I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WALKIN’ THE DOG by Chris Lynch Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: WALKIN’ THE DOG

Author: Chris Lynch

Pub. Date: March 12, 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/WALKIN-THE-DOG

“Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

A boy learns how to be a friend from man’s best friend in this funny and moving middle grade novel about humans being able to change and dogs changing us from acclaimed author Chris Lynch.

In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling.

But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods.

Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?

 

 

 

 

About Chris Lynch:

Chris Lynch (he/him/his) is the award–winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer—all ALA Best Books for Young Adults—as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin’ the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.

Meet Chris! 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Porter Square Books (Cambridge, MA)

In conversation with Sara Farizan

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Broadside Bookshop (Northampton, MA)

In conversation with Michael Mercurio

 

Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 6:00pm ET

Books of Wonder (New York, NY)

In conversation with Caela Carter, Cathy Carr, and E.L. Shen

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of WALKIN’ THE DOG, US Only.

Ends March 12th, midnight EST.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the KILL CALL by Jeff Wooten Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

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About The Book:

Title: KILL CALL

Author: Jeff Wooten

Pub. Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/KILL-CALL

Dreams do come true. It’s Jude’s job to make sure they don’t.

Born with the curse of prophetic nightmares, Jude sees violent murders through the eyes of the killer before they happen. His father, who shares Jude’s dark gift, has trained Jude since birth to save the innocent and to kill the killer. A life for a life―it’s the only way.

But everything goes awry when Hanna Smith, the young woman he was supposed to save, rescues herself instead, and catches Jude in her home. Fate isn’t inescapable, but it demands balance. While Hanna may be safe for now, Jude knows that the killer will strike again, only next time there will be no warning. Jude must now find the killer on his own, without the visions to aid him, in order to carry out the task he’s been training for before it’s too late.

 

 

 

 

About Jeff Wooten:

Jeff Wooten lives in Arkansas with his wife, three kids, and one dog. He is a physical therapist that works with adults and kids with orthopedic issues.

Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of KILL CALL, US Only.

Ends March 15th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

I swallow and force the next sentence out of my mouth. “You want to come . . . help me pick out some cleats? We can head over to the food court after. Mall pizza is, surprisingly, not horrible.”

Molly’s eyes narrow like she’s appraising me. “You’re such a bad liar, Jude. I’ve had the pizza. Spoiler alert: It’s horrible.”

“Not if you eat it fast.”

Molly belly laughs. “That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Sure it does. You’ll see.”

“How about I get a salad?”

“So, yes, then.”

“Sure,” Molly says and stands. She reaches for her bags.

“Let me get those for you.” I stand up and grab the bags, turning, enjoying the mall for the first time since I was a kid . . . and Hanna Freaking Smith is right there.

An annoyed look crosses Hanna’s face as she brushes past me. Her shoulder meets mine, the faintest of touches. It’s instantaneous. The light twists, time slows, and I’m not in the mall anymore. I’m in Hanna’s house. Hanna’s at my feet, blood pooling around her head. The hammer in my hand feels good, like truth and power. I feel . . . electric. Everything is right. I am at peace, finally. If only for a moment.

Then I’m back in the mall. No more than a second has passed, but my head reels, my stomach turns, and my feet falter as I watch Hanna walk away. Dad’s words echo in my ear. The first time will make you queasy.

Molly stops, watching my gaze. “You okay?”

“Yeah.  I just—”

“Was that Hanna Smith? Do you know her?”

“No,” I say. “I mean. I don’t… so, are you going to Jacoby’s thing?”

Molly blinks and frowns. “I don’t know. I really haven’t decided.”

We walk, and I try to put Hanna Smith out of my mind, but I can’t shake the euphoria the vision brought and the queasiness that still churns my stomach. It was so real. 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the EXTRA INNINGS by Fred Bowen Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: EXTRA INNINGS

Author: Fred Bowen

Pub. Date: February 6, 2024

Publisher: Peachtree

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 144

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/EXTRA-INNINGS 

A baseball book full of on the field action perfect for middle grade readers.

“Strike one is the best pitch in baseball.” Mike loves pitching, and he loves knowing his team counts on him to deliver wins. But Mike’s father starts to worry that Mike is getting too carried away with baseball and not spending time working at after school jobs and developing a sense of responsibility. Can Mike and his father reach a compromise in order to let Mike play the game he loves and help his team win the league championship?

Read “The Real Story” of Harvey Haddix, who pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves in 1959 and LOST. Baseball fans will love this extra dive into sports history.

 

 

About Fred Bowen:

Fred Bowen was a Little Leaguer who loved to read. Now he is the author of many action-packed books of sports fiction. He has also written a weekly sports column for kids in the Washington Post since 2000. Fred played lots of sports growing up, including soccer at Marblehead High School. For thirteen years, he coached kids’ baseball, soccer, and basketball teams. Some of his stories spring directly from his coaching experience and his sports-happy childhood in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Fred holds a degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from George Washington University. He was a lawyer for many years before retiring to become a full-time children’s author. Bowen has been a guest author at schools and conferences across the country, as well as the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Fred lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife. For more information, check out the author’s website at www.fredbowen.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of EXTRA INNINGS, US Only.

Ends February 20th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

Extra Innings

By Fred Bowen

Excerpt for Rockstar Book Tours

Excerpt from Extra Innings / Text copyright © 2024 by Fred Bowen. Reproduced with permission from Peachtree Publishing Company Inc. All rights reserved. 

Mike started by playing long toss to warm up his arm. Gradually he and Noah moved closer together and Mike concentrated on putting the ball in certain spots. Then he stepped onto the bullpen mound and began throwing for real.

Pop! His fastball smacked into Noah’s mitt.

“You’ve got good one today,” Noah shouted as he tossed the ball back.

After about twenty warm-up pitches, Mike looked out at the Rays finishing infield practice and stepped out of the bullpen.

“Are you ready to go seven innings?” Noah asked, as he did before every one of Mike’s starts.

“Seven strong,” Mike answered, and the friends tapped gloves.