Over The River PR

Your Bridge to Comprehensive Media Services

  • Home
  • What We Do
  • Who We Are
  • Who We Represent
    • Past Projects
  • What People Say About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact

By otrpr Leave a Comment

August Virtual Tour: WE ARE THE MATCH by Mary E. Roach

Two women in love and in danger. Mob families at war. An explosive and enthralling contemporary reimagining of the Helen of Troy myth set against the splendor of the Grecian islands.

“In Mary E. Roach’s smoldering novel, WE ARE THE MATCH, a modern retelling of the Trojan War, star-crossed lovers maneuver against a powerful crime family for revenge…The book teems with gripping subterfuge and duplicity that’s rendered in eloquent prose…Resplendent and sensuous images also abound…A passionate dark romance, WE ARE THE MATCH is about family, vengeance, love, and freedom.” – Foreword Reviews

“We Are the Match is an intense, emotionally charged story that mixes raw action with beautiful writing. With its vivid descriptions, complex characters, and a world full of danger and desire, this book keeps you hooked from start to finish. The journey of Paris and Helen—driven by pain, power, and an unexpected connection—sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It’s a powerful story about survival, taking control, and transformation. I couldn’t put it down, and I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. If you’re into stories with high stakes, slow-burn tension, and lots of emotional depth, this one’s definitely worth a read.” – The Lesbian Review

In 2024, Mary E. Roach wowed critics with Better Left Buried, her debut YA mystery. “A groundbreaking thriller that is as heart pounding as it is heartfelt. No one writes like Mary E. Roach. Fan for life,” raved J. Elle, New York Times bestselling author of House of Marionne. And USA Today bestselling author Meryl Wilsner cheered, “Roach’s sapphic characters are messy, complex, and intensely readable in this page-turning thriller.” Now, Mary E. Roach is poised to turn the romance genre on its head with her explosive and enthralling sapphic adult novel debut, WE ARE THE MATCH (Montlake; July 29, 2025). Set against the decadence and splendor of modern-day mobster Greece, Roach reimagines Helen of Troy and Paris as you’ve never seen them before. Helen is the daughter of a powerful crime lord, and Paris is the woman hellbent on destroying her—if they don’t fall for each other first. 

When a bomb goes off at Helen’s party, Paris volunteers to investigate—a ploy to get close enough to take revenge on the family she blames for the death of her own. Paris and Helen are thrown together in an opulent world of privilege, power, and cover-ups. As their unexpected bond deepens, the fragile balance of power of the crime lords begins to fray.

Helen wants nothing more than to abandon the violent world in which she was raised―and worse, an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. In Paris, Helen sees the perfect tool to help her escape. And in Helen, Paris sees a desperate woman who will be the perfect revenge. When murder sends them fleeing to Troy, danger only brings Paris and Helen closer together―in love, in fury, and in the will to survive. If Helen’s father wants a war, Paris and Helen might just be ready to ignite it. Wildly imaginative, action-packed, and simmering with sexual tension, WE ARE THE MATCH is sure to be on everyone’s must-read lists this summer. 

To celebrate the release of WE ARE THE MATCH, we are hosting a virtual book tour starting in late July through the end of August featuring this outstanding list of book influencers. Follow along for features, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!

Tuesday, July 29 – BRIANA’S BEST READS and DAISY AND ME BOOKS

Wednesday, July 30 – CASSIE’S BOOKS REVIEWS

Thursday, July 31 – SUE THE BOOKIE

Friday, August 1 – 2 MANY BOOKS 2 LITTLE TIME

Saturday, August 2 – KIM READS AND READS

Monday, August 4 – A BLUE BOX FULL OF BOOKS

Tuesday, August 5 – RED REVIEWS 4 YOU and THE BOHO BLOGGER

Wednesday, August 6 – DANISH MUSTARD READS and FISH GIRL LOVES BOOKS

Thursday, August 7 – SARAH’S BOOKISH REVIEWS and DREAMING IN PAGES

Friday, August 8 – ALWAYS READING CO

Saturday, August 9 – PURRFECT PAGES

Monday, August 11 – SPEEDREADSTAGRAM and FOREVER IN A STORY

Tuesday, August 12 – BOOKS AND COFFEE MX

Wednesday, August 13 – ELSIE LOVES LIT

Thursday, August 14 – BOOKED WITH JULIA

Friday, August 15 – MICHELLE LOVES BOOKS

Saturday, August 16 – SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF

Monday, August 18 – NISSA THE BOOKWORM

Tuesday, August 19 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY

Wednesday, August 20 – GRAYCIOUSLY GREY READER

Thursday, August 21 – BETHANY BURIED IN BOOKS

Friday, August 22 – MEGAN IS MY NAME OHH

Monday, August 25 – BOOKS CATS TRAVEL FOOD

Tuesday, August 26 – LEXIJAVA

Wednesday, August 27 – CAROL DOSCHER READER

Thursday, August 28 – WE BREAK FOR BOOKS

Friday, August 29 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR

Filed Under: Blog Tours, Thrillers, Uncategorized Tagged With: Billionaire Romance, fiction, Greek tragedy, Helen of Troy and Paris, LGBTQ thriller, Mary E Roach, Minnesota author, Montlake, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Queer fiction, romantic suspense, Sapphic fiction, thriller, We Are the Match

By otrpr Leave a Comment

August Virtual Tour for LAST SEEN by J.T. Ellison

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a twisted psychological thriller about the bonds of family and the disconnect between memory and the truth.

“My favorite kind of thriller–dark family secrets, high-stakes mystery, and a shocked daughter who will stop at nothing to determine the truth. Wherever J.T. Ellison goes, I want to follow.” —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Kiss Her Goodbye

“In LAST SEEN, J.T. Ellison weaves a gripping tale of family secrets, broken trust, and the slippery nature of memory. When Halley James learns her mother was murdered—not killed in an accident—her search for the truth leads to a deceptively perfect town hiding dark secrets. With twists that keep you guessing, this masterfully crafted thriller showcases Ellison at the top of her game.” –Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Darkly original and bursting with hold-your-breath suspense, LAST SEEN by J.T. Ellison is a haunting deep dive into a harrowing crime, buried memories, and one woman’s obsession to discover the truth no matter the consequences. At the top of her game, Ellison’s expert storytelling is on full display – LAST SEEN is a must-read for thriller fans.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest and The Perfect Hosts

If you’ve never read a psychological thriller by New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison, you should grab her latest standalone page-turner, LAST SEEN, which Thomas & Mercer will release on August 1, 2025. Literary legends including Mary Kubica, Ruth Ware, Lisa Scottoline, Lee Child and the above listed authors are just a few examples of the many who sing her praises, and major review outlets join in to call her books “exceedingly brilliant” (Bookreporter on A Very Bad Thing), “mesmerizing… compulsively readable” (Publishers Weekly on Her Dark Lies), “well paced and creative” (Kirkus Reviews on Tear Me Apart), “entertainingly twisted” (BookPage on Good Girls Lie) and “immensely readable . . . lush” (Booklist on Lie To Me).

With LAST SEEN, J.T. Ellison has outdone herself.

“Combining my upbringing in a very isolated environment with the vivid dream I had of a bucolic but subversive town called Brockville created the framework for a deep, dark, unsettling thriller,” Ellison explains.  “LAST SEEN was hard to write, but I hope it will be even harder to put down.”

Darkness Hides in Unlikely Places

Come here. Come closer.

Halley James knows her marriage is over. But she’s not prepared for the rest of her life to fall apart too.

No one can hear you. No one can help you.

She just lost her job at the forensics lab. Her dad needs emergency surgery. But the biggest blow comes back home in Marchburg, Virginia, where she discovers her mother didn’t actually die in a car crash. Her mom was murdered―and her father lied about it all these years.

I have nothing to hide from you. Are you hiding something from me?

Since she was six years old, it’s been Halley and her dad. Now, she doesn’t know what to believe. Desperate for the truth, Halley chases down a lead in Brockville, Tennessee. But all there is not as it seems. Brockville’s utopian charm hides a chilling darkness. And Halley’s search for answers threatens to expose an unspeakable reality.

To celebrate the release of LAST SEEN, we are hosting a virtual book tour starting in late July through the end of August featuring this stellar list of book influencers. Follow along for features, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!

Friday, July 25 Addicted to Books AND Sunflower Book Lover AND Stacy 40 Pages

Saturday, July 26 Sam K Wiatkowski

Monday, July 28 Andrea C. Lowry Reads AND Cassie’s Book Reviews AND Galayda Book Reviews

Tuesday, July 29 Just Your Basic Bookstagram AND Kim Reads And Reads AND Sue the Bookie

Wednesday, July 30 Lit Wit Wine Dine AND Booked With Julia AND Nissa The Bookworm

Thursday, July 31 Audrey Oaks Reads Everything AND Bit of Everything AND Pages and Pups

Friday, August 1 Holly Read It AND Dive Into A Good Book AND Thrillers Wine And Chill

Saturday, August 2 Novel Gossip AND Madi’s Mysteries AND The Dusti Bookshelf

Sunday, August 3 Caffeinated Reader AND Mabel Journals AND We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie

Monday, August 4 Bethany Buried in Books AND Read More Thrillers AND Stories On Bookshevles

Tuesday, August 5 Always Reading AND Books Cats Travel Food AND Briana’s Best Reads

Wednesday, August 6 Rebekah Dolmat AND Secret Reading Life AND Rozier Reads And Wine

Thursday, August 7 2 Many Books 2 Little Time AND Biblio Peeks AND We Break For Books

Friday, August 8 Go Fetch A Book AND Elliot Reads AND Always With A Book

Saturday, August 9 Alyma Verina Reads AND Katie Needs A Bigger Bookshelf AND Book Kitty Books

Sunday, August 10 Suzy Approved Book Reviews AND Meg’s Book Club AND Purrfect Pages

Monday, August 11 Subakka Bookstuff AND Simply Kelina AND Bookphile Belle

Tuesday, August 12 Love My Dane Dolly AND Megan’s Book Corner AND Gym Girl Reads

Wednesday, August 13 Nikki Lee Thrill Seeker AND My Bursting Book Bag AND Books and Chinooks

Thursday, August 14 Wuthering Vines AND The Book Club Mom AND Suspense Is Thrilling Me

Friday, August 15 Reading 2 Escape AND Carol Doscher Reader AND Book Girl Brown Reviews

Saturday, August 16 Rebecca Reviewed It AND Nurse Bookie

Sunday, August 17 Karen’s Library AND Library of Bookish

Monday, August 18 It’s All About The Thrill AND Bookish Spren AND Jen’s Towering TBR

Tuesday, August 19 Books with Courtney AND Books On My Mind AND Girl Loves Dog Books Wine

Wednesday, August 20 Back Porch Pages AND Sarah’s Bookstack AND Book Recs By Celeste

Thursday, August 21 Travelisfers AND Nikki H Rose AND Reading Is Your Destiny

Friday, August 22 Fish Girl Loves Books AND Plots Paws Pinot AND Book Boss 12

Saturday, August 23 Books Writing And More AND Bookapotamus

Sunday, August 24 Cathy’s Cozy Book Nook AND Journal of Jaida AND Legally Booked Up

Monday, August 25 Books Coffee MX AND Books and Biewers AND Nik’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, August 26 Danish Mustard Reads AND Dea’s Bookshelf AND Sarah’s Bookish Reviews

Wednesday, August 27 Full of Lit AND Chapters of Chase AND WBTB Book Review

Thursday, August 28 Love My Books 2020 AND Candice Reads AND Suzy’s Bookshelf

Friday, August 29 Athena Noone Asked You AND A Bookworm With Wine AND Belle Book Corner

Saturday, August 30 Meow Skins Book Skins AND Hooked By Books

Sunday, August 31 Book Dragon AND The Pages In Between

By otrpr Leave a Comment

June Virtual Tour for THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA by Simon Tolkien!

A young man comes of age and crosses continents in search of an identity—and a cause—at the dawn of the Spanish Civil War in a thrilling, timely, and emotional historical saga.

“In epic fashion worthy of his namesake, Tolkien crafts a remarkable novel of an American boy swept up by love and circumstance and cast into the crucible of the Spanish Civil War. Intense, vivid, and moving.” ―Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and All the Glimmering Stars

Critically acclaimed author Simon Tolkien, grandson of literary legend J.R.R. Tolkien, will captivate readers with the release of his new historical saga, THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA (Lake Union | June 1, 2025). The first installment in a two-part series, the novel introduces us to Theo Sterling, a young man who comes of age and crosses continents in search of an identity―and a cause―at the dawn of the Spanish Civil War. As Theo engages with political and religious beliefs, including Capitalism, Communism, Anarchism, Fascism, and Catholicism, this sweeping novel examines the effect they have on him and his ultimate disillusionment with their promises. Rich in details and beautifully told by the talented Simon Tolkien, THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA is historical fiction at its best.

Theo’s story continues with THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS, which will be released on September 16, 2025 (Lake Union).

“Through intense research over many years,” Tolkien explains, “I have tried to bring the vanished world of America, England and Spain in the 1930s to life – a time that shares many similarities with the troubled world we live in today. I believe in the value of historical fiction. The past is another country just as rich as ours, and I want to bring it to life.”

New York City, 1929. Young Theo Sterling’s world begins to unravel as the Great Depression exerts its icy grip. He finds it hard to relate to his parents: His father, a Jewish self-made businessman, refuses to give up on the American dream, and his mother, a refugee from religious persecution in Mexico, holds fast to her Catholic faith. When disaster strikes the family, Theo must learn who he is. A charismatic school friend and a firebrand girl inspire him to believe he can fight Fascism and change the world, but each rebellion comes at a higher price, forcing Theo to question these ideologies too.

From New York’s Lower East Side to an English boarding school to an Andalusian village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Theo’s harrowing journey from boy to man is set against a backdrop of societies torn apart from within, teetering on the edge of a terrible war to which Theo is compulsively drawn like a moth to a flame.

With historical depth and compelling storytelling, Tolkien weaves a stunning tale about how hope, courage, loss and disillusionment affect the formation of one’s character. Fans of historical fiction and literary fiction will devour THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA.

To celebrate the publication of THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA, we are hosting a virtual book tour throughout the month of June featuring this fantastic group of book influencers that will feature reviews, spotlights, excerpts and giveaways!

Sunday, June 1 Purrfect Pages

Monday, June 2 Books Coffee MX

Tuesday, June 3 Dive Into A Good Book

Wednesday, June 4 Bookalong

Thursday, June 5 Suzy Approved Book Reviews

Friday, June 6 Wuthering Vines

Monday, June 9 We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie

Tuesday, June 10 Cassie’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, June 11 Lexijava

Thursday, June 12 Subakka Bookstuff

Friday, June 13 Sarah’s Bookish Reviews

Monday, June 16 Gym Girl Reads

Tuesday, June 17 The Maddie Hatter

Wednesday, June 18 Dana Mustard Reads

Thursday, June 19 Briana and Her Books

Friday, June 20 What Is That Book About

Friday, June 20 Linda’s Book Obsession

Sunday, June 22 Nissa The Bookworm

Monday, June 23 Bailey’s Book Recs

Tuesday, June 24 Book Girl Brown Reviews

Wednesday, June 25 Rebekah Dolmat Reads

Thursday, June 26 Gloriana Wong

Friday, June 27 Kim Reads and Reads

Sunday, June 29 Karen’s Library

Monday, June 30 Enjoying Books Again

Filed Under: Blog Tours, Fiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: fiction, historical fiction, Lake Union Publishing, Literary fiction, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Simon Tolkien, Virtual book tour

By otrpr Leave a Comment

JUNE 2025 Virtual Book Tour for FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES by Leslie Gray Streeter!

A successful journalist returns to her hometown just as her biggest mistake becomes headline news in this vibrant, funny, and heartfelt novel about facing the past, and its secrets, head-on.

“Family & Other Calamities delivers exactly what I want when I sit down to read a novel. It has genuinely memorable characters, a fresh voice that kept me reading, lines that made me laugh out loud, and scenes that brought me to tears.” ―James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“a romp that plumbs emotional depths of family ties and what we sacrifice to follow our dreams. Streeter’s debut novel (succeeding the memoir, Black Widow, 2020) is a winner.” ―Booklist

“Family & Other Calamities is about love in many forms―family, friendship, and standing up for what is yours. Dawn Roberts is a funny and charming character you will want to root for. Streeter’s signature humor and charisma shine bright in this bighearted debut.” ―Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author

“A compelling story of truth, justice, and the American way. Leslie Streeter understands both the news business and the heartbreak business.” ―Josh Mankiewicz, correspondent for Dateline NBC

“Leslie Streeter’s dialogue is delightful. Even when the good times slam into bad times, her heroine holds on to her sense of humor and you won’t want to leave her side. As a bonus, this novel offers deep wisdom about being a journalist, so not only will you laugh―and be moved―but you will also learn how to be a better writer.” ―Nell Scovell, author of Just the Funny Parts

“Family & Other Calamities is vintage Leslie Gray Streeter: hilariously funny, and with a powerful emotional punch. It’s a deep study in the gifts we get from the people we love the most, even when we don’t always like them.” ―Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author of Housemoms

An award-winning journalist and columnist for the Baltimore Banner, Leslie Gray Streeter knows a thing or two about chasing down a good story and scoring in-depth interviews with celebrities. In FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES (Lake Union Publishing; June 1, 2025), she has tapped into her years of experience in the biz to create a riotous, emotionally relatable novel about a Black woman journalist who is going through it all – grief, betrayal, family drama, long buried secrets, and so many carbs.

Fans of Jasmine Guillory, Candice Carty-Williams, and Dolly Alderton will delight in Gray Streeter’s fiction debut with a tell-it-like-it-is protagonist, an eclectic cast of endearing characters, and a wildly entertaining story you won’t soon forget.

Filed Under: Blog Tours, Uncategorized Tagged With: August virtual book tour, fiction, J.T. Ellison, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Thomas & Mercer, thriller, Virtual book tour

By otrpr Leave a Comment

June Virtual Tour for THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA by Simon Tolkien!

 

A young man comes of age and crosses continents in search of an identity—and a cause—at the dawn of the Spanish Civil War in a thrilling, timely, and emotional historical saga.

“In epic fashion worthy of his namesake, Tolkien crafts a remarkable novel of an American boy swept up by love and circumstance and cast into the crucible of the Spanish Civil War. Intense, vivid, and moving.” ―Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky and All the Glimmering Stars

Critically acclaimed author Simon Tolkien, grandson of literary legend J.R.R. Tolkien, will captivate readers with the release of his new historical saga, THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA (Lake Union | June 1, 2025). The first installment in a two-part series, the novel introduces us to Theo Sterling, a young man who comes of age and crosses continents in search of an identity―and a cause―at the dawn of the Spanish Civil War. As Theo engages with political and religious beliefs, including Capitalism, Communism, Anarchism, Fascism, and Catholicism, this sweeping novel examines the effect they have on him and his ultimate disillusionment with their promises. Rich in details and beautifully told by the talented Simon Tolkien, THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA is historical fiction at its best.

Theo’s story continues with THE ROOM OF LOST STEPS, which will be released on September 16, 2025 (Lake Union).

“Through intense research over many years,” Tolkien explains, “I have tried to bring the vanished world of America, England and Spain in the 1930s to life – a time that shares many similarities with the troubled world we live in today. I believe in the value of historical fiction. The past is another country just as rich as ours, and I want to bring it to life.”

New York City, 1929. Young Theo Sterling’s world begins to unravel as the Great Depression exerts its icy grip. He finds it hard to relate to his parents: His father, a Jewish self-made businessman, refuses to give up on the American dream, and his mother, a refugee from religious persecution in Mexico, holds fast to her Catholic faith. When disaster strikes the family, Theo must learn who he is. A charismatic school friend and a firebrand girl inspire him to believe he can fight Fascism and change the world, but each rebellion comes at a higher price, forcing Theo to question these ideologies too.

From New York’s Lower East Side to an English boarding school to an Andalusian village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Theo’s harrowing journey from boy to man is set against a backdrop of societies torn apart from within, teetering on the edge of a terrible war to which Theo is compulsively drawn like a moth to a flame.

With historical depth and compelling storytelling, Tolkien weaves a stunning tale about how hope, courage, loss and disillusionment affect the formation of one’s character. Fans of historical fiction and literary fiction will devour THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA.

To celebrate the publication of THE PALACE AT THE END OF THE SEA, we are hosting a virtual book tour throughout the month of June featuring this fantastic group of book influencers that will feature reviews, spotlights, excerpts and giveaways!

Sunday, June 1 Purrfect Pages

Monday, June 2 Books Coffee MX

Tuesday, June 3 Dive Into A Good Book

Wednesday, June 4 Bookalong

Thursday, June 5 Suzy Approved Book Reviews

Friday, June 6 Wuthering Vines

Monday, June 9 We Love Big Books And We Cannot Lie

Tuesday, June 10 Cassie’s Book Reviews

Wednesday, June 11 Lexijava

Thursday, June 12 Subakka Bookstuff

Friday, June 13 Sarah’s Bookish Reviews

Monday, June 16 Gym Girl Reads

Tuesday, June 17 The Maddie Hatter

Wednesday, June 18 Dana Mustard Reads

Thursday, June 19 Briana and Her Books

Friday, June 20 What Is That Book About

Friday, June 20 Linda’s Book Obsession

Sunday, June 22 Nissa The Bookworm

Monday, June 23 Bailey’s Book Recs

Tuesday, June 24 Book Girl Brown Reviews

Wednesday, June 25 Rebekah Dolmat Reads

Thursday, June 26 Gloriana Wong

Friday, June 27 Kim Reads and Reads

Sunday, June 29 Karen’s Library

Monday, June 30 Enjoying Books Again

https://www.overtheriverpr.com/2025/05/12/3692/

Filed Under: Blog Tours, Fiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: fiction, historical fiction, Lake Union Publishing, Literary fiction, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Simon Tolkien, Virtual book tour

By otrpr Leave a Comment

JUNE 2025 Virtual Book Tour for FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES by Leslie Gray Streeter!

A successful journalist returns to her hometown just as her biggest mistake becomes headline news in this vibrant, funny, and heartfelt novel about facing the past, and its secrets, head-on.

“Family & Other Calamities delivers exactly what I want when I sit down to read a novel. It has genuinely memorable characters, a fresh voice that kept me reading, lines that made me laugh out loud, and scenes that brought me to tears.” ―James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“a romp that plumbs emotional depths of family ties and what we sacrifice to follow our dreams. Streeter’s debut novel (succeeding the memoir, Black Widow, 2020) is a winner.” ―Booklist

“Family & Other Calamities is about love in many forms―family, friendship, and standing up for what is yours. Dawn Roberts is a funny and charming character you will want to root for. Streeter’s signature humor and charisma shine bright in this bighearted debut.” ―Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author

“A compelling story of truth, justice, and the American way. Leslie Streeter understands both the news business and the heartbreak business.” ―Josh Mankiewicz, correspondent for Dateline NBC

“Leslie Streeter’s dialogue is delightful. Even when the good times slam into bad times, her heroine holds on to her sense of humor and you won’t want to leave her side. As a bonus, this novel offers deep wisdom about being a journalist, so not only will you laugh―and be moved―but you will also learn how to be a better writer.” ―Nell Scovell, author of Just the Funny Parts

“Family & Other Calamities is vintage Leslie Gray Streeter: hilariously funny, and with a powerful emotional punch. It’s a deep study in the gifts we get from the people we love the most, even when we don’t always like them.” ―Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author of Housemoms

An award-winning journalist and columnist for the Baltimore Banner, Leslie Gray Streeter knows a thing or two about chasing down a good story and scoring in-depth interviews with celebrities. In FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES (Lake Union Publishing; June 1, 2025), she has tapped into her years of experience in the biz to create a riotous, emotionally relatable novel about a Black woman journalist who is going through it all – grief, betrayal, family drama, long buried secrets, and so many carbs.

Fans of Jasmine Guillory, Candice Carty-Williams, and Dolly Alderton will delight in Gray Streeter’s fiction debut with a tell-it-like-it-is protagonist, an eclectic cast of endearing characters, and a wildly entertaining story you won’t soon forget.

To celebrate the publication of FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES, we are hosting a virtual book tour throughout June featuring this fabulous roster of book influencers. Follow along for plenty of laughs, reviews, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS!

Monday, June 2 – WE LOVE BIG BOOKS AND WE CANNOT LIE

Monday, June 2 – MY BURSTING BOOK BAG

Tuesday, June 3 – CASSIE’S BOOK REVIEWS

Tuesday, June 3 – STOREYBOOK REVIEWS

Wednesday, June 4 – DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK

Thursday, June 5 – BOOKS N BIKRAM

Friday, June 6 – KIM READS AND READS

Saturday, June 7 – BOOKPHILE BELLE

Sunday, June 8 – PURRFECT PAGES

Sunday, June 8 – LOVE MY DANE DOLLY

Monday, June 9 – BOOKS AND COFFEE MX

Tuesday, June 10 – KATIE NEEDS A BIGGER BOOKSHELF

Tuesday, June 10 – BOOKIN IT WITH AHTIYA

Wednesday, June 11 – SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF

Wednesday, June 11 – THE BOOK CLUB MOM

Thursday, June 12 –  LOVE MY BOOKS 2020 

Thursday, June 12 – SUZY APPROVED BOOK REVIEWS

Friday, June 13 – ELLIOTT READS

Friday, June 13 – SUNFLOWER BOOK LOVER

Saturday, June 14 – WUTHERING VINES

Monday, June 16 – SUE THE BOOKIE

Tuesday, June 17 – BOOKS AND BIEWERS

Tuesday, June 17 –  BOOKALONG

Wednesday, June 18 – MEG’S BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, June 18 – BEE IS FOR BOOKS

Thursday, June 19 – DANISH MUSTARD READS

Friday, June 20 – 2 MANY BOOKS 2 LITTLE TIME

Friday, June 20 – WE BREAK FOR BOOKS

Monday, June 23 – ARMED WITH A BOOK

Monday, June 23 – GLORIANA WONG

Tuesday, June 24 – JOURNAL OF JAIDA

Tuesday, June 24 – BLACK BIRACIAL AND BOOKISH

Wednesday, June 25 – JEN’S TOWERING TBR

Thursday, June 26 –  BOOKAPOTAMUS

Friday, June 27  – NISSA THE BOOKWORM

Friday, June 27 – BOOKS AND THEMES

Filed Under: Blog Tours, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baltimore, Black womens fiction, book club fiction, Funny fiction, Lake Union, Leslie Gray Streeter, Midlife fiction, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Womens Fiction

By otrpr Leave a Comment

May Virtual Book Tour *THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES by Shirley Russak Wachtel*

From the author of A Castle in Brooklyn comes an epic novel spanning decades about the broken bonds of family, memories of war, and redemption and hope in the face of heartbreaking loss.

Advance Praise for The Baker of Lost Memories:

“The Baker of Lost Memories is a compelling family drama, slow-boiling its way to redemption and second chances.” ―Foreword Reviews

“A poignant story of the power of memory and family, Wachtel’s narrative moves easily through time and from mother to daughter.” – Library Journal

Fans of generational stories by Lynda Cohen Loigman (The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, The Matchmaker’s Gift), Jennifer Rosner (The Yellow Bird Sings) and Georgia Hunter (We Are The Lucky Ones) will devour Shirley Russak Wachtel’s new moving family saga, THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES (June 1, 2025; Little A). Wachtel is the critically acclaimed author of A Castle In Brooklyn, and she is back with another unforgettable novel that explores generational trauma, the complex relationships between immigrant parents and American-born children, resilience and redemption. THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES is a beautifully written poignant historical novel set in Brooklyn in the 1960s and 70s.

“The stories I write are about families,” Wachtel explains. “When I wrote A Castle In Brooklyn, I wanted to explore the traumatic effects of the Holocaust on survivors trying to build a new life in the United States. With THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES, I focus on the quiet reverberations of loss in the second generation. Family is the nucleus of life’s experience.”

It can take a lifetime to turn painful memories of the past into hope for the future.

Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It’s as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached.

The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena’s life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena’s happiness―and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come.

Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents’ anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.

To help celebrate the publication of THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES, we are hosting a prepub virtual book tour during the month of May with this stellar list of book influencers who will post reviews, features, and giveaways. We hope you will follow along!

Thursday, May 1 BOOKPHILE BELLE

Thursday, May 1 – WHAT IS THAT BOOK ABOUT

Friday, May 2 WE BREAK FOR BOOKS

Monday, May 5 WE LOVE BIG BOOKS AND WE CANNOT LIE

Tuesday, May 6 SUZY APPROVED BOOK REVIEWS

Tuesday, May 6 BOOKS WRITING AND MORE

Wednesday, May 7 KATIE NEEDS A BIGGER BOOKSHELF

Thursday, May 8 LIT BY LILLI

Thursday, May 8 MATZAH BOOK SOUP

Friday, May 9 SECRET READING LIFE

Saturday, May 10 CASSIE’S BOOK REVIEWS

Monday, May 12 NISSA THE BOOKWORM

Tuesday, May 13 CAROL DOSCHER READER

Wednesday, May 14 DANISH MUSTARD READS

Thursday, May 15 SUBAKKA BOOKSTUFF

Friday, May 16 WUTHERING VINES

Monday, May 19 NURSE BOOKIE

Tuesday, May 20 BOOKS AND COFFEE MX

Wednesday, May 21 LEXIJAVA

Wednesday, May 21 MELANN ROSENTHAL

Thursday, May 22 WBTB REVIEWS

Friday, May 23 LOVE MY BOOKS 2020

Tuesday, May 27 GLORIANA WONG

Tuesday, May 27 MEG’S BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, May 28 MY BURSTING BOOK BAG

Thursday, May 29 ANDREA C. LOWRY READS

Friday, May 30 BOOK OBSESSION’S LINDA

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: historical fiction, Literary fiction, Little A Publishing, OTRPR, Over the River PR, Over the River Public Relations, Virtual book tour

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 12
  • Next Page »

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH?

CONTACT US

Follow Us

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedininstagram

Copyright © 2025 · Site designed and maintained by Bakerview Consulting