Saturday, October 3, 2026

Book Tour: Murder on Mulberry Lane


Murder on Mulberry Lane (Mildred Wiggins Cozy Mysteries) by Lori Soard

About Murder on Mulberry Lane

 


Murder on Mulberry Lane (Mildred Wiggins Cozy Mysteries) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Fictional town of Maple Hollow, Indiana Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 8, 2026 Print length ‏ : ‎ 211 pages Paperback ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8185329344 ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H8293CY1 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GX2Z9NP6

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Small town. Big secrets. One woman who refuses to mind her own business.

Mildred Wiggins isn’t nosy․

She just… pays attention․

It's been fifty years since Mildred moved to the small Indiana town of Maple Hollow․ She knows her neighbors by name‚ their habits‚ and when something isn’t right․ The man living near her on Mulberry Lane has been setting off every alarm she has․

He’s rude․ Secretive․ Always in trouble with someone. When he’s found dead at the bottom of his porch steps‚ most of the neighbors are not surprised․

The police deem it an accident․

Mildred calls it suspicious․

Armed with her surprising powers of observation‚ her keen sense of justice‚ and her exceedingly opinionated rooster‚ Sir Alphonse Beauregard Clucksworth III‚ Mildred sets out to solve the case․ Because in a town like Maple Hollow, everyone knows everyone… which means anyone could be hiding something.

The deeper Mildred digs‚ the more she believes his death was not an accident․

It was murder․

But it will take more than curiosity to prove it. Will Mildred be the only one brave enough to ask the questions no one else dares?

After all, in Maple Hollow‚ secrets don't disappear․

They wait․

About Lori Soard

Lori Soard has a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, but she's hardly the stuffy professor type. She loves nothing better than a good romantic comedy and thinks the good guy should always win, and the ending should always be happy.

From an early age, Lori started honing her storytelling skills. As a kid, she was rarely seen without a book in her hand, even walking and reading at the same time. Her first stories were about the world around her. At twenty she wrote her first novel, which she admits was horrible. At twenty-one, she sold her first article to a local newspaper. Once she got that taste of having others read her work and realizing that she could reach others and touch their hearts, there was no turning back for this natural-born writer.

"If I can make someone's day just a tiny bit better," Lori says, "if I can make them smile even though they are sad, make them think things could be better, make them understand how much God loves them, then I have accomplished something. I write my stories, articles, and books with that one person in mind who really needs the message. If I can change one person's perspective, then I've succeeded."

Lori is a lifelong Hoosier and lives in southern Indiana with her high school sweetheart turned husband. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She always has her critters surrounding her, including a couple of miniature dachshunds and several rescue cats. "During the extreme low points in life, it has been my animals that have seen me through. There is nothing like the deep devotion of a dog or the unconditional love of a cat." Lori adores animals, and while some of her dear friends have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, she will always stand by her belief that animals make the world a better place.

She loves to hear from her readers and blogs regularly.

Author Links 
  Website https://lorisoard.com, 

  Purchase Link - Amazon 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 28 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT 
  September 28 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
  September 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
  September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW September 29 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
  September 30 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
  September 30 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST 
  September 30 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT October 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
  October 1 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST 
  October 1 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT 
  October 2 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 
  October 2 – Sarandipity's – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
  October 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
  October 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT October 4 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT October 4 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

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Book Blitz: The Academy War

The Academy War
Sean Scarborough
Publication date: October 1st 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Three colleges, three hearts, one prophesy that will either save magic or destroy it.

On their eighteenth birthdays, three strangers are ripped from ordinary life and thrust into a hidden world that has shaped history for centuries.

Aryna awakens a rare, volatile magic that doesn’t just channel power — it absorbs and reshapes it. At the Mage War College, her dangerous gift sets her apart and draws the secret attention of those with their own agendas.

Paul is claimed by an ancient vampire bloodline and forced into brutal trials where dominance means survival. As his humanity slips away, he realizes he’s being forged into a weapon for a war older than he knows.

Dean Blackthorn, an orphan desperate to belong, bonds with a powerful Stormwing dragon in trials where most recruits die. For the first time, he has a place — and a destiny tied to coming conflict.

Separated across rival academies, each believes they are training to protect their own kind. But when a devastating attack shatters the illusion of safety, a darker truth emerges:

They are not just students. They are pieces in a game controlled by an ancient power now awakening — and the fate of magic, monsters, and humanity may rest on who learns to control it first.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

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CHAPTER 1:

The Wish

Aryna

“Look, Aryna,” my mom said, setting down the lopsided chocolate cake she’d clearly stayed up late making—complete with uneven frosting and slightly smudged Happy 18th Birthday written in shaky pink letters—her cheerfulness seemed forced.

“Let’s try to make today as fun as we can,” she said.

I love my mom, I really do, but sometimes she drives me absolutely crazy.

“Honey, I’m not upset you were out with your friends last night. I just wanted to know where you were.”

“Disappointed, then,” I said, unable to keep the snark out of my voice.

“Aryna!” She gave me that look, the one that said I was pushing boundaries we both knew I shouldn’t cross.

Mom walked around our tiny dining table, probably to avoid saying something she’d regret. She worked two jobs while Dad pulled night shifts, and they could barely make ends meet despite doing everything they could for me. I knew that.

Knowing they were doing their best didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

All my hard work, school, science fair wins- everything my parents had always told me they were proud of yet it had come with the same quiet disappointment. They were always proud. They just weren’t always there.

I remembered the state championship for English literature, my best subject. I had stood at the front of the auditorium, looking out at the crowd while the other students’ names appeared on handmade signs. Their parents cheered, waved, and called their names.

I scanned the room anyway.

Just hoping I’d see Mom and Dad.

A smile. A wave. Anything that said, We’re here. We’re proud of you!

The last question was asked. “Who wrote The Divine Comedy”

Easy. I hit the button “Dante Alighieri,” one of my favorites.

Then I won first place.

I should have been excited, and I was. But there was a sadness underneath it, knowing I was experiencing it alone.

When it was over, I put the trophy in my backpack and went home.

It wasn’t that they were bad parents. They weren’t. They were busy. They were always cheering for me when they had the time—late at night, early in the morning, whenever our schedules happened to line up.

Just not in the moments when I wanted them there most.

Our apartment was so cramped, the dining room table took up most of the kitchen-dining room combo, leaving barely enough space to walk around it. On nights like this, with tension thick in the air, it felt even smaller. I could feel the frustration steaming from me.

I looked down at the table. The chocolate cake sat in front of me, eighteen candles flickering in the dim light of our cramped apartment kitchen. Mom’s face glowed with pride across the table, her tired eyes momentarily free of worry lines. Dad stood beside her, his arm draped around her shoulders, a rare moment of peace between them. Arguments about money were what I normally heard.

“Make a wish, Aryna,” Mom said.

I closed my eyes, feeling oddly self-conscious. Eighteen. A legal adult as of today, I felt no different than yesterday. What did one wish for when standing at the threshold of adulthood? College acceptance letters had already come and gone—mostly rejections with two waitlists. My part-time job barely covered gas money.

I wish for something extraordinary to happen, I thought, surprising myself with the childish desire. Something to make me special.

I leaned forward to blow out the candles.

Author Bio:

Sean Scarborough is the author of The Academy War, a young adult/new adult urban paranormal fantasy that blends magic, dragon riders, vampires, and unforgettable adventure. Although this is his debut novel, storytelling has been a passion of his for years.

Inspired by a love of immersive fantasy and the belief that books can transport readers beyond the ordinary, Sean set out to create a world that feels as real as the one we live in—a place readers can return to whenever they need an escape.

The Academy War was written through both the best and most challenging seasons of Sean’s life. Throughout that journey, writing became more than a creative outlet; it became a way to build a world filled with hope, courage, friendship, and wonder.

Sean writes from the heart, believing every character carries a purpose. Some become a source of hope, others a promise, a reminder, or a heartbreaking loss—but each one is meant to leave a lasting impression. Every scene and adventure was created with the hope that readers would become fully immersed in the story and feel connected to the people and places within it.

Seeing this world come to life and finally sharing it with readers is a dream Sean has held for years.

He hopes The Academy War is more than just a book—that it becomes a place readers can get lost in, return to again and again, and carry with them long after they turn the final page.

Website / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / Newsletter


GIVEAWAY!

The Academy War Blitz

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Book Blitz: The Glass Month




Dystopian Fantasy

Date Published: 09-15-2026

Publisher: Ink & Magick


Her magic comes naturally. His is synthetic. Their different approaches could get one of them killed.
 
Wisconsin, 2050. Kallista Marquis doesn’t expect much anymore. When poor air quality and undrinkable water are everyday problems, the pessimistic gardener is just glad to have a roof over her head. But when a handsome glassblower informs her she’s a natural witch, she eagerly learns the illicit craft as she discovers her ability to finally impact the world.
Fort Meade. Evan Wells should be thrilled with his special assignment. Desperate to keep taking the wish-granting drug that makes him feel invincible, the Army specialist focuses on hunting down naturals and avoiding the snarky yet attractive private who hardly gives him a moment’s peace. But when his lack of progress again threatens a court-martial, his spiraling anxiety endangers more than he's willing to risk.
Trapped by the economic, governmental, and environmental pressures of their time, these opposing sides believe magic is the only glimmer of hope either of them has. But is that power worth it? Is it worth dying for? Is it worth killing for?
 
Uncertainty, love, secrets, and sorcery tangle the threads of fate in this slice-of-life dystopian fantasy.

 



 


About the Author

 

 D. Lieber writes character-driven stories for every mood. Her characters breathe as if they have souls, and her effortlessly immersive worlds hold inner harmonies that cleverly tie everything together.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox). 

Contact Links


Purchase Links



RABT Book Tours & PR

Pre-Order: The Spare


Author @authorlmfox has revealed the pre-order for The Spare, The Bittersweet Series!


Releasing October 22, 2026


Preorder today!  

Amazon US: https://bit.ly/4h6WgsW   


Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4h5HYZB


#FriendstoEnemiestoLovers #SecondChanceRomance #ItsAlwaysBeenYou #SmallTownRomance #MarriageofConvenience @greyspromo

Book Blitz: Truthful Lies & Bent Realities




A Truly Believed Love Story

 

Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Date Published: April 30, 2026

 


In a time when mythology as propaganda shapes the systems of society and government, two unlikely souls come together to question the reality of it all—what’s going wrong in the world, whether anything’s right, and their own perceptions of honesty, dishonesty, and who they are.

Chillee and Gordie meet in Big Town, where their connection flourishes despite the recognition that they could each be fatal to the identities they’ve created for themselves. Chillee is a realistic idealist, a problem solver who puts her faith in the truth. Gordie, too, is an idealist, but he thrives on uncertainty, posing as a criminal to bring justice to white-collar crimes. They vow to hold one another accountable, to push each other through the steps to being a better person—the best person they’re capable of being.

In Chillee’s neighboring hometown, a county commissioner’s election will determine the fate of the rural community—and unknowingly put relationships to the test. When her best friend Willi asks Chillee to help her run against her ex-husband, she returns to Colton Center with Gordie…who has his own motives in mind.

As the couple continues to work with and against each other, Chillee and Gordie begin to see the deepening cracks in the perceived rights and wrongs of their world. No matter the outcome of the election, life as they knew it may not be the life they continue to lead.

Truthful Lies and Bent Realities is a thought-provoking ride into learning to understand the self and challenge the mind to keep asking the existential questions: Who are we? Who do we think we are? Who do we want to be? And do those identities intersect in the right places?



About the Author


Stephen Foehr, author of 14 fiction and nonfiction books, began his career as a police reporter in Chicago. His nonfiction books examines the relationship between music and culture, autobiography of the blues Taj Mahal, and travel. His fiction deals with submission and how to resist.


Contact Links

Website

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Release: Truth in the Treme



Title: Truth in the Treme Authors: Heidi McLaughlin & Amy Briggs Genre: Paranormal Romance Release Date: September 29, 2026 Cover Designer: z Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Some fires leave more than ashes.

Bastien Durand has spent a century telling hauntings from bad wiring. So when fires start breaking out across New Orleans and witnesses swear the flames move wrong, he walks the scene and rules it out. No curse. No spirit. Just a very human arsonist.

Then Delphine breathes the smoke and collapses.

When she wakes, she remembers burning — a hundred years ago, in his arms.

Every fire after that opens another door. A home they built. A proposal he never got to make. And beneath it all, the truth Bastien has hidden since the day they met: he was never cast out of Heaven.

He fell on purpose. For her.

Now he has to choose — let her remember everything, or protect her from the one memory that could break her.

Some promises survive even death.

PURCHASE TRUTH IN THE TREME

About Heidi McLaughlin:

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com

About Amy Briggs:

Formerly a firefighter and EMT in New Jersey, Amy Briggs grew up next to a military base, which inspires many of her stories. Her love of fairy tales contrasted with suspense carries through each of her novels and she hopes to inspire readers to fall in love with love.

Amy lives in Texas with her family and more cats than she can handle where she both edits and writes full-time. In addition to her book life, she is also a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, and runs two MMA gyms with her brother, where she also teaches women’s self-defense seminars, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, yoga, and Sambo.

Amy loves to hear from readers and can be found on social media here: Facebook - @amybriggsauthor, Instagram @authoramybriggs. For all other information, including editing inquiries, please visit Amy's website.

PURCHASE THE SERIES

Be part of the buzz — join The Hype Hive today!

Release: The Christmas Rift


🎄🐭 Release Day 🐭🎄 

The Christmas Rift By K.L Crear 

#freeonkindleunlimited 


 

Two best friends. One ridiculously gorgeous new flatmate. A very opinionated mouse. What could possibly go wrong?

Daisy and Kate are broke, single and facing another Christmas in their decidedly less-than-luxurious London flat. But at least they have each other. And Nigel, their cheese-stealing resident mouse, although technically nobody invited him.

Then Maximillian Taylor arrives.

Tall, golden-haired, impossibly handsome and working in fashion, Maxi is supposed to be the answer to their financial problems. Unfortunately, he creates a much bigger one.

Because Daisy thinks she might have found The One.

Kate has something rather less romantic in mind.

And Nigel doesn't trust him as far as his tiny mouse paws could throw him.

As Christmas approaches, friendship gives way to jealousy, misunderstandings and one spectacular festive rift. With a meddling landlady, questionable life choices and a philosophical rodent watching the whole disaster unfold, this is one Christmas nobody at Miller Avenue is likely to forget.

Warm, filthy-minded, ridiculous and full of heart,The Christmas Rift is a laugh-out-loud festive comedy about friendship, falling out and discovering that sometimes the greatest love story isn't the one you expected.

#NewRelease #romcom #christmascomedy #KLCrear #BookLovers #ChristmasBook #KML PublishingServices 

Cover Reveal: Wildfire Lies

Author @authortinasaxon has revealed the cover for Wildfire Lies! Releasing November 10, 2026  Preorder today!   Amazon:  https://mybook.to/...