Blog Tour: KIND KIDS by Jenna McDonough

The Adventures of Hurley, Pearl, and The Pink Soldiers of Kindness

Children's Book

Date Published: October 10, 2025

Publisher: Gatekeeper Press

Hurley and Pearl are a brother and sister duo who usually get along but, like all siblings, sometimes struggle with their emotions. One day, when Pearl’s singing pushes Hurley to his limit, a family conflict teaches them both an important lesson: kindness begins with understanding and taking responsibility for your emotions.

With Mom’s loving guidance, Hurley and Pearl learn the power of pausing, breathing, and reflecting before reacting. They discover that kindness can heal hurt feelings, bring people together, and make everyone feel seen and loved. Inspired by Mom’s story of spreading kindness through small pink toy soldiers, the siblings embark on a heartwarming mission of their own—to brighten others’ days, one soldier at a time.

At school, Hurley comforts a classmate with a pink soldier after a tough moment on the playground, while Pearl lifts the spirits of a substitute teacher who feels overwhelmed. Through these small but powerful acts, Hurley and Pearl realize that kindness doesn’t just help others—it also fills their own hearts with warmth and happiness.

Their journey is about more than sharing toys; it’s about spreading love, empathy, and connection to everyone around them. Along the way, they discover a simple truth: kindness can change the world, one thoughtful gesture at a time.

Complete with a heartfelt letter from the fictional Colonel Michael T. Pinkerton, Kind Kids inspires young readers to share their own adventures of kindness. This delightful and empowering story encourages children to take small steps to make big impacts in their families, classrooms, and communities while reminding them that kindness to others begins with being kind to themselves.

Perfect for parents, teachers, and children alike, Kind Kids is a touching exploration of sibling dynamics, emotional growth, and the ripple effect of simple, kind acts.

 

My Review: Meet Hurley and Pearl and see what happens when someone’s singing gets on the other’s nerves. Anger takes over and feelings get hurt. See what Mom does to make Kind Kids. A nice story about what kids can do to avoid escalating conflict and making peace. Let’s make kind kids!

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author

My name is Jenna McDonough, and in addition to being a children’s book author, I work with both adults and children to help them better understand and manage their emotions. I am the creator of the PEACEFUL Mindful Moments for Every Age App—the first-of-its-kind emotional intelligence app designed to teach children and their caregivers how to integrate tools and techniques for emotional regulation into daily life. Organized by both age and emotion, the app offers meditation, mindfulness activities, somatic resets, breathwork, and binaural beats. It also includes an Adult Meditation Library and is home to two of my signature courses: Highly Meditated and Introduction to the Healing Arts.

Beyond the app, I guide adults in identifying and releasing stuck energy through meditation, sound baths, and custom-designed healing experiences. I also developed coaching programs, such as Lifestyle Design and a proprietary program for high school juniors and seniors, as well as for any young adult navigating a transition year, to help them prepare with confidence for life beyond the classroom.

My professional journey began in education. I hold a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Communications Journalism from Florida Atlantic University, and started my career as an Elementary ESE teacher. While I found teaching deeply fulfilling, I also experienced firsthand the challenges of burnout, which inspired me to seek balance through meditation, mindfulness, and yoga. As my life evolved and I became a mother, I continued to deepen my personal practice, remaining committed to wellness while shifting my focus toward family.

During the global pandemic, I witnessed the surge of anxiety and stress across all ages and felt called to expand my work. What began as a personal passion evolved into a mission: to equip others—children, parents, and adults alike—with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges with greater peace, presence, and emotional intelligence.

In recognition of my dedication to wellness and emotional regulation, I have and continue to serve as a member of the 2024 and 2025 Forbes Health Advisory Boards.

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Blog Tour: LOOKS THAT KILLS by Lee Gemmill

 

Sometimes death is not enough.

Looks that Kill

by Lee Gemmill

Genre: Serial Killer Thriller

Sometimes death is not enough...

Laura Johnson's life has been a mosaic of terror, each piece a fragment of her haunted past. In her world, to be unnoticed is to be safe, yet, beneath her camouflage lies a burning desire to live without the constant pulse of fear.

Enter Diablo, a serial killer who transforms his victims into chilling avatars that appear within his dark and popular computer games. With the police powerless to peel back his many masks, Diablo sets his sights on Laura.

In this heart-stopping race against time, Laura is thrust into a deadly play where facing fear isn't a choice-it's survival. With the killer's shadow looming, can she stand against the darkness? Or will she become the next character in his twisted games of death?

The terror begins now....

  

“A wounded soul becomes the target of a brutal serial killer’s game in this dark, gripping, game of cat and mouse.” ★★★★★ – Explore Authors Magazine

 

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1989

 

The prison guard spoke softly into a communicator on his shoulder, and the steel door opened with a metallic echo in the corridor. The guard looked first at Isabelle, then at Mr. Dunn, asking, “Do you want me to stay?”

Isabelle replied, “Thank you, officer, but no. You’ve done your part.”

The guard nodded and left them in the death row area. They heard the sound of metal on metal as the door locked behind them, sending a small shiver through Isabelle’s heart. But she straightened her jaw and stepped into the cell, with Mr. Dunn following closely behind.

She removed her hat and held it like a weapon. The edge of its brim was thin and stiff enough to slice. Isabelle knew her toughness often intimidated men, but this disturbed individual would likely see her as a beauty queen. Mr. Dunn took a protective stance by the door, his size and the scar running from his eyebrow to his chin making it clear why he was there.

Surveying the cell, which was barely larger than a cheap walk-in closet, Isabelle noted the metal bed, stainless-steel toilet, and sink. In her opinion, this minimalist setup was more than the inmate deserved; far too lavish. She adjusted her posture, shifting into business mode, tilting her head back to exude confidence and becoming the salesperson she was meant to be.

“Hmm. John Spenkelink’s old cell. I know you’re awake, Mr. Bundy.”

Ted Bundy, lying on the bed with his back to them, sat up, feigning disturbed sleep. He yawned, blinked his eyes, and smiled disarmingly. The news photos hadn’t lied; he was indeed a handsome man. Yet, Isabelle recalled how he wielded his charm and good looks like weapons. Maintaining her poker face, she thought of the thirty women he had confessed to killing, with hints of even more hidden in unmarked graves.

“You have me at a disadvantage,” Bundy said, keeping his gaze fixed on hers. “But who wouldn’t be disadvantaged in here?”

Isabelle ignored him and began her presentation. “I’m Dr. Quint. My associate is Mr. Dunn. We’re from Blunt Point Labs. Mr. Bundy, the governor absolutely will not consider a stay of execution.” She glanced at her watch again, already aware of the time. “In less than twenty-four hours, you’re going to die. We can’t prevent that.”

“Then why bother me?”

Isabelle remained stoic; this was her favorite part. “Mr. Bundy, we’re here to make you an offer you can’t refuse. A chance to serve mankind in a positive way.”

Bundy raised his eyebrows. “Serve mankind? When I’m dead?”

Mr. Dunn moved as if cued; it was the signal for him to take the next step. He reached into the satchel, pulled out some important-looking papers, and handed them to Isabelle. She held them just out of Bundy’s reach. His gaze flickered to the papers momentarily.

She continued, “You’ll be dead alright, but I think you’ll find this to be a fair offer.” She handed the papers to Bundy, who studied them intently for several long minutes with a practiced legal eye. Suddenly, he looked up.

“How does it work? There aren’t any laws to protect the dead. Blunt Point has this kind of power?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll need a pen.”

“Yes, you will. But before you sign, I want to know why you tortured, raped, and murdered thirty innocent women.”

Bundy grinned mischievously. Everything about him was likable. Isabelle forced herself to frown.

“Thirty?” he asked. “You think small, Doctor.” He paused, as if considering his words. Isabelle realized he wasn’t thinking at all; he was remembering. Bundy’s smile turned predatory. “Having those women tied up and terrified was the ultimate aphrodisiac. They knew they were going to die because of me. To them, I was their angry god.”

If Isabelle had been holding a chainsaw at that moment, she would have used it on him. Instead, she forced herself to remain unresponsive to Bundy’s comment. She didn’t need to look back at Mr. Dunn to know his expression had not changed; it rarely did.

With no visible reaction from his visitors, Bundy shrugged. He raised his hand as if holding an invisible pen, wiggling his fingers in a gesture that conveyed, "I still need something to write with." Mr. Dunn reached into his coat and pulled out a ballpoint pen, offering it to Bundy. Carefully and neatly, Bundy signed each page and initialed several others. He returned the pen to Mr. Dunn and handed the papers to Isabelle.

“When do we start?” he asked, excitement bubbling in his voice like a child eager for an adventure.

Isabelle provided the answer he needed. “As soon as you die.”

 

At 20, Lee Gemmill set off on a hitchhiking adventure from Virginia to California, climbing Handies Peak in Colorado and losing all his food to sneaky ground squirrels in the Grand Canyon along the way. A former biology and anatomy teacher with 32 years of experience in Virginia, he’s now retired and fully dedicated to writing.
Lee’s mission is to reshape storytelling by blending fantasy, science fiction, and horror into unforgettable tales. His work pushes the boundaries of imagination, delivering thrilling experiences that stay with readers long after the last page — all while building a legacy of unique, genre-defying stories that cultivate lifelong fans.

 

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Blog Tour: The Serpent series by S.Z. Estavillo

 

Every crime tells a story…

But not every killer is the villain.

The Serpent’s Order

The Serpent Series Book 4

by S.Z. Estavillo

Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense

An assassin bound by obedience. A detective marked for death. A cartel war with no survivors.

Von Schlange thought she’d escaped her past. Now Black Nova owns her—an elite, off-the-books task force where obedience is survival and failure means death. As their newest assassin, she’s unleashed on targets tied to Jaxon Ryker, a drug lord buried deep in the Alaskan wilds.

Her partner, Xander Holt, a former Navy SEAL with ice in his veins, lives by the same brutal code: no attachments, no lines crossed. But as missions turn bloody, the fragile boundary between partner and lover begins to blur—and desire becomes its own kind of danger.

Across the country, Detective Anaya Nazario faces a nightmare of her own. A synthetic “zombie drug,” deadlier than fentanyl and immune to Narcan, is ripping through Los Angeles. Her investigation exposes a network of dirty cops shielding Ryker’s empire—and puts a target squarely on her back.

Two women on opposite fronts. One war against corruption and cartel power. And a single truth—every betrayal leaves a body behind.

Explosive, unrelenting, and razor-sharp, The Serpent’s Order propels the Serpent Series into its most dangerous chapter yet—where justice is a myth, and survival comes at a price paid in blood.

 

**NEW RELEASE on Feb 10, 2026! PreOrder Now!**

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Twilight of the Serpent

The Serpent Series Book 3

Some predators hide in plain sight. Others hunt from the shadows.

Merrick Winslow is a decorated Army officer, a man of discipline and honor—or so he claims. When he reports that his ex-wife, Cheonsa Soo-Min, has been stalking him, no one questions his story. He paints her as unstable, vengeful, and dangerous, a woman consumed by obsession. But when two officers are gunned down with her own weapon, the truth becomes harder to see. With the law closing in, Cheonsa vanishes, fleeing to Rio de Janeiro, where she is taken in by Von Schlange, the vigilante thought to have disappeared for good.

Von has retired her vengeful ways, leaving behind a life of bloodshed to run a quiet veterinary clinic. But when Cheonsa’s past collides with Winslow’s lies, the two women begin to unravel a deadly deception—one that turns predator into prey. By the time Von uncovers the truth, an innocent life has already been taken.

Now, there’s only one thing left to do: find the real monster and make him pay.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Detective Anaya Nazario and Supervising Special Agent Blake Huxley are adjusting to life as new parents. But after only four months of maternity leave, Nazario is pulled back into the field to investigate the murder of two officers. What should be a straightforward case quickly spirals into something far more sinister—secrets buried beneath the badge, a killer hiding behind a uniform, and a web of corruption stretching further than anyone expected.

As Nazario and Huxley chase down leads, their investigation intersects with a vigilante they once thought was dead. And this time, Von Schlange isn’t just seeking justice—she’s delivering retribution.

For fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn, and Taylor Adams, Twilight of the Serpent delivers a high-stakes vigilante thriller packed with morally gray justice, relentless suspense, and a tangled web of deception. Perfect for readers who love strong female leads, intense cat-and-mouse chases, and dark psychological twists.

 

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The Serpent Woman

The Serpent Series Book 2

The exciting sequel to The Serpent's Bridge...

A serial killer is on the loose. With her insidious tattoo and venomous killer strike, they’re calling her the serpent woman.

Two of the best in their field, LAPD Detective Anaya Nazario and FBI Supervising Special Agent Blake Huxley are forced to work together yet again, despite their strained romantic history and a baby on the way. Together on a nationwide hunt, they must find this serpent woman before she strikes again.

But, as the cat-and-mouse chase evolves, Nazario and Huxley begin to realize that their killer is on a mission of vigilante justice and they must struggle with the question of who really deserves their justice: The killer, or her victims?

This dark thriller delves into the sensitive topics of sex trafficking, child abuse, animal death, sexual assault, graphic violence, and dead bodies. Reader discretion is advised.

 

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The Serpent’s Bridge

The Serpent Series Book 1 

Compelling dialogue, rich, gritty prose, and characters you won’t forget — if you loved The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson, or Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger, you’ll love The Serpent’s Bridge.

Recovering alcoholic Detective Anaya Nazario remains haunted by her father's murder. Lucas Nazario was the highest-ranking Puerto Rican LAPD detective, and his case has gone unsolved for twenty-four years since his murder. When Mexican immigrants are targeted by a serial killer, Nazario senses a connection and fights to keep the leadless case open. The homicide investigation centers on Sanctuary Baptist, a church composed of immigrants led by Pastor Stan and his wife. Nazario's personal and professional worlds collide when she is compelled to collaborate with her former lover, Special Agent Blake Huxley. As their lives merge once more, the FBI and Detective Nazario stop at nothing to find a killer.

Is this the same monster who killed her father and left him for dead under a bridge?

Can she put a stop to the murders before more families lose loved ones?

 

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As a BIPOC thriller author, she previously parted amicably with her agent and, three months later, secured an eight-book deal with Oliver-Heber Books—now boasting 24,000 downloads in its first year and a BookRaid bestseller ranking in the thriller category. The Serpent Woman (Book 2) reached #1 on Amazon and topped all three of its categories. Her background spans literary agencies and TV studios, where she contributed to greenlit screenplays that became Lifetime movies. She holds a Master’s in Television, Radio, and Film, has taught author branding workshops (L.A. Writer’s Conference, North Texas RWA), and maintains a 100K+ social media following.

 

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Spotlight: LOVING REMAINS by Esmeralda Stone

 

Isaac Collins is trying to run Teagan’s Funeral Home and keep his life as calm as possible.

Cory Hughes is just trying to keep her head—and her death consultant business—above ground.

Thrown together by circumstance, a bit of guilt, and a lot of attraction, Isaac and Cory begin an uncomfortable friendship and soon realize the things that make them different may also be why they can’t seem to stay away from each other. And it could be just in time. Because not everything is as it seems at Teagan’s Funeral Home.

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Review: HOUSE ON 13TH by Dex Rivers

 

Could moving to a house with a 1313 address on 13^th Street be bad luck? We’re about to find out!

 

Since marrying the love of her life, a new bride will learn that the house her husband lived with his dead wife wasn’t too great after all. A lot of freaky accidents were happening. What was going on? Was it haunted? Or was it just bad luck? A chilling short read!

 

Rating: 4 stars