Harper-Collins Blog Tour for Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand

June 30, 2025June 29, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m here today as part of the Harper-Collins blog tour for this new novel: Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand. I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, and I ended up really just loving this story. The main character, Ray, is thought to be dead (due to mistaken identity) and this gives him a chance to see how his life looks like to others and what others think of him. Coupled with flashbacks of his younger life we see how he came to be the gentle, reclusive individual he is. At times, this story reminded me of the writing of Fredik Backman, whom I really enjoy. I had read Goodhand’s The Day Tripper and enjoyed that as well.

Loved this one — and I hope you do, too!

Thank you for my copy and for the opportunity to join the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

REPORTS OF HIS DEATH HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED

James Goodhand

On Sale Date: July 1, 2025

Trade Paperback

9780778387466

$18.99 USD

336 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Due to a case of mistaken identity, everyone believes Ray Thorns to be dead — while he is still very much alive. In the aftermath, he’s forced to reflect on the impact he’s had on the world and those closest to him in this heartbreakingly beautiful look at life and what we would all do if given a second chance, for fans of Dead Poets’ Society and It’s a Wonderful Life and readers of Fredrick Backman.

A lifetime ago, Ray “Spike” Thorns was a well-regarded caretaker on a boarding school’s grounds. These days, he lives the life of a recluse in a house rammed with hoarded junk, alone and disconnected from family or anyone he might have at one time considered a friend.

When his next-door neighbor drops dead on Spike’s doorstep, a case of mistaken identity ensues: according to the police, the hospital, the doctors—everyone—Spike is dead. Spike wants to correct the mistake, really he does, but when confronted with those who knew him best, he hesitates, forced to face whatever impression he’s left on the world. It’s a discovery that brings him up close to ghosts from his past, and to the only woman he ever loved.

Could it be that in coming face to face with his own demise, Spike is able to really live again? And will he be able to put things straight before the inevitable happens—his own funeral?

This is the best kind of feel-good fiction: it’s deeply affecting but full of clever mishaps and enough laughs along the way. It takes the message from Dead Poets Society and mixes it with the tragedy of It’s A Wonderful Life and tops it off with an ultimately loveable guy like in A Man Called Ove. The result is a heartbreakingly beautiful look at life and what we would all do if given a second chance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Goodhand has written one adult novel, published by HarperCollins in the US, and two YA novels, published by PRH Children’s Books in the UK. His adult debut, The Day Tripper, was called “an essential, profound read” by The Washington Post. He lives in England.

SOCIAL LINKS: Twitter: @goodhand_james Instagram: @james.goodhand

BUY LINKS: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/reports-of-his-death-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-original-james-goodhand/21769932

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reports-of-his-death-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-james-goodhand/1146225169

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reports-Death-Have-Greatly-Exaggerated/dp/0778387461

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman

June 26, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I loved this short story that I received for FREE as an Amazon Prime member.

Here’s the scoop:

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

It is 68 pages of pure Backman! I chose this through the Kindle First Reads program last November but it looks like it is still free for Prime members and there’s an audiobook as well.

Bookouture Blog Tour for Not My Greek Wedding by Sue Roberts

June 20, 2025June 19, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m happy to be here today to promote a new summer read from Bookouture: Sue Roberts’ Not My Greek Wedding. This was an engaging and positive read about a young woman who is getting herself back on track after a big break up and who is headed to Greece for her bestie’s wedding. There’s romance, humor, and more in this memorable novel with realistic characters and a storyline that many will relate to.

Thank you for my copy and having me here on the tour!

Book Description:

She might not be the bride, but could this wedding be the start of her perfect future?

Mia is reeling from a breakup with her fiancé. And now her best friend Tasha is getting married on the beautiful Greek island of Santorini – where Mia once planned on having her own wedding.

Arriving at the resort, Mia’s breath catches at the sight of the sun-soaked terrace and vases overflowing with pink and white blooms. And with guests like local hunk, Christos, walking around like statues of Greek gods come to life, there’s even more to celebrate… so Mia promises to put her own heartache aside and make sure everything is perfect for Tasha – especially as she’s the Maid of Honour!

But with embarrassing speeches, champagne corks popping everywhere, and guests getting caught up in the energetic Greek dancing, there are too many problems to tackle alone. If she opens her heart, can Mia and Christos make sure the day runs smoothly, and could she even start her own new love story in Greece?

This absolutely gorgeous and unputdownable beach read is perfect for fans of Kate Frost, Mandy Baggot and Holly Martin. Pack your bags and get ready to be swept away to the stunning beaches of Greece!

Author Bio:

Sue Roberts lives in Lancashire with her long term partner Derek and has had a lifelong love of writing, encouraged by winning a school writing competition at the age of 11.

She always assumed that ‘one day’ she would write a book, always having a busy household and a job, the idea remained firmly on the back burner but never forgotten.

The inspiration for her first novel came to her on a holiday to a Greek village. Her daughters had left home and suddenly the time had come to write that book!
https://www.instagram.com/ suerobertsauthor/
https://twitter.com/ suerobertsautho

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F4KD2C6Bsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

HTP Blog Tour for: A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais

June 10, 2025June 7, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Here I am on the blog tour for a new and fun-to-read novel: A Most Puzzling Murder, by Bianca Marais, complete with puzzles and choose your own next step! Just a note that I recommend getting this one in a physical copy as I personally struggled with my older Kindle in navigating the pages and also clearly seeing the puzzles. That said, this was great fun and something that I would have enjoyed as an older teen as well. Definitely a unique choice that was fun and engaging – thank you for my copy and having me as part of the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

A Most Puzzling Murder

Bianca Marais

On Sale Date: June 10, 2025

9780778368601, 0778368602

Trade Paperback

$19.99 USD, $23.99 CAD

Fiction / Myster & Detective

480 pages

About the Book:

Interspersed with riddles and puzzles that both Destiny and the reader must solve, A Most Puzzling Murder is a one-of-a-kind mystery that will leave you guessing and gasping until the very last page!

Destiny Whip is a former child prodigy, world-renowned enigmatologist and very, very alone. A life filled with loss has made her a recluse, an existence she’s content to endure until a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. Not only does an internet search for the name yield almost nothing, it’s a role she never applied to in the first place!

She decodes the invitation’s hidden message with ease, and its promise to reveal her family secrets proves too powerful a draw for the orphaned Destiny, who soon finds herself on Eerie Island. It’s a place whose inhabitants are almost as inhospitable as the tempestuous weather. The Scruffmores themselves turn out to be not much better, a snarled mess of secrets and motives connected by their mistrust for one another.

Their newly arrived guest proves to be just as much an enigma to them as they are to her. While Destiny slowly works to unravel the mysteries hidden throughout the ominous castle, she struggles to interpret disturbing nightly visions of what is to come. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family’s magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she’s running out of time to stop it.

About the Author:

BIANCA MARAIS cohosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers get published. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. She lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.biancamarais.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biancamaraisauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancam_author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/

Buy Links: (not affiliated with BBNB)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Puzzling-Murder-humorous-mystery/dp/0778387690

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-most-puzzling-murder-bianca-marais/1146847363

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-most-peculiar-tale-indeed-original-bianca-marais/21435438

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9780778368601

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-most-puzzling-murder

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-most-puzzling-murder/id6501987778

Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Most_Puzzling_Murder.html?id=rbs7EQAAQBAJ

Libro.FM: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488233814-a-most-puzzling-murder

Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/a-most-puzzling-murder-a-quirky-humorous-locked-room-murder-mystery-with-riddles-and-puzzles-for-the-reader-to-solve/9780778368601.html

Target: https://www.target.com/p/a-most-puzzling-murder-by-bianca-marais/-/A-93112360

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/A-Most-Puzzling-Murder-A-Quirky-Humorous-Locked-Room-Murder-Mystery-with-Riddles-and-Puzzles-for-the-Reader-to-Solve-Paperback-9780778368601/5560832578?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

Thank you to Harper-Collins for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for: A Very Italian Wedding by Donna Ashcroft

June 9, 2025June 7, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m happy to be here today to promote this new title from Donna Ashcroft. I don’t read too many rom-coms, but this was a good one, with multi-dimensional characters and a wedding at its center. Plus it takes place in one of my very favorite places: Italy! This is the perfect summer treat. Thank you for my copy and having me as past of the tour.

Book: A Very Italian Wedding

Author: Donna Ashcroft

Pub Day: June 5^th 2025

Buy Link (not affiliated with BBNB): https://geni.us/B0DZHTFLRXsocial

About the Book:

Escape to Italy, to golden sand and a glittering sea, to wedding bells chiming in a tiny hilltop town… Can Rose heal the heartbreak from her past, and take a chance on love?As the sun sets over a villa in Tuscany, an engagement party is in full swing. The bride-to-be gazes up at her groom, her glass of prosecco glinting in the evening light as she toasts their happy future; but as Rose watches her best friend Luna swoon over her handsome new fiancé, she can’t help feeling worried. Life has taught Rose that love ends in heartbreak, and all she wants is to protect herself and Luna. That’s why she came up with her Rules for Love: follow these and happiness is guaranteed.

Only Luna is breaking all the rules. She only met Marco a month ago. Rose is sure that love at first sight isn’t real… until she sets eyes on Ben, the best man. Towering above her, with tousled blonde hair and wide, powerful shoulders, he’s irritatingly charming, relentlessly positive and insists that love really can conquer all. Rose’s head is in a spin.

She has learned to never open her heart, never to trust, but Ben is becoming harder to resist…
Will breaking the rules end with Rose breaking her heart? Or will the magic of Italy bring her the happy ending she’s always dreamed of?

Author Bio

Donna wanted to be an author from the age of twelve when reading and writing were her first loves. In 2018 her first book, Summer at the Castle Cafe was published and her dream came true.

She’s had fourteen books published. Seven of Donna’s books have been in the Amazon top 100 (a cause for immense celebrations in her house), one made it to number seven in the UK and US Kindle charts and Summer in the Scottish Highlands made it to number 1 in the UK, US and AU free ebook charts. She was also shortlisted for the RNA Debut Romantic Novel of the Year in 2019.

Donna lives in Hertfordshire, with her own romantic hero, two grown up kids (who aren’t always home) and two very grumpy cats. She loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/ DonnaAshcroftAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ Donnashc

Website: http://donna-writes. co.uk/

Instagram: https://www. instagram.com/ donnaashcroftauthor/

Madame Sorel’s Lodger by Tracy Wise

June 7, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I was kindly sent an electronic copy of this novella by the publisher to review. What a beautifully written story! The language in this 92 page novella is so lush and evocative. It was truly a delight to read.

If you love art, artists, and especially Van Gogh, don’t miss this one.

Here’s the scoop:

The buzzing grew louder, and he was lost in it. He was part of the rush, the wind, the motion he tried to capture in his two-dimensional canvases. He was joining it, he was a part of it, there was no separation between him and anything else.

A tormented artist arrives in a village in southern France to begin painting again. He stands before a house with blue shutters, hoping the change of scenery and brilliant colors of the countryside will calm the buzzing in his mind.

Madame Sorel, a formidable widow, runs a respectable and orderly boarding house. She finds this artist puzzling. Weighed down with canvas, easel, and a sailcloth bag filled with brushes and paints, he hurries out in his shabby clothing each morning, leaving a trace of footprints on the dusty street. His presence stirs something in her, something held back for many years.

Others in the village befriend the artist, including Gretchen, the young housekeeper guided by her tender feelings for the painter, and Luc, the salt-of-the-earth farmer who hides his demons behind amiability and hard work. No one understands the artist—what he sees, how he paints, or why he stays—and their confusion increases as he becomes increasingly erratic, plagued by forces growing out of his control. As his time in the village hurtles toward a stunning, fateful end, all those touched by his visions are altered forever.

A bold exploration of the encompassing drive of creativity, the power of art, and the bonds of community and friendship, MADAME SOREL’S LODGER explores what it means to follow or hide your heart and how these choices, in the end, are what make us human.

About the Author:

After an international childhood lived throughout Asia because of her father’s non-profit aid work, Tracy Wise has spent her career in theatre, opera, and then higher education administration. She currently writes university presidential speeches, campus communications, and news stories in California’s Inland Empire. She has a BA in Theatre and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis (which includes a year at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK) and an MA in Cultural Studies (a historiography degree) from the University of East London in the UK. A life-long passionate reader, she designs social media for the Friends of her local Redlands, California A.K. Smiley Public Library in her free time.

Kids’ Corner: Charlotte and Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage by Teresa Argenbright (with Giveaway!)

June 7, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m shouting it out today for this new children’s picture book which looks fun and engaging:

Here’s the scoop:

Sisters Charlotte and Penelope return with new rhymes and extra fun times!
Charlotte and Penelope wake up one day too sick to go out and play. To bring some fun to their recovery, their trusty pals, the menagerie, decide to put on a show! Follow these furry, feathered, and floating friends as they build the stage, rehearse their acts, and bring star-level entertainment to their neighborhood. Where else will you see a dolphin bandleader, a chorus line of rabbits, and the loudest geese ever?

Accompanied by Dan McGeehan’s vivid, energetic illustrations, Charlotte and Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage will entertain new and returning readers alike with its clever rhymes and lovable fanfare!

Here’s a bit about Teresa:

Teresa Argenbright was lucky to have been raised by a mother who loved crossword puzzles and invented silly words to solve them. She developed her own love for language that grew through her experiences writing advertising campaigns, non-profit grant requests, and fun poems for friends and family. Teresa splits her time between Fort Worth, Texas, and the mountains of Colorado. When she’s not creating stories, she can likely be found on the nearest dancefloor. Charlotte and Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage is her second installment in the Charlotte and Penelope series. For information regarding Charlotte and Penelope and Their Magical Menagerie, visit www.teresaargenbright.com.

Would you like to WIN A COPY?

Just leave a comment and I will use random.org to pick a number and that numbered comment will win a free copy (US Readers only please!). Thanks to Smith Publicity for the giveaway and the opportunity to spotlight this title!

Please submit your comment by June 20, 2025. Thank you!

Bookouture Blog Tour for Nobody Saw Him by Liz Lawler

June 2, 2025June 1, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m here today as part of the blog tour for Nobody Saw Him (also known as “one of my worst motherhood nightmares”). The woman in this book has a little boy who disappears and no one saw him go anywhere or be taken. In fact, no one saw her with him and soon everyone is questioning her story, her integrity, and even her sanity. Talk about a suspenseful read!

Here’s the scoop:

Book Description:

You say your child was taken. The police say you’re lying…

As I sit my beautiful blue-eyed boy Sam down on the bench outside the changing room, I’m certain today is going to be a better day. He can splash about with his pool toys without worrying about making too much noise, and I can take a break from tiptoeing around my husband Pete, who is becoming more distant every day.

But when I return to the bench to collect Sam, my little boy is gone…

I can feel my heart hammering as I search for him, rushing to the staff at the front desk who tell me they haven’t seen him. Nobody spotted Sam waiting patiently for me or saw him wander off through the frosted front doors. Nobody saw me reassuring him on our way in, his tiny hand clutched tightly in mine. Nobody saw him at all.

My blood turns to ice as the police show me the CCTV. I strain to see Sam’s light-brown hair through the grainy footage, sure I’ll see his curls bouncing as we walked in. But in the video, I’m completely alone.

How is this possible? He’s been erased. Gone without a trace.

And then it hits me. Will the police now discover my past?

I will stop at nothing to find Sam. My child won’t pay for what I’ve done…

An unputdownable, heart-stopping psychological thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Lisa Jewell and Nicole Trope.

Author Bio:

Liz Lawler grew up sharing pants, socks, occasionally a toothbrush, sleeping four to a bed. Born in Chatham and partly raised in Dublin, she is one of fourteen children. She spent over twenty years as a nurse and has since fitted in working as a flight attendant, a general manager of a five star hotel, and is now working with trains. She became an author in 2017 when her debut novel Don’t Wake Up was published by Twenty7.
https://www.instagram.com/lizlawlerauthor
https://twitter.com/ authorlizlawler?lang=en

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F53NVC4Zsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for WHAT EVERY MOTHER NEEDS by Emily Shiner

June 2, 2025June 1, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m happy to be part of this thriller of a novel today! This was disturbing and suspenseful, and I honestly was not sure how it was going to turn out. Great for fans of psychological thriller and suspense, What Every Mother Needs is one you’ll find hard to put down!

Here’s the scoop:

Book Description:

She’s what every mother needs. But can you trust her?

Charlotte: Since my husband Lawrence died it’s just me and our sweet baby girl Jordan. It’s so hard raising her alone. Then Sophie shows up at my door. She says she is Lawrence’s sister… and she seems like a blessing in disguise. But with her in my house, looking through my things, it’s going to be difficult to keep the secrets about my marriage hidden…

Sophie: Charlotte didn’t recognize me. That isn’t surprising. She seems frantic, and I know she’s not sleeping. I hear her tossing and turning while I rock her baby to sleep. When Jordan stares up at me with those big blue eyes, my heart melts. Charlotte doesn’t deserve such a gorgeous child. Not after what she did.

It’s clear to anyone that Charlotte isn’t coping. All she needs is a little push to send her over the edge… And then I’ll finally get what I really came for.

Both of these women are liars. One of them is a killer. Who is really in danger in this house?

Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl in Seat 2A, this totally addictive psychological thriller will have you up all night!

Author Bio:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author. After spending years devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

It’s nice to meet you!

https://www.facebook.com/authoremilyshiner/

https://www.instagram.com/authoremilyshiner/

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Emily Shiner here: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/emily-shiner/

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0F3FTJX3Zsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Spotlight on A Sister to Butterflies by Aaron Christopher Drown

June 2, 2025May 24, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m shouting it out today for this new novel (look at that beautiful cover!) that my friends at Author Marketing Experts have told me about!

Stories that speak softly can be the ones that hit the hardest. A Sister to Butterflies is one such novel—introspective, evocative, and filled with emotional resonance.

At its heart is a creature who doesn’t fit cleanly into one world or another. Her journey begins with a promise and a mistake—one that leads her from a place of timeless beauty into the messiness of human life. What she discovers is a boy who sees her not for what she is, but for who she might become. As love blooms, so does the potential for loss. The novel is structured as a conversation with a silent child, and in that space, Drown reveals a tale of memory, sorrow, and the enduring pull of devotion.

Aaron Christopher Drown creates stories that are immersive and deeply felt. He’s a former Mainer who now lives in Washington State, and his work spans short fiction, full-length novels, and creative nonfiction. His debut, A Mage of None Magic, earned the Darrell Award, and his story collection The Gods Must Clearly Smile has received both critical acclaim and major awards. He is also an accomplished graphic designer and frequent speaker on the intersection of creative work and presentation.

🔗 aaronchristopherdrown.com
📸 @aaronchristopherdrown
👍 Facebook

Be sure to check it out on Amazon or at a bookstore or library near you!