotten—until the chosen scenarios start coming true. Classmates Ava, Blake, and Charlie are determined to track down the mysterious teacher and persuade him to end the curse. But the clock is ticking, lives hang in the balance, and the foe they seek is more menacing than they could imagine.

 

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Kimberly Baer is an author and professional editor who was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a town marginally famous for having endured three major floods. She even lived there during one of them. She enjoys power-walking on days when it’s not too hot, too cold, too rainy, too snowy, or too windy. On indoor days, you’re likely to find her hard at work on her next novel or binge-watching old episodes of Survivor, her favorite guilty pleasure. 

 Kim has had her nose in a book practically since birth. Her first story, written at age six, was about a baby chick that hatched out of a little girl’s Easter egg after somehow surviving the hard-boiling process. These days she writes in a variety of genres, including young adult, middle-grade, and adult romantic suspense. Her books are published by The Wild Rose Press and have won several awards.

  

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