2025 - A Life Through Books

Friday, August 8, 2025

Book Blitz: Breaking Deceptions by Kirk Sassak #nonfiction #currentevents #political #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Non-Fiction, Current Events, Political Commentary, Media Studies

Date Published: May 7, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media



Are we being told the truth—or are we living in an age of carefully crafted lies?

In Breaking Deceptions, Kirk Sassak, a mechanical engineer turned first-time author, delivers a powerful exposé on the modern media's role in distorting truth and reshaping national narratives. From COVID-19 misinformation and the Hunter Biden laptop cover-up to the media’s radically different treatment of the 2020 BLM riots and the January 6 Capitol riot, this book takes readers on a gripping journey through some of the most controversial events in recent American history.

With the structured mind of an engineer and the creative soul of a poet, Sassak dissects media narratives with precision and passion—shedding light on the rise of politically motivated journalism and its impact on democracy, freedom, and truth.


🛑 They lied to us about:

● Russian Collusion

● Charlottesville

● COVID Lab Leaks

● Hunter Biden's Laptop

● President Biden’s Mental Fitness

● And much more...


🔥 Whether you're politically left, right, or somewhere in between, Breaking Deceptions challenges you to confront the uncomfortable reality: a biased media is dangerous—no matter whose side they’re on.


Perfect For Readers Who:

● Are concerned about media bias, fake news, and propaganda

● Want to understand how misinformation influences political outcomes

● Appreciate investigative non-fiction that questions mainstream narratives

 

Seek a thought-provoking, politically charged read rooted in real events

 

 

About the Author


Kirk Sassak is a mechanical engineer and Engineering Manager in the ePowertrain division of a global automotive driveline supplier. With over two decades of experience applying structured problem-solving and technical precision, Kirk brings the same analytical mindset to his writing. His passion for truth and clarity—both in engineering and in public discourse—fuels his work as a nonfiction author.

Kirk’s journey as a writer began in 2011 during a professional assignment in Mexico, where he first discovered a surprising talent for poetry. Though his writing took a backseat for nearly a decade, the events of 2020—particularly media coverage surrounding COVID-19 and major political events—reignited his creative drive and moral conviction. Blending the logic of an engineer with the expressive voice of an artist, Kirk now writes with purpose: to challenge mainstream narratives, spark awareness, and advocate for journalistic integrity.

When he’s not writing or managing complex engineering projects, Kirk enjoys exploring the intersections of art, logic, and truth. Breaking Deceptions is his first published book.

 

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Virtual Book Tour: Parentship in Families as Teams by Steliana Van de Rijt-Economu #nonfiction #parenting #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Nonfiction

Date Published: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Mindstir Media




Being a parent is the most important, demanding and fulfi lling role you will ever have in your life, but for most of us, it is a new role for which you have had no training. The family team is the primary classroom for life, and for it to be a true learning team, the parents have to also be learning from each other and from their children. This book reminds us that the family is the place where we learn our emotional, relational and collaborative skills, that are so essential for a happy, successful and fulfi lled life.The author reveals how to show mutual caring, how to handle confl ict, how to love, celebrate and grieve together within the most important team of our lives, and she does it with humility and respect.


"Steliana van de Rijt-Economu has written a beautiful book that should be on everyone's bookshelf, computer, or tablet-for we are all part of families. She presents many practical ways for a family to be more than the sum of its parts. Central to this is the shift from each family member asking, 'What do I want or need from my family?' to asking, 'What does the family need from each of us?'"

 


About the Author


Steliana van de Rijt-Economu (1979-) grew up in a small town near the Black Sea. After graduation she pursued an international career as leadership consultant and team coach and traveled the world, from The Hague, Calgary, Damascus, Kuala Lumpur Lagos and Houston. She found inspiration for her writing through her travels and courses. A passionate advocate for women's empowerment, Steliana earned international recognition for her first book, Mothers as Leaders (2019). Renowned in the field of systemic team coaching, she has served as a guest lecturer and team coach at Rice Jones Business School in Houston and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Together with her husband, she has lived in England, The Netherlands, and the USA, raising a young family while navigating the challenges and rewards of building a family-team alongside two demanding careers.


Contact Links

Website

www.mothersasleaders.com

Instagram

Linkedin

Facebook

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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Book Blitz: Crossfire by Bill Runner #thriller #crimethriller #actionadventure #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Crime Thriller, Military Thriller, Action Adventure, Vigilante Justice

Published Date: July 31

Publisher: Runner House Books

 

 


 “It wasn’t like breaking into a prison was on my bucket list. But then again, neither was helping terrorists stage a jailbreak. And yet, here I was.”


A prison break. Betrayals. Battle for survival.


September 2014. Yemen’s going up in flames, and Americans are caught in the inferno. Delta Force Captain Axel Blaze is sent straight into the

fire to extract Khalid Al-Mansour, an Al-Qaeda moneyman turned informant. Khalid promises intel that could save American lives, but it

comes at a price— his sons must be rescued from a rebel-controlled prison deep in hostile territory.


Blaze’s team pulls off the high-risk breakout, but the fallout is deadly. A chain of betrayals is set off. One of Khalid’s sons turns

traitor, leading Al-Qaeda right to the US embassy. Trapped, outnumbered, and fighting on hostile ground, Blaze and his team face a ruthless enemy

and impossible odds.


But this isn’t just about survival—this is about sending a message.

Blaze won’t just hold the line—he’ll blow the enemy to hell.


_________________

Praise for the series:

“Blaze combines the force of Reacher, the unapologetic badassery of

Dirty Harry, the savagery of Frank Castle, and the calculated precision of Bourne.”

"Blaze is a no-nonsense guy. Shoot second...after head butting the guy first. My kind of hero!"

“Blaze is a badass in the real sense of the word. He doesn’t stop until every bad guy is broken or dead.”


_________________

Readers are saying:

★★★★★ “…non-stop action…”

★★★★★ “…fast and violent…”

★★★★★ “Blaze is the new badass in town!!”

★★★★★ “Must read! This series rocks!!”

 

 

About the Author

 


 Bill Runner is the author of eleven books in the bestselling Axel Blaze thriller series. After the resounding success of his debut novel, Blaze

Returns, each subsequent book entered Amazon’s Crime Action Fiction or Military Thriller charts in the Top 5, with his last five books debuting

at #1. By 2025, combined sales for the series had crossed a quarter of a million copies.


Before turning to writing, Bill was an investigative reporter—a background that brings authenticity, depth, and a keen eye for detail to

his stories. His love for classic Westerns and lone ranger heroes profoundly influenced the creation of Axel Blaze, a character who stands

up against injustice no matter the odds.


Bill is an experienced mountain climber and a lifelong martial arts student. His extensive physical training and years on the crime beat

help him craft action scenes that are realistic, vivid, and exhilarating. To learn more about Bill and his books, visit him on Facebook under the name Bill Runner Author.


Contact Links

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Reading Time:
Teaser: Trouble in Heaven by JC Worthington #excerpt #fantasy #spirituality #comingsoon #rabtbooktours @RGRyan777 @RABTBookTours
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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.



Excerpt


Shamayim. A perfect place filled with perfect beings living in perfect peace. The Alpha was love, and love was The Alpha, a trait he took great pains to embed within all his created beings. It would have been, therefore, perfectly understandable for this perfect existence to continue unabated. And it would have, had The Alpha not chosen to endow his created beings with the power to choose. But he did, and with that choice came trouble. Trouble in Heaven.

 


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


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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Book Blitz: Enjoying the Ride by Jennifer Vaughan Lague #nonfiction #shortstories #rabtbooktorus @RABTBookTours
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Non-fiction Short Stories 

Date Published: July 20, 2025

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media



Life isn’t always about big, dramatic moments. Sometimes, the most meaningful experiences are tucked into the folds of our everyday routines—quiet, funny, touching, and occasionally bittersweet. Enjoying the Ride and the Short Stories Along the Way is a heartwarming collection of true short stories drawn from the life of Jennifer Vaughan Lague, an entrepreneur, mother, and grandmother who believes that life is best lived with humor, love, and a touch of perspective.


From nostalgic reflections of childhood to the joys and chaos of raising a blended family, each story is delivered with authenticity, warmth, and a dose of wit. You’ll meet the characters that color her world—family, friends, neighbors—and perhaps even see glimpses of your own life in the process.


Perfect for busy readers or those who prefer bite-sized inspiration, this collection can be picked up and enjoyed one story at a time. Whether you're looking for laughter, a little life wisdom, or a moment of connection, these stories will remind you to slow down, reflect, and most of all—enjoy the ride.

Highlights include:

🌹 A mysterious rose in the yard that says more than words ever could

👩‍👧 A heartfelt tribute to motherhood and all its messy beauty

🔥 Cozy memories of childhood, tangled hair, and The Muppet Show

🎄 Hilarious moments of parenting during the holidays

👣 A candid reminder not to let fear hold you back from fully living


This book is a love letter to the simple moments that shape us—and a tribute to those we carry in our hearts forever.

 


About the Author

 

 ✍️ Author Bio

Jennifer Vaughan Lague is an entrepreneur and storyteller based in Southern New Hampshire. As the owner of New England Tie Dye, she combines creative expression with a strong sense of community, building a business that brings color and connection to people’s lives. A loving wife, with a blended family of five adult children and four grandchildren, Jennifer draws inspiration from the joyful, chaotic, and unforgettable moments that come with raising a blended family.

Though her journey as a writer began with a local newspaper column, her stories quickly won hearts for their relatability, humor, and emotional resonance. With Enjoying the Ride and the Short Stories Along the Way, she shares a collection of those columns—true stories that remind us that life’s ordinary moments are often the most extraordinary.


When she’s not writing or working, you’ll find her near the beach or at the dojo—her favorite places to find peace, inspiration, and perspective as both a martial artist and a lifelong learner.


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Virtual Book Tour: Where Eagles Nest by Helen Wand #audiobook #giveaway #historicalfiction #historical #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Historical Fiction

Date Published: August 20, 2024

Publisher: Luminare Press

Narrator: Carolyn Wand Eslick

Run Time: 8 hours, 13 minutes

 

Where Eagles Nest chronicles a young couple, Alex and Julianna Lampert, as they immigrate from Lichtenstein, in search of land where they can raise a family and participate in the American dream. The young newlyweds eventually settle in the rugged hills and pasturelands above the Sandy River in Oregon, where they forge a life of love and pursue their quest for prosperity in spite of the struggle in the wild terrain of the Pacific Northwest in the 1880s. —Sharon Nesbit, writer and historian, author of It Could’ve Been Carpdale.

 



About the Author


Helen Wand was raised in the rugged hills of Oregon's Columbia River Gorge. A child of a large Catholic family, she has fearlessly trespassed into the lives of her immigrant ancestors who first settled at the west end of the Gorge. Her writing places the reader by their side as they raise and feed a large brood of children, build a farm, and ultimately, a community. Those who see the neat farms and green fields of Multnomah County, east of the Sandy River, will get a sense of how they began and the challenges they faced along the way.

 

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Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Preorder Blitz: Party Animal by Gale Stanley #excerpt #comingsoon #mmromance #gayromance #preorder #rabtbooktours @ChangelingPress @RABTBookTours
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Contemporary Gay Romance, Polyamorous

Date Published: August 8, 2025




Casey can get just about any man he wants, except for the one he wants the most.

Casey Cox is a porn star legend. Life is a never-ending party and there's always a hot guy or two willing to play. Then Casey meets the one man who isn't interested and suddenly it's a challenge he can't resist.




ADULT EXCERPT

 

“Suck me tender.”

“Hey dumbass, I’m the boss here. If you didn’t have a big shlong, you wouldn’t get any screen time.”

I picked up the towel and covered up my biggest asset. “Jealous much?”

Max looked like he was ready to blow steam but he clenched his jaw and nodded toward the king-sized bed. It was all decked out in white linen, the better to show off our tanned bodies. “I want you and Joey to do a fast run through, no sex, before we start filming.”

“Time is money,” I said, throwing his own words back at him. “I don’t need to rehearse.”

“Says you. Did you even read the script?”

“Course I did. Masturbate first, and then Joey walks in and gives me a hand. It’s not rocket science.” It was an easy scene. I could do it in my sleep. I never have a problem getting hard, especially when I know somebody’s watching.

“Okay Mr. Motherfucking-Know-It-All, do your thing.”

I sat on the bed and leaned back against the headboard.

Max spit out one word. “Action.”

I started rubbing my cock through the material of the towel. After a minute, I flung open the towel and let my dick take a bow. It was stiff and begging for attention but I ignored it. Slowly I ran my hands down my chest, tweaking my nipples until they were erect. It didn’t take long. My hot buttons are super sensitive. A delicious warmth spread through my groin. It was time to give my prick some attention. I gave it a few easy strokes, taking my time so I could show off my body. Occasionally I glanced at the camera with a smoldering gaze. Then I started jerking off in a steady rhythm.

Nobody knows my hot spots like I do. It didn’t take long for my breathing to speed up. My balls drew up tight and I knew I was close. Where the heck was Joey? He should have been here by now. I wanted to give him a cum shower. Max was a shit director. One day I’d direct my own films. I tried to hold off, but my cock was throbbing. Fuck it. I was too close. One more hard stroke and I hosed myself down with a massive cum load.

White cream covered my chest, up to my neck and under my chin. I groaned, scooped some up with my fingers and licked them clean. I knew I looked hot as hell.

“Cut!” Max stood over me, hands on hips. “I tell you when to come.”

“You can’t hold back momentum, Max.” One of these days I’ll quit mouthing off, but not today. “If you could get it up, you’d know that.”

If looks could kill I would have died right then, but Max couldn’t touch me. I was golden. Nobody made the studio more money than I did.

“Face it, Max. I know what my audience wants and I give it to them. That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”

“Get over yourself, princess. You’re a fucking porn actor. There’s a thousand more waiting to take your place.”

As usual, Paul, the cameraman and peacemaker, tried to diffuse the situation. “This is good stuff, Max. The guys will eat it up.”

Max gave him a disgusted look and turned back to me. “You got anything left for Joey?”

“Does a tin man have a stainless steel cock?”

Everybody laughed except Max. Fuck him. He turned his back, but not before he took another long look at my chest. I smiled as I lay back against the pillows. Look all you want, Max, but you’ll never get your hands on this body. But I knew he’d take the film home and masturbate to it all night.

“Hey, Cox.”

My head jerked up at the sound of Joey’s voice. People tend to think that porn stars don’t have real lives. They think that, given the nature of what we do for a living, we must be emotionally detached and incapable of having a real relationship. That’s only partly true. While I don’t have, need, or want, a significant other, I have my sister, Julie, and my best friends, Joey and Paul.

Joey is not only a friend, he’s also a great costar. He’s a lean six feet, with short spiky blond hair and brown eyes. The dude is practically hairless while I sport a sexy trail of dark hair that leads to a well-manicured bush. The camera loves the contrasts between us, and so do the guys who buy our videos. We spend so much time together, it was only natural we’d become buddies.

Grinning, Joey sat on the bed. “You just can’t help yourself, can you, Casey?” He started wiping my chest with a warm, wet cloth.

 

About the Author

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and pencil.
Some things never change.

 

Author Links

Visit Gale’s Website

Gale on Facebook

Follow her on BookBub

 

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

 

Pre-Order Today


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Monday, August 4, 2025

Cover Reveal: Corporate Almighty: 2098 by James Owens #political #satire #fiction #comingsoon #coverreveal #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Political Satire/Fiction

Date Published: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


At the turn of the next century, a corporate oligarchy rules America with an iron fist. Commercial jingles have replaced the Top Forty, babies come from factories, and the race captivating the nation isn’t between political candidates. It’s the cutthroat competition to find the formula for No-Sog Stay-Crisp Cornflakes.

The battle pits cereal titan Todd Swindell, head of Flakes Alive Incorporated, against Chad Scandalman of the Great American Flake Company. When Scandalman hires a diminutive assassin named Twinkle to bump off his rival’s top chemist, it sparks a war of the flakes that makes the bloody feud of York and Lancaster look tame by comparison.

But not everyone in the Cornflake capital of Domino, Indiana, is happy with the status quo. Ziggie Wexler, an unemployed pipefitter and all-around average Joe, knows that something is deeply wrong with his country.

All history prior to 2040 has been banned, but old-timers whisper about the days when people still voted for their leaders. After Ziggie posts fiery polemics against the state to the Clandestine Journal, he becomes a marked man. But in a world built on lies, there’s one truth he’s sure of. Somebody needs to fight back.

 

 

About the Author


Retired IT professional, James Owens is a trained computer engineer and technical documentation specialist who earned an A.A.S. in computer programming and a B.A. in English from Purdue University.

Immensely curious about human behavior, James spent the 1970s hanging out on the streets to observe people, many of whom became inspirations for his fictional characters. Later, he worked in cube farms at conservative insurance companies, where the idiosyncrasies of corporate personalities sparked his imagination.

James has spent the last decade reading and writing offbeat fiction about bizarre protagonists. Corporate Almighty: 2098, a dystopian tale about the rise of the corporation and the fall of democracy, follows his first two novels, Animal Candy and Pods of Bubbledumb: A Study in Mass Depravity.

Born and raised in an industrial suburb on the south edge of Chicago, James lives with his wife Sue and four cats in Evansville, Indiana.


Contact Links

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Teaser Tuesday: The Brat by Megan Slayer #mafiaromance #suspense #agegap #excerpt #comingsoon @MeganSlayer @ChangelingPress @RABTBooktours
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Mafia Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: August 8, 2025



Daddy’s Girl…

Betty Ann

I love my position as the daughter of the King of Clubs. I do what I want, when I want, and get what I want -- I don't like being told no. Ever. Daddy lets me get away with everything. Not Sarge, though. He drives me crazy and makes me play by the rules... So why do I want to keep him around?

Sarge

I'm Army to the core and live for the rules. I need order, but BA creates chaos. She pushes and demands. She wants everything... So why do I want to give it to her? I can't resist her and I should. Her father will destroy me if I touch her and I very much want to touch her. But is the saucy woman in the mini dress worth my life?

She just might be.




EXCERPT


Betty Ann

“I don’t think there’s any man who can tame me, Nina.” Betty Ann Morris stood in front of her floor-length mirror and ran her fingers through her stick-straight hair. “I don’t.”

Nina, her best friend and closest confidante, joined her at the mirror. “I don’t know. You’re nineteen. I’m sure there’s someone out there. Has to be.”

Betty Ann considered what Nina had said, but didn’t agree. She wasn’t that naive. Men viewed her one of two ways -- either as the pixie that needed to be given some experience, only to find out she had more than they did, or as a tart who deserved to be treated like shit.

“You don’t believe me.” Nina shrugged, then walked out of view. “You’ve grown up too fast. So have I, but whatever.”

“Deep.” Betty Ann turned on her heel and strode over to her closet. Nina wasn’t wrong about them growing up too fast. How could she not? Her father – known as The King of Clubs -- owned the biggest chain of nightclubs in the tristate area. She’d frequented his clubs since she was far too young to be in such places. She’d mixed with the wrong crowds and tried things she never should’ve been around.

Why? It was fun. She flipped a lock of her hair over her shoulder, then considered her wardrobe. “We’re going out tonight.”

“Like we do every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.” Nina padded across the thick carpet. She held up a teal sequined dress, then tossed the garment onto the bed. “What about that one?” She pointed to a black dress.

“Might work.” She wasn’t sure which dress she’d choose. She’d seen a few things in her nineteen years. Getting close to her wasn’t possible most of the time. If her father wasn’t forcing men away, they ended up dead. “Where do you want to go? Vodka Lounge? Or The Martini?”

“I thought we’d try the new one. Hitchcock’s.” Nina shrugged into a tight pink dress. The bright color worked well with her dark hair. The fabric pressed against her breasts and showcased her nipples. When she danced, she’d definitely gain attention.

“I like that dress on you. Looks better with your complexion than it does with mine.” She yanked dresses aside, until she found something suitable. “How about this one?” She plucked a navy dress. The garment sparkled with a few thousand crystals.

“Yes.” Nina nodded. She laced up the side of her dress. “That works with your curves and the color of your hair.”

Betty Ann had to agree. She’d spent a fortune on the bleaching process this time around. Some might want the brassy look, but she insisted on her blonde being as California blonde as possible. Beachy, natural-looking and perfect for her skin tone. Call her vain, but she insisted she looked good.

She stepped into the dress and slipped her arm through the lone strap. Once she adjusted the garment around her breasts, showcasing plenty of cleavage, she zipped the side. The second the fabric encased her torso, a jolt of electricity rocked through her. The right dress always set the tone for the night.

She pulled her hair back from her face and stood before her makeup table.

“That’s one thing I’ve always loved about you. Unlike most girls our age, you know how to do your makeup without overdoing it,” Nina said. “I’m jealous of your skills with a makeup brush.”

“The trick is to keep your makeup as simple as possible so it looks natural. If you do that, then you won’t age yourself.” She finished applying a nude eye shadow, then applied the perfect cat-eye liner.

“Are you going to bag a man tonight?” Nina asked. She pursed her lips before swiping another line of lipstick across her bottom lip. “You always do -- when you want one.”

“I’m considering it.” She finished her makeup, then left the mirror. “I never get turned down. You don’t either.”

“Because I get your leftovers.” Nina remained at the mirror. “I don’t think that guy at The Martini was all that thrilled to get me over you.”

“He wasn’t my type and he sure seemed interested in you.” Betty Ann opened the door to her shoe closet. “That’s why I steered him to you.”

“I didn’t mind, but it would’ve been nice if he did like me.” Nina finished her makeup. “I’m not gorgeous like you.”

“Who says?” She selected a pair of strappy sandals. She’d been walking in heels since she was thirteen and had perfected her sway.

“Me.” Nina stepped into her shoes, then picked up her clutch purse. “You like to play with fire. Those guys at the club aren’t going to want a princess.”

She snorted. “You’re saying I’m a princess?” Of course, she was. She insisted on getting her way, she could be a brat and she demanded a lot from everyone.

“You should have a crown.” Nina clicked her purse shut. “Are we going to be able to bring purses or just keep them in the car?”

“Car.” She fastened the strap on her left shoe, then adjusted the one on the right shoe. “It’s safer that way. We won’t get our shit stolen and the bouncers have to do whatever I want.” She’d been spoiled that way.

“I know.” Nina waited for Betty Ann to finish smoothing her dress. “You’re going to find a guy who isn’t turned on by your princess act, won’t like that you can’t exist without daddy’s money and clout, and he’ll make you think twice about your lifestyle.”

“Right,” she replied. “I know who to play with and who to throw back. If the guy is going to give me too much shit, then he’s not worth it. Let’s go.” She flicked her hand.

With Nina behind her, she strode downstairs to the ground floor, through the kitchen to the expansive foyer before stopping under the covered driveway arch.

Her favorite car was driven up to where she stood and Dirks, the driver she liked best, exited the vehicle. He opened the back door for her.

“Thank you, Dirks.” She settled on the seat, then moved over for Nina. “We’re going to Hitchcock’s.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He closed the door behind Nina and hustled around the hood to the driver’s side. The privacy glass kept him from listening to their conversation. She swore he still listened in on what she said, but she wasn’t positive.

“You might know who to play with and who to avoid, but there’s a guy out there who won’t be such a pushover,” Nina said. “One you can’t order around.”

“I doubt that.” Betty Ann stared out the window at the landscape flying by. Living on more than one hundred acres was nice, but it made quick trips to town almost impossible. “Men are here to be played with. They don’t want relationships -- not with a girl like me.”

Guys her age wanted to bag “the hot chick” and older men wanted to bag the “hot young girl.” If she was told one more time she had coltish legs, she’d scream. Yes, she had long legs and knew how to wrap them around a man’s waist during sex, but she wasn’t wobbly on those legs. Not by a long shot.

“What do you mean?” Nina asked. “You’ll find a man tonight. Bet me you won’t.”

“How much?”

“One hundred bucks.”

Nina hadn’t even flinched. Damn. “You’re on. What are the terms?”

“I bet you find the one man tonight that makes you give him two nights. The guy who makes you think twice. You’ll get hung up on him,” Nina said. “And you’ll like it.”

“And I bet you that’s all bullshit.”

Nina shrugged, then held out her hand. “You’ll see.”

“Nina.” She nudged her friend. “It won’t happen.” Men were toys to play with. They were meant to be discarded when they outlived their welcome. There was always another waiting when she desired.

“You’ll get hung up on this one and lose your head.” Nina laughed. “Not that I want your money. I want to see you eat your words.”

“Never.”

 

About the Author

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on various e-tailer sites.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.


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Virtual Book Tour: Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner #audiobook #interview #historical #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours
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Historical fiction

Date Published: 04-08-2025

Publisher: She Writes Press



What would Jesus do? This wry, irreverent, fictionalized account of his life and ministry—told from the perspective of disciple Mary Magdalene—will implode everything you thought you knew.

Jesus Christ—Yeshua, to his friends—is not happy. Two thousand years after his death, he sees Earth heading toward oblivion. Ever eager to save humanity, he asks Mary Magdalene (Magda) for help. It’s time to tell the real story of our time together, he says. Time to correct all the misinformation, misogyny, and lies spread by Peter, Paul, and the Roman Catholic Church. Still pissed that she’s been called a whore for almost two millennia, Magda resists—but ultimately, out of love for Yeshua, reluctantly agrees.

Through Magda’s words, Yeshua—to most today a symbolic, practically mythological Biblical figure—comes back to life as a man of flesh and blood, one wholly devoted to spreading his message of radical equality. Magda tells of her travels with Yeshua and his followers around Galilee, where they are menaced at every turn by Roman rulers. She relates tales of miracles and murder, jealousy and acceptance, misogyny and female empowerment. She describes her relationship with Yeshua, clarifying centuries of speculation about whether or not they were in love. And, painfully, she reveals the truth about who orchestrated his death.

But Magda’s narrative does not end there. Her life with Yeshua has taught her that she has more strength than she ever imagined, and she begins to tap into a spiritual power that is uniquely her own—the power to connect people. Magda’s true role in the history of humanity, it turns out, is just beginning to unfold.

 



What is the hardest part of writing your books?

 

        For me, the hardest part of writing is letting go of something I’ve written that I later decide needs to go. Sometimes, that’s because it’s not necessary, or it’s slowing the pace. In the case of Magda Revealed, which involved a lot of research, I had some long paragraphs of description that were based on research rabbit holes I had gone down. Ultimately, I decided to cut them because I realized that they were superfluous, and I was only keeping them because I wanted to show how much research I had done.

 

In rare cases, I make the very painful decision that a character has to be cut, because they’re not adding anything significant to the novel. That’s always particularly painful, because I like most of my characters.

 

What are your most played songs?

 

        Oh, such a difficult question. My youngest daughter is keeping a playlist for me, of songs that I love so much I want to hear them on my deathbed, so I get to hear them one last time. At the top of that list are the Iron and Wine songs–“Naked As We Came” and “Love and Some Verses.” Also “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. And I could listen to “The Joker and the Queen,” by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, indefinitely.

 

Also, songs that remind me of particular experiences, like “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton (the first dance song at my daughter’s wedding); “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons (song I run to in the forests of Germany when I visit my mother); “Despacito” by Justin Bieber (driving around Miami as a teenager); “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (people I loved once in my life, some of whom I no longer see).

 

 

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

 

        I have a regular writing group that shares work with each other. Almost every chapter of The Good at Heart and Magda Revealed was critiqued by that group. I also semi-regularly attend writing workshops given by the Iowa Writing program. I have one or two teachers at Iowa whose classes I try to attend as often as they give them.

 

 

What book are you reading now?

 

        I’m always reading more than one book. Right now, it’s Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, by Barbara Demick; Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy; and Perfect Puppy in 7 Days, by Sophia Yin (I just got a Doberman puppy in April, and the training is ongoing).

 

 

How did you start your writing career?

 

        My full-time writing career got a late start, because I spent many years working as an attorney and writing only part-time. Back then, I wrote mostly humorous essays about parenting and my dogs. In 2001. I was able to take a three-month sabbatical from my legal job at the Justice Department, and that convinced me I really wanted to focus on the creative writing. So for the past 25 years, I’ve been a full-time writer and a part-time attorney. I didn’t publish The Good at Heart until I was 50 years old, so there’s hope for anyone out there who is a late bloomer.

 

 

Tell us about your next release.

 

        Right now, I’m working on a mystery/crime novel, with an alcoholic as the main character. It won’t be The Girl on the Train, but I’m hoping it will be as riveting.


About the Author

 

Ursula Werner has been writing for over twenty-five years. She has published one novel, The Good at Heart (2017), and two chapbooks of poetry, The Silence of the Woodruff (2006) and Rapunzel Revisited (2010). She holds graduate degrees in English literature and law, and works part time as an attorney. She and her husband live in Washington, DC, and are always trying to entice their three daughters to live nearby.


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