Straight Browsing from the Library: Boo's Blue Poo and Goo by Toni Nelson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Toni Nelson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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'Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today and you will be richly rewarded!'

Diamonte De Dazzle (owner of the world's most famous department store) read her daily horoscope and was puzzled. Who was in trouble?

Who, what, why, when and where? How on earth could she help?

She then encountered Boo, a homeless blue cat, trying to escape from TCC, the horribly horrible Cat Catcher. Boo was the only truly blue cat on the planet, so TCC intended on cat-napping and exhibiting her to become rich and famous.

(Evil laugh from TCC . . .)

The combination of an eccentric department store owner, as well as TCC, two snobby socialites, plus a fashion event which is unexpectedly and thoroughly thrown into chaos, is life- changing.

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Both Daisy and Diamonte carried big baskets and shopping bags full of clothing and materials that swirled around and seemed to have a magical life of their own. Diamonte always seemed to be doing squillions of things at once, and she was a one-woman hurricane. As she walked she not only chatted with Daisy, but she also read her Daily Horoscope.

She loved to read “Your Stars” from the Daily Newspaper. She liked to quote her “Stars” every day to Daisy, then discuss their meanings over a cup of tea or coffee. It was fortunate that Daisy was extremely patient, as well as tolerant, as she had no interest whatsoever in the “Stars.” Anyway, today, Diamonte’s “Stars” read: “Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today, and you will be richly rewarded!” Diamonte stopped walking. The people behind bumped heavily into her and Daisy, resulting in great confusion, including the spillage of many of their recent purchases, which now lay on the pavement.

Diamonte looked at Daisy. “Ooooh! What do you think this means?”

Daisy, gathering up everything that had fallen from Diamonte’s baskets, rolled her eyes. Daisy spent quite a lot of time picking up Diamonte’s spilled bits and pieces, during the course of a normal day.

Diamonte suddenly became aware of noisy noises close to her. She glanced around and saw Boo and TCC, who were, by now, wrestling on the ground. Boo was putting up a far stronger resistance to TCC than he expected! It was at this moment that TCC’s hair fell off and was blown away by the wind. A bird found it and used it for a comfy new nest.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Toni is Australian-born, considering herself extremely fortunate to have had parents who encouraged her love of books. Seventy years on, she is still an ardent reader.

(Thanks Mum and Dad.)

She enjoys writing, previously assisting in the production of a monthly community newspaper: The Bayswater Buzz.

This story is derived from a brief news report she watched some years ago, which has somehow morphed into this book.

She truly hopes you enjoy the story of Boo, the blue cat.

Website: https://toninelsonwriter.com/

Amazon: https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228825008
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228825005
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780228825005
Abebooks: https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780228825005
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228825005

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Life in Rotations by Farid Yaghini

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Farid Yaghini will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Farid Yaghini's unforgettable memoir takes you on a journey from escaping persecution in Iran to rebuilding a life in Canada and serving on the frontlines with the Canadian military. Filled with humour, heart, and unflinching honesty, his story of resilience, redemption, and the founding of Camp Aftermath will inspire you to believe in the power of hope and human connection.

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On the fourth night, I woke to my mother shoving bread into my jacket sleeves. Everyone around us was scrambling, panicked. The smugglers were making their move. My mother, my two-year-old sister, and I were crammed into the back of an SUV, sitting on jerry cans. One popped open, drenching us in gasoline. The driver, cigarette in hand, barely seemed to notice.

Hours later, we stopped in the middle of the desert. Just as we climbed out, headlights appeared in the distance. Without hesitation, our smugglers jumped back into their vehicles and tore off, leaving us stranded in the open. We ran for cover, crouching behind a hill as the approaching vehicles roared past. Not border patrol—just more smugglers.

Separated from my parents, I was sent off with my cousins and a group of young boys. This should have been terrifying, but to seven-year-old me, it was an adventure. No rules, no bedtime. We hid behind restaurants, rode in the backs of pickup trucks, and dodged guards at the border. One smuggler, Shahpur, fascinated me—his hand always on the gun in his jacket pocket. The day he set it down on a car hood, I touched it, awed.

Weeks later, I was reunited with my parents. I hadn’t seen them in so long that I forgot to be scared. But when I overheard them whispering about never returning home, I finally understood. We weren’t going back to Iran. Ever.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Farid Yaghini was born in Iran and fled to Pakistan with his family to escape religious persecution following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. At the age of nine, he immigrated to Canada as a refugee, navigating the confusion and frustration of adapting to a new way of life. Through it all, he carried a deep sense of resilience, hope, and an irrepressible knack for finding humour, even in the most challenging moments.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F.Yaghini
Website: http://campaftermath.org
Amazon Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/0228884977

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Mean Cuisine by Wendy W. Webb

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Wendy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Beluga Stein is taking a cooking class and it's a real killer. This time she's traded her signature loud muumuus for ill-fitting chef attire, including a toque the size of her ego.

A well-liked chef is found dead and it's up to Beluga and her feline familiar, Planchette, to investigate. There's no recipe to follow, only the hope that her erratic psychic ability will hit the spot. Is a supernatural entity stirring up trouble, or something far more dangerous?

Beluga and Planchette can't stand the heat, but there's no way out of this kitchen while murder is the main dish.

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Beluga Stein’s Diary

Such a day.

And while Chef Pernod tried mightily to restore order with an impromptu lecture on the differences between Grande, Classic and Nouvelle cuisines, I’m afraid the distinctions were lost when the frozen body was wheeled past us to the waiting ambulance.

The sight of such a spectacle took a toll on the chef as well, I should add. Fortunately for me there was no mention of Planchette in the kitchen, but for the rest of us the chef’s well-practiced lecture took a sudden nosedive into a stream-of-consciousness series of French words. I think I heard her say that a traditional kitchen brigade had positions with names sounding something like “poisoner,” which is rather ominous if you ask me, and “chefs who party,” which might warrant further investigation if things start to get dull. Or one finds herself in immediate need of hors d’oeuvres and a tropical cocktail.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Wendy W Webb (aka one of the many Wendy Webbs) has published dark fantasy short stories and novels, co-edited anthologies, and has had productions of stage and radio plays. After a hiatus as a doctoral student of emergency management and as a disaster responder, she welcomed the return to fiction with The Wild Rose Press writing the gothic Widow’s Walk, and two updated books in the Beluga Stein supernatural-humor-murder mystery series, Bee Movie and Mean Cuisine. Sunbury Press under the Milford House imprint published the paranormal, travel, “memoir,” Eye of the Gargoyle. She adores her husband; two dogs, one of which turns on iTunes whenever Wendy leaves her office; dry red wine; theatre; and travel as long as she doesn’t see anymore ghosts!

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mean-cuisine-wendy-w-webb/1007879485
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mean-Cuisine-Beluga-Stein-Mystery/dp/1509259279

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Straight Browsing from the Library and FREE Book: Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy

Patricia Leavy is giving away copies of SHOOTING STARS ABOVE, her upcoming romance from She Writes Press. How to get yours? It's easy... just complete the Rafflecopter below and you'll receive one from the author!

So, what's the book about? Here's the info:

For fans of Colleen Hoover comes an emotionally charged contemporary romance about a internationally best-selling novelist and a federal agent fighting to heal past wounds.

Tess Lee is a world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore people’s innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel—but despite her extraordinary success, she’s been unable to find personal happiness. Jack Miller is a federal agent working in counterterrorism. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. He’s dedicated everything to his job, leaving nothing for himself.

The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.” The two embark on an epic love story, but old traumas soon rise to the surface as Jack struggles with the death of a loved one and Tess is forced to confront her childhood abuse. Can unconditional love help heal their invisible wounds? Together, will they be able to move from darkness to light?

Praise for the book

Featured on Ms. Career Girl “A Book for Every Type of Reader to Kick off 2025.”

Featured on She Knows “22 Incredible New Books That You’ll Want to Get Your Hands on in 2025.”

“Patricia Leavy crafts a riveting narrative that shows the healing power of love and how it helps wounded souls become whole once again.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“For readers seeking a story that restores faith in humanity and shines a light on the beauty of connection, this novel is a must-read.”—Literary Titan

“For so many of us, perhaps all of us, life is challenging as we learn to live through and with trauma, grief, and loss. Shooting Stars Above shows us how to thrive through unconditional love. Read this book—it will crack your heart wide open.” —Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“Leavy has done what she does best: write a story that you won’t be able to put down until you finish the final sentence. Shooting Stars Above is a love story about friendship and real romance, but most importantly, it is a story about learning to love ourselves, the most difficult love of all.” —Sandra L. Faulkner, author of Poetic Inquiry: Craft, Method, and Practice


For a free copy of the book, please fill out the Rafflecopter below(this giveaway is limited to US residents only and to the first 10,000 copies)

Straight Browsing from the Library: The Adventures of the Unicorn Poo by Reice Godfrey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Reice Godfrey will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

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Now remember, Unicorn POO is special! It’s the colour of a rainbow, it’s covered in glitter, and it smells like cotton candy.

Bailee and Sonny packed their bags with binoculars, a map and a compass, and off they went.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Unicorn-Poo-Reice-Godfrey/dp/0228878942/ref=sr_1_1

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Bad Order by Mike Elliott

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mike Elliott will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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This is the incredible true story of railroad worker and union official Mike Elliott, targeted by his railroad employer, BNSF Railway Company, for his safety-related activities. As the union's state legislative board chair, Elliott was the top safety official in the state, and the voice for over 900 rank & file locomotive engineers operating trains around the clock, every day of the year.

When his members reported a plethora of trackside signal malfunctions on the BNSF Seattle subdivision, Elliott went to the railroad first, asking that they fix the problems. When the BNSF failed to act, he contacted the government's regulatory authority, the Federal Railroad Administration. That led to an FRA inspection of over 130 miles of the railroad's track and signal systems turning up hundreds of federal defects – all with potential to put workers and the public at risk.

What followed was a retaliation plot reminiscent of the Nineteenth Century Robber Barons: A management-staged conflict at work, police called in, arrest, jail, criminal charges, and termination from his job – not once but twice.

The wrath, influence and power of North America's largest freight railroad is unleased in full force and in an all-out attack on a whistleblower's life, liberties, and career. An amazing journey of one man's righteous battle against impossible odds and the nearly unlimited resources of a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

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I began my railroad career in 1995 on the Burlington Northern Railroad. Within three years, I was certified in two railroad operating crafts: Conductor and Locomotive Engineer. Concurrently, I became involved with the local railroad unions, taking a keen interest in safety, especially crew fatigue. For several years, I held a division level safety position— Legislative Representative—working local safety issues in Pasco and Yakima, Washington. Concurrently, I headed a state-level union safety office, 1st Vice Chair to then-Chair Mark K. Ricci, PhD. But in 2007, I was moved up to Chair of the Washington State Legislative Board when, quite unexpectedly, Mark resigned mid-term. So began six of the most impactful years of my life. My chief responsibilities as Chair were to advocate for the safety and welfare of our 900 members—not only on the two Class I railroads, BNSF and Union Pacific, but also on Amtrak, Sounder commuter trains, and Tacoma Rail. I hoped my work would help improve workplace safety and, ultimately, prevent tragedies. In the late spring and early summer of 2010, I received complaints about vegetation overgrowth blocking the view of signals on the tracks between Tacoma and Vancouver, Washington—about 133 miles of tracks. Interestingly, most of the complaints were from my Union Pacific membership whose jobs running trains co-exist with BNSF on that segment of railroad track. I knew it wasn’t that UP train crews just liked to complain or that BNSF train crews didn’t care. More likely, BNSF train crews had learned from bitter experience that management retaliation was the reward for those who dared to be the “squeaky wheel.” When I use the word “complaints,” I’m not talking about petty gripes. Not at all. These were legitimate safety complaints about the signals controlling train movement along “double-track” territory known as the BNSF Seattle Subdivision, a segment of right-of-way where BNSF and UP share track in a joint-use arrangement. The complaints were a straight-up red-flag warning from professional train crews who worked the line on a regular basis. These warnings needed to be heard; their complaints needed to be heeded. And they required immediate action.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Mike Elliott was born and raised in Washington State. He enjoys the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, classic rock & roll music, vintage stereo gear, home cooked meals, and Seattle Mariners baseball. He lives in Tacoma, Washington.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224714537-bad-order
Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/1779626037

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Straight Chatting from the Library: Nathaniel Koszer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nathaniel Koszer will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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What is the favorite book you remember as a child?
I could not put down the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate. I owned every single volume including the side stories detailing the history of the Andelite/Yeerk wars prior to their arrival on Earth. The series had a huge effect on me and is probably a big reason why I write ensemble casts now.

What is your favorite book today?
I didn’t read 1984 until I was an adult, and it profoundly affected me. I had to put down the book and gather myself when Winston betrayed Julia. I still regularly utter “we were always at war with East Asia” whenever I hear facts being warped by politicians or the news media.

Tell us about your current book in 10 words.
Kinetics is a bio-punk thriller, and sequel to 2024’s Latency.

What are you reading right now?
The book is titled “Growing Up in Vincy,” by Dr. Nicholette Spring. I have a connection with Nicholette through my day-job, and when we found out that each other are authors we bought each other’s novels. The book is about her life growing up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and it has been fascinating to read!

What books do you have on hold at the library?
None at the moment. I am cautiously optimistic that after the release of Kinetics, I will have a little more time to consume books again.

Do you have any bad book habits?
Not reading often enough is certainly my worst book habit. I wish I read more but it’s rare I have the time.

E-Reader or print? and why?
If I had to choose between those two it would be e-reader. The only time I ever really get to read is on the subway, and e-readers are more comfortable in that space since they can easily be held in one hand. That being said, I usually gravitate towards audiobooks over words on a page/screen.

One book at a time or multiples?
Until I read this question I did not even consider that someone would read multiple books at a time. Is that a thing? How do you keep the plots straight in your head? I have so many questions.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don’t worry—Librarian Judith won’t hold it against you—much)
Dog-ear only in emergency situations (like if I lost my bookmark). If I am reading a paper book, I will usually bookmark it.

Least favorite book you’ve read this year?
I am ashamed to say I have only read two books this year, Growing Up in Vincy and my own. So, depending on the day and how confident I’m feeling, my own book may or may not be my least favorite.

Favorite book you’ve read this year?
Same as above! There are days when I love my book and days when I get in my own head about it. Growing Up in Vincy is consistently solid.

When do you do most of your reading?
On the subway to and from work. It is really the only time I have to dedicate to the cause.

Favorite place to read?
Anywhere outdoors that has low sun glare! Reading outside is so calming, especially if it’s somewhere with a lot of nature around.

Favorite genre?
I am a voracious consumer of sci-fi across all media. Always have been and probably always will be. It’s the perfect amount of escapism and reality for me.

Do you loan your books?
I certainly have loaned books, but not regularly. I also don’t own that many printed books, so it’s not often that someone wants a book I happen to have.

Favorite book to recommend?
Besides my own, it would probably be The Arcadia Project series by Mishell Baker. It is technically a fantasy series but treats fantasy more like a sci-fi author would. It is an interesting take, and I love the disabled character representation.

How do you keep your books organized?
All my printed books fit on one shelf, so this isn’t too difficult for me. Actually, my book shelf is relatively tame compared to the shelf below it, which contains my trading card collection and is an absolute mess.

Re-reader or not?
I have very rarely reread a book, but it has happened. There were some Michael Crichton books I read as a kid that I reread as an adult to understand them better. Usually though, I am once through and done.

What would make you not finish a book?
The only book I can recall never finishing was Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy, and that wasn’t because of the content or lack of interest. I bought that book in an airport to have something to do while flying (this was before cell phones and the flight was too short for a movie). After that point, Rainbow Six became the book I picked up when flying or if I knew I was going to be waiting around for a long time, like for jury duty. I simply never made it to the end.

Keep books or give them away?
Since I am usually a one-and-done reader, I have given away far more books than I have kept. The only time I keep a book is if it holds significant sentimental value, or if it’s a reference book for writing or some other skill set I use frequently.

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After stoking rebellions across the globe, six super-powered LO-ECs dealt a massive blow to the military by disabling their worldwide communication tower. But in doing so, they suffered grave injuries, and Spidre, the world leader, will not let them rest. As he desperately clings to power, there is only one course of action for the LO-ECs: hide and heal, then finally bring the fight to Spidre’s front door.

Breaching Spidre’s force field will require splitting up and launching simultaneous surprise attacks all over the world. And in some of these places, the military is the least of the LO-ECs’ concerns. They’ll also face legions of robots controlled by an eccentric oligarch, guerilla outfits led by their own super-powered LO-ECs, and the ever-present threat of being discovered and bombed into dust by a world leader with nothing left to lose.

If their power is enough to survive all of this, the reward for the LO-ECs is a confrontation with Spidre at his compound, complete with all of the secrets and plans he has amassed for the last twenty years.

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“So how do you feel? And I need you to be honest with me,” Symon asked.

“No pain. Honestly. Not from the jaw, not from my arm and not from the ribs,” Nadine replied.

Symon sighed. “Okay, I believe you. You are cleared for takeoff,” he said with a smirk.

As soon as Symon uttered those words, Nadine took to the air and screamed at the top of her lungs. She started doing laps above Heinz field, circling ever higher and farther outward. From the second Nadine had learned to fly, every takeoff had been for a purpose: fighting Spidre’s peacekeeper soldiers, saving Edgar so she could confess her love, escaping an ambush, playing her part in bringing down the Net Tower and crippling the military’s communications. Add to that an additional six weeks of being grounded due to injuries from the net tower assault, and it all made this into a moment of complete ecstasy for her. She hoped to follow this celebratory flight with a celebratory fight, but when she looked south, where the peacekeepers had decided to attack today, she could see them in retreat at the hands of Edgar, Naren, and Victor.

As much as she wanted to get involved, she knew that if they had it under control, then strategically speaking she was more useful waiting at Heinz field in case another attack came from somewhere else. Spidre’s army had tried this strategy many times while she was recovering, and on a few occasions they’d almost succeeded. So she descended back to the field, toward a lonely orange glow at the northeast corner. It was Sera. She was awake but lying down on a mattress with a bunch of pillows propping up her back.

“Glad to see you didn’t forget how to fly!” Sera joked as Nadine landed next to her.

Nadine chuckled. “I spent 26 years trying to get off the ground. You are all lucky I ever came back down.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Nate grew up in Brooklyn NY, but now calls the Bronx home along with his wife and their sons. Nate grew up on all things sci-fi. Partly due to his chronic illness, Nate always had a special place in his heart for the X-Men, and especially the invulnerable Wolverine. This was heavy inspiration for his first novel, Latency a superhero sci-fi story which released March 5, 2024. His second novel, Kinetics, will release on March 4, 2025.

Website: https://natekoszer.com/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/natejklol.bsky.social
Twitter: https://twitter.com/natejklol

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kinetics-Nathaniel-Koszer-ebook/dp/B0DP3JWQZF/ref=sr_1_1

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