For the Love of Books Podcast

Author Jessica Hartsfield pens debut book The Kingdom of Orion

In part one of The Sisters Three saga, Esme Halle thought she had finally found peace. Creating a life in Avalon on the continent of Mar, she had worked hard to distance herself from her sordid past in the neighboring Kingdom of Orion. So hard in fact that she could barely recall any memories of her previous life, and she preferred it this way. Now all of the secrets she had kept hidden so deeply even from herself, may be the only key to saving everything she holds dear. The sisters three, Esme's name for her mother and aunts, have brought the kingdom of Orion to its knees, information has grown scarce, and her dreams show her the past is the key to all.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Kingdom of Orion.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova, All Rights Reserved

Modern History Press publishes U.P. Reader Volume #8

“It's the perfect gift for Father's Day. Don’t give your father, The World’s Greatest Dad mug, or a barbecue apron. He doesn’t care. He needs something else to feed his brain,” Victor Volkman, senior editor at Modern History Press said in the newest episode of For the Love of Books Podcast on Thursday.

Give him U.P Reader Volume #8 instead. The hefty publication with a beautiful cover photo of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore between Munising and Grand Marais is filled with fiction and non-fiction stories, essays, poetry, memoirs, humor, and history.

It’s 181 pages long with historical archive photos and includes six stories from the winners of the annual Dandelion Cottage contest from all of the UP’s participating schools.

“It feels very solid and very significant,” said Volkman. “This is the biggest it’s going to get, ever. We’ve expanded it with the first, second, and third-place winners of the contest. Kids like to write long.”

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of U.P. Reader Volume #8

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC

Author J.D. Austin pens debut novel The Last Huck

In his debut novel The Last Huck, author J. D. Austin tells the stories of cousins Jakob, Niklas, and Peter Kinnunen who have inherited a family farm in Michigan’s U.P. The cousins spent their childhood playing together on the berry farm on Keweenaw Peninsula, and now they’re older facing major challenges in their lives.

Jakob goes to prison, while Niklas goes bankrupt in the recession of 2008.

When Uncle Jussi dies young, the crux of the story evolves around the major issue they face; Are they going to sell the land out of necessity?

 

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Last Huck.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova

Author Jennifer Raines pens romance Masquerade

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at the For the Love of Books Podcast show hosted by author Emma Palova, and sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines. On this great holiday dedicated to women around the globe, the show is proud to present two great romance authors Jennifer Raines and Karin Beery.

In Masquerade, the main character Kate uses a disguise to prevent an old boyfriend from finding her. Liam was conned by his ex-lover who was working for the opposition. A masquerade, a road trip, a steamy attraction, and Liam and Kate discover the steps they took to protect their hearts might break them.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Jennifer Raines

Author Mikel B. Classen pens action adventure The Alexandria Code

Classen's first novel started with a one-word prompt: Crystal. Find out how a short story writer takes a one-word prompt to a 256-page action-adventure fantasy novel Indiana Jones style.

The main character Isabella Carter is an archaeologist who is on the brink of discovery about how some ancient artifacts could change the future destiny of mankind. Unfortunately, there are evil forces led by the mysterious billionaire Lazarus Fane who are hellbent on suppressing and destroying the knowledge of the ancients.

Can Dr. Carter, her grad students, and reluctant adventurer Aiden McKenzie recover and decipher the Alexandria Code before the massive manhunt closes in? Join her on a trek that leads from Sault Ste. Marie to South America.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed hard copy of The Alexandria Code.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Lowell author Cynthia Beach pens The Surface of Water

Cynthia Beach is a longtime professor of Creative Writing and author of Creative Juices for Writers and the novel The Surface of Water. Her articles, short stories, and contributions appear in newspapers, journals, and books like Hope in the Mourning, which is Zondervan's grief bible.

Her novel tackles the complex theme of the celebrity status of megachurch pastor Matthew Goodman who is challenged by a 25-year-old new hire Trish Card in ways that awaken him.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Surface of Water.

Author Jessica K. Foster pens Andy and the Extroverts

When an introvert winds up at a summer leadership camp, it's a comedy of errors and a romance she'll never forget. Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends.

 

When her over-involved mother dares to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she's thrust into an introvert's nightmare.

Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there's no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming.

Then she meets Lucas—hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she's swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she'll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Andy and the Extroverts

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova

Author Marie LaPres pens Beyond the Fort

In Marie LaPres' young adult fiction Beyond the Fort, the main character Christine Belanger has always loved learning about the past. Still, she may get more history than she bargained for when she finds herself at Colonial Michilimackinac in the year 1775. In the past, Christine meets fellow time travelers, Henri and Jacques, French fur traders, and British soldiers.

She quickly learns that the tensions are high between the French and British, and Henri and Christine uncover the plot of a British Leftenant who plans to eradicate all French settlers in the Mackinac Straits area. It's up to Christine and Henri to save the settlers, and possibly change the course of history. Can Christine and Henri outwit Lewis and save the fort? Will Christine be able to survive Colonial America without all of the amenities she is used to…especially her cell phone?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Beyond the Fort.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Author H. William Ruback pens Scribe: The Apprentice

In an age where magic and the wizards that wielded that power, have faded into disputed myth. The Darkness and the evil it shrouds is an all too real presence.

Young Gareth has spent his life training, dreaming of following in his father's footsteps as the greatest warrior to have served the Crescent Lands.

Knowing the true horror of battle, his father has other plans for his son. He has used the last vestige of his political favor, to secure an apprenticeship for his son in the venerable Guild of Scribes.

The Order of Scribes has recorded every event since the dawn of history. They are present at every political or academic gathering. They walk the battlefields for every conflict. They are held in awe and feared at length: for no man truly wants history to speak ill of them. And in that way, their presence has altered the exact events they were sent to chronicle.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Scribe: The Apprentice

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Author Jennifer DiVita pens Not Your Shoe Size

DiVita's debut novel tells the story of two opposite characters Julia and Colette who age from 10 to 100. “It’s a coming-of-age story told through vignettes,” DiVita said. “As women, we don’t have to play by the standards of an ageist society. Cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry.” Listen in to win a signed copy of Not Your Shoe Size.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.