CAKEWALK: A Novel (The Cake Series) by Douglas Bell (Bumbershoot Press) (26 Reviews)    Price verified 9 minutes ago

"Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Yes, I gave this book a six-star rating out of a possible five. Where to even begin with how much I loved this book." Goodreads Reviewer, Transgender Bookworm Die-hard traditional Texas is the backdrop where success and nonconformity cannot coexist for Bryan Hicks, an African-American divorced father of two kids, Lindsey, the athletic golden child, and Lance, the unorthodox queer thespian. Bryan's mother loves bragging to her high-society girlfriends about Bryan's accomplishments and promotion to VP at a large multinational oil/gas company. Bryan vigorously steers clear of conversations with his mother about who he is dating because Bryan has been secretly dating Nadia, a transgender woman. Cakewalk is contemporary fiction based on Douglas Bell's past experiences. Bell speaks from an African-American heteronormative (privileged) cisgender voice to candidly expose the trauma of transphobia and homophobia. Bell wants to humanize the struggle of trans women to live on their terms. Bell asks us to believe in ourselves, trust in ourselves, and don't let society define who you are. There is enough courage within you to be the person you want to be. Editorial Reviews Goodreads Reviewer, Erikka I must say this book absolutely had me by the first chapter. Each character represented someone i have have met or known and truly had me hooked. The fact that as I dove deeper into each page it was as if I was watching a movie of so many lives play out right before me. This up and coming author has truly snatched my attention and made me reflect on the perspectives of others as well as the symbolism throughout this read. If you want to laugh, cry, feel anger, empathy, and reflection on how and who you are as well as get a little hot and heavy this is definitely the right book for you. Step into a world you may have never known existed and watch the similarities of what all humans long for no matter the pronoun.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Joe Smoke's Whimsical Stand-up Comedy Adventure: To Find Joe Wong (Joe Smoke's Comedy Adventure Book 1) by Dr. Mark Duncan (LLZ Publishing) (1 Review)    Price verified 9 minutes ago

Dive into the whirlwind world of Joe Smoke, a burgeoning comedian who takes on a cross-country journey to rediscover the legend of Joe Wong, a once-celebrated stand-up comic who mysteriously vanished at the peak of his fame. "Joe Smoke's Whimsical Stand-up Comedy Adventure: In Search of Joe Wong" is a heartfelt homage to the relentless pursuit of laughter, blending humor, mystery, and a quest for personal discovery. From the buzzing streets of New York City to the sunny shores of Hawaii, Joe Smoke's adventure is more than just a tour -- it's a deep dive into the soul of American comedy. Through smoky bars, bustling city streets, and unexpected pit stops, Joe learns that comedy isn't just about the punchline, but the journey and the people you meet along the way. Key Features: • Comedy: Experience the highs and lows of a stand-up comedian rediscovering his craft. • Adventure: Join Joe Smoke as he travels across America, with each city offering new challenges and chuckles. • Mystery: Unravel the enigma of Joe Wong's disappearance. • Heartfelt: Discover the heartfelt connections formed through shared laughter and hardships. • Inspiration: Witness Joe Smoke's transformation from a devoted fan to a stand-up star. • Cultural Insights: Enjoy a rich portrayal of America's diverse comedic landscape. • Personal Growth: Follow Joe Smoke's inner journey to finding his unique voice in the comedy world.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Stroking the Boss's ... Ego (Dirty South Book 3) by Kat Addams (Amazon Digital Services) (222 Reviews)    Price verified 6 hours ago

Finding love in The Big Easy is a gamble... especially when he's your new boss. Event planner Samantha Masson had sworn off alpha men after a nasty divorce. The last thing she was looking for was a man with an ego bigger than his bank account. Too bad that was exactly what she found when she spent a wild night in the arms of a masked stranger. Planning a Halloween masquerade gala for the infamous Victor Beaumont made a nice addition to her reputable portfolio. She just hadn't planned on becoming a notch on his bedpost... or falling for him in the process. But there was more to the man behind the mask... Millionaire Victor Beaumont owned the largest rum distillery in New Orleans. He had power, wealth, and all that came with it, including the crushing weight of responsibility. He would gladly walk away from everything for a chance to be his own man, but tradition wouldn't allow it... and neither would his pride. As a skilled actor, he had everyone fooled with his arrogance and charming wit. Until he met the infuriatingly talented and beautiful Samantha, who saw right through him. From rendezvous to romance, he couldn't keep his hands off of her. To keep her, he would have to take his mask off once and for all... Stroking the Boss's... Ego is a stand-alone novel. Previously published under the title Mr. Big Ego.

Genre: Literary Fiction

You'll Die Up There Alone by Jake Carter-Thomas (Glitch Tree Press) (2 Reviews)    Price verified 2 hours ago

Mads Michaels is a former technology news anchor hounded out of her job following the disastrous moment she attempted to interview the first human-level AI. You'll still find the picture of her holding a microphone up to a beige box trending from time to time, albeit appropriated to mock the blooper of the day. Mads is living in a trailer park when Project Red track her down and convince her to revive her career by becoming one of the first group of humans sent to Mars. But what Mads isn't aware of is that the planning behind this mission has attracted suspicion, with a jilted man she had a brief relationship with desperate to reveal the identity of a shadowy backer, who's never even heard of the project. When the life craft veers from its planned trajectory on day 40 and heads for the mineral rich asteroid belt, it's clear to mission control that something is going wrong. Can Mads work out that her presence on the mission is not such a coincidence in time to save all the viewers back home?

Genre: Literary Fiction

The Day He Went Away by Jennifer Millikin (647 Reviews)    Price verified one minute ago

"This story is far more than a romance. It's a story of healing and hope... of friendship and empathy. A story like this will sear you." - Angie & Jessica's Dreamy Reads Life was roses. I was happy. I had my dream job. I'd finally fallen in love with the man who'd been waiting for me since he was a boy. Soon his four years in the Army would be over, and we'd be together forever. My perfect life was squarely in my palm. And then it was snatched from me. The harshest, cruelest truth became my reality. And I turned into a shell of my former self. Then a stranger arrived, wearing Army fatigues and closely cropped dark hair. Fulfilling a promise to his comrade-in-arms brought him to my front door. And the focus of his promise, it turned out, was me. His mission was simple: Care for me. Heal me. Bring me back to life. But what started out as an uncomplicated mission is quickly turning personal. He came here to take care of me. But neither of us expected how much he'd need me, too. And we definitely didn't expect these feelings. My broken heart knows how wrong it is. We'll fight it, harder than we've ever fought anything. I'm afraid to win, and I'm even more terrified to lose. Of all his missions, I may be his most dangerous.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Finding Joy by Tara White (Best Seller Publishing, LLC) (6 Reviews)    Price verified one hour ago

Have you spent your life giving so much of yourself to others that you no longer know who you are anymore? 40-year-old Joy Donnoly, recently widowed following her husband's decade-long progressive illness, finds herself all alone after her triplets leave for college and university. Without anyone to take care of for the first time in two decades, Joy realizes she has given so much of herself to take care of her family that she lost herself in the process. Unable to figure out what to do next, she falls into a depression, losing herself to television and social media to cope with her grief. When her daughters step in to do an "intervention" Joy begins a journey to rediscover herself and find a new way forward. Join Joy on her journey of self-discovery, as she fights her way through the darkness to reclaim her identity, and in doing so, not only finds herself but finds a way to step into her future with happiness and joy. Author Tara White wrote the majority of this book on location in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia (literally sitting on the rocks looking out into the Atlantic Ocean), and in Waikoloa, Hawaii, two of the settings in the book. The rocks and ocean on the book cover are from an actual picture taken during one of her writing sessions. She visited Nova Scotia many times a year in one of her prior jobs and took advantage of the opportunity to get out to Peggy's Cove to squeeze in a few hours of writing on her trips. Peggy's Cove quickly became her magical writing place where, as soon as she sits down on the rocks and opens her laptop, her fingers just start flying across the keyboard and the characters come to life! Since she started visiting Peggy's Cove fairly regularly over five years ago, she has easily spent over a couple of hundred hours on the rocks, and on many of those visits, she searched the ocean for a whale or a dolphin, without one sighting. On her last trip to Peggy's Cove, with her completed manuscript in the rental car in the parking lot, ...

Genre: Literary Fiction

Kitan Club Vol21: An officer with a wealth of poetry talent dies but doesn't leave his death poem, which confuses his friend. In the meantime, the ... by Alan Edoh (Halolub Co.,Ltd.) (1 Review)    Price verified one hour ago

Episode 47.The Death Poem After the revolution, N-Country undergoes rapid social changes. The privileged class of samurai disappears, and N-Country shifts to a centralized state. I was born into a samurai family and struggle to become a Navy officer. I have a close friend named Tagiri. My hobby is writing poetry, and I highly value Tagiri's talent. The two of us often talk about the death poem, the last poem a samurai wrote before he dies. During training, Tagiri is seriously injured and becomes bedridden, but his wife, Miyo, devotedly nurses him. At the time, N-Country is in a state of war with R-Country, and the final great naval battle is about to begin. At that time, I am surprised to hear from Miyo that Tagir has conducted hara-kiri, and when I go to his house, I find him having cut his stomach according to samurai etiquette; however, to my surprise, he does not seem to have left his death poem. Soon, a great naval battle takes place, and N-Country wins. After a while, the emperor dies, and the whole country mourns. At that time, the secret of Tagiri's death poem is revealed.

Genre: Literary Fiction