A Life Through Books

Monday, August 18, 2025

Virtual Book Tour: The Brothers Brown by R.G. Stanford #western #fiction #biographical #interview #giveaway #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
6:33 AM0 Comments

 



Native American Literature, Family Saga Fiction, Western, Biographical Fiction, Western

Date Published: 06-01-2025




You can almost feel the red dust clinging to your skin and catch the faint scent of jasmine in the air. This is Indian Territory at the edge of everything—law and lawlessness, hope and heartbreak, where the lines between right and wrong blur with every sunset.

Told with vivid detail, this is the story of a man caught between loyalty and his past, between a brother’s shadow and the light of his own becoming. A tale of love, betrayal, and the quiet courage it takes to change your fate.

From a stagecoach town in Tennessee to the first railroad towns of the Indian Territory, we delve into the lives of the charismatic and flawed brothers, Matt and Robert. Their sibling dynamic shapes the lives of the entire Brown family, steering them down a road of familial struggles and cultural clashes.

Matt always idolized his oldest brother, Robert – a smooth-talking charmer who taught him at a young age to live hard and win big. Following Robert’s footsteps, Matt is drawn into a life of high-stakes games and deception. Then he meets Milla. Sharp-eyed, brave, and unafraid to speak the truth, Milla is a woman rooted in her Choctaw heritage, carrying both strength and sorrow in equal measure. For the first time, Matt imagines a different future. But the past doesn’t let go easily and buried secrets never stay buried for long, clawing their way back to the surface when you least expect it. Now, Matt must choose between what consumes him and the life he wants to build.

Set against the raw beauty of the Choctaw Nation, this is a powerful story of blood ties and hard choices, of the people we love and the ones we betray. Gritty, tender, and unforgettable—this is where redemption begins.




Interview


What is the hardest part of writing your books? 

Researching and digging for the absolute truth of the matter. I researched for seventeen years before I wrote this book, determined to find and reveal the truth of my family lore.



What are your most played songs? 

Old southern rock when I’m not writing but smooth jazz and nature soundscapes when I write. It sooths my mind and helps guide me along.



Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I am very blessed to have three people who will give me honest critiques. It’s hard to find someone who is not afraid to hurt your feelings.



What book are you reading now?

Boom Town by Brad Dennison. He and John Deacon have become by absolute favorite family saga-western writers. I love a good series.



How did you start your writing career?

Out of an obsession to tell the truth about my family lore. After discovering such amazing lives, I had to learn to write so that I could tell the stories. So, I studied while I was researching and learned to write a novel.


Tell us about your next release.

The Brothers Brown, part 2 – for the sake of a family. We pick up where we left off in part 1. We’ll follow Matt and his brothers through tragedy and triumph from 1896 through 1910 in Oklahoma and learn what life, love and redemption will look like for Matt Brown.


Thank you so much for including The Brothers Brown in your blog. I am honored.


About the Author


Raised on the beaches of South Texas, R.G. Stanford has always been drawn to stories that transcend time. That passion was ignited in 1976 with the discovery of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, and deepened with The Feast of All Saints just a few years later. Though historical fiction wasn’t an immediate calling, a personal journey into genealogy changed everything.

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

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


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram


Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/TheBrothersBrown

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback




RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:
Virtual Book Tour: Grandma's Bucket of Mercy by Robin Carole #childrensbook #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
6:27 AM0 Comments



Children's Book

Date Published: May 28, 2025

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media



📘 Book Description for Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy by Robin Carole

You are never too old or too young to learn life’s lessons.

From multiple award-winning author Robin Carole comes a heartwarming true story that celebrates the power of love, forgiveness, and generational wisdom. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is a touching tale of one young girl’s summer with her grandmother in 1960s California—and the quiet but profound lesson that would change two lives forever.

Ten-year-old Carole is sent on a mysterious errand involving her grandmother’s elderly neighbor, not knowing her grandmother is teaching her about the gift of mercy. Years later, Carole finally understands the full impact of that experience when a stranger shares how her small, anonymous acts of kindness transformed a life.

Beautifully written and deeply personal, this story is a tribute to the grit and grace of the women who survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and to the enduring strength of intergenerational bonds. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is perfect for readers aged 9–12—and for the childlike spirit in every adult who believes in the quiet power of compassion.

✅ True story based on real-life events
✅ Uplifting themes of family, kindness, and legacy
✅ Ideal for ages 9–12 and meaningful for all ages

🪣 Sometimes the smallest gesture can change everything.

 


About the Author

Robin Carole is a multiple award-winning author and lifelong storyteller dedicated to preserving the legacy of the strong women in her family. A native Californian who grew up in the scenic wine country, Robin spent over 40 years in Deaf Education as a Certified Sign Language Interpreter, working with students from kindergarten through adult education. 

Now retired and living in Spokane, Washington, Robin draws from real-life experiences and the stories passed down from her grandmother, mother, and aunts to write books that speak to the hearts of readers young and old. Her passion for storytelling began as a child, sitting at the feet of her family matriarchs, listening to tales of resilience, faith, and enduring love. 

Her latest book, Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy, is a heartfelt tribute to the power of quiet acts of compassion—and a reminder that even children can change the world through kindness. Through her writing, Robin invites readers to revisit a time when life was simple, values were taught through action, and lessons of mercy could last a lifetime. 


“My education, my work, my goals, and accomplishments are here for only a moment, but my family is a lifetime.” —Robin Carole 


Fun Facts About Robin: 

  • Her favorite meal is a classic Southern tomato sandwich 
  • She loves gardening, even if it mostly means pulling weeds 
  • Oldies music, storytelling, and pets bring her the most joy 
  • She still believes in the power of sitting together and sharing stories 

 📚 Explore Robin’s books and discover stories that stay with you—because the lessons we learn from our grandmothers are often the ones we never forget.



Contact Links

Website

Instagram


Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

B-A-M


RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:
Release Blitz: Love's Harvest by Judith Keim (A Lilac Lake Book) #romance #womensfiction #newrelease #newbooks #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
6:11 AM0 Comments

 

 


Women's Fiction with Romantic Elements

Date Published: August 18, 2025



Sarah Bullard Miller returns to Lilac Lake with her four-year-old twin daughters following the death of her husband. She’s always been part of the group of summer kids playing together with the granddaughters of the woman who owned the Lilac Lake Inn, and she loves renewing those friendships. Keeping busy working at her parents’ hardware store and taking care of the girls, she begins the healing process following her husband’s violent death.

Aaron Collister was Sarah’s high school boyfriend. They connected with their sensitivity to nature and poetry, which might have seemed strange unless you knew that big, tough, Aaron was part Abenake Indian and had been given many life lessons by his mother. They renew their friendship, but neither is ready to commit to more until a crisis leads them to their answer.


This is a spinoff book from the Lilac Lake Inn series, a sweet second-chance, small-town romance. Another of Judith Keim’s books with strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way.

 

About the Author


Judith Keim, A USA Today Best-Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings that her many loyal readers love.

She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their adorable dachshunds, Wally and Kacy, and other members of her family.

While growing up, she loved the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.

 

Contact Links

Website

Subscribe to my Newsletter

Join my special FB Group - Women with Heart

Facebook

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

Apple

Nook

Kobo


RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:

Friday, August 15, 2025

Preorder Blitz: Friar (Reckless Kings MC, Book 7) by Harley Wylde #preorder #comingsoon #mcromance #romanticsuspense #rabtbooktours @changelingpress @RABTBookTours
10:00 PM0 Comments

 

Reckless Kings MC (#7)


MC Romance / Romantic Suspense

Date to be Published: August 22, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press



One night. One mistake. One baby that changes everything.

Cheri -- I’ve always been the preacher’s perfect niece, the small-town good girl who never stepped out of line. But one reckless night with a gruff, dangerous biker flipped my world upside down. Now I’m eighteen, unexpectedly pregnant, and kicked out of my home for breaking the rules. With nowhere else to turn, I end up on the doorstep of the one man I shouldn’t want. Friar. He’s a rough, older member of an outlaw motorcycle club, and the father of my baby. At least, I think he is. That night is a bit of a blur. He’s also the only one who might protect me from a world that suddenly wants to chew me up and spit me out. Even if he doesn’t love me, I need him… and maybe he needs me too.

Friar -- As a biker, I’ve lived hard and broken more laws than I can count. I’ve never claimed to be a good man. Hell, I don’t even try. But when Cheri shows up at my MC’s door with wide eyes and a baby on the way, something in me shifts. I was never supposed to touch her. She’s too young, too innocent, too off-limits. But I did. And now she’s mine.

They can judge us. Try to tear us apart. But I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my woman and my unborn child. Even if I have to burn down the world to do it.


Excerpt


All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Harley Wylde

Cheri

The wooden crucifix above my bed seemed to watch me with judgment as I lay still, listening to the house settle into silence. Eleven forty-five. Uncle Pete and Aunt June had been in bed for over an hour, their nightly prayers long finished. I’d waited, counting each minute, feeling my heartbeat quicken with every passing second. Tonight was my night. My escape. Even if it was just for a few hours.

I slid out from under the floral quilt Aunt June had made for me when I first came to live with them three years ago. The floor was cold against my bare feet, but I didn’t dare turn on the small lamp. The moonlight filtering through the lace curtains was enough. I moved to my closet, pushing past the modest dresses and high-necked blouses that filled the space. Behind them, hidden in the darkest corner, hung the outfit I’d been saving -- tight jeans and a low-cut top that would have Aunt June clutching her pearls and Uncle Pete quoting Proverbs about the path of sin.

My fingers traced the outline of a framed verse on my nightstand: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25. How many times had Aunt June reminded me that a godly woman’s worth wasn’t in her appearance? Yet here I was, applying mascara and lip gloss by the dim light of my phone screen, my movements practiced and furtive.

I pulled on my forbidden clothes, the fabric clinging to my body in ways that made me feel alive, dangerous. The girl in the mirror looked like someone else -- someone exciting, someone with secrets. I tucked my hair behind my ears and took a deep breath. It was time.

The hallway stretched before me like a gauntlet. Family photos lined the walls, interspersed with carved wooden crosses and framed Bible verses that seemed to glow in the darkness. I knew every creaky floorboard, every spot that would betray me. I stepped carefully, placing my weight on the edges near the walls where the boards were less likely to complain. The scent of Aunt June’s lavender potpourri hung in the air, cloying and sweet, a constant reminder of her presence even when she wasn’t around.

I froze as I approached their bedroom door. It stood slightly ajar, and the soft sound of Uncle Pete’s snoring drifted out. My heart hammered so hard I was certain they’d hear it. A shaft of light from their bedside lamp sliced through the gap in the door. Aunt June always kept it on -- afraid of the dark or maybe afraid of what lurked in it. I held my breath and pressed my body against the opposite wall, inching past with glacial slowness.

“Peter?” Aunt June’s voice, thick with sleep, stopped me cold. My blood turned to ice, and I pressed myself deeper into the shadows.

The snoring paused. “Hmm?”

“Did you lock the back door?”

“Yes, June. Go back to sleep.”

I remained frozen, counting to thirty in my head before daring to move again. The lock. I hadn’t thought about the lock. Would I be able to unlock it without making noise? I’d have to risk it.

The stairs were next -- thirteen of them, each with its own personality and voice. I’d mapped them out over months of late-night kitchen raids: the third one screamed, the seventh groaned, the ninth whispered, and the eleventh threatened to wake the dead. I navigated them like a dance I’d rehearsed a thousand times, my hand barely touching the banister for balance.

The living room was a shrine to their faith. A massive painting of Jesus with lambs hung over the fireplace, His eyes following me accusingly across the room. Bibles sat on every surface, bookmarked and well-worn. A collection of angels watched from the mantel, their porcelain faces frozen in eternal worship. The smell of potpourri was stronger here, mingling with the lingering scent of the pot roast we’d had for dinner.

I made my way to the kitchen, where a needlepoint hung over the sink: “In everything give thanks.” My car keys were in my pocket, heavy and promising. Freedom was just beyond the back door. I reached for the deadbolt, turning it with painful slowness, feeling each click of the mechanism like a gunshot in the silence. When it finally released, I eased the door open just enough to slip through.

The night air hit me like a blessing, cool and free from the suffocating holiness of the house. The porch steps were new and didn’t creak, a small mercy. I stepped onto the damp grass, shoes in hand, moving quickly now toward the driveway where my ancient Honda waited.

I slid into the driver’s seat, my heart still racing. The key went into the ignition, and I said a silent prayer -- the irony not lost on me -- that the engine wouldn’t roar to life with its usual enthusiasm. I turned the key, and the car started with a mercifully subdued rumble. No lights came on in the house. I backed out slowly, not turning on my headlights until I was a safe distance down the road.

In my rearview mirror, the house grew smaller, a dark silhouette against the night sky. I finally allowed myself to breathe. The windows were down, and the wind whipped my hair around my face. I felt wild, untethered. The address of the Reckless Kings clubhouse was burned into my memory from whispered conversations in school bathrooms.

My heart fluttered with nervous excitement. This wasn’t just about breaking curfew or wearing forbidden clothes. This was about stepping into a world so different from the one I’d been trapped in, a world raw and real and alive. The night stretched ahead of me, dark and full of promise, as I drove toward the edge of town where the Reckless Kings waited.

I pressed harder on the gas, leaving behind the weight of expectations and the suffocation of someone else’s righteousness. For tonight, at least, I would be free. For tonight, I would be more than just Uncle Pete and Aunt June’s good Christian niece. I would be Cheri Waite, a girl with fire in her veins and rebellion in her heart.

I parked my Honda at the end of a long line of cars outside the clubhouse, partly to hide my car from anyone who might recognize it, partly because I needed those extra steps to steady my nerves. The Reckless Kings’ domain loomed ahead, a rather fancy looking log-cabin-style building. Music pulsed from inside, a heartbeat I could feel even from this distance. Motorcycles lined the entrance, chrome gleaming under bright lights, their owners somewhere inside doing things my uncle would call sinful and I would call living.

My legs felt weak as I walked toward the building. Each step brought me closer to crossing a line I couldn’t uncross. I’d heard whispers about the Reckless Kings since I’d moved to town -- dangerous men who lived by their own code, who took what they wanted and answered to no one. The kind of men Aunt June prayed for on Sundays, her voice tight with disapproval and fear.

The bikes stood like sentinels guarding the entrance. I ran my fingers over a sleek handlebar as I passed, feeling the cool metal against my skin. I smoothed my hands over my jeans, adjusted my top to show just the right amount of cleavage, and took a deep breath. This was it. No turning back.

I pulled the door open and stepped inside.

The sensory assault was immediate and overwhelming. The air was thick with cigarette smoke that hung in blue-gray clouds beneath the ceiling, mingling with the smell of spilled beer, leather, and sweat. The bass from the music vibrated through the soles of my shoes and up into my chest, making my heart sync with its rhythm. Colored lights from neon beer signs cast red and blue shadows across the room, illuminating faces in fragments -- a tattooed arm here, a bearded jaw there, bodies moving through the haze like apparitions.

My eyes stung, adjusting to the smoke and dimness. The floor beneath me was sticky with what I hoped was just beer, pulling at my shoes with each step. Bodies pressed against each other in the center of the room, dancing to music that felt more like a physical force than a sound. Women in tight clothes and high heels leaned against men in leather cuts, their laughter cutting through the din like glass breaking.

Conversations stuttered as I moved deeper into the room. Heads turned, eyes assessed. I felt each gaze like a physical touch -- some curious, some predatory, all intense. A woman with a snake tattoo winding up her neck stared at me with narrowed eyes, her arm tightening around the waist of the man beside her. I kept my chin up, tried to look like I belonged, like I wasn’t counting every rapid beat of my heart.

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

 

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at http://changelingPress.com with code RABT15




RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:
Virtual Book Tour: Scars of Sand and Soil by Jean K. Kravitz #interview #giveaway #historical #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
4:30 AM1 Comments

 

 


Historical Fiction

Date Published: July 24th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


 


What’s left of a man’s soul when everything he loves is taken from him?

 

It’s 1864, and Gabriel Cooper couldn’t care less about the civil war raging around him. Framed for crimes he didn’t commit, he’s been sentenced to a Confederate chain gang, where swampland justice rules and alligators prey on the unwary.

So when Colonel Robert Tremont rides into camp offering freedom in exchange for fighting on the front lines, Gabriel jumps at the opportunity. He thrives as a soldier, but the end of the war leaves him adrift.

Gabriel ends up in New Orleans, where he meets Simone Livingston, a fiercely independent woman with hidden scars of her own. Kept on a tight rein by her overbearing father, Simone only wants freedom—and the enigmatic Gabriel.

But Gabriel has unfinished business and a mind for vengeance. Will he be able to create a peaceful life with Simone or will his greed and thirst for retribution keep them trapped in a dangerous web of deceit—a web Gabriel fears can only be untangled with murder.






Interview


What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Making sure I have researched a subject enough to feel comfortable with it. Timelines have sync with characters’ actions; the prose has to feel authentic so the reader feels as if they are there, in the moment. I can also second guess scenarios, dialogue, you name it. I am my own worst critic and eventually have to give myself permission to let my writing be what it is meant to be.



What are your most played songs?

It depends. If I’m driving, I usually listen to classical music because traffic stresses me out and I find symphonic music to be very soothing. Beyond that, I play a lot of Pit Bull, Elton John and Post Malone.



Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I do have a few people I read selected scenarios too when I’m in the process of writing. Once I have completed a draft I think is acceptable, I will hand off a copy to these same people, and to one or two others who might be curious to read it. I don’t share it widely, however.



What book are you reading now?

Right now, I reading The Daemoniac by Kat Ross, which is a fabulous historical fiction thriller.



How did you start your writing career?

I think my writing career picked me. I was seven years old when I wrote my first poem. Whenever I could, I was writing. However, as I got older and actually thought about careers, the fear of rejection and failure permeated my choices and I veered away from writing for a long time. However, I was never completely happy with anything I did until I started to write full time.



Tell us about your next release.

I have a second novel that touches on a lot of controversy. It is historical fiction, but based on accounts of eyewitnesses and people who participated in the events I talk about. I want to get some experience with Scars of Sand and Soil before I promote this second novel.


About the Author


As the quintessential queen of “what if,” Jean Kravitz channeled her active imagination to pen her debut novel, Scars of Sand and Soil. However, achieving her childhood dream of being a published writer was not a straightforward path.

Jean earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in human development and aging from the University of California, San Francisco. She went into clinical research in pharmaceuticals, but left her career when her children were born. Then, she picked up writing again, honed her craft, published articles in a small newspaper, and passionately immersed herself in historical research.

Jean has many interests, including reading, gardening, needlepoint, and learning new languages. She lives in Southern California and has a husband, two daughters, and two cats, Lenny and Penny.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok 

Goodreads


Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N



a Rafflecopter giveaway

RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:
Virtual Book Tour: Plug In. Speak Out. Cash In by Rose Campbell & Abby Vaden #nonfiction #podcast #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
4:00 AM0 Comments

 




The Ultimate Podcast Launch & Monetization Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Launching, Growing, and Monetizing Your Podcast


Nonfiction / Business

Date Published: 04-28-2025



Ready to launch your own podcast and turn your voice into revenue?

Plug In. Speak Out. Cash In.: The Ultimate Podcast Launch & Monetization Guide is your go-to handbook for podcasters at every stage. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just starting to monetize, this 108-page step-by-step guide (published April 24, 2025) teaches you how to:


• Define your podcast mission to build audience trust and authority

• Create compelling episodes even without fancy gear

• Grow and engage your listener base across platforms

• Monetize effectively—from sponsorships and ads to premium content

• Scale your show sustainably, turning consistency into cashflow

 

Authored by social media influencer/advocate Rose Campbell (a recognized mothers’ advocate, lifestyle blogger, doula, and 2021 Mrs. The Woodlands) and podcast strategist Abby Vaden, this guide blends real-world insight and professional tactics. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs, coaches, creators, and small-business owners eager to elevate brand voice and income.



Purchase Link

Amazon

 

RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time:

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Book Blitz: Trouble in Heaven by JC Worthington & RG Ryan #giveaway #fantasy #spirituality #rabtbooktours @RGRyan777 @RABTBookTours
10:00 PM0 Comments



Fantasy / Fiction / Spirituality

Date Published: 11-17-2024

Publisher: Made for Success



In the beginning The Alpha created the heavens and the earth. This story takes place before that.



About the Authors


J.C. Worthington

JC Worthington, author of the Trouble Series, is a ministry leader and teacher, driven by his love of God. His imaginative storytelling blends timeless biblical truths with untold stories, taking readers on a mind-bending journey to explore the mysteries woven into Scripture.


Facebook


R.G. Ryan

R.G. Ryan started writing seriously following a long and satisfying career in the music industry as a songwriter, recording artist, arranger, producer and director of A&R for a couple of record labels. As a songwriter he has over one hundred and fifty songs in publication worldwide and has produced over one hundred album projects. He is the author of the Jake Moriarity series of thrillers, The Voices In My Head (the biography of late Las Vegas entertainment icon, Danny Gans), and the popular Snapshots At St. Arbuck's series. He lives with his first wife on the coast of somewhere beautiful. Can sing a little.


Goodreads


Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/TroubleinHeaven

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR
Reading Time: