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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Cover Reveal- SAME PLACE, SAME STARS by #KateyTaylor With An Excerpt & A $15 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

Today Katey Taylor and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for SAME PLACE, SAME STARS, her psychological drama book which releases May 13th! Check out the awesome cover and enter the giveaway!

 

On to the reveal!

About The Book:

Title: SAME PLACE, SAME STARS

Author: Katey Taylor

Pub. Date: May 13, 2025

Publisher: Katey Taylor

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Goodreads

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia battles a rare parasomnia sleep disorder that propels her to act violently, experience night terrors, and put herself in dangerous situations—all while she’s unconscious.

After waking up covered in unexplained bruises, she lands herself back in a mental facility. Making friends has never been easy, but at Awana, she quickly bonds with her fun-loving roommate Lindsay and falls for Gabriel, a handsome yet severely depressed resident she secretly meets at night.

As Natalia wrestles with the harsh side effects of her medication, her reality unravels, exposing disturbing truths about those she trusts most. Though romantic relationships are strictly forbidden at Awana, Gabriel becomes her lifeline amidst the chaos. To be with him, Natalia must risk everything—including her sanity, and she learns some choices carry devastating consequences.

Filled with shocking twists, Same Place, Same Stars, is a psychological drama that unpacks the many layers of what happens when dark secrets refuse to be ignored.

 

Book Trailer:


Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

No sharp objects. Pack light.

My instinct is to run, but I don’t know how far my sore limbs will carry me.

Apathy is my last line of defense.

I reach for a baggy sweatshirt and leggings. This has become my uniform when I go away, not for any fashion statement but its functionality—it can be easily taken off before my body is searched by a nurse’s gloved hands. The pressure from the fabric causes me to hiss in pain. I carefully step each leg in to cover the tender scrapes and deep purple bruises along my pale white shins and thighs. The bruises are a reminder that I’ve messed up again.  

I drag my worn leather suitcase that’s on its last leg away from our cottage and into the trunk of Olga’s station wagon. She doesn’t say a word as we head out of our driveway and onto the tree-dense highway. The branches are grayer than normal, though it could be my mood filtering the world in a cloud of indifference.

Olga rolls every window down even though it’s a brisk fifty-two degrees. Long drives make her sweat. I think she would never leave our small town if it were up to her, but I remain her forcing agent.

My eyes wander from the pastures filled with cows and horses to Olga and her wild blowing hair that is unusually more silver than black for someone in their thirties.

“So, what’s this ward like?” I ask, trying to break the tense silence.

“Don’t call it that. That’s not what it’s called. This is a treatment center.”

She turns up her classical piano playlist, the one she plays to calm her nerves, then hands me a folded piece of stock paper filled with smiling faces of young adults—those who, like me, are not teenagers anymore but not quite what I would consider adults either. Much like our mental state, we’re something in between.

The brochure states this center isn’t government funded. By the looks of it, it seems far out of the budget of Olga’s ballet studio salary and my unemployed status, but it claims as part of their philosophy that they take on special cases free of charge. Just my luck, they happened to have room for a last-minute drop-in.

 After the stunt I pulled last night, I’m sure Olga would be willing to pay any price.

 

 

About Katey Taylor:

Katey Taylor is a San Francisco Bay Area-based author and published poet, with work featured in online magazines such as DarkWinter LitSWAAY, and Fauxmoir. She’s recognized for her ability to address complex topics with sensitivity and depth. To find out more about her previous and upcoming novels, visit www.kateytaylor.com


Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 




Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Ends February 28th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, February 17, 2025

Blog Tour- STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS by #KittyMayGruchelska With An Excerpt & a $25 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS by Kitty May Gruchelska Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS

Author: Kitty May Gruchelska

Pub. Date: June 13, 2024

Publisher: Magnetic Lion Productions

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon

Get the eBook for .99! 

In Chips We Trust
The chipocalypse is the greatest mystery to hit the seaside town of Fry Cove. Join Steven F Seagull on the adventure of a lifetime in this Pencraft Best Book engaging read about courage, friendship and teamwork, which reviewers hail as ‘an unexpected delight.’

Who stole the chips? Was it the Deny the Fry colony, who want all seagulls to quit eating chips? Or was it the seagull mafia boss, Stefano Giacomo, who has concocted a dastardly plot to convert all seagulls to pizza and pasta? As part of the newly formed CIA (Chips Investigation Agency), our reluctant hero, along with Charlie, Steven Colton, the karate chopping Bart, and Steven Rhys pit their wits to solve the mystery.

Whether you’re a fan of whimsical tales or simply in need of a feel-good read, this Readers' Favourite 5 Star ‘war of the best carbohydrates’ book is sure to leave you smiling.


Reviews:

Five stars!
'...a war of the best carbohydrates!'
'...a wonderful, family-friendly story that was an absolute delight to read.'- Jamie Michele, Readers' Favourite

'...a delightful and whimsical adventure...'
'Throughout this fast-paced tale, readers will meet gannets, pasta-loving Italians, and even robots... Ultimately, "The Great Chip Hunt" is a fun tale of adventure and a heartwarming reminder of the importance of friendship...' -Authors Reading

Five stars!
'Gruchelska's storytelling is engaging, reminiscent of an animated movie... (her) ability to craft a charming world filled with memorable characters makes the book a joy for readers of all ages.' -Literary Titan


Book Trailer:


 

Excerpt 1

Nervous, I flew alongside my dad, wondering what to expect. Fry Cove looked so peaceful and calm from the air, hiding the chip chaos. Dad took me to a rooftop on the edge of Fry Cove, where we found a hole and squeezed inside the lair of his ex-crime fighting friend.

It was dark inside, except for the light coming through the hole. A seagull emerged from a shadowy corner, smoke surrounding him in a cloudy haze.

“Who goes there?” he grumbled.

My dad held up his wings like he was surrendering.

“It’s okay, it’s me, Steven Petronius.”

A bedraggled seagull hopped forward, a twig drooping from the corner of his beak.

“Hmph, long time no see,” he said. “How long was it since we were both in the seagull police force?”

They slapped each other on the back, and began chuckling.

“This is Steven Sherlock,” my dad said. “He’s a very old friend.”

Both of them tipped their heads back and cackled, “Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!”

“Remember the time we busted that American fries racket?” Steven Sherlock said.

“Oh yeah,” Dad said. “Our finest hour.” He beckoned to me. “This is my son, Steven Fitzgerald.”

The ex-detective’s eyes scanned me.

“A fine boy,” he commented. “What can I do for you? Is it anything to do with the chipocalypse?”

“Still as sharp as ever!” my dad said. “My boy just joined the newly formed CIA, or Chips Investigation Agency. Its mission is to solve the mystery of our missing chips, and restore order in Fry Cove.”

I gulped, my mind racing at the thought of the responsibility I had accepted.

“That’s brave of you,” said Steven Sherlock. “Pull this off, and you’ll be the hero of Fry Cove.”

I hung my head low, knowing I was far from heroic.

“Unfortunately, Steven Zeus put the Artful Dodger in charge of the CIA,” Dad said, shaking his head.

“That fool,” Steven Sherlock scoffed. “So, it means you need all the help you can get.”

He finished his twig, and stubbed it out on the floor.

My dad asked, “Have you got any old tools of the trade to get my boy started?”

Steven Sherlock lifted a wing tip in a lightbulb moment.

“I have something that could help.”

He waddled to the side of the room, which received light from the hole. Pulling out a drawer, he dipped in, lifting something out. It was shiny, but dusty. He dropped it on the floor with a clunk.

“You’ll find this useful when looking for clues,” he said. “It’s my old spy glass.”

He demonstrated by picking it up with one foot, peering through it.

“You can see many things not visible to the seagull eye. It makes tiny things bigger.”

“That’s…great,” I said, not sure how it would help.

“Hmmm,” Dad said. “What else do you have in your arsenal?”

Steven Sherlock rubbed his wings together with glee.

“Glad you asked! I have the full Chip Stealing Investigation tools here!”

He used his beak to pull a cord. A series of drawers and cupboards popped out, revealing a full range of crime fighting equipment.  There was so much technology, it made my mind boggle.

“Here, we have a sophisticated tool for analysing wing tip prints.”

I stared at the equipment wide-eyed.

“While over here,” he added, “I have some special cement for making casts of footprints, chalk for drawing around dead gulls, and a poop splatter examination kit. It can also analyse ketchup, mayonnaise, and even barbeque sauce smears.”

“It’s so…hi-tech,” I said.

“You’re in the best of wings,” Dad said. Turning to Steven Sherlock, he added, “Where do you suggest my boy starts?”

He pulled the cord again, and the equipment rolled back into its secret location.

“Go to the places of previous chip sightings, and use the spy glass to find clues. Take samples of any ketchup smears or small items that you think are suspicious, then bring them back to me in these little bags.”

He passed me some empty chip bags.

“Okay,” I said, my voice quite shaky.

“You can do this,” Dad said. “I believe in you.”

It was time to show Fry Cove my capabilities, but could I live up to my dad’s expectations?

 

 

About Kitty May Gruchelska:

Kitty May Gruchelska loves creating fantastical worlds for her readers, full of diverse and quirky characters. In a past life, she was probably a cat because she likes tuna, dislikes water, and frequently knocks things over, but luckily, she has nine lives. Kitty May teaches in a magical desert kingdom full of sunshine, camels, and rice dishes. She loves travelling, which also inspires her to write.

Sign up for Kitty’s newsletter and get Stefano Giacomo & The Three Ghosts for FREE!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 



Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS & A $25 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.

4 winners will receive a finished copy of STEVEN F SEAGULL & THE MISSING CHIPS, US Only.

Ends March 4th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/17/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

2/17/2025

Fire and Ice

Excerpt/IG Post

2/18/2025

Daily Waffle

Excerpt

2/18/2025

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

2/19/2025

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/19/2025

For the love of KidLit

Guest Post/IG Post

2/20/2025

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

2/20/2025

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

2/21/2025

The Momma Spot

Excerpt

2/21/2025

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

Week Two:

2/24/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

2/24/2025

@callistoscalling

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic

2/25/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/25/2025

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

2/26/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/26/2025

Deal Sharing Aunt

Review

2/27/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

2/27/2025

@evergirl200

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/28/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

2/28/2025

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post


Blog Tour- OF THREADS AND OCEANS by #camillatracy With An Interview and A #Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the OF THREADS AND OCEANS by Camilla Tracy Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: OF THREADS AND OCEANS

Author: Camilla Tracy

Pub. Date: August 17, 2023

Publisher: Pudel Threads Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 326

Find it: Goodreadshttps://geni.us/OfThreadsandOceans

An exceptional life leads to extraordinary challenges. Especially with a tiger, dog, and snake.

In a world of ancient secrets and mystical powers, Thali, a famed merchant’s daughter conceals her true identity. After her brother’s sudden death, Thali must stay safe and navigate a new school and unfamiliar faces. As she struggles with whom to trust, strange things start to happen around her, and the animals refuse to be ignored as she’s tempted by the draw of her own magic.

Every day threatens to expose her secrets as she’s torn between embracing her magic and remaining in the shadows. Especially when she meets a mysterious boy who is a match for her in all forms. With her friends, magic, and identity at stake, Thali must confront the truth she has been avoiding.

As Thali battles her inner demons and the mysteries of an ancient world unravel around her, will Thali embrace her true self and harness her magic’s potential, or will she succumb to the evil dangers that lie ahead?


 

Interview Questions

 

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?

A girl’s brother dies and in an attempt to keep her safe, her parents send her to a new school to become a merchant, except, she’s already been living as a merchant her whole life. There, she’s navigating people her own age for the first time and meets a mysterious boy she can’t help but get closer to. All while trying to keep magical abilities hidden.

This is a fish-out-of-water story with forbidden love and animal magic.

What are you working on now?

Reading up and writing the final draft of the sixth and final book in the series and publishing a book of short stories about Thali’s friends before she goes to school.  It’ll be a good one to read before the final book.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Yes and no. I’m sure there are similarities I haven’t intentionally put in, but they all have a seed of inspiration from someone I’ve met, or know in my life, I’m sure. At least relationship-wise. I have always wanted to read fantasy stories where the character might look like me, so in the vein of ‘writing what I know’, I wanted to add a little bit of my own experience as an Asian woman growing up in there.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

My favorite has to be Thali, as the main character. But I will also say that I love when Daylor jumps into the story. My least was Ban. He comes from the icky kind of people who will do and say anything to fit in and deserves what he gets.

What is your favorite passage/scene in your book?

That’s a tough question!  How about a tricky scene? Daylor falls into the river and Thali dives off a bridge to save him. I rewrote that scene multiple times, but could never get it to read the way I saw it in my head. In the end, I had to let it go as it is, but I imagine the market being on a wide bridge and a steep bank to the river.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

 I actually live in a landlocked place, but I have been on ships and sailing vessels before. I did have to do some research about sailing and about snakes. I know dogs really well, and horses. But I don’t know nearly as much about snakes and tigers. 

 

Lightning Round Questions

 

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

I’m about to start Onyx Storm and super excited about it. I also want to catch up on my TBR with the newest Crescent City book and I’m reading a friend’s book – Rock Island Lines which is completely out of my normal genres, but I’m excited to read my friend’s words.

 

Favorite social media site?

Instagram. I love the pictures and the lovely community! I might make a move to Substack soon though…

 

Favorite Superhero or Villain?

Doctor Strange. To control and move through time and space – he HAS to be the most powerful!

 

Favorite TV show?

The Mandolorian. Who doesn’t love Grogu?

 

Sweet or Salty?

Both? I love me some potato chips and chocolate (especially on the rare occasion I can find them combined!)

 

Any Phobias?

None that I want to talk about…

 

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

I’m really just someone who follows the trend with music most of the time. So I can’t get enough of APT by Rose right now.


2025 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

I LOVED Zootopia – what a cool world, especially how it would function, so I can’t wait for the sequel so we get to see more of that place!

 

Do you play video games? If so what are some of your favorites?

I play mostly in spousal support. I’m not very good, so my job tends to be to keep up and not get in the way… The ones I do like are usually tower defense games. Or puzzle games.

 

 

About Camilla Tracy:

Camilla is a lover of many mediums of storytelling. She loves to write YA fantasy with strong heroines who can kick butt, find love, and adventure with their animals sidekicks. She always has projects on the go and loves to consume stories of all kinds – books, shows, movies, plays, amongst many others.

When she is not writing, Camilla is often found exploring animal behavior, crafting, drinking a hot beverage, and clicker training her animals.

Sign up for Camilla’s newsletter!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 


Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a book box with a finished copy of OF THREADS AND OCEANS & swag, US & Canada Only.

Ends March 4th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/17/2025

Two Chicks on Books

Interview/IG Post

2/17/2025

Fire and Ice

Guest Post/IG Post

2/18/2025

@hardcovers.withhans

IG Post

2/18/2025

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/19/2025

Frugal Freelancer

Guest Post/IG Post

2/19/2025

Daily Waffle

Guest Post

2/20/2025

Ilovebooksandstuffblog

Review/IG Post

2/20/2025

@kimbartosch

Review/IG Post

2/21/2025

Readwithrolo

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/21/2025

@thepageladies

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

2/24/2025

Lifestyle of Me

Review

2/24/2025

More Books please blog

Review/IG Post

2/25/2025

Mom with a Reading Problem

Review/Facebook Post

2/25/2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

2/26/2025

Edith's Little Free Library

IG Post/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

2/26/2025

@callistoscalling

IG Review

2/27/2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

2/27/2025

Pagesforpaige

IG Review

2/28/2025

@lexijava

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/28/2025

@alexandriavwilliams_

IG Review


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