Showcase of Charred by G. P. Gottlieb and a One Winner Giveaway of a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card

CHARRED

by G.P. Gottlieb

October 5 - 30, 2026 

Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A WHIPPED & SIPPED MYSTERY

Alene Baron is already juggling frustrated employees, closed schools, and a beggar who harasses customers outside her café. Then two dead bodies are discovered in the charred remains of buildings owned by the husband of her pastry chef, Ruthie Rosin. The mystery deepens when both victims are found wearing jackets stamped with the name, “Rosin,” and crumbled in the pockets are the Whipped & Sipped café’s distinctive wrappers. As if that weren’t enough, Alene's uncle, a convicted felon who vanished 22 years ago, suddenly appears in Chicago. With suspicion and chaos mounting, it’s all too much for the owner of the Whipped & Sipped Café.

Praise for Charred: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery:

"Peopled with tons of quirky characters and loaded with family drama, Charred is so much more than the average cozy culinary mystery."
~ Donna Thompson

"The Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series is a delectable treat."
~ Julie Ditton

"Gottlieb packs a lot into this third book Charred... murder, arson, identity theft, gambling, kidnapping, destruction of property, tax evasion, uncovering a hidden basement under the cafe with tins with treasures in them, family drama, secrets, the pandemic, trying to stay healthy, learning how to live a new life in semi-quarantine...."
~ Missi Martin (Stockwell)

Charred "had just enough flavor to make it delicious, and just enough mystery to keep me guessing the whole way through!"
~ Bettybee306

"This series is right up my alley, and if you love cozy mysteries with a little romance and baked goods, it will be right up your alley, too! ... This is a five-star book in a very neat little package!"
~ Suzie Mumba

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Published by: Anamcara Press
Publication Date: May 30, 2026
Number of Pages: 260 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781960462824 (ISBN10: 1960462822)
Series: A Whipped & Sipped Mystery, Book 3
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Anamcara Press

The Whipped & Sipped Mystery Series

Battered Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Anamcara Press

Smothered Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Anamcara Press

Read an excerpt:

It was warming up inside the car. Alene searched for Kacey and Kofi through the car window and the construction fence, but there was a jungle of trees and bushes lining the sidewalk. The post-fire building site was probably soggy and disgusting. If only she’d thought of bringing an old blanket to protect the back seat from burnt wood.

Kacey startled Alene by opening the passenger door and jumping back in. “He doesn’t need my help,” Kacey said as she used her shirt to clean her glasses. “We were looking for a way to get into the site and my glasses got too smudged for me to see. I’ll stay in here with you.”

Kofi had probably circled the tall fence surrounding piles of wet, muddy, and burned wood, trying to get inside. Moments later, they heard an owl hoot, and Kacey whispered it was Kofi letting them know that he’d gotten past the fence. What if tromping through the remains of the fire exposed Kofi to toxic materials? He wore gloves and a mask, but it wasn’t an N95 with protection against particulates. If paper masks didn’t protect against airborne particulates, how could they protect against a cunning virus?

The sun had risen, but a scrim of humidity diffused the light. Alene thought she saw Kofi alternating between moving and crouching. She figured he was trying to be invisible. He was lanky, his legs bulging with muscles from years of riding his bicycle for miles through and around the city. They both lost sight of him for about ten minutes, but suddenly he rushed back to the car and jumped into the back seat. He hadn’t taken a single piece of wood. “How was it?” Kacey asked.

Alene heard Kofi’s jagged breathing and turned around to watch him pull off his gloves and hat. “It was, um, weird and chilly,” he said, haltingly. “And there wasn’t anything I could use.” His focus was sideways, out the window, and he seemed tense. Alene turned away, imagining one of Frank’s police friends driving by and stopping to ask what she was doing. They drove home in silence and trudged to the elevators. Kofi, usually cheerful after an expedition to find materials, was unreadable and oddly stone-faced as he thanked Alene for the ride. Kacey mouthed her thanks as she unlocked her door, and Alene held her hand to her ear in a sign for Kacey to call later.

Alene unlocked her own door, wondering why Kofi hadn’t found even one usable piece of wood. Before she could take off her jacket, her phone rang.

“Kofi wants you to promise not to tell Frank about this morning,” Kacey said in a whisper. It seemed unnecessary; it wasn’t as if Kofi had started the fire, and Frank was a homicide detective, not a cop on the lookout for arsonists.

“I can’t promise that. We tell each other everything,” said Alene, “But there’s nothing to tell, because Kofi came up empty.”

“He’s worried that someone saw us there and the police will get him for trespassing,” said Kacey. Alene could hear her sniffling.

Alene had already frittered away forty-five minutes driving them over there and waiting for Kofi to hunt for wood. “Come on, Kacey,” she said. “We didn’t see anyone, and no one saw us.”

“But are you going to tell Frank that we were there?” Kacey asked.

“Kacey, Frank would never do anything to hurt me or the people I love.” Being with Kacey had always required patience. “And I’m driving the getaway car, so if we were committing a crime, I’d be just as guilty.”

Kacey said, “I hope you’re right.” She sounded more than a little paranoid.

***

Excerpt from Charred by GP Gottlieb. Copyright 2026 by GP Gottlieb. Reproduced with permission from GP Gottlieb. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

G.P. Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped & Sipped Mysteries (Battered, Smothered, and Charred, Anamcara Press). She is on the board of Sisters in Crime Chicagoland and a member of SinC Colorado, MWA, and Blackbird Writers. As host of New Books in Literature, a podcast channel on the New Books Network, she has interviewed over 280 authors.

Catch Up With G.P. Gottlieb:

gpgottlieb.com
Substack
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - G.P. Gottlieb
BookBub - @gpgottlieb
Instagram - @whippedsipped
Threads - @whippedsipped
X - @GottliebGp
BlueSky - @gpgottlieb.bsky.social
Facebook - @authorgottlieb

 

Tour Participants:

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Friendly Fill-Ins - 10/30/2026

                                                          

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FRIENDLY FILL-INS:

1. On Halloween, I will ______.

 

2. When it comes to Halloween candy, I will gladly trade my _______ for more ____________.

 

3. If I had to wear one Halloween costume for an entire year, I would dress as _______.

 

4. I _______ scary movies.

MY ANSWERS:

1. On Halloween, I will hope we get more than 10 Halloweeners this year.

2.  When it comes to Halloween candy, I will gladly trade my Milky Ways for more Snickers.

3.  If I had to wear one Halloween costume for an entire year, I would dress as a book.

4.  I do NOT like scary movies.

 

Cozy Little Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne

Shelter Springs, Hannah’s hometown, has everything she needs until Wes arrives. 

Wes broke her heart many years ago, and she can’t believe he is here in town recuperating.

They keep running into each other and then they help Hannah‘s friend with her two children as she undergoes cancer treatments.

All the closeness brings back everything they had before.

Will they get together or will Wes leave again?

Find out in this sweet, uplifting read with warmhearted characters.

If you enjoy second chances - there are quite a few - and a lovely town put this on your list of books to read for or before Christmas. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Spotlight of Hell's Heaven by Frank McKinney

 

PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA
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HELL'S HEAVEN

FRANK MCKINNEY

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF LESLIE BARRET | PUBLICIST.

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Along the lines of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood and The Shack by William Paul Young, Hell’s Heaven is a non-fiction novel, and creates an entirely new genre; Psycho-Spiritual Thriller.

Author Frank McKinney is often referred to as a “pathological optimist;” and assures readers that the evocative, vivid, and deeply engaging journey in Hell’s Heaven is one of ultimate hope, faith, and promise.

Fun fact: McKinney gives readers the option to “choose the fate of the characters” with alternative endings!

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October 3, 2026

Caring House Books

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ABOUT HELL'S HEAVEN:

Once damned to Hell, it’s forever ... or is it?

Three “good and godly” people die in the same instant on December 19, 2037: 94-year-old Alexander in Germany, 29-year-old Carolina in Brazil, and 64-year-old Eddie in Butte, Montana.

Eagerly, they find themselves in line together outside the Pearly Gates, expecting to be recognized for their sanctified lives and then welcomed into Heaven. Instead, they are violently plucked out of line by angels-turned-demons and cast down into Hell, where they are met at one of the three fiery gates by Judas, Jesus’s betrayer.

Even as they are subjected to Satan’s diabolical and unrelenting mental and physical torments, Alexander, Carolina, and Eddie discover cryptic signs they believe are sent from their loved ones in the heavenly realm. Then when they witness rare bolts of brilliant light wherein a few condemned seemingly disappear, they start to wonder …could there be a way out of Hell?

No matter your religious beliefs, or lack thereof, Hell’s Heaven is a roller coaster ride of graphic imagery, angels, demons, fate, heaven, and hell that will have you questioning everything you’ve ever believed or imagined!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Credit: Nilsa McKinney

Frank McKinney is a modern-day Renaissance man:

● His early years were not very promising: upon attending his 4th high school in 4 years (he was asked to leave the first 3), and seven stints in juvenile detention, he earned his high school diploma with a 1.8 GPA.

● All of Frank’s book tours involve visiting homeless shelters. The Hell’s Heaven book tour is planned for summer 2027: visiting 100+ homeless shelters across the US!

● As a philanthro-capitalist, Frank’s Caring House Project has built 32 self-sustaining villages over the last 23 years in Haiti, providing 14,600+ children and their families with homes, schools, clinics, community centers, churches, renewable food, clean water, and means to support themselves.

● A best-selling author, actor and keynote speaker, Frank has written ten books in nine genres, starred in four movies, and keynoted before audiences of ten to ten thousand around the world.

● Physically, Frank has pushed the limits of his body by racing in the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon 13x in the scorching summer in Death Valley, CA, a race referred to by National Geographic as “the world’s toughest footrace.”

● Frank has captivated the media and public for nearly 30 years. His vision and risk-taking have been the subject of numerous broadcast, print, and digital features, including Oprah, ABC’s 20/20, the cover of USA Today, CBS, FOX, CNN, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, Barrons, and 2,900+ others.

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SOCIAL LINKS:

Instagram

Website

Facebook

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Spotlight of The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison

PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA

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THE CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

ZOE ALLISON

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF CHELSEA PASCOE | BERKLEY | SENIOR PUBLICIST AND SOME INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE AND THE AUTHOR’S GOODREADS WEBSITE.

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A rivals-to-lovers holiday romance set in a charming Scottish village, where two longtime neighbors’ feud escalates into an all-out Christmas decorating war—until unexpected chemistry begins to thaw the frost between them.

THE CHRISTMAS COMPETITION by Zoe Allison delivers cozy small-town charm, festive hijinks, and a satisfying emotional arc about second chances and starting over. With its enemies-to-lovers tension, holiday competition hook, and irresistible Scottish setting, it’s a feel-good seasonal romance perfect for fans of Jenny Bayliss and Christina Lauren.

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October 20, 2026

Berkley Trade Paperback Original

Contemporary Romance

Holiday

Enemies to Lovers

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ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS COMPETITION:

The story: The local rumor mill in Nisa Ansari's small highland town is swirling about the downfall of her marriage, and in desperate need of a distraction, she enters her town’s Christmas house-decorating competition. The competition comes with the added bonus of getting on neighbor Kerr Murdoch’s last nerve. It’s the least she could do, considering her ex-husband left Nisa for Kerr’s girlfriend. And maybe if Kerr smiled or cracked a joke—just once!—his girlfriend would’ve stayed, and Nisa wouldn’t find herself alone during the holidays.

 

Introverted Kerr has trouble feeling comfortable around people he doesn’t know well. Newly single, he decorates his house in remembrance of his mother, who always had a soft spot for Christmas lights. But when Nisa's and Kerr’s decorations end up nearly identical, he incurs Nisa’s wrath.

This means all-out war, complete with gaudy wreaths, twinkle lights, and too many reindeer to count. Never mind that Nisa can’t keep her eyes off Kerr’s toned forearms. Or ignore that he’s a pet-loving veterinarian with a heart of gold. After conceding to her husband’s wishes for years, Nisa is determined to get her way. But as Christmas draws near, Nisa must decide what she actually wants: the familiar rivalry she’s had for years with Kerr, or opening herself up to the chance to fall in love with someone new.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Zoe Allison is a graduate of the RNA's New Writers' Scheme. Alongside her day jobs as a doctor and a writer, she started a TikTok account in 2021 where she regularly shares comedic sketches based on writing, and the romance genre in particular.

**AUTHOR PHOTO TAKEN FROM

THE AUTHOR'S WEB PAGE**

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FIND THE AUTHOR AT THE LINKS BELOW:

Instagram

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Spotlight of The Farther Shore by Seth Fleisher

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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THE FARTHER SHORE

SETH FLEISHER

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF BRENNA EBNER AND JULIA BORCHERTS.

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A sweeping novel about fathers and sons, memory and race, and the dangerous fictions that shape us—inspired by the true story of Eugene Marais, one of history's most extraordinary and forgotten minds.

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October 20, 2026

Green City Books—distributed by 

Ingram/Publishers Group West

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PRAISE FOR THE FARTHER SHORE:

"In a rich and visceral style akin to Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone, this novel asks profound questions about memory and instinct in a cross-continental tale of father and son that is deeply moving and unforgettable.” –Janet Benton, author of Lilli de Jong

astonishing...as intellectually daring as it is lushly immersive"–New York Times bestselling author JAMIE FORD

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ABOUT THE FARTHER SHORE:

Southern Africa, turn of the 20th century.

Marais is a brilliant naturalist and iconoclastic journalist whose evolving theories about memory, addiction, and the hive mind are decades ahead of their time.

But when tragedy strikes, he disappears into a remote African forest—leaving behind his newborn child and his conscience, and embarking on research that will haunt both their lives.

Thirty years later, his son Charles—now a professor of ancient Buddhist history at Harvard—discovers that the university’s most powerful faculty are mining his father’s research to bolster theories of racial hierarchy.

Accompanied by a mysterious Jewish graduate student whose fate has become entangled with his own, Charles must journey to South Africa to confront his father, heal his fractured past, and stop a sinister plot taking root at the world's most prestigious institution.

Set across two interlocking timelines—from the British concentration camps of the Boer War to the rising shadow of the Third Reich and WWII—THE FARTHER SHORE is a heart-breaking, exhilarating novel about memory, love, and identity, and about the vast distances we’ll travel to find our way

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Seth Fleisher is an American author whose work has appeared in the Bellevue Literary Review, Pearl, the Journal of Anthropological Research and elsewhere. Based in Berkeley, California, he has worked with the World Bank Group and other NGOs in South Africa, India, and more than 40 other countries, and co-founded a U.S.-based democracy initiative to counter the rising tide of authoritarianism.

A former Fulbright scholar in Sri Lanka, Seth did Ph.D. work at Harvard in Buddhist social history, and a fellowship at Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions, and earned a B.A. in literature at Swarthmore, where he and his wife first met in a Chaucer seminar.

The Farther Shore is his first novel.

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FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Goodreads

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Spotlight of Drama Drama Drama by Gerilyn Bass Greenberg

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA

GERILYN BASS GREENBERG

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF | CORRINE P. LARRIVIERE | PUBLICIST AND DIGITAL MARKET MANAGER | BOOKS FORWARD

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A heartfelt and humorous debut novel that explores motherhood, friendship, self-worth and the pressure to fit in across three generations of women.

Perfect for fans of Clare Pooley and Marianne Cronin, “Drama Drama Drama” is a warm, insightful look at the ways women compare themselves to others, the roles society expects them to play and what happens when they're forced to start over.

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October 20, 2026

She Writes Press

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PRAISE FOR DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA:

“Readers will relate to the novel’s ultimate realization that it’s never too late for happiness at any age.”— Publisher’s Weekly Booklife Editor’s Pick

“What a warm, insightful, and empowering story. I loved witnessing the drama unfold across three generations of women, along with the moments of self-doubt we all face—sometimes daily. The reminder that bad behavior is often not personal, but a reflection of someone else’s struggle was especially resonant. Brava, brava, brava to Drama Drama Drama!”— Lindsey Salatka, author of Fish Heads and Duck Skin

“A relatable and compassionate family story that honestly captures three ordinary women facing familiar transitions as they navigate the push and pull of obligation, resentment, and love. It’s a heartwarming tale of letting go, leaning in, and making new choices.”— Catherine Drake, author of The Treehouse on Dog River Road

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ABOUT DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA:

A multi-generational women's fiction novel that proves the search for belonging doesn't end at any age.

Mona is living the dream until, at 38, her busy stay-at-home-mom life is upended. Her grandmother moves into assisted living, her teenager, Grace, doesn’t need her anymore, her charity work kicks her to the curb, and none of her friends are showing up for her.

Suddenly, Mona has no purpose, unless you count stress-eating. But she seems to be the only one struggling. Shy Grace, ignoring her mother’s dreams for her to join the “it kids” in drama club, is off finding her voice (and a new band) at Bubby’s retirement home. Bubby is busy fending off resident mean girls, and finding romance. Then, on top of it all, Mona’s twenty-year high school reunion goes viral for all the wrong reasons, leaving her convinced she’s wasted her life. 

But when tragedy strikes, she is forced to face the truth: the only person who can make you feel small is you, and sometimes you have to lose everything you thought defined you to find what truly matters.

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An Interview with

Gerilyn Bass Greenberg

1. Why did you write “Drama Drama Drama”? 

My kids were in high school and college and going through loads of drama. I thought, why isn’t anyone writing a book about this? There had to be other girls feeling the same pressures to fit in and I wanted my girls to know (and consequently others) that it was ok to be your own person and find your own way, while always being kind. I also thought it was important to show that the drama doesn’t go away as you age–but, hopefully, you learn to deal with it better. 

2. Your novel follows three generations of women. Why was it important to tell the story from multiple perspectives?

While I started writing from the perspective of a mother (myself), I thought that women of other ages are going through the same struggles. Young people, older people, universally we are all growing and changing even though we are different ages. I tried to show that although we are at different times in our lives, perhaps we go through similar situations, and the feelings of uncertainty and wanting to fit in persist.

3. You wrote this book nearly ten years before publication. Why publish it now?

I did sit on this for a time. I was insecure and vulnerable (still am!) but who isn’t at some time in their lives? So I took a leap. I feel that the messages of belonging, being true to yourself, and being kind, stay relevant no matter if this was published now or years ago. 

4. Mona's journey centers on losing the roles that once defined her. What drew you to that storyline?

I was lucky to be a stay-at-home mom–it’s the hardest job there is. I wanted to highlight

to others that this job is so important and shouldn’t be discounted by anyone. But if Mona wasn’t happy, she needed to realize it for herself and create her own self worth.

5. What do you hope readers take away from the novel?

I hope people can empathize with others-–a central theme is that you don’t know what is happening in someone else’s life.

6. How much of the story was inspired by your own experiences?

As a stay-at-home mom, I’ve felt some of Mona’s feelings. Also, I have been a teenage girl and know what Grace has been going through. Esther’s character was based more on my imagination, but I’ll get there soon! As a work of fiction, this story is just a story, but as the saying goes, write what you know.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gerilyn Bass Greenberg graduated Magna Cum Laude with Highest Distinction from the University of Illinois, but nothing could have prepared her for the rewards and challenges of being a stay-at-home mom.

She and her husband raised three daughters, now grown.

When she’s not traveling or playing racket sports, Gerilyn is chasing after Sammy, her spirited Wheaten Terrier, and dreaming up new stories.

She lives in suburban Chicago with her husband.

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FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website

Instagram

Goodreads

Facebook

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