Thursday, April 9, 2026

Ink Magic - Legacy of the Flower by Michael Roberts #bookreview #giveaway #historical #fantasy #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours

 



Historical Fantasy

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Sword and Thistle LLC



In World War 1, it’s not the tanks or soldiers that will determine the victors, it’s the magical tattoo ink.

The Mages who can bear that ink have special weapon and beast tattoos that can come to life.


Jack is an infamous Mage, called into a covert mission to rescue a missing scientist. If he can do this, he will ensure the balance of power with the magical ink distribution is not stolen by other countries who look to gain the upper hand during the war.


As he searches for the renowned Nikola Tesla, Jack assembles a team of Mages and soldiers as they scramble against time and powerful Russian enemies, who also have their own magical tattoos. Their enemies will use those powers not only to win the war but take over the city where all magical ink is created and distributed, thus ensuring global domination.


But Jack has a personal vendetta against one of those enemies, payback for the death of his father and other loved ones. If Jack can use his ink magic and overcome the insurmountable odds to succeed, he just might keep the ink safe, maintain the balance of power, and defeat the men who have plagued his family for decades.


This action-packed alternate history novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats! If you love the Pale Rider Second Chance series by Michael Roberts, you will love his new Ink Magic series!

 



Review
First of all, I love this book cover! 
Michael Roberts has created a world that really is familiar yet unique. He reimagines World War I through a creative and magical lens. 
The idea of ink-based magic is both unusual and intriguing, giving the story a distinctive feel. 
The writing is easy to follow, and the plot keeps moving with enough twists to hold attention. 
The combination of history and fantasy works well and really blends real events with imaginative storytelling seamlessly.


About the Author

 

 Michael Roberts is a Police Officer in Southern California. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years. This is his first American Historical fiction book, and he drew on much of his previous military experience to write it.


His most recent series, Ink Magic, was just accepted by Spiteful Books.


He lives in California with his family of seven. 

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Fall Back in to Time



RABT Book Tours & PR

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Flight of the Valkyrie by Curtis G. Smith #scifi #technothriller #thriller #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours




Book 1 of the Asatru Saga

 

Science Fiction, Techno-thriller

Date Published: 03/01/2026




Onboard the International Space Station, Naval Astronaut Claire McFadden is enjoying another routine mission in space when an unexpected explosion cripples the station. With one of her crewmates dead and the station quickly losing altitude, she struggles to bring it under control and buy the crew time until rescue hopefully can come. Unfortunately, NASA does not have a manned spacecraft to reach them, and the other international space agencies cannot or will not help, leaving the crew stranded.

With the station coming dangerously close to a fiery reentry, her old love and fellow former Navy pilot, Steve Paige, offers a radical and risky solution. The company he works for as a test pilot is developing a next-generation spacecraft, the Valkyrie. However, Steve is conflicted about his motive for volunteering for the mission. Is it duty to fellow astronauts or lingering emotions for Claire?

As NASA and the U.S. State Department scramble for a solution, Claire investigates what caused the improbable accident. She learns of a sinister plot to use the ISS as a retaliatory weapon aimed at Washington, D.C. This compels her to try to piece together who and how the station was sabotaged before it is too late.

The people behind the attack will stop at nothing to keep the identity of the culprit a secret. Even if someone can save her and the crew, Claire is the only one who knows what really happened, making her the target of an international assassin. The stakes are high as all parties understand that the incident could spark World War III.

 


About the Author


Curtis Smith blends his expertise in physics, engineering, and robotics to craft science fiction novels grounded in reality, inviting readers into a world where technology meets imagination. This hub fosters vibrant discussions among readers and writers alike, celebrating the art of storytelling rooted in true science.


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RABT Book Tours & PR

USA v RAJ by Dr. Raj Bothra and Jenifer DeBellis #political #nonfiction #rabtbooktours @JeniferDeBellis @RABTBookTours




The Truth Behind One of This Nation’s Biggest False Arrest & Imprisonment Scandals


Political Nonfiction

Date Published: September 11, 2025



USA v Raj is a MUST READ, INSPIRING TRUE STORY now available in paperback with a motion picture by BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION coming summer 2026. This tell-all memoir dares to share the truth behind one of the biggest federal false arrest and imprisonment scandals of the decade. This is a story about federal government corruption and a broken judiciary that turns innocent people into convicted criminals with their unchecked power and weaponized obsession with winning at any cost. This is also an innocent man's story of gratitude, steadfast faith, and endurance to persevere until the end of a war waged against him. Imagine being an immigrant from India who worked hard and lived by integrity for 50 years to achieve his American dream. Then, imagine waking up one morning to an indictment that leads to a three-and-a-half-year period of unlawful detention and torture. The pages within retrace my journey to become a renowned surgeon, interventional pain specialist, and activist for just causes and my fight to survive my false arrest and 1301-day imprisonment, which led to a unanimous acquittal by a jury at trial. May you be encouraged as this story leads you through the many twists and turns of a grueling experience marked by trials, tribulations, and, ultimately, triumphs.


HOW COULD THIS INJUSTICE HAPPEN IN AMERICA?

1. It is alarming that anyone can be indicted by a grand jury and arrested solely based on the government's allegations that exclude the accused and their counsel from being present or even aware of the accusations.

2. The FBI and U.S. Attorney built their alleged fraud case without ever doing a single required Medicare audit in their five-year investigation.

3. Once arrested, the five other defendants with the same exact charges were immediately released on bond the same day. While I was denied bail and imprisoned for three-and-a-half years awaiting trial—a violation of the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the right to a speedy trial.

4. Also, the two defendants who accepted a PLEA DEAL in exchange for leniency never spent a single night in prison despite their admission of guilt. I chose to go to trial and was unanimously acquitted by a 12-member jury on all 54 counts, yet still I spent 1301 days in prison.


YES, THIS HAPPENED IN AMERICA. NEXT COULD BE ANYBODY, YOU INCLUDED.


The very bedrock of U.S. justice has been turned upside down, where the belief that you are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY has become you are GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT. I have just one question for the guardians of justice: How will my own government return back the time and milestones they stole from me, my wife, and my daughter? Such injustices happen in banana republics not in America, the most powerful and oldest democracy in the world. WE MUST DO BETTER.

 


About the Author

 

 Dr. Raj Bothra is a surgeon, interventional pain expert, activist, author, and survivor of one of America's biggest false arrest and imprisonment scandals. A native of a rural town in India, he earned medical degrees in India, England, and the U.S. During his time as a surgeon in Detroit, he built a single-owner private practice that became the nation's largest interventional pain management system (The Pain Center, USA, and Interventional Pain Center). He's worked with important public figures, including Indian prime ministers, U.S. presidents, Mother Teresa, and Pope John Paul II. Indian President Narayanan awarded him the high civilian honor of PADMA SHRI and he’s received numerous awards in India and the U.S. for his public service.

Jenifer DeBellis, MFA, is a PhD candidate, transformational speaker, and award-winning author of Warrior Sister, Cut Yourself Free (Library Tales Publishing), New Wilderness (Cornerstone Press), and Blood Sisters (Main Street Rag). She edits Pink Panther Magazine and directs Restore Your Inner Warrior® and Detroit Writers’ Guild (501c3). She's featured in Psychology Today and her writing appears in CALYX, Medical Literary Messenger, The Good Men Project, Solstice, and elsewhere.


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Spotlight by Charles Besondy #bookreview #christian #thriller #fiction #giveaway #rabtbooktours @CharlesBesondy @RABTBookTours

 



#5 in The Lighthouse series


Christian Fiction / Thriller

Date Published: 12-31-2025

Publisher: Besondy Publishing LLC

 


What if the Future of Faith Depended on a Song?

 

DelivRus, a world-famous Christian rock band, confronts its darkest threat—from the world outside, and from the pride within.

It’s 2041, and a single world government is striving to strip nations of sovereignty and faith. But the music of DelivRus has been a bulwark against the global attack on faith. That has made the band and its leaders a target for destruction.

Tarnished drummer Charley Austin, 21, and untested songwriter Mia Johansen have been called to reunite the famous band for a high-stakes comeback tour that could ignite widespread spiritual revival—or end in catastrophe.

But as they prepare, supernatural forces infect Charley and Mia with pride, turning ambition into arrogance, loyalty into rivalry, and every creative difference into a potential fracture.

What begins as personal tension threatens to destroy DelivRus on the inside, even as external forces are being directed to end the band’s existence in a two-pronged attack of destruction.

 

With political intrigue and spiritual warfare raging in the shadows, the stage becomes the ultimate battleground—not just for a fractured world, but for the souls of Charley and Mia as faith and pride collide in heart-pounding suspense.

 

Fans of Frank Peretti will enjoy how Besondy gives dimension and character to evil dark angels.

Fans of C.S. Lewis' early works will appreciate how evil forces in Besondy’s novel slyly plot how to deceive and destroy the main characters.

Fans of Charles Martin will like how Besondy drags you deeper into the night so that truth can burn away the lies, reorienting your soul.

 

Spotlight is Book Five in the award-winning The Lighthouse series of Christian thrillers.

The Hidden Saboteur

The Chase

The Snare

Road to Nineveh

Spotlight

 

The novel can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read. Order your copy today and enter the fight for humility, unity, and faith that resonates like today’s headline news.

 

 



Review

Spotlight by Charles Besondy is an engaging Christian thriller that blends music, faith, and suspense. The story follows Charley and Mia as they come back together to revive their famous band, but things quickly become more complicated than they expected.

The book does a great job of showing both the external challenges they face and their inner struggles, like pride and doubt. This makes the characters feel real and easy to connect with. The fast pacing keeps the story interesting from beginning to end.

Overall, this is a strong read for anyone who enjoys faith-based fiction with a bit of excitement and deeper meaning.


About the Author


Twelve-time award-winning author Charles Besondy published his first Christian thriller in 2018. His works tell riveting stories of the spiritual battle for our hearts.

Besondy's The Lighthouse series consists of 5 novels, a novella, and a short story.

He lives with his wife in Lakeway, Texas.


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Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Unbroken - Life Outside the Lines by Adriene Caldwell #nonfiction #memoir #traumamemoir #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours


 

Trauma Memoir

Date Published: February 10, 2026

Publisher: Unbroken



“Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines” plunges you into Adriene Caldwell’s childhood—a world of grinding poverty, mental illness, and violence—then lifts you back out on a fierce up‑draft of resilience. Page after page, she peels back the polite veneer of society to reveal the systemic betrayals that let children like her slip through every safety net, yet she never relinquishes the fragile ember of hope that keeps her alive. Her voice is unflinchingly honest—at turns raw, lyrical, and darkly humorous—as she chronicles the horrors she endured and the instinct that urged her to fight for her little brother, and for herself, when no one else would. By the final chapter, you will understand why she can say, without irony, “We are not defined by our damage… We are Unbroken,” and you will close the book convinced that survival, in her hands, is its own quietly triumphant art form.

 


About the Author

 

 Adriene Caldwell is an author and advocate from Houston, Texas. Her memoir, Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines, traces the quiet aftermath of childhood trauma and the long arc of healing. Through writing, talks, and UnbrokenCaldwell.com, she champions hope, resilience, and storytelling as tools for recovery.


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Devil's Man by Kira Stone #excerpt #lgbtq #darkfantasy #fantasy #romantasy #comingsoon #rabtbooktours @ChangelingPress @RABTBookTours



LGBTQ+ Dark Romantasy

Date Published: April 10, 2026



Research at Loveland College has never been quite so productive...

Devil's Man: Roman vows to have Carter, a reclusive professor, one way or another. Roman's devilish scheme to seduce Carter succeeds, to the great pleasure of all involved, but their tryst ends with dire consequences. To stay alive, Roman and Carter will have to face their deepest fears.

Between the Covers: Leah has to discover why Loveland College students are obsessed with having sex in her section of the college library. Leah turns to Sam, a Campus Security Detective, for expert advice. Together they seek the truth... Between the Covers.

Mayan Destiny: Professor Patrice Valez dreams of Mayan ruins and gods of old. When she wins a grant to study an obscure Mayan temple, she's stunned, and not entirely happy, to discover her Mayan obsession has a purpose -- and a price.

Bump in the Night -- "Department of Paranormal Research." Wade's colleagues laugh at the title on his office door. But if he can debunk the ghosts of the famed Hoag Mansion, he'll finally start getting the recognition he deserves. What he finds instead are things that go bump in the night...




EXCERPT

"Over here."


There was an impatient huff before a woman said, "I thought you said you knew where it was."


Leah Spencer paused in the act of replacing a book into its proper Dewey decimal order on the shelf. She looked around but didn't see anyone. Still, the sounds of heavy breathing were coming from a nearby location.


"I do. It's right here." Teeth of a zipper were parted.


"That is not what I'm looking for." This time instead of sounding aggrieved, the female's voice dripped with amusement.


Oh, crap. Not again. Her section of the library had to be the hottest make out spot on campus lately.


"Suck me," a male voice hissed.


"Like this?"


"Oh, yeah. That's it."


He started to moan. Wet sounds slipped between the logically ordered tomes to reach Leah's ears. Her face heated, and so did her feminine core.


"Lick it."


Apparently his lover complied because inarticulate encouragement ensued. Leah considered peeking around the spines to catch a glimpse of their faces so she could give a description to campus security, but as soon as she moved, the book in her hands rasped against the ones on the shelf at her waist.


"What was that?" the woman asked, suspicious.


Leah froze, her heart beating frantically at the thought of being discovered. It would certainly get her fired if the administration learned she'd been listening to, rather than interrupting, the copulating couple. Assuming, of course, that she survived the humiliation of being labeled a sexual voyeur.


"It's nothing. Ignore it," her partner replied.


"I really think --"


He cut her off. "No one ever comes up here. No one except people like us. Might get crowded, but we're not going to get in trouble."


His partner seemed reassured by his explanation. "Yeah, I guess you're right."


Safe for the moment, Leah carefully stepped out of her shoes so her feet wouldn't make a sound as she dashed down the main corridor, away from the action. Once she'd reached her miniscule office, she picked up the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.


"It's happening again," Leah said as soon as Campus Security Detective Samuel Zheng answered.


"Damn. That makes the fourth time today."


The husky tenor of his voice jumpstarted the lust already simmering in her veins. Leah wished she were brave enough to intimately touch herself during one of these conversations. So far, she hadn't dared. But to come to the sound of his voice, to be that close to him whether he knew it or not, would be... would be... pathetic.


"Leah?"


She sighed, dismissing the fantasy and zeroing in on reality. "Yeah, I'm here."


"I'm on my way. Don't let them leave."


Right, she thought as the dial tone echoed in her ear. Even if Sam ran the whole way, it would take him ten minutes to arrive. She was a five-foot-nothing couch potato. How was she supposed to restrain two healthy adults if they were determined to go? Keep them riveted with a discourse on the finer points of fellatio?


Assuming they hadn't already left, she'd have to stay where she could monitor them. Listening to their passionate directives. Picturing them...


Enough!


As quietly as she could, Leah tiptoed back to her hiding place. Again, somehow she betrayed her presence. Damn Sam for asking her to do his job!


"There's another noise," the woman hissed. "Someone's coming."


"No one is coming but me, baby. Suck me a little harder, would ya?"


The woman chuckled softly. "Mmm, you're such a big boy. Gonna have to find something special to do for you." In the quiet, close quarters, Leah detected the rustle of fabric, followed by the snick of a bra being undone. "How about this, stud? Does it do anything for you?"


"That... is so... hot."


Images of what they might be doing flickered through Leah's mind. She closed her eyes. Their out-of-sync heavy breathing fueled the white-hot lust pulsing between her legs. She envisioned a pair of plump breasts surrounding a hard shaft, the rosy head peeking up from the deep, lily-white valley.


"Gonna let me fuck you?" the guy panted out.


"No, I want you to come like this. All over my breasts."


"Oh, yeah."


The smell of sex permeated the air. Leah's clit throbbed. She didn't want to risk moving around too much for fear of scaring them off, but she had to do something to soothe the ache in her swollen clit. Using the only option that came to mind, Leah placed a heavy tome between her legs. As quietly as possible, she ground against it so the rigid spine rode over her pussy, sending ripples of pleasure through her body.


People often teased her about getting off on books, but this was the first time she'd actually attempted it. The thought almost made her giggle, but she choked it off.


"That's it. Fuck my tits, stud."


"Gonna come," he announced.


"Do it for me. Do it now."


Leah was near the edge herself. As he grunted through his climax, Leah rubbed the book between her legs. Given the volume's size, it took both hands although she badly wished one were free to pluck at her pebbled nipples.


She'd never felt so wanton in her life. She imagined semen coating the woman's breasts, his hands rubbing it in. Her mouth licking him clean. All the while, her BOB substitute stroked her into a frenzy of wet, hot need.


"Here, let me get that." Whatever the man's offer entailed, his partner seemed to enjoy it. Her cry of pleasure triggered Leah's release. It wasn't the best orgasm of her life, but her reaction was intensified by the fact that she'd made it happen at all. In the library. Where she could have been caught at any second.


What in the hell had she been thinking?


As she pondered the depths of her recent depravity, the lights overhead dimmed for a full ten seconds, then brightened again. It signaled the five-minute warning before the staff started herding students out of Loveland College Library. Shit! Where was Sam?



About the Author

Kira Stone has been around the block…the writer’s block, that is.

From vamps and witches to historical heroes, from futuristic scientists to paranormal corporate executives, from Canadian werewolves to off-world shifters, Kira has written about them all. Manlove has sparked hot and heavy in many of her plots, but Kira also finds a lucky lady to keep the sexy heroes company from time to time. While Scotland remains her favorite place in the world, Kira is constantly in search of new adventures to add to the creative primordial ooze where her best stories are born.

 

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

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15




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How to Surf a Hurricane by Todd Medema #bookreview #audiobook #giveaway #climate #thriller #rabtbooktours @ToddMedema @RABTBookTours



Climate Fiction, Thriller, Heist, Solarpunk

Date Published: 11/18/2025

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Narrator: Nathan Westhoff

Run Time: '6:37



Bad news: Moro's project is cancelled.

Determined to get his prototypes back, he enlists the help of a professional hurricane surfer, an Alaskan oil worker, and a French salt farmer. But he's no criminal mastermind, and they soon find themselves caught between a growing hurricane and a surprise algae field.

Will Moro succeed? Will they beat the hurricane surfing world record? And how exactly does one farm salt?

It's a hopeful climate heist—a solarpunk blend of Ocean's Eleven, The Martian and Michael Crichton.




Review

I listened to the audiobook of How to Surf a Hurricane, and it was an entertaining mix of genres with a focus on Climate Fiction.

It follows Moro, an engineer who builds a powerful new battery that could help the future. When his company shuts the project down, he decides to take action and steal it back. Along the way, he teams up with a small, unusual group, including a hurricane surfer, which makes the story even more interesting.

The audiobook format makes the experience more engaging, especially during the action and storm scenes. The pacing is smooth, and it’s easy to keep up with, even when the story gets technical in parts.

Overall, it’s a creative story with an exciting plot and a message at the heart.

 


About the Author


Todd Medema is the author of How To Surf A Hurricane, a heist thriller showing that stories about climate change and adaptation can be fun and hopeful. He wrote it because he believes the future doesn't have to be a dystopia, and he got tired of only reading stories of doom and gloom.

Todd studied Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University. He worked on self-driving cars and board games before discovering a passion for clean energy. He spent four years working on grid-scale battery storage and now offers Product Management consulting to clean energy companies.

Todd spends his free time playing games, climbing rocks, and gleefully riding his electric bike everywhere. He is currently working on expanding the Hurricane universe.


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Monday, April 6, 2026

A Cowboy's Dilemma by E. Joe Brown #giveaway #western #historical #fiction #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours




Western Historical Fiction

Date Published: 08-19-2025

Publisher: Artemesia Publishing, LLC



As the Kelly Can Saga continues, Charlie and his wife, Susan, must deal with continued conflict as they attempt to grow their fledgling Kelly Oil Company. Like many other oilmen, Charlie and his partner, Hank Thomas, want to acquire oil and mineral rights to the Osage Nation’s land in northern Oklahoma. This leads them to confrontations with an adversary from their recent past. Susan’s life is imperiled by those evil characters. How will her cowboy come to her rescue and deal with dangerous direct threats on their lives? Charlie rapidly steps up to the challenge as any past Top Hand at the world-famous Miller’s 101 Ranch would.

 


About the Author



E. Joe Brown is an award-winning author of novels, short stories, and memoirs. His current projects include a series of historical fiction novels set in his native Oklahoma. Publication of the first book in the series is scheduled for August 2022. His memoir ‘Mickey and Me’ about meeting his hero, Mickey Mantle, is now featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Joe currently serves as President of New Mexico Westerners, an Advisor to the SWW Board of Directors, and is a member of Western Writers of America and Military Writers Society of America. 


He supports his love of music and performance through active membership in the International Western Music Association. He served on the organization’s board of directors for three years. In 2013, Governor Susanna Martinez appointed him a New Mexico Music Commissioner.


 Veterans Portrait Project, Military, USAF


Photo Courtesy of
Stacy Pearsall's
Veterans Portrait Project


Joe concluded his lifetime military and civil service careers upon retirement on June 30, 2010. An exciting multi-faceted career of firsts included leading the USAF Range Instrumentation Team to aid the original NASA Space Shuttle program. His team helped create the Shuttle Worldwide Network and supported the first six missions of Space Shuttle Columbia. As the Air Force Flight Test Center Project Manager, he guided the design, construction, and implementation of the Benefield Anechoic Facility on Edwards AFB. The facility tests state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems in a secure environment. His final assignment was in direct support of the two-star Major General at Edwards AFB where he advised on strategic planning to assure future readiness to test USAF and Department of Defense weapons systems. 


An alumnus of the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Joe continued his engineering education during both his military and civil service careers. He completed coursework at the University of Colorado, Georgia Institute of Technology, George Washington University, University of Tennessee, Chapman University, and the University of California at Los Angeles. He later completed a BS in Business Management at Phoenix University and the Executive MBA program with a Strategic Planning emphasis from Webster University.


Joe has been married to his wife Linda for over fifty years, and their sons have given them five beautiful grandchildren.

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Tilly and the Wisdom Trials by David Tra #childrensbook #fantasy #adventure #rabtbooktours @critterquestaca @RABTBookTours



Children’s Fantasy Adventure, Educational Fiction / Learning Adventure,

Date Published: February 27, 2026




In this imaginative and heartwarming picture book, Tilly and the Wisdom Trials introduces young readers to a world hidden beneath the prairie - a place where learning is a magical adventure and knowledge is the key to unlocking ancient secrets.

Tilly, a clever and kind-hearted young badger, discovers a mossy wooden gate hidden among vines and roots, setting her on an unexpected path: the legendary Wisdom Trials. With her loyal companions, the Brainy Bunch, she journeys through a series of challenges that test more than just book smarts. From riddle gates and logic tunnels to kindness puzzles and courage quests, each trial demands wit, empathy, and commitment.

Written in lyrical rhyme and brimming with wonder, Tilly and the Wisdom Trials is the first book in the Critter Quest Academy Collection - a series that blends adventure, problem-solving, and joyful learning in an underground world of whimsical crifters. Ideal for fans of The Questioneers and The Tale of Despereaux, this story celebrates curiosity, resilience, and the magic of a mind set on discovery.

 

About the Author

David Tra is a computer scientist, educational game developer, and children’s author who creates story-driven learning experiences that blend games, books, and curiosity. He is the creator of Critter Quest Academy, an interactive educational platform and book series that turns problem-solving into adventure.

David previously developed the educational math games El Mathador and Treasure Math, helping students build confidence through play. He is also the author of The Star of Shanraz, a novel for teen readers. His latest work focuses on the Prairie City Adventures and Critter Quest Academy books, beginning with Tilly and the Wisdom Trials, the featured launch title that introduces young readers to a whimsical underground world where questions, puzzles, and curiosity guide the journey.


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The Yellow Hair by Dwight Holing #excerpt #mystery #western #nativeamerican #fiction #comingsoon #rabtbooktours @RABTBookTours




A Nick Drake Novel, Book 10


Mystery, Contemporary Western, Native American Literature

Date Published: 04-30-2026

Publisher: Jackdaw Press




New Badge. Old Blood.

Nick Drake traded his past for the Sheriff’s star, but Harney County doesn’t do election honeymoons. His tenure kicks off with a double homicide staged as a murder-suicide—a lie Nick isn't buying. As he digs into the crime’s rotting core, the rookie Sheriff finds himself fighting a war on two fronts: a lethal learning curve with unproven deputies and a political recall designed to bury him. In the high lonesome where secrets kill, Nick must strike first and strike hard. Because in this office, the only thing shorter than his term is his life expectancy.

 


Excerpt


Chapter 1

 

Potholes on a road I’d never traveled before grabbed at the wheels like a bad conscience seeking redemption. It led to a ranch east of Burns surrounded by withered hayfields scratched out of a dead sea of sage scrub. Tumbleweeds hung on rusty strands of sagging barbed wire. The wind-scoured house and barn looked ready to give up the ghost. If the call that brought me out proved true, the owners already had.

A brand new 1980 Cadillac Sedan de Ville was parked out front. The color made me think of the old saw about red skies in the morning. The driver’s door opened and released a cloud of cigar smoke followed by a big man wearing a pearl snap-button shirt and stockman boots. He set a summertime Stetson atop his crew cut and eyed the seven-point gold star on the door of my rig.

“I take it you’re the new sheriff,” he said. “I heard Harney County had a special election to fill the boots of the old one who got hisself killed.”

“Nick Drake,” I said. “And you are?”

“Red Caldera.” He chuckled. “Yup, I know, heckuva moniker. My folks idea at being clever. Pleased to make your acquaintance, though the situation inside is none too pleasing. Couple been dead a week, be my guess.”

When I didn’t make a move toward the house, he clicked his cheek. “I woulda thought you’d charge right in, but maybe you don’t know you’re s’posed to on account you’re new to sheriffing.”

“If they’re dead like you say, what I need to know first is why you went inside uninvited.”

The straw cowboy hat reared back as he aimed his double chin at me. “Now, hold it right there. I didn’t do nothing wrong. I’m the one called it in and I’m the one been cooling my heels on a hotter than a firecracker morning waiting for you to show up.”

 

 

About the Author


Dwight Holing is the award-winning author of twenty books, including the bestselling Nick Drake Mysteries and the popular Jack McCoul Capers. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Western Writers of America. He lives beside a coastal river in California with his wife and two dogs who’d rather swim than walk.


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