An ambitious exec and a reluctant rock star sizzle in this workplace romantic comedy about music’s redemptive power, hogging the bed, and finding love.
Bright and ambitious Marin Collins sees her new internship with a prestigious PR firm as a stepping stone to a much-needed permanent position. But her plans for career success are derailed when she’s assigned to go on the road with rock band Kings Quarters, hailed by Rolling Stone as the next big thing. To gain full-time employment, she’ll need to stick to her “no workplace romance” policy and resist the sexy and nerdy rock star on the tour bus.
Enter Brad Osterhauser, the reluctant guitarist who would rather be coding computer games than penning Grammy-nominated songs. While grateful for the band’s success, he’s trapped on tour out of loyalty to the brother and bandmate who helped him escape a depressing home life. His outlook about the current tour improves immensely when he’s smitten by the smart and stunning PR executive who joins the tour.
Traveling by bus, city to city, with a group of practical joking bandmates and a greedy manager, Marin and Brad forge a friendship and forbidden romance over a shared love of Seinfeld episodes, stolen moments, and Red Vines.
Will Marin and Brad’s secret passions destroy both their careers, or take desire to the ultimate encore?
If you love a slow burn romance with laugh-out-loud moments, forced proximity, and sizzling chemistry, scroll up now to buy the book.
I purchased Starfish: A Rock Star Romance, by Lisa Becker and narrated by Sabastian York and Erin Mallon, through a Chirp Friday Freebie Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
This book utilizes dual narrators, with Sebastian doing the chapters for Brad, while those for Erin were narrated by Marin. Although it made it easy to know which character’s head I was in, the differences in supporting character voices made it easier to get supporting characters confused my mind. i.e. Sabastian’s portrayal of Merin, doesn’t always mesh with Erin’s portrayal of the character, and likewise, Erin couldn’t be expected to match Sebastain’s deep baritone voice for Brad. Both are excellent narrators. It’s just that their voices didn’t match, so I wasn’t always sure which characters were in a scene. It was minor differences, and it didn’t make the story any less enjoyable. It just took a little more concentration to follow for me. Both are excellent narrators. It just took a little getting used to.
There was a time when I could have imagined myself in Marin’s place, with an opportunity to go on the road with a rock band and thought I’d be in heaven. Although, I’m long past the age where that would be appealing, I haven’t forgotten what it was to be young and eager. Ms. Becker managed to cast Marin in a female role that is not one of a mindless groupie. Instead, she is an eager advertising intern, smart and creative, and the band, King’s Quarters, is her first client.
Expecting an account which would station her in Seattle, Marin finds it hard to be excited about unexpectedly being thrown on the road with the rock band. She may be disappointed, but not enough to keep her from noticing the sexy hunk, Brad, who will be one her new bosses, as well as one of her traveling companions. Of course, she is a professional and she knows better than to mix romance with work, so those thoughts are quickly shoved to the back of her mind. Or are they?
Brad is not your typical rock star. At least not since he set eyes on Marin. He makes his intentions concerning her clear early on, warning the other band members off as he sets about winning her heart. He’s willing to take any opportunity to spend time with Merin, and being on the road together offers lots of situations where they are thrown together, even taking care of her when she’s sick. A guy can only take so much, but even when he’s tempted to the extreme, he uses restraint and doesn’t push too far too fast. Brad is a perfect gentleman, with an iron will, determined not to do anything to scare this woman away.
A true to form romance, with deep and likeable characters I wanted to root for. I give Starfish five quills.
About The Roll of a Lifetime
Things Rachel Groff needs: her daughter out of diapers, the back child support she’s owed, freedom from her devious, dirtbag ex-husband.
Rachel has inched her way toward financial security after three years of solo parenting. Clinging to her hard-won independence, she is on guard against the type of man who deceived her in the past. Men like the too-hot and too-charming divorced dad who claims to be nothing like her ex.
Things Theo Melis loves: kayaking along the bayou, baking pies, being with his son.
His big gamble paid off: His brewpub is in the black and garnering great reviews. Now, Theo’s focused on earning a favorable rating from his manager’s ex-wife. He’s taken with her strength and ferocity of purpose and proud when she allows him to help her escape the stresses of life. But one moment Rachel melts into him, the next, she jerks away, leaving him overheated and confused.
Theo longs to earn Rachel’s trust. Rachel’s heart yearns for him, but her instincts have devastated her before. Every step they take could be a disastrous misstep.
If they move in unison, can they discover a path worth taking?
I purchased The Roll of a Lifetime, by Meleanie Greene from a Chirp Freebie Friday deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
The first thing I’ve got to say about this book is that narrator Amy Rubinate absolutely nailed it. Her southern accent for Rachel is perfection, and her timing, impeccable.
This story is not what I expected in a romance. With the main characters both being divorcees with children, it felt odd to find things like potty training, Pokémon, and ex-inlaws in the romance story line. But, I must say, I found both the main characters to be likeable and enjoyable.
Rachel is a single parent who is overly defensive when it comes to her ex, Serge. When Serge’s boss, Theo, unexpectedly shows up to deliver their toddler, she becomes defensive, nearly pushing him out the door with her brash dismissal. Once she lets her bristles down, she finds herself attracted to the man, and we learn that she’s really a hot and horny honey, who doesn’t hesitate to let her needs be known. She’s not after romance, she just wants to get laid
The hot hunk, Theo, is physically attracted, to be sure, but he has visions of a long term hook-up, and is quick out the gate in making that happen. Not wanting to push to fast, he vows to let Rachel set their speed, but gets confusing signals from her. Until a broken condom forces them both to face the fact that this is turning into more than just a few fun roles in the hay; this could be turning into a real relationship.
A different type of romance I couldn’t help.bit fall in love with it. I give The Roll of a Lifetime five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
I didn’t think my life could get any weirder, until the dreaded rollercoaster…
Amelina Scott’s destiny is to be a Krystallos: a magician of light, chosen to learn the ways of crystal magic on her 16th birthday. Located on a river pathway in a mysterious part of Cambridge, the Crystal Cottage is guarded by mythical beings.
Unfortunately, there are those who seek to harm this haven of light. Learning of Ryder – a Shadow Sorcerer with hypnotic powers – Amelina discovers that her own magic is now threatened, and that the Curse of Time might be unleashed again.
As secrets abound and the creatures of the Chronophage come alive, can Amelina become the true magician she needs to be?
A unique, imaginative mystery full of magic-wielding and dark elements, Golden Healer is a riveting adventure for anyone interested in fantasy, mythology or the world of the paranormal. NOTE: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive readers.
I received a digital copy of Golden Healer, by M.J. Mallon, from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I was excited when asked to review book 2 in Mallon’s The Curse of Time Series, as I recalled enjoying the first book in the series, Blood Stone. My review of Blood Stone: https://writingtoberead.com/2023/08/18/book-review-bloodstone/
I don’t have a lot of experience with magical realism, but once I get into the swing of it, and realize that magical happenings are an expected part of everyday life and just about anything is possible, the stories in this series start popping. Mallon writes magical realism with a skilled hand. Although the events of the story may seem a bit odd to the characters, they are taken as a matter of fact, they just are.
Amelina knows that something isn’t right. There are many strange things happening. Her friend Jade is determined to date Ryder, despite Amelina’s misgivings and her warnings that the boy is trouble. Jade thinks Amelina is just jealous and refuses to listen. Esme is still trapped inside the mirror and has lost her reflection, but Amelina doesn’t know how to free her. After taking her father’s youth and Krystalos powers by forcing him to ride the monster rollercoaster, the grasshopper has decided Amelina’s next on line for a ride. And the Crystal Cottage remains as mysterious as ever.
Rollercoasters with a high price, evil giant grasshoppers,mirror prisons, cats with human characteristics, evil shadow demons, magic welcome mats with attitude, and lots and lots of magic crystals. This story has it all.
This is one story you’ve to read to believe, and I do think reading the series in order could be helpful. A delightful and surprising story, which I truly enjoyed reading. I give Golden Healer five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
To is the last day of the WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour, and you can join us over at Poetry by Mich with a reading of the meet cute; an important element in any romance. I love what author B.T. Clearwater has done with this one. Check it out, and don’t forget to comment so we will know you were there. You could win a free digital copy of Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater.
It’s Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Smothered” Book Blog Tour and we’re back here, on Writing to be Read with a reading from Chapter 10, by Jeff Bowles. In this reading, we’re hearing the p.o.v. of the ghost of Annie’s mother, Mary, who has been causing all kinds of havoc trying to express her disapproval of Annie’s relationship with Mike, or any man, really.
About Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater
Annie Brown’s life could use some renovation. She’s in trouble at work, her ex-boyfriend is stalking her, and she’s just inherited a dilapidated Victorian home from her late mother, who hasn’t quite moved out yet. The last thing Annie needs in her life is a man, but when handyman Mike Tolbert comes to fix her dishwasher, she lets him demo her doubt.
Mike doesn’t need the distraction of a relationship either. An Iraq War combat veteran and divorcee, Mike suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is dealing with a manipulative ex. Yet, something about Annie snags his heart and he finds he cannot walk away from her.
Annie’s mother doesn’t approve of their relationship, and she’s willing to cross from the realm of death to that of the living to control her daughter. With the ghost of her mother haunting them, Mike and Annie face his PTSD, her troubles at work, and a deadly plot to steal her childhood home, all while fighting to keep their love alive.
Excerpt Reading: “Ghostly Appearance by Mother” (Chap. 10)
About B.T. Clearwater
B.T. Clearwater grew up writing stories, winning Literary Student of the Year for Lake George Central High School in 1984. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Western State Colorado University, graduating both Summa Cum Laude, and is a two-time alum of the Superstars Writing Seminars run by Kevin J. Anderson. B.T. routinely judges the Zebulon writing contest for Pike’s Peak Writers, and has published fiction under the science fiction, fantasy, romance, western, horror, and crime genres under different pen names. B.T. Clearwater lives in Colorado Springs with a dog, a cat, and a cast of fictional characters for company.
The Giveaway
Leave a comment at each stop to let us know you were here
and get an entry for a chance at one of three digitals copies
to given away in a random drawing at the end of the tour.
This wraps up today’s tour stop on the WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour. You can visit the other stops and get in on the giveaway through the links in the tour schedule below, for more readings and an interview with author B.T. Clearwater.
Tomorrow, you can find us on three separate blog sites with host, Michelle Ayon Navajas: Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, and Masticadores Phillipines with the last reading, from chapter 5, where Mike and Annie first meet. Join us in the final send off for Smothered, and don’t forget to leave a comment so we know you were there.
It’s Day 3 of the WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour, and we’re over at Undawnted, with host DL Mullan and an interview with author B.T. Clearwater. Won’t you join us and help send this paranormal romance off right? This is one you won’t want to miss.
Undawnted does not take comments, so please click the link below to catch the interview, but leave your comments here for the giveaway entries or to start a conversation.
It’s Day 2 of the WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour and we’re over at Roberta Writes with another reading, and a great giveaway. Join us in sending off the re-release of this twisted paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater.
It’s the opening day for the WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour, here on Writing to be Read, and we’re celebrating the re-release tomorrow, of a fabulous paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater, Smothered. For this tour, we’ll have readings at each stop rather than guest posts, and an author interview with host, Kay Castanada, over on Book Places, scheduled on Day 3. Once you get a taste of this ghostly romance story, I know you’ll want to come back for more, so please visit each tour stop and listen to the excerpt readings. Tell us your opinion in the comments and enter the giveaway for one of three digital copies of Smothered. (But, be kind, as I do the reading for two of the excerpts, and I’m not a professional narrator, although I’ve always been good at reading aloud.)
The Giveaway
Leave a comment at each stop to let us know you were here
and get an entry for a chance at one of three digitals copies
to given away in a random drawing at the end of the tour.
This complex paranormal romance was first published in 2017, by Permuted Press. You can read my review of the first edition here. But, let’s start of with a description and short trailer to tell you about this second edition, revised, with a gorgeous new cover. And then, I invite you to click on my excerpt reading from Chapter 1, of “Annie’s Opening Scene”, where we get our first glimpse of our heroine, Annie, and the story is set into motion.
About Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater
Annie Brown’s life could use some renovation. She’s in trouble at work, her ex-boyfriend is stalking her, and she’s just inherited a dilapidated Victorian home from her late mother, who hasn’t quite moved out yet. The last thing Annie needs in her life is a man, but when handyman Mike Tolbert comes to fix her dishwasher, she lets him demo her doubt.
Mike doesn’t need the distraction of a relationship either. An Iraq War combat veteran and divorcee, Mike suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is dealing with a manipulative ex. Yet, something about Annie snags his heart and he finds he cannot walk away from her.
Annie’s mother doesn’t approve of their relationship, and she’s willing to cross from the realm of death to that of the living to control her daughter. With the ghost of her mother haunting them, Mike and Annie face his PTSD, her troubles at work, and a deadly plot to steal her childhood home, all while fighting to keep their love alive.
Excerpt Reading: Annie’s Opening Scene (Chapter 1)
About B.T. Clearwater
B.T. Clearwater grew up writing stories, winning Literary Student of the Year for Lake George Central High School in 1984. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Western State Colorado University, graduating both Summa Cum Laude, and is a two-time alum of the Superstars Writing Seminars run by Kevin J. Anderson. B.T. routinely judges the Zebulon writing contest for Pike’s Peak Writers, and has published fiction under the science fiction, fantasy, romance, western, horror, and crime genres under different pen names. B.T. Clearwater lives in Colorado Springs with a dog, a cat, and a cast of fictional characters for company.
That about wraps things up for today. I want to thank you all for stopping in and I hope we piqued your interest enough that you’ll follow the tour to learn more. The links are in the schedule below, but remember, they won’t work until each tour stop goes live. Remember to leave your comments to get in on the giveaway.
Tour Schedule – June 1 – 5
Mon. 6/1: Writing to be Read – Reading: Annie’s Opening Scene (Chap. 1)
Tues. 6/2: Roberta Writes – Reading: Mike’s Flashback (Chap. 11)
Wed. 6/3: Undawnted– B.T. Clearwater Interview with DL Mullan
Thurs. 6/4: Writing to be Read – Reading: A Ghostly Appearance by Mother Mary (Chap. 10)
Charlie and Simm, Montreal pub owners with a knack for sleuthing, thought they were taking on a straightforward case when Noah Wolfe hired them to find his missing family fortune. Their search leads them to the idyllic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they quickly realize this is no ordinary investigation. Joined by Noah’s sharp-witted sister-in-law, Sarah, they dig into the Wolfe family’s past at a grand estate brimming with secrets.
As tensions rise, Simm’s estranged brother and his wife arrive at the mansion, adding to the already crowded and mistrustful atmosphere. A simple search for lost money turns menacing with suspicious deaths, an attempted murder, and buried mysteries that refuse to stay hidden. The deeper they delve, the more dangerous the case becomes. Charlie and Simm are forced to confront their own fears and face a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to protect dark secrets, leading to a shocking climax that will change everything.
Award-winning author A.J. McCarthy brings back Charlie and Simm in this latest instalment of her mystery series. Can the much-loved couple outsmart a killer and unlock the puzzles that threaten them?
I received a digital copy of Smoke and Secrets, by A.J. McCarthy, from Sandra’s Book Club in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Always a fan of good mysteries, Smoke and Secrets, is up there with the best of them. This mystery is a big jigsaw puzzle, unfolding gradually as each new piece is uncovered. But each piece added brings even more mystery and more questions to the table, leaving the reader scratching her head in puzzlement all the way to the end.
My one complaint was with formatting issues, which made the paragraph layout weird and was distracting from the story. My eyes like to read in smooth lines and properly formed paragraphs, so this was a problem for me. I also noticed that the formatting didn’t offer page breaks between chapters, although that really wasn’t a big deal.
Simm used to be a P.I. and now cases keep falling into his lap, and his wife, Charlie is all in on helping to solve the case. This time an old client, Noah, shows up with a new dilemma to look into. His family was murdered in the last case they handled for him, and now, his brother has died and the family fortune has mysteriously come up missing. Simm and Charlie go with Noah and his siter-in-law, Sarah, to investigate the mystery and see if they can pick up a trail on the family fortune. Simms estranged brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Clarisse, show up unexpected and uninvited to round off our cast of characters. But, it soon becomes apparent that someone murdered Noah’s brother and covered up the crime.
Journals with poetic clues, secret passages and hidden keys all play a part in solving this well-crafted mystery. I give Smoke and Secrets four quills.
About The Corpse Wore Stilettos
SHE WORE A DONNA KARAN MARKED FOR REPOSSESSION.
Since Kat Waters’s father took a trip to the slammer on what she’s sure are trumped-up racketeering charges, life’s been tough. All their assets are frozen, and she’s down to the last few pairs of Jimmy Choos she can swap for rent. To keep her family out of the homeless shelter, the former socialite took a job at the local morgue—a job she’s about to lose when the body of a murder victim goes missing on her watch.
HE WORE A CAPTIVATING SMILE.
While Kat’s processing the latest victim in the prostitute serial killings, ex-Special Forces soldier Burns McPhee strolls in with an air of confidence, expecting access to the Jane Doe. While Burns tries to flirt his way into examining the latest victim, whom he thinks is connected to the death of his best friend, someone else steals the body right out from under them.
THE CORPSE WORE STILETTOS.
Dodging questions from the cops and kidnapping attempts from a body-snatching psycho, Kat and Burns forge a deal. He’ll clear her name and keep her safe if she gets him information on her peculiar coworkers, one of whom he’s certain is involved with the body heist. But digging up secrets can lead to a lower life expectancy. The unlikely team will need all their talents not to end up as the morgue’s next clients while they hunt for a murderer, the missing corpse, and a pair of diamond-studded stilettos.
I purchased a digital copy of The Corpse Wore Stilettos, by MJ Oniell, through a KindofBook Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. This murder mystery is book 1 of A Sharp-Dressed Corpse Mystery Series.
This was just a really cute murder mystery. Morgue worker Kat Waters finds herself in the middle of a body snatching. When all the evidence points to her involvement, and it seems the police aren’t inclined to look further, she finds herself playing amateur sleuth, searching for the real body-napper. She’s not sure who to trust, including ex-Special Forces soldier, Burns McFee, who always seems to show up in the oddest places, (like at the morgue at the same time the body was nabbed). Kat just keeps getting in deeper, and McFee offers to clear her name, so she teams up with him to investigate her slightly odd co-workers in order to discover who the inside man, or woman, is that aided in the body-napping.
While Mcfee has high-tech equipment and special ops people at his disposal, Kat relies on her good fashion sense to turn up clues about the well-dressed corpse and the body snatcher, just from observing their shoes, and eliminating suspects according to their attire. Filled with red-herrings, reversals, and lots of misdirection, this mystery leads to some surprising revelations.
A well-crafted murder mystery and a truly fun read. I give The Corpse Wore Stilettos five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
The Winner of the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest
Congratulations are in order for Mark W. Milstead, for writing the winning story, “The Mist on the Moors”. His story will be featured in this year’s dark fiction anthology, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, alongside myself and WordCrafter authors such as Zack Ellefy, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, C.R. Johansson, Rebecca M. Senese, Abe Margel, Robb T. White, and Paul Martz. I also want to welcome runners up Lindsey Martin-Bowen and Christian de Mateo to the WordCrafter short fiction tribe with their stories in this anthology. I look forward to this next volume of the Midnight Series anthologies. It promises to be a good one.
WordCrafter’s Sizzling Hot Summer Deals
First, stir up some wild western women’s adventures in June with WordCrafter’s Women in the West Adventure Series and a Digital Doubles Deal in June. Get books 1 & 2, Delilah & Sarah, both for one low price of $10. Only available on the WordCrafter Women in the West Adventure Series page.
Then, in July, heat things up with another Digital Doubles Deal and get the WordCrafter Time Travel Adventure Series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, books 1 & 2, both for one low price of $10. Only available on the WordCrafter Time Travel Adventure Series page.
And swelter through August with three paranormal gems from the Narrating the Paranormal Anthology Series in a Triple Digital Deal and get all three for only $6. Only Available on the WordCrafter Narrating the Paranormal Series page
Re-release of Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater
Smothered, by B.T. Clearwater is scheduled for re-release October 14, 2025. I’m excited that WordCrafter Press is re-releasing this paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater, because it is such an entertaining story that keeps you turning pages to see what could possibly happen next. I reviewed the first edition by Winlock Press back in 2017. You can read that review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2017/07/21/smothered-an-all-around-enjoyable-read/
Smothered has a female protagonist, who is an emotional mess. Annie Brown inherits the house she’s been trying her whole life to escape. Fleeing a toxic relationship, she’s cautious of men and not looking for romance. That is, until Mike, an equally flawed veteran and handyman with his own baggage shows up to fix her dishwasher. Amid all of it, the spirit of Annie’s mother watches over the house and tries to control Annie’s decisions. Smothered will be released on June 2, 2026.
Mike doesn’t exactly need the distraction of a relationship himself. An Iraq War combat veteran, Mike suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. His wife took their daughter and left him to struggle with making ends meet. Yet something about Annie snags his heart and he finds he cannot walk away from her.
As Mike and Annie get to know one another, they discover Annie’s mother doesn’t approve of their relationship, and she’s willing to cross from the realm of death to that of the living to control her daughter. With the ghost of her mother haunting them, Mike and Annie face his PTSD, her troubles at work, and a deadly plot to steal her childhood home, all while fighting to keep their love alive.
The WordCrafter Smothered Book Blog Tour will run from October 13 – 17, 2025. We’ll be launching this paranormal romance with readings and guest posts from the author, B.T. Clearwater, and a giveaway you can enter just by commenting. Drop in and join us as we send off this re-release in style.
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This segment of “WordCrafter News” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and The Ones Who Stayed With Me, by Nurse Sammy
Chronicles of the journey into the medical field as a young nurse and beyond, told with raw sensitivity and compassion. The Ones Who Stayed with Me offers small glimpses into the world of an L.P.N. put in difficult, often touching or humorous, situations—and Nurse Sammy’s courage, vulnerability, and insight are a gift to us all. In these pages, Nurse Sammy tells her story and that of those she met along the way.
