From Amazon: During the first winter of the twentieth century, Gilded Age trouser diva Ella Shane refuses to dim the lights on her dazzling show business career for marriage—even to a dashing British duke. But the versatile mezzo-soprano may have to put it all on the line once murder takes centerstage.
New York City, 1900. Renowned opera singer and theatre company owner Ella may have both much to gain and much to lose by getting engaged to her courtly long-distance love, Gil Saint Auburn. But there’s little time for romance or resolutions with Gil’s aristocratic mother and aunts visiting Greenwich Village—especially when the ladies discover a dead man in the bathtub of their hotel suite. The victim’s disturbing background and subsequent demise at the elegant Waverly Place Hotel leave the group puzzled beyond the obvious certainty of an unnatural death. Adding to the confusion and mounting fear, danger explodes through Ella’s close-knit circle after a friend makes a stunning confession and Gil becomes a fresh target for violence. Now, with a London tour run fast approaching, prenuptial worries weighing heavily on her heart, and an intricate Joan of Arc aria to rehearse, can Ella decide what she’s willing to sacrifice before confronting a relentless criminal bent on watching her entire life go up in smoke?

My Review: Third time is the charm, although with this novel, books one and two were also charms themselves. The villain was carefully woven in such a way that I simply didn’t consider him the villain until down to the final fourth of this novel. Enough on that, though. If you like romance, stage productions, humor, swashbuckling divas, a handsome duke, and devine teas and meals, as well as murder from the beginning, this five star book is for you.

Book Title: Clement: The Templar’s Treasure

Series: Clement (Book 3)

Author: Craig R. Hipkins

Publication Date: 4th May 2022

Publisher: Hipkins Twins

Page Length: 233 Pages

Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction

Twitter Handle: @CraigHipkins @maryanneyarde

Instagram Handles: @craighipkins3 @coffeepotbookclub

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #YAfantasy #Medieval #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://maryanneyarde.blogspot.com/2022/05/blog-tour-clement-templars-treasure.html

Interview

First, thank you for having me as a guest on your blog. My name is Craig Hipkins. I am originally from Hubbardston Massachusetts, but I currently reside with my teenage son in North Carolina. My latest novel is Clement: The Templar’s Treasure which is the 3^rd book in the Clement series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but to get a better perspective of the characters it would be advisable to start with the previous two books.

Writing has always been a big part of my life. My twin brother Jay (who died in 2018) and I created our own imaginary fantasy world when we were young. Neither one of us became serious about publishing anything until about a decade ago.

I found it not at all difficult to write my first book. It was a history book on meteors. The hardest part was the research. Some of the source material was hard to come by and I had to borrow a lot of books through interlibrary loans and from universities who were generous enough to lend me the material for my project. I found the experience rewarding and decided I would write fiction after this. I thoroughly enjoy the writing my novels. I feel as if I am living the experience with the characters as the words roll off of my brain onto the keyboard of my laptop.

I have never wanted to give up writing. I imagine I will continue to write until I am no longer able to do so.

My son Robbie has been a big supporter of my writing. Also, my mother and my brother’s widow, Tina and her sister Tracy have also been an enormous help. They encourage me to write and always proof-read my work and make corrections as needed.

I would like to tell my readers that I thank them so much for reading and supporting my writing.

Probably the best advice was given to me by my twin brother shortly before he passed away. He told me to keep writing and to never give up. I started writing my first novel, Adalbert, the day that he died. It is a sequel to his novel, Astrolabe. I came up with the idea in the hours after his death. In a way, it has helped me cope with his passing. Sometimes I feel that Jay is feeding me ideas and that when I am writing, it is actually him using me as a receptacle to his thoughts.

My target audience is YA but I hope that all adults at any age will enjoy my books. One of the strong themes of the Clement series is friendship. Also, loyalty and perseverance when confronted with hardship. Clement is strong willed and completely loyal to his friends who in turn give him the same respect.

I worked with an artist to create the covers for my books. I usually have a good idea of what I am looking for, but the artist can bring it to life.

I am currently working on another YA novel called Bandy. It takes place in the months preceding the US Civil War and the attack on Fort Sumter. It is about a lonely young boy named Isaac Barker whose only friend is a passenger pigeon named Bandy. He is orphaned after his family dies in a tragic house fire and he goes to live with his elderly uncle in Boston. His uncle is an ardent abolitionist. He sends young Isaac to Virginia to bring back a young slave girl named Joy, who is dying of a brain tumor. However, when he arrives in Virginia, Isaac realizes that his uncle has been duped. Isaac and Joy escape from the plantation and the rest of the novel is filled with excitement and adventure as the two unlikely friends attempt to avoid their evil pursuers. I am currently attempting to find an agent and publisher for this book.

I hope that my readers enjoy my latest book Clement: The Templar’s Treasure.

Clement: The Templar’s Treasure

(Clement, Book 3)

By Craig R. Hipkins

Blurb

Clement & Dagena return for another action packed adventure. From the cold and dreary shores of Greenland to the fabled land of Vinland. The legendary treasure of the Knights Templar awaits.

Buy Links:

This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/mKd7qd

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clement-Templars-Treasure-Craig-Hipkins-ebook/dp/B09ZNHQG3L/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Clement-Templars-Treasure-Craig-Hipkins-ebook/dp/B09ZNHQG3L/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Clement-Templars-Treasure-Craig-Hipkins-ebook/dp/B09ZNHQG3L/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Clement-Templars-Treasure-Craig-Hipkins-ebook/dp/B09ZNHQG3L/

Author Bio

Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel, Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018) He is an avid long-distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.

Social Media Links:

Website: www.hipkinstwins.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CraigHipkins

Facebook: www.facebook.com/craig.hipkins.9

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hipkins-7a042357

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craighipkins3/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/craighipkins/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Craig-R.-Hipkins/e/B004RDJMNC

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19975162.Craig_R_Hipkins

From Amazon: Brain trauma has rendered 21-year-old Emily colorblind. But the ability to see far more colors than the average person is hard-wired in her brain. As a test subject, Emily believes she can help CuraeCare Pharmaceuticals detect disease, save lives, and maybe even restore her color vision. While CuraeCare aims to take advantage of Emily’s latent gift, beings from another dimension want to see the world with fresh eyes, Emily’s eyes. Meanwhile, Emily is being hunted by another CuraeCare pawn, fledgling serial killer, Laverne Eddy. While Laverne closes in on Emily, a demonically possessed CuraeCare executive penetrates her mind. As Emily will shields her from the finishing blow, her best friend Holton and a heroic indigenous shaman put up the fight of their lives to save her.

My Review: Where to start? The begining, I guess. I’ve never read any book with anything similar to this novel. We start off with a woman, Emily, who was able to see as a true Tetrachromac person with four cone types in her retina, rather than the standard three that most people have, and a brain injury that robbed her of her sight, rendering her color blind. There is so much going on in this novel, and one could reasonably wonder if anyone would survive. But I digress. Combine vision issues with technology, and you get a “anything is possible” scenario. And it was! The author touches on chimera – not in true chimera – such as one born with both male and female DNA and internal and external reproductive organs intact. But I digress. The author brings into the story chimera as a part human and part non human self mixed, then ending up as different entities all together. Add in just a touch of serial killings, evil personas, who to trust issues, and some ethnicity understandings, and you get one explosive book.

From Amazon: The darkest hour is just before dawn. But with bloodthirsty Beasts cutting brief lives shorter, can one man beat the ticking clock? Rezin Hamel will protect his people until his dying breath. Resolving to carry on past every dearly departed loved one, the forty-four-year-old General has no idea how he’s lived over a decade beyond the average life expectancy. But when he’s shamed and cast out for an out-of-character act, he sets out to end the constant attacks from creatures staining the walls with death. Searching for answers in society’s seedy underbelly, Hamel is shocked by the conditions ravaging the lower rungs of the city. But the strategic genius’s quest takes a staggering turn when he’s blindsided by a secret that could tear his tight-knit community to shreds. Can Hamel restore his honor and stop the carnage before he’s the next one taken by the Dusk? Ridge: Day One is the action-packed first book in the Ridge dystopian thriller series. If you like fantastic worlds, heart-trembling suspense, and twisted surprises, then you’ll love Shawn P. B. Robinson’s peek behind the Ridge veil. Buy Ridge: Day One to mark the calendar of doom today!

My Review: Two nations, one of honor and the other not as much, trials and tribulations hit. Disgraced general, Hamel, decides to infiltrate the other nation and find out what he could in regards to his nations death rate. His daughter is the nations matir and together the plan is hatched to get down to the bottom of what is going on. There are battles and blood, one nation honor and duty, the other no honor and malice all around, and they keep certain people as slaves. Will Hamel find the answers? Will he survive? How will events unfold? The reader will discover more than originally thought, and the ending will leave you questioning how this tragic story continues in book two.

I have 12 new designs to add to my collection. Are you interested in having a book cover designed for you? As an artist, I can create for you custom book covers using images that are free to use, such as an image from Pixabay, or my own art gallery. Each cover includes one free 3-D mockup, one free banner, and one free animation. You will own the completed design. Covers are 1600 by 2400, 8.5 by 8.5 for kids’ books, I will make any book size, and 3600 by 3600 for audio books. You will receive the jpg and the pdf versions. Once a premade cover is chosen and bought, that cover is marked as sold. I will work hard to make your dream cover a reality. If not satisfied, I will refund your money. Payment is made through PayPal only and if your currency is different than the USA dollar, the conversion will be as close as possible at the exchange rate via PayPal. Contact me on Twitter @MaryLSchmidt or here. Please scroll down this page and see what I can make special for those who have lost their child. I have two boys in heaven, and this is close to my heart. Sample covers of all kinds except Satanic. I also have painted covers available – see down this page for graphic information. PLUS you can buy a blended bespoke pre-made cover without text for only $20!

From Amazon: Crossing the finish line from the dark side of the track can make it hard to find the winner’s circle. The adrenaline rush is real. So is the danger. Stock car or modified. Track or street. One can make you famous… the other can make you dead. Tony “Razzman” Razzolito is in way over his head as he works to solve the most challenging case of his career. An up-and-coming NASCAR driver is found shot to death in an alley in uptown Charlotte. When the widow of the victim asks Tony and his partner at McHenry Investigative Services to find out why her husband was killed, the Razzman gets a quick education in a sport he knows nothing about. His investigation soon leads him to the world of illegal street racing where he tangles with a crew led by a maniac that doesn’t like to lose. Mix in a healthy dose of tension between Tony and a certain Homicide Detective assigned to the case and tempers as well as egos are bound to get in the way.

My Review: This was a unique murder mystery read for me. Having NASCAR in the mix was nice as my hubby and go to races. Talking gear head is our norm, along with mist any sci-fi. This is the first book I’ve read by Joe Congel. Congel wove this story tight and added in joking and romance. That leaves murder. Who murdered the first guy? I have some theories. I did not see the gangland mob type executions near the end. To find out more, read this book.

From Amazon: A Multi-Award Winner, Dinosaurs & Cherry Stems placed third twice, earning a Bronze in the 2015 Global EBooks Contest for Romance/Erotica, and a Bronze in the Readers’ Favorite Awards for Humor. The story was a 2015 finalist in the Independent Author Network contest for Outstanding First Novel and a semi-finalist in The Kindle Book Reviews 2013, Best Indie Book Awards. Twice divorced, cynical Cindy Layton feels like a relic with prehistoric baggage, and doubts she can muster the courage to establish a new relationship, even if it’s on her own terms. Her journey out of the Stone Age hits freaky, hilarious turbulence when she joins an Internet dating service. The scammers and weirdoes she meets in cyberspace make Cindy want to crawl back into her cave, until she receives an accidental email from Jay DeMatteo. Jay has the dating blues, too, but after meeting Cindy, reconsiders his options. Now it’s up to him to convince her it’s never too late to pursue a meaningful relationship, even when a couple is struggling with midlife adolescence.

My Review: Ricci has written a wonderful book full of romance and humor. There were so many laugh out loud moments in regards to internet dating sites, and actual first dates. In life, one oftens finds one must get through the vinegar before finding the perfect love. Five stars.