Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Straight Reading from the Library: Candle in the Wind by Kim



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kim Baccellia 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 if you discovered everything you’ve been taught is a lie? For most of her life, seventeen-year-old Espie Hernandez’s world revolved around the Branch of Thomas, a cult-like haven in what’s left of a war-ravaged America. Their ruler, Reverent Father, keeps them safe from the Others, those outside the compound who wish to harm them. Espie questions what she’s been taught and finds herself banished from the compound. She's thrust into the harsh world beyond their walls with the mission to prove the Others actually have a plot against them. When tensions escalate, Espie must figure out who to trust before everything she loves is torn apart.

READ THE REVIEW


In this intense distopian novel, readers are left contemplating several compelling questions: Will Espie find the answers she seeks beyond the confines of her community? Will she be reunited with those she loves? And what trials and revelations await her outside the rigid world she has always known? These unanswered questions sustain a steady sense of suspense, encouraging readers to press on to the final pages to witness Espie’s pursuit of truth.

I was thoroughly immersed in the vividly imagined world of Candle in the Wind. The novel’s world-building is particularly strong, lending depth and credibility to the story.

Espie’s journey feels both authentic and thoughtfully rendered. Her fear of the outside world does not disappear the moment she leaves the compound; instead, it lingers, shaping her choices and adding emotional weight to each decision she makes. The narrative offers a nuanced exploration of indoctrination—how it forms identity, and how unsettling freedom can be when one has been conditioned to fear it.

Raised within a cult, Espie’s gradual discovery of the truth creates significant internal conflict. Her character development is especially effective: she begins as a devoted follower of her community’s leadership and ultimately emerges as an individual capable of independent thought and self-determination. The pacing of the novel is equally well executed. With frequent action—bombings, gunfire, and physical confrontations—the story maintains momentum and is difficult to put down.

The central theme of truth is woven throughout the narrative. Within the cult, truth is defined solely by the teachings of the Reverent Father. As Espie is exposed to the world beyond the cult, she comes to understand the extent of the deception that shaped her upbringing. The community’s darker history is gradually revealed, and Espie’s pursuit of truth ultimately guides her decisions and her growth.

I sincerely hope this novel is followed by a continuation, as Espie’s story—and the world she inhabits—feels far from finished.

MEET THE AUTHOR




Award-winning author Kim Baccellia is the author of five fantasy/paranormal young adult novels, Crossed Out, Crossed Fire, No More Goddesses, Goddesses Can Wait, and Earrings of Ixtumea.

Kim has had many jobs. She was a bilingual teacher; homeschooled her son; served on her local RWA charter board; a Cybil’s panelist; and even read the slush pile for an agency.

In her free time, Kim loves long walks, yoga, watching psychological horror movies, and reading lots of books that she loves to review for YA Books Central.

A member of Women’s Fiction Writer’s organization, Kim is currently putting the finishing touches on a historical set in 1943 Italy. She also is working on a historical with a Utah suffragette loosely based on her own ancestor Lucy Clark. Kim lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and cockatiel Damon.

Author Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B007OXDNAU/about
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/862733.Kim_Baccellia
Website: http://www.kim-baccellia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbaccellia
Bluesky: http://ixtumea.bsky.social/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baccellia/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ixtumea/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Candle-Wind-Kim-Baccellia-ebook/dp/B0DMKWVSJP/ref=sr_1_1

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Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Straight Chatting from the Library: Edward Parr



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW


If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

There are a lot of places I’d like to visit in far away places, but when I think of packing, getting in the car, boarding a plane, and spending hours and hours getting to places, it really wears me down. So, the power I’d really like to have is teleportation. There are so many places I’d like to visit, but the top few on my list right now are the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Plaza Mayor de Salamanca in Spain, and the giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park.

What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

I studied playwriting at New York University as an undergrad and staged a bunch of plays Off-Off-Broadway in New York City. I worked with Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, Bob Moss and the Bread and Puppet Theater. I once had dinner with André Gregory and once had breakfast with Stephen Sondheim.

When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with?

In terms of physical description, I think it’s hard to gauge how much information is enough and how much should be left to the imagination of the reader. If a character is supposed to be beautiful and desirable and you describe the character in a way that readers dislike, you’ve pretty much written at cross-purposes. I like to give some clues, but not get too specific. I also believe that the best way to understand a person is through what they do when confronted with a choice, so it’s better to introduce your character through the things they do. And finally, people don’t always get it right – they don’t always mean what they say or believe things that are true. Let the characters lie and make mistakes and find out later they were wrong.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

This is such a great question. I was speaking to a writer recently who told me he writes from a very detailed, multi-page outline which he has previously worked out meticulously. To put it simply, I would not enjoy that (and I would have no reason to write if I didn’t enjoy the process). Since I write historical fiction, I like to know something about the place and time before I begin, I like to know which major events are going to occur in that world, I like to have an idea about what the characters are going to do and how they relate to each other. When I write, I have a sense of where I’m going, but I won’t go there if it turns out it doesn’t make sense. I’ll change everything in the middle. I like to feel my way through scene by scene so that it makes sense to me, so that I feel it’s readable and well paced. So I mostly fly by the seat of my pants, but with a little bit of a plot in mind and a sense of where I’m going.

What is your favorite scene in your new book?

There are some scenes in my novel Tamanrasset, Crossroads of the Nomad, that I knew going in were going to be part of the story. These are sort of pivotal moments of crisis that were destinations I knew I wanted to reach. I feel those moments are very meaningful, but I’m also loathe to give them away as they would be major spoilers. But one of my favorite basic scenes is when the Swedish widow Isabel, now practicing Islam and having just returned from the Hajj, meets with French General Hubert Lyautey. In reality, Lyautey (who later became the French official in charge of Morocco) knew and obtained information from the person on whom the character if Isabel is based – Isabelle Eberhardt. There’s something about that scene where Isabel is beginning to feel who she is, her power, and Lyautey can see it in her, that I think makes a terrific moment of intimacy and understanding. It’s definitely a very important moment for Isabel.

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TAMANRASSET is historical fiction set on the edge of the Sahara as the ancient world begins to fade and great empires collide. Four strangers—a mature Foreign Legionnaire, a Sharif’s wrathful son, an ambitious American archaeologist, and an abandoned Swedish widow—become adrift and isolated, but when their paths intersect, the fragile connections between them tell a story of survival and fate on the edge of the abyss. Blending the sweep of classic adventure with the horror of a great historical calamities, Edward Parr’s TAMANRASSET is a saga about the crossroads where nomads meet.

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Demoreau knelt beside Lieutenant Claussen. The Sergent had been in plenty of actions during more than twenty years of service in the Legion: The sun beating down, the barrel of his rifle smoking and hot from constant firing, the taste of sand and sulfur in his mouth as he and his comrades fought off their enraged enemy with nerves of steel and cooler heads. “Que voulez-vous? C’est la Legion!” A part of him relished it. He had a calmness of mind gained through years of experience and training. As he raised his rifle to aim at the advancing tribesmen, he recalled to his mind the melody of a fine composition, the death waltz by Saint-Saëns, which unrolled in his inner ear, turning his blood to ice. He hummed the tune as his rifle fired and his deadly accurate shooting dropped one rider after another.

Claussen was a good Lieutenant and had plenty of courage, but that did not mean he couldn’t benefit from Demoreau’s experience. The Sergent turned and faced his commander: “We’re being overwhelmed and losing too many men, Sir: We can’t maintain this position. We must move east onto the ridge where there’s cover among the rocks.”

“I know, but it may be too far, Sergent,” Claussen replied.

“Yes, it might,” the Sergent agreed, “but we still have to go: We’ll certainly all be killed if we stay here.”

Claussen looked distraught, but as he looked Demoreau in the eyes his nerve was hardened. Everything had to be done “par règlement” in the Foreign Legion. He nodded: “Yes, give the order, Sergent. Withdraw to the ridge; smartly, now.”

© 2025 by Edward Parr and Edwardian Press (New Orleans, Louisiana)

MEET THE AUTHOR




Edward (“Ted”) Parr studied playwriting at New York University in the 1980’s, worked with artists Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, and the Bread and Puppet Theater, and staged his own plays Off-Off-Broadway, including Trask, Mythographia, Jason and Medea, Rising and an original translation of Oedipus Rex before pursuing a lengthy career in the law and public service. He published his Kingdoms Fall trilogy of World War One espionage adventure novels which were collectively awarded Best First Novel and Best Historical Fiction Novel by Literary Classics in 2016. He has always had a strong interest in expanding narrative forms, and in his novel writing, he explores older genres of fiction (like the pulp fiction French Foreign Legion adventures or early espionage fiction) as inspiration to examine historical periods of transformation. His main writing inspirations are Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Bernard Cornwell, Georges Surdez, and Patrick O’Brien.

Website: https://edwardparrbooks.com/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-parr-5808b15/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7369165.Edward_Parr
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Edward-Parr/author/B00GACO3NC
Reddit:https://www.reddit.com/user/DryCar9119AB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwardparrbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576965808471

Amazon: https://a.co/d/44XsoJU
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tamanrasset-edward-parr/1148255148

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Monday, January 19, 2026

Straight Chatting from the Library: Margaret Izard



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Margaret Izard will be awarding a Stone of Faith Book Swag box (a $100 value) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE INTERVIEW


What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

Don’t laugh, I was born in Louisiana. The Cajun Night Before Christmas. As a young child before moving to Texas, I knew some Creole Cajun but now I can’t recall much of it. I also learned French in Louisiana and from ballet classes.

What is your favorite book today?

Too many to list – romances always.

Tell us about your current book in 10 words.

Haunted pirate, imprisoned siren, ocean’s curse—love fights for freedom.

What are you reading right now?
I don’t read other works when outlining or drafting a book.

Do you have any bad book habits?

When I read printed books, I always kept them on my nightstand next to a glass of water. In my sleep I’d sometimes knock over the water and wilt a book.

One book at a time or multiples?

I have OCD, one at a time and read through to the end.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

Before ebook readers, I used to dog-ear my books but many of my books I got second hand from a local shop. I still frequent the shop but rarely read from printed books. I love my ereader since when I do read other works, I consume a lot.

Least favorite book you've read this year?

I used to read many other romance writers but since learning more about the craft of writing, there are some I cannot read since I spend more time mentally editing the book than reading.

When do you do most of your reading?

It used to be evenings, but these days it’s afternoons.

Favorite place to read?

Backyard patio or my chair in the great room.

Favorite genre?

Romance, always romance.

Do you loan your books?

When I consumed books in print before ereaders, I traded in used books for credit towards the purchase of new or used books.

What would make you not finish a book?

I rarely do not finish reading a book. I still like to know the end of a story arch. I recently wasn’t able to finish a horror book due to the graphic descriptions. I felt bad, it was a writing friend’s book. I just can’t do overly graphic blood and gore; it gives me nightmares.

Keep books or give them away?

I keep certain books that I treasure and ones which are signed.

READ THE BLURB




The heart’s most extraordinary battle is the one fought for love.

Haunted by a family legacy that threads magic through the ages, Captain Ewan MacDougall and his ghostly crew sail between worlds—freeing enslaved people. A worthy goal, yet he longs for what eludes him—true love. When he crosses paths with a legendary siren of the sea, bound to a cruel, power-hungry madman, Ewan finds the woman destined to claim his heart.

Trapped and forced to use her voice to lure ships into the clutches of evil, the spark in Ewan’s eyes awakens hope in Lorelei’s soul—a chance to break free and protect her Fae family. Yet, the wicked monster holding her captive will stop at nothing to kill the human who touches and loves her as no one has ever done before.

Will the fated connection they share break the chains of dark magic or claim two more victims in a quest to find the Stone of Faith?

READ AN EXCERPT


As they lay on the deck, a hand touched his beard. “You aren’t a ghost?” Her whitened fingers came to her mouth, and then she licked them. “Flour?” The sight of her tongue flicking over her digits had Ewan biting back a groan. His gaze found her—electric blue eyes. Up close, white rings glowed around the edges as silver flecks sparkled in the middle. He coughed, and a puff of flour hit her face, making her scrunch her nose and then sneeze.

Ewan’s hand brushed her hair from her eyes, leaving a trail of white. “Bless ye.” He chuckled when more dust puffed at her. The flour was an old trick from his and Doug’s childhood. A prank they played on Mrs. A using her fright of Dunstaffnage Castle’s ghost to terrify her. When she discovered the missing flour and its usage, they both had to help her in the kitchen for a week. The chore wasn’t all bad. Mrs. A would take pity on them and feed them chocolate-chip cookies, their favorite.

Doug’s boots appeared beside him. “And what do we have here? A siren washed up on our deck?”

Ewan sat up, pulling the redhead with him. She followed, clinging to him as she shook.

His eyes roamed her body and found a gash on her leg. “A damsel in distress, Doug.”

MEET THE AUTHOR




Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

Website: http://www.margaretizardauthor.com
Twitter: https://x.com/mizardauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mizardauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizardauthor/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mizardauthor.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mizardauthor

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Inside the Stone of Doubt Book Swag Box

Teardrop Lab Sapphire Necklace
Signed copy of the book
Large Stone of Doubt book bag
Small Stone of Doubt book bag
Insulated wine glass with Stone of Doubt logo
Dublin shot glass with etched Stone of Doubt logo
Stone of Doubt bookmark
Stone of Doubt recipe card
Wild Rose Press (publisher) 2025 calendar (While supplies last)

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Straight Reading from the Library: Denied Crimes by Daniela Alibrandi



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions>. Daniela Alibrandi will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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In Rome, in the middle of a cold winter in the Eighties, preparations for Christmas are in full swing. Near the Vatican City, in a workshop of sacred objects and clothes, old Rinaldo's day begins, as always, among the tourists crowding the streets and the smell of freshly baked pizza. At the same time, Commissioner Rosco says goodbye to the agents of his team, before the imminent transfer to the Rieti police station: the punishment for a mistake made during his last case. A forced confinement that will become the opportunity to show off his intuition and investigate a crime committed thirty years earlier. The two apparently unrelated situations will intertwine in a crescendo of incredible events, after the strange death of old Rinaldo, while a creepy voice follows the entire unfolding of the narration. With her original and clear style, here imbued with faith and sacredness, Daniela Alibrandi offers the reader a multidimensional thriller full of twists, centered on the eternal struggle between Good and Evil.

READ THE REVIEW


Set primarily in Rome, Denied Crimes is a compelling police procedural that will appeal to readers who favor character-driven crime fiction over fast-paced action. The novel opens with Inspector Rosco under professional scrutiny and reassigned to a small station while an investigation into his previous conduct is underway. This narrative choice immediately establishes both tension and thematic depth, positioning the story as an exploration of justice, accountability, and moral ambiguity.

As Rosco is drawn into a cold case—and later returned to Rome to confront a new murder investigation—the author skillfully balances procedural elements with the protagonist’s evolving personal and professional relationships. The pacing is deliberate, allowing emotional and psychological layers to develop organically alongside the central mystery.

Alibrandi employs multiple points of view to enrich the narrative, including an anonymous perspective that signals the presence of the perpetrator. This technique adds complexity and invites readers to engage more deeply with motive and identity without undermining suspense.

Particularly noteworthy is the portrayal of Rosco’s relationship with his investigative team. Their interactions provide continuity and emotional grounding, making the ensemble dynamic one of the novel’s strongest assets. While the story concludes without unresolved plotlines, it clearly establishes a foundation for future installments.

Denied Crimes will be of interest to readers of international crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and procedurals that emphasize atmosphere and character development. Fans of thoughtful, morally complex mysteries set in richly realized locations will find this title a strong addition to the genre.

READ AN EXCERPT


Pray. Pray.

It is the only way to keep my mind from slipping beyond its limits.

I know how dangerous it is to let go of the reins.

My world, my certainties—they can vanish in an instant, replaced by the same terrifying nightmares, strong enough to imprison my soul for hours, days, sometimes for what feels like eternity.

I must kneel. I must strike my fist rhythmically against my chest, over and over, until the bruises bloom beneath my skin, murmuring the ancient litanies—

"My God, I am sorry, I repent of my sins…"

Then I will mark a cross on my forehead, my lips, my heart with my thumb.

Pray.

Beg God never to abandon me again, never to let the horrors of before return.

But I feel it— It’s not enough.

The vortex is pulling me in, just like before.

I bury my face in my hands, so I won’t see— I just want to weep.

MEET THE AUTHOR


Daniela Alibrandi is the author of successful thrillers and noirs in Italy and abroad. She was born in Rome, and lived and studied in the United States. In her professional life, she has been involved in cultural exchanges within the Council of Europe and the European Union. With her seventeen published novels, six English editions and many short stories she is a prominent figure in the Italian literary scene. Her writings have often been featured in national newspapers and literary columns on RAI Italian television and radio broadcasts. The author, always present with her novels in the most important national bookfairs, has also won several national literary awards and the 2022 Women Art Week Award for her literary career. Some of her Italian editions are present in Harvard and Yale libraries as well as in New York Public Library.

This author’s style has been defined was often defined multidimensional, until it was officialized as MultiDimensionCrime (Acronym MDCrime). A reading experience that forges imagination in a multi-dimensional way. In the complex and intertwined plots of her novels, which lead to sudden and unexpected twists, the characteristics of different strands are harmoniously blended. The reader follows the investigation to solve a murder and at the same time he amazingly enters the mind of the killer, reasoning alongside him, preparing the crime with him, and even partaking in the victims’ despair and terror. All in a growing suspense, both during the narration and in the final pages, when the reader often has to question all the beliefs he has developed during the reading.

On last May 5th, Daniela Alibrandi published her English edition of the book “Denied Crimes”. Set in Rome during the 1980s, it takes the reader to discover the most mysterious and iconic places of the Eternal City, even leading him to the underground of the Vatican City. The book is the second of the MDCrime series Rome’s Multi-Dimensional Crimes, set in Rome’s undergrounds between the late Seventies and the Eighties, whose plots are not connected and can be read independently, all standalone.

English website: https://danielaenglishwebsite.wordpress.com/
Italian website: https://danielaalibrandi.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/danielaalibrand
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaalibrandi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Daniela-Alibrandi-Autore-100056951476831/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielaalibrandi/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DENIED-CRIMES-ROMES-MULTIDIMENSIONAL-ebook/dp/B0F6KKGP8N/ref=sr_1_1

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Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Straight Browsing from the Library: Resort, Two, Murder by Joanna Campbell Slan



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanna Campbell Slan 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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Kiki Lowenstein heads to Florida for sand, sunshine, and family time—until a shocking death pulls her into a mystery simmering beneath the resort’s perfect surface. With craftiness and heart, she dives into a dangerous tangle of lies that only she can unravel.

READ AN EXCERPT


The scream ripped through the dawn and straight into my spine. I didn’t breathe until I reached the balcony.

Seven floors below, a housekeeper stood frozen at the pool’s edge, hands over her mouth. The turquoise water rippled around hair the color of fire.

Copper hair.

Floating.

Still.

My blood turned to ice.

“Mom?” Sixteen-year-old Anya whispered behind me. Pale. Too pale. “What happened?”

“I don’t know yet. Stay back. Keep your brothers inside.” My voice didn’t tremble, but everything inside me did.

I yanked the curtains closed, but not before my mind captured every detail: the purple satin gown billowing under the water, the bare feet, the drifting red hair like a drowning sunrise.

Then Brawny — my fierce, loyal Scot nanny — sprinted into the courtyard and dove in, shoes and all. She flipped the girl over, started mouth-to-mouth, refusing to accept what the water already knew.

Could this be real?

Sirens wailed in the distance. And I stood frozen on the balcony, one hand pressed to my heart, silently begging for a miracle.

It didn’t come.

The red-haired model from last night’s fashion show was gone.

MEET THE AUTHOR



Joanna Campbell Slan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author known for her engaging women's fiction and mystery novels. With nearly 80 books to her credit, including contributions to the original Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Joanna specializes in stories featuring strong female protagonists and the power of women's friendships. Her tagline, "Creating a better world one story at a time” perfectly captures the spirit of her work, as she has a keen interest in presenting all sides of social issues. Joanna is best known for her Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, which spans 19 books and 42 short works, chronicling the growth of a widowed mother who finds new purpose through crafting and sleuthing.

Living on a nearly deserted island off the coast of Florida, Joanna draws inspiration from her surroundings and her love for various crafts, including Zentangle®, crochet, and upcycling. Her accomplishments include winning the Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence for her continuation of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. Contact her at JCSlan@JoannaSlan.com

Newsletter sign up: https://joannacampbellslan.substack.com/publish/home
Website: https://joannacampbellslan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1602372550058785
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoannaSlan
Amazon Author Page: "https://www.amazon.com/Joanna-Campbell-Slan/e/B001IR3DK8
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JCSlan/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/joannacampbellslan
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joanna-campbell-slan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/JoannaSlan
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joannaslan/

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Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Straight Browsing from the Library: The Radical Realism of Jesus by Jeyran Main



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jeyran Main 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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The Radical Realism of Jesus explores how Christ’s life and teachings confront the assumptions of our modern world. From rationalism and empiricism to pragmatism and nihilism, Jesus’ words intersect with philosophy, science, and contemporary culture—offering a lived, transformative faith that challenges, inspires, and equips readers to live fully in the 21st century.

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From the beginning, Jesus has consistently defied human expectations. He clashed with religious authorities, challenged societal norms, and even surprised his own disciples. Faith, as Kierkegaard emphasized, is a tension-filled encounter with the unpredictable claim of God. Jesus does not allow us to tame Him with neat definitions; He is the living Word who confronts our assumptions and stretches our understanding of God and the world.

In a modern age defined by scientific revolutions, technological advancements, and rationalist philosophies, many of us search for certainty, meaning, and moral guidance. Yet, the Gospel remains disruptive. Jesus is not an abstract ideal; He is historical, embodied, and relational. He experienced hunger, fatigue, betrayal, and hope. He engaged life fully, showing that realism and spiritual depth are not mutually exclusive. Even in a world governed by measurement, reason, and empiricism, Jesus challenges us to consider ethics, purpose, and human flourishing in ways that transcend material explanation.

This book examines Jesus within contemporary frameworks of thought—from Rationalism and Empiricism to Pragmatism and Scientism—showing that His life and teachings remain radically relevant. The Kingdom of God is not abstract; it demands reflection, engagement, and action. Jesus remains aspirational and transformative, inviting each reader to wrestle with faith, reason, and the meaning of life in a modern context.

MEET THE AUTHOR




Jeyran Main has spent years immersed in the world of books as an editor. She is the author of God’s Surprising Way: The Path to Lasting Joy, Healing, and Love and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Living in the Light of the Cross magazine. Through her platform, HeavenlyHarmonyHub.com, she shares resources that encourage thoughtful engagement with faith. Guided by a passion for seeking truth, Jeyran now turns to the radical teachings of Jesus, exploring how they confront cultural assumptions and invite us into a transformed way of living that endures beyond cultural trends.

Website: https://jeyranmain.com/
Heaveny Harmony Hub: http://www.HeavenlyHarmonyHub.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Realism-Jesus-Jeyran-Main/dp/1988680891/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

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Thursday, December 18, 2025

Straight Browsing from the Library: The Christmas Cardinal by Aïda Juodis



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Aïda Juodis 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.

READ THE BLURB




The Christmas Cardinal, written by Aïda Juodis, is a soft and whimsical tale that was gently crafted to help provide children who have lost a loved one with comfort and warmth during the holiday season.

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Remember, the cardinal is always there. It’s your loved one who will always care.

From the North Pole and from close by they’ll watch over you with gentle eyes.

So, when you hear the cardinal sing…

remember you’re protected under your loved one’s wing.

MEET THE AUTHOR


Aïda Darija Juodis is a storyteller who blends comfort, wonder, and gentle magic in her writing. The Christmas Cardinal reflects her belief that love endures, guiding us from near and far.

Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1834185319
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/61688402.A_da_Juodis

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