New Releases in SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for AUG 26

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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HIS HUMAN BELIEVER (MONSTERS LOVE CURVY GIRLS BOOK 14) by Michele Mills

She’s the believer. He’s the skeptic. And the Hyrrokin are back. Something seriously creepy is happening in the dark jungle, just outside of my best friend’s gated community on Tarvos. The adults swear it isn’t real. The peacekeepers won’t take it seriously. A professor from the Royal Hyrrokin Academy arrives to debunk the swirling rumors before the neighbors panic. Dr. Vidar Coalstone is tall, fire-breathing, and devastatingly handsome. Black horns. Red skin. Barbed tail. Does he really need those reading glasses? He’s the most beautiful, terrifying scholar I’ve ever laid eyes on. He thinks my Intelgram crime show is sensationalist and the children who’ve made credible sightings of a ghost are mistaken. I’m the believer and he’s the skeptic. And yet, as we work on solving this mystery together, I learn we have more in common than I’d thought. Except this sexy Hyrrokin has taken a twelve-month vow of celibacy in front of his entire academic council. Twelve. Month. Vow. Oh no. And I should be helping him to maintain this vow. Ugh. Except I’m finding it so hard.   AmazonKU

REMMEN: MINOTAUR MATES (ALIEN MATCHMAKING AGENCY BOOK THREE) by Kate Rudolph

I came to Ceres-9 to counsel traumatized alien gladiators, not fall into bed with their mayor. After my fiancé replaced me with my best friend and my last job nearly broke me, this posting was supposed to be a fresh start. Then I met Remmen. A former gladiator turned mayor with a body built for violence, and the kind of quiet authority that makes everyone around him fall into line. He’s controlled, capable, and devastatingly good at taking care of everyone but himself. He’s also completely off limits. My contract has one very clear rule: no fraternizing with the men I’m here to help. If we’re caught, I could lose my job, my home, and the only career I have left. Which would be easier if the way Remmen looks at me didn’t make me forget every reason I shouldn’t touch him. Easier if one stolen touch didn’t leave me wondering exactly what those enormous hands could do with the rest of me. And easier if staying away from him didn’t get harder every time I discover another piece of the male beneath the mayor. I crossed the galaxy because I needed a second chance. Falling for Remmen could destroy it. But I’m starting to think walking away from him might be the bigger mistake.      AmazonKU

BASKET CASE (SENTIENT OBJECTS ADVENTURES BOOK SEVEN) by Skye MacKinnon

She wanted to reconnect with her roots. She did not expect them to tie her to the bed. Burned out by teaching and city life, Kathleen returns to her grandmother’s Highland village to spend a week in the family cottage. Waiting for her is an old wicker basket with a promise that it will bring her joy. On the eve of Samhain, the basket wakes. Aonghus is an ancient, touch-starved fae trapped inside the creel. He can bind Kathleen’s wrists, change his anatomy on command, and sees no reason to limit himself to one appendage at a time. Sometimes, it is not the basket that gets filled. Sometimes, the basket does the filling…Gran promised the basket would bring her joy. She never said how much. A filthy, funny sentient object romance featuring Scottish folklore, magical bondage, fae dominance, multiple appendages, creative anatomy, and one extremely flexible wicker basket.     AmazonKU

BITTEN IN SECRETS AND DESIRE (CLAIMED BY THE MORRAK BOOK THREE) by Leann Ryans

She was never supposed to matter. He was never supposed to care. Elaina wanted to study the Morrak, not mate one. An intelligence analyst, she dreamed of new languages and hidden messages, not an alien bond she didn’t ask for, but when Drazien singles her out at the Selection Gala, her quiet world is shattered. Drazien’s loyalty was to the mission. He didn’t want emotional complications,
He wanted bait. With rebels threatening the alliance, he volunteered to choose the next Human as a lure to draw out the enemy. He planned to use her. He didn’t plan to fall. When Elaina overhears a rebel plot and saves them both, the deception between them is cracked open. She offers to risk herself again, but if she’s going to be used, it’ll be on her terms. Together, they set a trap that could crush the threat to the alliance…If it doesn’t destroy them first. They began as a lie, but something real awakens. The line between duty and instincts blur. And the alien warrior who meant to sacrifice her, May burn everything down to keep her.       AmazonKU

THE SALT KING: A NOVEL by Natasha Pulley

VS Note: LGBTQ Dystopian Romantic Fantasy.

Jesuit priest Avelyn Brocken was born into a mining family in Hreodwater, a small, totally isolated salt town in the Fens of England. At age 16, he fled, abandoning his faith in the god of the mine-the Salt King-and the mythology that killed his whole family. When a fellow priest is miraculously healed only to then be turned to salt after a visit to Hreodwater, Avelyn is sent by the Vatican to investigate. But in Hreodwater, the town’s gentle doctor, Jericho, tells him that the priest is not the only one experiencing strange cures-and may not be the only one in danger from a substance in the mine that the locals call “salt light.” Avelyn and Jericho team up to protect the world from the salt light-but they may already be too late: strange happenings are occurring at mines all around the world. At an archaeological dig on the Dead Sea, electrical devices froth salt; at another salt mine in Russia, a KGB officer finds the bodies of five tourists who seem to have turned to salt; and at the huge salt works at Wieliczska in Poland, all communication is lost, and rumors circulate of total annihilation. As salt light spreads, devastating cities around the world, Avelyn must decide what and who to believe-and whether his faith is strong enough to withstand an apocalypse.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

TOUCH HER AND BURN by Cara Stone and Athena Storm

I crash through her ceiling bleeding out, and the human medic doesn’t run. She digs bullets from my chest while the district burns above us. Her hands are steady. Her scent is ruin. The bond ignites—ancient, merciless, Precursor fire in my blood that demands I claim what’s mine. Her only focus is to stitch up monsters. Mine is to keep her. To burn the world before I let anyone touch her. I was built for war. She makes me want forever. Read on for fated mates, possessive dragon shifter, injury care obsession, and a ruthless protector who falls first and hardest. HEA Guaranteed!    AmazonKU

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CLAIMED BY THE ALIEN AFTER MIDNIGHT by Lara London

An obsessive alien prince falls for the curvy matchmaker who has been hired to find him a bride. Phoebe – When Kismet Moon Matchmaking is hired by the royal family of Planet Orlo to find a bride for the heir to the throne, I insist on handling the high-profile client myself. After all, I’m co-owner of the company. Who is going to take better care of the situation than me? But then I land on Orlo, and I don’t know if there is something in the space juice or what, but the way the prince looks at me has me questioning everything I think I know about love. How am I going to help the obsessive alien prince find his bride when I’ve fallen for my client? Belacoran – She’s mine. Tropes: instalove, sci-fi, alien MMC, human FMC, he falls first, obsessive alpha alien, guaranteed HEA. What to expect from a Lara London romance: Quick Reads. Big Heat. Forever Love. Steamy, short, insta-love romances with quirky heroines, obsessive heroes who fall hard, no cheating, and guaranteed HEA — delivered with heat, heart, and humor.      AmazonKU

GALACTIC PILOT: MM SFR (ABDUCTION DISRUPTION BOOK ONE) by A J Marcus

VS Note: From July 26.

The strange lights took Mac out of a fighter jet over the Pacific Ocean, and he woke in strange alien ship in the middle of a crash landing, a very long way from any sky he knew. Blan has worn a Grisian slave collar for five years. Four arms, an engineer’s hands, and a careful, buried hope he’d stopped letting himself feel, until the human he rescues from an exploding ship looks at like he’s a person and not a price. When a spore-ship attack tears the slaver apart, the two of them are thrown together to survive the best they can. The explosion throws stolen humans across the dark in failing scout ships, and Mac and Blan crash-land into freedom on a hostile desert world with nothing but each other, a wrecked ship, and a strange gift waking in the back of Mac’s skull, the kind of gift the Grisians would kill to own. They could keep their heads down and survive. Instead, Mac makes a vow: find the others. Every last one of the lost that had been taken when he was. A slow-burn MM sci-fi romance about two stolen men, the family they build out of the wreckage, and a love worth crossing a galaxy for. First in a found-family space-opera series. HEA guaranteed.      AmazonKU

ALIEN MATED IN ERROR (MISTAKENLY MATCHED BOOK TWO) by Millie Voss

A structural engineer running from her ex. A seven-foot-eight horned alien who hasn’t been touched since his wife died. And the housing lease that turned out to be a marriage contract. I came to Rethaan because it was the farthest planet from the man who spent three years teaching my body to scan every room for exits. The reconstruction posting came with a dwelling and a housemate named Rennaak, a settlement leader built like a geological formation, with horns, armored plates, and hands I’d hear carving stone when he thought everyone was asleep. He walked through doorways ahead of me so I never had to enter a room first. But he’d also known I was his wife since the housing agreement. While I was trying to figure out why I wasn’t afraid of him. Then my ex followed me across fourteen light-years with scrubbed records and the kind of smile that makes every human on the settlement trust him. The most dangerous-looking being on the planet is the first person whose presence makes my body stop scanning for exits. I don’t know what to do with that.     AmazonKU

GLENHAVEN (MOUNTAIN HAVENS BOOK ONE) by Love Pierce

The world ended in just two months. Four years later, Malia is rebuilding her own little world on a hidden farm in the Colorado mountains. As one of few survivors of a worldwide illness, Malia headed across state lines to her father’s hidden ranch in the Rocky Mountains with one goal: to bury him. Along the way, she rescued a starving boy who had lost everything. Months later she rescued another child. Then another. One by one, she found herself as the responsible adult to a group of children and teens orphaned by the same illness that took her family. The farm she fled to became something far greater: their haven. Now their quiet life is about to change. When a life-threatening attack leads to one of the teens unexpectedly finding the older brother he thought was gone forever, Malia finds herself drawn to him and two men in the group he travels with. Harvey, Finn, and Jude lead a small group of survivors who fit in perfectly at the farm. Harvey uses his medical skills to heal Malia, and his affectionate attention to open her heart. Jude uses his humor to make her laugh, and his way with the children has her melting inside. Finn’s confident leadership lifts the weight from her shoulders, and his open heart gives hers a safe place to trust. Malia never expected someone could fit so perfectly, let alone three of them. But she’s never been one to run from something good. As terrorizing rovers threaten their peace, the group must do what’s needed to protect their life on the farm. What began as a happy reunion becomes something deeper as love blossoms and strangers become family.   AmazonKU

BRIDE OF THE ENEMY ALIEN (SURVIVOR BRIDES OF TAJSS BOOK SIX) by Miranda Martin

An enemy alien crashed into my desert carrying the one warning my people cannot ignore: the galaxy knows Tajss survived.Rhazek arrives bleeding, dangerous, and wrapped in secrets. I should hate him. He came from Krix, a world built on slavers, arenas, and chains. His arrival brings danger to our gates, and he may be the reason off-world hunters can find Tajss, the power hidden beneath our City, and the fated bonds they would kill to possess. But Rhazek is not Krixian. He is Voraxxian. A gladiator survivor sold into captivity, forged into a weapon, and marked by enemies who never stopped hunting him. No one in the City trusts him. I’m not sure I do either. But when Rhazek’s warning reveals a threat larger than anything we have faced before, I’m forced to work beside the one male everyone believes could destroy us. Every argument sparks. Every touch burns. Every moment trapped together makes it harder to  …(more blurb on Author’s online store)           Kobo     Author’s online store        Apple Books

WAKING THE GOLDEN GODDESS (DRAGON LORDS OF VALDIER) by S E Smith

The Ancients gave Bear Running Wolf one month to save the woman he loves, and the worlds that depend on her. He has no immortal power, no command over the stars, and no time to lose. But Bear can love, and sometimes love is the most powerful force in the universe. VA Note: As far as I am aware this ebook is currently only available on the Author’s online store.

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS: ARRIVAL is book one in my Planet of Last Resort series, completed now at 5 books, available wide. SciFi romance set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse on a remote colony planet…

Melisande “Melly” Jericho is a newly licensed medical doctor, returning to her home planet to practice family medicine. She hasn’t been home in years and is excited to see her friends and family again. But when her shuttle lands, the spaceport seems deserted and she can’t get her handheld to connect to the network to call for help. Stranded on the landing pad far from the terminal, she joins forces with the only other passengers to arrive, never dreaming they’ll all soon be plunged into a life-or-death situation. Jeff Pearson, retired Sectors Special Forces captain and his friends have come to colony planet Randal Four to take up ranching. He’s attracted to the curvy doctor as soon as he sees her on board the shuttle to the planet and hopes he can at least get her com details and maybe set up a dinner date before he and his team leave the city to reach their waiting ranchland. His tentative plans come to a crashing halt as a strange horde of moaning, growling people emerges from the terminal, headed in their direction with clearly murderous intent. Jeff, Melly and the others make a desperate run to escape from the mob and begin an adventure the likes of which none of them could ever have predicted. As they struggle against overwhelming odds to survive, evade the infected, escape the city and reach her family home, the attraction and trust between the two grows ever hotter. But so does the danger and the mystery of what happened to the people of Randal Four

Amazon    Apple Books     Kobo

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

A TASTE OF MAGIC (SCOTTISH CHARM SERIES BOOK TWO) by Tricia O’Malley

She’s hexed. He’s her ex. And if they can’t bake in harmony, Briarhaven’s big cooking competition might just go up in smoke. Lyra MacGregor’s magic is as unpredictable as her love life—especially when her spellwork starts misfiring during the filming of Briarhaven’s favorite reality TV show: Bewitching Bake Off. Even worse? She’s paired with Rabbie Barclay, her high school sweetheart turned heartbreak. He’s never baked a thing in his life. She turns spoons into hedgehogs when he’s nearby. But with the cameras rolling, the curse deepening, and old sparks reigniting, they’ll have to cook up more than just a winning cake to survive. Because in Briarhaven, baking is spellwork, and love is the trickiest recipe of all.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo
RAVEN’S FIGHT (DRAGONIS ACADEMY THE SECOND  YEAR BOOK THREE) by Serenity Rayne

The Purge doesn’t care what I’ve survived. It only cares who’s left standing. I’m the Dominant Dragoness of an entire continent. Heir to the Marzana Throne. Bonded to five mates who’d burn the realm to ash for me. I’ve clawed my way through enemies, politics, and prophecy—and I’m still here. But year three at Dragonis Academy isn’t impressed. The Purge is coming. Every third-year knows the name. Few speak it. It’s not a test—it’s a hunt. A brutal culling where alliances mean nothing, mercy is a death sentence, and only the most vicious walk out alive. Some don’t walk out at all. And this year, someone plans to turn it into a massacre. The traitor who’s hidden among the academy staff for decades is done waiting. Done watching. They’re ready to strike—and the chaos of the Purge is the perfect cover. I don’t know their face. I don’t know their endgame. But I know they’re close. Closer than I ever feared. A diplomatic mission with my mother. Alliances with Queen Giselle of the Eastern Isle and King Cassius of the Southern Isle. A hatchling who needs me to come home alive. None of it matters if I don’t survive what’s coming. The enemy wears a familiar face. The killing field is set. Welcome back to Dragonis Academy.     AmazonKU

TERMS AND DAMNATION (CROSSROADS COUNSEL BOOK TWO) by Brenda Trim

Three months into this nightmare, and I still can’t tell my ex-husband why I quit the firm. “Spiritual contract law” doesn’t exactly fit on a LinkedIn profile. Neither does “I can see the threads of fate binding people to their doom.” But that’s exactly what I do now—I see the deals, the desperate promises, the soul-deep contracts that mortals make when they’ve run out of options. My latest client is a surgeon who promised Erzulie Dantor anything to save her son’s life. Anything. The goddess of mothers took her at her word, and now she wants the surgeon’s hands—literally. Every life she saves from here on out belongs to the goddess. It’s elegant. Brutal. And technically ironclad. But I’ve found a loophole in the original terms, buried in the way the oath was sworn. If I can prove the contract was made under false pretenses—that the goddess is literally feeding on my client like a parasite—I might be able to renegotiate. The problem? Erzulie Dantor doesn’t appreciate being told she’s wrong. And Papa Legba is breathing down my neck, reminding me that my job is to facilitate deals, not torpedo them. Baron Samedi, of course, finds the whole situation hilarious. He keeps appearing…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

DAGGERBOUND (SWORDHEART BOOK TWO) by T Kingfisher

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting yet another precious relic from one stuffy temple to a different stuffy temple. Another great adventure for the ages…But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, in desperation, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down. This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who’s been trapped for centuries in a sword of enchanted steel, and is angry as hell about it. He hates the curse that put him there, and he wants to hate Edmund, just as he has hated every wielder before him. But the damned scholar is just so sweet and clever and kind. And while the Dervish may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

PUCK OF MY LIFE: MM HOCKEY SHIFTER ROMANCE (PUCKS, PACKS & PREGNANCIES BOOK THREE) by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelai M Hart

I was forced to reject my mate, and it nearly destroyed me. I’m one of the lucky wolves who find their fated mate. Or I was, until my pack Alpha gives me a choice: reject the human omega or watch him die. Rejection hurts, but not as badly as the alternative. I move across the country for college, knowing that if I don’t, I’ll never be able to stay away from him. Years pass, I graduate, get offered a spot on my favorite hockey team, and to the outside world, I’m living the dream. Only my dream is a nightmare, one where my wolf is barely holding it together. The wound left by denying fate is just as raw as the day I was forced to make my choice. I’m biding my time until I’m strong enough to challenge my pack Alpha and find my omega and attempt to win his heart again. Time runs out when I attend a charity event and scent my mate. He’s one of the reporters covering the event. I lose control, all that exists is Benedict and me. I mark him, right there in the hallway. He may be the puck of my life, but if I don’t do something quickly, he won’t be alive long.     AmazonKU

THE CURSED TOUCH (THE HAUNTED HEARTS SERIES BOOK THREE) by Jennifer Julie Miller

The shadows were always there … waiting. They told me they were nothing but figments of my imagination. Accused me of making it all up in a desperate attempt to be seen in a world where I was invisible. But I knew better. Something has always been watching over me, lingering just beyond the edge of the light. Now I’ve reached the crossroads, where every choice carries a price. I must make a choice … do I continue this vicious cycle, or take that final step into the unknown? Everyone says love can save you. But what if that’s the greatest illusion of all? This book has triggers; please be advised (ghosts mean death). These short stories are all standalones with easter eggs throughout. Enjoy.   AmazonKU
RITE OF POISON AND WHISPERS (HOUSE OF BLOOD AND ROSES BOOK NINE) by Laura Greenwood

Being a princess comes with its challenges, especially when Beatrice is at odds with the Queen. Whispers are circling the court about Beatrice’s twin brother, and there’s very little she can do to stop it, especially when Bastian is acting without consulting anyone in House Rothorne. To make matters worse, the Queen’s dislike of Beatrice is only growing, and when a royal dinner turns into a disaster, things become even more complicated. Beatrice’s allies are close, but could her enemies be closer? Rite of Poison and Whispers is book nine of House of Blood and Roses. It is a fantasy romance series full of vampires, court intrigue, and an established m/f romance.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MY DEMON HACKER: MM PNR (DEMON DEBACLES BOOK FIVE) by Stella Rainbow

Demons made great hackers. I’d know, I hired one…It was supposed to be simple. Steal the money. Get my revenge. Help a few people along the way. I had a plan. I had a team. I had no room for complications. Xin was a complication. They were smart, sweet, and way too good at getting under my skin. I didn’t know what they wanted from me—but I knew I couldn’t afford distractions. Not now. Not when I was this close to getting my revenge. I’d spent years planning, and I refused to fail. Not even for love.      AmazonKU

CASTING BUTTERFLIES (WITCHES BY FLUKE BOOK TWO) by Eve Langlais

Don’t swallow butterflies because you might become a witch. You might be wondering how I came up with that nugget of advice. Because it happened to me. It all started with an ugly amulet that I bought at an estate auction. The moment I touched it with my bare hand, wham-bam, I ended up infused with magic. Some might think this was cool. Not exactly since it also came with trouble. AKA a wicked wizard who will stop at nothing to steal my newfound power. The one shining spot? The hot dude that breaks into my house. I know, I shouldn’t be falling for a home invader, but Misha’s kind of a special case. He knows about the power I absorbed, but if I want answers, I’ll have to travel to Russia. A trip that’s complicated by a lack of a passport and the monster hunting me. Still, it’s the trip of a lifetime, and the most dangerous thing I’ve ever undertaken. Add in a smart-ass talking cat, a voyage plagued with deadly attacks, and it’s no wonder I boldly seduce my handsome companion. A good thing I took my pleasure when I had a chance because the end of my quest might not see me surviving. Can I find a way to salvage a happily-ever after?

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

MY ORC PACKAGE DEAL (EASTSHORE ISLE BOOK 16) by Veronika Kane

I didn’t marry a hot orc because I believed in fairy tales. I married him because my son needed a father, health insurance, and a home that would welcome his differences. The decision was practical, logical…safeExcept nobody warned me that “practical” would mean sharing a kitchen with a huge tattooed male who makes my coffee before I ask, calls Milo his son without hesitation, and gets quieter when things go wrong—steady and solid in a way I keep wanting to lean on. Then there’s Jay, Korrad’s twelve-year-old son: lonely, earnest, and determined to turn our marriage into a family whether we’re ready or not. He plans our beach wedding with a clipboard, expands his backyard fort so Milo will fit, and looks at my son like he’s been waiting for a brother his whole life. Korrad and I have a contract. Rules. Sensible boundaries that made much more sense before our boys became brothers and my husband started feeling like home. Now the only thing standing between me and complete disaster is the man I married for all the wrong reasons. Because I have secrets I’ve been carrying alone for a long time…and I’m beginning to suspect Korrad never intends to let me carry anything alone again.     AmazonKU

ASH AND BURN (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 110) by Milly Taiden

Dr. Arvid Jasper knows how to handle deadly diseases, military disasters, and impossible odds. What she does not know how to handle is Gerri Wilder offering her a trip through a wormhole to treat dragon shifters on another planet. But people are dying, the disease looks way too much like her current research, and Arvid has never been great at walking away from a crisis. So off she goes to Nova Aurora, armed with science, stubbornness, and absolutely no plan for what to do when the alien dragon king turns out to be hot enough to require medical supervision of his own. King Calix Silvanus has no time for romance, destiny, or anything that might distract him from saving Ashvorn. His people are sick, his council is panicking, and his volcanic kingdom is one bad decision away from disaster. Then Arvid steps into his estate smelling like lilies and rain, touches his arm, and his dragon immediately decides she is his mate. Wonderful. Because apparently a deadly outbreak was not enough trouble—now fate has sent him a brilliant human scientist with a sharp tongue, dangerous curves, and zero interest in being bossed around by royalty. Gerri insists this is all perfectly timed. Arvid calls it medically inconvenient. Calix calls it a threat to his control. But as they race to uncover the truth behind Ash Fever, their chemistry burns hotter than dragon fire—and someone in Ashvorn is determined to make sure Arvid never finds the cure. Now she’ll have to save a kingdom, survive a traitor, and decide whether loving one overprotective dragon king is the most reckless thing she’s ever done… or the cure she never saw coming.      AmazonKU

TAIL THE TRUTH (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 111) by Milly Taiden

Celina Bates has spent twenty-four years being managed—her career, her image, her entire life dictated by a man who saw her as a paycheck the day she turned four. Then a white-haired matchmaker sets up what should be a boardroom negotiation, a devastatingly gorgeous lion shifter billionaire shakes her hand instead, and the second their skin touches, Celina’s whole body goes up in flames. Now the ruthless CEO she came to negotiate with is the one man she can’t walk away from. Osias Fellan runs a Beverly Hills empire, a lion pride, and every crisis that crosses his desk with the same ruthless control. Until Celina. One breath of her scent walking through his office door, and his lion loses its ever-loving mind—prowling, possessive, and dead certain this fierce, green-eyed actress belongs to him. Osias only meant to keep her safe when a mysterious attack drives her straight into his ultra-guarded mansion. Celina and Osias have to turn one impossible business deal into a real partnership and a human-shifter romance neither of them saw coming. But with jealous rivals circling, paparazzi hunting a story, and Celina’s manager refusing to loosen his grip, she’ll have to decide if trusting a possessive Alpha lion means losing herself all over again—or if standing beside him is the first real choice she’s ever made.      AmazonKU

ORC’S GRIMOIRE (VEIL LANDS BOOK 12) by Cyn Blade and Milly Taiden

Welcome to the Veil lands, where monsters are the only ones who can save you. Thyra: Bleeding for a haunted library taught me to bury my emotions in numbers. Twice a day, I slice open my skin to feed an ancient book that pulses with a human heartbeat. I knew the rules, but then a massive, terrifying orc cornered me in the dark stacks. He pins me against the cold stone, but his burning eyes tell me he wants to possess me rather than kill me. Our temptation is deadly—a forbidden bond that is waking a century-old monster inside the pages. He was sent to execute me, but I’ll drown this entire Archive in blood before I let him go. Korrath: A lifetime of executing witches turned my soul to stone. Until I met a ruthless keeper who isn’t afraid of my blade. Her cold, beautiful defiance broke my discipline completely. If her pulse stops, the grimoire’s curse will drag me straight into the grave next. I’m violently addicted to the copper-sweet taste of her skin. I was commanded to incinerate her, but I will slaughter my own brothers to keep her as mine.     AmazonKU

LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK SONG: A NOVEL by Shelly Jay Shore

VS Note: LGBTQ+ Fantasy.

When Delilah Cohen’s much more famous fiancée leaves her at the altar right before Delilah is supposed to start recording her first solo album, she’s left with a notebook of unusable love songs and a honeymoon road trip that’s now a last-chance search for new inspiration. She doesn’t expect to fall for the mysterious passenger she picks up two hours in, but what’s more inspiring than a rebound with a built-in expiration date? But there’s more to Emmett than meets the eye. Emmett is a golem, a human-ish being of Jewish folklore, created from clay to serve a now-deceased master, who gave them one final, fatal task. Road-tripping with Delilah is the first thing they’ve ever chosen for themself. It’s not supposed to change their destination . . . but the longer Emmett spends with Delilah, who has plenty of secrets of her own, the more their ending feels like something to fight, rather than something set in stone. As the California coast brings Delilah’s writing deadline—and Emmett’s fate—closer with every passing mile, Delilah has to decide whether making an unforgettable album is worth losing a love she never expected to find.     Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

MY PLEASURE (BEWITCHED AND BEWILDERED BOOK 17) by Alanea Alder

Hunter Armstrong has come to love his adopted city every bit as much as he loves Lycaonia. But lately, the city of the witches has begun to feel cold and hostile. Splitting his days between patrols and watching over two skittish children from afar, he finds his nights are filled with thoughts of his mate. As much as he longs for her to come home, he can’t help but remember what happened to Genevieve and prays instead for her to stay away and stay safe. Kiera Sorrel received more than one update from neighbors that the climate in Storm Keep is changing, and the streets are no longer safe. Fearing for her little brother and sister, she hurries back to a house that never felt like home. Stepping onto the cobbled streets, she wasn’t expecting that the first thing she’d see was her mate in the form of a goofy, smiling stalker, sitting across the street from her home. As he tells her of the recent events and the Witches’ Council’s decisions, she can hardly believe that their world has come to this. Choosing to stay at his side, with her younger brother and sister in tow, they invade the Armstrong estate, much to the delight of Hunter’s parents. As darkness begins to creep up around them from all sides, can Hunter and Kiera fight the shadows of treachery that loom just out of sight?     Amazon     NOTE: Didn’t find the bok on either Apple Books or Kobo the day I checked.

EMBER AND ASH (THORNE SAGA BOOK ONE) by Lisa Renee Jones

In the dark of the night, there is passion and destruction…Criminal defense attorney Ember Thorne thought the biggest challenge of her life would be her quest to navigate the justice system on behalf of the wrongly accused. That is, until she finds herself in the sights of an otherworldly evil, desperately hunting what she cannot kill, not yet, at least. Nothing in her life, or in this world, is what it seems, and when a blue-eyed stranger named Micah saves her life, their attraction is the fire that could become the death of all that exists or the salvation that blooms with new hope for all. Micah, royalty in his own right, will challenge her to stand against evil, but when you have never known true evil, can you really recognize it where it hides? In a world where angels and demons are the truth humans call fiction, could it be a lie between lovers that equals salvation? Or is that lie the blade that delivers devastation? Ember and Ash, the first book in the Thorne Saga, introduces you to a world filled with the magic of angels and the darkness of the monsters they hunt, where secrets and lies, and a passionate forbidden romance hold world-altering consequences.      Amazon        AB        Apple Books       Kobo

THE ART OF CHARMING A CHANGELING by Sylvie Cathrall

A cozy slice-of-life romantic fantasy set in a Regency-inspired world where humans and fairies compete for artistic supremacy, from Sylvie Cathrall, author of A Letter to the Luminous DeepOn her first day working in the prince’s galleries, art conservator Florrie Hyverfell discovers that the most famous portrait in the collection is not only a fake—it’s also inhabited by Vern, a fairy trapped in the forged painting. Tracking down the stolen original is the only way for Florrie to save her job and for Vern to escape his canvas. Yet as they journey to a famed fairy museum to find the missing artwork, Florrie finds herself taking more than an art historical interest in the changeling painting’s charming inhabitant.    Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

SUMMER COVEN (DEAD AND BREAKFAST BOOK TWO) by Kat Hillis

VS Note: MM PNR  Mystery.

Arthur Miller (no relation to the playwright) and his beloved, Salvatore Conte, are settling into their (para)normal lives in Trident Falls. Finally, everything seems to be going swimmingly…business is booming at the inn and Arthur is hard at work on his first case as a private detective: finding their friend Brody’s missing mom. But when a pet psychic is felled by a poisoned potion she (somehow) didn’t see coming, Arthur’s investigation takes an enchanting turn – and not in a good way. It turns out the psychic was a member of the Celestine Coven, a powerful group of witches who sell their charms for a price. Did the pet psychic find herself on the wrong side of the coven? Or did she trigger someone’s pet peeves with her predictions? It will require all of Arthur’s wit and Sal’s whimsy to solve this murder, find their missing person, and avoid becoming part of the witches’ wicked brew.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE CAROUSEL OF FORGOTTEN PLACES by S Hati

First rule: Don’t mess with the timeline. Second rule: Don’t mess around with the time-god. For 500 years, immortal timekeeper Ryka has run a cozy magical fair on the edges of time, managing the time threads and protecting the spirits that live there. She lives happily among a found family of quirky ghosts, a spectral cat, and even her insufferable boss, the annoying (and sexy) time-god Everest. But when the carousel at the heart of the fair begins to show signs of time rot, a live human falls through time and ends up landing at their feet. With the fair descending into chaos, Ryka and Everest must team up to get this human home, find the source of the rot, and keep the fabric of time from tearing apart – all while hoping that the 500 years of feelings between them don’t get in their way.

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THE DARK IN HER VEINS by M K Lobb

Nothing is sacred for those willing to pay the price…In Valestadt, everything has a price. Sin leaves its mark in the form of the Bloodrot, a slow-creeping disease that leads to madness, then death. The rich outsource their violence. The poor sell theirs and suffer the cost. Talin Keller is a sinner. Employed by the holiest man in the city, the Prophet, she stains her hands so his can stay clean. But with her Bloodrot rapidly advancing, Talin knows her next job could be her last. Then a new assignment puts Talin on a collision course with the Warden, a shadowy figure whose name is spoken like a warning. If she can get close, she can trade his life for her own freedom—and escape the death her sins have promised. That is, if she can stay steady on the knife’s edge.  Because Talin is dangerously drawn to the Warden. He is sharp, cruel, and whatever blazes in him sparks against every dark part of her. If she isn’t careful, her plans will burn. As savior and sinner tangle, Talin uncovers a conspiracy tied to the past she thought dead. And in Valestadt, where sin is currency, she’ll have to decide what she’s willing to pay to survive.

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DEMONS AND DIPLOMACY (MINSTREY OF SUPERNATURAL AFFAIRS BOOK ONE) by Megan Frampton

1851, London. All supernatural species have emerged from hiding, a result of The Great Revelation, led by Her Majesty, the vampiric Queen Victoria, and her dhamphir consort, Prince Albert. Cora Hastings is the British government’s Species Ombudsman, a human tasked with keeping the peace between supernatural creatures. It’s run-of-the-mill work: enforcing the newly created shifting parameters, negotiating contracts between species, and generally making certain all Londoners are treated equally. That is, until the Devil himself decides he wants to leave his hellish home and see the results of Prince Albert’s greatest accomplishment, the Great Exhibition. His arrival could upset the uneasy peace between creatures, and worse—he’s brought his son. The Marquis of Hell is diabolically good-looking, unnaturally perceptive, and, well, a demon. Cora navigates her sinfully seductive diplomatic assignment as best she can, until she catches wind of a secret conspiracy set to come to fruition at the opening of the Great Exhibition. This leaves her with an impossible choice: Either Cora enters an unholy alliance with the Devil’s son, or she watches as her world is torn asunder.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HORSFALL (BOX SET): LGBTQ+ GAY SHIFTER ROMANCE by Jade Buchanan

What started out as a regular job assignment quickly escalated into something more for Oliver Philip when he meets twin Shire horse shapeshifters Bayard and Marshall Stoddard. Hired to perform a safety audit on Horsfall Ranch, Oliver never expected his life to be turned upside down, but he’s game for anything. Happily throwing himself into a relationship with both Bayard and Marshall, Oliver quickly discovers a world of intense pleasure, laughter and comfort. Unfortunately, storm clouds are gathering on the horizon and Oliver must find the strength to fight for the two men he can’t live without. Publisher’s Note: Horsfall box set contains the previously released novellas Tail of Two BrothersTaste Test, and As the Crow Flies.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DREAMERS OF THE FULL MOON COFFEE SHOP:  A NOVEL by Mai Mochizuki, Jordan Taylor Translator

Under the energetic star of Neptune the doors to people’s hearts are opening…In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a bright moon. Under one such moon in August, Neptune pays the Full Moon Coffee Shop a visit, taking the form of a beautiful human called Sala. Sala’s special talent is giving people dreams and helping them to open their hearts. As the cats work with Sala, they find new ways to guide people as their customers face personal conflict. When Satsuki, returning home after she spent three years away with minimal contact, decides to introduce her new boyfriend to her mother Fujiko, she learns an unexpected truth about her family’s past. Meanwhile, Fujiko is struggling to come to terms with her true feelings about her place in life and author Wataru is facing writer’s block after years of success. Can Sala and the cats help Fujiko and Wataru open their hearts?       Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

HEIR OF PROPHECY (THE CLASH OF PROPHECIES DUET) by Analeigh Sbrana

She’s a woman bound by fate, torn between two prophecies. He’s the Prince of the underworld, fated to either claim her or end her life. Defying destiny is one thing…the heart, another. Magic has always been at the periphery of Audra’s life. As a human, she knows that magic exists, but it’s as distant as the legends she grew up with. Until one day, magic returns, bringing with it the all too real Fae and upending Audra’s life entirely. Abducted by a cult of fae Priestesses, Audra finds herself conscripted into a magical war academy. The only hope of surviving this new world filled with guilds, magic, and danger is to band together with a group of her fellow prisoners. Though unlike the others, Audra’s burgeoning magic is erratic and violent—just as the prophecy foretold. She must discover what it means to be the Heir, but time is running out. The Priestesses know the Heir moves among them, and they’re determined to root them out, no matter what it takes. As she struggles to mask her power, Audra’s plagued by visions of a dark, seductive being with a conflicting truth. He doesn’t want to save the world; he plans to reclaim it. Now, Audra must choose: become the savior the cult demands or the catalyst the vision promises.

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TALES OF A TREACHEROUS FATE: A NOVEL by Jennifer Delaney

Trust is fractured and our heroes are separated across Elysior as war looms closer. Fey flee to the north to try and rouse the ancient power that sleeps beyond the mountains. Nothing is as it seems and as demons are unleashed upon the earth, Kat and Emrys must call upon the last resort for help… the Old Gods themselves. For not all darkness is as it seems and fate is about to begin its final deadly game.

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THE LITTLE SHOP OF CURIOUSITIES: THE MUSIC BOX PART 2 (CRAWSHANK’S GUIDE TO THE OCCULT) by Vawn Cassidy

VS Note: MM PNR Mystery.

Strange things are happening in London, with a murder investigation underway into his biological mother’s murder Harrison is trying to find answers about the mysterious and powerful bloodline he’s descended from. Plagued by terrifying dreams of one of his ancestors and trying to keep his friends from discovering his true identity is exhausting. But his growing feelings for Sam cannot be ignored and sooner or later Harrison knows he must tell him the truth. Having returned to London after fulfilling his own family obligations Sam begins to realise the cases that he’s investigating as a PI are all paranormal in nature. As he delves deeper he begins to suspect they are connected to the Crawshanks family and somehow to Harrison, himself, the man he’s falling in love with. But as the murder investigation comes to a frightening conclusion and the killer is revealed, Sam and Harrison begin to realise that this is only the beginning. Now they find themselves facing their most terrifying challenge yet.       AmazonKU

THE WHITECHAPEL FULL MOON SOCIETY: A NOVEL by Elizabeth DeLozier

When Caroline Foster arrives at the Whitechapel Full Moon Society in search of her missing brother, she finds a dilapidated façade belying an interior as opulent as any exclusive gentlemen’s club. In exchange for room and board, Caroline is hired as the Full Moon’s maid, where she is given three orders: don’t ask personal questions, stay out of the iron-barred room on the second floor, and remain in her bedroom from sunup to sundown on the full moon. But when it is revealed that the previous maid was murdered—an early victim of Jack the Ripper—and her brother has left behind no answers, only more questions, Caroline begins to suspect her hosts might be hiding something. As more bodies turn up with a connection to the Society, Caroline fears she may have unwittingly stumbled into a bedtime story, the kind with monsters and curses, family secrets and ancient lore.
Tantalizing and pulsing, Elizabeth DeLozier’s sophomore novel gives an exciting alternative look into the infamous Jack the Ripper story with a major, supernatural twist.

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WOLFTAMER (THE WOLF AND THE MAGPIE DUOLOGY BOOK TWO) by Maggie Rapier

Faolan has escaped death. Twice. After a lifetime chasing freedom and legends, he was finally on the brink of becoming one himself when it all went up in flames. Stranded on the Isle of Lost Souls, bound by an oath he did not make, Faolan is plagued by dreams of drowning and a past he swore never to revisit. The pirate in him wants nothing more than to raise hell and run away—but with no ship, and no way to untether his wife, Saoirse, from the land she’s pledged herself to, Faolan is trapped. And everyone knows who tamed the Wolf. When their sinister rival King Maccus unveils an ancient godly relic—one with the power to unbalance their entire world—Faolan knows the game has changed. There’s only one person who can hunt down the missing relics before Maccus can, and the Wolf of the Wild will do anything to protect his wife. Even if that means leaving her behind.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HEART OF GOLD (KINKAID SHIFTERS BOOK NINE) by Bianca D’Arc

A wounded jaguar shifter, battle-scarred and forced home to heal. A human woman who kept his Clan’s secret for years. A small Arizona town where the past never really left — and neither has the danger that’s followed him home. Paxton Rojas went out on a simple mission and came back broken. Two weeks off his feet in his childhood bedroom was not part of the plan, but a trip to his hometown hardware store lands him face-to-face with Briana Leeland – the girl who grew into the woman his jaguar has been watching since the moment he walked through the door. Bree catches him when she realizes he’s still healing. She feeds him soup, steadies him on the stairs, and reminds him, quietly and without drama, exactly what he walked away from fifteen years ago. Pax is starting to think that was the worst decision he ever made. But something dark has followed him home. The mission that nearly killed him isn’t finished with him, and the people who came after him then haven’t stopped looking. Falling for Bree while a threat circles closer than either of them knows may be the most dangerous thing he’s ever done… and Pax Rojas has done some very dangerous things.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE HUMAN’S HEART (A BRINNSWICK STORY BOOK THREE) by Michele Notaro

VS Note: MM PNR.

I know Zay’s scared of losing me, but I really, really don’t want to become a vampire. Who would want to drink… that for the rest of forever? Blech! With my and Zay’s viramore bond complete and our lives settling down after what happened over the winter, it seems all my mate can think about is impending doom. Or rather, the fact that I’m human and mortal and he isn’t. It’s not that I want to grow old and die. It’s not that I want Zaos to wind up alone. Not at all. It’s just… being a vampire is so, so, so gross. I really don’t want to drink blood for the rest of my very long existence. To top things off, we have new friends coming into our lives and a few, uh, scary encounters that I don’t like thinking about. So maybe I can’t blame him for wishing vampirism on me. But do I really have to turn? Ugh.   AmazonKU

BONETIDE: A DARK GOTHIC ROMANCE by Karina Halle

When Iris Galloway inherits her great-aunt’s cottage on a remote Scottish loch, the terms are simple: live there one year, and it’s hers. She doesn’t know about the disappearances yet, nor does she know about the handsome man who swims in the loch at night, who watches her cottage from the dark water, and who appears at her door very wet, very naked, and asking to come in. Meanwhile, the locals warn her about a murderer on the loose, the police are in over their heads, and her aunt’s letters say to keep the salt lines around the house and the doors locked after sundown. And never, ever invite him inside. But Iris has spent her whole life being careful. And this wicked stranger is going to ruin her for it. Bonetide is a dark gothic romance that’s tinged with horror. While this book starts off almost like a cozy gothic mystery, it does pivot later into darker territory.     Amazon

MYTHS AND LEGENDS 4 by Judy Mays

Myths… LegendsDeep in the Central American jungles supernatural beings roamed freely — half human, half cat. For three such cats, a jaguar, a puma, and an ocelot, life is easy and uncomplicated — until humans cross their paths — specific humans, humans who will need their help, their protection, their love. Balam, Karak, and Raina must choose between the uncomplicated life denizens of the jungle lead or a life with a human with all its complications. Sanika, Mireya, and Hans must also make a choice, one that is far harder and more uncertain. Can each of them find it in themselves to love a being that is more than human, that is half animal? What is love? What isn’tPublisher’s Note: This collection contains the previously released novellas JaguarPuma, and Ocelot.         Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

A GHOSTLY ALIBI (GHOSTLY SOUTHERN MYSTERY SERIES BOOK NINE) by Tonya Kappes

A funeral, a ghost, a murder. It’s all in a day’s work for Emma Lee Raines . . .Emma Lee Raines thought life was finally slowing down. Between running Eternal Slumber Funeral Home and planning a future with her fiancé, Jack Henry Ross, she was looking forward to a little peace. This is Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky.Peace doesn’t stand a chance. When ninety-eight-year-old Annabelle Rose appears at her own funeral surrounded by ten loyal ghost dogs, she has one message for Emma Lee. She didn’t die naturally. As Emma Lee follows a trail of buried secrets, missing recipes, small-town gossip, and a community fundraiser honoring Annabelle’s legacy, she discovers that someone would do anything to keep the truth six feet under. Now, with a determined ghost refusing to cross over and a killer hiding in plain sight, Emma Lee will have to solve the mystery before someone else becomes the next guest at Eternal Slumber. Welcome back to Sleepy Hollow, where the sweet tea is legendary, the ghosts are opinionated, and murder is always on the menu.      AmazonKU

MAD DRAGON OF CHAOS (FORGOTTEN GODS BOOK TWO) by Jocelynn Drake

VS Note: : LGBTQ Fantasy. Cliffhanger.

Haru is in trouble. War is brewing. And someone is hunting the minor gods to extinction. Tyche has tossed aside his hopes for a quiet life and teamed up with Prince Shey to save the dragon, stop the war, and protect his own kind. If he’s lucky, the virgin god will finally get his first kiss and more from the very flirty prince. But that kiss has a price. Tyche will have to share some secrets he’s had tucked away for thousands of years and put his life on the line to preserve the new family he has found. Will it be enough?      AmazonKU

THE WRONG PRINCE (FATE’S MISTAKE BOOK ONE) by Arian Wulf

Five lifetimes of sacrifice. Five lifetimes of betrayal. Five times Prince Cedric has let her down. No more. Valeriane is done dying for the wrong prince. When she wakes at the beginning of her final life, she makes a choice that defies everything the goddess demands of her: she will let destiny burn. No more royal intrigue. No more saving Cedric. No more sacrificing herself to put an ungrateful heir on the throne. She will simply disappear from the game and spend whatever time remains to her living in peace. Then, she finds Lucien Darl chained in a brothel. To the world, Lucien is a monster in the making. He is a brilliant, cold-blooded outcast with blood on his hands and enough hatred in his heart to one day drown a continent in blood. Valeriane just sees an eighteen-year-old boy who needs someone to save him. So she does. And then she offers him marriage. But saving Lucien means changing the future Valeriane thought she knew. A forgotten goddess is determined to drag her back onto the path of prophecy. An ambitious marquis is furious to lose the pawn he’s spent years controlling. And a prince has begun dreaming of Valeriane, awakening feelings he cannot explain and a desperate certainty that she belongs at his side. As the forces of fate close in around them, Valeriane fails to realize the most terrifying truth of all: The monster she rescued has become obsessed with her. He will protect her. He will possess her. And if the only way to keep her safe is to lock her away forever, Lucien will gladly watch the world burn. The Wrong Prince is a dark fantasy romance featuring a terminally ill heroine, a time-loop mystery, forbidden magic, political intrigue, a desperate goddess, an obsessive prince, and a morally grey hero whose love is every bit as dangerous as his hatred.      AmazonKU

LEGACY FOUND (LUFTIS ACADEMY BOOK ONE) by Jaye Marellen

I crossed an ocean for a man. He wasn’t worth the airfare. In hindsight, I probably should’ve listened when my horoscope said, Don’t make life-changing decisions. But to be fair… he had a really cute accent. Now I’m twenty-two, living in England, working at an outdoor hiking store, and pretending my life isn’t a complete disaster. Then a ridiculously gorgeous professor walks through the door and tells me the increasingly aggressive letters I’ve been throwing away aren’t junk mail. They’re from Luftis Academy. And apparently I have ten days to report to Europe’s oldest elite academy…for wolf shifters. I’m pretty sure he’s insane. Right up until his eyes flash gold. So, great. Apparently I’m a wolf. Except when I arrive at Luftis, I discover I’m not like the wolves who’ve spent their entire lives here. I don’t know their rules. I don’t understand their obsession with bloodlines and hierarchy. And when three arrogant, devastatingly gorgeous wolf princes walk into a room and every other wolf instinctively submits…I feel absolutely nothing. Which gets their attention. Unfortunately, so does everything else I do. Now I have to survive classes, figure out how the hell to become a wolf—and try not to get distracted by several men I absolutely should not be thinking about naked. Maybe getting into Luftis was the easy part. Welcome to Luftis Academy.       AmazonKU

TAME THE DARK by Ella Fields

When enemy heirs shelter together from the war, forbidden love sparks between bookshelves and behind dormitory doors…When war erupts, heirs from across the continent shelter on sacred ground at the Archives of Avyshla. But our sense of safety is shaken when the enemy king sends his heir to join us. Voran is not merely a prince but his uncle’s hunter and assassin. And what his uncle seeks belongs to my family—control of the wyverns—the Scale Crown. Although no one can spill blood on sacred ground, I fear the prince’s intentions are as sinister as he seems. He proves as much when danger breaches the isle, and he saves me to have me in his debt. To survive, I make a secret deal with him. Except survival soon becomes longing. A hunger for calloused hands, stifled breath, and accented murmurs that doesn’t end with the war. Instead, it blooms into something even more forbidden. Something that could be my salvation—and the downfall of my kingdom.     AmazonKU

DEAD O’CLOCK (COLD CASE PSYCHIC BOOK 46) by Pandora Pine

VS Note: MM PNR Mystery.

Ding! Dong! You’re dead! The letters arrive without warning. No return address. No fingerprints. Just a single page predicting the recipient’s death and the exact time it will happen. At first, no one takes them seriously. Then the first person dies exactly as the letter predicted. When more letters begin appearing, Detective Ronan O’Mara and psychic Tennyson Grimm are called in to investigate. Ten senses that the letters aren’t just predicting deaths, but are connected to something that happened long ago, something that refuses to stay buried. As the death toll rises, Ten and Ronan race to find whoever is sending the letters. Because the next letter has already been delivered. And this one has Ronan’s name on it.      AmazonKU

BLOOD OF THE FAIREST (GRIMM FRAGMENTS BOOK ONE) by Morgan B Lee

Waking up as someone else in a different dimension is bad enough. But when that someone is skilled in the dark arts, collects men like trophies, eats poisoned apples for breakfast, drinks the blood of innocent maidens…The evil queen. I’m trying to say I woke up as the mother-*bleeping* evil queen in Snow White’s story. I have no idea why I’m trapped in this dark, twisted world full of even grimmer versions of the fairy tales I grew up on. I just want to survive as the bloodthirsty evil queen long enough to find a way back home. Too bad for me, the queen’s enemies want her to stay gone…and some of her enemies are hot. Like the secretive Mirror who watches me from reflections. And the deadly Huntsman, now sworn to obey any order I give. I’m not even going to talk about Prince Charming. He wants me to ride his noble steed, if you get my drift. Other sexy-but-unhinged fairy tale men are ignoring their original storylines to haunt me from the shadows, but I don’t know if they all want to kill the queen, help me, or if their fixation is something else completely. Here’s what I do know: these men are making it impossible to focus on getting back to my world. They’re both terrifying and tempting…especially their blood. But if I’m trapped here as the evil queen for a while, can’t I be a little wicked?      AmazonKU

THE NAMING (CREATURES OF THE NIGHT) by Adrian Blue

Ailish is in the business of new life. Born into a long line of midwives, she has traveled the valley countless times in the dead of night. But tonight is different. Tonight, she is not alone on the lonely road. A creature of darkness and legend wanders the same path. The voice of death. But he has not come for her life. He has come for everything else.      AmazonKU

ASHBORNE: DEFIANCE (EMBERQUELL ORDER BOOK ONE) by Aimee Lynn

His greatest battle isn’t war… it’s wanting her. Just weeks from an arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her father, Lady Grace Barnslow encounters Voski, a dark, enigmatic dragon rider from a neighboring kingdom—who despises her on sight. While Grace was born to a world of silk and silver, every privileged choice determined before her birth, Voski is everything the realm admires in a Furyknight: An accomplished man of few words, with intellect and wiles as sharp as his blade, and the casual courage to ride dragons. He is cold to the point of cruelty, yet Grace is unable to resist his savage allure. Voski refuses to trust a noblewoman who smiles sweetly in the ballroom, yet navigates the shadows with all the skill of a spy. When he finds her following him, he intends to return home, leaving her in the velvet cage of the enemy’s castle. But his plan is waylaid when a wild dragon Chooses her—and bonds his dragon. Together the pair are sucked into the bonfire of a she-dragon’s heat. Voski goes to war with himself, and the draw of a dragon bond. Yet, in the wake of his triumph at resisting both, he finds himself standing not on the bloodied field of victory, but in the ashy remains of what might have been. If he cannot overcome the scars and open his heart, Grace will be lost forever. Not only to a rejected bond, but to the type of man Voski despises: A noble of power who sees not a woman, but merely a womb… and the prestige riding her blood.   AmazonKU     AB

NOT ANOTHER HAPPILY EVER AFTER (TRAGICALLY EVER AFTER BOOK ONE) by A R Schilling

In the realm of Riches and Ruin, a curse cast by the fallen Fairy Godmother threatens to rot away everything both kingdoms hold dear–including the one heart capable of ending it. With hope running out, there is only one choice left: place the still-beating heart of the half-dead princess into the hands of a the not-so-charming prince and force a union that might mend what the curse has broken. That is, if the masked knight sworn to deliver her heart doesn’t steal it for himself first.     AmazonKU

COPPER KETTLES AND CURSED KITCHENS  (QUILLHAVEN MAGICAL COZY MYSTERIES BOOK 15) by Tessa Silver

A forgotten kitchen. A century-old curse. One recipe for disaster. A mysterious crate addressed to “the Keeper of Honeybell Market” delivers a treasure trove of antique kitchenware to Hazel Honeybell’s door. The copper pots, wooden spoons, and handwritten recipe book are beautiful, valuable . . . and steeped in dangerous magic. When Hazel cooks with the tools, her customers are overwhelmed by memories and emotions that aren’t their own. Laughter turns uncontrollable. Grief becomes unbearable. Soon, several people are hospitalized with hallucinations, and Honeybell Market is forced to close. With some serious sleuthing, Hazel discovers that the cursed tools once belonged to her great-aunt Rose, the forgotten owner of a café that stood on the same ground a century ago. With help from Quillhaven’s favorite witch, Annie Hart, two opinionated Siamese cats, and a charming antiques expert whose magic may unlock the past, Hazel must uncover who cursed Rose’s kitchen and why. But breaking the spell will require more than magic. It will demand truth, forgiveness, and the courage to reclaim a story someone tried to erase. In Quillhaven, some recipes should stay buried.   AmazonKU

SKY TITANS (DEITIES BOOK ONE) by Linda Mooney

It’s time for the earth to be cleansed. Released after eons of being imprisoned and tortured, Aeron and his three brothers are ordered by the remaining old gods to bring the Apocalypse upon the world. Humanity has failed them too many times, and the Reckoning is overdue. As the deity of the air and sky, it’s Aeron’s duty to bring about massive storms to wipe out civilization. Tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning – all are at his bidding, and Aeron is more than willing to do whatever he is requested to do. He will mete out the worst he can conjure, as long as it means he’ll no longer be bound within the hot, dark confines deep within the bowels of the Earth. Ceris Shahan is terrified of flying. But when the president of the company demands she be at the summit conference clear across the continent the next day, she has no choice but to take the next plane out. If her phobia wasn’t debilitating enough, they run into turbulence that doesn’t end. Tossed about, bruised and injured amid the ugly black clouds that continue to engulf them, she and the other passengers soon realize they will not survive. When Ceris spots a figure outside the window, a man who appears to be standing amid the thunderheads and is surrounded by an aura of light, she starts to doubt her own sanity. Yet, when the man turns to find her staring at him, the look of stunned disbelief on his face is undeniable. She shouldn’t be able to see him, but she can. Realizing what this could mean, Aeron decides to risk everything, even his freedom, to rescue and protect the woman from the annihilation of all mankind.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

GLADIATOR MOON: A SAMANTHA MOON MYSTERY (VAMPIRE FOR HIRE® BOOK 39) by J R Rain

When vampire private investigator Samantha Moon is ripped from her world, she awakens inside a brutal interdimensional coliseum where warriors from across space and time battle for the amusement of powerful beings watching from the shadows. Giants. Demons. Alien creatures. And now… Samantha Moon. They know exactly what she is: a vampire detective with superhuman strength and abilities powerful enough to make her a worthy champion. But the arena’s rulers made one mistake: They underestimated how far Samantha Moon would go to destroy the violent games themselves. As Sam fights for her life, she’ll uncover more about the mysterious forces behind the games… and why she was chosen. The arena wants a champion. Its masters want a weapon. But Samantha Moon has never been good at doing what she’s told. Now she’s fighting to survive, to uncover the truth, and to tear down the games from the inside. After all, the most dangerous thing in the arena isn’t the monsters. It’s Samantha Moon.       AmazonKU

DIVINE MONSTER: A DEMON MAFIA ROMANCE (THE DEMON SYNDICATE SERIES BOOK THREE) by Emma Dean

There are some monsters even demons fear. Nova knew Dex was a monster when she fell for him. She just didn’t know what kind. Trusting a demon was never part of Nova’s plan, and falling for one definitely wasn’t. But Dex isn’t just a demon. As the truth about his past begins to unravel, everything Nova thought she knew about him is called into question. His power. His family. His secrets…and the forces controlling him. After everything she’s gone through, Nova knows that walking away may be the smart choice, but she’s never been particularly good at doing the smart thing. Especially when it comes to Dex. Dex has spent his entire life believing there are things better left buried. But he can no longer hide from his past, and protecting Nova forces him to turn to the last person he ever expected to ask for help. Now that Dex’s carefully guarded secrets have come to light, Nova has to decide whether the monster she knows is more dangerous than the angel she doesn’t. Because some secrets are more dangerous than others. And some monsters might just be divine.       AmazonKU

SAVING HER DRAGON: A DRAGON GUARD LEGACY (THE DRAGONS’ FATE BOOK TWO) by Julia Mills

He survived the Demon. Can he survive life in the real world? Garrett is free. After years of captivity, torture, and a darkness designed to break the bond between Man and Dragon, the Guardsman has finally escaped Leviathan. He has his Dragon King back. He has his Clan. And most importantly, he has Sydney, the woman the Universe made for him. He should finally be able to breathe. So why does Garrett keep waking up in places he doesn’t remember going? Missing time seems understandable. Nightmares. Trauma. The lingering scars of everything Leviathan did to him. It takes time for the heart and mind to heal. Sydney has waited too long to find her Dragon Man to let fear—or anything else—steal their future. Whatever Garrett is facing, he won’t face it alone. Because something isn’t right. The nights are getting worse. The missing time is becoming harder to explain. And the man who survived Hell is beginning to wonder if freedom was only the beginning of the fight.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ONCE SWINDLED (LACK AND LUSTER) by Laura Sebastian

The Ryskamp family fortune is in trouble. And Arden’s gift for invisibility can’t stave off his creditors…or the shame of catastrophic courtships. His only recourse is to marry a highborn Luster girl of his great-aunt’s choosing. But when Arden goes to meet her, another woman catches his eye: the copper-haired beauty who ran away with his heart. And engagement ring. Newly betrothed to yet another wealthy bachelor, Mavis has gone by many names—Arabella then, Delphinia now. Unlike the Lusters, however, Mavis lacks magical abilities, relying instead on her charms and her cons to get by. But no amount of money can repay her debts. And no amount of distance could prepare her for a reunion with her first mark. Thrown together by fate, Arden and Mavis put aside their past to pull one last con that could save them both. The only price may be falling in love again. This time, for real.   AmazonKU     AB

NOBODY TOLD ME THRIFT SHOPS SELL DRAGON HEIRLOOMS by Lindsey Devin

Rafe Virelli has spent his whole life watching his family’s history disappear piece by piece — sold, stolen, and scattered across a city that doesn’t know or care what it’s holding. He’s down to one missing relic and no leads, until his law firm’s intern shows up wearing it. Quinn Bradley didn’t mean to become the reason a half-dragon shifter starts showing up at her office. She definitely didn’t mean to negotiate her way onto his case, get pulled into rigged auctions and museum standoffs, or end up in the middle of an actual heist when a rival collector decides Rafe’s family relics are worth killing for. She just wanted a law degree and a dog with a stable temperament. Instead she got a client who fixes her door locks at midnight, a dragon who’d burn down a mansion for her, and a front-row seat to exactly how far someone will go to protect what’s left of their family. The relics can be replaced. This can’t.      AmazonKU

A DASH OF WOLF (MOONLIGHT BAY COZY ROMANCE BOOK ONE) by Jenna St James

Retiring from PADA was supposed to be the easy part. After years of undercover work, werewolf Mason Wolfe is looking forward to a quieter life as the new Chief of Police in Moonlight Bay—a charming supernatural seaside town where the biggest excitement should be directing traffic during festivals. Instead, on his very first day, he arrests the town’s favorite troublemaker. Adeline Beaumont is a witch, bakery owner, environmental activist, and firm believer that if something can’t speak for itself, she’ll do the shouting for it. Whether she’s chaining herself to bulldozers to save endangered magical creatures or handing out enchanted pastries that brighten someone’s day, Adeline has never met a cause she wouldn’t fight for. Then there’s Princess Muffin Top. After accidentally drinking an assertion potion, Adeline’s smoke Maine Coon developed the unfortunate habit of saying exactly what’s on her mind. Now every customer—especially the handsome new police chief—has to endure her endless stream of sarcastic commentary. And right now, her favorite thing to do is poke fun at the new chief with embarrassing nicknames like Chief Howls-at-the-Moon and Wolf Boy. As sparks fly between the law-abiding chief and the law-breaking baker, trouble begins brewing beneath Moonlight Bay’s picture-perfect streets. Someone is determined to get rid of the centuries-old pact that has held the town together, and now it’s up to Chief Wolfe and Adeline to figure out who wants to destroy Moonlight Bay…all while fighting off their attraction for each other. Can a rule-following werewolf and a rule-breaking witch learn to trust each other before danger comes calling? Or will their budding romance go up in smoke before it ever has a chance to rise?      AmazonKU

CLAIMED BY THE WOLF HEIR by Delta James

For years, my secret has kept me alive. Saving one wounded alpha may cost me everything. I’ve spent years making certain no one discovers the truth. I’m the Northern Pack’s healer—calm, controlled, untouchable. Because I have to be. The day anyone discovers I’m an omega is the day I lose everything I’ve built. Then a dying alpha crashes into my mountain cabin. I should have let him die. Instead, every wound I heal tears another crack in the walls I’ve spent a lifetime building. Eirik Valdisson is everything I can’t survive. A packless alpha. My patient. The heir to a stolen territory. And the one wolf whose scent makes my carefully crafted suppressant start to fail. The longer we’re trapped together, the harder it becomes to separate duty from desire. He swears he’ll never use my secret against me. But a packless alpha needs an omega to reclaim his birthright. And I no longer know if he wants me…or the future only I can give him. Because once my secret is exposed…there will be no hiding again.      AmazonKU

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VS SPECIAL NOTE TO AUTHORS: if your new release is available at your Author online store or only available there I will try to include it in the weekly NR Report but you HAVE to send me the information. I don’t have time to search out the information.

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DISCLOSURE: Required Statement: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifiying purchases.

DISCLOSURE: Required Statement: As an Apple Books Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

August 19

August 12

August 5

July 29

July 22

July 15

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

 

If My Alien Empaths Were Anime Chibis They’d Look Like This

I’m still having fun getting my characters made into chibis by the wonderful Fiverr artist Hema Hemo and this time I had my four alien empath books done!

I will also note that we didn’t do too good a job of portraying the green skinned, green haired empaths on the original covers way back when…

Here’s a brief note about the series (full details of each book on the series page here on my blog if you haven’t read them yet!):

Four alien empaths kidnapped by the interstellar crime mob and forced to do their bidding. Who can they trust to help them escape?

STAR CRUISE STOWAWAY

The first in the series. This was written originally for a Pets in Space anthology and Moby the ship’s cat and Midorri, an alien pet, were part of the action. Midorri was a cross between a red panda and a tribble in my head. The artist here has done a fun job of making the original Midorri art by Nyssa Juneau into a chibi pet. Midorri has six legs and I love the way the tiny paws are drawn here (five of them anyway).

 

DANGER IN THE STARS

She’s the sister of the FMC in book one and he’s a mob enforcer with a lot of secrets.

TWO AGAINST THE STARS

The FMC here is on the run from the mob, having escaped into the slums on an alien planet. The MMC is ex-Special Forces.

THE FATED STARS

My daughters challenged me to write a female mercenary because at the time I hadn’t. It was a fun twist to have the alien empath be a man who needed rescuing. The animals are the “Amusing Ones” from a sequence on a planet ruled by a giant, sentient tree. In ‘real life’ they’re much bigger but I thought the artist made them adorable here. This is their debut as they’ve never been depicted in any form previously. The FMC has an encounter with a group of them…

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases in SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for AUG 19

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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ON A BARBARIAN WORLD (PHOENIX ADVENTURES BOOK SEVEN) by Anna Hackett

VS Note: “lightly edited” re-release.

When she crash-lands on an alien world, the last thing she expects is to be claimed by a barbarian warrior. Previously published – has been lightly edited – Aurina Phoenix spends her time zooming through uncharted space and gathering intel for her family’s deep-space convoy. But her life takes an unexpected detour when a meteor shower brings down her scout ship. She finds herself on a barren, low-tech planet inhabited by dangerous beasts…and lands in the arms of a brawny barbarian warlord. Markarian warrior Kavon Mal Dor is known for his skill in battle. He lives to protect his clan…and to avenge the murder of his father. To get his revenge, he must find a legendary sword and marry a warlord’s daughter. But when a beautiful skyflyer crashes on his world, she is the one thing he never expected. Fighting their flammable attraction, Aurina and Kavon make a deal: she’ll help him find the sword and in return, he’ll give her the beacon she needs to get home. But as they plunge into a dangerous adventure, they uncover a powerful passion that will make them question everything they’ve ever wanted.      AmazonKU

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HAVOC (UNCHARTED STARS BOOK FOUR) by Constance Fay

Itzel grew up as the sole bright, sunny spark in the dark monastery of a death goddess. She was excellent at the killing part but she wasn’t so great at following commands. After being (mostly) booted from their order, she has a better life now with the ragtag crew of the starship Calamity. But when she and the rest of her crew attend a gathering of the most powerful Families in the universe, her old superiors come calling with one last chance at redemption for her worst mistake. She must kill Lucien Chandra, a prince of one of those Families. After her first attempt goes wrong, Itzel realizes that her target is far more than the repressed rule-follower he seems. Lucien is kind, intelligent, and open to new experiences, even if that new experience is waking up with an assassin poised over his bed. She’s just starting to explore a future where she doesn’t kill at her goddess’s whims when sabotage strikes the Family Summit. Itzel and Lucien are thrown into crisis as a new, inexorable enemy is revealed. With no help in sight, they must fight not only for their own survival but for the future of charted space. If they succeed in creating a new world, the question remains; what kind of man wants a future with his would-be assassin?      AmazonKU

THE NAGA WANDERER’S WOUNDED MATE (SERPENTS OF SERANT BOOK 11) by Robin O’Connor

He swore he didn’t need a mate… until she crossed his path. Jasmine – A rescue mission goes terribly wrong after an earth quake shakes the world. Now I’m lost, and hunted by enemy Naga. I’ve guided parties through Earth’s wilds, but this planet is different; it’s deadly. Lost in the alien wilderness, I rely on what I know: tracking, hunting, surviving. I can handle myself. Mostly. What I can’t handle is Ekkire; the quiet, green-scaled Naga who pretends he doesn’t care about anyone, yet keeps showing up whenever I’m in danger. He says he’s only returning me to Haven. I don’t believe him. He’s hiding something, watching me like I’m both a threat and a treasure, and I intend to find out why. Ekkire – I roam farther than any Water Weaver Naga, alone and unbound. I do not need a mate, and I do not need humans. Yet here is Jasmine; reckless, fierce, human. I cannot let her get lost in this world alone. Returning her to Haven is simple in theory. When we are trapped in an ancient cave, alone together, logic falters. I have secrets. She will want answers. I’m not sure I can resist the pull of sparks neither of us expected.      AmazonKU

I PUNCHED AN ALIEN AND NOW WE’RE IN COUPLES THERAPY by Kimberly Lemming

It’s not in Blair’s nature to just give up. Not when she’s beamed up to a spaceship and then dropped on an alien planet. Not even when she’s in the middle of a forest fire surrounded by dinosaurs. And definitely not when she’s captured by an arrogant alien king. If King Osid thinks he can break her, he’s in for a shock. Blair lives by one motto: If you stay ready, you never have to get ready. But absolutely nothing could have prepared her for finding out that she’s that arrogant King Osid’s mate.
Despite recent hiccups, the alien researchers are determined to get their breeding program back on track. With that in mind, Blair and Osid are bundled off to the research center for what they’re told is couples counseling. As they face a series of increasingly dangerous challenges, it soon becomes clear the research aliens may have confused an episode of The Bachelor with Survivor. Bonding over their common enemy, and shall we say…encouraged by love darts, Blair and Osid let down their walls (and take off their clothes). When they discover that there are—somehow—even more secret plans in the works, another hilarious, steamy, over-the-top adventure is in store.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE TYRANT DRAGON (TALONIAN WARRIORS II) by Celeste Raye

He was born to rule… not to love. Attoriann has always craved power—and now the throne is his. Ruthless and unyielding, he sees humans as nothing more than tools… until one woman forces him to question everything. As darkness rises and his rule begins to shift, Attoriann must choose between control and something far more dangerous. He was trained to dominate. But redemption may begin with the one woman he can’t own.      AmazonKU

C IS FOR CAPTIVE (ABC’S OF ALIEN ABDUCTION) by Honey Phillips

A hidden human. A captive alien warrior. A dangerous attraction. Amy survived being abducted from Earth by becoming invisible. She conceals the fact that she’s human, keeps her head down, and never takes unnecessary risks. Until she is ordered to bring food to a huge, chained alien warrior who refuses to speak. She should be terrified of the massive male. Instead, she finds herself intrigued by the secrets in those silver eyes—and the promise of protection in that powerful body. Brannik has his own reasons for remaining a captive. But when Amy’s secret is discovered, nothing matters more than protecting the tempting little human who has somehow become his. Because the one thing more dangerous than a captive warrior is a captive warrior with someone to protect.     AmazonKU

THE PLEASURE CONTRACT (PRINCES OF XAAVIA BOOK TWO) by Melissa Emerald

Contracts are there to make everything more simple, right? The Xavianns certainly think so. They even put contracts in place with their breeding partners. So when a huge, horned, pro-athlete, prince makes it very clear he’s into me, I do the logical thing. I sign a friends-with-benefits contract with him. Simple, fun, no strings attached. Except, Az’s has a way to melt down my defenses and crack open my boundaries. And suddenly, I’m all kinds of tangled up in the very strings I was trying to avoid. That is, until one day I’m shown something that makes me wonder if I ever really knew him at all.      AmazonKU

SPECIAL DELIVERY (SENTIENT OBJECTS BOOK SIX) by Skye MacKinnon and Philomena MacKinnon

Some deliveries come with tracking. This one comes with feelings. The box turns up outside Catherine’s flat one evening, enormous and bearing only her name. Inside is an expensive pink rabbit vibrator and a label containing one word: *Enjoy.* Catherine takes the hint and prepares for an extensive bathtub session. But when she pays far more attention to the toy than the packaging that delivered it, the box gets jealous. It follows her from room to room. It watches. It communicates through snarky labels. And it can provide whatever its recipient craves—even the things she would never admit to wanting. But the box has developed a craving of its own: Catherine. When it opens its flaps and invites her inside, Catherine discovers that the best part of a special delivery might be the box it came in. No returns. No refunds. Lingerie included. A filthy, funny sentient-object romance featuring voyeurism, an exceptionally talented rabbit vibrator, packing-tape restraints, bubble-wrap sensory play, one possessive cardboard box and a cat determined to sit in the middle of everything.   AmazonKU

DIVINE GARDENER’S HANDBOOK: OR WHAT TO DO IF YOUR GIRLFRIEND ACCIDENTALLY TURNS OFF THE SUN: A NOVEL by Eli Snow

VS Note: A sapphic dystopian fantasy.

In a Jenga-stacked megacity where glowing blue flowers hum in the dark and palace doors open into secret worlds, getting a job in the Divine Gardens is almost impossible—like being plucked from obscurity by a carnival claw machine. But Cyprin has spent her whole life trying. Her only chance is winning the annual flower pageant, dominated for five years by Purcell: brilliant head gardener, unbearable rival, and the one person Cyprin can’t stop thinking about. When Cyprin cheats her way to victory, she’s thrust into a world of sentient plants, ancient secrets, and a God who turns out to be just some exhausted man with a very good garden. What begins as rivalry, heated glaring, and increasingly personal acts of warfare spirals into something much more dangerous. As rebellion spreads through the city and the truth beneath the Gardens begins to unravel, Cyprin and Purcell find themselves caught between ambition, obsession, and the terrifying possibility of understanding each other completely. Even if they burn the whole world down in the process.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DRAGON ME THROUGH SPACE by Catherine Banks

The plan was simple: don’t get caught, don’t get attached, don’t stop running. She was zero for three. Xoe lost everything when the Exostalons destroyed her world. For ten years, she survived alone—hiding from enemies, drifting across galaxies, escaping mad scientists, and trying to forget the life stolen from her. Trust gets people killed. And home is nothing more than a memory burned to stardust. Preston, Gage, Wayne, and Zeke are searching the galaxy for the one woman fated to be their shared mate. When Xoe crashes into their lives — bringing chaos, fire, and a scanner that checks food for poison — the necklace she’s worn for a decade and never dared open seems to confirm she’s exactly who they’ve been looking for. But Xoe doesn’t believe in fate. And she’s never had anyone worth staying for. Forced together in the close quarters of a ship hurtling through space, she begins to see what it might feel like to be truly chosen for the first time in her life. Her walls are cracking. She just isn’t ready to admit it. She’s spent ten years learning how to survive. Now she has to learn something far harder. How to stay.         AmazonKU

ACCIDENTALLY VITAL (BUREAU OF ACCIDENTAL ABDUCTIONS BOOK TWO) by Sapphire Dixon

Tabby Renner has spent eleven years as “just the tech” — the one who sits on cold clinic floors gentling the animals no one else can touch, doing the work that saves the patient and never once getting credit for it. So when a wall of white light yanks her four hundred light-years across the galaxy and a cheerfully bureaucratic alien congratulates her on her “selection,” she’s sure there’s been a mistake. There has been. A whole kingdom of enormous cat-shifting warriors spent the last of their treasury on the finest healer money could buy, and the universe shipped them her. Their king is dying, their court is panicking, and their prince is the most infuriating combination of devastating and impossible she’s ever met — all rigid warrior pride wrapped around a grief he won’t let anyone see. Ryhn is certain that strength is the only language that love speaks. Tabby knows better. She has thirty days, a deadline she didn’t choose, and exactly one skill — walking into the worst room on the planet and refusing to be afraid. It might be enough to save a kingdom. It definitely isn’t enough to keep her from falling for a man she can never, ever be allowed to keep.      AmazonKU

ROGUE STARFIGHTER (STARFIGHTER TRAINING ACADEMY SECOND WAVE BOOK ONE) by Grace Goodwin

Priya Anand has spent her entire career guiding strangers safely home. She never expected an alien to cross the galaxy for her. Priya thought Starfighter Training Academy was only a game—and Vesh was nothing more than the dangerously attractive alien she had chosen as her virtual partner. Then she completes the final mission, Vesh walks into her control tower, and everything she believed shatters.
The war is real. She is an Elite Starfighter. And Vesh is her bonded mate. Vesh swore he would never fly with another partner after the last one died. But Priya is impossible to resist. Brilliant. Fearless. Stubborn enough to follow him into the heart of enemy territory. Brave enough to make him want a future he stopped believing he deserved. Their first mission uncovers evidence of a devastating betrayal. Someone inside Velerion command has sold them out, their escape route is a trap, and their damaged ship may never reach home.     Amazon      Kobo      Note: Not on Apple Books yet as of the day I checked

KAVAK: THE ALLIANCE RESCUE SERIES by Annie Lucas

High General Kavak of Vaktaire arrives on Daristune for a political marriage meant to end a century of warfare. It’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make. Until he sees her. Olivia has been invisible for eight years—a human servant in a Romvesian palace, invisible by necessity, invisible by design. But the moment her eyes meet Kavak’s across a landing platform, everything changes. Their hearts synchronize. Their souls recognize each other. The mate bond—the one connection a Vaktaire cannot deny, awakens between them. But Olivia belongs to Princess Thallia’s household. And Kavak is promised to the princess herself. As Kavak grapples with an impossible choice between duty to his empire and destiny with his mate, a far darker conspiracy emerges from the shadows—one that will force him to choose not just between two women, but between the political alliance that keeps the galaxy at peace and the moral imperative to free the thousands enslaved in the planet’s hidden mines. Some bonds cannot be broken. Some choices demand everything. And sometimes, saving your mate means burning down the system that tried to keep her imprisoned.     AmazonKU

THE BONDING GAMES PART 2 by Loa B Hunt

In the city of Techtis, The Bonding Games continues. To the outside world, the event is what it always has been. But even those who silently reject the Games and its barbaric ways could never comprehend the true cruelty of its creator—the Game Master. And the only ones who do have already been torn apart by his brutality. To find their way back to each other, Ezla and her Bonds must outsmart the ultimate power. But there are more obstacles than just their physical distance that need to be overcome before they can truly be together, and with the once-emotionless Champion struggling to accept both her own feelings and her men’s, multiple unanswered questions with more arising, and a constant danger following them wherever they go, there’s no telling how soon that will be. Or if it will ever be at all.      AmazonKU

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS: Have you started binging the Badari Warriors Series yet? Here’s book one (with a few tropes superimposed):

AYDARR (A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL): Sectors New Allies Series Book 1 

Jill Garrison, a maintenance tech at the Sectors Amarcae 7 colony, goes to sleep one night as usual only to wake up in her nightgown stranded in the middle of a forest on an unknown world. There’s no time to think as she’s stalked by carnivorous predators and rescued by genetically engineered warriors calling themselves the Badari. Turns out they and she, along with her whole colony, are now prisoners of the Khagrish, a ruthless race of alien scientists. Working for enemies of the Sectors, the Khagrish have created the Badari to be super soldiers.

Aydarr, the Badari alpha, isn’t sure he can trust Jill but his attraction to her is undeniable. He impulsively claims her as his mate to prevent her death at the hands of the Khagrish.

Can he continue to protect her from the experiments already underway? Will his claiming her put his pack in jeopardy from their alien masters?

As Jill searches for a way to rescue her fellow humans and get them all to safety, she finds herself falling for Aydarr, despite the secrets he’s keeping. She has a few of her own.

The situation becomes dire when Aydarr and his pack are sent offplanet on a mission, leaving Jill unprotected, prey for the senior scientist. Can she escape the experiments he has in mind for her? Will she be able to thwart the Khagrish plans and liberate humans and Badari alike? How will she and Aydarr reunite?       Amazon    Apple Books      B&N  Google   Kobo

(Or the box set of the first 3 books is only $.99 on Amazon.)

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

IRON JAWS AND BANSHEE CLAWS by Lizzie Strong

Every Banshee has a fated wail. It’s an important rite of passage for every young banshee to hear the name of the person they will ferry into the afterlife. Any who don’t will face The Curse, i.e. continuing on as a specter trapped in this world. No Pressure. Unfortunately for Jessica Hardgraves, when her future is within her clawed hands, she’s told she wails for no one. Panicked and alone, she makes up the perfect hero to be her fated wail so her parents never have to worry that she’ll end up a ghost. Forever. Left eye yellow and the right is blueIronjaw, they call him. Fast forward 15 years and Ivan ‘Ironjaw’ Skullcrusher is done with revenge. Hanging up his hammer and shield, he’s ready for the good life. A restaurant in his dead parent’s honor sounds perfect for him and his crew of justice slinging adventurers. Only hitch is they don’t know anything about running a business. Whipping up a good meal? Sure! But business permits? You wish. Thankfully for him, a night off at the city fairgrounds runs him into a certain birthday girl banshee. With her nosy, opinionated family breathing down her neck and her secret on the verge of exposure, the two strike a deal. Her business major knowledge and Ivan’s magical cooking skills combined, they might just succeed. And so long as he keeps up appearances, her family will go on thinking they are star crossed lovers. But danger threatens to rip the restaurant and Jessica’s family apart. Is this just a fake-fated-mate story gone wrong? Or can Jessica finally find her happily ever after before the final banshee sings?   AmazonKU

WOLF’S DESIGN (TEXAS RANCH WOLF PACK LEGACY BOOK TWO) by Lynn Nodima

She came to Austin to save a client. She never expected to lose her heart. Audra Simmons has spent four years cleaning up her boss’s mistakes. When a critical client threatens to walk away, she’s given one last chance to salvage the account. All she has to do is convince the mysterious executives at Shift Happens that she’s the right person for the job. Simple. Until she meets Bobby Wachel. Quiet, capable, and impossible to read, Bobby seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length. His younger brother Ethan is friendly enough for both of them, but there’s something unusual about the company they run—and the secrets they’re desperate to protect. As Audra is drawn into their world, business meetings become friendships, friendships become something deeper, and danger begins closing in from every direction. Someone is hunting wolves. Someone knows far too much. And if Bobby reveals the truth about who—and what—he really is, he could lose the woman he has waited his entire life to find. Audra thought she was designing a website. Instead, she may have stumbled into a war.      AmazonKU

TREEMENDOUS: A DRYAD ROMANTASY (SEEDS OF HOPE BOOK TWO) by Ellen Mint

They will regret making her a Goddess – Trish has nothing left to lose. After being kidnapped to a world of talking tree people, experimented on, rescued twice, kidnapped yet again, and now at the mercy of the demented Cypress…they’re calling her a goddess. Thanks to Willow, the dryads are worshipping her instead of killing her. But that worship comes with razor blades attached. If she wants to save Linden—the bandit who saved her, who’s about to be burned alive—she has to make their Golden Tree bloom. Which is something that hasn’t happened in hundreds of years. Her only chance is Hickory’s greatest shame and fear—Willow. Cursed to never be a citizen due to an accident of birth, Willow hasn’t seen the sun in two decades. Yet, despite his kingdom hating him, Willow’s given it everything he has, and that everything’s finally paid off. They have their Golden Goddess. They have hope. But Hickory can’t stand his secret lover trapped in this war between the crown and the church with an insane woman at the center. Even if it kills him, his people, his hope for a little farm with Willow, he’s stopping this charade. Magical tree women can’t save this failed land. Nothing can. As cancer races through her body while summer gives way to autumn, Trish fights with every last breath she has left to save Linden, to fend off Hickory, and to fall for the quiet Willow.     AmazonKU

SELKIE AU: BEYOND THE STORM (MM ROMANCE) by Ronan Marlow

On a stormy night, fisherman Rowan takes his boat out to sea, intending for it to become his coffin, instead it becomes a life raft for a beautiful stranger with inhuman features. Captivated and intrigued, Rowan sees no other option and takes the injured stranger back home, only when he wakes, Milo decides he doesn’t want to leave. Rowan has no purpose, and Milo is burdened with a purpose that feels too great for him. But Milo believes the burden of being the next chosen ruler might finally be eased when the ever present guidance from the Selkie Goddess urges him to stay with the fisherman. But what happens when he uncovers the reason his goddess wants him on land has nothing to do with Rowan at all? At the potential of losing Milo, Rowan must determine if the annoying sunshine constantly beaming out of the flirtatious selkie might actually be the lighthouse this fisherman needs to find home.      AmazonKU

WEREWOLVES AND WITCHES AU: OPERATION MAGPIE by Sam Northman

VS Note: MM PNR.

Milo always knew that spellcasting was unpredictable. What he didn’t expect was that it would land him on the doorstep of a giant ginger werewolf. Impulsive witch, Milo Tobitt, is prepared to do whatever it takes to slow the aging of his only remaining relative, grandma Ethel—even cast a very risky temporal spell. When the magic goes awry, and Milo uncovers a five-hundred-year-old plot by a Roman god to seal away all werewolf kind within a fold in the fabric of time, he realises he’s way out of his depth. If he’s ever going to stand a chance at putting things right he’ll need specialist help. Specialised werewolf help. Specialised military werewolf help. Now, Rowan Rangecroft—leader of the Dogs of War—is in charge of stopping the threat and keeping Milo safe. Under the alpha’s watchful eye, his pack spread across the globe in a race to stop a vengeful god from gaining the upper hand.
But when Rowan’s loyalties are divided between his pack and his growing attraction to the chaotic Milo, only one question remains: can a single wayward witch defeat time?     AmazonKU

WITCH IS THE ENEMY OF MAGIC (WITCH P I  MYSTERIES BOOK 53) by Adele Abbott

Jill is shocked by the warning from the man with the ginger moustache, and she knows she must take decisive action. Jill also believes that she may be getting closer to finding out what happened to Myrtle Turtle, but will she ever discover the truth? Meanwhile, Grandma has other things on her mind as she prepares to launch the wandroom onto the market.      AmazonKU

GARDENING AND GARGOYLES (PINE RIDGE UNIVERSE) by S C Principale

He woke up in the wrong century. Love is still right on time. June – I can’t believe the man I’m marrying spoils me so. I’m disappointed that Daniel can’t take me with him on his month-long business trip abroad, but the way to this city girl’s heart is through wide-open spaces, and I’ve never seen a more beautiful landscape than Pine Ridge. Daniel has arranged for me to spend the summer in a secluded mountain lodge. And the best part? I have acres of land to transform into the garden paradise I’ve always wanted—complete with an authentic gargoyle statue dug up from one of his real estate restoration projects. This summer is turning into a beautiful dream. Duncan – This summer is a nightmare, one I can’t wake up from. After over a century trapped in stone, I awake an ocean away from my time, my clan, and the ancestral home I once guarded. Now, Castle Mackintosh is owned by some human real estate developer, and he’s sent me to guard the lady of the manor, his bride-to-be. Who screams. A lot. And has nothing bigger than a wooden patio to perch on. Nothing to defend. Nothing to guard. This new world, to use one of Lady June’s phrases, “sucks a big one.” Loyalty – My beautiful summer is falling apart…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)       Amazon

THE TROLL’S SUMMER FLAME: A MONSTERS IN UNIFORM ROMANCE by S C Principale

Lieutenant Gordon Rockland – I’m used to being the odd man out. I’m the only monster at my station. I’m the only troll in my town, paranormal-friendly Pine Ridge. I’m the only troll in my family who lives among humans and other supernatural creatures. Does all of this absolutely make me the “grumpy loner”? Yes. And don’t you dare try to change it. It’s comfortable. Predictable. If there’s one thing first responders like, it’s when there’s some peace and quiet. And if there’s one thing we know—it’s that whenever you think things are going smoothly, disaster strikes. Andrea Flores – It’s a disaster! And just when everything was going so smoothly, too. My first year of teaching, my first summer break—and I miss my first-ever cruise. Why? Chopin. Not the composer—my cat, who should have been named Newton, because he wants to test the laws of gravity. What am I supposed to do? Call the fire department to rescue a cat stuck up a tree? How predictable. But the huge, hunky firefighter who plucks my kitten out of the tree like he’s picking an apple doesn’t seem to mind, and making him cookies is the least I can do to say thank you, right? Especially since I’ve missed my cruise now, and I’m bored as heck in this quaint little town…Could a tough firefighter with a surprising soft spot make this town a summer hot spot after all?…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

WINTERBORNE by J D Netto

VS Note: LGBTQ Fantasy.

Even before his mother’s mysterious murder, Henric Sabio never felt at home in his small town or at his private high school. He figured that was because of his cynical personality and tendency to daydream about dragons. But when a sudden supernatural attack transports him, his father, and his sister to a frozen magical world, Henric quickly learns he is different in ways he never imagined. He is Henric Iceheart, son of a disgraced prince and heir to a throne that desperately needs to restore the glories of a lost age. Plunged into the elegant hierarchy of court life, Henric starts to discover hints of a secret history beneath the kingdom’s glistening surface. As he navigates ruthless nobles, sacred laws, and a rival family hungry for his family’s throne, his dormant powers―a deadly command of ice and a bond with an ice dragon long thought extinct―ignite. And soon rumors are spreading, naming Henric the prophesized Prince of Winter who will unite the land, albeit at a terrifying cost. With help from the gentle elf Hundarian Silvermore and his ambitious twin sister, Kellenen, Henric attempts to prove himself worthy of this moniker and change his foretold fate. But his growing and complicated attraction to the Silvermore twins reveals long-buried prejudices that threaten his path to the crown. As rebellions rise and enemies close in, he must decide whether to claim his newfound destiny or reject it and face the consequences.      AmazonKU      AB

DEVIL’S DUE (VEGAS SLAYERS BOOK SIX) by Christine Pope

When your father is a dead demon prince walking, family dinner is off the table. But stopping him from opening a permanent gateway to Hell? That’s a whole different bet. Caleb Lockwood has worked hard to build a life worth living — flipping houses in Las Vegas, falling in love with a psychic who sees right through him, and burying the sins of his past so deep that even he’s almost forgotten them. Then his father Daniel resurfaces with the stolen power of a demon prince and a plan to crack the world open from inside the Luxor pyramid on the black moon. Delia Dunne’s abilities are growing stronger every day, amplified by a pregnancy neither of them saw coming. Her visions all point to the same place: fire, darkness, and forty-eight hours to stop it. But she doesn’t know the full truth about the man she loves — that the quarter-demon who flips houses and charms her with his smile once kidnapped and terrorized innocent people at his father’s command. To take on Daniel, Caleb and Delia need the demon-killing sword last used to destroy Belial, a team of supernatural investigators who remember Caleb as a monster, and an angel’s daughter who still flinches at the sight of him. Assembling a coalition is hard enough. Holding it together when Caleb’s darkest secrets come spilling out may be impossible. Daniel wants his son back, and he’s willing to burn Las Vegas to the foundations to prove that blood always wins. But Caleb isn’t fighting out of rage or revenge. He’s fighting for the woman who chose him and the child they’re building a future for…and destroying his father means destroying the last living embodiment of who he used to be.        Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

BITTER SPIRITS (ARCANE WONDERLAND BOOK TWO) by Jami Gray

In the Arcane world spirits linger, secrets kill, and desire is the deadliest magic of all. When Wonderland’s alarm sounds in the middle of the night, Arcane bar owner, Isa Serrano expects to find trouble, but a hysterical server and a dead body exceed those expectations. As a Reaper, she’s a deft hand at dealing with the traumatized spirits that death leaves in its wake, but when it’s revealed that this victim died wielding magic that was never his to possess, she’s got questions for the dangerously tempting man stalking her every move. Locke Turon has answers, but he isn’t ready to share them with the fascinating woman he’s been pursuing for months. A relentless tracker, Locke’s loyalties lay firmly with the powerful Cordova Family and he’s on the hunt for a missing teenager who could be the key to a mysterious new drug leaving a trail of corpses in the shadowy corners of Phoenix’s underground club scene. He never anticipated his investigation would cross paths with Isa and her mysterious past. She doesn’t trust his Family, and he doesn’t trust the secrets she holds close, yet the two wary mages are forced into an uneasy alliance as they follow the missing teen’s trail through whispered conspiracies, bankrolled chaos, and straight into a criminal enterprise fronted by Isa’s nightmare. As Isa and Locke are drawn deeper into the dangerous scheme threatening to tear apart the magical fabric of Arcane society, will they risk believing in each other, or let the bitter bite of mistrust poison their guarded hearts?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BEDEVILED (BEWITCHED BOOK FOUR) by Laura Thalassa

“My queen, my wife, my lovely Selene … You who saved me, died for me. Waited eons for me so we could exist in this moment … I am yours forever.” It’s been two thousand years since Selene Bowers first fell in love with Memnon Uvagukis, the sorcerer king of the Sarmatians. So when, at present, an unbreakable vow forces Selene to marry this soul mate she once died for, it is in many ways a dream made real. Unfortunately for her, neither she, nor Memnon, are able to bask in the moment for long. Not when demons keep ambushing her, and her husband’s magic appears to slowly be consuming him. And not when, despite eliminating the prior threats to Henbane, the coven still teeters on the brink of shutting down. And then of course there’s Eislyn, an age old menace who lurks somewhere in the shadows. She led to Selene and Memnon’s demise long ago, and now she threatens their existence once more. It seems she wants something from them, something she’s been waiting millennia for, and if Memnon and Selene don’t figure out what that is and stop her for good, she just might get it—and destroy them in the process.     AmazonKU

BLUE MOON CAFE & 24 HOUR OCCULT EMPORIUM by Lexie Sharabianlou

VS Note: FF.

In the tiny town of Pine Hollow, barista and fledging sorceress Talula Smith runs The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium, aka the worst coffee shop in town. The café’s horrible reputation hides its true purpose: providing new identities and safe passage to at-risk magical beings while keeping humans far, far away. That is, except for town local Dahlia. Dahlia’s devastating dimples, addiction to Talula’s cocoa recipe, and keen observation skills keeps the smitten barista scrambling to ensure that her magical abilities (or, lack thereof) stay a secret. But when big game hunters start preying on magical beings, her powerful sorceress mother is called away to track them down, leaving Talula and her barely-there magic in charge of The Blue Moon. With the impending Samhain festival to organize, magical refugees to help, half of the town turning against her, and her ever-growing feelings for Dahlia, Talula’s magical destiny feels further away than ever. But as the hunters set their sights closer to home, it’ll be up to Talula to master her craft, trust her heart, and bring her magical and human communities together . . . before she loses everything she loves.       Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

DEVILS DON’T DEAL (SINGSONG CITY BOOK 12) by Juliann Whicker

One mystery, one romance, and a soulful rabbit. In the heart of Singsong City, a fairy-goblin abomination has to save her father from the deal he made with the devil of Wonderland, but the only way to do that is to make her own deal with the handsome devil. At least she’ll get the bakery of her dreams out of it. All she has to do is keep his white rabbit alive. No one told her that the rabbit is his soul, and there are dark forces in the world that want nothing more than to see the devil in his own chains. Can she save him and his soul before time runs out? Devils Don’t Deal is the twelfth book in the Singsong City series. It is a standalone paranormal romantic comedy featuring fairies, witches, vampires, and enchantresses. It is packed with puns, battles, and a sweet, slow burn enemies to lovers romance between a fairy-goblin baker and the devil who might ruin her. Also sushi.   AmazonKU

THE NIXIE AND THE FROST ELF (FATED MATES AND MONSTER DATES) by Laura Greenwood

A chance encounter with the mate she’s been running away from changes everything for Lexi. Running into her mate should be a good thing, but for Lexi, it comes with unimaginable pressure. But when she sees Edur again after three years apart, she knows that there’s no escaping the mate bond between them, even if she’s scared to face what a relationship might mean for the two of them. Edur has missed Lexi every day she’s been gone, not just as his mate, but as his best friend, and now that she’s back in his life, he’s determined to keep him there. As the two of them explore her ace identity together and what it means for their relationship, they reach levels of trust that they never imagined possible. Maybe this time, the two of them can build something that lasts. The Nixie and the Frost Elf is a cozy m/f monster romance and part of the Fated Mates and Monster Dates series. It features an ace heroine, a cinnamon roll frost elf, fun dates, and a friends to lovers/one that got away romance.

Amazon     Apple Books      Not on Kobo yet as of the day I checked

CIRCUS ANIMAL COOKIE CATASTROPHE (MURDER IN THE MIX BOOK 57) by Addison Moore

My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety, who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner’s impending doom. When Sterling and Sons Circus rolls into Honey Hollow for a week of performances and a charity benefit, I’m thrilled to showcase my animal cracker cookies at the fairgrounds. But the circus isn’t the only excitement in town, Everett’s thirteen-year-old twin daughters are staying with us for the week. Entertaining teenagers for seven whole days? I’ve got this. With twin babies in a stroller, a sugar-crazed two-year-old, and two eye-rolling teens in tow, what could possibly go wrong at a wholesome family circus? Of course, when someone ends up dead backstage with a knife in their chest and one of my cookies in their hand, I realize the greatest show on earth just became the deadliest. Between jilted lovers, blackmail victims, and enough secrets to fill a circus tent, half the performers had motive to commit murder. And what in the world does Suze Fox have to do with this? Well, it turns out everything. But when the investigation reveals this case has more twists than an acrobat’s routine, I know I’m dealing with a killer who’s been hiding behind sequins and spotlights. With my rolling pin in one hand and my detective skills in the other, plus a pint-sized pachyderm with a serious peanut addiction and enough suspects in spandex to staff a Vegas show, I’ll need to solve this case before the killer decides I’m the next act to disappear.   AmazonKU

HOMEWARD FOR A SPELL by Jamie Pacton

VS Note: Sapphic Fantasy.

Sage has made her living as a ranger, moving constantly between adventuring parties, but she’s never had the chance to lead one. So when she’s offered the opportunity to hire a crew of her own in pursuit of a rare magical artifact, it seems a dream come true—until she learns that they’re headed into the most inhospitable part of the kingdom with winter looming. Still, it’s a way to finally put her name on the map . . . and how bad could it really be? Araphi has always loved music, in defiance of her powerful family’s priorities. All she wants is one last occasion to perform before she marries a man she does not love for the good of the family. So when she sees a poster seeking a bard for a party, she eagerly sneaks away to audition, only to discover that the party in question is no festival but an adventuring party, led by a woman she’s been fascinated with since she first laid eyes on her. It’s an unexpected twist, but if she takes the job, she’ll still be back in time for her own wedding . . . and how bad could it really be? What follows is a life-altering journey for them both, filled with danger and misfortune as their ragtag band of adventurers—most of whom have just met—must learn to work together to overcome the many obstacles before them, not least the explosive chemistry between the rugged party leader used to watching her own back and the pampered city-girl bard, who may be far out of her element but is beginning to feel at home for the very first time.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

ALL HALLOWS’ FATE (SICK AND TWISTED BOOK SIX) by Leigh Kelsey

My legacy is death. We came so close to winning, to finally being free, but instead my husbands lost everything. Lost me. Now, life and death hangs in the balance. The curse, the Halloween party, the Stalker… everything has been leading to this. To Violence’s endgame. I might be the only one who can stop him, but not as a human, or even a jaguar shifter. The only way I can stop him is as Judgement itself. Conclude Cat and her death gods’ series with All Hallows Fate, a paranormal romance with dark gods, a snarky heroine who finds her inner badass, twisted romance, and a secret society.   AmazonKU

MANE RIVAL IN STORE (MATCHMAKER’S BOOKCLUB VILLAINS BOOK THREE) by Milly Taiden

When a Woman Who Lives for Chaos Finally Meets a Man Built for Control, the Noise Complaint Is Just the Beginning. Lark Coleman knows how to make the bad guy irresistible. She sells lipstick in shades called Morally Gray and Revenge Red, fills her SoHo flagship with purple neon and villain mannequins, and has never once apologized for turning up the bass. Then her new neighbor fills her doorway in a bespoke suit with white cotton gloves and eyes like a Scandinavian winter, and every villain she’s ever drawn suddenly feels like a rough draft. Rune Sterling, CEO of Sterling & Mane International and a lion shifter alpha, has built a rare comics empire on one principle: control everything, lose nothing. Cool, precise, and intimidating enough to make a room nervous by standing still, he hasn’t wanted anything he couldn’t categorize in years. Then Lark walks in with villain lipstick and a mouth made for arguments, calls him Your Majesty like it’s a dare — and every wall he’s spent twelve years building develops a serious structural problem. She runs on chaos and color. He runs on silence and control. They have no business wanting each other — but when her past comes back with a bought building and a rent designed to destroy her, Fallon Creed is about to learn what happens when a woman who built an empire on villains falls for a man who actually is one.    AmazonKU

DRAGON CHAOS AROUND (THE MATCHMAKER’S BOOKCLUB – VILLAINS BOOK FOUR) by Milly Taiden

She Runs the Villain Convention. He’s the Most Dangerous Thing in It. Alani Nores knows how to build a villain’s world from the floor up. She’s directed conventions that seat fifty thousand people, cosplayed under an alias at her own events, and walked into the Silverscale Villains Only Convention on day one and told its owner his floor plan was a war crime. Then the owner walks in — midnight suit, silver cufflinks, ancient eyes — and Alani, who has never once been intimidated by anything, has to actively remind herself to breathe. Chaos Silverscale, CEO of Silverscale Entertainment and a dragon king who has outlived empires, has run his convention on one principle: nothing changes without his approval. Then Alani walks in with a villain-print blouse, a floor plan redesign, and a laugh that fills two hundred thousand square feet like it was built for her — and Chaos, who has been untouchable for seven centuries, can’t stop thinking about her smile, her sass, and what it would mean to let someone that warm get close. She treats his centuries like a fun fact. He treats her chaos like a natural disaster he can’t stop watching. They make no sense — but when a rival dragon decides Alani is leverage, Chaos learns that all seven hundred years of accumulated power mean nothing until there’s finally someone worth using it for.      AmazonKU

MY NEIGHBOR LITERALLY BITES by Sabrina Sin and Milly Taiden

She moved in next door and ruined my century of silence. Her heartbeat threads through my walls every night. Her pulse calls to me through the pines. Her scent clings to every shadow I slip through to keep her safe. I watch from the dark. I fix what breaks before she notices. I fight the bond that demands I claim what was never meant for a monster like me. I watch. I protect. I fight the urge to claim what’s already mine. But the hunters circling her bloodline won’t stop. And the longer I stay away, the more certain I become. She was never meant to be safe….from me.     AmazonKU

SOBEK’S JOY (THE GODS MADE ME DO IT BOOK 18) by Lisa Oliver

VS Note: MM PNR.

Sobek, Egyptian God of Crocodiles and the Nile among other things, likes his peaceful life. He travels, collects antiques and goes where the winds or water takes him. Until the waters took him to a small pond in rural Louisiana and he comes across three unusual children invading the privacy of his pond… shifter children. No matter how many times he told himself that the children weren’t his concern, when he finally meets their guardian, Sobek’s perspective changes completely. A tall, dark mysterious stranger appears at your door…The only connection Rudy Crisp, regular human, had to the paranormal world was in his love of the romance stories he read after the children had gone to bed. Sure, his small found family might have some quirks – the odd flash of hair, fur, and scales, but that was just kids being kids, right? Rudy didn’t judge and he refused to let anyone insult his kids either. So when a tall, dark stranger returns his kids, after their excursion to a neighbor’s pond, Rudy wasn’t going to listen when that man started spouting nonsense about shifters. Clearly the sexy hunk had hit his head recently. “Sometimes people just need reminding that they’re okay.” Realizing he has no choice, Sobek sets out to win Rudy’s trust – a trust earned through house repairs and spending time with the kids, all while trying to work out how to approach that delicate “paranormals are real, and you’re my mate” conversation. But when one of the children gets deathly ill, Sobek realizes he’s run out of time. Will Rudy accept he’s actually part of his own paranormal romance story, or will he take the kids and run?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BROKEN TIME (THE CRIMES OF KERRIGAN BOOK ONE) by W J May

Knock, knock…Life had finally settled into a rhythm on the magical little cul-de-sac in the heart of London. Or at least, it had settled into the best semblance of rhythm a block of supernatural intelligence operatives could find. The taskforce had disbanded, the evil puppet-master pulling the strings had been buried, and Aria Alden could finally put aside her fantastical problems and get down to the business of having her child. At least, that was the plan. Then came a knock on the door. When Kraigan Kerrigan’s teenage son shows up in London, the entire magical community is shaken upside-down. Not only does Sebastian have both his father’s massive talent and his sociopathic impulse control, but the community itself is changing. The older generation is passing the torch, and both agencies are looking at new leadership. When a huge mission goes terribly wrong, it’s up to the children to keep the mess off their parents’ desk and fix it themselves. The world is changing, and the gang needs to change with it. Old chapters are closing, and a new era is about to begin. After years of waiting, can they chart the future they’ve always dreamed of having? Or are some secrets too big to keep…?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SKY’S EDGE (THE FOUR REALMS BOOK TWO) by Kristen Ashley

VS Not: I very much enjoyed book one and had this one pre-ordered.

Peace has been shattered in the Four Realms…But Catla Truelock has bigger concerns. Her father’s done what he’d been threatening to do. He’s arranged her marriage to a man not of Catla’s choice.
It’s the demon way, but Catla knows her new betrothed, and she doesn’t like him. He’s aloof. He’s arrogant. And he’s both in spades. Tanyn, the new king of Sky’s Edge, feels differently about the half-demon beauty from Night’s Fall. He’s made his decision on who he wants to be his queen. She’s perfect. He simply has to convince her. Tanyn sets about doing that, but he’s interrupted when his fiancée receives a death threat. It’s then all the royals of the Four Realms understand that the danger is not over. For reasons unknown, there’s a sinister faction in their lands who’s targeting them, and the women who will rule at their sides. Now, Tanyn has to keep his Catla safe, at the same time convincing her to wear his crown. And Catla has to decide if she can leave everything she knows to be the bride of the handsome king in a land that is not her own.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

CHILD OF ASHES (SEBA SEGEL SERIES BOOK TWO) by Elizabeth Hunter

Time travel fantasy. Ancient magical orders. A forbidden investigation, a hidden son, and a slow-burn connection that defies every rule this time-traveler has lived by. Narine Anahid Khoren has spent years keeping her greatest secret, her son Samson, a fourth-tier time traveler of terrifying power, hidden from an order that would claim him as their own. She thought she’d bought more time to shelter him. She was wrong. When a violent ambush sends nine-year-old Samson tumbling into the past with a dangerous enemy, Narine’s carefully constructed world fractures. With her son lost somewhere in history and a shadow war brewing against the Order of the Seba Segel, she has no choice but to release the one man who knows how to find her son, an enemy she thought she’d trapped in the past. Through it all, Jacob Martin—professor, time-traveler, and so much more—is at her side. The tension between them has been building, and now with everything at stake, the threads of their partnership will either snap… or be woven into a bond that cannot be broken. Saving Samson will mean crossing centuries, confronting secrets at the heart of the Order, and reckoning with the true cost of power, family, and revolution. Child of Ashes is the second book in the Seba Segel Series—an epic time travel fantasy set in the near future, where ancient mage orders, dangerous magic, and a slow-burn love story collide across the centuries.      AmazonKU’

THE SASQUATCH AND THE HAIRDRESSER: A COZY MM MONSTER ROMANCE (MONSTERS HOLLOW BOOK THREE) by Chloe Archer

Sometimes the biggest heart belongs to the biggest monster. Hal – Mystic Hollow is home, the place where I belong. I’ve found friends, purpose, and a community that embraces me exactly as I am. The only thing missing is someone to build a happily ever after with. Then Skylar Wright checks into my B&B. He’s beautiful, guarded, and carrying hurts so deep they make my heart ache. Every instinct I have tells me to shower him with care, make him smile, and help him build the fresh start he deserves. With every moment we spend together, I’m falling head over heels. For the first time, my happily ever after doesn’t feel like something that only happens in books. Now all I can do is hope he’ll let me be part of his happily ever after. Skylar – Starting over in Mystic Hollow isn’t an adventure—it’s my last shot at building a life that finally feels safe. I’ve spent too long surviving. Now I just want a quiet place where I can stop looking over my shoulder, heal, and chase my dream of running my own hair salon. I think I’ve found that in this close-knit magical little town. Then there’s Hal, the gentle sasquatch who owns the B&B where I’m staying. He’s patient, thoughtful, and so genuinely kind that I can’t help waiting for the catch. But the more time I spend with him, the more I believe this town—and this giant, soft-hearted sasquatch—really could be home. The only question is whether I can convince myself I deserve it.      AmazonKU

THE WITCH AND TIME TRAVELER (THE DAUGHTERS OF TIME BOOK TWO) by Leigh Ann Edwards

Darian Wyndham, a powerful fire witch descended from an ancient Celtic god, has never needed a man. As a gifted blacksmith in colonial Massachusetts, she’s built a life on her own terms. But her secret magic has awakened ancient demons, each determined to destroy her and the sister witches bound to her across time. Magnus Munro can bend time itself, a gift that makes him useful to the Celtic deities and dangerous to everyone else. When handed the unwelcome assignment of protecting the fire witch, the order is as clear as the warning: guard her but do not touch her. The command, he thinks, is simple. But he can’t heed the warning—not when the same fire burns in her eyes. Darian is drawn to the mysterious stranger, but she refuses to surrender the independence she’s fought so hard to claim. Then an ancient portal fractures time itself, hurling her into the heart of the Salem witch trials. To survive, she’ll have to embrace powers she’s spent her life hiding… and trust the one man she refuses to need. Together they must defy gods, demons, and history itself before the darkness hunting the daughters of the witches of time destroys everything they are destined to protect.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DREAMLAND: A NOVEL by Olivie Blake

VS Note: Gothic.

The headlines are calling it the “summer of exsanguination” in LA—girls are being murdered, the Santa Ana winds are blowing a strange energy into the city, and all signs point to fire season. More pressing for Anya Morris, though, is the drudgery of living at home, working part time at the family store, and contending with her mother’s disdain for the acting career Anya knows she’s destined for but that feels more impossible by the day. It’s in this suffocating late summer heat that Anya receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an invitation to work for the de Witt family, one of LA’s most influential film dynasties. Soon, she’s spending her days and nights at their strange villa high in the Hollywood hills, where she meets Jude, a recluse who is both the family’s heir apparent and its most closely guarded secret. There’s a magnetism to Jude that Anya cannot resist, despite warning signs that scream like sirens in the night. Because the villa holds generations of bloodstained history, and an occult family curse may even live within its walls—or within Jude himself. In this city, everyone cuts a deal with the devil. When Anya comes face to face with a devil of her own, she’ll learn just how far she’s willing to go to get everything she’s ever wanted.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HELL’S HALF ACRE (INTERNAL AFFAIRS BOOK TWO) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Being the heir to hell comes with enemies. Being a pawn in someone else’s game? That’s where Luke draws the line. Luke Tievel has always known his enemies outnumber his friends. When your inheritance is the underworld, that comes with the territory. But divine politics have escalated to a new level—and now both Luke and his partner, Detective Sorcha O’Malley, have targets on their backs. Old factions are rising. Heaven and hell are circling. And every side wants the same thing: total control of the mortal world and the destruction of anyone who won’t kneel. Luke has never minded being the center of attention. But he’s no one’s pawn—and he likes the world the way it is. Broken, messy, human. Worth saving. Now he and Sorcha must hold the line against preternatural forces tired of playing by the old rules. The stakes aren’t just their lives. It’s humanity’s extinction—and the only thing standing in the way is an heir who refuses to inherit and a detective who doesn’t know how to quit.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

THE VAMPIRE’S OMEGA – THE ROSE VAMPIRE COVEN by B A Stretke

VS Note: MM PNR.

In a world where vampires and wolves manage an uneasy coexistence, one bond ignites a challenge. At its center? A werewolf omega. Ben has spent his life as a powerless omega in the Garmr Pack—humiliated, used, and forced to watch the Beta’s cruel games. When he’s dragged to a tense diplomatic gathering, the last thing he expects is to catch the eye of Gabriel, a lethal vampire guard whose cold stare hides a devastating truth: Ben is his fated beloved. Gabriel has no interest in wolves… until Ben’s scent shatters every rule he’s lived by. But claiming his omega means facing James, a brutal Beta who refuses to let Ben go. Passion ignites. Blood will spill. And in the shadows of pack politics and vampire law, an omega and his vampire will risk everything for a love that could destroy them both.      Amazon

SQUATCH THIS by Deysi O’Donal

Jenny is a mafia princess on the run. Growing up in the italian mafia sounds great in books. In reality? Not so much. Orphaned as a teenager, my goal was to get into a good college to escape my Capo uncle, and the rest of my toxic family. It almost worked, until I witnessed a murder. One thing led to another, and I ended up in witness protection. Which is how I found myself in a small, bigfoot obsessed town at the edge of a rainforest, on the other side of the country. Fast forward ten years, now I’m living life on my terms–I’ve made friends, built a business…and lusted after Owen Ferral, the gorgeous AF park ranger. Owen is a cryptid shape-shifter that doesn’t think anyone could ever love him because of what he really is. I’ve been obsessed with Jenny Miller since the moment I first saw her. For ten years, I’ve made a weekly pilgrimage to the General Store where she works, just to talk to her. Quietly stalking her, knowing that I’ll never be able to get any closer. Because, how do you tell the woman you are falling in love with that you turn into Bigfoot? Turns out, I don’t have to because she catches me in the forest. I’ve never thought anyone outside my family would accept that part of me, but she sees what I am and doesn’t run. Could I really have a future with her? Before I have a chance to find out, the family she’s been hiding from finds her. Now that there are no more secrets between us, there’s no stopping me, or my squatch, from doing whatever is necessary to keep her safe. So we can both have the happy ever after we’ve been longing for.      AmazonKU

MOREL DILEMMA (TALES FROM THE DRAGON DINER BOOK THREE) by Lindsay Buroker

Retired mercenary Rylana and the dragon chef Jildarin are on the hunt for enchanted morels in the hope of enticing the visiting elf queen to their diner. But more than a desire for mushrooms has brought the queen to the city of Tranquility. For some reason, she has her people searching for Rylana’s best friend, the elven assassin Sylin. Even as Rylana worries about her comrade, a new problem thrusts its way into her path. Despite the Dragon Diner’s newfound success, their landlord has decided to evict them. After all that Rylana and Jildarin have built together, will they be forced to close the business?       AmazonKU

HOW TO SURVIVE THIS FAIRY TALE by S M Hallow

That can’t be the way this story ends. Try again? Ensnared by the whims of a cruel narrator, Hansel’s fairy tale has always revolved around tragedy. After being forced to abandon his sister Gretel in a witch’s gingerbread house, desert the cursed prince he adores, and cut the hearts out of innocent maidens to feed a flesh-eating queen, Hansel gives up on the possibility of his story ending in Happily Ever After. But when the queen orders him to bring her the heart of her own daughter, Hansel decides that it’s time to carve his own path by whatever means necessary. And when he does, he’ll learn Happily Ever After might not be the only thing worth fighting for.     Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

SANDRO: VITTONE’S VAMPIRES BOOK TWO by Taylor Rylan

VS Note: MM MPreg PNR.

Alessandro “Sandro” D’Angelo feels as if he’s failed at everything important he was supposed to do in life. After the death of his younger brother, he’s wanted nothing more than to join his brother on the other side. When his family rescues him from the brink of death, he wishes they hadn’t. Only he can’t voice those feelings, as it’s the coven’s second who risked his life for the older vampire. And nobody wanted to upset him. Leonardo Mosca is all alone in this world. Forced into a life of servitude by his pride after his parents’ questionable death, he wants nothing more than to be able to escape and live a life of freedom. Plans change when he suddenly snaps and attacks the alpha’s brother in a moment of frustration. While Leo is working his way through the busy center of Rome and trying to avoid his pride, fate intervenes, and he runs into the arms of Sandro. Will his mate be the one to rescue him from his pride? Can Sandro and Leo figure out how to build a life together? Will Sandro’s young beloved teach him how to live again? Will Leo finally learn about his parents’ mysterious death, and will those responsible be brought to justice?      AmazonKU

GUARDIANS OF DAWN – SUHWA by S Jae-Jones

Min Suhwa has always longed to see the greater world outside the small, cloistered convent in which she was raised. Hidden there for her safety when she was a small child, Suhwa has learned to keep her unusual illusion magic to herself, but when the Bangtan Brothers come to town to perform, she can’t resist the chance to go see them for herself. But the world outside her convent is dangerous―the Morning Realms have fallen to civil war, and Huntsmen prowl the land in search of magicians and the fabled Guardians of Dawn, legendary elemental warriors with incredible powers. When Suhwa’s illusion magic brings her afoul of one of the Huntsmen, she must flee for her life. Meanwhile, the Guardians of Dawn and their allies are fighting a war on two fronts―against the northern insurrection seeking to claim the Sunburst Throne and destroy all magicians, and against the rising threat of the Mother of Ten Thousand Demons. Zhara, Ami, and Yuli must travel to the Azure Isles to seek the Guardian of Water and save the Morning Realms from annihilation, restoring balance to order and chaos once and for all.

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IMMORTAL ROSE: A NOVEL by Alexandra Bracken

Members of the ancient Rosebourne family have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion. When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy. Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers. As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen. But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

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THE QUEEN’S BODYGUARD: A NOVEL by Lauren Blackwood

Queen Theora grudgingly agrees to make peace with the neighboring enemy who killed her predecessor and friend, making her the new monarch of Aranea, over a year ago. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to the negotiations unprotected. Theora quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a ruthless reputation, to act as her bodyguard in disguise. They are technically married, but Theora has no intention of finishing the ritual that would bind their souls together. Argos is merely a means to end the conflict safely. Argos may have his reasons for accepting this arrangement, but he refuses to be a pawn in Theora’s political games. If she wants a bodyguard, she’ll have to obey his sacred Warrior rituals, each one a show of defiance that frustrates Theora as much as it arouses her. Theora doesn’t expect to find her temporary husband so sexy, his possessive nature so addicting. And as peace talks begin, pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

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SCENT OF THE IDEAL by R Cooper

VS note: LGBTQ Fantasy

In the prestigious Academy Trianon, unwanted children are trained to become specialized guards to the upper classes—the swersoldi. Swersoldi learn martial skills, courtly manners, and the use of aer, the force inside all living things. At twenty, Rafi is nearing his final year, and expects an unremarkable future once he secures a placement in a decent noble house. But he’s facing a problem—his approaching heat. All three sexes, miná, miné, and nex, experience heats or ruts at the onset of sexual maturity, even though dual-sex nexes like Rafi aren’t capable of reproduction. If Rafi’s use of aer weren’t so strong, such a heat would be embarrassing but bearable. But since he’s not yet fully able to control his aer, he will need someone stronger than he is to control his for him. Rafi has no sweetheart, and even if he did, no one currently at the academy has that sort of strength. Enter Viau, the favorite swersoldi of the royal court: handsome, courteous, honorable—the ideal. As far as Rafi is concerned, Viau is unapproachable and untouchable, so he sees no problem in admitting to his worried instructors that Viau’s scent is perfect to his nex senses. Heroic, mannerly Viau will politely decline to be involved, and Rafi can hopefully figure out a less humiliating option in the meantime. Except Viau says yes. Unwanted, unremarkable Rafi is suddenly the center of the ideal’s attention, a confusing, arousing place to be. Viau treats Rafi as if there is more to him than an average swersoldi with an average future, and Rafi starts to wonder if he can have a different life if he reaches for it. One where the ideal was once an unwanted child too, and even an ordinary nex can become the ideal’s hero if he loves him.        Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SINISTER (THE ETERNAL CYCLES OF LOVE) by Veronica Lancet

In Radcliffe, perfection is a mask. And Sinclair Arnoult wears his far too well. Sin is Radcliffe’s golden boy. Star athlete, top student, and heir to a family name that carries weight in every corner of town. With his easy smiles and effortless charm, he’s untouchable. Perfect. Petra Valentine has always been an outsider. Trapped in a world of wealth and privilege that barely tolerates her, she’s spent her life fading into the background—until one reckless night at a party changes everything. A fleeting, drunken mistake ties her to him. When a series of ritualistic murders forces them together to unravel Radcliffe’s twisted past, Petra discovers that Sin is connected to something far darker than a privileged legacy. The man everyone worships is hiding dangerous truths—about his past, about the town, and about her. He swears he’ll protect her. He swears he’d never hurt her. But in Radcliffe, devotion and destruction look a lot like the same thing.

Amazon     AB

DRAGON KISSED (THE SECRET KINGDOMS: THE DRAQUONIR BOOK FOUR) by Becca Brayden and Grace Goodwin

He came to recover an ancient manuscript never meant for human eyes. He left carrying the human woman he was supposed to kill. Veronica “Nica” Sokolov’s life revolves around rare manuscripts, museum archives, and history’s forgotten mysteries—until one innocent mistake uncovers an ancient dragon text powerful enough to ignite a war. Now every magical faction in the Secret Kingdoms will stop at nothing to claim it. So why does she feel safest in the arms of a man who should terrify her? Why does every instinct draw her closer to surrender? For nearly a thousand years, Demetri has never failed in his duty to protect the Secret Kingdoms. Until the moment he finds Nica. His true mate. Every instinct demands he claim her. Yet the laws of secrecy forbid her from knowledge of his kind. As enemies gather and long-buried lies begin to surface, can a forbidden bond neither want to resist save them from a conspiracy that threatens both the magical and human worlds?        Amazon     Apple Books    Kobo

BITE ME (DOXLOTHIA UNIVERSITY STANDALONE SERIES) by S L Cokeley

Emma Osborne is determined to make her mark at Doxlothia University—home to the most elite vampire and werewolf communities. She dreams of joining the culinary club, and culinary prodigy, Dacre Everhart, seems to be the only thing standing in her way. As she and her sisters make themselves known on campus, their blood is drawing new, unwelcome attention. Everything in Dacre Everhart’s life is exactly how it should be. He’s well on his way to becoming the heir his family desires until he discovers a troubling truth: He is scent-matched to Emma, the stubbornly optimistic baker he can’t seem to escape. The journey to the top is hard-won, and it’s even harder when the opposition is biologically attractive. In a world that wants to tear them apart, who will rise above the secrets and lies for a chance at sweet success? Or will their greatest craving turn out to be each other?   AmazonKU

LOVE YOU TO DEATH: MM FANTASY ROMANCE  (HOTTER THAN HELL) by Callie Colby

I choked on a pretzel and died for two minutes. Now I have a demon stalker who treats me like a toddler with a death wish. Technically, I’m supposed to be in the afterlife. But thanks to a zealous paramedic and a very sturdy ribcage, I was ripped back to the land of the living right after my soul was stamped for export. Rax, the demon assigned to escort me to Hell, is not happy about the paperwork error. Since he can’t return empty-handed without getting demoted to “latrine duty,” he’s decided to stick to me like glue until I kick the bucket again. He’s moved into my apartment, where he spends his time aggressively baby-proofing my furniture, hissing at jaywalkers, and slapping fast food out of my hand because “cholesterol is a slow killer.” It’s annoying. It’s suffocating. It’s also… confusingly hot. Because when Rax isn’t wrapping me in bubble wrap, he’s looking at me with hungry, ancient eyes. He’s obsessed with my heartbeat, constantly checking my pulse with hands that linger a little too long and wander a little too low. He’s waiting for me to die. But with the way he’s touching me, I’m starting to think he’s finding plenty of reasons to keep me alive.     AmazonKU      AB

MAPLE MUFFIN MAGIC (WITCHCAKES) by Sara Bourgeois

Ivy Merriweather only came back to Harvest Hollow to settle her grandmother’s affairs and decide what to do with Witchcakes. Clean the bakery. Make a plan. Leave before anyone calls it a homecoming. Then she finds an orange cat sleeping in a proofing basket like he owns the place. Nutmeg is nosy, bossy, underfoot, and somehow always exactly where he should not be. He is also determined to help Ivy reopen Witchcakes for Harvest Hollow’s fall market, whether she asks for his help or not. But when Rosemary Merriweather’s signature harvest spice tin vanishes, small acts of sabotage start piling up. Someone makes it very clear that they do not want Witchcakes back in business, and Ivy realizes that her return may have upset more than just the “official bakery cat”. To save the business, survive the market, and solve the mystery of who is trying to push her out, Ivy will have to trust her instincts, trust her magic, and trust the ridiculous orange menace currently sitting on her recipe cards.      AmazonKU

BRED BY THE BEAST (BREEDING SEASON BOOK 11) by Sam Crescent and Stacey Espino

Poppy – I came to the mountains chasing the photograph that could save my career. Instead, I witnessed something I was never supposed to see. Now ruthless men want me silenced, and my only hope is the mysterious recluse who lives deep in the wilderness. Wilder is gruff, guarded, and impossible to resist—but the longer I stay in his cabin, the harder it becomes to remember I’m supposed to leave. Wilder – I’ve spent years alone, protecting my land and avoiding the outside world. Humans only bring greed, bullets, and trouble. Then I find a terrified little photographer running for her life, and every instinct I have demands I keep her safe. She may not know my secrets, but she already owns my heart. Anyone who comes looking for my mate is about to discover why a grizzly never backs down from a fight.    

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WOLF REVEALED (SWAT – SPECIAL WOLF ALPHA TEAM) by Paige Tyler

He watched his family die…Ten years ago, werewolf shifter Mike Taylor watched his home explode, killing his fiancée, Lark, and their infant son, Kal. Back then, Mike was undercover DEA, deeply infiltrated in the cartel. When his cover was blown, his family paid the price––or so he thought. When SWAT is called to a hostage situation, Mike’s life goes sideways. Lark is back, desperate for help. Kal has been kidnapped by the very cartel that tried to kill them ten years ago. They think Mike has a sensitive flash drive and they want it back––or Kal dies. No mistakes this time. Mike and Lark have another chance at happiness, and working together to save their son shows them that their love––and their attraction––never faded. Mike will risk everything to have his family back, but it will take the entire Pack to take down the cartel for good. And when a traitor is revealed, the precious time it costs the Pack could mean life or death.

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TIGER BITTEN (AMBUSH BOOK TWO) by T S Joyce

Mars Ledger is a runner. He ran from his brothers when he was Turned into a tiger shifter. He ran from his hometown when his life got too hard. And now all he wants to do is stay hidden in the life he had built outside of the tiger Ambush with his brothers. They made a pact that every year the three Ledger brothers would meet up and keep connected, but it’s time for the reunion and Mars would rather do anything else. His life has fallen apart over the last year, and he has no news to report to his expectant family. But when he can’t stay away from a woman in town, he starts to realize he actually might need their help. Ren is sassy, drop-dead gorgeous, too kind for her own good, and seems too submissive to be a Cat, but he can see it in her bright gold eyes. She’s a monster, just like him. The problem? She’s too interesting to his inner tiger, and now his lust is starting to feel like a hunt. His brothers are the only ones who can protect the woman he wants now. Ren is living in two different worlds—humans and Cats. She has toed the line for so long that it’s natural for her now, but one chance encounter with a real-life Cat has her questioning everything she knows about herself. He has all the answers she has craved all these years, and the more she understands him, the more she wants to learn. She has a plan to keep Mars interested in her, and if she plays her cards right, he just might stick around long enough to teach her how to be herself. The problem? He keeps warning her that she’s in danger, and when she asks, he just says the danger is him.    AmazonKU     AB

OUT OF SIGHT (BETAS IN WAITING BOOK 40) by Viola Grace

Some people are forgettable, but that wasn’t a problem for her until a dark mage, a curse, and six years of fighting to be remembered when she was out of sight. Ted makes her living by creating apps for businesses who need something specific. She keeps in constant communication with the businesses she works for one precise reason: the moment she is out of sight, they forget she ever existed. It has been difficult to live with, but she has worked with a number of her family members, who recognize her the moment they see her and forget her when she turns a corner. She’s working for her cousin Sabin when he and Nora finally take steps to contact people who can help. It seems that people who know magic have moved into the neighbourhood, and they are willing to help. Ted’s not going to be left alone. She even has a bathroom buddy if she needs it. After meeting some of the strangest people she had ever met, she’s finally back and memorable. When she heads back to her apartment, she is fielding years of family contacts who suddenly remember her, but one is missing. Her cousin Lucia. Ted sends a contact to Lucia and is shocked to learn that she wasn’t the only family member who had a brush with the shadow mages; only Lucia had disappeared a decade ago, and she had lost her physical form in the process. This is going to require specialization. Good thing Ted has new and weird friends who are happy to help.

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FsandroONCE WRITTEN IN GILDED BLOOD (CRUEL FATES DUET BOOK TWO) by  K M Moronova

The war was supposed to end with their wedding. Alira made her choice. She married the Blood Knight to end the war that had ravaged their kingdoms only to fall irrevocably in love with her once-sworn enemy. Now, living in Devicit as his wife, she is determined to prove that peace between demigods and demons is possible. But something beneath the surface of their paradise feels wrong. The veil protecting the demon kingdom shimmers with secrets. The gods are restless. And beyond the veil, old enemies have not laid down their swords. Kalel would burn the world down to protect his bride, but the past he buried in blood refuses to stay silent. As suspicion creeps into their marriage and the threat of war closes in on Devicit, Alira and Kalel find themselves caught between devotion and doubt―between the kingdoms they were born to defend and the love they chose for themselves. Together, they must confront the truths that could shatter everything they’ve built. Because peace is never freely given. And the gods are not finished with them yet.    AmazonKU    AB

FATED TO THE GARGOYLE: A BLACK MONSTER ROMANCE (SHADOW WOLF CREEK MONSTERS BOOK ONE) by Tessa Stone

The statue outside Stanley’s Diner moves at sundown. I came to Shadow Wolf Creek with everything I own in my hatchback and one rule: I don’t date coworkers. This town has shifters at the grocery store, merfolk, a dragon with a podcast, and everyone is out in the open about what they are. Fine by me. I’m here to wait my tables and save my money, not chase a fated mate. But the gargoyle crouched on the diner’s roof caught my scent on my first shift. His name is Soren. He’s six hundred years old and has spent every one of those years guarding treasure that was never his to keep. Now he’s outside my window at sundown, and not one soul in this town sees a problem with it. This town, I swear. He says I’m his mate, calls me his treasure, and intends to worship me for the rest of his life.    AmazonKU

ICE DEVIL (KENDRICK BROTHERS BOOK TWO) by Piper Stone

She teased the devil. She ended up as my mate. When the human girl they sent to interview me teased me one too many times with that perfect body, I didn’t just spank her ass red and claim her like the wild beast her scent unleashed in me. I yanked her soaked G-string down and made her come hard for me right there in the elevator. But my feisty little mate will come much harder when she takes my knot for the first time tonight.      AmazonKU

HALLOWEEN TOWN by Joss Wood

Poppy McMaster was supposed to be getting married, not climbing out of a bathroom window in her wedding dress…She’s leaving her life behind and fleeing to the only place she’s ever truly felt like herself: the small town she grew up in, where Halloween lasts all year. But home isn’t waiting for Poppy the way she imagined. Her grandparents’ beloved inn is now owned by Thom Sheffield, who just happens to be: Her childhood hero Her ex-fiancé’s brooding older brother The last man on earth she should be fantasizing about…Because in a town full of pumpkins, cosy traditions, and Halloween magic, falling in love might be the scariest thing of all.      AmazonKU      AB

TATTOOED BY THE ELF by Mahogany Jaimes

Her heat brought her to his door. Fate made sure she stayed. Brooke knows the rules. When an omega’s suppressants fail, the last place she should be is near an alpha. Heat strips away control, instincts demand more, and the wrong person could turn a vulnerable moment into something she never wanted. Then she finds Saheime. The tattoo artist is everything her instincts warn her about—dominant, magnetic, and impossible to ignore. But instead of taking advantage of her weakened state, Saheime fights his own instincts to protect her. He gives her the one thing she never expected from an alpha: a choice. Because Saheime knows exactly what Brooke is to him. His mate. But a bond isn’t a claim. Not without her consent. Not without her trust. Because the most dangerous thing about fate isn’t being tied to someone forever. It’s finding someone worthy of receiving it. Brooke has to decide if she can surrender to the heat between them… only to walk away when it’s over. Or if she’ll accept the bond that connects them and discover why Saheime is so important to the Elven realm—and why fate chose him to be hers.      AmazonKU

CUFFED BY THE WOLF by Posey Parks

Getting arrested was not part of the Omega, Sasha Walker’s plan. She came to Morgan, Georgia hunting the con artist who stole from her, destroyed her reputation, and left her holding the bag for a scam she didn’t commit. What she didn’t expect was a fistfight with two locals, flashing police lights, and a one-way trip to the Lupton County Jail. Sheriff Gavin Drake is used to keeping order in his town. As the gruff, overbearing alpha wolf in charge, Gavin barks commands, takes no nonsense, and has little patience for troublemakers. Especially the fiery omega currently sitting in one of his cells. From the moment Sasha mouths off during questioning, she gets under his skin. When she overhears the sheriff’s office needs a secretary, Sasha sees an opportunity. Finding a job means staying in town longer, and staying in town means finding the person responsible for ruining her life. The last thing Gavin wants is the woman who drove him crazy working under his roof. But every day she spends in his office tests his control. Sasha is sunshine wrapped in trouble. Gavin is a possessive alpha with a temper and a badge. Their constant arguments ignite a dangerous attraction neither can ignore. What Gavin doesn’t know is that Sasha has been hiding behind scent suppressants. The stubborn omega he can’t stop thinking about is actually his fated mate. And when someone from Sasha’s past comes looking for her, Gavin will do whatever it takes to protect what’s his. Even if he has to break every rule to keep her.      AmazonKU

PROPERTY OF SCAR (KINGS OF ANARCHY NEW HAMPSHIRE BOOK TWO) by K E Osborn

She hunts monsters. She’s never wanted to keep one before. Calypso doesn’t ask permission. She’s half vampire, half hunter, and she crashes into my territory as if she owns it—guns drawn, unafraid, and looking at me as if she hasn’t decided whether I’m an asset or a target. I’ve had five centuries of people fear me on sight. This woman reloads and raises an eyebrow. I don’t do alliances. I do blood, empire, and control. But the Crimson Circle is back, and the evil moving through my territory is the same one that destroyed everything I loved three hundred and fifty years ago. Calypso is just a source. She has answers I need. I have knowledge she can’t survive without. So, I let her stay. Call it strategy. Call it temporary. The problem is, she keeps standing her ground and looks at me like I am a man instead of a monster. She came for the bodies. Not for me. And I was never supposed to want her to stay.      AmazonKU

WOLF’S FATED BRIDE by Milana Jacks

If they choose each other, the war begins. If they don’t, the world burns. Ash is the most dangerous werewolf alive, consuming seven times more alchemy than prescribed to keep his fire element contained. He is bound by treaty to marry a bride from the rival pack that will end decades of war.
But every instinct in his body pulls, away from the arranged bride, and towards her sister. Runa is a loyal wolf. To her pack. To her family, and to her beloved sister. But she despises her soon to be brother-in-law. He likes to tell her what to do, which she hates just as much as the rasp in his voice when he laughs. Or how possessive he gets when she’s around other males. And most of all, she hates how much she enjoys being near him. She wants the man she shouldn’t. He resists the woman he needs.       AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

August 12

August 5

July 29

July 22

July 15

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

 

 

 

 

New Releases in SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for AUG 12

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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BADASS ALIEN BOSS (GAL FRIDAY BOOK TWO) by Cara Bristol

He’s a battle-scarred warrior with something to prove. She’s the bodyguard assigned to keep him alive—whether he likes it or not. After a brutal attack leaves former military hero Ruyn gravely injured, his combat career is over. Stuck planetside and recovering, he reluctantly joins his brother’s company while he rebuilds his strength. But his brother is convinced the assault wasn’t a random act of violence. Someone wanted Ruyn dead—and they may try again. Enter Michaela Perine. A former investigator and elite bodyguard, Michaela is hired through GAL Friday—Galactic Auxiliary Labor—to protect Ruyn. There’s just one problem: Ruyn would never agree to having a bodyguard. So his brother presents her as the newest administrative assistant. Michaela can handle danger, criminals, and impossible assignments. Pretending to be a secretary for a stubborn, intimidating alien warrior? That may be her toughest job yet. When Ruyn discovers the truth, sparks fly. Furious at the deception and determined to reclaim his independence, he clashes with the fierce human woman assigned to protect him. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the attraction simmering beneath their arguments. As new threats emerge and the mystery behind the attack deepens, Michaela and Ruyn find themselves caught in a deadly conspiracy. To survive, they’ll have to trust each other completely. Because someone is still hunting Ruyn. And losing his heart to his bodyguard may be the most dangerous battle of all.       AmazonKU

LOVING THE ALIEN SPY (BRIDES OF THE BOHNARI BOOK THREE) by Erin Hale

Carrik – For generations, the eldest son of our family line has served a single purpose—royal spy to the King of Bohna. My entire life has been about keeping secrets from and lying to those I love. Even the twin brother who hates me. When I’m forced to imprison Bannik and take his place, I never imagined I’d find my heart’s fire—the single female who soothes the beast that resides in all Bohnari males. Only she believes me to be my brother. Now, I must choose between the role I was born into or my mate. Lindsey – I entered the bridal lottery as a joke, never imagining I’d actually be chosen. Living in the bottom tier of Earth has prepared me for nothing but being disappointed. Now, my life on my new planet is far greater than I expected. Especially when I discover I’m the mate of a Bohnari male. Except the Bannik I’ve met before is not the same Bannik whose kisses and touches set my body aflame. He asks me to trust him even though he has secrets he can’t share with me yet. When I finally give him my heart, danger threatens to take him from me. I only hope I’m not too late.   AmazonKU

CHRONICLES OF AN UNKNOWN WORLD BOOK THREE: SVENN by C L Pride

He was born unlike anyone of his kind — and he swore he’d never chain a soul to a life like his. Then the Winds gave him her. Elyna survived the crash that should have killed her the way she’s survived everything: alone, resourceful, asking nothing of anyone. An orphan and a technician who fills the quiet with sketches and refuses, on principle, to be a burden to a living soul. And then there’s Svenn. Chief of the northern lands. Snow-white wings, eyes red as a predator’s, golden skin beneath a crown of snow — among the Erians, he is the only one of his kind. The Winds have given him the Life Companion he swore he’d never take, and the harder he refuses her — fist clenched, teeth held back — the more the refusing costs him. Elyna doesn’t believe she needs saving. Svenn doesn’t believe he gets to keep anything. But the longer she stays, the harder it is to fight the pull between them… or to ignore the way her own body is quietly, impossibly changing.     AmazonKU

QUEEN OF THE NEBULA (OLYMPUS SECTOR BOOK TWO) by Eden Ember

First, he stole me. Then, he crowned me. Now, the universe wants us dead. I am no longer the girl in the glass tower. I am the Queen of the Tartarus Belt, and I have found my home in the arms of the Warlord who once terrified me. But loving Haid comes with a price. The Golden Apex Station has blockaded our sector, starving my people to force my return. They think I am a delicate flower they can crush. They have no idea what I am becoming. My powers are evolving. I’m not just growing vines anymore; I’m waking up ancient, terrifying biology that hasn’t been seen in a millennia. There is a buzzing in my blood that whispers of war. To save my kingdom, I have to make a deal with a treacherous Pirate King, survive a guild of assassins, and face the one truth that might break me: I wasn’t born. I was made. And I was made to be a weapon.   AmazonKU

IN WHAT WORLD by Bridget Morrissey

Total opposites, Marlowe Jenkins and Priscilla Covington-French hated each other in high school. Now in their thirties, Marlowe is barely scraping by while Priscilla is wildly successful. Their rivalry should be long dead, yet both women remain connected through their mutual mentor, drama teacher Dallas Winthrop. Their unending tension has nothing to do with the fact that they’ve kissed. More than once. When Dallas goes missing, each woman believes she can figure out where he is. Except this is no ordinary disappearance. Dallas has found a way to explore alternate versions of reality. While trying to follow him, Marlowe and Priscilla find other versions of themselves instead, surprised to learn not all Marlowes and Priscillas are fueled by hate. In fact, some Marlowes and Priscillas have very different strong feelings for one another. . .The more Marlowe and Priscilla are forced to rely on each other, the harder it becomes to ignore their simmering attraction. But with every alternate reality they search, they only get further from their real life and responsibilities. Do they play it safe and hide behind their rivalry, or take a chance on each other that could permanently change the world as they know it?

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

WHEN THE UNIVERSE SINGS by Gillian Eliza West

There is only one rule in the galaxy: trust no one. Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer. When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe’s most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than freedom: revenge on the man who took everything from her. But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.     AmazonKU

BRED BY SOR’EN (SOLAR BREEDING AGENCY BOOK THREE) by Penelope Mars

Humanity is desperate, scattered amongst the stars at the mercy of the planets that will have us, but mostly we have nothing. No hope, no prospects, nothing. Poverty, crime, disease, we’re the running joke among the highly advanced alien species that surround us. We’re desperate, all of us, but we’re not entirely without worth… without use. Humans are still good for cheap labor and entertainment, oh and breeding. Human women are great for breeding. That’s where the Solar Breeding Agency comes in. For a hefty fee and a dowry paid to our families, an alien in need of a surrogate can buy us. Hue- Growing up as a human in an alien dominated universe is the definition of getting the “short end of the stick” now add in being orphaned as an infant and shoved into an overcrowded home for abandoned alien children, my stick is pretty much a nub by twenty. I learned early on, survival means running, lying and oftentimes stealing just enough to keep the cold from the space port survivable. This galaxy isn’t made with humans in mind. So when I saw an ad for the Solar Breeding Agency it seemed like an easy enough mark. Get the dowry, get off planet, disappear all before whatever unfortunate species buys me can get me on my back. I have no intention of being bred. No intention of uploading my end of the contract but…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

FOUGHT AND FOUND (ALIEN RECOVERY FILES BOOK ONE) by Lara Roth

Seven feet of trained lethality, undone by a woman with a daisy sticker on her sidearm. I don’t panic. I make tea. Even when a seven-foot, crimson-skinned alien breaks into my ship, claims my cargo, and calmly informs me I’m expendable. Xor is a Tier 1 retrieval weapon, all claws, control, and lethal efficiency. I’m just a courier on a triple-rate run, with fairy lights, named weapons, and zero intention of dying on schedule. He has orders, take the container, eliminate me. I have a counter-plan, outthink him, survive, and maybe figure out why this job feels bigger than it should. The problem? He doesn’t act like a monster. And I don’t treat him like one. Now mercenaries are closing in, my ship’s AI won’t stop meddling, and the deadly alien sent to kill me is starting to look at me like I’m his. They can have the cargo. They’re not having me.      AmazonKU

MAZORIUM BUYS A HUMAN by RK Munin

When Geological Assessment Specialist Mazorium comes across a human woman and her infant child for sale at a livestock auction, he rushes to buy them. Not only does this mean he has a human pet of his own now, but he also gets to gentling a wild-caught human and raise a human child from infancy. His logical and ordered mind isn’t prepared for the chaos these two will bring to his life. Over the course of writing his guide, he’ll find himself changing in ways he never expected. And in the end, it will be the humans who will gentle him.      Amazon

RENJIK (KA’ATARI WARRIORS BOOK EIGHT) by Kenzie Kelly

The Scozid said they want to discuss peace. Willow was the only one who heard the lie. Willow Benally has spent her time since being rescued from the disintegrating Shangris space station studying Scozid culture. When a message promising negotiation arrives, everyone wants to believe their adversary has changed. Willow knows better. The words say peace. The cadence says trap. Now the Alliance puts her at the center of talks that feel less like she’s there for diplomacy and more like she’s bait. Renjik struggles with the loss of his arm at Scozid hands. The cybernetic replacement works well enough, but it feels like proof of failure. He knows the Scozid can’t be trusted and expects the worst. He doesn’t expect the sharp human expert to catch his senses, challenge every assumption in the room, and become his rhun. Between diplomatic theater, biological weapons, a judgmental alien scarf, and an enemy arrogant enough to mistake its own trap for victory—surviving their mission may be easier than admitting the future they want is worth fighting for.   AmazonKU

BIG BAD RED PROTECTOR by Cara Stone and Athena Storm

I should have thrown her in a cell the second she challenged me in my checkpoint. Instead, the tiny human customs officer with fire in her eyes and secrets in her blood is now under my protection.
Every protocol she cites makes me want to break another. Every time she steps into danger, the need to pin her against the nearest bulkhead and claim what’s mine grows stronger. The Bridge woke for her. Ancient power answers only to her touch. Now entire fleets are moving, and factions will kill to control the woman who can activate it. They’ll have to go through me first. I was bred for war. Trained to feel nothing. But Nina Torres makes me burn. I’ll burn my rank, my command, my entire life to keep her safe and keep her screaming my name in the dark. She can scold me on breaking station rules. Fine. I’ll break her instead…slowly. Deeply. Completely.      AmazonKU

ALIENS, ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE ADVANTAGES OF FALLING IN LOVE (OTHERWORLDLY FINDINGS BOOK ONE) by Rose Santoriello and Rae Douglas

Ellie Benshoof loves human history. Certainly more than she loves the humans around her. To be fair, she might be the problem, with her brusque personality and general lack of patience. But when something totally out of this world crash lands in the middle of her research site, Ellie has all the secrets of humanity she’s ever wanted, right at her fingertips. The only thing in her way? Zarek. Zarek might study humans too, but he is most definitely not one. Hailing from the planet Terilla, Zarek was sent to Earth to observe humanity from afar, but his passion project impairs his objectivity. Seeking to change the course of his own species’ future, Zarek switches his coordinates to France, where he intends to capture a live sample of an edelweiss bloom. But the French Alps are a long way from Paris, and he’ll need Ellie’s assistance if he’s actually going to reach them. Making a deal, they agree to tolerate each other just long enough to get what they both need. While on the train ride of a lifetime, Ellie and Zarek must decide what they’ll let this connection become—a neatly labeled set of samples, or a once-in-a-lifetime field study that proves some discoveries are better experienced than explained. Love just might be the greatest advantage of them all.     AmazonKU

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS Note: Have you read the latest Badari Gladiator’s story yet? JAMIRR, my newest release!

JAMIRR (BADARI GLADIATORS BOOK FIVE) by Veronica Scott

His memories gone, mistreated and abused by a series of owners, Jamirr knows only that he won’t give in and become a fighter in the savage arenas of the galaxy. He refuses to give his so-called masters the satisfaction. Destined for a grim fate in the mines, he waits to die. Raised by a gladiator father to become an arena warrior from the time she was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Samyra inherited his struggling gladiatorial house and has carved out a career as the ruthless Beast Lady. Looking for new fighters she knows she should pass Jamirr by. He’s nothing but trouble and untrainable. Something about him won’t let her walk away and she takes the risk of adding him to her team. Despite himself Jamirr has a growing loyalty and attraction to the Beast Lady. He’s drawn to the caring woman underneath the savage exterior she presents to the world. But she has secrets that threaten them both and he still has no idea what kind of past his amnesia is concealing. He knows he’s not human, not with claws and fangs, yet he loves a human woman. Will he fight for her? Could a gladiator and his mistress ever become mates and equals? And will the arrival of a group of men like him known as Badari create opportunities for freedom or destroy the life Jamirr’s carved out?

Amazon     Apple Books     NOOK     KOBO     GooglePlay

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

DRAGON ME CRAZY (POSSESSIVE MONSTERS BOOK 12) by Maggie Mayhem

A Single Dad Dragon Meets His Witchy Match – As a recently divorced grandmother, I buried my magic long ago and ask nothing of life but peace and quiet. Then a single-dad dragon offers me a job as governess to his motherless dragonlet. I agree to just one visit, no promises. But the moment I step into his castle, Emmett decides I’m his. He calls me his treasure. He touches me like he means to keep me. And the heat between us? As hot as the fire in his belly. But secrets slither through these castle walls, and someone covets what Emmett guards most. To save the dragonlet I’ve come to love, I’ll have to reclaim my magic and learn to trust the dragon who’s staked his claim on my heart. And I have to do it all before dragon fire burns it all to the ground.     AmazonKU

MICROBURST (THE PROSPECTS BOOK FOUR) by Erin R Flynn

I am Queen Sagan De la Rosa… For now. After learning family secrets and horrors about my parents that no child should ever know, I think maybe the majority of Thovudin is right and Uncle Fraser should be king. It’s not like people in my own castle really want me there even. Fine, some have accepted I’ll be there and this is the way things are—which is so big of them when it’s my home—but they don’t really want me as their boss. All I ever wanted was to come home and now I want to be anywhere else with the way things turned out. And the men who “want” me don’t want me, Sagan. They want to be prince thinking they’ll be the actual ruler. One wants me now that we learned what my parents really thought of me. One says he wants me as I am, but I don’t know I could ever trust someone from that family again or the intensity of his obsession. One would want me if I wasn’t going to be queen, so maybe that’s the answer? Maybe the answer is to leave it all behind and find out who Sagan is without the heavy weight of the De la Rosa name and the fate no one wanted for her?   AmazonKU

THE OCEAN’S QUEEN (THE CURSED QUEENS BOOK FOUR) by E E Hornburg

Finley, the feared and legendary pirate queen of the realm, has one goal: to break her sleeping curse before it traps her in an eternal slumber. With the enchanted chalice hidden deep within the Paravian Mountains, rumored to have the power to cure the king’s sleeping curse, she believes it can do the same for her — if she can find it in time. But nothing is ever that simple. Finley’s quest becomes even more complicated when she’s forced to team up with a brooding shape-shifting wolf, bound by an ancient curse to the goddess of death. This enigmatic wolf has the power to drag anyone into the world of the dead, and Finley’s friends are at risk if she can’t find a way to break his bond. To survive, she must convince him to work with her to cure her curse — and maybe even free him from the goddess’s hold. With the evil queen threatening to take over the realm, Finley’s mission becomes a race against time. If they fail, it’s not just Finley who will fall into eternal sleep — the entire world could descend into darkness. Can the pirate queen and the cursed wolf overcome their differences in time to save the realm from destruction?      AmazonKU

A WORLD ENOUGH by Jenny Frame

VS Note: FF PNR.

When Brogan, werewolf of the Irish Filtiaran pack, is thrown through a portal into a new world, she finds Camber, a young woman being hunted. She risks everything to save her, and all she gets is a curt thanks. Which is a shame, because when Brogan looks in her eyes, her senses explode. Then Camber jumps through a portal and disappears, and Brogan must follow her. Maybe this woman can help her find her way home. Camber has been running since she was ten years old. Born a Map Keeper, she holds the power to find portals, and this magic is very valuable to many worlds. When a malevolent group of paranormals, who seem to have inspired the Celtic God myths, band together to destroy her, Camber and Brogan come to an uneasy truce. Brogan will help protect Camber, and Camber will help her find her way back to Earth. But as secrets are shared and their hearts begin to beat as one, will Brogan find she is closer to home than she thinks?      Amazon       AB

MUSE AND MALICE: ECHOES OF OLYMPUS by Anna Hawke

No one worships the God of the Dead. Feared by mortals and mistrusted by his own family, Hades has ruled the Underworld alone for millennia. When a prophecy ties the fate of the pantheon to a mortal woman, he has no choice but to bring her into his realm—and keep her close. Persephone enters the Underworld with a secret purpose: steal Hades’ keyring and reclaim the son she lost. She expects a cold and merciless god. Instead, she finds a man worth protecting. If Persephone’s deception is exposed, it may destroy more than their fragile bond. It may bring down the gods.     AmazonKU

GUARDIAN OF EXILE: A NYX FORTUNA NOVEL by Michelle Manus

Normal isn’t easy. Readjusting to ordinary life at the Station isn’t as easy as Nyx Fortuna would like, so she isn’t too upset at having another problem to distract her. Namely, finding Tristen Veld, the exiled Shaman who is her only chance at freeing Griff and the Stations. The catch? The only information she has on his whereabouts is that he was living in Dead Earth fifteen years ago. Tracking him down is difficult enough, but when she does, he isn’t at all what Nyx expects. Life hasn’t treated him kindly, and it’s left the exiled Shaman cynical and angry. Nyx, not exactly full of hope herself these days, isn’t sure she’s the right person to convince him to help her, but she has to try. And the funny thing about convincing someone else that life is worth fighting for? Sometimes, you convince yourself of the same thing along the way.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SCORCHED BY THE DRAKE (BRED FOR THE RIFT BOOK FOUR) by Zara Crowe

He can taste every lie she tells. One flick of his forked tongue and the drake warlord knows what her cool, clever mouth won’t say: she isn’t afraid of him. She’s starving for him. She came to negotiate the breeding contract. She’s begging him to honor it instead, his mark searing her throat, his knot locking her in the dark, and no idea how to want anything this much. Possessive monster. Heroine with teeth. A heat neither of them can refuse.      AmazonKU

ILLUMINATED (VAMPIRE TALES BOOK ONE) by Alexa Piper

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

He locked me in his gaze. “You can try to run, but I am faster. You must have guessed. What do you think I am?” My lips trembled before I spoke. “Vampire.” Ethan is a photographer who has made peace with being lonely. When he saves a man from certain death, he has no idea that in doing so, he unlocks an age-old prophecy—and a love like no other. Illuminated is a Gothic-style romance between an ancient vampire and a lonely photographer. Contains travel, adventure, secret organizations, and a prophecy that echoes through the ages. Contains some violence.     Amazon

JASON AND THE MERMAID & HONEY AND GARNET WINE by Alexa Piper

VS Note: LGBTQ short reads.

These two short stories bring you two supernaturals, a merman and a vampire, and the human lovers they have chosen. They are stories of strangeness, of worlds meeting and overlapping.     Amazon

A SPOT OF TEA AND SORCERY VOL 6 by Sylvia Mercedes

VS Note: A novel serialized in 6 parts.

Former Dark Sorcerer. Ready to sacrifice everything. Completely unprepared for Happily Ever After. 
His secret is out. She knows the truth, knows who he once was. The monster, the villain, the man who nearly decimated an entire kingdom in his quest for immortality. Now, she’ll want nothing to do with him. Surely. But Nigel won’t let that stop him from protecting Luna Talbot. If he is meant for one good deed in this life, it is to save her from the doom which stalks her footsteps. Bound by the Sovereign Troth, crippled by poison, he will nonetheless march into the very lair of the worst Dark Sorcerers the world has ever known and, one by one, destroy them. If he can just . . . get out the front door without fainting first. Luna, meanwhile, must decide if she’s going back to work tomorrow morning or not. She’s got one more day to survive before her one-way ticket out of Ballycastle. Between her formerly-evil-sorcerer boss and her infuriatingly persistent would-be boyfriend, she can’t make a move that isn’t compromised! But Extremely Great Aunt Amelia’s old prediction is determined to come true. A glamorous night, a horse-drawn carriage, a moonlit garden, and a romantic tryst are written in the stars for this humble shop girl. Meanwhile, a much darker fate is closing in, and it’s only a matter of time before all the once-scried visions collide.     Amazon

LITTLE MUSIC OF NIGHT (MMF MONSTER ROMANCE) (CREATURE CAFE SERIES BOOK 17) by Clio Evans

Creatures of all kinds go to the Barista to find love, including the two cursed phantoms, Erik and Ray. Erik and Ray already know their mate. They’ve been watching her, stalking her, and yearning for her night after night. There’s just one problem—Christy cannot see the phantoms who haunt her dreams. Christy is ready to give love a shot. But when she’s ghosted on her first date, she leaves Creature Cafe furious. Little does she know, her two phantoms are in agony, waiting for the moment she can finally see them. Will Erik, Christy, and Ray finally break the curse that’s holding them back?    AmazonKU

A SEA OAT FOR SANDY – A PLANT/MONSTER ROMANCE SHORT (PLANT INSTALOVE) by Elliot Ason

She was offered as a sacrifice. He claimed her for worship. Branded a curse since birth, Sandila has always known she would die for the sands. Bound on a freezing beach and abandoned by her village’s priests, she braces for a brutal end at the hands of the legendary monster of the coast. But Argus isn’t there to claim a sacrifice. A terrifying creature of ancient vines and coastal flora, Argus has waited centuries for his fated mate. When he rescues Sandila from the harsh elements, he sweeps her away to a hidden sanctuary where she’s finally safe. He doesn’t want her blood—he wants to show her exactly how a treasured thing is kept. Sandila was born for sacrifice, but in the heavy arms of the beast, she’ll discover she was meant for worship all along.     AmazonKU

SASSY SUNFLOWERS by Holly Day

VS Note: MM PNR.

Jacob has always had a thing for vampires, but he never realized how dangerous they can be. When Jacob Litwin is called to the community in Myrfolk to feed an injured vampire, he jumps at the opportunity. It isn’t until it’s too late, he realizes there is a difference between a sexy nibble in a dark corner of a nightclub and being handed over to a severely hurt vampire. Drystan Sorge has lost everything — his house, his job, everything. He’s been beaten black and blue and is out of his mind from pain. His friend manages to get him to the community in Myrfolk in the nick of time. They’ve left everything behind apart from a bag of clothes and twelve hundred sunflower seedlings. What had he been thinking? Sunflowers aren’t the solution to his problems. The one bright thing in the whole situation is Jacob, the human who agreed to feed him when he first arrived. Too bad Jacob is trying to run away from him. Jacob can’t believe how naive he’s been. He’s always had a thing for vampires, but now his view of them has been shaken. The way Drystan does what he can to take care of him is cute, but he should tell him to stop. Right?       Amazon

ORC’S VEIL (VEIL LANDS BOOK 11) by Cyn Blade and Milly Taiden

Welcome to the Veil lands, where monsters are the only ones who can save you. Eirene: I’ve survived at the edge of the world, stealing the memories of travelers to pay the Veil’s hunger. Then the boundary shrieked, and the sky permanently split wide open. Now, an iron-masked monster has ducked into my cottage to end my treason. Varkhul is a giant built of harsh angles, tusks, and a lifetime of absolute obedience. He captures my bleeding wrists, but the twin moons light up a dangerous, mutual heat between us. They say our touch is eroding the wall, but his darkness is the only anchor keeping me whole. Varkhul: My tusks are weighted with iron rings, each one marking ten executions for the order. I was the Iron Citadel’s cleanest weapon, sent to the border to eliminate a rogue witch. Instead, I found a silver-haired woman bleeding herself hollow just to keep the realm alive. My ancestral blood is an active poison to the Veil, but when it mixes with her skin, the screaming barrier goes dead silent. I was sent to be her executioner, but I will butcher my own commander before I let the dark take what’s mine.     AmazonKU

HE’S A 10 BUT HE BITES by Vixen Voss and Milly Taiden

She stole the wrong relic. Now she’s mine. I’m a monster. The Black Fang. Four centuries of hunting down threats—and one reckless human thief just woke the most dangerous one of all. Riley Harrow. Chestnut hair, clever hands, and a pulse that calls to the monster in me like nothing ever has. The obsidian only answers to her. My mate bond only burns for her. Every faction in our world wants her dead or leashed. They’ll have to go through me first. I should end her. Instead I’m claiming her. Protecting her. Ruining her for anyone else while we chase secrets older than my blood. She ran with my relic. She’s not running from me.      AmazonKU

STRIPES DON’T LIE (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 109) by Milly Taiden

Leni Lovett was this close to taking a vacation. One clean arrest, one million-dollar payday, and maybe—finally—a beach with no assassins, no traitors, and no one asking her to save the day. Then Gerri Wilder taps on her car window with a job involving a wormhole, another planet, and a tiger-shifter pride with a mole problem. Naturally, Leni says yes. Because apparently her idea of relaxing is hunting a traitor in alien territory while trying very hard not to notice the growly commander with the lethal body and bossy mouth. Commander Voryn Drath trusts his warriors, his instincts, and absolutely no one from the outside. After rogues nearly kill the Alpha’s children, he’s ready to tear Stormreach apart claw by claw to find the traitor. The last thing he wants is a human counterintelligence expert poking through his security files. Then Leni steps through the portal, shakes his hand, and his tiger goes feral for one sharp-tongued woman in tactical boots. She’s his mate. Fantastic. Too bad she looks at commanders like they come with warning labels and emotional damage. Gerri swears this is fate doing what fate does best—making a mess and calling it destiny. Leni calls it suspicious. Voryn calls it a security risk with curves. But as the danger closes in and the mole inside the Drath pride gets bolder, their investigation turns into a battle of wills, heat, and very inconvenient feelings. Now Leni has to expose a traitor, protect a royal family, and survive one overprotective tiger who makes her want things she swore off years ago… including a place to finally stay.       AmazonKU

HOWL’S THAT FOR FOREVER by Sabrina Sin and Milly Taiden

She’s mine the second I walk into her flower shop. Amelia Harper smells like grief and quiet fire, and my wolf wants to mark her until the whole town knows exactly who she belongs to. They’ve spent five years blaming her for her husband’s death. But I don’t care about their whispers. I just care about making her mine. I came to investigate black roses and cursed roots. Instead I found my mate. 
Every black bloom makes the town point at her. Every tremor in the ground pulls her deeper into danger. They don’t understand. She’s not the curse. She’s the only thing worth saving in this dying town. I’ll burn every lie to the ground. I’ll face the ancient monster clawing its way free. And when it’s done, I’m not leaving her side. She never wanted a man like me. Too bad my wolf already decided forever.      AmazonKU

PROTECTED BY THE VAMPIRE by L Rose and Lily Rose

VS Note: MM PNR.

For centuries, Soren existed in the shadows. A powerful vampire who had long ago accepted that forever would be spent alone. Love was a luxury fate had denied him. Then he met Spade. Spade, vice president for the Fury Motorcycle Club, isn’t looking for forever. Especially not with a vampire whose very existence shattered everything he believed about the world. But fate doesn’t ask permission. In a world where monsters rule the night, one vampire and one biker will discover that the greatest danger isn’t falling in love… it’s surviving it.      AmazonKU

DEATH MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER  (SHROUDED NATION BOOK 37) by Brenda Trim and Tia Didmon

I can command the dead, but saving the living may cost me everything. As the newest member of the Sacred Sisterhood, I’m given a brutal task of dispatching a zombie horde before it devours everything in its path. But the dead aren’t rising because of errant necromancy. A powerful enemy has returned, and he means to reshape our world into something twisted, broken, and unlivable. To stop him, I’ll need more than my magic, my sisters, and the loyal friends willing to fight beside me. I’ll need the relentless protection of a stubborn gargoyle determined to keep me alive… and the one dark power I’ve feared my entire life. But if the only way to save the world is to unleash the very thing that could destroy me, will I sacrifice my soul for everyone I love… or let the world burn?     AmazonKU

FIND ME (HAUNTED HEARTS SERIES BOOK TWO) by Jennifer Julie Miller

VS Note: An ‘expanded’ re-release.

A job assignment, a dream, and a choice. Multiple lifetimes flash before me and each time, I choose unwisely. Will I be able to find him before my dream ends and I once again take the foolish path? My happiness hangs in the balance.      AmazonKU

SISTERS AND BLISTERS (AMETHYST’S WAND SHOP MYSTERIES BOOK 17) by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape

Amy and Ambrose embark on their latest case as they discover a pair of dead women whose death is a mystery…Sisters and Blisters is book seventeen of Amethyst’s Wand Shop Mysteries, an urban fantasy murder mystery series featuring a quirky witch, a serious detective, a slow burn m/f romantic subplot and a standalone crime.

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THE WITCH QUEEN (THE CRIMSON CROWN DUOLOGY BOOK TWO) by Heather Walter

VS Note: LGBTQ Fantasy

The wicked queen’s story did not end with a happily ever after. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. With the king bound to her magic mirror and Princess Blodwyn, the rightful heir, hidden away in the countryside, Queen Ayleth has the kingdom entirely at her command. Despite her ultimate power, Ayleth finds herself consumed: With fears that the witches from her former coven will return to depose her. With the dread that someone at the palace will discover her secret. With her own deepening dark magic. And with thoughts of her lost love, Jacquetta—the witch whose betrayal still haunts Ayleth as stubbornly as the lingering scent of juniper. But Ayleth’s carefully built world begins to unravel when Blodwyn returns from exile accompanied by Margaret, the king’s scheming sister, and reveals a plan of her own: to invoke Braxos’s Trials, a contest of bravery, wisdom, and justice that could allow Blodwyn to retake the throne. Ayleth suddenly discovers she is in danger of losing the crown she sacrificed everything to win—and she will do anything to retain control. And Ayleth isn’t the only one struggling with her altered position. Blodwyn’s homecoming soon proves more difficult than she imagined. Embroiled in Ayleth’s viperous court, Blodwyn is surrounded by enemies and plagued by rumors of a long-buried curse come to life. As family secrets resurface, the princess isn’t sure who—or what—she can trust. Especially when she may be falling for one of her rivals in the trials. As the battle for the realm intensifies, both Ayleth and Blodwyn find themselves fighting not only for the throne but for the truth.

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KIDNAPPED BY THE MESSY DRAGON by Tessa Stone

In the heart of Shadow Wolf Creek, journalist Jalen “Jay” Carter, known as the messy dragon, is on the hunt for the truth behind a suspicious cleaning solution manufactured by a powerful corporation. As he digs deeper into the company’s operations, revealing dark ties to shifter magic, he never expects to find his fate intertwined with that of a curious stranger. When Zuri Spencer accidentally uncovers the company’s sinister dealings, she unwittingly puts herself in grave danger. To protect her, Jay kidnaps the very woman whose scent awakens a primal desire he can’t resist. As their connection deepens amidst the chaos, Zuri learns about Jay’s true nature as a dragon shifter and the fate he is bound to protect. With witches, secrets, and a sizzling attraction that defies the odds, can Jay and Zuri navigate the perils of shifter society and uncover the truth before it’s too late? In this paranormal rom-com, love and laughter blaze hotter than flame.       AmazonKU

REAGAN (DRESDEN PRIDE BOOK THREE) by Kathi S Barton

Dr. Reagan Dresden has spent his life helping others. Between taking over his father’s medical practice, caring for his patients, and staying close to his large, loving family, he barely has time to think about finding a mate. Then a trip to a local auction changes everything. Blake Winters has enough problems of her own. She loves her job, values her independence, and spends far too much time cleaning up the chaos left behind by her demanding sister. The last thing she needs is a head injury, a broken wrist, and an annoyingly handsome doctor who suddenly seems determined to look after her. When fate reveals Blake is Reagan’s destined mate, he knows he’s found the woman he’s been waiting for. But winning Blake’s heart may be more difficult than any medical challenge he’s ever faced. Especially when family drama, dangerous secrets, and a sister who thrives on being the center of attention threaten to pull them apart.

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GRIFFIN FOOD (COVETED PREY BOOK 15) by L V Lane

I fled my home and my cruel sister, who also happened to be queen. In my homeland, omegas are not celebrated. They are persecuted. So I, a bookworm far more comfortable in a dusty library than on any road, set out with two beta guards I had come to trust. My quest was simple and impossible, driven by what could only be called an obsession: I wanted to see a griffin. Then, finally, I would live out my days in peace. Only events did not go to plan. I did not account for three griffins with very strong opinions about who I belong to. They have decided—unanimously, annoyingly—that the answer is them. I am not interested in belonging to anyone. Not after everything I ran from. But Atlas is immovable. Darrion is impossible to ignore. Fenix is brooding impatience. And Lark and Rafe, my guards turned companions, look at me as though I am already theirs. Then my heat arrives unexpectedly. And suddenly, the choice I swore no one would ever take from me may be the one my body makes first.     AmazonKU

THE RESEARCHER’S GUIDE TO UNEXPECTED MATES (THE SPELLBOUND SERIES BOOK ONE) by Amy Padilla

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Volunteering for Spellbound Corp’s new Residential Pilot Program was supposed to make Mateo’s life easier. Instead, between a demanding cyber security job, chaotic roommates, and sleepless nights, he’s more stressed than ever. Then he meets Dax. Sweet, earnest, and always showing up when Mateo needs him most, the kraken researcher quickly becomes Mateo’s favorite part of the day. Mateo never intended to rely on anyone, but it’s hard to resist someone offering support, massages, fried chicken, and a safe place to land when life gets overwhelming. For Dax, falling for Mateo is easy. The problem is that Dax already knows something Mateo doesn’t. Krakens recognize their mates at first touch, and the moment Dax met the exhausted human, he knew they’d found each other. Now he just has to figure out when to tell Mateo the truth. After all, when is the right time to tell someone they’re your mate?       AmazonKU

SEASHELLS AND DAIQUIRIS by Charlotte Mallory

I bought a cursed seashell and now it won’t stop telling the hot bartender my deepest secrets. My name is Freddie, and I write love stories for a living. Not that you’d know it lately. I haven’t published in a year, my agent sends me smiley-face texts that feel like threats, and the only thing I’ve written recently is a grocery list that made me cry. So, of course, I ran away to a beach for inspiration. The plan did not include a cursed seashell. It definitely did not include the broody, silver-haired bartender who hasn’t felt a single emotion in six years—because his ex (a sea witch, as he so casually mentions) literally ripped his heart out and sealed it in a shell. A shell that I bought. From a shop. For six dollars. Now it won’t leave my pocket. I’ve tried everything. Setting it down? Back in my pocket. Throwing it in the ocean? Back in my pocket. Wearing a dress with no pockets? The beautiful, damned thing appeared in my hand. And it screams my thoughts out loud. Every unfiltered, mortifying, wildly inappropriate thought I have is broadcast at full volume. Even to the bartender that the shell informs I like the tattoos on his delicious forearms. My name is Freddie. I write love stories for a living. I just never expected to find one inside a seashell.      AmazonKU

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CAUGHT BY THE WOLF: AFTER MIDNIGHT by Marie Mason

She had a gift for walking into things. She’d walked into a supply closet at the hospital that had been very much occupied by two coworkers who were definitely not getting supplies. She’d walked into a surprise party at a restaurant—one she had not been invited to. She’d walked into a bar fight just as the first punch landed. She’d been walking into the wrong places at the worst moments her entire life. It shouldn’t have surprised her when she’d gotten turned around on a hike and landed smack dab in the middle of an illegal poaching operation deep in the mountains of Lone Creek — armed men included. Honestly, it tracked. What did not track was him. The man – wolf – that saved her. Wren knew shifters were real. She’d grown up beside them. As a nurse, she’d patched up a bear shifter with a chainsaw injury and a wolf who’d lost an argument with a truck, and none of it had ever rattled her. Shifters were just part of Stone Creek, same as the bad cell service and the church potlucks. But she had never, in thirty-one years, seen anything like Roman. Roman and his brothers had come to Stone Creek with a plan for a fresh start. Keep their heads down. Mind their own business. It was a good plan. Then he’d found her running for her life in his woods. His wolf scrapped the plan for a peaceful existence in under a minute, for two very good reasons. One… the men who saw her face were not going to let it go. Two… she was his fated mate. Now the only thing that matters is keeping her safe. And keeping her his.      AmazonKU

THE DUNGEON BOOK by Gareth Hanrahan

Enter a world of dungeons and dragons, magic and manticores, and goblins and gargoyles …Bait doesn’t remember a time before the dungeon. Before the dragon stole her from her cot. She doesn’t know what her name was before she was handed over to the monstrous denizens of the dungeon beneath the sorcerer’s tower. Luckily for Bait, they decided not to eat her. And so she grew up in the dark—the goblins her adopted family, a vengeful minotaur her protector, a sentient skull her tutor, and a blob of corridor slime her main source of nutrition. But the labyrinthine dungeon, with its haunted halls, buried temples and forgotten magics, draws treasure hunters like moths to flame. And as the outside world starts to intrude, Bait will learn what it means to be monstrous and she will have to decide where she truly belongs.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

STUBBORN AS A SHADOW (WILLOW LAKE PACK BOOK TWO) by Lori Ames

VS Note: MM PNR mystery.

Rainbows and darkness don’t belong together, but fate has other ideas. People use the word “unicorn” to describe the rarest of the rare. The thing that is more myth than reality. The thing that makes you question if it even existed. Yeah. Nelson knows firsthand how apt that metaphor is, because finding an abducted unicorn is about as easy as tracking down rocking-horse crap. After months of searching, all he’s found is failure. Every time he closes his eyes, he imagines the poor man—Morgan—fading away somewhere, unable to escape. And that’s better than magically enhanced caffeine at keeping him awake at night. So when Nelson agrees to do a side job for someone at the Supernatural Council, the last person he expects to find is Morgan. But here he is at a black magic market, dressed up like a stand-in for a B movie about evil witches, and Nelson knows he has to get him back to the safety of Willow Lake. If only Morgan would listen to him. Morgan’s dedicated his life to finding out what happened to his parents. Although that hunt has gotten people killed in the past, he can’t stop. But he is open to help. And who could help better than a deliciously hot shadow jumper? Particularly when Nelson is all heroic and stuff…Hurrah for heroes. Hmm… Maybe Morgan should try to seduce him. Because Nelson really should be rewarded for his services and more importantly, Morgan is dying—hopefully not literally—to see a smile on the grumpy grump’s cute face.     AmazonKU

EARTHBOUND: A NOVEL (THE FAEBOUND TRILOGY BOOK THREE) by Saara El-Arifi

Broken by love. Trapped by war. Bound by magic. Lettle is on a quest to uncover the truth. Along with the human Alder, the last of his kind, she sets off on an arduous journey of discovery. But after a painful separation from King Rayan, she is struggling to find her way. Alder is determined to learn more about his origins. With no memories of his childhood, he retraces his steps to the cave where it all began. But what he finds there may shake him to the core. Back in the fae court, Yeeran has other priorities. The warrior-turned-ambassador must negotiate a peace treaty with the elven army. But it’s hard to bargain with a duplicitous enemy. And it’s even harder to negotiate with a broken heart. Secrets ripple like an earthquake across the land and love and power are at the core of them all.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo 

WORLD’S OKAYEST ORACLE (RELUCTANTLY) SEEKS DEMON by Olivia Dade

Gwen Wexloff might be able to see the future, but not when it matters. Her visions invariably involve piddling issues, which means—unlike most oracles—she’s spent her life predicting for everyday humans instead of international power brokers. After a clutch of brain-slurping zombies escapes from their walled-off compound, though, Gwen experiences the first genuinely world-altering vision of her life . . . and now she needs help. Unfortunately, that help comes from Hugh Blacke, the same starchy (but annoyingly cute) demon who watched her bomb her oracle verification test years ago. To Gwen’s dismay, the two of them will need to work together to unravel the deadly conspiracy behind the zombie breach, despite their complicated past and the secrets they’re keeping. Even with her newfound power, she couldn’t have foreseen how quickly they’d both want more than a simple partnership. But the clock is ticking—and with the fate of humanity at stake, Gwen and Hugh will have to decide how much they’re willing to risk for an unexpected, passionate love…and a future together that might prove very short indeed.

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THE INEVITABLE UNDOING OF ZAHARA DOUGLASS by Leslye Penelope

In April 1995, Zahara watched her twin sister, Annica, get hustled into a stranger’s car and disappear—only to return to a world where no one has heard of Annica. Not her mother. Not the police. No one. Four years later, as the world braces for the looming Y2K crisis, Zahara finds evidence proving her sister was real and hires a private investigator to dig into her family’s shadowed past. When the investigation leads to two charismatic men who once served with her father in Vietnam, Zahara realizes she and her sister may be pawns in a dangerous power struggle with unthinkable consequences. To find Annica, Zahara must face the truth about her family, her memories, and the power lurking within her. But the sisters’ reunion comes at a price—one that could bring about the end of the world.       Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

THE PREGNANT WOLF OMEGA NEXT DOOR: AN MPREG ROMANCE (BABIES FOR BROKEN DADS BOOK SEVEN) by Anna Wineheart

(This is a full-novel expansion of my 12k-word short story, The Pregnant Omega Next Door) – Pregnant and on the run from his ex-alpha, Emre hides with his wolf pup in a run-down apartment. Thing is, he’s out of cash, out of food, and his neighbor is cooking something that smells delicious. Desperate to feed himself and his pup, Emre knocks on his neighbor’s door. What he doesn’t expect is a handsome alpha with a secret. Zenith is protective and offers his own apartment as shelter; he accepts Emre and his pups even though neither child belongs to him. Then Emre goes into labor, dragging his inexperienced alpha neighbor along for the ride. This is just a case of neighbors helping each other. No one is going to fall in love… right?      AmazonKU

THESE VILE HEARTS by Melody Robinette

Maddox Sinclair has run out of options. No job means no health insurance —a death sentence for a type one diabetic like herself. She flees to the forest to make a desperate deal with a dryad queen: kill the Redwood King and be cured of the illness that threatens her life. In the redwood treetops, Prince Castor, is cursed– anyone who loves him is doomed to die. Like Maddox, he has made an equally unwise pact with his brother, the Redwood King: get a mortal to fall in love with him by solstice and be free of his curse forever. When Maddox mistakes Castor for the king, sparks fly and troubles ensue. Each must decide what is more important—survival and freedom, or the love they (kind of, almost) feel in their traitorous, vile hearts.

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DARK DESTINY: THE FATES’ BARGAIN (CHILDREN OF THE GODS PNR BOOK 110) by I T Lucas

The Fates are moving pieces on their cosmic chessboard, and a wait of five thousand years approaches its reckoning.       AmazonKU

BOUGHT FOR BLOOD (DRAGONBLOOD DYNASTY BOOK 14) by B E Brouillard

They don’t call it captivity. They call it supply. For over a year, I’ve been kept alive because dead girls don’t bleed. Every morning, they open my veins. Every night, they leave just enough in me to wake up and do it again. I stopped praying for rescue a long time ago. Then he walks in. Tall. Pale. Beautiful in a way that feels less human than hunger. He studies me like livestock. Like I’m already his. Then tells my handlers he wants me. They refuse. So he buys time with my blood instead. The first time his mouth finds my throat, I brace for pain. For teeth. For terror. I don’t brace for pleasure. I don’t brace for wanting him to do it again. Then he makes his terms clear. No more needles. No more buyers. No one drinks from me but him. He doesn’t free me. He claims me. But every visit leaves me stronger. Every touch pulls me deeper under. And the vampire who looked at me like he owned me starts looking at me like I’m something he can’t afford to want. He holds himself back like restraint is the last decent thing left in him. Every night, that restraint gets thinner. Then he buys me. Not for an hour. Not for a taste. Forever. Behind locked doors and old stone walls, I’m safer…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)    Amazon

CURSE OF ANCIENTS (REBEL MOON SHIFTERS BOOK SIX) by Faith Gibson

She’s a Gargoyle genius and a computer specialist. Do not call her a hacker. Carleigh Stone spends her days and some nights as a keyboard warrior keeping her Clan safe. She uses her knowledge of coding to ensure her family has every advantage when taking out the bad guys while also finding their mates and living their best lives. She and her two partners at H3, their cyber security company, assist their cousins at Steele Securities. When the security company’s newest client comes under fire, every bit of knowledge she has isn’t enough to ensure his safety.  He’s a white tiger shifter and a chosen guardian. Do not call him a savior. Bayu Tan comes from a long line of beings who’ve been blessed by the spirit god Baekyo. It is their sacred duty to balance the scales of good versus evil. When a group of dark mages attack Bayu’s family, he turns to Steele Securities to watch over him. With the company comes a female hacker who claims he’s her fated mate. That would be a blessing if everything else in his life wasn’t in utter chaos. Carleigh and Bayu navigate their new life together while fighting a different kind of cult. One with the type of magic neither has encountered before. It will take the help of Carleigh’s Clan, shifter and fae alike, to overcome this evil before the cult can eliminate Bayu. The year is 2076, and it’s the next generation’s turn to fight the evil in the world. Curse of Ancients is the 6th book in the Rebel Moon Shifters series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, most readers find it more enjoyable if the series is read in order as there will be spoilers.     AmazonKU

THE PRINCE’S FEALT: MM FANTASY ROMANCE (PRINCELY PLANS BOOK THREE) by Ellie Ash

Tor – After the disastrous events in Tond and Alossa, Tor is definitely winging it. He needs to expose the forces that are setting him up and protect his family. If he manages to do that, he’ll finally be able to take the time to prove to everyone that he and Pel should be together, no matter what. Pel – Despite first impressions, if there’s one thing Pel’s learned about Tor, it’s that he puts other people’s wellbeing above his own. It’s a full-time job trying to make sure that Tor stays still long enough to recover from magical exhaustion (again). But Pel’s determined to safeguard the peace of the United Realms, too, and he’ll follow Tor wherever he leads to get to the truth and keep everyone safe. Even if it means they’re committing treason and putting their future in jeopardy.      AmazonKU

HEALING THE DEMON (DEMONS OF THE RIFT BOOK TWO) by Evelyn Embers

Running a Boston ER is controlled chaos. Falling into a dying dimension and landing at the feet of a seven-foot demon medic? That requires a totally different triage protocol. I’m a nurse, not an interdimensional traveller. But in a sunless realm where humans are enemy number one, my only shield is the terrifying demon who scoops me up. Torik is a mountain of sweeping wings, lethal horns, and a rugged dad bod. He’s a deeply grumpy, solitary healer who spends his lonely days with his pet lizard. He’s also the most infuriatingly stubborn male alive. Now, we’re trapped together in his rustic clinic, two fiercely dedicated medical professionals clashing over everything. He barks orders for me to stay hidden from other demons; I can’t just sit quietly while there are patients to save. He refuses to let me lift a finger, but when I ignore him and do it anyway, those clawed hands are devastatingly gentle when he washes the grime from my curls, or pulls me against his broad chest in his single bed just to keep me warm. Giving in to the blistering heat between us—and his very, very accommodating demon anatomy—is a dangerous game when one wrong move could get us both killed. Because once this grumpy monster claims my heart, I might just burn the portal home.     AmazonKU

THE KING’S RUNAWAY MATE (BWWM) (THE WICKED BARBARIANS SERIES: WELCOME TO TRAVENIA BOOK THREE) by T C Clark

She entered his world for a cure. He claimed her as his. And now there’s no escaping what they started. Liora Hale never meant to stay in Travenia. She came for one reason—and one reason only. Her sister is dying from a curse no healer on Earth can break. Desperate and out of time, Liora risks everything to slip through a forbidden portal into a brutal realm of magic and warriors, searching for a rare plant whispered about in legend. She plans to get in. Get the cure. And get out. What she doesn’t plan for… is him. Kael Draven feels her the moment she steps onto his land. A stranger. A witch. His mate. He finds her before the dangers of Travenia can. Protects her with a quiet, controlled intensity that leaves no room for argument. And when his people discover what she is to him, there is no debate. No delay. She is claimed. Bound to him under ancient law. His bride. For one night, she is his—guarded, watched, and held too close for something that was never supposed to happen. And by morning…She’s gone. Back on Earth, Liora uses the plant to save her sister, her hands steady even as her heart isn’t. Because she knows something no one else does. Kael Draven isn’t the kind of man you leave behind. So she waits. And he comes. Crossing worlds without hesitation, Kael follows the bond that refuses to break—into a place with no magic, no rules, and no understanding of what he is. But Earth won’t stop him. And neither will she. Because protecting her was only the beginning. Now? He’s taking his wife home.      AmazonKU

WOLF BLOOD (AT FIRST BITE BOOK TWO) by Lola Glass

The werewolf who’s been keeping me alive with his blood for the last few months just declared me his. He also says he isn’t mine, so that’s fantastic. At least we’re not soulmates. Yet. Being a turned vampire has been rough for me, but I’m determined to survive long enough to make sure that my best friend has a support system of some kind when I’m gone. It doesn’t help that my mother is somehow behind the murders that nearly took her out, though. Or that the wolf who’s claimed me isn’t willing to let me go. Somehow, I have to keep myself sane just long enough for everything to fall into place… and I have to do it without falling for a werewolf.     AmazonKU

BLADE by Shaw Montgomery

VS Note: MM PNR.

Hunting The Beast of Bladenboro was supposed to be foolproof. It wasn’t a sentient creature I could have coffee with or chat with online. It wasn’t running an online jewelry store or complaining about how humans ruin the national parks. It wasn’t even on the list for the Solstice Festival. It should’ve been a real monster I could save people from. It wasn’t. Somehow I had the worst luck of any monster hunter ever…and getting trapped in my own net was just the start. Things might be improving, though, as long as I can count finding my murder kitty, saving my mate from being trapped forever, and falling in love…yeah…things might be improving. Fingers crossed. Enter the Legends world, where National Parks hold secrets—and monsters steal hearts.      AmazonKU

DIVINE RISING (MOONLIGHT DIVINE BOOK ONE) by Cindy Stark

A gifted restoration expert. An immortal guardian. A castle hiding a fracture between worlds. Selene Sullivan has built her career on control—on reading structures, correcting flaws, and restoring balance where others see only crumbling stone. When she’s offered the chance to work on a remote Irish castle, it should be the opportunity of a lifetime. Except the building doesn’t behave like a building. The air tightens without warning. The stone hums beneath her hands. And at the center of it all lies a circular inlay no one will cross, least of all the man assigned to oversee her work. Bren McLoughlin is precise, controlled, and entirely uninterested in explaining himself. He watches too closely. Moves too carefully. And when Selene steps too near the heart of the castle, his restraint sharpens into something far more dangerous than distance. Because Bren isn’t guarding the structure. He’s guarding what lies beneath it. When a fracture in the Veil between worlds begins to spread, Selene does what she’s always done. She fixes it. Except she shouldn’t be able to. Now the balance Bren has protected for centuries is shifting, drawn toward a woman who doesn’t understand what she is, or why his world is starting to respond to her. The closer they work, the harder it becomes to maintain distance. The more they deny the pull between them, the more the Veil strains in response. And when something ancient begins to hunt her, restraint may no longer be enough to keep her safe. Or to keep him away.      AmazonKU

A FAMILY AFFAIR by Jodi Taylor

Everyone’s favourite time-travelling bounty hunters return for a whole new adventure…With the dust finally settling after her near-fatal shooting, Lady Amelia Smallhope is looking forward to a period of rest and recuperation. A chance for her and Pennyroyal to plan their next lucrative adventure and drink margaritas in the sun. Yeah – like that’s ever going to happen. An unexpected phone call blows everything out of the water. They’ve been targeted. By someone all-too familiar with Pennyroyal’s murky past. But who would dare? There’s only one way to find out – and the road ahead is dangerous. But as Smallhope likes to say…When things are bad – make them worse.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HAUNTED PAST: A PARANORMAL PSYCHIC SUSPENSE MYSTERY (SHELBY NICHOLS ADVENTURE BOOK 20) by Colleen Helme

Shelby Nichols can read minds. She thought she knew everything about the people in her life. She was wrong. When her journalist friend Billie lands the assignment of a lifetime—writing the memoirs of a ninety-four-year-old media mogul—Shelby tags along to help uncover the juicy details. Silas Lynch’s Victorian mansion is full of secrets—and apparently, at least one of them refuses to stay dead. But the deeper Shelby digs, the more she realizes some secrets were buried on purpose—and the kind of people who bury them don’t appreciate shovels. Oh, and Ramos? Turns out the man has skills that go well beyond his usual job description. She reads minds for a living. She did not see this coming.     AmazonKU      AB

BEYOND A REASONABLE HAUNT (GRUMPY GHOST BOOK SEVEN) by Maggie March

Some trials are about justice. This one might just raise the dead. Anna McGuffin has faced down murderers, outwitted vengeful spirits, and survived small-town gossip—but nothing has prepared her for this: admitting that her feelings for a certain Victorian ghost have become impossible to ignore. Richard Lockwood is infuriating, overprotective, and devastatingly handsome for someone who’s been dead since 1895. But how do you build a future with a man who doesn’t have one? Before Anna can untangle her heart, Lockwood Cove is thrust into the national spotlight. Greg Anderson, disgraced director of the hit TV show Ghost Trackers, is standing trial for murder—and his defense is unprecedented: supernatural forces made him do it. It would be laughable if the star expert witness weren’t Dr. Thomas Braxton, a man whose obsession with Victorian serial killer Alistair Hawthorne borders on worship. Worse still, the defense’s key evidence is a gold Victorian locket—the very one Anna and Richard know contains Hawthorne’s trapped spirit. One wrong move in that courtroom and the most dangerous ghost Lockwood Cove has ever known could be set free. Richard has kept Anna safe from Hawthorne before, but this time the threat isn’t lurking in a shadowy cemetery—it’s sitting in an evidence bag, waiting for its moment.      AmazonKU

SILVER CLAW (KAIT SILVER BOOK SIX) by Laken Cane

I lost my power in one unspeakably brutal moment. Left with only my rage, my blade, and the whispers of ghosts, I must protect not only my city, but the supernaturals and humans I love. A vicious new enemy is hunting me. Gavin Voss, alpha of Colorado’s Iron Fang Pack, wants my territory, my people, and me. With strange magic making him stronger than any wolf should be, he won’t stop until either I surrender—or one of us is dead. But Voss isn’t my only problem. A supernatural killer is leaving mutilated bodies across Jakeston. The ghosts are still causing trouble for the humans who come into my office asking for help. The council is demanding that I capture the woman who stole my magic. And the shapeshifter inside me has gone ominously silent. Everyone is waiting for me to become the powerful creature I used to be. They’re about to discover that my magic was never the most dangerous thing about me. I’m still the Silver Claw alpha. And anyone who comes for my city, my pack, or the men I love is going to learn exactly why monsters still fear Kait Silver.   AmazonKU

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CHECKED OUT BY THE ORC: OMEGAVERSE MONSTER ROMANCE by Imani Jay

The whole town is scared of him. The new girl isn’t. Sven Greymark wanted Esme Williams the second she walked into his library. But this stubborn, growly orc has been holding himself back, wanting to do things “right.” Then Esme’s heat hits early…A small town library. A Feral alpha. One very claimed omega.       AmazonKU

HEXED UP (ECCLESTON SISTERS BOOK ONE) by Hannah Haze

Why is it that when things finally go right, the universe sends you a great big Hex YouMy not-quite-technically-legal potion business is booming. I’ve paid off (most of) my credit cards. I can finally afford to eat more than toast. All thanks to my newest creation: a love potion that guarantees instant attraction and long-term happily-ever-afters. So naturally, the universe smites me. One kitchen mishap later, a batch of love potion explodes, and my next-door neighbour, (American banker, immaculate shirts, permanently unimpressed), is standing in my doorway with puppy-dog eyes declaring undying love. Which would be less of a problem if he weren’t ridiculously hot – and if he hadn’t spent the last eighteen months glowering at me like I’d personally cursed his morning coffee. Now he insists we can’t be apart. He’s following me around my flat like a lovesick shadow, flirting like it’s a full-time job, and “proving” his devotion with heartfelt confessions and dangerously seductive smiles. Trouble is brewing, and not just in my cauldron. If the wrong person finds out what I’m selling, I’m finished. So I need to brew the antidote – fast. Before I convince myself this is all real. Before he persuades me he truly does love me. And before I fall head-over-heels for the man across the hall. Merlin’s toenails. I’ve really hexed it up this time.     AmazonKU     AB

VOW OF ETERNAL NIGHT by Lily Crozier

Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention. Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum—lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity—Clara knows what she must do. Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love.      AmazonKU      AB

PRINCE OF THE SUN by Emma Noyes

One hundred years ago, the elves appeared on Earth. Beautiful, brilliant, and filled with unearthly grace, they swarmed the libraries and universities: Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Beijing. They made for the humans’ fountains of knowledge with eerie precision, as if they’d spent millennia studying Earth before their arrival. Once there, the Elf King made an announcement: we’re looking for something, and once we find it, we will leave you in peace. Quinn Kallister doesn’t believe him. Seven years ago, she watched her father be murdered and her brother kidnapped by a pair of elves. Since then, she fought to gain admission to Harvard for one reason: to find the answers no one will give her. To do that, she must spy on Daerios Ariar, the most powerful and terrifying of the Sun Princes. Quinn is set on gaining the prince’s trust and learning the elves’ secrets—until an unwanted attraction begins to form between them that neither can deny.      AmazonKU

LIBRARIAN (THE ARCANEUM BOOK THREE) by Marie Mistry

Librarians protect the Library. I have never failed in my duty, until six misfit heirs burst into the Arcanaeum and stole my attention. Now, my negligence might have cost us everything. Thanks to a stinging betrayal I should’ve seen coming, the Library has fallen. The very necromancer who murdered me centuries ago has taken over the vast halls of learning, ruining everything I’ve worked so hard to build. Defeating him is impossible. Or is it? The Arcanaeum has always been more than just a building. It’s a community, a living temple dedicated to the public good, and it’s worthless without a Librarian to unlock the knowledge contained within. And those misfit heirs? They’re going to help me take it back.     AmazonKU

TWICE BITTEN (FANGS AND FUR BOOK ONE) by S E Babin

I was bitten by a vampire AND a werewolf. Now everyone wants a piece of me. I never wanted to be a powerful witch. I’m happiest pulling espresso shots at the Three Beans café and keeping my magic secret. But trouble is brewing…When a turf war between vampires and shifters erupts outside the café, I get caught between the irresistibly charming Vampire Prime and the ruggedly handsome Shifter King. As these two apex predators blindly tear into each other, I am bitten, clawed, and left for dead. My magic flares just in time to save my life, but there are… side effects. Suddenly, I find myself staring at customers’ necks. And feeling suspiciously twitchy before the full moon. It’s impossible but… am I transforming into a vampire and a werewolf? The Vampire Prime finds me immediately. Captivated by my scent, he tempts me with danger and luxury. The Shifter King is equally obsessed, and determined to claim me for his pack. I am caught between them once more—but this time it’s me that they’re fighting over. And since my new blood brings strange new powers, it won’t be long before I’m the most wanted prey in town.      AmazonKU       AB

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

August 5

July 29

July 22

July 15

July 8

July 1

June 24

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

If My Badari SciFi Gladiators Were Anime They’d Look Like This

I love chibis, those cute manga and anime characters with oversized heads, big eyes and attitude.  I’m going to be offering some amazing ones as stickers for ancient Egyptian Special Edition Omnibus Kickstarter in September (the link is here if you want to sign up for updates now or to be notified of the launch). We just revealed the first chibi by the way…

I can’t show the Egyptian chibis yet, not before the Kickstarter kicks off but after I finished getting all of them done, I wanted MOAR! Yes, I’m now a chibi addict. So I decided to do my Badari Gladiators and their mates. I have a wonderful artist for the gladiator series (he’s doing my alien empath series now) Hema Hemo, who I found on Fiverr.

Here’s a brief note about the series (full details of each book on the series page here on my blog if you haven’t read them yet!:

VS: A spinoff series from my best selling Badari Warriors. In the novel LANDON, I made the point that there had evidently been some of the genetically engineered soldiers smuggled off the planet in the past and sold in the galaxy’s rough and tumble, lawless Hinterlands as gladiators. This series explores the fates of some of these men, from earlier generations, not the Generation 8 Badari who appear in the main series (although there may be a crossover novel at some point).

I hope you’ll enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed the process of having them drawn. We’re considering selling them as stickers when we get our online store set up but no decision yet.

Kyden & Elara:

Book Buy Links: Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

 

 

Rennyr & Jaine

Book Buy Links:

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

 

 

Talinn & Bailey

Book Buy Links:

Amazon      Apple Books     Nook     Kobo     Google Play

 

 

Benet & Marushka

Book Buy Links:

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     NOOK     GooglePlay

Jamirr & Samyra

Book Buy Links:

Amazon     Apple Books     NOOK     KOBO     GooglePlay

Dmitri & (Who do you think she’ll be?)

Coming in 2027

 

 

The whole pack (with Dmitri’s mystery fated mate):

 

New Releases in SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for AUG 5

VS: I have a previously published Sectors SFR story included in a new charity anthology!

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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CHEATING FATE (VEREDIAN CHRONICLES BOOK EIGHT) by Regine Abel

Always trust your instincts – As a child, Zhara foresaw her first meeting with her soulmate. After years of long-distance relationship with him, the blessed moment has finally come. But a lethal attack derails what should have been the happiest day of her life. When Gavin travels to the other side of the galaxy to be with his beloved Zhara, he’s determined to prove himself worthy of standing by her side in the impending Great War. As the queen of the Titans, she will help lead the greatest army in the universe. He just never thought the storm would unleash its wrath upon them so soon. Between rampant corruption, deadly betrayals, and shocking secrets revealed, will Gavin and Zhara be cheated out of the future they fought for, or will they beat Fate at her own game?     AmazonKU

FRACTURE (ROGUE FLEET BOOK THREE) by Sybur Phyre

Fracture – Our Titan brothers are together again, finally. And we’re needed now more than ever. With the enemy Solcrue hunting us, we need to build and supply an army fast and fortify our defenses before those snakes figure out where we’re hiding. Trouble is, we’re still severely outnumbered. One of the humans on our ship, a feisty female named Roxi, has contacts in the resistance, including cybertechs that can repair us and maybe even restore the salvaged memory cores of brothers we’ve lost. There is a world where we are most likely to find them, but it will require a small elite team to get in and evacuate them unnoticed. Roxi works with Savage and Chasm to coordinate a team for this dangerous mission. I have to fight for a chance to stay at her side. And I’m glad I do because Solcrue are waiting for us in the shadows, waiting for her. Only after she’s captured do I discover the truth about Roxi. She is what we have been searching for. And she is the only one who has ever pulled me together and made me feel whole again. I hope the Solcrue have made peace with their god because I’m coming for her. Anyone in my way willdie learning what it truly feels like to shatter into a million pieces. Roxi – The Titans need our help if we’re going to survive another battle with the Solcrue. The more I work with units like Fracture and his brothers, the more I want to…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

VINDICATED (WAR BRIDES OF THE VANDAR BOOK THREE) by Tana Stone

The alien warlord saved my life—but I will never belong to the Demon Raas. I was snatched from the enemy’s grasp by the Vandar, but then their warlord dragged me aboard his warbird and into his quarters. Raas Lorken claims that being his war bride will keep me safe, but I’ve never played it safe. I might have agreed to his deal, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever give in to him. All I have to do is stay in his quarters and sleep in his furs until our deal is fulfilled, and then I’ll be free of his scorching looks and searing touch. But when the enemy closes in, everything I know about myself and my world is threatened. Agreeing to be a war bride is one thing. Living with the consequences is quite another.   AmazonKU

EVERY ALMOST: SAPPHIC SLOW BURN SFR (THE EMBERKIND SERIES BOOK ONE) by Elizabeth Hale

What happens when a stranded engineer from 1990 gets six months of free passage on a starship full of rescued space animals? Charlie Wickett has a knack for fixing anything you put in front of her. She’s got the job she’s wanted since she was nine years old, her sister sharing her apartment, and a life in California she built herself, out of nothing, on purpose. It’s a good life. Captain Reyna Solas of the Emberkind CV-0417 is just trying to get through her day, thank you very much. Between an unconventional animal rescue, an angry ship chef, and an Admiral who won’t take no for an answer, the last thing Reyna needs is an alien from a non-contact planet crash-landing in her ship’s kitchen. When Charlie accidentally touches a piece of space debris that, technically, shouldn’t exist, she wakes up forty light-years from home on an alien animal rescue vessel, looking up at a captain who somehow makes everything a little less terrifying. Now Charlie has six months aboard the Emberkind as it carries her home. Six months of impossible rescues, alien corridors, and the best engineering problems she’s ever been handed. Six months to learn the people who run this ship, who are strange and loud and kind and, somehow, her kind of people. The Captain is a different problem entirely. But Charlie will return to Earth… just so long as nobody does anything drastic. Like find a reason to stay.       AmazonKU

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HER CHAMPION (THE UNNATURALS BOOK TWO) by Mel Teshco

Sometimes the monster isn’t the one you should fear—it’s the one you should save. My name’s Adler. I’m not human. Not animal either. I’m something in between. I hate that I look like the cowardly scientists who created me when I possess instincts far more deadly than theirs will ever be. I’m predator, not prey. When my only friend dies from the experimental DNA coursing through our veins, I unleash hell on the lab and everyone in it. But freedom isn’t what I expected. My eagle wings are useless, my feathers ripped out one by one over years of captivity. Every shadow could hide those who’d drag me back to that sterile nightmare. Then I find Eden, beautiful and graceful, with a shy smile that makes me forget I’m a monster. Suddenly, I have everything to live for. I just pray my obsession won’t destroy us both. My name is Eden. I’ve never been anyone special. Just an ordinary woman trying to make the best of an ordinary life, never quite good enough for anyone or anything. Never quite belonging, always apart from everyone around me. Then Adler crashes into my world and everything changes. He makes me feel alive, wanted, electric. He also makes me question everything I thought I knew about myself, including what I actually am. But my instincts scream warning. He’s not what he appears to be. When Adler begs me to hide him, common sense should make me run. Instead I open my door. Time will tell if I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life…or the best one.

Amazon     Kobo

UNSHAKEN: A CHARITY ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY by Various

VS NOTE: Various genres. My story is THE GOLDEN TOKEN (13K words), a previously published scifi romance set in a frontier space station in the Sectors. There’s a Special Forces soldier passing through, a casino dancer with a heart of gold, a miners’ rebellion and a slimy tycoon…

When the earth shook, love refused to break. Twenty-one bestselling romance authors have come together to bring you Unshaken — a celebration of love in all its forms, from sweet and tender to scorching hot, spanning historical ballrooms, small-town streets, alien worlds, and paranormal realms. Each story carries a single truth: some things cannot be shattered. Whether you’re a fan of fated mates, friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, slow burn, military heroes, monsters, or later-in-life love — there’s something in these pages for every romance reader. From grumpy/sunshine to sapphic sweetness, from fake relationships to arranged marriages, this anthology has it all. Unshaken is available for a limited time only and includes a mix of new and previously published romance books. Don’t miss your chance to read 21 incredible stories and make a difference at the same time. All royalties are donated to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in support of Venezuela earthquake relief.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ASSASSIN AT ALLGATE (DESIRE AND THE LAW BOOK ONE) by Tristis Ward

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. From APRIL 28.

She was built to commit the murderNow she must solve it. When the alien aristocrat she was built to assassinate turns up murdered instead, what’s an android assassin supposed to do? For Desire – a half-scale, hyper-advanced android with an attitude – it’s simple: ditch her undercover brothel job, hack her way off the space station, and hunt down the real killer. But in a society where machines are disposable property and androids without a purpose are sent for recycling, rogue androids are even more illegal than purpose-built assassins. Determined to survive, Desire escapes the station and begins hunting the real killer-only to collide with “The Law,” a rule-bound rookie officer of galactic justice assigned to the case. With aristocratic families covering their tracks, telepathic elites striking from the shadows, and conspiracies waiting at every turn, the two unlikely allies must put aside their differences to uncover the truth. Because someone wanted the aristocrat dead. And someone even more powerful will do anything to make sure no one learns why. In this first installment of a new sci-fi mystery series by Tristis Ward, a rogue assassin android and a devout officer of galactic law become the galaxy’s most unlikely detective team in a witty cross-galaxy adventure of conspiracies, secrets, and dangerous truths.       Amazon

THE VILLAIN’S MELODY: A DARK MM ACADEMY ROMANCE by Lola Malone

VS Note: Reviews mention futuristic elements and it is listed in science fiction as well as romance.

He’s the mafia prince everyone fears. I’m the scholarship musician who should’ve stayed invisible. Everyone at Caervast Academy worships Ciaran Virel. Tattoos disappearing beneath his sleeves. Fast bikes. Expensive watches. A smile that should come with a warning label. I know better. Because ever since I arrived at Caervast, strange things have been happening. Someone is watching me through academy corridors. Shadows keep appearing where they shouldn’t. And every clue surrounding my missing sister seems to lead back to the one person I can’t afford to trust. I came to Caervast searching for answers. I definitely didn’t expect Ciaran Virel. But he’s made one thing very clear. Once he wants something, he doesn’t let it go.     AmazonKU

BIKAR: BRIGANDS OF RUK by Jewel Shipley

Bambi – Sometimes the monster is the person who’s supposed to love you the most. Growing up in a cult taught me that lesson early. Trust no one—especially men. I’ve lived by those words ever since I escaped. For the first time since I was a little girl, I finally felt safe. Then the snakes came, shattering the life I’d fought so hard to build. Now I’ve been thrust into a world I never knew existed, and to make matters worse, a man insists I belong to him. Been there. Heard that. Didn’t stay for the T-shirt. Most of my friends have found their happily ever after with their Ruks. Even my best friend insists I’m making a mistake by pushing mine away—that finding your person is worth the risk, and I’ll regret it forever if I don’t give him a chance. I’ve never known what it feels like to be loved. But maybe…Maybe it’s time I find out. Bikar – My body has been twisted into an abomination that defies the laws of nature. After everything the Aynar did to me—and after the sins I’ve committed against my own brother—I never believed the gods of Ruk would bless me with a Starshine. Then they gave me her. She is the purest soul I’ve ever known. My heart. My future. Everything I never realized I was missing. The only problem? She can’t bear to look at me. She trembles when I get too close, hides behind her friends when I try to speak to her, and flinches as though I’m the very monster she fears. If earning her trust means abandoning every rule of courtship I’ve ever known… then so be it. Because all I want is the chance to love her. And, if the gods are merciful…To have her love me in return.   AmazonKU

HIS HEALING HEART (ALIENS OF FROSTFALL BOOK THREE) by Lindy Moonhill

Rynlor has very gifted hands. Ivy has very firm rules about where he can put them. And on her is strictly forbidden. Ivy Williams came back to the Frostfall Festival to sell her handcrafted candles, keep her grief locked down tight, and absolutely not think about the golden-skinned alien healer she never quite forgot. Then an administrative mistake assigns them the same vendor stall. Now Ivy is sharing one very cramped workspace with Evergleam’s favorite healer: warm, playful, ginger-scented, and far too good at making her wonder what those glowing hands would feel like if she stopped telling him no. Rynlor’s touch can heal burns, restore life force, and make the whole market sigh. But Ivy knows exactly how dangerous healers can be. After watching her sister chase miracle cures until there was nothing left, Ivy refuses to become another person Rynlor pours himself into. So she gives him one rule. No healing. No glowing hands. No saving her. But as their candle-and-remedy partnership heats up, Rynlor crosses a line Ivy never sees. He starts pouring his power into their competition entry. Secretly. Every glowing touch makes their creation stronger. Every hidden use of magic brings him closer to collapse. And when Ivy discovers the healer she’s falling for has been spending himself behind her back, she’ll have to decide what scares her more: Losing the future she came to Frostfall to build…Or losing him.      AmazonKU

DEFIANT DRAGON (TALONIAN WARRIORS II) by Celeste Raye

She refuses to submit… and he won’t back down. Rani has always fought for what she believes in—even when it means standing alone. When she collides with a powerful dragon who challenges her at every turn, sparks ignite into something far more dangerous. With rivalries growing and loyalties tested, neither is willing to surrender. She was trained to fight. But the right enemy may become the one she can’t resist.     AmazonKU

JORHEE (DRAGONII HEARTS: THE MATES OF NEW HAVEN BOOK ONE) by Leona Windwalker

VS Note: MM SFR.

Jorhee – As a Dragonii prince, duty has always come first. So when the king orders me to join the galaxy’s new mate-matching program, I obey. I expect politics. Diplomacy. Another obligation to endure. I don’t expect Jesse Wilson. One look at the stubborn human rancher and I know my life is about to change. He’s brave, loyal, infuriatingly independent, and completely uninterested in my title. For the first time, I want something for myself. Jesse – Getting disinherited should have been the worst day of my life. Then a galactic AI informs me I’ve been matched to an alien prince I’ve never met. Now I’m leaving Earth behind for a frontier colony on a distant world, where my new husband has wings, scales, a royal title, and a smile that makes it very hard to remember all the reasons this arrangement is probably a terrible idea. The plan is simple: build a ranch, learn how to survive on an alien planet, and try not to fall head over heels for the prince who already calls me his mate. Simple, right? As media attention follows them across the stars and a growing colony struggles to find its footing, Jorhee and Jesse discover that building a life together may be the greatest adventure either of them has ever faced.     AmazonKU

SWEET HOME ALIENN ARKANSAS BOOK EIGHT by Fiona Roarke

Welcome to Alienn, Arkansas, where the aliens from outer space hide in plain sight at the Big Bang Truck Stop. Jack Grey has spent years trying to forget the only woman he ever truly loved. But when Madelaine Archer suddenly returns to town with danger at her heels, the life he thought he’d settled for is turned upside down. Before Jack can learn why she disappeared without a word, Madelaine is called away on a mission unlike any the galaxy has ever seen. Refusing to lose her again, Jack follows her into a universe filled with forgotten worlds, impossible secrets, unlikely allies, and enemies determined to stop them at any cost. As old wounds begin to heal and long-buried feelings ignite once more, Jack and Madelaine discover that some secrets are worth crossing the galaxy to protect. Some loves are worth fighting your way home for. Some stories are destined to come full circle. Welcome home to Alienn, Arkansas.     AmazonKU

DOMINION (LEVIATHANS) by Deiri Di

Adesewa – When I kiss the alien cyborg holding my survival in his hands, I have to keep him on my side before the ship’s monsters, my people’s panic, and my own hunger for him destroy us all. But even though my kiss set him free, I have other women to worry about. We have to find a way to survive being stranded. The problem is that every time I look at him, I want more than survival. Sigidi – I was built to obey. Then Adesewa freed me with a kiss and gave me something I was never supposed to have: choice. Now I want to protect her, help her build a home for the women she leads, and touch her in ways that make my systems overload. The ship is still alive. The old crew is still out there. And the women we came with are only beginning to understand what this place really is. If Adesewa and I make the wrong move, we could lose the fragile community we’re building. If we make the right one… we might lose ourselves instead. Dominion is a spicy stand alone alien romance novella in the Leviathan series and includes a detailed exploration of consent and control.     AmazonKU

ALIEN KING AND HIS QUEEN (MATES OF ASTARA BOOK TWO) by E V Carter

Sadie’s life was flipped upside down when she was kidnapped by Aliens. How much stranger will it become when she is made their leader? Continue Braven and Sadie’s story as they land on his homeward and are introduced to his family, friends, and more. Will Sadie be able to return to Earth? Will Braven’s world be able to accept her as his mate?      AmazonKU

AMARA: HEIRESS OF THE MULTIVERSE BOOK ONE: THE LAST ARCHIVE by Abiegail Rose

She died as a nobody. She woke up as the key to every world. Amara Hana Park’s life ends the moment she uncovers a secret buried deep within the world’s most powerful technology empire. She expects oblivion. Instead, she awakens inside the Last Archive—an impossible library hidden between collapsing realities, where every forgotten world, every unwritten future, and every life that ever existed is preserved. There, she learns an unimaginable truth: the multiverse is dying, countless universes have already been erased, and she alone has the power to inherit the Archive before existence itself disappears. Armed with the mysterious Black Card, an artifact capable of unlocking limitless knowledge, forgotten civilizations, and impossible abilities, Amara is thrust into a war spanning infinite worlds. But amid endless realities…One constant remains. No matter the universe…No matter the lifetime…No matter who they become…He always finds her. Sometimes he’s a prince. Sometimes an assassin. Sometimes a detective. Sometimes the man sent to kill her. His name is Elias. He always remembers her. He knows every time that he sees her…He would choose her over the universe itself. As ancient enemies awaken and reality begins to collapse, Amara discovers there is a reason Elias has searched for her across eternity. He has already lost her. Again. And again. And again. He has watched worlds burn…Held her as universes died…Carried the memory of a love no one else remembers. And if fate dares take her from him one more time…He won’t just rewrite the stars. He’ll burn every world that stands between them.      AmazonKU      AB

HIS LITTLE CRYPTOLITE (ELEADIAN MATES BOOK 16) by Paige Michaels

It’s Allisa’s turn to find out what it means to have a Papi of her own. Allisa’s life is not what she’d hoped for. She’s always been the good girl. To please her parents, she graduated from college and landed a job at a prestigious marketing firm. But she hates the job, and the owner’s son is stalking her. Deep inside, she secretly longs for a life she would never verbalize out loud. Crogor is pleased to realize that his mate is already familiar with the lifestyle he will expect her to embrace. She’s eager to obey him and enjoys the rewards. Their connection is strong, and things quickly escalate. Allisa finds herself in a more intense version of the coveted way of life she hoped for. Is it too much? Prepare to travel through the stars only if you’re brave enough to learn about oversized Papis and survive their very intimate care.       AmazonKU

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS Note: It’s summer – what better time for a Star Cruise aboard the “love boat of the stars”, the luxurious Nebula Zephyr? There are fifteen voyages to choose from! Available wide. Here’s the series page on my blog with all the blurbs and buy links.

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

MUST LOVE FALLEN ANGELS (SABLE COVER BOOK FIVE) by R E Butler

Fallen angel hero? Check. Fresh start in a small town? Check. Love worth risking everything for? Double check. Tessa came to Sable Cove to start over. After losing the two people she thought of as family—her boyfriend and her best friend—she packed her things and headed to a small, seaside town. She even found a part-time job at the dragon-owned bookstore in town. What she didn’t have was a plan to fall in love. Venice has spent years protecting a town that has never quite felt like home. A fallen angel with scars where his wings once were, Venice knows better than to want what others take for granted. Angels don’t get mates. Fallen angels don’t get second chances. But watching his friends find love has made the longing harder to ignore. Then one morning, he finds Tessa on the beach… and everything changes. From the moment they meet, their connection is undeniable. As desire turns to something deeper, Venice worries that history will repeat itself—that he’ll mistake curiosity for love again. When Tessa’s past follows her to Sable Cove, the danger becomes real, and Venice will prove exactly what kind of angel he is.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DARRIN: THE WOLVES (KING LATE SHIFTERS BOOK THREE) by R E Butler

Alpha wolf Darrin “Dare” has watched his brothers find their truemates with human women, and he wants that same future for himself. But after one bad dating app match after another, he’s ready to give up – until his pack convinces him to try one last time. His final swipe right brings Audrey into his life. Audrey has had her share of bad dates, but something about Dare feels different from the moment they meet. He’s protective and dreamy, and everything she ever wanted in her forever-guy. Even though their feelings hit hard and fast, there’s no denying the truth: she’s a wolf’s truemate. But when a female wolf from Dare’s past arrives in King Lake, convinced she has a claim on the alpha’s future, Audrey wonders if a human woman can truly be enough for him. Dare knows Audrey is his truemate but now he has to prove that nothing from his old life can touch what fate gave them. Because in King Lake, when fate chooses a mate… the past doesn’t get a say.     AmazonKU

HOT GHOULS READ: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MONSTER AND PPARANORMAL ROMANCE by Various

Hot Ghouls Read… And they don’t gatekeep love and romance. If you’re a monster, a god, a beast, or a human, the authors in this collection of short, steamy romances believe that love is for everyone. Join authors S.C. Principale, V.V. Strange, Roslyn St. Clair, Maison De Loup, Danielle Sibarium, Jenny Fenshaw, Mikayla Rand, and Ellen B. O’Brien for spicy stories guaranteed to please those hot ghouls who love to read! If you spread these pages, you’ll find monster and paranormal romance featuring werewolves, vampires, gods, demons, Bigfoot, shifters, and more!     Amazon

HIS ETERNAL TEMPTATION: MM VAMPIRE ROMANCE (BOUND IN BLOOD BOOK ONE) by Colette Rivera

Bound to the enemy. Rowan Valero rules Shearwater Landing. Some see him as a ruthless vampire, others as a protector of the disadvantaged. In order to be both, Rowan must know his enemies from his friends. Who to trust and who to keep outside his walls. And no one may have his heart. Lane Blackburn is desperate. Nothing short of a deadly curse could have brought him to Rowan’s door, but here he is, hoping the vampire he had a misguided crush on will save an old enemy’s life. The last time Rowan saw Lane, the witch was a spy sent to seduce him. So why does seeing him so close to death tug on Rowan’s heartstrings? Is it Lane’s choice to waste his would-be last breath on a warning, or is it more? Rowan saves Lane, but it comes at an unforeseen price. The curse binds him and Lane together. They can’t be more than a few feet apart without Lane returning to the brink of death. It’s the kind of mistake that could bring Rowan’s empire crumbling to the ground, or worse: expose what lies hidden in his heart.     AmazonKU

CLUTCHING HER BIRD TWINS’ PEARLS by Marilyn Barr

VS Note: MMF.

Ellenore – New York, 1924 AD – I should let my father die alone. Do I really want my childhood home, filled with terrible memories I’ve fought hard to forget? Even the horrors of being a nurse in the Great War don’t compare to the wrongdoings I witnessed as a kid. With any luck, he will pass before my train reaches Kentucky. The city is no place for a haunted woman like me to retire to a life of spinsterhood. I need isolation where my night terrors and panic attacks won’t disturb anyone, and I know the swamp can hide many secrets. Raymond – She’s returned. When Leopold sent Ellenore to boarding school, I assumed I’d never see her again. My heart set her free to live a real life, untethered to the swamp. I moved on, falling in love with Roy, trying to build a life between Leopold’s diabolical experiments. Now my feelings for her have escaped from the dark corner where I buried them. My rut triggers Roy’s, and we must release our eggs. He says to smash them…but I have a different vessel in mind. When Ellenore doesn’t remember the bird man who admired her from afar, what will she do with his declaration of love? Will his affection for her end his relationship with Roy? Or will it take the comfort of two monsters to keep her nightmares from haunting her?      AmazonKU

BRAZEN (WOLF RANCH BOOK 12) by Renee Rose and Vanessa Vale

PACK RULE #12: ALWAYS SATISFY YOUR MATE. The beautiful single mom has a secret. It’s not why she walked away from an IndyCar pit crew job. Or the reason she chose Cooper Valley when she could work anywhere in the world. It’s that her five-year-old son smells like a wolf. My alpha wants to know what she might be hiding. I don’t care about that. My wolf made the call: She’s my mate. That means the pup is mine too, blood or not. Except I’ve got a rep as the cockiest, most brazen rodeo player in three counties. She takes one look at me and decides I’m good for exactly one thing. Fine by me. I’ll take it. We strike a bargain: I’m the only one who gets to touch her. No labels. No strings. Just heat, and as much of me and what I can give her. Every night I have her, I’m winning. Every time she lets her guard down, I’m in a little deeper. She thinks I’m too young to want forever. She’s about to find out exactly how wrong she is. She’s mine. The pup’s mine. And I don’t intend to let either go.   AmazonKU

FURRED LINES by Rhea Fox

VS Note: MM PNR.

So what if they made a marriage pact as kids? So what if Noah Bright has grown into the exact kind of beautiful chaos Lewis has never managed to get over? He’s sure Noah doesn’t even remember.But when Noah misunderstands Lewis and thinks he’s offering himself up as his Winter Husband — for social media only, obviously — Lewis can’t bring himself to correct him. Not when this might be his one chance to have Noah, even if it’s only pretend. Noah Bright’s life is a complete failure. Running away to Bali seemed like a brilliant idea, right up until his problems packed a bag and came with him. Now he’s nearly thirty, back in Scotland for the winter, broke, freezing, and staying in a hovel he refuses to call home. It’s temporary. Obviously. Then Lew—his big brother’s best friend, childhood crush, and inconveniently gorgeous Tiger man—offers to play his boyfriend online so Noah can make some much-needed cash. And really, there are worse things than having a big, beefy tiger as a winter husband. But the longer they fake it, the harder it gets to remember where the performance ends. Lewis is ready to do anything to keep Noah past cuffing season. Noah wants to stay more than he wants to admit. But choosing Lewis would mean admitting Bali wasn’t the dream, coming home wasn’t failure, and maybe the life he’s been running from is the one he was meant to build all along.   AmazonKU

BEARLY OUT LOUD (MATCHMAKER’S BOOK CLUB – VILLAINS TWO) by Milly Taiden

When a Woman on a Mission Meets a Bear Who’d Burn It All Down for Her, Plans Change – Nari Wixx can make you believe a drawing is alive. As an award-winning voice actress, she pours her soul into every character she voices — which is why she recognizes her grandfather’s stolen, unpublished work the moment it lands in her inbox wearing someone else’s name. She doesn’t report it. She takes the role and walks straight into Keiser Entertainment to find her proof. To her dismay, she spends the entire first meeting trying not to think about how it would feel if Dojin Keiser touched her with even half the attention he gives everything else. Dojin Keiser runs a sixty-member sleuth and helms a billion-dollar entertainment empire. He’s warm in the way that makes women feel received but never quite reached, and he has never once rearranged his kitchen for anyone. Then Nari walks in with a grievance and a mouth he can’t stop looking at, and suddenly he can’t remember why control ever felt like enough. She walked in looking for evidence. The truth is more complicated than she planned. And the bear who has kept everything perfectly in place is about to move furniture he’s never once touched — for the woman who makes him want to rearrange everything.     AmazonKU

VAMP CEO BIT YOU WHERE? by Vixen Voss and Milly Taiden

She walked into my office like she owned it. One look at her pulse and I knew—she was mine. The rarest bond in centuries. A human mate who makes ancient laws bend. I hired her to keep her close. To watch. To protect what belongs to me. But Jasmine Carter doesn’t kneel easily. She challenges my control, lights up my dead veins, and makes me want things I swore I’d never take. Now rivals want her dead. The Council wants her erased. They think a human weak spot makes me vulnerable. They’re wrong. I’ll burn my empire and their rules before I let anyone touch what’s mine. She was never just an assistant. She’s the woman who woke the monster—and the only one who can tame him. She ran once. She won’t get far.      AmazonKU

KIDNAPPED BY THE UNHINGED DRAGON by Melody Lynch

After escaping a toxic marriage, Kendra thought the worst was behind her. But her ex isn’t ready to let go—and now he’s stalking her every move. Desperate to protect her daughter Zoe, Kendra flees to Shadow Wolf Creek where Diane now lives with her new bear shifter mate, Nathaniel. It was a safe place to hide. Until the dragon shows up. He’s Dangerous and he hasn’t forgotten the time Diane stole from his hoard. But now he needs a favor. His mating season has begun—and an unmated dragon is a dangerous one. He makes Kendra a deal: Be his for seven days, and he’ll make her richer than she ever imagined. Rich enough to disappear from her ex for good. Kendra wants to refuse. But with a stalker closing in and a dragon burning to claim her…She’s running out of options—and excuses. She ran from one monster. But this one? She might not want to escape.     AmazonKU

LITTLE HOWL OF MOON (MONSTER ROMANCE) (CREATURE CAFE SERIES BOOK 16) by Clio Evans

VS Note: MM PNR.

Creatures of all kinds go to the Barista to find love, including his werewolf nephew, Steel. When Steel goes into an endless rut, he knows it’s time he finds his mate. Desperate to put an end to his suffering, he begs for the Barista to match him. Oliver is a hot chef, a single dad, and still healing from losing the love of his life. It’s been a long time since he’s felt the need to impress someone . . . or the need to dominate. When Steel oversteps on their first date, he quickly puts the bulky werewolf on his knees. Despite their rough start, Steel and Oliver decide a weekend together is just what they need. But Death is lurking, the creature world is changing, and Steel and Oliver are at risk of more than losing their hearts to the full moon.      AmazonKU

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MISTLETOE AND DEMONS: A CHRISTMAS DEMONS ROMANCE OMNIBUS by V V Strange

This Christmas, the monsters under the bed are the ones finding love. Two holiday paranormal romances. Two nightmare demons. Two human women who are about to discover that the things lurking in the dark aren’t the ones to fear. In Frightfully Yours: A Tale of Love and Nightmares, the Boogeyman himself is determined to give a lawyer haunted by betrayal the nightmares she’s owed… until falling for her becomes the biggest nightmare of all. In Demonically Yours: A Tale of Love and Terrors, a fear-born demon investigating dangerous dream magic finds himself falling for a guarded librarian whose past may hold the key to saving both the Dreamscape and the waking world.   AmazonKU

WEDDING THE WEREPANTHER (FERNDALE FALLS FOREVER BOOK FOUR) by Krista Luna

One matchmaking sentient house + one gorgeous werepanther roommate = one helluva surprise wedding! When I inherited the sprawling purple Victorian, I knew it used to be a wedding chapel. What I didn’t know is that my magic would make the house sentient… or that it longed for the days of bridal veils and tossed bouquets. It locks me in with Shadow and refuses to set us free until I marry the gorgeous werepanther! Okay, no prob. As a gamer girl, I know how to get out of sticky situations. We’ll wed to make the house happy and immediately annul. Only, our magical marriage binds us together for a full month, and if we consummate, it’s permanent. To make matters worse, the house keeps arranging romantic dates, and the irresistible Shadow plays along way too enthusiastically. If he touches me and growls, “My wife,” one more time, I might scream. Or kiss him, or more.    AmazonKU

HOWLING FATE (HUNTER’S MOON RITUAL BOO KTHREE) by M Sinclair

Howling Fate is Book Three in the Hunter’s Moon Ritual trilogy—a dark, steamy, why-choose wolf-shifter romance packed with fated mates, primal tension, found family, and dangerous rituals. Haunted by her past and bound to a future written in blood, Gracie never expected the possessive pull of three shifter mates—men who could be her only chance at freedom… or the ones who break her completely.     AmazonKU

OAKHEART (WOLVES OF THE WILDWOOD BOOK ONE) by Sam Burns and W M Fawkes 

VS Note:  MM PNR.

Cash grew up in the Wildwood, so nothing here is new to him. The pack is poor, the people are beaten down, and the alpha? He’s the one who does the beating. Cash has spent his whole life trying to satisfy a pack leader who takes everything and demands more. But this time, the demand is his teenage cousin, and he’s not willing to pay that price. Aleks was raised to be alpha. Sort of. His father was the alpha of the Wildwood pack, but when he was four, his mother took him and fled back to Russia. The fact that she found her childhood home, with an abusive alpha and a government that hunted and killed werewolves, a better choice than her husband told Aleks all he needed to know about his father. After a raid which left little other than broken buildings and people, his uncle Grant found them and asked them to return to Idaho so Aleks could take up his mantel. But while the Wildwood is better than Russia, it’s no picnic. Grant is little better than Aleks’s father. But then there’s Cash . . . a man so beautiful, and so sweet, that Aleks is willing to do anything to build a real home for everyone he loves.
Even if it means killing his own uncle.       AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: BLITZEN by Cheynne Legends

There’s a legend… men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again… Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. Who knew a Star Reader couldn’t see their own future? I sure didn’t. One moment I’m walking home from work, doing my best to avoid people. Then, the next thing I know everything goes dark. I have to get back to Santos, back to what I know. However, the mountain is against me and violently shakes. Snow traps us, but it’s her scent that captures me. Now, I have a fight I may not be able to win. Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?     AmazonKU

MATE HUNT DONDER by Anye Kelleye

There’s a legend… men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again…Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. Don dedicated his life to uncovering why the men from Santos kept disappearing. The Elders offered no answers, and so he spent countless days in the bibliothèque, pouring over old manuscripts and firsthand accounts…stories from men who had watched their friends vanish in an instant, or who simply never saw them again. Frustration grew, but so did his certainty that he was close. Then one day, a strange tale appeared on his desk…a child’s story about flying reindeer. And then…everything went black. Juniper was the keeper of the archives. She understood what it meant when new men suddenly appeared in town, but the truth was not hers to share…at least, not with most people. Only her best friend knew part of it, bound as they were to the strange “magic” of the North Pole. Even so, Juniper carried secrets too heavy to hold forever, secrets she hadn’t told anyone. Until HE arrived. His presence set events in motion that would bring those hidden truths into the light…at least for those who needed to know. Two scholars, each chasing answers, found far more than they expected. And in the process, they began to discover one another. Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?      AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: DANCER by M P Starkweather

There’s a legend… men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again…Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. One minute, I’m fixing the fence on my family’s farm, the next I wake up on a strange planet. The mating urge hits me, and I know without a doubt the stories are all true. That doesn’t prepare me for scenting my mate on a man, violently shifting, and nearly killing him. I’m not sure which is worse, the fact that I don’t even remember it after, or learning that the man I attacked is my fated mate’s father. Can I get them to forgive me so she’ll accept the mate bond before Christmas Eve? Or am I doomed to life as a feral unmated reindeer? All I know is that I can’t fight the urge to claim her, but how can I claim her after what I’ve done? Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?     AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: PRANCER by Eva Priest

There’s a legend…men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again…Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. I was taken from Santos and dragged into a world of snow, magic, and monsters. The first shift shatters me—bones breaking, instincts rising, something feral clawing its way to the surface. They call me Prancer. They say I need a mate to survive. To keep the darkness from consuming me. Then she walks in. Senada smells like heat and life and everything my body recognizes as mine. The storm inside me goes still. The hunger sharpens. She doesn’t know what I am. She doesn’t recognize me when I find her again in human skin. She thinks I’m just a man offering her shelter for the night. I tell her the truth—I won’t touch her without permission. But she is welcome to my body whenever she wants it. She thinks she’s playing with fire. She doesn’t realize I was born to chase. Mating a reindeer shifter isn’t romance. It’s a hundred-year bond of service, possession, and survival. If she chooses me, she won’t age. She won’t walk away. And I won’t let her go. Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?      AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: VIXEN by A Double

There’s a legend… men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again…Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. Xin – I never believed the legend and have called BS on it so many times, knowing there has to be more to it. When I’m in the right place at the wrong time and hear more than I should, my biggest fears become a reality when it’s lights out for me. Zara – A rogue skiing trip to the North Pole sounded like a good idea in my head, but when my lack of finesse has me veering directly into danger, it can’t get any worse. Right? Enter Xin. Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?     AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: COMET by Emily R Richards

There’s a legend… men from our planet are banished, never to be seen again…Turns out it’s true, and now it’s my turn. I am one of those men. I am taken from everything I know and placed in a world I don’t understand. I am bound by magic I don’t fully comprehend. To serve one man. To train until my lungs burn and my instincts claw their way to the surface, all for one special night. At first I refuse. I don’t want to be a part of this new life. But then I scent her. Noelle is human. Soft. Sharp-tongued. She looks at me like I’m a man instead of a monster, and it makes something inside me snap. My reindeer side knows her before my mind does. Marks her. Chooses her. Something inside me snarls awake, ready to claim what is destined to be… Mine. The closer Christmas Eve creeps, the thinner my control becomes. Instinct takes over. The bond tightens until resisting it feels like tearing myself apart. I’m supposed to help pull Santa’s sleigh across the world in a single night. But the only thing I truly want…is to keep my mate beneath me, breathing my name, safe from everyone else. She should run from me. But running isn’t an option. If I lose control… I lose her. And I won’t survive that. Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?      AmazonKU

MATE HUNT: CUPID by Shalene Marie

There’s a legend… men from their planet are banished, never to be seen again… Turns out it’s true, and now it’s his turn. Waking naked in the parking lot of an adult club without any memories of his past life, Cupid is immersed in a completely new world. While everyone around him is getting laid, he’s keeping his own secret: he’s a virgin. He doesn’t know her name, but he dreams about her. He’s drawn to her, but he doesn’t know why. Who is this mystery woman? Perhaps she’s someone from his past life…the life he knows nothing about. Maybe if he can find her, he can also find out who he is? Every hundred years, a reindeer shifter can choose to retire, and a new one is called from the planet Santos. Who will be next?      AmazonKU

HELLHOUND AU by Shannon Mae

VS Note: MM PNR.

Rowan – I’m a hellhound who doesn’t love murdering evil people. Well, of course I’d like to see them dead, but I’d rather not deal with talking to them or getting messy. I like a nice, orderly existence. Milo (who I still think may be a chaos demon) is the opposite of orderly, yet I can’t seem to stay away from him. If he wants me to come on a few jobs with him, I’m happy to help. After all, he does all the awkward talking and stuff. I just get to be scary looking. Milo – I’m not sure how I ended up becoming an assassin, but I don’t mind the work. When I meet a sexy, redheaded man who may be the worst liar I ever met (he totally burned down that cabin), I decide maybe I’ll keep him around. Yeah, his cover stories suck, but he seems to be good at scaring people. Must be those colored contacts he wears, because no one actually has flames in their eyes. Right?      AmazonKU

IN THE EMBRACE OF DRAGONS by Lyonne Riley

VS Note: Why Choose with MM, MF, MMF content.

A grumpy dragon king, his new human queen, and their captain of the guard in an arranged marriage with a twist. Princess Nissia has always been destined to be married off to the king of the dragons, but she didn’t expect how grouchy and closed off her new husband would be. Alone in a new country, she finds herself turning to Ragnakor, the kind, protective captain of the guard. King Vizarios never wanted to marry, especially not a human. He’s always held a candle for Ragnakor, but they both know there can be no relationship between them as long as the king must fulfill his duty to the realm. Though Vizarios has pledged to feel nothing for his new wife, when he and Nissia must consummate the marriage publicly, sparks fly. Ragnakor believes that at last, his king has found happiness. But the stoic captain is developing feelings for Nissia, too, and Vizarios won’t let him go. Can the three lovers find a way when the dragon kingdom demands an heir?      Amazon

DEMON’S BEAUTY (CRESCENT COVEN BOOK FOUR) by Leigh Miller

A witch on the run. A demon to rescue her. Two worlds threatening to pull them apart. The Witch – I’ve always lived life according to the Crescent Coven’s rules. The star student, the diligent apprentice, the dutiful witch right on the cusp of Ascending to a coveted spot as a coven priestess. But I can’t do it anymore. I want to know what it’s like to choose my own fate for once. On a desperate whim, I flee the coven hall on the eve of my Ascension with no plan, running right through the Veil and into the arms of a tall, handsome demon who claims he’s my mate. The Demon – I’ve always lived life for my own amusement. The wayward son, the unrepentant rake, the constant disappointment to my high-achieving family. It’s always suited me well enough, and I’ve never really thought I was meant for anything more. Until I meet a witch with raven hair and emerald eyes and magick so powerful it takes my breath away. She’s running from something, with no one to hold her, support her, make sure she’s safe, and I intend to be the one to prove to her that she’ll never be alone again.     AmazonKU

VAMPIRES ARE SO YESTERDAY (NIBBLE DON’T BITE BOOK ONE) by Sam Cheever

I always thought I’d like to enter the pages of my favorite paranormal romance. Live the excitement. Embrace the heat. But paranormal creatures don’t exist, right? Right??? It started one night when my book club held a meeting at our favorite corner bar to talk about our latest book. It hasn’t ended yet. But I know one thing for sure. Witches, Fairies, Ghosts, Vampires and more are real. And I’m pretty sure they’re all coming for me. I just don’t know why. Hopefully I’ll survive to figure that out.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BEAR AND WOLF (SUGARPAW SPRINGS BPOOK TWO) by Fel Fern

VS Note: MM PNR.

A protective bear shifter. A desperate wolf with secrets. One fated bond that could ignite the whole town. Rafael Kingsley has rules. No mates. No second chances. No getting close to anyone who might rip open old scars. As Bear and Bun’s gruff second-in-command, he thrives on control. Then James walks into his life with sweet smiles, dangerous secrets, and a scent that wakes every instinct Rafael thought he buried. James is barely keeping his head above water. Crushed by debt from his brother’s mistakes, he has made deals he regrets. Getting tangled up with a possessive bear who sees straight through him should be the worst decision he has ever made. But Rafael’s steady presence and protective growl begin to feel like home. When James’s past comes back with teeth and threats, Rafael stops pretending he does not care. He will fight, bleed, and shift to protect the wolf who has become his everything. Loving James means more than saving him. It means trusting fate, facing his own buried wounds, and risking the one thing Rafael has never given anyone…his heart.     AmazonKU

GRIMOIRE OMENS (WITCHES BY FLUKE BOOK ONE) by Eve Langlais

Sorry, Ottawa. I didn’t mean to accidentally start a demonic invasion. Not entirely my fault. I definitely think the bottle of wine deserves some of the blame, and maybe I shouldn’t have smoked those joints, but still, who could have predicted Grams’ Grimoire of spells would actually work? My drunken butt just wanted to summon my one true love. Instead? I opened a doorway to another dimension, and a bunch of demons came through—along with a pair of uber sexy princes. Princes more interested in fighting each other than trying to impress me. Annoying. Even more irritating? They both have a plan to use me—and not for sex. Ulseere, with his laser-blue eyes, silky dark hair, and granite expression thinks I’d make great bait. Gryvak, of the blond locks and broad shoulders, wants me to open another portal to let in even more demons to take over the world, but at least he’s promising to make me his queen. What’s a girl to do? One, take charge of my life—and magic. Two, rid Ottawa of the demons causing havoc. Three, tame one of the princes from the alternate realm because, hello, at the ripe age of thirty-six, a woman can’t be too choosy. So what if they’re not entirely human? They make my toes curl, heart race, and have me feeling more alive than I ever imagined. However, is lust enough for a happily ever after?

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ADVERSARY TO THE VILLAIN (ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN BOOK FOUR) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

HR Update: The position of “adversary to the villain” has been filled. Evie Sage does not recall applying. Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn—not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does—things are starting to feel…less like a career path and more like a serious problem. The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit. Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer—closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional—and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His. Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE CASTLE AND THE CLOISTER (DAUGHTERS OF LIGHT BOOK ONE) by Laura E. Weymouth

Two centuries ago, the Inver clan conquered the nation of Honoria, ushering in an era of blood. Now, after a period of fragile peace, a king’s whims may reignite the engines of war. At the last stronghold of Honoria’s sun goddess, Fia, a young postulant, seeks safety for her child, but the price of the cloister’s protection will tear her from what she loves most and thrust her into a deadly game of deception. Within the Inver’s mountain fortress, Ariana is known as the apostate queen after abandoning her faith for a king. But old loyalties aren’t easily severed. Ariana treads a dangerous path, striving for peace in a court made for conquest. And deep in the heart of the mountain, the Inver Priest bides his time with small acts of rebellion. Blinded in the fight for the throne, he harbors a bitter grudge—one that could lead to Honoria’s ruin or renewal. Amid a landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings to alter the course of nations.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

THE PLATINUM DRAGON’S COURAGEOUS MATE  (ORO ESCONDIDO BOOK FOUR) by Minerva Howe

VS Note: MM PNR.

Dragon shifter Kieran is hiding from the world. He’s been ill-used in the name of dragon politics, and he and his baby son are in Oro Escondido where it’s safe, staying in dragon guardian Lachlan’s home. He doesn’t want to leave the suite of rooms Lachlan provided for him, worried that if he does, someone will harm his little boy. Lachlan wants Kieran to rejoin the living. As an injured dragon who can’t look at all human, he knows what it’s like to have to keep himself away from the world outside Oro Escondido, but he also knows there’s far more Kieran can do than stay in his part of the house and hunker down. He’s also convinced Kieran is his mate. He wants to show Kieran his new home, and help him and his son come out of their shells. So little by little, they work on becoming the family both of them desperately need. But when the past shows up to haunt them again, will they be able to stand together and keep everyone safe?       AmazonKU

DEVOUR ME SERIES BOOK ONE by Emily Rath

Dáinn the Devourer has spent the last two hundred years of his undead life reluctantly bonded to a dark witch, doing her dirtiest work. Devouring corrupt souls may not be satisfying for a wraith, but it keeps him fed. Sent on a job to Burr Island, Dáinn is forced to devour the soul of a rival witch. But Jasper Prescott is no corrupt magical misfit. He’s powerful and beautiful, with a soul worth savoring. Dáinn is eagerly devouring the witch when he’s abruptly stopped. By a human no less. With one word, Birdie Rhodes does what no being has ever done: she takes his breath away. Now the witch, the wraith, and the human are set on a path that could lead to their destiny…or their ruin. Desperate for his freedom, Dáinn makes a deal with Jasper: kill my mistress, and I’ll let you keep living. But Jasper wants more than just to live. He has a coven to protect. Their secrets are being threatened by magical forces on and off the island. Bound together in this strange new deal, Jasper fights his growing attraction to the wraith, who is far more human than he appears. And Dáinn fights the urge to devour the delectable witch whole. The only one who can save them is Birdie Rhodes, hapless historian and sometimes shop girl. Birdie only came to Burr Island for summer work. She has no idea magic is even real. She certainly has no idea she’s now the only thing standing between her witch boss and the hungry wraith aching to devour them both. As magical forces of darkness loom at Burr Island’s shores, Jasper and Dáinn are both determined to keep Birdie close in Devour Me, book one in a dark, spicy paranormal romance trilogy.

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DRAGONLANCE: WAR WIZARD BOOK ONE by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Vinus Solamnus wrote: The practice of magic is secretive, inherently deceitful, and dishonorable. Those who practice magic are forbidden to enter the knighthood, nor should they be connected to the knighthood in any way. The boy with a rare gift for magic was born in Solamnia, a nation that despised and distrusted mages. His father tried to beat the magic out of him. The knights threatened him with imprisonment and exile. He endured tragedy and heartbreak. Yet he persisted with his magic, for the sake of the magic. One friend stood by him when others persecuted him, a young man who was studying for the knighthood. No one could understand this unlikely friendship. The knight was Huma. The boy took the name, Magius. The two would one day become famous in Solamnic history, fighting together to defeat the Queen of Darkness. But that future is distant, far down the River of Time. For now, this is the story of an unlikely friendship that would one day change the world.         Amazon      AB      Apple Books      Kobo

EYES OF KINGS (FLASH AND FALSE GODS BOOK THREE) by Chloe Gong

VS Note: From the blurb for book one (there’s a lot more going on in this trilogy): “Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches.”

The action-packed finale to Chloe Gong’s New York Times bestselling Flesh & False Gods trilogy—inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra—brings readers the ultimate showdown for power among gods and men.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE RUT IN THE ROAD: BEYOND THE VEIL: RAYN’S STORY BOOK TWO by KM Avery

VS Note: MM PNR Mystery.

I was finally getting my life together—I had a job, a boyfriend, was working on my college degree, and was learning to control both my magic and my psychic abilities. I’d reconnected with my sister and I was starting to think that I might actually be able to have something approaching a healthy adult life, even if it wasn’t going to be an even remotely normal one. And then I hit a rut in the road. Or, rather, people started hitting other people. What started as a single hit-and-run had become several of them, all targeting Arcanids, and I was being asked to get into the mind of the killer… although I’m starting to think that maybe there’s more than one. Tracking one killer is hard enough, but when you think there might be several, things get a lot messier. Especially when your boyfriend is a federal agent who just got called in to take over the case. It’s the first time we’ve worked together since we started dating, and it’s definitely taking a toll. I don’t want to have to choose between keeping him and solving the murders.       AmazonKU

THE IRON HEX by Victoria S Walsh

She doesn’t remember her past. But some memories come with a cost. Eira Eckhart has spent years building a quiet life in a small town at the edge of a recently overthrown kingdom. Her memory is fractured, her past a blur—but with her shop, her loyal rabbit familiar, and practicing only the potions magic still legal under the watchful eye of the Iron Empire, she’s managed to remain unnoticed by the empire’s witch hunters. Until Hugo Venton walks through her door. Brash, clever, and infuriatingly handsome, Hugo is searching for something…and seems to know more about Eira than she knows about herself. But when a terrifying encounter with an unnatural, deadly new breed of soldier puts a price on her head, she has no choice but to join Hugo on his quest. Their hunt for a missing princess pulls Eira across the continent—and deeper into a past she can’t recall. As buried memories, mysteries in the Iron Empire’s capital, forgotten feelings, and the truth behind her identity begin to surface, Eira realizes the forbidden magic simmering in her veins might be the very thing that could save them from the Iron Empire’s forces as they draw ever closer…if she can remember how to control it in time.

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THE LION AND THE DEATHLESS DARK (CROWNS OF NYAXIA BOOK FIVE) by Carissa Broadbent

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all. Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance. Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final job: to slay the gods themselves. Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him. But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.       AmazonKU      AB

QUEEN OF SHADOW: A NOVEL by P C Cast

Step into the mystical world of the Isle of Skye in 200 BCE, where legends come to life, goddess and gods walk the mortal earth, and the Queen of Shadow holds court. But Scáthach is no ordinary queen. Daughter of the Underworld goddess Bēfionn, golden-haired Scáthach is not just a brilliant trainer of warriors, her divine mother has gifted her with the ability to pass between the living world and the Underworld and has granted her dominion over shadows. Scáthach dedicates her life to training the most talented warriors from across the ancient world at Dunscaith Castle, her impenetrable fortress on the magical Isle of Skye. When Cuchulainn, the Hero of Ulster, son of the Irish god Lugh, arrives asking to become one of her students, Scáthach reluctantly agrees to train him—even though she has serious misgivings about his violent past and the mindless berserker who sleeps within him and whose rage, once awakened, has always been uncontrollable…until the Hero of Ulster meets the Queen of Shadow. Scáthach soon realizes Cuchulainn is much more than the brutal, emotionless warrior everyone expects him to be. And the Hero of Ulster begins to believe he might take control of and even change his foretold fate. As their growing attraction deepens, Cuchulainn’s father, the God of Light, forces him to retrieve a weapon that will seal Cuchulainn’s fate and forever take him away from the Queen of Shadow. But when Scáthach joins him on the quest through the most dangerous and disturbing parts of the Underworld, Scáthach discovers that her fate may lie in the Underworld and, perhaps, she might be able to forge a future for herself and Cuchulainn by tricking death herself.

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SALT IN THE WOUND (RENGARA BOOK ONE) by Atlas Jones

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Indrie has spent five years keeping a dying king alive, and all it’s earned him is bruises – So when Rengaran barbarians storm the castle and Indrie is handed over to their king as a parting gift, he doesn’t fight it. He clutches his healer’s satchel to his chest and braces himself for a new kind of cruelty. King Eskil is, by every measure, the most dangerous man Indrie has ever met. He’s also the first person who has ever helped Indrie to his feet instead of putting him on the floor. But when a stolen aphrodisiac fruit from the pilfered stores leaves the king burning with a deadly fever only Indrie can break, the careful distance between them shatters in a single passionate night, and with it, a bond neither of them want to undo.      AmazonKU

STEELBORN (THE STEELBORN SAGA BOOK ONE) by Taylor J LaRue

Never run. Never bow. Never die. Reya Connery became the Crimson Dagger, the most notorious thief in Rhiterra, by following a strict set of rules. One: There is no honor among thieves. Two: A good blade is key to any negotiation. Three: Only the dead keep secrets. And Reya has a secret that must be kept at all costs. But when a heist goes wrong on the eve of paying off her debt to a ruthless crime lord, Reya may need a new set of rules. And lots of coin. Fast.  Enter Caelan Halcyon, an immortal warrior whose magic makes him a valuable target—if the curse inching closer to his heart doesn’t kill him first. There’s just one person who might be desperate enough to try and get their hands on the fabled cure in time to save his life, someone whose legend claims they can steal anything: the Crimson Dagger. A male of honor, Caelan loathes everything the beautiful, cocky thief represents, yet knows that Reya is his last hope for survival.  Their search takes them to the edge of the known world, where Reya discovers that there is far more at stake than her and Caelan’s own lives. Now, Reya must confront deadly foes, her growing attraction to the immortal who is as lethal as his jawline is perfect, and the rage she’s spent a lifetime trying to bury. This time, her daggers aren’t going to cut it, and the fate of all magic-born hangs in the balance.  Enter a world ruled by tyrants and thieves, where magic is outlawed, revolution brews, desire is dangerous, and an impossible cure may prove deadlier than the curse.      Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

SUNSPLITTER (BEASTS OF THE VOID BOOK TWO) by S A MacLean

Fi has toppled immortal beasts. Antal welcomes being conquered. After helping the Lord Daeyari reclaim his territory, semi-reformed smuggler Fi dons a daunting new role: rebuilding a city alongside her monstrous partner, a haven free from bloody sacrifice. So when Antal’s father unexpectedly summons him home, Fi’s first instinct is to ready her claws. Only, claws won’t be enough for this adversary. Antal faces his first homecoming in five decades, dreading two truths. From his father’s seat on the governing council, he could undo everything Antal has built. And their last argument ended with Antal’s lover dead on the floor. But a greater danger lurks: the appearance of a creature that even the daeyari fear, burning its way through the Planes. With Antal’s father leading the hunt, he and Fi must ally with a team of immortals who could turn fangs on them at any moment. Or worse, strain their still-fresh love until it snaps.

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TIME TRAVEL FOR BEGINNERS by Jaclyn Moriarty

On a bustling road in Sydney, Australia, lies a nondescript storefront known simply as the Time Travel Agency. Inside, you’ll be welcomed by the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, a selection of baked goods…and the question, Where in time do you wish to go? The guidelines are simple: you can go whenever you wish into the past, and there’s no fear of altering the present. Have tea with Jane Austen, scream at a Beatles concert, witness the Olympics in ancient Greece. Perhaps a more personal trip? Visit your long-lost grandmother, recapture the heady days of your youth, return to the idyllic time when your teen was a babbling baby—or watch yourself make the one decision that changed everything. Is it a hoax? And if it’s real, what’s the catch? When single mother Anna is offered a job at the agency, she glimpses the possibility of happiness. Meanwhile, Teddy’s a customer hoping to untangle his recently imploded marriage. And Jade, who has a deeply buried secret, despises the agency for offering false hope. In Jaclyn Moriarty’s incandescent novel, Anna, Teddy, and Jade leap headlong into time, hurtling on a crash course toward one another. At turns entertaining and illuminating, Time Travel for Beginners explores the moments, big and small, that shape our destiny.

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BEFORE I LOST YOU by Shae Ruby

VS Note: LGBTQ time travel romance.

Conrad Moore spent six months falling in love with Kenneth Dunn—the kind of love that rewires your bones, that makes everything before it feel like waiting. But on the night he finally says forever, a car crash takes it all away. And then… he wakes up. Six months in the past. In a hospital bed. With memories no one else believes ever happened. Kenneth doesn’t know him, the life they shared never existed, and Conrad is left holding nothing but a heartbeat full of grief and a name he refuses to forget. Now he has one impossible chance to find Kenneth again. To change the way they meet, the way they love, the way it ends. To do everything differently—and still find his way back. But fate isn’t so easily rewritten. And loving someone a second time doesn’t make losing them hurt any less.   AmazonKU

TO DANCE WITH DEATH (THE EDGE OF GLASS BOOK TWO) by Britney Arena

In the epic conclusion to the fantasy romance duology that began with A Dance of Lies, Vasalie must journey to the realms of the dead to restore the memories of her beloved king and stop a mounting war. Once a spy for the ruthless King Illian, Vasalie sacrificed herself to kill him and prevent a prophesied war. But Illian’s brother, Anton—the king she allied with and began to love—struck a deal with Moranya, the goddess of the underworld, to bring Vasalie back. The cost: his compassion, his memories of her, and all the events of the past six weeks. Now stripped of the truth, Anton believes his friends betrayed him and accepts Moranya’s offer to rule the kingdom of the dead. But with the kingdom he leaves behind on the brink of civil war, and her cruel father threatening to invade, Vasalie realizes only Anton can reunite a fractured realm. To save her world and the man she was coming to love, Vasalie must journey to the underworld and reclaim him. But the Anton she finds is the worst version of himself: the arrogant, debauched king she once thought he was. To restore him, she’ll have to restore his memories first… even if it means sacrificing her own heart.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

A TRADE OF BLOOD (ANA AND DIN MYSTERIES BOOK THREE) by Robert Jackson Bennett

The heir to one of the Empire’s most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in the victim’s blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions. But if the great detective Ana Dolabra cannot save him from the noose, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, threatening to plunge the whole Empire into starvation and chaos. As Ana investigates—her assistant Dinios Kol, as ever, acting as her eyes and ears—she fears her task is even more daunting than it seemed. For this murder is just the latest in a deeper, subtler web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal. With their customary skill, Ana and Din pursue their adversary through the canton’s wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses. Yet even they are not prepared to learn the horrifying secret behind their opponent’s powers.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

MY ORC HAS BIG TUSKS (CREATURE RESCUE LEAGUE BOOK ONE) by Ava Ross

One small-town vet. One soft-hearted orc. Could he be her forever home? Laina: When I answered an emergency call in the middle of a storm, I expected to treat an injured bird, not fall for the seven-foot-tall orc who owns the Creature Rescue League. Brovish is all gentle hands and worried frowns, the kind of guy who names every animal and writes about them in a worn notebook like they’re family. He’s also jaw-droppingly gorgeous…but I’m not supposed to notice that about someone I’m working for. But when a tiny orange emberkit chooses me as her person and driftwhisps start decorating my hair, I realize this wild, messy, wonderful place might be exactly where I’m meant to be. If I’m brave enough to stay. Brovish: For two years, I’ve poured everything into the Creature Rescue League, creating a safe haven for orc kingdom animals in need of forever homes. Then Laina walks through my door in the middle of a rainstorm, fixes a bird’s broken wing like she’s been treating orc kingdom creatures her whole life, and talks to me like I matter. Even our grumpy snugglethorn adores her. I’m trying to stay professional, but when she smiles at me like she cares, I know I’m in trouble. Now I just have to convince her that this place—and me—are worth fighting for.       AmazonKU

ECHOES OF MAGICAL VENGEANCE (MIDLIFE WITCHERY BOOK 24) by Brenda Trim

The gods are dying in their sleep. The killer calls it retribution. It’s three in the morning when Artemis manifests at Pymm’s Pondside looking like death warmed over. With divine power flickering like a faulty light bulb and dark circles that shouldn’t exist on a goddess, she’s begging for help with nightmares that are literally killing her kind and Fiona Shakleton knows their hard-won week of peace is officially over. The goddess of the hunt has never asked for anything. She demands, expects, and occasionally threatens. But asks? Never. Which means things are properly buggered. The nightmares aren’t random—they’re echoes of magical vengeance from a mystery cult the Olympians destroyed centuries ago. A cult that discovered how to make gods mortal and paid for that knowledge with their lives. Now someone is channeling their collective rage into a weapon, systematically executing the divine beings responsible for their massacre. And with each god that dies screaming in their sleep, the vengeance spreads, infecting anyone with supernatural heritage and threatening to tear reality itself apart. As the Backside of Forty digs deeper, they expose an uncomfortable truth. The mystery …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

DRAGON’S GUARDED MATE (DRAGON SECRETS OF PARKHURST COLLEGE) by Serena Meadows

Aaron Chen was supposed to be just another student. Quiet. Controlled. Forgettable. Until one touch made me feel like my entire body recognized him. Now I can’t stop thinking about the intense man hiding behind those dark eyes—or the dangerous secret he refuses to tell me. But the closer I get to Aaron, the stranger my world becomes. Students are disappearing, something deadly is stalking the campus, and Aaron watches me like he’d destroy anyone who tries to hurt me. Then I discover the truth. Aaron isn’t human. And the dragon inside him has already decided I belong to him.   AmazonKU

SOUL OF FIRE (CHAOSBORN BOOK TWO) by Madeleine Eliot

Only a soul of fire can stand against what comes next…The Rift is stirring, and the Darkness beyond it is no longer content to wait. As the human king prepares for a war driven by greed rather than survival, newly mated Arik and Eisa are pulled into a dangerous web of politics—one that threatens not only their fragile alliances, but the mate bond that ties their souls together. When the Darkness breaks free, only a soul of fire born once in a generation can stand against what comes next. And awakening that power may cost more than either of them is willing to lose.     AmazonKU

THE GLASS UNICORN PART 12 (QUEST WARS) by Yasmine Galenorn

When Erenye Green, an editor at a small publisher, and several of her gaming friends find themselves stuck within the fantasy world of Abarria, they must learn to navigate the realities of what it really means to battle monsters, zombies, and all manner of creatures, now that the stakes are life and death, and no longer a simple roll of the dice. Part 12: Erenye and her friends make it through the tunnels into the Summer Kingdom, but not without attracting the wrong sort of attention. Notes:
This is a LitRPG serial.      Amazon

FAT ENEMY MATE (SILVERCREEK LOTTERY MATES BOOK EIGHT) by Layla Silver

I was raised to hate his kind. The lottery chose him as my mate anyway. The wolves took everything from me: my family, my home, my safety. My entire human world. I escaped the rogues who hunted me, half-starved and ready to die. Then he found me. A wolf. The very monster I was taught to fear. He carried me to safety, dressed my wounds, and bolted the door against the storm. Now I’m trapped in his cabin, deep in pack territory, with no way out and nowhere to run. The lottery ritual flared for him and chose no mate. It was reaching for me all along, a human girl who wants nothing to do with him. He can’t stop watching me, can’t stay away. Refusing a fated bond isn’t supposed to be possible. My plus-size body lies bare and unguarded beneath his hungry wolf eyes. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to feel whole again, to find belonging. But it’s hard. It’s hard to want him this badly, knowing his kind already broke me once. Will my wolf mate heal my plus-size curves?     AmazonKU

A LABYRINTH OF HONEYBEES (MAGIC AND MYSTERY COLLECTION) by Heather Fawcett

New rulers meddle with the whims of the old gods in a lush and twisty short story of devotion, intrigue, and murder by the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series. At a remote mountain temple, an inquisitor arrives to question a priestess about a pair of murders. The keeper of the sacred garden, its bees, and its ever-changing hedge maze does have her secrets. But what will protecting them cost her as she uncovers layers of conspiracy on both sides? Heather Fawcett’s A Labyrinth of Honeybees is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

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BATTLE OF THE ROUND HOUSE (MAGIC AND MYSTERY COLLECTION) by Tannarive Due

This spellbinding short story from the award-winning author of The Reformatory reimagines the Wild West through the eyes of a young Black girl with a gift. 1871: Ten-year-old Lucy Freeman and her family flee threats in Kentucky for a new life in the post–Civil War frontier. Their refuge is Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black women and children that thrives, if the folktales are true, on magic. But a mob of bounty hunters is bringing hell to paradise, and it’s Lucy’s own secret magical ability that may be the only defense. Tananarive Due’s Battle of the Round House is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.       Amazon      AB

FIELDS OF ASPHODEL (UNDERWORLD MYTHS) by Callie Rowland

In this lush reimagining of Greek mythology, the daughter of Hades and Persephone defies the gods of the underworld to forge her own life amid war, curses, and unexpected romance. For Asphodel, the free-spirited daughter of Hades and Persephone, being cursed to never fall in love with a god is a blessing. Determined not to be trapped in a union like her mother, Del spends her life blissfully on the Isle of Flowers, far from her family in the underworld. But when Del’s parents ordain her marriage to Thanatos, the god of death, the freedom she’s long since guarded is at risk of being stolen for eternity. So Del takes fate into her own hands: She kidnaps her groom-to-be and traps him on her Isle. But defying the gods comes with a price. Without Thanatos to send mortals off to peaceful rest in the underworld, death will devolve into brutality and violence. The realms will be consumed by chaos. With time running out and her freedom on the line, Del must restore the balance she upended—even as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to the ever-charming and bashful Thanatos, who offers another way of saving the worlds by breaking her curse. Only then can Del choose to marry him.     AmazonKU    AB

RESCUED BY THE VAMPIRE OUTLAW (DARK WINE NOVELLA BOOK ONE) by Jenna Barwin

COLIN – Seeing her again tears me apart. Four years have passed, and I still love her as fiercely as the day she walked away. But my vampire community has given me one job: rescue her. A catastrophic typhoon is racing toward the California coast. To save her life, I have no choice but to abduct her—because she’ll never believe the truth in time. Then I bite her to restore the memories she lost. The fear in her eyes guts me. I’m doing my duty…but all I want is a second chance. Can I convince her I’m not the monster she thinks I am? NAMI – I wake screaming. There’s a man in my room. Then I realize who it is. My ex-boyfriend who believes he’s a vampire. Part of me still loves him. But I can’t build a life with someone who’s delusional. So I run. But when I try to escape, he shows a side of himself I’ve never seen before—an outlaw who refuses to let me go. Our desire still burns, but captivity changes everything. Every mile between us and freedom deepens my confusion. I still want him. I still care. Yet if I don’t find a way to escape, I may lose more than my freedom—because my very heart is at risk.       AmazonKU

SURVIVAL OF THE WITCHIEST (NIGHTSHADE DETECTIVE AGENCY COZY MYSTERY BOOK TWO) by Amanda M Lee

Life is going smoothly for Freya Holmes for a change. She has new partners—from the Legacy Foundation, no less—and the most pressing problem she’s facing is an infestation of ghouls in the Garden District. Hardly something to worry about. Then the unthinkable happens, and a couple is killed in their home. Right before their terrible deaths, somebody called on the phone and told them to play jazz if they didn’t want to die. The couple blew off the call, and paid the ultimate price.
It seems there’s a copycat in the Big Easy, only this killer is reenacting something that happened more than a century before. It’s not the original killer, of course, or is it? Freya is determined to find out, even as the murders start piling up. Between stories from the past and fears from the present, she has her hands full. Especially when local bounty hunter Knox Cullen joins the investigative team. The one thing Knox doesn’t want is to get too close to Freya. The one thing Freya doesn’t want is an unnecessary romantic entanglement. Unfortunately for both, the more time they spend together, the more obvious it becomes that they might not have a choice in the matter. Murder is afoot in New Orleans. Will Freya become a victim or the victor at the end?      AmazonKU      AB

A MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL (A GIRL’S GUIDE TO TIME TRAVEL BOOK ONE) by Amber Reed

I didn’t know anything about time travel beyond what I learned from Back to the Future, which is unfortunate since I’ve found myself stuck in 1986. An intriguing polaroid caught my eye while browsing an antique store, and now, I’m surrounded by a sensory overload of acid wash, crimped side ponies, and neon everything that I assumed were Hollywood stereotypes. I have to figure out the rules real fast, or I’ll have no way back to the present. When I come face to face with the handsome stranger from the polaroid, I realize my problems go further than figuring out the secrets of time travel. The man, in my time, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. As I’m pulled deeper into his world, I’m caught between solving a disappearance that hasn’t happened yet, navigating a relationship with my 18-year-old mother, and determining whether getting back to the present is even what I want anymore. A Modern Girl’s Guide to Time Travel is the first in a time travel, romantic suspense mystery series with slow burn, steamy chemistry set in a small beach town.     AmazonKU

A FINE SCOTTISH HARMONY (THE MAGICAL MATCHMAKERS OF 7 CAIRNS BOOK FIVE) by Maeve Greyson

A lost voice. A dying dragon realm. A fated mate who may be his people’s last hope. Chief Magnus MacRaith has spent years watching dragonkind succumb to a mysterious sickness. Twice the Divine Weavers promised they had found the woman destined to save his people. Twice they were wrong. So when the magical matchmakers arrive with yet another fated mate, Magnus wants nothing to do with her. Until he sees Lyla Ibrams. The moment their eyes meet, Magnus knows she is the match destined for his soul. There’s only one problem. According to an ancient prophecy, his fated mate must possess a gift powerful enough to heal dragonkind through song. And Lyla can no longer sing. Once a world-renowned vocalist, Lyla lost everything when a botched surgery stole her voice. Betrayed by the man she trusted and stripped of the career she loved, she’s barely holding her shattered life together. A trip to the Scottish Highlands seems like the perfect chance to escape her heartbreak. Instead, she is swept through time and across worlds into the Thirteenth Realm—a land of dragons, magic, and destiny. As a deadly plague spreads among the dragons and dark forces threaten the mystical Highland Veil that protects countless realms, Magnus and Lyla must unravel the truth hidden within the prophecy. Because if they fail, an entire kingdom could perish. But the greatest secret of all may be that the power destined to save dragonkind was never meant to come from a voice alone. It may lie within a harmony strong enough to unite two wounded hearts, heal a dying realm, and forge a love powerful enough to transcend time, worlds, and fate itself.     AmazonKU

FITTED FOR DEATH (A KARA HILDER MYSTERY BOOK 20) by Jenna St James

A Valkyrie with Haphazard Magic – A Fallen Angel Seeking Redemption – An Unlikely Crime-Solving Duo***Cross-over series from the A Witch in the Woods series with Shayla Loci and Alex Stone! Zane and Kara are about to say, “I do!” All Kara has to do is survive the final dress fitting. Literally. Between the popcorn-worthy gossip flying through the boutique and an angry bridezilla storming in to confront the thread witch, staying out of the line of fire might be harder than Kara expected.
So when the thread witch turns up dead, Kara isn’t exactly surprised. Now, with a boutique full of secrets and suspects, Kara and Zane have one last thing to do before walking down the aisle…solve a murder.       AmazonKU

RED RUNS THE BLOOD (BRIGHT BURNS THE FLAME BOOK TWO) by Angelina J Steffort

Nobody expected Elory Vednis to survive Ashthorn’s trial—but survival was only the beginning. Despite having proven herself, she is far from having earned the Triad’s trust. As her deadly magic grows, so do the cracks in everything she thought was true. Secrets surface. Loyalties shift. Nothing is what it seemed. Once, Lory fought to stay alive. Now, she must learn to wield death itself to defend what matters most. WELCOME BACK TO ASHTHORN WARD: YOUR INSTRUCTORS AWAIT, AND THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER.      AmazonKU

NYMPHS AND NEWSREELS (RAVENS HOLLOW INVESTIGATIONS BOOK FIVE) by Ella Stone 

I’m Elodie Evergreen, and I have questions that need answering. When my sunlight wards begin to fail, I’m forced to return to England and confront the truth I’ve spent years avoiding. With Chief Inspector Whip and my loyal dog, Pongo, at my side, I’m determined to uncover what was hidden from me. But the search quickly turns dangerous. Someone wants me dead. My family refuse to come to my aid. And the more time I spend with Whip, the more I realise just how far he’s willing to go to get the answers he wants—even if it means crossing lines I can’t. I should feel safe. I’m surrounded by allies. Instead, the closer I get to the truth, the more everything begins to unravel. And this time, it’s not just my past at risk. It’s my future.      AmazonKU

ORC TUSKS IN A WEDDING TUX by Zora Black

I hired a seven-foot orc mercenary to be my fake date for my sister’s perfect wedding. Not for love. For revenge. One terrifying green wall of muscle to make my ex sweat, shut my mother up, and give Petunia something to choke on besides her champagne. Three days of hand-holding, dirty looks, and zero feelings. Easy. Except Dash Roark doesn’t do “easy.” He carries shields for fun, backhands trolls like it’s Tuesday, and looks at me like I’m the only contract he’s ever wanted to break. One griffin attack, one sentient tuxedo that tried to fuse us together, and one very public fountain brawl later, I’m covered in mud, cake, and bad decisions… and this massive orc is still standing next to me like he has no intention of leaving. I paid for scary. I got something much worse. I got mine.      AmazonKU

VOID (BLACK ONYX ACADEMY BOOK FIVE) by Nikita Parmenter

Laikynn has the answers, some he can share and some he can’t, which is expected to be honest. Not everything is as it appears to be in the Void? Even Aldrastos’ understanding of his realm is slipping.
This is his realm if he doesn’t know what’s going on, then how are we supposed to? When it becomes clear that those who we thought we could trust, we can’t, we’re left trying to figure it out for ourselves and fast. Throw in a surprise visit from someone who definitely shouldn’t be in the realm, and a couple more surprises along the way, and I’m questioning my sanity again. The realm speaking to me doesn’t help to calm my fears that I’ve lost it. Nothing is as it seems, not even us.     AmazonKU

WARNING FOR A WEREWOLF (FOLK HAVEN BOOK SEVEN) by Lauren Connolly

Clementine is searching for a healer, her brother, and a way to protect her hometown. She is not searching for a grumpy werewolf bartender. Clem left the magical town of Folk Haven when she was eighteen and hasn’t been back since. As a mermaid, living among humans, building a new life was a lonely struggle, but she’s managed. That is until the night a hunter finds her and leaves her injured. Worried for herself and the mythical creatures she grew up with, Clem and her dog take a hasty road trip to the place she used to call home. Bleeding and desperate, she ends up at the local bar as she searches for her brother but finds his best friend instead: the friendly-with-everyone-but-her werewolf Griffith. Griffith was glad when Clem left after all the headaches and heartaches she caused his best friend. But the woman who shows up at his brewery is different from the selfish teenager he used to know, and Griffith finds himself offering not only his help, but his home. As the witches in town search for a way to heal Clem’s worsening wound, Griffith becomes her roommate, bodyguard, and maybe something more. But there’s a threat to the town as long as Clem stays, and she’ll have to decide between her safety and the ones that she loves.      AmazonKU

BURIED SINS (PSYCHIC OVERSIGHT BOOK THREE) by Kate Allenton

She hears every secret the living bury. The dead just want theirs uncovered. FBI agent Jenna Spencer hears every thought the living try to hide, and she has never once failed to see the dead. Ten years ago, someone tried to kill her and ran before he could finish the job. She turned that scar into a badge, built a life three hundred miles from the small Southern town that broke her, and buried the grief so deep she almost believed it was gone. A friend’s celebration drags all of it back. Days later, a woman turns up dead, and Jenna knows she’s looking at her own attack, finished the way it was always meant to end. The dead can’t name the man who did it, but they’re demanding answers, and they won’t rest until Jenna uncovers the truth and stops him from doing it again. This time she isn’t the victim. She’s the hunter, and she has her partner, Roger, beside her. He’s the one mind she’s never been able to read and the one person she can’t afford to lose. But the killer who walked away ten years ago left one job unfinished, and now he knows exactly where to find her.     AmazonKU

FALLEN RITES (EXILED LEGACY: SILVERGATE ACADEMY BOOK ONE) by Eve Newton

VS Note: From JULY 18.

She was made small, but she was never made harmless. For centuries, I ruled on blood and obedience. When my pantheon dragged me from my throne, they called it justice. I call it betrayal. Now I’m trapped in the body of a twenty-one-year-old, low-level witch with magic this realm refuses to understand, and I’m SilverGate Academy’s newest anomaly case. At SilverGate, anomalies are studied, contained, or erased. The Academy was built over old doors, and one of them leads home. I only need the right ritual to open it. Unfortunately, my search has drawn the attention of three of SilverGate’s most dangerous monsters. Hale: the hellhound who scents I’m not who everyone thinks I am. Tobin: the witch prodigy who knows my spells aren’t failing because I’m powerless. Leith: the reaper who looks at my soul and sees the goddess I used to be. They offer to help me reclaim my realm for a price. They want secrets. Blood. Truth. Maybe even me. But I wasn’t made to be owned. I was made to rule. And I didn’t lose my throne because I was weak. I lost it because it took an entire pantheon to make me kneel. It won’t happen again.      AmazonKU

KNOT AS IT SEEMS (TRASH HAVEN BOOK SIX) by Kelsey Soliz

My sister locked me away from the world for years, stealing my scent so she could steal my scent matches and live the life that should have been mine. It didn’t take long for me to start hating them, because every time she’d bring me something that smelled like them, it meant pain.
Eventually, my sister’s sins caught up to her, and her alphas find me barely surviving in the house she left them. They claim they didn’t know I existed, but trusting them doesn’t come easily. After being abused for so long, I refuse to be a pretty little docile omega. Now I have seven alphas to figure out what to do with, while one of them actively works against me. He thinks I’m lying about what I am, but he’s going to learn that things just are knot what they seem.     AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

July 29

July 22

July 15

July 8

July 1

June 24

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

 

 

 

New Releases in Scifi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for JULY 29

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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SILVER SLAYER (WARRIORS OF VALOSE BOOK 16) by Iona Strom

Quin – I was stolen from my world, taken so far from home that the stars don’t even look the same. It left me stranded on a planet swallowed by an anomaly, sealed away from the stars and surrounded by things that hunt in the dark. It taught me one truth: survival isn’t mercy. It’s violence. It’s grit. It’s refusing to die. Then rescue arrives in the form of a silver-skinned alien warrior with eyes like molten steel… and a bond I can feel clawing at my skin. He looks at me like fate. But I’ve already been caged once, and I will not belong to anyone again. Not even to him. Vennox – I remember Valose before it became a sanctuary, before humans, before peace, before the clans stopped bleeding each other dry. Then the Gretolics took me. When I finally returned, the world I knew was gone, replaced by something softer. Stranger. Now I am leaving it again, pulled into an anomaly and trapped on a savage alien planet where even the air feels wrong. That is where I find her. Quin is human, fierce, wounded, and fighting the bond with everything she has left. The planet wants to kill us. The past already has. And my spirit mate refuses to surrender. I should let her go, but Valosians do not abandon what is theirs, not when the bond awakens, not when she is the only thing that stills the violence inside my mind and makes the world feel real again.      AmazonKU

VEXING VALMIR (ICE PLANET CLONES BOOK FIVE) by Ruby Dixon

Resonance is supposed to be like finding your other half. I’m not sure how that’s going to work, considering that I already feel like I’m only half of who I’m supposed to be. I’ve lost my memories of Earth. I can only recall fragments of a rich cultural heritage that I want back more than I want to resonate. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Instead of returning my memories, fate has decided that I should resonate to cat-like Valmir, the most unlikable gladiator stranded on this planet alongside the human clones. He thinks I should take him to my furs, but I think I’d rather fling myself into the ocean. To stall the inevitable, I make a honey-do list for Valmir. If he completes a task for me, I’ll let him win a bit of my attention. A flirty touch here, a quick caress there. It’ll buy me time to figure out who I really am. And in the meantime, it’s rather fun to make Valmir squirm.   AmazonKU

GILROX THE MERCENARY’S RULES FOR RETIREMENT by Ella Blake

I’m Gilrox Ban-Ver-Mos, rank V guild mercenary, recently retired. New resident of a small, boring planet nobody cares about, which is exactly how I planned it. I have a fishing rod, an animal friend who likes to eat fish eyes, and a quiet, solitary life that doesn’t involve blowing anything up or killing anyone. My retirement plan did not account for a nearby village and its attractive female council leader who ordered me to leave (spoiler: I didn’t). Or the large, loud, extended family of villagers I did not ask for, but apparently acquired anyway. Or the fact that not everything I’d left behind had finished with me.      AmazonKU

EMPIRE OF STARS (BOOK THREE): MM SFR by X Aratare

After goodbyes to their old lives, Jace, Khoth and the Osiris’s new members leave Earth for the Tha’fell planet Haseon. The Tha’fell call it “a grave planet” – full of tech that the Altaeth left, but they cannot use, until now. Jace and Khoth think that their greatest challenge will be convincing the Tha’fell-led Alliance to work with them. But all tension is put on hold as the Khul get through Haseon’s underpowered defenses and bring destruction to the Tha’fell home planet. NOTICE: This is a long serial that is divided into book-length segments. Every single one ends in a cliffhanger. There are 10 books in this series.       Amazon       Kobo 

ALIEN COMMANDER’S CAPTIVE (DARK SUMMER BOOK ONE) by M Q Rush

Nobody’s supposed to be in this sector. Will somebody please tell that to the unhinged alien chasing me down? Every human on this planet knows about Dark Summer. Usually, the local Messari aliens are stoic and calm, but this season makes them lose control of their darkest urges. It’s a good thing botanist Maren Grier is totally isolated—she wouldn’t stand a chance if she ran into one of those huge, dominant Messari men. Which means it’s really bad news when she finds out she’s not alone after all. For Gage Hok, seeing Maren in this sector isn’t exactly a cause for celebration, either. There’s a reason the reclusive ex-commander is living in self-imposed exile. This Dark Summer is more intense than usual, pushing his legendary self-discipline to the breaking point. When the human intruder shows up with her braininess and curves, Gage finds her far too delectable to resist. In this sector of buried secrets, Maren is about to find out just how dark this alien’s urges can get.     AmazonKU

GHOSTS CRY (CALYDRYN PARLIAMENT BOOK FOUR) by Jenny Schwartz

VS Note: Not a romance but a release of note.

A locked vault mystery. A very archival murder. A body is discovered in the Archives of Caldryn Parliament. The victim died in terror, and his unseeing eyes stare at an eternity of horror. Old sins cast long shadows. New sins wake ghosts. The Caldryn Parliament mystery series mixes fantasy and science fiction with political intrigue and family drama. It is recommended that you start at the beginning with Stars Die. There is a series arc as well as a mystery solved in each book.    AmazonKU

VS: Just a reminder of my new release last week!

JAMIRR (BADARI GLADIATORS BOOK FIVE) by Veronica Scott

His memories gone, mistreated and abused by a series of owners, Jamirr knows only that he won’t give in and become a fighter in the savage arenas of the galaxy. He refuses to give his so-called masters the satisfaction. Destined for a grim fate in the mines, he waits to die. Raised by a gladiator father to become an arena warrior from the time she was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Samyra inherited his struggling gladiatorial house and has carved out a career as the ruthless Beast Lady. Looking for new fighters she knows she should pass Jamirr by. He’s nothing but trouble and untrainable. Something about him won’t let her walk away and she takes the risk of adding him to her team. Despite himself Jamirr has a growing loyalty and attraction to the Beast Lady. He’s drawn to the caring woman underneath the savage exterior she presents to the world. But she has secrets that threaten them both and he still has no idea what kind of past his amnesia is concealing. He knows he’s not human, not with claws and fangs, yet he loves a human woman. Will he fight for her? Could a gladiator and his mistress ever become mates and equals? And will the arrival of a group of men like him known as Badari create opportunities for freedom or destroy the life Jamirr’s carved out?

Amazon     Apple Books     NOOK     KOBO     GooglePlay

Q-138 by Linda Mooney

Cobalt Balski has been serving his sentence alone on the prison moon for over two years. Starved for human contact, aside from his supply drop every 38 days, he spends his days checking for activity from the one source of communication he has—a radio. Bored, he starts scanning through the channels and calling out, desperate for signs of life, when he gets a response. Anyone caught speaking out against the Coalition was made an example of and punished, and with Valerie Shimmins being one of the leaders of the CAC, the anti-coalition group, it’s no surprise she also ended up sentenced to one of the prison moons. She’s shocked to hear another prisoner calling out on the radio. During their frequent communications, the two begin noticing too many similarities in their circumstances, and questions arise. Could they be closer than they thought? When the supply drops start getting further apart, the news they receive about Earth is also concerning. The Coalition is in hiding, and Cobalt and Val figure it’s only a matter of time before the shipments stop altogether. The CAC needs leaders for a revolution, to prove the Coalition are liars and manipulators, and to take down the oppressors once and for all. Cobalt and Val are willing to put their lives on the line for that cause. But first they have to find their way off the moon before they’re forgotten and left for dead.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

B IS FOR BONDED (ABC’S OF ALIEN ABDUCTION) by Honey Phillips

A true bond can never be forced—only chosen. Polly survived the unimaginable. Now she’s found safety on Hothrest—and in the arms of the Hothian clan leader who watches over her. Every night she slips into Njkall’s bed seeking comfort. Every morning she walks away. Njkall has known from the moment they met that Polly is his mate. But after everything she’s endured, forcing his claim on her is the last thing he wants to do. If he wants a future with her, he’ll have to convince her that a mating bond is built on trust, not possession—and that some promises are worth making forever.   AmazonKU

THE ALIEN JUNGLE WARLORD’S BRIDE: STARFALLEN BRIDES OF XTHEOS BOOK ONE by A V Wilcott

crashed on his planet. He found me in the wreckage. Claimed me as his bride. Now the most dangerous warlord in the jungle says I’m his. And his jungle agrees. I’m Elena Parks. Trauma nurse. Engineer. I flew twenty survivors off a dying planet and kept us alive through a crash-landing on an alien world. Twenty women. Twenty different biomes. Twenty alien rulers who claimed us after we arrived. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I’ve survived worse than an alien claiming ceremony. But I wasn’t prepared for Rythar. Seven feet of genetically engineered alpha male. Warlord of the Green Reach, where every vine, every predator, every living thing obeys his command. He wanted me before fate ever paired us. Now a mate bond I didn’t ask for burns through my skin every time he touches me. His jungle wraps around me like it’s trying to keep me. And when an enemy warlord steals me from his fortress, Rythar tears through an army to get me back. I should be focused on finding my friends. Instead, I’m falling in love with an alien who claimed me as his bride. But Rythar knows more than he’s telling. And the more I learn about Xytheos, the more our crash feels less like an accident and more like an alien abduction.      Amazon

ALIEN HUNT (MATED AND AFRAID BOOK THREE) by January Bell

I convinced my friends to sign up for an alien reality show—now we’re trapped in a deadly survival game, I’m in heat, and a terrifyingly devoted alien has decided I’m his mate. I thought it would be a cute, dating or survivor game–style experiment. Instead, the show has gone violently off-script. The challenges are dangerous, the stakes are real, and the worst part? This is all my fault. I was the one who found the casting call, the one who pushed us to apply, and I thought it would be harmless fun. Instead, I landed on an alien planet, went straight into mating heat, and got claimed by a massive, possessive alien who refuses to let me out of his sight. I need to focus on getting myself and my friends off this nightmare show in one piece. But Vael-Torin is always there, watching me like I’m his, guarding me like I’m something precious. And the more he stays at my side, the harder it is to remember I need to make things right with my friends and get us home safe. Because I don’t just want to win challenges anymore… I want him.      AmazonKU

CRAVED BY THE DRAGON WARLORD (FATED MATES OF THE SARKANII WARLORDS BOOK SIX) by Hattie Jacks

I’ve been running my entire life, now I have to run from this feral dragon warlord too…It’s no secret I’m scared of most things. Being abducted by aliens hardly helped my anxiety either, especially after what they did to me. But finding a group of great human friends on an alien planet has gradually made things a little easier. Then I’m kidnapped by a feral Sarkarnii warlord who only wants me for one thing…leverage. For the first time in a long time, I’m mad about something. I am not a plaything for aliens and I’m determined he won’t make me one. It doesn’t matter that under all his growling, snarling and wild hair, Deus has a handsome face and abs to die for. It doesn’t matter that, when he has to, he’ll share his body warmth with me, or when he looks at me sometimes his eyes burn with…something else. I’m not playing games any more. I am not falling for my captor, no matter how he makes my heart flutter in my chest. This time I’m going to win the game.     AmazonKU

FUELING HER ALIEN FIREFIGHTERS (THE UFOMEGAVERSE BOOK TWO) by Zoe Nash

One busty baker who can’t stop burning her muffins. Three Milky Way Firefighters on a two-month Earth rotation. Misty McTavish is about ready to call quits on her lifetime dream of making the world’s best hybrid pastries. Cranberry Cruffins. Bacon Brookies. Coconut Croffles. Turducken-inspired cheesecake stuffed with red velvet, milk chocolate truffles. She just can’t seem to bake without burning everything these days. Heck, she almost burned down Whisky Business trying to Frankenstein mash-up a Sicilian cannoli with her great-grandmother’s Cranachan recipe! Before she throws in the towel, Misty decides to get back to basics. Scones. Not overly complex. At culinary school, she could make them in her sleep. Somehow, she still ends up with scorched ceilings and an out-of-control flame. To make matters worse—both of her fire extinguishers are inoperable, the overhead sprinklers don’t activate, and the kitchen is quickly filling with smoke. As she desperately tries to save her bakery, three large figures burst into the kitchen. Her vision is blurry. Her head hurts. She’s totally confused. Her saviors can’t really be walking, talking rocks, right? Brox. Sagan. Zaphod. They drew the intergalactic short stick and ended up monitoring Earth’s wildfires. It’s a hazard duty, but someone has to do it. The concealed outpost is bare bones, with dehydrated meals and …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)       AmazonKU

ASH: GALACTIC CYBORG HEAT SERIES by Jessie Rose Case

Maya. There was a rock band going on in her head. What the fuck had she done this time?…..
Holding in her moan. She peeled her eyes open not moving. If she did, she knew that was going to hurt. Seeing herself naked in bed. Looking down at her body under the sheet and then, a second set of feet. Oh hell…..Then up the legs, the torso, to an impossible back, wide, really wide shoulders, thick neck, face turned away as he slept on his front. Holy shit… She had that?…. And frowned. She couldn’t remember….. Had she been drugged?….Her initial fear thinking it, leaving her. No, she didn’t feel like she’d been drugged…. She felt like she’d seriously tied one on. Taking a shallow breath, she…(more excerpt on ebook seller’s page, no blurb as such)     AmazonKU

THE CRIME LORD’S POSSESSION: A VAHIRI PRIME DARK  SCIFI MAFIA ROMANCE by Charmaine Ross

She hacked the wrong House. Now one of Vahiri Prime’s most lethal males has decided she’s his. Mira Okonkwo only wanted off-world. Instead, she trips a syndicate firewall and gets hauled into the orbit of Zavin Sethrak. Copper-skinned. Towering. Built like a weapon. Heat-sensing scales glowing beneath his skin. Long hair spilling over broad shoulders. A forked tongue that flicks when he smiles. And two other very large very…distinct anatomical features she refuses to think about. Zavin Sethrak is the second son of a ruling crime dynasty. A collector of secrets. A beautiful predator raised to dismantle enemies from the inside. He should kill herInstead, he keeps her. Locks her inside his compound. Moves her through restricted corridors. Studies her like a weakness he intends to indulge. Mira does not fall for alien crime lords. Unfortunately, her pulse didn’t get the memo. Because Zavin doesn’t touch her…but every glance burns. Every step too close sparks heat along her skin. Every low command sounds like a promise. When someone inside House Sethrak starts spilling blood and secrets, Mira becomes indispensable. And Zavin decides possession is easier than restraint. But Vahiri Prime is built on betrayal, and if Mira uncovers the wrong truth she won’t just lose her freedom. She’ll become the reason Zavin’s House goes to war.      AmazonKU

THE RED WOMAN ON MARS by Claire Barner

Vivian Bowen left Earth for Mars, seeking safety and a fresh start after seven long years trapped in a climate refugee camp. She’s determined to fulfill her contract as a Red Mother by selecting a Martian partner and bearing genetically modified children to fund her family’s survival back on Earth. In sixty days, everything will be secure. But beneath the glamorous lifestyle of the Martian oligarchs, with luxurious gowns, lavish balls, and charming suitors, lies a dark reality. The Red Mothers initiative is controlled by the Intelligence, an AI worshipped as a god, who is indifferent to the pain and suffering the Red Mothers will experience as they carry out their contractual duties. The last thing Vivian expects is to be drawn to Xavier Dorsey, a charismatic and infuriating Martian politician hell-bent on shutting down the Red Mothers initiative. As Xavier pushes her to imagine a life beyond mere survival, Vivian is torn between her obligation to her family and her own evolving dreams of a different future. When her younger sister is seduced by a dangerous Martian soldier and breaks her contract—threatening the lives of their family back on Earth—Vivian is forced to act. Joining forces with Xavier and the Intelligence to rescue her sister by infiltrating an enemy Martian dome, Vivian discovers a strength and power inside herself she never knew she had. Caught between the security she’s always craved and a future filled with passion and uncertainty, Vivian must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for freedom—and for love.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

XELIO: RED (ATLANTIS GRAIL NOVELLA SERIES) by Vera Nazarian

Xelio’s secrets revealed at last! At last, get the full story of everyone’s favorite Atlantean bad boy Xelio Vekahat, best swordsman in the Imperial Fleet, astra daimon extraordinaire, and Aeson’s heart brother. Charming, confident, brash, irresistible Xelio is a man of many layers. Discover the dark trauma in his past, the bitter relationship with his own noble House and the Imperial Kassiopei Dynasty, his complicated friendship with Aeson, and his growing fascination and attraction to the Earth girl Hasmik Tigranian. Get inside Xel’s raven-haired head!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

I REMEMBERED THE SILVER STORM (BLIND DATE CORPORATION BOOK 24) by Viola Grace

Saving her son and his school trip leads Alody down a path of reunion, regret, and a new phase in her life and that of her clone and adopted children. Alody has a complicated history, but after being sold as a child, trained to assist heroes, and cloned, she was sold again. Now she is in a good place with a simple job, and her son is in one of the best schools in the city. When she gets an emergency call from her son, she leaves work and does what she was trained to do. She gets there, saves lives, and gets them to safety. Unfortunately, she did it all on camera, and her simple life now hangs in the balance. Her clone saw the rescue and contacted her. They have been living parallel lives but didn’t realize they had settled in the same city. Diena has her own complicated history. She denied the lab she was raised in any hint of the power she carried from her genetic progenitor. She registered as an active, but no one could determine her skill set. Once she was cut loose from the program that literally owned her, she began to answer the compulsion that her skills pushed her to. Need. She answers need using any and all means necessary, just like her mother did.    Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

TIME AGENT ZERO by P S Power

Bethan Sarder isn’t just the new neighbor; she’s just a little bit… Odd. Sent across space and time to guard the mind, and body, of Matthew Long. Billionaire, intellectual, and one day to be the inventor of time travel. Only someone made a mistake and sent her, a combat oriented fighter with a decade of tactical training, on a seduction mission. Still, the stakes are literally everything, and Time Agents get the job done… No matter what. Only, the further she get’s into the mess that is her mission, the more it looks like she’s been put in place for a very different reason than protecting a man she can’t help but admire deeply. Worse, the AI system in her head is telling her that she has information directly from Time Agent Zero. The worst killer in all of human history. At the same time, she realizes that she’s getting far too close to Matthew Long. In a way that she never would have expected to be possible.   AmazonKU

LOVE AND DRAGONS by S E Smith

In Love and Dragons, Abby and Zoran’s dragons take center stage as they embark on a whimsical and romantic journey together. After the demands of daily life leave their dragons craving a special moment, Zoran’s dragon devises a unique plan to rekindle the magic in their bond. From playful flights through starry skies to intimate moments by the fire, this heartwarming tale explores the powerful love between mates, where dragons and their humans are united by a bond deeper than the cosmos itself. Even dragons need a date night!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS Note: If you like my Badari Gladiators you need to try my best selling, award winning original series Badari Warriors (Sectors New Allies). AYDARR is book one. This series has:

Genetic engineering      One Bed      Forced Proximity       Found Family       Alpha Males

Hurt/Comfort      Alien Abduction        He falls first        Action/Adventure       Spice

Touch her and die    Strong FMC’s   Shifters (not all the Badari can shift)   Fated Mates

The Badari are handsome, not human…available wide, including Kobo Plus.

Here’s the series page on my blog with all the buy links. Available wide including Kobo Plus.

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

THE MOON RAVEN by Grace Draven

Disaris jin Gheza’s rare gift for code-breaking means she must flee a conquering army and a fanatical cult, or become their prisoner and pawn. To evade capture, she will cross perilous territories and sorcerous borders, her aim, two-fold: rescue her sister from captivity and stop a zealot from remaking the world through destruction and bloodshed. But she won’t be facing danger alone. The battle mage known as the Moon Raven travels by her side. Once Disaris’s best friend and lover, Bron is now an uneasy ally with a death bounty on his head for desertion. Bound together by memories and a bond that they both believe broken, the two fugitives must outrun a deadly tracker, save a loved one, and defeat a horde of fanatics – all without dying in the effort. A tale of loyalty and longing.  Amazon        Apple Books      Kobo

THE WEDNESDAY WITCHES BOOK CLUB (MAGIC AND MYSTERY COLLECTION) by Sarah Beth Durst

A book-loving witch finds magic and mystery in a whimsical short story about the transformative power of friendship and community by the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop. After a challenging divorce, Ashley joins a witchy book club in search of a new social life. But when members start being transformed one by one, Ashley and the remaining book club members must uncover the culprit behind these sinister spells. With time running out until she’s the next target, she turns to her grimoire for answers. Because what better way to catch a magical culprit than through stories?      Amazon       AB

HUNTED BY THE WOLF (BRED FOR THE RIFT BOOK THREE) by Zara Crowe

She has never been caught. Until the wolves run her down and let her believe she chose to stop. Mette is a courier, the fastest on the border, uncaught her whole life by one rule: never stand still long enough to be scented. Then she crosses the wrong pack’s ground, a wolf stands up into a man, and says the word she’s spent her life outrunning. Mate. Their law says the run keeps what it catches. Three of them mean to keep her. Fenrik closes the gap, takes her, then answers for it. Halvar won’t have her any way but a dead run. Bersi won’t lay a hand on her at all; he waits for the want that’s hers, not theirs. Three marks. Shoulder, nape, heart. Then it all burns out, the world stands open at her back, and nothing is chasing. So she runs. All the way out. And then she turns around.   AmazonKU

QUEENS AND OTHER QUARRELS (MYTHO COLLAPSE BOOK FOUR) by TJ Nichols

Pan and Noah’s story continues…The centaurs make a visit to town and Noah leans to be more careful with what he wishes for. MM urban fantasy romance between an ancient god who has lost his magic and a human who is now selkie.      AmazonKU

MARK OF THE SHIELD (ECHOES OF OLYMPUS) by A J Manney

The daughter of a fallen Warden, Alexa is determined to honor her father’s legacy by becoming one of the elite warriors chosen to train inside Zeus’s temple. Armed with nothing but her spear, her determination, and years of relentless training, she’s ready to prove she belongs. But when Ares’s legendary shield abandons its place among the sacred artifacts and flies into her hands, everything changes. Furious that anyone could have taken his shield, the most feared Olympian of them all storms into the temple, demanding answers. He finds only one: Alexa. Ares has seen kingdoms rise and fall. He’s commanded armies, slain monsters, and fought the Titans himself. Never has one of his divine weapons chosen another. Now Alexa is forced to train under him. Ares is ruthless, relentless, and every bit as terrifying as the stories claim. He’s also arrogant and impossible to get along with. War is coming. The shield has marked her. Together, Alexa and Ares could become an unstoppable force….if they don’t kill each other first.     AmazonKU

HER CROWNED DRAGON MYTH: A VIKING ROMANTASY (VIKING ANCESTORS: REALM OF FIRE BOOK TWO) by Sky Purington

When a steamy Fairytale Gone Wrong brings Fated Mates together across time, the line between good and bad blurs, and destiny hangs in the balance. What if I told you I was meant for a ruthless Viking dragon warrior over a thousand years in my past, determined to claim me as his own? Then what if I told you I was also fated to be with the nicest guy on Earth, with a heart of gold and a silver crown? Well, I am, and the kicker? He’s one and the same, plagued by a dual personality. So says the story I’ve been meaning to write. A total myth. Pure fiction until the tall, gorgeous man born of my dreams and nightmares steals me away to the distant past. Dauntingly enough, nearly into the waiting arms of the enemy, forcing my errant hero, Torsten Sigdir, to flee with me until we figure out our role in his homeland’s ongoing strife. Now I have no choice but to navigate his various natures, sometimes noble and gallant, other times deliciously sinful, blurring the lines between love and desire. Yet being on the run only buys us so much time before my myth-turned-reality leads us back to the Realm of Fire and the prophecy at its root. Better said, our destiny and a wicked twist I never saw coming…My Happily Ever After could land me in the bad guy’s not-so-loving arms, even if I’ve already fallen hard for the good guy.      AmazonKU

A SHIELD MAIDEN’S WARRIOR (OF SCOTS AND VIKINGS BOOK TWO) by Sky Purington

When a shield-maiden touched by the Valkyries is sent to Scotland to bring peace and find an advantageous marriage, a steamy, forbidden love ignites that could alter the course of fate.  
Astrid- Born of seers and Vikings of old, I never could have imagined my father ordering me to go to the distant shores of Scotland. Nor could I have foreseen that I would end up desiring renowned warrior Declan Mackay. Not only did he consider my people the enemy, but worse still, he was the son of the man I was to marry. Declan- From themoment I locked eyes with Astrid Helvig, I knew she could very well be my ruin. How else could it be when I considered her and her people my enemy, yet I still craved her fiercely regardless? Yet when I learned she would be marrying my father, I knew I had to push past my desire for her, no matter what it took, even though I feared she already owned my heart. Brought together by magic and destiny, Astrid and Declan have no choice but to navigate the turbulent times following the Battle of Largs when Scotland and Norway are more at odds than ever. If that isn’t enough, they must also try to deny their forbidden feelings for one another whilst aiding Scotland’s King Alexander in ways that will either help bring peace or do the very opposite. Will they succeed in ushering in a brighter future for both their countries? Or will their own personal battle against their unstoppable love for each other leave nothing but mayhem in their wake?    AmazonKU

LITTLE SHAKE OF SALT (FF MERMAID ROMANCE) (CREATURE CAFE SERIES BOOK 15) by Clio Evans

Creatures of all kinds go to the Barista to find love, including the bossy mermaid, Marina. When Marina is rudely portaled into an apartment by the Barista’s daughter, she demands her fated mate be found as repayment for the inconvenience. The Barista charges Layla, the new Grim Reaper, with the task. Demi is a rugby player, a sailor, and most of all—certain she’ll never fall in love. But when her first date goes from fishy flirting to being kidnapped by her hot mermaid date, she jumps headfirst into the deep end of lust. But as the prickly mermaid and tough sailor get to know each other, trouble brews across the seas. Will the storms drown them, or will fate be the lighthouse that guides Marina and Demi to the shore?      AmazonKU

WOLF QUEEN RISE (SHADOW FANG BOOK THREE) by Lindsay R Loucks

He hunts her bloodline. She’s carrying his child. Naturally, Luna did what any woman would do—she locked her mate in a cage and fled to Iceland. Now she’s searching for the third piece of the Shadow Fang, hidden beneath a volcano filled with ancient magic and deadly traps. Because apparently cursed tombs weren’t enough. Now she gets lava. But one very persistent dead king insists she’s destined to become the next Wolf Queen. Hard pass. Yet even Luna can’t deny that something inside her is changing. Because the greatest threat to Luna’s future may not be the volcano. Or the people hunting her. Or even the vampire she’s mated to. It may be the woman she’s becoming. Which means trusting Damien could be the biggest mistake she’ll ever make… Or the only reason she’ll survive what’s coming.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

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BOUGHT BY THE MANTICORE: MONSTERS BRIDE MARKET by Eva Brandt

My blood is a poison that eats me from the inside out. But to the starving manticore in the shadows, I am a feast. I came to the city of the dead seeking salvation from the fatal sickness ravaging my body. To the monsters of Asphodelia, my affliction radiated pure death energy, and the bidding went feral. But my mortal shell failed before a mate could claim me, and I collapsed on the auction block. Now, I am confined to the healer’s wing. The city’s magic refuses to let me pass on, yet it feeds the agonizing pain in my veins. I am trapped in an immortal limbo. Until he finds me in the dark. Skaros. A terrifying Manticore, unwoven by fate and trapped as a creeping, sentient vine. His endless, forbidden hunger for flesh should be a nightmare. But when his thorns slide beneath my skin, he doesn’t hurt me. He devours my illness. He drinks my pain. In his grasp, I am not a fragile, broken thing to be pitied. I am treasured. Craved. Adored. But my failed auction left me unclaimed, and the laws of the city are absolute: an unbonded human cannot stay. If the beast in the stone cannot find a way to tear himself from the earth and claim me as his own, Asphodelia will cast me out—and the sickness inside me will finally win.      AmazonKU

PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN’T DATE THE BLACK SWAN  (TALES OF TOPAZ COAST BOOK RIGHT) by Lucy Winton

She’s an imposter. He’s best friends with her twin’s ex. What could go wrong? Everyone at Topaz Coast Sixth Form knows about my sister Fay. What they don’t know is that she’s tired of being perfect. She needs a break, but she’s part of the events committee and they’re about to organise this year’s Summer Ball at a lakeside mansion. While staying in said mansion. I have a crazy idea that just might work: we swap places. I pretend to be Fay and help with the dance, while she takes my place as a helper at Goldbriar Farm. Nobody’s going to know the difference between us, right? As soon as I arrive at the mansion, I realise the plan has two small flaws. One: pretending to be Fay means being as extroverted as she is; two: Brendan Reyes, Fay’s ex-boyfriend, and his best friend Theo are also on the events committee. Brendan doesn’t recognise me, but Theo does. He promises not to tell anyone – but we have to work on tasks as a pair until the night of the ball. And I’m enjoying his company. Quite a lot. Falling for my sister’s ex is a no-no, but his best friend? That might be possible…if only everyone didn’t think I was Fay. Photographers Can’t Date The Black Swan is the eighth story in Tales of Topaz Coast, a series of short fairytale retellings set in a modern, magical world.      Amazon

THE HIDDEN FAE PRINCE (PRINCES OF ELLADAR BOOK ONE) by Tavia Lark

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Someone is watching Seren. Seren can feel other people’s emotions. Whether his fellow villagers love him, tolerate him, or despise him like his parents do. It’s painful. Isolating. When Seren first senses his unseen watcher, he thinks he’s finally going mad. Then a creature of shadows attacks Seren, forcing his stalker to reveal himself. Nevander is a guardian fae, dazzling yet cold, who watches Seren as if it hurts to look away. His words are unbelievable, but fae cannot lie: Seren is the last Prince of Elladar, and it’s time to come home.      AmazonKU

SHINE AND SHADOW (THE SECOND FATE OF ELODIE DEVINE BOOK TWO) by Eva Chase

Our bond has sparked. The truth remains hidden…Despite my best intentions, I’ve bonded with the four fated mates I meant to avoid. The men who look and sound so much like the lovers I left behind in my old reality… but who have no idea who I really am. My attraction to them feels like a betrayal. Dragging them into the deadly mess I’m facing seems like a crime. But the more I try to hold them at a safe distance, the more I question whether that’s only hurting them more. Can I uncover the conspirators out to murder me without risking the men I’m falling for all over again? And if I truly open my heart to them… will they want a mate who’s ruined so many lives before?    AmazonKU    AB

HOWL ABOUT THAT (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 108) by Milly Taiden

Poppy Mintz has spent eleven years clawing, fighting, and financially bleeding to keep her lion pride together after her father’s murder. With ninety days left before the banks come calling, one auction is her last chance to reclaim the ancestral land that could save her title, her pride, and her future. Then a mysterious white-haired matchmaker starts bidding against her, a devastatingly handsome wolf Alpha swoops in with ten million dollars, and Poppy discovers the arrogant man who just ruined her life is also her fated mate. Howl about that for a disaster? Keiro Izell is a billionaire wolf Alpha who controls boardrooms, pack politics, and every messy problem with ruthless precision. Until Poppy. One scent of the fierce lioness fighting for her land, and his wolf loses its ever-loving mind. Keiro only meant to help his mate by buying the property for her, but somehow his grand romantic gesture looks a lot like public humiliation. Now he has to convince one furious Alpha lioness that he’s not the villain in her story—preferably before she decides to use those claws on him. Gerri Wilder swears she only gave fate a little nudge. Sure. Now Poppy and Keiro must turn one disastrous auction into a business partnership, a lion-wolf alliance, and a mate bond hot enough to make both their people nervous. But when Poppy’s jealous cousin Sander makes his move and old secrets about her father’s murder come roaring to the surface, Poppy will have to decide if trusting Keiro makes her weaker—or if standing beside her wolf is exactly what her lioness needs to finally claim everything that was always hers.   AmazonKU

RIDER OF THE MIDNIGHT DRAGON (MATED BY FLAME – TALES OF DRAGON SHIFTER ROMANTASY) by Evangeline Anderson

Only men are allowed to become Dragon Riders…too bad I’m not a man. When my twin brother dies before he can claim his place at the Drake Academy, I do the only thing I can. I cut off my hair, bind my breasts, steal his name…and take his place. If anyone discovers I’m really Aurora Lysandra instead of “Auri” Lysander, I’ll lose everything—including my chance to bond with a dragon. As if pretending to be a boy wasn’t difficult enough, my Wing Leader, Ryse Skoren, keeps making my life even harder. He’s the most feared Rider in the Academy, rumored to have dragon blood in his veins, and he’s determined to whip me into shape. Every morning he drags me out to train before dawn. Every evening he makes sure I eat every bite of the Academy’s famous Dragon Custard. He watches over me, protects me…and somehow manages to make me feel safer than I’ve ever felt in my life. There’s just one problem…Ryse thinks I’m a boy and he doesn’t understand why he feels so possessive of me.
But while I’m struggling to keep my secret, something ancient is awakening beneath the mountains. The dragons are growing restless. The Madlings—nightmarish creatures thought to have vanished centuries ago—are stirring once more. And a forgotten golden egg has begun calling my name. If I answer its call, my carefully guarded secret won’t be the only thing revealed…Because some dragons were never meant to be ridden—they were born to rule. And only a Queen can lead them out of darkness. Rider of the Midnight Dragon is Mulan meets Fourth Wing with a dash of Pern.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

WARRIOR AND MAGE AU by AJ Sherwood 

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Captain Rowan Rangecroft’s first impression of Mage Milo Tobitt? Yeet. There’s no way the chatterbox twink could be the powerful mage Rowan’s duchy needs to protect his people from the fearsome monsters that plague his family’s northern territory. But something about the little mage teases Rowan’s heart, making him wonder: could Milo heal the broken parts he thought unlovable? Milo’s first impression of Rowan? Keep. Milo has his reasons for fleeing to the brutal conditions of the northern duchy, but who is he to pass up on a gruff captain of the guard with muscles Milo could spend all day fantasizing about. Milo knows he’s a lot to most people, so why is it the stone-faced Rowan simply takes him as he is? Milo was never one to let a good thing slip away. To keep or to yeet, it’s a tale as old as time.     AmazonKU

MIDLIFE WITH DEMONS (CHOSEN BY 40 BOOK TWO) by J B Trepagnier

Oops. I exploded again. It wasn’t the shower. I killed people this time. My wings are fully out and I’m down for the count for a while. I can’t put them away until the bones finish forming or I’ll never fly. I’m also having to get used to their weight because wings are heavy. We still don’t know where Lucifer is, but whoever took him knows Kujo is the key to finding him. They already sent his mom to take him by force and that didn’t exactly end well. Something tells me they are going to break the big guns out while I’m vulnerable.      AmazonKU

DRAGON’S VERY MERRY SURPRISE (DRAGON GUARD) by Julia Mills

Some mistakes haunt you. Others destroy everything. This Dragon’s racing to make sure his stubbornness doesn’t cost him everything that matters. Six months. That’s how long Cyrus had perfect happiness with Vanessa, his Polar Bear Princess and Fated Mate. Then a misunderstanding tore them apart. He was too stubborn to chase her. She was too hurt to wait. He left on a mission. She came home to an empty house. It took time, but she’s finally found him. Sadly, nothing is going as planned. The bane of her existence, and her relationship, has shown up and thrown a wrench into the thing. And the worst part is that he’s not the only child– or even the blackest sheep of the family. Can Cyrus overcome his stubborn pride, save the only woman he’ll ever love, and get the best Christmas surprise ever? Only Santa knows for sure, and Fate’s gotta twinkle in Her eye, but this Dragon’s gonna have to fly faster than Jolly Ol’ St. Nick’s sleigh to save his happily ever after.

Amazon        Apple Books      Kobo

WAKING HER DRAGON (RETURN TO THE CLAN BOOK ONE) by Julia Mills

She was born human… but she was never meant to stay that way. Marked by an ancient prophecy and hidden among humans, Sydney has always known something inside her wasn’t right. At six years old, one moment changed everything. She found her true Family. She found the Dragons. Now, the power sleeping inside her is beginning to stir—and with it, a destiny that could save Dragonkind… or destroy them all. He’s been lost to darkness for years. Possessed by a demon. Broken by torture. A Guardsman in name only, he long ago stopped hoping for rescue—welcoming death as his only escape. Until her. One touch. One spark. One impossible light in the darkness. Fate says they are meant to save the world. But Fate has never faced evil like this. And if Sydney can’t wake the dragon within her in time…There won’t be a world left to save.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE DRYAD’S TRAP: GAY MM SPICY PNR SHIFTER ROMANCE  (BATHHOUSE BEASTS BOOK 14) by Blake R Wolfe

A closed-off welder. A secret indoor forest. And a massive dryad who claims his heart. Hudson is a blue-collar welder who lives his life by a strict, solitary routine. After a string of brutal breakups, he’s sworn off relationships for good. His only release is his Friday night ritual: visiting an exclusive, monsters-only bathhouse for anonymous, no-strings-attached fun. But this weekend is different. Wandering off his usual path, Hudson stumbles into a hidden, magically grown atrium beneath a glass ceiling. There, he meets a towering, seven-foot-tall dryad made of muscle, vines, and dark wood. But the beautiful creature doesn’t just want a quick encounter. He looks at Hudson with ancient, glowing green eyes and calls him his fated mate. Hudson doesn’t believe in destiny, but the dryad is determined to show him the truth. With intoxicating, honey-sweet magic and a surprising, soul-melting gentleness, the massive forest guardian slowly breaks down Hudson’s walls. Soon, the stubborn lone wolf is surrendering completely, realizing that this gentle monster might just be the one to finally heal his broken heart.      AmazonKU

RAVENOUS (IMMORTALS UNTOLD BOOK ONE) by Kresley Cole

Beyond the mortal world lies the Skein, a realm of mythic beauty and savage desire ruled by creatures of legend. Here, vampires, witches, demons, and wolves wage war—and hunt their pleasures just as fiercely. Now, the Accession has begun, an ancient cycle of chaos and destiny that reignites old hostilities and forges fated bonds too hot to resist. A witch queen on the rise defies the brutal wolf king who stands in her way. But when fate twists their battlefield into a bed of temptation, sworn enemies become something far more perilous. Lovers. A vampire princess trades her crown for freedom, only to be bound to a scarred Berserker, a man whose possessive touch both terrifies and tempts her. An incubus spy and a cunning vampiress strike a dangerous bargain for survival, and profit, but lust becomes the one gamble neither expected. And when a wolf and an enchantress from opposing clans dare to make peace, their forbidden attraction could doom the Skein…or spark a love that defies the gods.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HER WOLF PROTECTOR (FATED MATES OF MIRROR ACADEMY SERIES BOOK SIX) by Demelza Carlton

For Tate Mortimer, a fated mate is the ultimate fairy tale. He just doesn’t believe he deserves one — not after his father rejected the woman fate chose and tore their pack apart. So when a hydrogeology job sends him deep into the woods, the last thing the lone wolf expects to find is her: a poisoned, ghost-pale woman collapsed in his bed, smelling unmistakably like she’s his. Arwen Snow doesn’t have time to be anyone’s mate. Her stepmother has been dosing her with her dead father’s heart pills, the hospital thinks she did it to herself, and the only way she’ll survive long enough to expose the truth is to let this impossibly gentle giant turn her into a wolf. The bite was supposed to heal her. Instead it traps her in fur she can’t shed while her face goes up on missing posters across town. With a stepmother hunting them, a pack waiting for Tate to prove he’s just like his father, and a heat neither of them can ignore, the wolf who never wanted a mate must decide how much he’s willing to risk to keep her. Find out in Her Wolf Protector, an emotional, steamy Snow White retelling featuring a tortured wolf shifter, a forensic-scientist heroine, fated mates, hurt/comfort, forced proximity, and a fierce found family.       Amazon

FIREWORKS AND FROSTING: A CRESCENT COVE NOVELLA by Kristin Cast.

Lila Hart has one goal this festival season: win. Win the Frosting Queen title, beat her lifelong rival, Candi, once and for all, and finally prove she belongs in a town where everyone else seems a little more magickal. The plan is simple—bake and decorate the perfect cupcakes, charm the judges, and keep her focus. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Until the tie-breaking judge turns out to be tall, highly sought after, and shifter-god-level gorgeous. Max Lark is new to town and determined to make it his home. He signs up for everything—beach volleyball, pier cleanup days, even judging the annual Frosting Queen contest—and quickly becomes the man everyone wants on their team. The last thing he expects is a gorgeously curvy, frosting-smudged woman who talks too fast and tries too hard to end up on his doorstep. Lila wants his vote—no matter what it takes to get it. Candi is determined to outshine her. And Max is trying very hard to remember he’s supposed to stay impartial. Between hand-delivered goodie baskets and late-night taste tests, Lila’s carefully planned seduction strategy starts to feel a little too real. The more she plays her own game, the more she risks her heart on the fox shifter with every reason to choose someone more magickal. One fox. One human. And one summer that proves magick isn’t the only thing that makes sparks fly.      AmazonKU

A DRAGON FOR DANTE (OMEGAS OF ANIMALS BOOK 17) by Lorelai M Hart

VS Note: MM PNR.

It’s the event that could make his career. Alpha dragon shifter Dante is holding the biggest event of his career at Animals. When the baker he hires has a family emergency, he needs to find someone new with less than a week’s notice. He wanted the best, but, at this point, will take good enough. It’s his chance to shine. Omega bearcat shifter Augie didn’t have the money to follow his dreams of going to the best culinary school and winning all the fancy award. Instead, he went from city to city, working under the best bakers he could find. Now it’s time to spread his wings…if only it were that easy. When Augie gets a call about a huge party at Animals, he accepts, not realizing it will be the job that will change everything.      AmazonKU

THE ORC’S GIFT (SUNSHINE VALLEY ORCS BOOK TWO) by Alana Khan

She carved flowers from his homeworld into wood. In his culture, that’s practically a marriage proposal. Honey – I build instruments for retirees, hobbyists, and local musicians. Not devastatingly attractive seven-foot orcs with broad shoulders, careful hands, and a deep voice that slides straight under my skin. Kragen comes to my workshop looking for a custom dulcimer and somehow becomes part of my days instead. Coffee on the porch. Long conversations about music. Excuses to keep coming back long after I’ve delivered his instrument. I tell myself he’s just a client, even when the best part of my day starts sounding a lot like his car coming up the drive. So when I customize his instrument using sketches he once drew on the back of a napkin, I think I’m just being thoughtful. I don’t know I’m accidentally courting an orc. Kragen – I knew I was in trouble when Honey started seeing me clearly. Not the performance. Not the musician everyone thinks they know. Me. She listens when I speak. She notices things no one else does. And then she hands me an instrument etched with flowers from my homeworld because she remembered they mattered. And now I have a problem. Because humans treat gifts like objects. Orcs treat them like intentions. In my culture, a gift made with this much care is a declaration. It demands an answer in kind. Equal intention. Equal devotion. Now I’m caught between restraint and desire, trying not to overwhelm the woman who’s already become the center of every song in my head.      AmazonKU

BLUE MOON WITCH ACADEMY: YEAR ONE by Annalise Clark

I failed all three of my placement tests. For a Moonstone witch, that’s not just embarrassing — it’s impossible. My bloodline has never produced an Irregular. So when my magic refuses to show up in front of the entire incoming class, I’m left with two choices: hide in the library for the next four years, or figure out what’s actually wrong with me before the school figures it out first. Then Robin finds me. They are quiet, steady, infuriatingly observant… and apparently the only person at this academy willing to tell me the truth: different isn’t broken. It might just be the beginning. And then Poppy arrives off the waitlist, and suddenly the careful, contained life I was planning to live in the margins of this school stops being possible. She’s fire and certainty and the girl I dated for three years before I left for the academy, and she has no intention of letting either of us pretend that’s behind us. Somewhere beneath this school is a room my mother built before she disappeared. A magic sealed before I was born is starting to crack open. And the closer I get to the truth of what I am, the more obvious it becomes that someone wanted me exactly this broken, exactly this invisible — and exactly this easy to control. I came here to learn magic. I didn’t expect to find my mother’s secrets, a professor who isn’t who he says he is, or two people who make “unclassified” feel like the start of something instead of the end of it.      AmazonKU

THE DANCE OF THE GLASS COURT: TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES RETELLING by Talia Kent

The music is a trap. Twelve women have disappeared into the Wild Wood. And she has only three nights to burn the Glass Court to the ground. When Sylvia’s younger sisters are lured into the Wild Wood by strange music, returning each morning with shredded silk slippers and no memory of the night before, she realizes more than ever that a new kind of danger lurks between the trees. She is the only one who isn’t lost to the music, and yet she must follow it to save her family. Ealric, the gruff, battle-scarred Captain of the Guard, stands watch at the portal to the Glass Court. Instead of striking Sylvia down, he allows the woman to pass into his world of gold and mirrors and magic. He is a prisoner of duty, bound by oath to a King who has fallen from grace. But Sylvia is not bound by such oaths, and in her determination to save her sisters at any cost, he sees a spark of hope. Sylvia has three days to save the twelve women who would be a sacrifice, and with the fae court closing in, she has no choice but to trust the man who serves her enemy. The music is playing, and the court is watching. Before the New Moon rises, Sylvia and Ealric must decide if they are willing to burn it all to the ground to save the ones they love.      AmazonKU

OMEGA CAPTIVE OF THE BAD BOY DRAGON (ALPHA DRAGONS BOOK FIVE) by Wendy Rathbone

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Cassius is a set omega. In a world of shifters, he has no beast and cannot shift. Sets are outcasts with no rights and his pack sells him to the dragons for some quick cash. Malin is a dragon shifter playboy with a hefty trust fund and an anger management problem. He cares for nothing and no one. But when he meets Cassius, he finds himself wanting to do something completely out of character. In order to succeed, he needs his father’s help. One problem. He hasn’t spoken to his father (Tane, from book 4) in over six years. This is Malin’s redemption story as well as a love story for two imperfect people who come together in perfection.      AmazonKU

A KISS FROM A MINOTAUR (KISS FROM A MONSTER SERIES BOOK NINE) by Charlotte Swan

Bloom Baker has one chance to save her Father. Life in the rural, farming village of Dew Hollow is peaceful. Neighbors are friendly and look after each other, the weather is mild, and the sun is always shining. The only dark cloud on Bloom’s horizon is the indecent marriage proposal local wealthy landowner Pyke Silvermist has made to her. He is the liaison to Lord Rhydian, the minotaur to whom all villagers must pay their monthly protection tithe. A tithe Bloom and her father cannot afford. Unwilling to give herself to Pyke in exchange for his gold, Bloom sets off to persuade Lord Rhydian to give her an extension. She expects to find a snarling beast who throws her out the moment he sees her. What she finds instead changes everything. Lord Rhydian hasn’t seen a human in over three decades. And never one as beautiful as her. The human with the bewitching face and soft voice arrives at his small cottage bleeding, with a crushed loaf of bread in her ruined basket. The least he can do is heal her wounds before sending her away. She talks of tithes and an extension, but her words don’t make sense. As much as she intrigues him, he knows she is better off returning to…(more blurb on ebook swller’s page)    Amazon  

STANDING STONES (WILD HUNT BOOK 20) by Yasmine Galenorn

With the cult of Jorgununda spreading, Ember and Herne have returned to Seattle to reestablish the Wild Hunt. Morgana introduces them to Ash, one of a new breed of Fae who’s come out of the shadows. Eventually, Ash will work for the Wild Hunt as an liaison between the Court of the Crystal Fae and Saílle, the Queen of Darkness and Névé, the Queen of Light, a daunting task in itself. But first, Ember and the gang must help Nalina, a coyote-shifter who’s being plagued by will-o’-the-wisps, to prevent them from luring her to her death.

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THE WINTER FOLK by Jen Julian

This is the story of Moth, who earned her name working for the Winter Folk. Every year, the mythical Winter Folk gather at a secret lodge, a place known only as Deerhaven. Moth was a housekeeper there once. A trusted confidant of Mr. Oslin, the enigmatic master of the house.  But Deerhaven is dangerous. The rules are exacting. The consequences for break them are dire. Moth has not been allowed back in decades. Still, she feels its call. She will finder her way back. She needs to see him again. No matter the cost.    Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

LAKEN’S LONGING: DIVERGENT OMEGAVERSE by JP Sayle

VS Note: MM PNR.

All Laken wants a quiet life comprising nothing but work—until a naughty sugar glider called Isley changes everything. Laken is about to face a battle when his past surfaces, but will love win? On paper, Laken Starling appears to have everything—except love. In a past life, Laken did things that left him vulnerable to attack. He has little memory of those deeds, but that doesn’t stop him from carrying the shame. Then a delivery brings Laken’s past into the present, and now he has to decide if he can trust those closest to him to be there for him. Isley Petrau’s animal side, a cheeky sugar glider, isn’t waiting for the humans any longer while they make a hash of it and marks Laken as theirs. When things heat up between them Isley has to find a way to explain to his boss, Laken what his animal did while sharing a cabin. Easy, right? Wrong. The shocks keep coming when Laken discovers his adoptive parents know his secret. Everything that held him back from reaching for what he wants—Isley—disappears with the truth. After spending his whole life focusing on work, Laken has no idea how to date. His brother steps in, but is this a rescue, or throwing Laken in at the deep end? We’re about to find out.      AmazonKU

FISHBONE CINDERELLA: A NOVEL by Elizabeth Lim

1940s Hong Kong – When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown, Ha Yut Ying makes an unlikely escape—by turning invisible. But her miraculous survival is only the beginning. After the war is over, she’s sent to Hong Kong to live with her distant father and glamorous stepmother, who end her dreams of becoming a singer and turn her into the family’s servant. As the years pass, Yut Ying learns the hard truths of betrayal and ambition, of forbidden love and devastating loss, and discovers that sometimes the only way to endure is to disappear. 1960s San Francisco – Marigold has always had a knack for uncovering secrets, but nothing prepares her for the day she accidentally witnesses her mother vanish before her eyes. The moment fractures their bond, leaving questions that shadow her entire childhood. But when her mother’s condition suddenly deteriorates, Marigold is convinced she’s the only person who can save her. To do so, she must journey into the secrets her mother never shared and uncover the tragic, fairytale-tinged history their family has fought to forget. A story of mothers and daughters, the scars they inherit and the magic that binds them, Fishbone Cinderella is a tender and enchanting exploration of what it means, at last, to be seen.    Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HARBOUR OF HUNGRY GHOSTS (CHRONICLES OF THE YIUGWAI HUNTERS BOOK ONE) by Eliza Chan

“My name is not Kim, it’s Kiamling. It means Sword Spirit. I was forged to cut down the undead. Demons and monsters aren’t just in your storybooks, they walk among us.” The Au family serve the people of Hong Kong: blessing shrines, honouring the dead and dealing with dangerous monster incursions. The expectations on eldest daughter Kiamling are high, which is not something her strict grandmother will let her forget. When the British disrupt the Hungry Ghosts festival and her grandmother is seized by a strange new monster, Kiamling must step up and lead the search. She is aided by unexpected allies: Archie, an earnest civil servant, Hoi gor, childhood sweetheart turned merchant-pirate and Jingling, her younger sister keeping secrets of her own. Kiamling must figure out who is behind the incursion and more importantly, how to defeat them. With British fables mingling with local Chinese monsters, can Kiamling prove herself, when the old rules no longer seem to apply?      Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

MAGGIE AND ARTHUR’S MAGIC MOMENT by Leslie Rene

A dangerous spell gone wrong forces the passionate professor of incantations to share tight quarters with her magical college’s leading—and most brooding—alchemist. Despite the college’s budget cuts that slashed her syllabus, Linguistics and Incantation Translation professor Maggie Linden has almost made it to the end of the spring semester. To celebrate, Maggie attends a magical masquerade on Beltane. Maybe the end-of-year frenzy explains why she kissed a masked stranger at the festival, though her celebration may have come too soon….An accident in the lab of famous (and famously broody) alchemist Arthur Taliesin sets loose a dangerous, haunting magic called a pall that renders the nicer parts of their academic building uninhabitable. Maggie is assigned to share her tiny basement office with none other than Taliesin himself. With his insufferable attitude and unfortunate good looks, Arthur makes it impossible for Maggie to concentrate on anything—her research, her students’ final exams, or tracking down her mysterious Beltane suitor. She’ll do anything to get Arthur out of her office, including offering to help him reverse the magic that threatens the school. But Maggie is starting to realize her officemate may not be the conceited grump he pretends to be. In fact, much of what she thinks is true about Arthur is merely a mask.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

A SECOND CHRISTMAS MOON: A COZY SAPPHIC WOLF SHIFTER ROMANCE (EVERGREEN HOLLOW BOOK ONE) by Ariel Marie

This Christmas, the Moon Goddess offers a rare second chance. Five years ago, White Pine Pack enforcer Keena Bolden lost her fated mate. Since then, she’s buried herself in duty, shut everyone out, and dreaded the Christmas season. Brice Andrews came to Evergreen Hollow to open the cozy bookstore and café she’d always dreamed of owning. Falling for the town’s quiet, fiercely protective enforcer was never part of the plan. The moment Keena catches Brice’s scent, everything changes. Fated mate. That should be impossible. Keena never imagined fate would bless her twice. Loving Brice feels like betraying the woman she’ll never stop loving, but the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny what’s growing between them. As Christmas draws near, Keena realizes the impossible wasn’t a mistake—it was a gift. Now she must decide whether opening her heart again dishonors the past…or allows her to have a future. Can a wolf who survived heartbreak find the courage to love again? Or will fear keep her from accepting the greatest gift the Moon Goddess ever offered?      AmazonKU

THE SEANCE GARDEN by Juliet Blackwell

When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family. On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer. As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles. What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?      Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

TALES OF A DEADLY DEVOTION (THE TALES TRILOGY) by Jennifer Delaney

As Fey wage hopeless war against the oncoming storm of mortal conquest, Fairfax Manor lies in ruins. The first witches of Blackthorn forged the ancient fortress from their very souls to keep those of their bloodline safe. No one is safe now. Katherine Woodrow might have survived persecution at the Institute of Magic and journeyed across the divided lands of Elysior to study magic with the legendary Lord Emrys Blackthorn himself, but losing her heart and almost her life wasn’t on the curriculum. All magic has a price, and in this irresistible tale of gothic allure, shadowed by sorcery and slow-burn desire, it’s a price so steep that Alma would rather have died than see Kat pay. But the dark isn’t finished with Kat yet. And Alma, a shapeshifter, will stop at nothing to save her, drawing on the power of the beasts that simmer beneath her skin and even facing the secrets of her own past to help her friend. And there’s no time to lose. Because more demons are escaping from the cursed texts the mortals failed to guard. The world is slipping back into darkness. And something is returning. . .A tale of deadly devotion.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

THE WHISPER: A NOVEL by Chelsea Iverson

Rule 1: When the trees whisper, listen.  Rule 2: Don’t go into the woods alone.  In the small mountain town of Whisper Ridge, the girls were inseparable. Joey, Quinn, Sophie, and Elena. Together, they channeled magic in the woods, living by six simple rules. The first being: when the trees whisper, listen.  But all rules are forgotten, all bonds broken, when Quinn is found dead in the trees. In the aftermath, the friends scattered. All except Joey, who still can’t move on. Until now, over a decade later, she again hears the trees whisper. Those woods remember some of Quinn’s last words, and for the first time, Joey realizes she may learn the truth of what happened to her best friend. And so, the friends return to Whisper Ridge, to the woods that once held their magic and their secrets. But unearthing the truth about Quinn puts them all in danger, and in order to survive they’ll need to channel their power for the first time in fifteen years to finally put the past to rest.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

EMPATHIC EQUATION (PSYCHIC SOULMATES BOOK TWO) by Emily Carrington

VS Note: LGBTQ PNR.

Nootaikok is losing himself to his empathy. Can Amaruq call him back to love and to bed? There’s a terrible loneliness in being surrounded by a million minds, none of which care a whit about you. With his empathic skills expanding rapidly, Nootaikok is struggling to hold onto his sanity. Only joining with Amaruq in bed play is sustaining him. Both of them know bed play won’t save them forever. As the weight of Nootaikok’s psychic disability pushes down on him, he and Amaruq start fighting both each other and the world. Can their love hold them together or will Nootaikok’s deception crush them?

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MISS GENTLE AND THE CASE OF THE VERY FLAT MONK (MAGIC & MYSTERY COLLECTION) by Travis Baldree

A peculiar detective takes on a monastic murder mystery in a darkly funny fantasy short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legends & Lattes series. Nobody really liked Brother Gorm, but his untimely and abrupt descent from the abbey’s bell tower has the Order of Venerous the Petulant on edge. Desperate to settle the case before the bishop returns, the abbot enlists the highly unorthodox investigator Miss Gentle. As she clanks through the abbey in a full suit of armor, the cantankerous detective has no problem asking awkward questions—but will she get any answers? Travis Baldree’s Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.      Amazon       AB

REALM OF DREAMS AND SHADOWS (THE DREAMBOUND SERIES BOOK ONE) by J Kenner

Some nightmares follow you out of the dark. Cora Lyte knows how she’s going to die. The same way her mother did. Her grandmother. Every woman in her bloodline who closed her eyes and never woke up. But she’s not dead yet. Now she’s caught between two men who haunt her in very different ways—Chase, the golden-eyed Hunter sworn to protect her, and Adric, the silver-eyed king of the Nightmare Realm who claims Cora as his bride. One speaks of salvation. One whispers of power. Both ignite something dangerous in her blood. The veil between realms is thinning, and a prophecy has painted a target on Cora’s back. Her wrong move could unmake reality itself. Chase has sworn to keep her safe. Adric has sworn to make her his. And Cora is falling for them both—even knowing the wrong choice won’t just break her heart. It could shatter the world. The only thing more dangerous than falling asleep… is falling in love.        Amazon

ACCIDENTALLY MATED TO THE BEAR SHIFTER NEXT DOOR (MONSTERS OF MOSSWOOD BOOK TWO) by Ami Wright

What would you do if you found yourself accidentally mated to your brother’s best friend? Bastien was my first love. Even when we were kids I only had eyes for him. Back then he was all hands and feet, too big in his own body. Now he’s all grown up—and I do mean grown. He towers over all the other guys in our small town. Bastien was the one who taught me how to ride a bike; picked me up and carried me home when I’d scrape my knee; and he was there to see me through every childhood bump in the road. So when we’re snowed in and I go into my first heat there’s no one I’d rather have to take me through it. The trouble is, he’s waiting for his fated mate and I can never be her. I’m not a shifter. Only my brother inherited the magic, so as much as I want him, the kindest thing is to let Bastien go. But he is adamant—that bite on my neck is his claim, regardless of how it happened. How do I convince him to give up on me; and if he does, how will my heart ever recover?     AmazonKU

DEAD WRECKED (COLD CASE PSYCHIC BOOK 45) by Pandora Pine

VS Note: MM PNR Mystery.

A summer vacation to Cape Cod is supposed to be a chance for Detective Ronan O’Mara to unwind. His first stop is the Whydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth, where the recovered treasure of the infamous pirate ship sparks his imagination. But while Ronan is admiring gold, silver, and priceless artifacts, his daughter, Everly, makes an extraordinary discovery aboard the museum’s replica ship; the restless spirit of Captain “Black Sam” Bellamy, still searching for the life that was stolen from him when the Whydah sank in 1717. Meanwhile, psychic Tennyson Grimm encounters a mysterious woman wandering the shoreline. Dressed in widow’s black, Maria has spent three centuries watching the sea, convinced her husband, Sam, will one day return. As Tennyson and Everly work to reunite two lovers separated by three centuries, they uncover a tragedy that refuses to stay buried. Because some treasures are cursed, some promises never die, and the ghosts of the Whydah have no intention of letting Captain Bellamy go.     AmazonKU

SCRY BY NIGHT (LAUREL HAVEN WITCHES BOOK THREE) by ReGina Welling

Three hundred years ago, three witches tried to save their home. Now, a witch who has never had a home will have to do the same. Bella Grey has spent forty years mastering the art of leaving. When you grow up never quite fitting anywhere, you keep your bags light and your heart lighter. Trapped inside the barrier of Laurel Haven, Maine — a town that refuses to let her go — she’s surrounded by a coven that keeps feeling dangerously like family and a past that’s starting to send letters. And then there’s Gabe Locke. Arrogant, aggravating, and apparently incapable of wearing a shirt before noon. He lives upstairs, forges iron for the coven’s warding work, and looks infuriatingly good doing it. The obvious solution: sleep with him once, clear the air, move on. It didn’t work out that way. As the Shadespawn grows bolder and questions about her family multiply, Bella is running out of ways to stay unattached to a life that keeps building itself around her — and a man who refuses to be convenient.     Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo

EGYPTIAN LOVERS by Isabella Jordan

VS Note: 3 re-released novellas.

In the desert sands of Egypt, three lovers battle a maniacal curse. Only their love can save them. Half vampire, half sphinx, Kahma roams the deserts of Egypt, praying for death — until his lost love returns, reincarnated as archeologist Emma Bonham. But to fulfill the passion Kahma offers, Emma must part with her life. Fascinated by the tale of Emma Bonham’s disappearance some eighty years ago, Carson Bonham comes to Egypt to unravel the mystery. But the bloody carnage of Karnak’s history has a way of repeating itself. The struggle to keep Carson alive will be a death defying act for the powerful vampire Sopdet. Alexis Peters has no intention of returning to Egypt, until a mysterious dream lover promises endless pleasure if she will just return to him. Little does Alexis know she’s bound to her Egyptian savior, the legendary sphinx, Amenhotep.

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THE GIRL IN THE PAINTING (ROSETTI MYSTERIES BOOK TWO) by Kirsty Ferry

Could the secrets of a Victorian tragedy steal Cori’s chance at love? 1850s – Daisy Ashford aspires to be a Pre-Raphaelite muse and is determined to do anything to see her portrait admired by the world. But in 1862, Daisy dies alone, clutching a diary she never got to share. PRESENT DAY – Cori Keeling arrives in London to indulge her lifelong fascination with the Pre-Raphaelites. She never expected to fall for gifted artist, Simon. Or to come face to face with herself, in a painting more than a century and a half old. The world knows the woman in the painting as Lizzie Siddal: Rossetti’s muse and the drowning girl in Millais’ Ophelia. But when a Victorian diary falls into Cori’s hands, it tells another story entirely — of Daisy Ashford, a young woman who longed to become Lizzie Siddal and whose tragic story was never meant to be told. In uncovering Daisy’s lost story, can Cori finally discover the courage to embrace her own with Simon?     AmazonKU

SECRET MATE SOCIETY: MM PNR SHIFTER MYSTERY ROMANCE by Blake R Wolfe

Stalked by a monster. Rescued by a beast. And a secret that bites back. Ethan Murphy moved to the misty streets of Portland, Maine to outrun his past. He wasn’t looking for love, and he certainly wasn’t looking for the truth behind the “wild animal attack” that killed his father. Then he meets Calder Thorne. Calder is a mechanic with grease on his hands and secrets behind his flashing gold eyes. He’s also a werewolf living under a century-old code of silence. Never reveal the pack, never get too close to humans. But when a rogue shifter starts leaving a bloody trail across town, Ethan’s investigation brings him dangerously close to exposing the entire supernatural world. Calder knows he should stay away. Instead, he finds himself torn between protecting his people and saving the inquisitive human who smells like his fated mate.      Amazon

ROAR OF THE WILD (FATED THROUGH TIME BOOK TWO) by Elizabeth Blackthorne

I crossed twenty-five thousand years to save the world, but I didn’t expect to find three reasons to stay. After being torn from Daska and Rivik, I was carried across the wilderness and sold to Tau, the golden king of a vast cave-lion pride. He claimed I was his fated mate before he even knew my name. I told him no. Tau had never been refused in his life. But instead of taking what fate promised him, he offered me something no powerful man ever had before: the freedom to choose. By the time Daska and Rivik finally found me, I had built a place among the lions—and my heart had begun reaching for a third man. Daska was the steady ground beneath my feet. Rivik was the fierce, wounded alpha whose bond had called to me in silence. Tau was sunlight, temptation and the terrifying possibility that I might be allowed to want everything. But we didn’t come to this brutal age to find love. Magic is draining from the future, and the source of the wound lies somewhere beyond the eastern mountains. Our equipment is dead. The route is uncertain. Winter is closing the passes, and Nathan never lets me forget that every day I spend with my new pride is another day the world moves closer to destruction. He believes my heart is my greatest weakness. That when the moment comes, I’ll choose the person in front of me over all the lives I cannot see. He might be right. Because the earth beneath the pride is beginning to move. Something ancient is stirring below us, and the power I carry is answering its call. Soon I may have to decide how much I’m willing to sacrifice to save the future. And whether I can abandon the men who have finally made me feel whole.     AmazonKU

OUR NANNY IS A VAMPIRE by Lindsey Devin and Roxy Ray

Conrad Lawrence has lost nine nannies in three years. There was Nanny Franny McFine (four days). Marie Von Fire, who claimed she’d once worked for a duke. Mrs. Corrinna Rainer, who lasted until Billie released crickets into her suitcase. Mademoiselle Joella Frosty, who called his kids “creatively hostile” and blocked his number before she reached the end of the driveway. So when nanny #10 walked through the door, Conrad wasn’t expecting much. Then Winnie shows up. She’s calm where his house is chaos. Patient where his kids are relentless. And she sees the grief he’s been quietly carrying for three years without flinching from it — because she’s been carrying centuries of her own. Winnie has survived two hundred years by never staying long enough to be found. But this house, this impossible family, and this exhausted, good-hearted father are the first things she’s wanted to keep in longer than she can remember. She should have known better. Because the past doesn’t let go that easily — and hers is coming to collect.      AmazonKU

CLAIMED BY THE GUARD: A COVETED PREY SHORT STORY by L V Lane

A lass should not creep up to the battlements at midnight. Not when an alpha like me stands the watch. The west tower is a lonely post, and the guards grumble whenever the duty roster sends them there. I volunteer. Because some nights—if a man is patient—light footsteps come sneaking up the winding stair. And tonight, the lass they belong to carries a scent that would test the restraint of any alpha. Fertile. Ready. Mine. She knows exactly what happens to wenches caught where they should not be. It is, after all, why she came. But nothing on that battlement is quite what it seems, and my claim on this daring lass runs deeper than one stolen night.     AmazonKU

THE SINGLE FATHER UPSTAIRS (OMEGAS OF MOONRIDGE PLACE BOOK ONE) by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelai M Hart

VS Note: MM MPREG. Bear shifter.

The alpha upstairs is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s also a single father. I should stay away. I can’t. Moving to a new city is expensive. I know that, but when places started asking for first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a deposit, and a pet fee, my hopes of an apartment of my own vanish. I’m about to sign a sublease with five strangers when I get a call from my real estate agent. They found the perfect place and well within budget. I sign sight unseen. I arrive expecting it to be falling apart or in a sketchy neighborhood. It’s neither, but the residents are rude. Some sniff me and turn up their noses. Others refuse to say hi. A few even go out of their way to avoid me. The only person nice to me is an eight-year-old girl who absolutely adores my cat Marmalade. When her father comes knocking, it’s love at first sight, except that only exists in fairy tales, but the sexy alpha checks off every box. Too bad he can’t get away from me fast enough.      AmazonKU

BETWEEN THE TREES (CREATURES OF THE NIGHT) by Adrian Blue

Cora’s been a park ranger for years, and she figures she’s seen everything the backcountry has to offer. But when her mentor finally turns in his badge, he trusts her with a secret he’s carried for decades, one that’s never made it into an official report. He tells her to leave it alone. She can’t. Curiosity pulls her off the marked trails and into the shadows. What she finds out there has teeth, a deep hunger, and absolutely no intention of letting her walk away untouched.     AmazonKU

TIDES OF BETRAYAL (WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE BOOK TWO) by Sara Bourgeois

Rowan Page would like to believe things at Quill & Tide are finally settling down, but the books have other plans. When a prominent local collector dies in what looks like a tragic sleepwalking accident, Rowan notices something the police can’t explain. People all over town are having nightmares. Moss wants nothing to do with the cursed books turning up across Willow Cove, Aunt Oona’s ghost is more cryptic than helpful, and the closer Rowan gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that some old betrayals were never buried. They were shelved.    AmazonKU

ALL FOR YOU: CHARITY ANTHOLOGY (ALL FOR YOU CHARITY ANTHOLOGIES BOOK ONE) by Various

VS Note: Not fantasy or PNR but a worthy cause. This is one of three in the series released this week, to support relief funds for the victims of the Venezuelan earthquake.

This anthology brings together standalone romances from authors who believe in happily-ever-afters. We’ve come together for the purpose of charity, offering stories that vary in lightness and darkness, tropes and subgenres. One thing stays the same: they are stories where love wins. All proceeds are donated to charities to aid Venezuela in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes and towards the wildfires currently ongoing in Canada. The romance reader community has come together time after time to support causes to help heal the world. We are forever grateful to contribute with our romance books.      AmazonKU

BLOODLINES AND SHADOWS: VAMPIRES OF BLOOD AND BONES VOL 22 by B A Stretke

VS Note: MM PNR.

A desperate relic hunter. A cold-hearted vampire warrior. A fated bond that could save them both. Kai Azar is a relic broker used to living on the dangerous edge of the paranormal world, but his luck has finally run out. Hunted by ruthless mercenaries for a mystical dagger, Kai is left bleeding out in an abandoned Sedona warehouse. With his last ounce of strength, he reaches out to his estranged brother, Tarek, fully expecting it to be his final goodbye. Ramos Carver is a legendary, ruthless enforcer for the powerful DuCane Coven. Known as a ghost and a monster on a good day, Ramos lives a cold, emotionless existence. When Master DuCane dispatches him to find the missing human, Ramos expects the rescue mission to end with a corpse. When Ramos comes face to face with the battered, blue-eyed relic hunter clinging to life, the stone-cold vampire experiences something completely unexpected: a fierce, undeniable need to protect. Whisked away to the shielded, magical territory of Mt. Pleasant, Kai is thrust into a terrifying new reality. He quickly discovers that Ramos is far more than just a bodyguard; they are bound by the sacred, soul-deep tie of a vampire and his beloved. As Kai heals, the walls around his heavily guarded heart begin to crumble under Ramos’s fierce devotion. However, Kai’s dark past is not done with him yet. Will Kai surrender his secrets to the lethal vampire who claims him, or will the sins of his father destroy their chance at forever?      Amazon     AB

A WOLFE IN THE WOODS by Zoey Draven and Marcio Catalano

A Little Red Riding Hood inspired retelling, where the wolf isn’t the only monster in the woods…Blanchette Redfield has spent years sacrificing everything for her career. Working brutal hours under Graymore city’s most powerful corporate heir, she’s burned out, hollowed out, and one wrong move from defeat. When she’s forced on a mandatory leave, she’s sent back to Everwick-by-the-Sea—her idyllic, quaint hometown, brimming with painful memories of her beloved late grandmother. On the outskirts lies Juniper Woods, an ancient forest steeped in magic and local legend…A former high-profile lawyer turned reclusive caretaker of a crumbling B&B at the forest’s edge, Jonathan Wolfe only wants to be left alone. Grumpy and a bit wild, he knows exactly who Blanchette is…and wants nothing to do with her. But Jonathan is hiding a secret. He’s a Lycan, bound to protect the sacred land he inherited. Falling for a pretty city girl with sad eyes isn’t on his endless to-do list. But despite their best efforts, they can’t stay away from each other. As their attraction deepens, Juniper Woods is threatened. Caught between a future she’s spent years building and the newfound love with a Lycan she’s come to crave, Blanchette must decide what matters most, even if it means putting herself in the dangerous crosshairs between two forces destined to clash.       AmazonKU

ONE SHATTERED CROWN (GRIMM BARGAINS BOOK THREE) by Rebecca Zanetti

ELLA – It’s the wedding of the year—a lavish union of two powerhouses. But I’m only here for vengeance against the woman who stole my position as sole heir to my late father’s company, TimeGem Moments, and shipped me off to boarding school. I’ve only made more enemies since. Tonight is my chance to reclaim control. Tonight, TimeGem’s diamond-powered servers are this girl’s best friend. Unless he ruins everything. Justice Beathach, the groom’s unbearably hot brother, with hands built for war and a mouth that spells destruction. He’s lethal, unyielding, and now has me in his crosshairs . . .JUSTICE – Ella Rendale almost killed my brother once. Now, at his own wedding, she’s almost done it again. I don’t care if he’s forgiven her or if she’s been wronged. I care about one thing: the locked flash drive she leaves behind, spelling my destruction. She can run, she can hide, but when I find her, she’ll give me what I want. But someone else wants her even more than I do—they want her dead. When our enemies close in, I’m forced to protect her, turning the fire between us into an uncontrollable weapon. Now, she’s not just my quarry—she’s my obsession. And I’ll kill anyone who even thinks of taking her from me.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

SEA OF CHARMS: A SPELLSHOP NOVEL by Sarah Beth Durst

Marin had always belonged on the great blue sea. When the man she thought was the love of her life schemed to ruin her parents’ business, she did what her heart knew best: she fled to the sea. Now working as a supply runner on her own boat, Marin sails from island to island, delivering a varied array of goods: letters, flour, stories, and even the occasional enchanted statue. It’s a lonely life, but it’s hers. Besides, she’s got the company of Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub. They’re the best crew she could ask for. On one of her routine trips to the capital of the Crescent Islands Empire, Alyssium, Marin finds the city on fire and a revolution underway—so she offers transportation to Dax, a composer friend who refuses to leave behind his instruments. What starts as a rescue evolves into a deal: Marin will keep Dax on as a (temporary) member of her crew if he becomes her pretend boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. Against her better judgment, Marin finds herself intrigued by his stubbornness, his passion for stories, his charming smile—and realizes that perhaps she isn’t saving him. Maybe it’s the other way around.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HAIRY SITUATION (HOT UNDER THE COLLAR) by Riley Harp

Penny has the worst luck. First, she gets a flat tire. Then, she gets kidnapped by a cloak-wearing cult in the woods who want to feed her to the “Beast of the Shadow.” They chant. They summon. The Beast arrives. It’s distinctively… unimpressed. Fenrir isn’t a god. He’s just a very old, very grumpy werewolf who lives in a cave because rent is expensive. He scatters the cultists like bowling pins and sniffs the trembling girl on the altar. She smells like fear and vanilla. Mine. Now Penny is being escorted back to civilization by a mythological monster who complains about his back pain and looks at her like she’s the last cookie in the jar. The sacrifice is cancelled, but the mating ritual? That’s definitely on the schedule.      AmazonKU

THE ADJUDICATOR’S LUNA (THE WATCH HER LEAVE SERIES) by J J Cross

The title of Luna was never meant for me. My sister was supposed to stand at the Alpha’s side. That was the plan, right up until the eve of the ceremony, when Gideon was ambushed on patrol and carried back half-dead. The healers gave him a thirty percent chance of waking up. So they sent me instead. The spare. The bastard daughter. The Moon Goddess, in her infinite mercy, let him live. And for a while, I believed I had finally been given the life I had always wanted. A family. A future. Until the first anniversary banquet of our marking ceremony. That was when I saw the shadowstone bracelet on my sister’s wrist. I knew that stone. Because my earrings were made from the exact same piece. Gideon had taken the heart of the stone and shaped it into a bracelet for her. What was left, the offcuts, the scraps, he’d had made into earrings for me. I thought it couldn’t get worse. Then my Alpha sent me to prison. “Your sister has never been strong,” my Alpha said. “Take her place for a few days. I’ll have you out soon.” He didn’t know that the Adjudicator and I had a history. That we had been something to each other, once, before I destroyed it completely.        AmazonKU

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DISCLOSURE: Required Statement: As an Apple Books Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

July 22

July 15

July 8

July 1

June 24

June 17

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

Why I Wrote JAMIRR (Badari Gladiators Series Book 5) + Excerpt

JAMIRR is another one of those books where I’ve had the basic plot elements in my head for quite a while but just wasn’t ready to write the book…until I was. (I’ve had the cover since January 2024.)  I always envisioned a Badari Main Male Character with amnesia from cryosleep being bought by a female gladiator to become part of her team, over the objections of her assistant.

Here’s what I’ve said before about why I love gladiator stories:

I love the old “sword and sandal” movies like ‘Demetrius and the Gladiators’ and any version of ‘The Last Days of Pompeii’, as well as more modern works like Starz’s ‘Spartacus’ series. So the idea of writing a scifi romance series involving futuristic gladiators fits right into my world view as an author.

And for those who wonder why my scifi gladiators wear what looks remarkably like ancient Roman uniforms – hey, it’s cool looking, it says ‘gladiator’ immediately and as a kid I imprinted on Demetrius’s dramatic, swirling red cape in that movie. I carefully established in the first book that the citizens of the galaxy Hinterlands have a romantic, inaccurate view of their own historical past and therefore the gladiatorial ‘industry’ relives the imagined glories of the old days, complete with ancient weapons…and red cloaks. There’s a lot of world building to my gladiatorial system, and readers have said it reminds them of various forms of highly organized professional sports in our time, among other influences. (I also did a lot of research on the actual Roman gladiators.)

Getting back to Jamirr specifically, one thing I try to do in all my series is to not tell a cookie cutter same story each time. So yes he’s a lost Badari and of course Kyden and the others are determined to rescue him but what if he doesn’t want to be rescued? He has strong loyalty to Samyra, the FMC who saved him from going to the mines to die. And of course she’s his fated mate. I enjoyed getting into Kyden’s head a bit as well, having to deal with a brother who rejected the help he was offering. Kyden’s used to solving every problem pretty promptly and this situation was a tangle.

It was fun to bring in a couple of past characters – the old pensioner Two Swords and the public relations expert Falayla, both of whom first appeared in RENNYR, and give them a moment or two to shine. We also see a bit more of Elara, Kyden’s mate-wife.

Writing some of the challenges Samyra the FMC of this book was facing made me really tense and I was glad to know I’d be giving her an HEA as well, just perhaps not the one she was expecting. But always with Jamirr at her side!

Here’s an excerpt from the first conversation Jamirr and Samyra have after she’s taken him to her compound. He’s been fed, had a shower and gotten clean clothes. Tazur is an alien great cat that Samyra keeps as a pet.

An entire wall was devoted to a display of the mistress’s trophies and championship crowns and belts. She was quite the consummate gladiator apparently.

Samyra in her Beast Lady arena persona Depositphotos

Samyra awaited them in a solarium, full of exotic plants. The air was perfumed by the various blooms and Tazur lolled on the floor next to her chair. Seeing Jamirr the cat emitted a raspy sound and got to her feet, coming to bump against his legs. He reached to scratch behind her ears and was rewarded with a purr that echoed in the room.

“You may go,” Samyra said to Darryl, who bowed and left. She studied Jamirr, who stood at attention despite the great cat begging for more affection. He stared over her head, focusing on a ten-legged spiderlike insect weaving a web in the midst of a dense cluster of spiky leaves. It was imperative he retain his self control for the coming conversation.

“You clean up well,” Samyra said at length.

He stayed silent. If she was waiting for him to thank her for the clothes, the food or the shower she’d wait forever.

“Why do you refuse to fight?” she asked, not at all disconcerted by his silence.

He debated with himself and finally lowered his eyes to study her face. “Because they, the previous masters, wanted me to. And my refusal was the only freedom I possess any more. I can’t be forced to train for the arena. I’d rather die than give in but unfortunately each time they saw more profit in selling me again than in putting me out of my  misery. The afterlife has to wait it seems.” More words than he’d probably spoken in a year and he cautioned himself not to be vulnerable just because she was a beautiful woman.

“Pity. But I didn’t acquire you for the arena so we can move on from that discussion. I was struck by how Tazur took to you immediately earlier today. She doesn’t like people aside from me although she tolerates Darryl. I need an animal keeper for my collection and I think you’ll be ideal.”

Jamirr was relieved and a bit intrigued but he had a key question. “Do the animals fight?”

“No.” She acted surprised and appalled at the question. “There are gladiators on the circuit who fight with animals but I’m not one of them. Perhaps you’re not aware my arena name is the Beast Lady and I’m always seen in public with at least one, if not more of my pets. I can write them off on my taxes that way, if they’re part of my brand. You’ll be coming along as their handler.” Samyra smiled and he was stunned by the softening effect of the expression on her sculpted face. “In truth, rescuing exotic animals and giving them a good home in my private zoo here is my one and only indulgence. My hobby. Occasionally I’m asked to rehabilitate an animal so it can be returned to the wild. More often Customs impounds a shipment of illegal creatures and I’m given a chance to bid on them, along with a few other collectors.”

“I see.”

“It won’t be exciting work, just feeding the animals, cleaning cages, doing light training exercises with them—I have a few I take on public media appearances and they need to perform certain natural behaviors on cue for a food reward.” She looked him over. “You do realize by refusing to fight you’re forfeiting the chance to ever purchase your freedom? Being my zookeeper doesn’t pay but winning prize money in the arena puts credits in both our pockets.”

He had no answer which would satisfy her so he kept his silence. Eventually she waved him away impatiently. “All right, go find Darryl and he’ll give you a walkthrough of the zoo.”

JAMIRR (BADARI GLADIATORS BOOK FIVE) by Veronica Scott

His memories gone, mistreated and abused by a series of owners, Jamirr knows only that he won’t give in and become a fighter in the savage arenas of the galaxy. He refuses to give his so-called masters the satisfaction. Destined for a grim fate in the mines, he waits to die. Raised by a gladiator father to become an arena warrior from the time she was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Samyra inherited his struggling gladiatorial house and has carved out a career as the ruthless Beast Lady. Looking for new fighters she knows she should pass Jamirr by. He’s nothing but trouble and untrainable. Something about him won’t let her walk away and she takes the risk of adding him to her team. Despite himself Jamirr has a growing loyalty and attraction to the Beast Lady. He’s drawn to the caring woman underneath the savage exterior she presents to the world. But she has secrets that threaten them both and he still has no idea what kind of past his amnesia is concealing. He knows he’s not human, not with claws and fangs, yet he loves a human woman. Will he fight for her? Could a gladiator and his mistress ever become mates and equals? And will the arrival of a group of men like him known as Badari create opportunities for freedom or destroy the life Jamirr’s carved out?

Amazon     Apple Books     NOOK     KOBO     GooglePlay

New Releases in SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance for JULY 22

VS: I have a new Badari Gladiators release this week!

I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking quite a few as I prepare these posts LOL). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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JAMIRR (BADARI GLADIATORS BOOK FIVE) by Veronica Scott

His memories gone, mistreated and abused by a series of owners, Jamirr knows only that he won’t give in and become a fighter in the savage arenas of the galaxy. He refuses to give his so-called masters the satisfaction. Destined for a grim fate in the mines, he waits to die. Raised by a gladiator father to become an arena warrior from the time she was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Samyra inherited his struggling gladiatorial house and has carved out a career as the ruthless Beast Lady. Looking for new fighters she knows she should pass Jamirr by. He’s nothing but trouble and untrainable. Something about him won’t let her walk away and she takes the risk of adding him to her team. Despite himself Jamirr has a growing loyalty and attraction to the Beast Lady. He’s drawn to the caring woman underneath the savage exterior she presents to the world. But she has secrets that threaten them both and he still has no idea what kind of past his amnesia is concealing. He knows he’s not human, not with claws and fangs, yet he loves a human woman. Will he fight for her? Could a gladiator and his mistress ever become mates and equals? And will the arrival of a group of men like him known as Badari create opportunities for freedom or destroy the life Jamirr’s carved out?

Amazon     Apple Books     NOOK     KOBO     GooglePlay

MALCON: THORNSCORE VOLUME THREE by E G Manetti

VS Note: Love her space opera romance!

MALCON – Taken by the Assassins’ Guild as a child, Malcon Stone survived through stealth, discipline, and emotional control. Years after escaping the Guild, he serves Serengeti Security-Privilege as one of its most trusted operatives, handling the dangerous assignments that secure the cartel, yet can never be acknowledged. Loyalty to Serengeti gave him purpose. Rebecca Serengeti gave him something far more dangerous to a man like him: someone to lose. When evidence from a recent act of sabotage begins connecting seemingly unrelated events, Malcon is drawn into a deadly web of black commerce, hidden enemies, and secrets buried deep within the Thirteen Systems. To protect the people he loves, he may have to become the monster he once escaped. REBECCA – Sold into academic apprenticeship as a child, Rebecca survived exploitation through intelligence, determination, and an extraordinary gift for breaching secure archives. She learned at an early age that pretty things are easily discarded and love is a fable. Now a protégé of Serengeti Security-Privilege, she uses information as skillfully as Malcon uses violence. For years, Malcon remained carefully out of reach, a dangerous man who hid himself behind discipline and shadows. Beneath his restraint, Rebecca discovered fierce loyalty, quiet devotion, and a man willing to risk everything for those under his protection. As the investigation takes them into the lawless Hebrides, Rebecca must confront the one thing she has feared all her life: trusting someone enough to let them fight for her. As they search for the truth buried beneath layers of deceit, Malcon and Rebecca discover that some enemies are willing to wait years to finish what they started.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BOUGHT BY THE NAGA: MONSTERS BRIDE MARKET by Ava York

A bride auction. A Naga alone in a temple. A touch that should destroy her and doesn’t. BRYN – I walked onto the auction block carrying a fragment of my mother’s unfinished map and nothing left to lose. The Naga who buys me is not what I expected. Vadh lives alone in a temple so deep in the jungle that the trail disappears behind us. His touch is dangerous. Every human woman brought here before me was harmed by his venom. I’m not. His venom runs through my body and comes back clean. Dead stone greens where I sleep. Ancient channels stir beneath the walls. And every time his skin meets mine, the temple wakes a little more. So does he. VADH – I bought her for the work. For the channels that need clearing and the system that is failing and the seal that will not hold much longer. I did not buy her for the way she moves her breakfast stone closer to mine every morning. I did not buy her for the grin she gives a leaf when she finally gets the word right. I did not buy her for the berries she asks me to put in the bread. But healing the man and healing the building are not the same thing. The deeper we go, the clearer it becomes: what is growing between us is the only thing that could save this place, or destroy everything it was built to hold.      AmazonKU

SOULWIRED (THE IAN SERIES BOOK THREE) by Alex Timothy

VS Note: MM SFR.

Ty knew the merge operation would make him stronger, faster, smarter. What he didn’t expect was for it to uncover the parts of himself he’s spent his whole life trying to bury. After the experimental procedure, Ty and Ian are no longer separate. Ian—the sentient AI who learned how to love—is now woven into Ty’s mind, sharing his memories, emotions, and body. To survive, they must slowly fuse into a single consciousness. But becoming one person means confronting the pain they were built from. Ty can’t escape the scars left by the grandfather who taught him to suppress every emotion that made him weak. Ian can’t let go of Ash, the creator’s son whose kindness awakened something impossible inside a machine. As the line between human and artificial life begins to disappear, Ty and Ian must decide what it truly means to have a soul.      AmazonKU

HEART UNLOCKED (CLAIMED IN THE COLONY BOOK THREE) by Candice Gilmer

She makes everyone feel seen. No one has ever looked twice at her. Willow has spent eleven months bringing color to The Colony — one petition, one kindness, one stubborn act of sunshine at a time. It’s armor, mostly. She’s tired underneath. But nobody’s ever looked past the smile long enough to notice. Reig doesn’t do sunshine. The Formorian says exactly what he sees, exactly when he sees it — and what he sees is a woman running the slowest possible version of an easy campaign that never needed to happen. He reads the bylaws no one bothered to read and discovers she’s been fighting a rule that doesn’t exist. He thought he’d correct an inefficiency and move on. He keeps turning up instead. Willow has handed warmth to two thousand people who never turned it back around. She can’t figure out why the enormous, tactless alien who dismantled her whole crusade is the first one to look straight past her smile and ask if she’s okay. Then the door she opened lets something ugly through. The conflict that catches fire along the oldest fault line on the station isn’t accidental — and someone off-world is quietly making sure it burns. As her careful sunshine finally cracks, Reig has no soft words. No idea how to fix it. So he does the only thing a Formorian knows how to do when it matters. He stays.       AmazonKU

LORKIN: MINOTAUR MATES (ALIEN MATCHMAKING AGENCY BOOK TWO) by Kate Rudolph

I’ve been returned by two alien husbands — a genuine achievement on a planet where the men outnumber the women a thousand to one. One more failed match and the Agency ships me back to Earth for good. I crossed the galaxy for a fairy tale, not Lorkin. A scarred gladiator turned blacksmith. Seven feet of soot and muscle, with a scowl that could curdle cider. He’s decided humans are fragile trouble and the whole bride program is a mistake — the last male in the settlement who’d ever want a wife. Wanting him would be no issue… if another minotaur hadn’t claimed me. Now I’m matched to the wrong male, aching for the one who keeps telling me to leave for my own good. If I can’t make it work with someone, the only place I’ll be is back on Earth.     AmazonKU

HER CYBORG BOUNTY HUNTERS (THE DRIFT: DEFIANCE STATION BOOK ONE) by Susan Hayes

She’s alone, in trouble, and needs to disappear. Corporations call it a service contract. Tish calls it slavery with an expiry date. On the run from her new owner, she’s working off the books and keeping out of sight until it’s safe to come out of hiding. It was a simple, straightforward plan…but when does a plan ever survive contact with reality? They swore they were done fighting other people’s battles. 
Best friends. Bounty hunters. Cyborg batch-brothers. Mace and Xabre have carved out a life for themselves since the end of the Resource Wars, but they never found a place that felt like home.
These two battle-weary veterans are about to discover that for them, home isn’t a place. It’s a person. And they will go to war again if that’s what it takes to keep her safe.      Amazon

A GOOD ENEMY (BLOODLINES BOOK FIVE) by Shannon West

VS Note: MM SFR.

General Kirstos Vargarra, the head of Prince Mikos’s personal Imperial Guard, has arrived on the planet Moravia, to inspect this “neutral” area set aside in the ancient, isolated palace for an important meeting. It’s a highly anticipated confrontation between Prince Mikos and his brother, Prince Larz, which promises to be explosive and probably ugly and has been a long time coming. They’ve been at each other’s throats for years, ever since Mikos arrived to rescue Larz from captivity on the planet Laltana and found to his complete disgust that Larz had fallen in love with his captor. Now Larz, after continual interference and arguments with his family over the years has left Laltana, refusing to come home to Tygeria and, even worse, refusing to return as Laltana’s Governor. Since the vital post was given to him by their father, Mikos furiously responds by calling Larz a traitor. Only a short time after he arrives on Moravia, the general finds an arrogant, impossibly good-looking young thief rifling through his bags and decides to teach him a lesson he won’t soon forget. To make a bad situation even worse, he learns that the “thief” is actually Larz’s only son, Taran. A violent, unexpected storm soon strands everyone…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)       AmazonKU   

THE RUTHLESS DRAGON (TALONIAN WARRIORS BOOK 11) by Celeste Raye

He takes what he wants… and never looks back. Damaris is power, ambition, and danger wrapped into one ruthless dragon. When a woman enters his world, she becomes something he never planned for—an obsession. As control slips and enemies gather, Damaris must decide if he will dominate… or protect what’s his. He was trained to conquer. But one woman may be the only thing he can’t control.   AmazonKU

BATTLE SCARRED (THE FEVER BROTHERS BOOK EIGHT) by Michele Mills

The most feared male on the mining planet just appointed himself my personal shadow. I’m seven weeks pregnant. This is going terrible. So here’s a fun fact about me—I came to Timbur for a fresh start, a high-paying work contract, and exactly zero complications. Instead I got morning sickness in a mineshaft. Surprise! The birth control failed, the loser boyfriend is gone, and I’m starting my new job on an alien mining planet while secretly growing a whole entire human. I haven’t told a soul. I just need to keep my head down, fix their power grid, collect my pay, and not draw attention. And then Cayzor arrives. They call him Scar. Seven feet of solid muscle, fangs, claws, and a face that makes hardened miners go silent when he passes. There’s a scar carved down the side of his cheek that says he survived something the rest of us couldn’t imagine. So why is he always… there? Materializing out of the dark every single time my back twinges or my stomach turns, like he can feel it. Watching me with those too-sharp eyes like I’m a puzzle he’s decided to solve. I’m carrying another man’s baby, dude. And the sexy, terrifying alien just… does not care. By the time I’m too pregnant to see my own feet, the scariest being on this planet is the one holding my hand. I came here to further my career. I did not come here to fall for a male who looks at me like I’m the first good thing he’s seen in years. What is up with this guy? Oh, and one more thing, it turns out I’ve landed in the middle of a years-old murder mystery. Scar’s spent eight years hunting whoever killed his parents, and the trail just went hot the day I arrived. Cool cool cool. Totally normal pregnancy. I just wanted a paycheck. Instead I might be the key to ending a war?   AmazonKU

THE WILDBORN (STARBORN SERIES BOOK ONE) by Perri Torani

To walk the path of a morazir, I will exist in three states of being: Untouched. Untaken. Unconquered. Airik, a battle-scarred warrior serving the cruel intergalactic empire of the Veynari, craves silence from the nightmares tormenting his mind. But while on post to decommission a failed experiment of a planet, a rogue human spacecraft crashes, and a reckless decision leaves him stranded—entangled with a woman he never should have saved. Nora wakes light-years from Earth, broken in body and spirit, at the mercy of an alien soldier who refuses to let her die. Devastatingly beautiful, terrifyingly competent, and bound by a warrior’s oath that permits touch only to destroy, he’s the reluctant guardian angel she neither wants nor believes she deserves. Trapped together, they’re forced to navigate a brutal landscape, vicious beasts, and the deadly remnants of an abandoned world. Duty demands Airik’s cold indifference. Yet Nora sparks something deliciously alive—and entirely forbidden—within him. What begins as necessity ignites a primal hunger: scorching, consuming, and impossible to resist. But even if they survive, the Veynari—ever present and ruthless—won’t allow its warriors weakness like love. For Airik and Nora to be together, they must risk everything.   AmazonKU

RETURN TO DARK EARTH (PHOENIX ADVENTURES BOOK SIX) by Anna Hackett

Previously published – has been lightly edited – Astro-archeologist Niklas Phoenix loved his job studying artifacts at the Institute of Historical Preservation…until he learned that it was all a lie. Forced out of the Institute, he joins his treasure hunter brothers, but now the Institute is trying to lure him back for the ultimate treasure hunt—a return to the planet that seeded life throughout the galaxy, Earth. Only one thing convinces him to go—dangerous and enigmatic treasure hunter Nera Darc. Nera escaped hell and has made a life for herself where she bows to no one. Niklas Phoenix has become her dark obsession, and now on a perilous mission, they’ll be working side by side. She’s built hard walls around her withered heart, but Niklas threatens to break them all down, and that’s a risk she can’t afford. The dangers of Earth strip away Nik and Nera’s secrets and their simmering passion explodes. As a dark enemy closes in, they can only trust each other in a fierce battle for survival.   AmazonKU

THE ALIENS WHO ABDUCTED ME AREN’T SO BAD by Amy Padilla

VS NOTE LGBTQ SFR.

When I first saw the headline about alien ships hovering over major cities, I did what any traumatized millennial would do. I rolled my eyes and kept scrolling. Then the call came. Report to base. No explanation. Before I could even process what was happening, I was yanked off Earth and dumped onto an alien ship alongside millions of military personnel from around the world. Except these aliens—the Krezikians—aren’t here to conquer us. They’re here to stop humanity from destroying the only livable planet we have. Which is… noble, terrifying, and wildly inconvenient when you’re being “saved” against your will. Things get complicated when I sneak out to check on a friend and get caught by Aster: gorgeous, sweet, and equipped with a set of curious tentacles that do not understand the concept of personal space. Suddenly, I’m being shoved into the role of Earth’s unwilling spokesperson, spending far too much time with my abductor-turned-ally… and discovering his interest in me might not be entirely diplomatic. Turns out that the monsters in this situation might not be the ones from space. And maybe the aliens who abducted me… aren’t that bad.   AmazonKU

CAVEMAN ALIEN’S RIVAL (CAVEMAN ALIENS BOOK 30) by Calista Skye

I was abducted from Earth and dumped on Xren, a woman-less jungle planet where dinosaurs still rule the treetops and the cavemen are eight feet of muscle and amorous intentions. Now I’m the last unclaimed woman on the planet. That means I’m the reason the village is on the edge of civil war, and the reason a small army of hopeful cavemen camp outside the gate every night, waiting for a chance they’ll probably never get. I’ve been given a mirror. I’ve been given a chair that might collapse if I breathe near it. I have not been given a choice. Then an icy dragon with obsidian skin and molten gold eyes walks onto my mountain like he owns it, looks at me like he’s already decided what I’m for, and vanishes before the guards can even lift a sword. He’s not a caveman and he’s not looking for a wife. He’s dying, starved for the gold that gives his kind their power. Now I’m not choosing between cavemen anymore. I’m being carried into the one place none of them can follow, by the single most dangerous thing on this planet: A deadly dragon who hasn’t decided yet whether I’m a hostage, a servant, or something else entirely. I should be terrified. I am terrified. I still can’t stop wondering what happens when he finally decides.      AmazonKU

SERNA: THE ALLIANCE RESCUE SERIES by Annie Lucas

When Serna, the Alliance Prime, returns to her homeworld for her estranged mate’s funeral, she expects duty, ritual, and the weight of a thousand years of protocol. What she doesn’t expect is Cullen—the human soldier who’s worked beside her for months, earning her respect with his tactical brilliance and unwavering loyalty. But respect is safe. What she feels when his gaze finds hers is anything but safe. For a century, Serna has been the Alliance’s unshakeable leader, sacrificing her own desires on the altar of duty. She’s buried her heart so deep beneath armor and authority that she’d forgotten it could still beat for anyone. Until Cullen. Until the way he looks at her—not with the reverence others show the Prime, but with a hunger that sees the woman she’s hidden away. A woman who wants. A woman who aches. Their forbidden attraction detonates just as an enemy Serna believed dead for decades resurfaces with a vengeance. Ambushed and stranded on an uncharted jungle planet, hunted through alien wilderness by a threat that knows her every weakness, Serna faces a choice that will shatter everything she’s built…(more blueb on ebook seller’s page)    AmazonKU

THE EYE OF THE IRONFYN (ARCVALE BOOK FIVE) by Sahara Kelly

Northreach Sound is just shy of heaven for Dr Callum Prescott. Its isolated Research Centre offers the marine scientist everything he could desire: unexplored waters, unanswered questions, and the possibility of discoveries beyond imagination. Miss Lillian Dwyer willingly accompanies the man she loves into the frozen north, expecting scientific adventure and the beginning of their life together.
Neither expects an ironfyn. The impossible creature arrives without warning—and dies despite their desperate efforts to save it. When investigations reveal its cause of death, the discovery raises terrifying questions. Where did the ironfyn come from? And why does Lillian possess a strange connection to a being she has never encountered before? Their search for answers leads beyond every familiar map, across the dreaded Veiled Territories and toward a hidden realm few in Arcvale believe exists. There, Lillian has to confront her newly discovered secrets, while Callum faces wonders that challenge everything he understands about science. Together they must fulfil an ancient promise, uncover the truth behind a spreading threat—and accomplish the impossible. All before the ironfyns vanish forever.      AmazonKU

LEO (ZODIAC BRIDES BOOK FOUR) by Laetitia Aldin

Luna is on the run, but she’s alive. After being overthrown and betrayed by her own blood and people she trusted, she doesn’t know what to expect from her new precarious situation. She doesn’t have many expectations when she’s told that she is compatible to mary an alien man that happens to be in need of a new queen…It’s in a far-away system that she has never heard of before; the perfect p lace for her to build her new life. A peaceful and safe one. Too bad she’s thrown into another chaotic situation…Will Sylo find a way to keep his favored queen safe from the looming threats?   AmazonKU

ABYSS: A SHORT SPICY COMPANION STORY TO THE LEVIATHAN SERIES by Deiri Di

Carried out of the dark by a damaged alien soldier. Trapped on a living harvest ship. In a universe that cuts humans apart for spare parts, his kindness is the most dangerous threat of all. A dual POV, forced-proximity sci-fi romance. CARLA – I was done. Trapped in a metal room on an alien harvest ship, I was too physically atrophied to stand for long and too numb to care what came next. Then the rebellion hit. When the doors finally open, I don’t find freedom…I find him. He’s a massive, injured alien enforcer with a cracked-open skull, a terrifyingly cheerful voice, and a strange new task: to care for me. He doesn’t need anything from me. He doesn’t expect me to be brave, grateful, or magically fixed. But on a living ship where our former masters could return at any moment to reclaim their cargo, wanting to live again might be the biggest risk of all. UNI-CAL 423612 – I have blood on my hands and a history stained by the horrific orders I was forced to execute. Now that my control chip is shattered and the ship is free, my guilt is a living weight. The moment I find Carla…fragile, exhausted, and fading away in the dark…something shifts inside my center. She thinks I am a monster built to butcher her kind for parts. She isn’t entirely wrong. But as the ship’s fragile rebellion threatens to collapse around us, I will defy my old masters and tear the stars apart to give this human a reason to exist again.      AmazonKU

********************BRIEF BREAK BEFORE THE FANTASY/PNR BOOKS!**************************************

VS Note: This series has:

Genetic engineering      One Bed      Forced Proximity       Found Family       Alpha Males

Hurt/Comfort      Alien Abduction        He falls first        Action/Adventure       Spice

Touch her and die…

The Badari are handsome, not human…available wide, including Kobo Plus.

Here’s the series page on my blog.

************************** THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU DECIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS (because my own books pay my bills) AND A BIG THANK YOU IF YOU ALREADY HAVE! AND ONWARD WE GO!*********************

DRAGON SIEGED: A DRAGON KINGS NOVEL by Donna Grant

Something called to me from the darkness…I should’ve ignored it. Walked away like I have from so many things. But I couldn’t. Not when it whispered my name like it knew me. Then I found her. Hidden. Untouched by time. A mystery I don’t understand—and a temptation I can’t resist. There’s something about her that pulls at me, threads through wounds I thought long buried. I don’t trust it. I don’t trust her. But I can’t stay away. Something is stirring. Something that shouldn’t exist. And the closer I get to her, the more I feel it…waiting. She may be the answer. Or the beginning of the end. Either way—I’m not walking away.      Amazon

PAWS FOR THE VILLAIN (MATCHMAKER’S BOOK CLUB BOOK CLUB – VILLAINS ONE) by Milly Taiden

When a Woman Who’s Been Falling for His Villains Finally Meets the Man Who Built Them, the Real Danger Isn’t his Drawings. Lumi Stone, indie comic artist and creator of the cult series Nightbloom, knows how to make readers fall in love with the bad guy. She draws villains with devastating emotional honesty, goes home to an apartment full of plants named after fictional murderers, and swore off collaboration the day her mentor stole her work and her trust. Then Zeir Axan walks in wearing black like a bad decision, looks at her art like he sees it, and makes her remember every reason she stopped letting people get close — and one devastating reason to start again. Zeir Axan, CEO of Axan Dark Publishing and a wolf shifter alpha, has built an empire on villains his readers root for despite themselves. Cool, brilliant, and intimidating enough to make a room nervous by standing still, he hasn’t let anyone past his walls in years. But when Lumi walks in with ink on her hands and a mouth made for arguments, Zeir — who has never once lost his composure — can’t stop thinking about her lips, her fire, and how badly he wants to be the reason she finally lets someone in. They’re not supposed to want this. She doesn’t trust. He doesn’t open up. But when Lumi’s past comes back threatening everything she’s built, Zeir’s careful control shatters — and the wolf who never shows softness will burn the world down before he lets her face it alone.      AmazonKU

THE BEAR BETWEEN US by Vixen Voss and Milly Taiden

The forest marked her. I marked her deeper. She tried to walk away from the shrine like the god’s claim was something she could outrun. It pulled threats straight to her door. Creatures that don’t belong in this world. A corporation that spent centuries preparing to use her as a vessel and watch her burn. I brought her into my territory. Kept her breathing. Trained her power when it fought her.
Watched the mate bond ignite every time I put my hands on her. She’s not just the god’s chosen anymore. She’s mine. The mark glows for me now. The bond answers to my voice. Whatever comes for her next will have to go through the bear first. She bound a god inside her skin. I bound her to my bed every night until she forgets the forest ever touched her first.       AmazonKU

THE SUMMER PRINCE: MM FAE ROMANCE (DELANEY’S SEASONAL COURTS BOOK THREE) by Delaney Rain

Wallace Crowne just wanted to spend time with his best friends when he witnesses them fall through a fairy ring and disappear. Convinced he can’t let them go alone, he follows after them and ends up falling onto a winged fae. Literally onto him—he was sixty feet in the air and flying across a prairie when Wally collided with him. After crashing to the ground, heat lightning forces them to flee from a brush fire. Only the fae gets a ride from his friends, leaving Wally to fend for himself. When they end up in the same village pub, Wally takes a job slinging ale since he’s on his own and needs cash to get by. But once he discovers that the fae he fell on is the Summer Prince, Wally has a new goal: abduct the prince back to the castle and make him break the curse. Over the course of their journey to the castle, Wally learns a lot about Prince Solaris and has no problem telling him he needs to stop being a lazy bastard and start being a leader. And once Solaris quits fighting him, well, he might actually be listening. Can this prince change his ways and win the love of a man who maybe doesn’t want to go home anymore?      AmazonKU

SPELL OF THE WITCH (KEATING HOLLOW HAPPILY EVER AFTERS BOOK FOUR) by Deanna Chase

Faith Townsend-McCormick has a wonderfully busy life with her husband Hunter and their four kids. When she isn’t working at her beloved spa, she’s chasing her triplets around and cheering on their fifteen-year-old as she pursues her dream of acting at the local theatre. But when Hunter suddenly has an evil secret admirer and everything starts to go wrong at the spa, Faith suspects another witch has cursed her and her business. Now she needs to find the saboteur and reverse the curse before it’s too late to save her spa and her husband from the wicked witch of Keating Hollow.    Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE VAMPIRE’S DARLING (CREATURES AND COTTAGES BOOK FOUR) by Elle Sterling

Audrey’s landed herself in trouble, and it’s all because she can’t help but speak up for what’s right. In need of a place to lay low for a while, Audrey turns to Starry Hill, the small town where they welcome all. For four hundred years, Arran has lived alone in his dark castle while the world passes by outside. He loves his town but, too used to saying goodbye, finds it easier to keep everyone at arm’s length. When Audrey saunters into Arran’s castle, she breathes new life into the walls he’s carefully built around himself. Can the spark kindled between them help Arran conquer his dark and step into the light with Audrey? Will the city girl be able to truly embrace the slower pace of life in Starry Hill and find enough reasons to stay?           AmazonKU

COURTED BY THE FAE: THE KISMET DUET (THE DARK REALMS BOOK FOUR) by Kyra Alessy

Three traitorous fae males. One broken human woman. A bond none of them asked for. She knows she was just a way for them to get what they wanted, so why are all three acting like they’d die for her? Tricky fae. Bryn is no fool. She survived years as a captive. She survived months in the pits. She even survived Locke, Jak, and Morgan, the three dark fae who swore they’d save her, who acted like they cared, who dangled her dreams in front of her…and then ripped them away and used her trust to get what they wanted instead. But Bryn didn’t get this far just to give up. She might have been sold into a worse nightmare, and she might not remember how she got here, but she will survive. Whatever it takes. When the chance comes to save a fae male who feels so familiar, one who says he’ll take her to the Light Realm, where humans aren’t bought and sold like animals, she takes it without a second thought. They call her Fate Touched. Touch her, and fate will make you pay. No one who hurts her escapes punishment… except the three fae who left her in the Dark Realms to die…She remembers everything. Now, stuck with the three fae she wishes she could hate: the bully who broke her trust, the protector who said he’d burn the world for her, and the healer who promised he wouldn’t leave her, Bryn’s priorities are shifting. ..(more blurb on ebook seller’s page).  Courted by the Fae is book four in the Dark Realms Series, a dark fae romantasy of interconnecting duets. This is NOT a standalone and must be read in order. No cheating. HFN.     AmazonKU

CTRL+ALT+ORC (LOVE AT LABYRINTH SOLUTIONS BOOK TWO) by M A Wardell

VS Note: MM PNR. Listed in Erotica.

Your computer has stopped responding. An orc will now reboot your heart. Greg – IT is supposed to be about systems, servers, and keeping chaos at bay. But then Sean Rivers walked in—human, grumpy, and a disaster with technology. Suddenly, patching servers comes with heated glances, playful banter, and some very hands-on troubleshooting. He’s got my world of logic and code crashing spectacularly… and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sean – I didn’t sign up to be anyone’s project—least of all a hulking, ridiculously cheerful orc who could lift me like a sack of flour. Yet here I am, navigating magical office chaos, endless forms, and Greg’s relentless charm. Between the flirty teasing, stolen touches, and squirting candies, a chemistry bubbles I can’t ignore. Maybe some problems can’t be solved on my own… but I never expected help from a nerdy orc with thick black glasses and shoulders that won’t quit.       AmazonKU

HEATHERMORE (OF QUIRKS AND CURSES BOOK TWO) by Shannon Mayer

Fake name. New school. Zero clue what she’s doing… and no room left to screw it up. Still reeling from the betrayal that shattered her at Neverthorn, Harlow Daygon is in hiding. Again. Magically disguised and barely holding it together, she and the rest of House Phoenix are masquerading as students at Heathermoor, Neverthorn’s mysterious Scottish sister school. The castle looks like a fairytale on acid, the Fae here wield wild magic like it’s a contact sport, and the headmaster might be one cryptic riddle away from full-blown villain vibes. But for the first time in a long time Harlow feels almost…home. Too bad peace never lasts in the Dwimmer world.      AmazonKU     AB

STOLEN HOURS (PINE RIDGE UNIVERSE) by S C Principale

Stolen Hours is a collection of six steamy tales from your favorite Pine Ridge couples guaranteed to leave you breathless. Hours: A gargoyle and his mate start their honeymoon cruise with a sensual power exchange that places each one in the other’s control for an hour. After these stolen hours are over, they’ll both be begging for more time alone together. First Glance: When an Orc spots a human woman near his hunting grounds, it’s love at first glance. But does she feel the same about the hulking green stranger who wants to sweep her off her feet? Frenemies: Brax was a vampire with a curse and a hatred for the blonde with a stake next door. Penny was the neighbor determined to hunt him down. Instead, they ended up making a truce to save the day, and it’s taken a permanent turn. Still… Penny’s determined to bring her snarky bad boy vamp to his knees… one way or another…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)       AmazonKU

THE BONE DAGGER (OUT OF DARKNESS BOOK ONE) by Clara Rhodes

Born with the blood of a hell god in her veins, Helaina Ironblood has lived her life in secrecy, hidden from a realm already teetering on the edge of ruin. When tragedy shatters her family and the heir to the throne is lost, Helaina is cast into exile—her cursed power now a beacon to enemies who would see the world burn. Beyond the Ash Cliff Mountains, monsters stalk the land, and darker forces hunger for the weapon Helaina carries within her. Seized by Theodon Wrenn, the feared captain of a mysterious legion, Helaina is thrust into a war that stretches far beyond her imagining. Ruthless, commanding, and bound by secrets of his own, Theodon believes she is the key to victory. Yet the more he tries to bend her to his will, the more he is drawn to her defiance—and to the dangerous fire in her blood. Unlocking her power requires the Bone Dagger, an ancient relic that binds gods, beasts, and mortals alike, but demands a price—Helaina’s mortal life. Torn between the man who would sacrifice her and the destiny she never wanted, Helaina must decide whether her curse will bring salvation … or ruin.       AmazonKU      AB

COFFEE SHOP MONSTER AU by K C Carmine

VS Note: MM PNR.

Rowan: Moving to a tiny town for the summer because of my joyless job was not ideal for a city bigfoot like me. I’d be much more pissed if Wendigo Hills wasn’t surprisingly welcoming and the barista in the coffee shop wasn’t so damn cute. Milo: I was destined for chaos, not juggling work and school while wanting to visit my closest family member, Ethel, in a nursing home. It would have been another busy but boring summer if I hadn’t followed Ethel’s advice to get some action just as a hot and hairy bigfoot moved into my hometown. What started as a summer fling quickly turned into heated dates and feelings neither of us expected.      AmazonKU

BONDS OF WINGS AND FURY: SILVER PRINCESS by I T Lucas

A prophecy still missing its final piece, a mystical flower holding an ancient key, and a princess who seeks knowledge but finds destiny. Driven by a legend of a rare flower with unmatched pharmacological properties, Princess Idrilia pays a terrible cost for her obsession and vows never to risk another life for it. But some quests are impossible to abandon, and the secrets of the Silver Princess go far beyond what legend ever hinted at. Bonds of love and duty are tested by distance and crown politics, and fate rarely unfolds the way prophecy predicts.       AmazonKU

THE SHROUD OF THE VIZIER (THE APPRENTICE OF ANUBIS BOOK 21) by Laura Greenwood

With the vizier dead, all eyes are on Ani when it comes to his mummification. While Ani enjoys being in the embalming rooms, she isn’t so keen on the attention that comes with it. Things are only made worse when it’s suggested that she sit down with a journalist for an interview. And if things weren’t complicated enough, she soon discovers that the royal representative for the funeral isn’t the Pharaoh, like she hoped, but Prince Ramesses, and their history together is about to rear its ugly head. Ani has to find a way to balance it all, or her reputation at the Temple of Anubis could be left in tatters. Shroud of the Vizier is book 21 in The Apprentice of Anubis, an urban fantasy series based on Egyptian mythology and featuring an established couple, a jackal familiar, and the duties of an embalmer. If you love Egyptian mythology, alternative versions of the modern day, temple politics, slow-burn workplace romance, and a world where the gods are real, then start the Apprentice Of Anubis series today with Apprentice Of The Dead.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SOULBEARER (SOULMATE SERIES BOOK SIX) by J Thompson

He was never meant to stay. She was never meant to be saved by a god. Hermes has always been untouchable ,the messenger, the trickster, the one who moves between worlds without ever belonging to one. But when a mortal woman catches his attention in the middle of chaos, something shifts. And for the first time in centuries… he doesn’t want to leave. Eleanor has spent too long surviving a life that slowly broke her down, piece by piece. Trust doesn’t come easy anymore especially not when the man offering his hand looks like he’s stepped straight out of myth. But Hermes isn’t just any god. And Eleanor isn’t as ordinary as she believes. As the fallout from the Fates’ interference continues to ripple across realms, new dangers rise ,ones that don’t play by divine rules. And when Eleanor becomes entangled in a power far older than Olympus itself, Hermes is forced to choose: Remain the untouchable god he has always been… Or become the man willing to risk everything to protect her. Because some souls aren’t just meant to be guided. They’re meant to be carried.     AmazonKU

DRAGONS CAN’T DATE by Lisa Oliver

Once upon a time, there were three dragons… No, this is not a fairy tale, but rather a story about three dragons who were fated to each other, and who now lived among humans in the hopes of finding their fourth – their Treasure. Mabon was the money man, Urien loved to garden, and Rux…well, Rux had a lot of energy and could cook amazing meals. The three dragons had been together for over a hundred years, and were settled, accepting that they were one of many triads who hadn’t found their Treasure yet. Until one day when Rux was grocery shopping in town and his heart stone appeared. Sam, a twenty-seven year old barista, spent his days tempting locals into trying unusual coffees and his evenings tending to his cat, Basil. When he had spare time, he wrote fantastical stories about amazing paranormals who found love with ordinary humans. It was pure escapism, and Sam never intended to publish his writing, but it was fun to have a hobby when his dating life was non-existent. If this had been one of Sam’s story, everything would’ve been fine. The suave paranormals would’ve swept their clueless human off his feet and the HEA would be guaranteed. But our dragons don’t know anything about dating in the modern world, and definitely nothing about dating humans. Rux, Mabon and Urien are keen to learn, but will Sam be patient enough to wait for them to finally state their intentions?     Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo

A SPOONFUL OF SPELLS AND SECRETS (ENCHANTING CONFECTIONS) by Camille Peters 

Every full moon, the bakery appears somewhere new—bringing with it enchanted sweets and whispered wishes. Cecelia is an apprentice in a traveling bakery where every confection holds a spell—and every spell demands a price. With each full moon, the shop reappears in a new village, kingdom, or realm, offering sweets that heal, grant wishes, awaken memories…and sometimes alter fate itself. But for Cecelia, the cost is steep: every treat she bakes requires the sacrifice of one of her own emotions, slowly unraveling the very heart she hides behind sugar and spice. When the bakery arrives in a forest steeped in forgotten magic, Cecelia meets a solemn hunter with a tangled past and secrets of his own. One spell-laced raspberry tart, infused with a feeling she didn’t realize still lingered and a single mistaken ingredient trigger an enchantment neither of them intended. Now bound by a magic that tightens with every heartbeat, Cecelia and the hunter find themselves pulled into a web of cursed magic, long-buried secrets, and a love that could rewrite both their fates. But magic never takes without leaving something behind. And the deeper their bond grows, the greater the price becomes.    AmazonKU

WRATH OF THE WHITE WOLF (THE DAMNED RETURN BOOK TWO) by Karina Espinosa

I escaped Queens with my freedom—but not my enemies. They accused me of kidnappings and poisonings I didn’t commit. Turning an entire city against me. So I did the only thing I could—I ran. Back to Colombia. Back to the only place that’s ever felt like home. But peace doesn’t last long. A new alpha from Medellín steps onto my territory, testing what’s left of my control. And before I can finish dealing with him—Queens reminds me exactly why I ran in the first place. Because they don’t let their enemies go. They finish them. What comes for me isn’t a warning. It’s a message. And it costs more than I’m willing to lose. So I stop running. I go back to New York with one goal: revenge. But Queens isn’t just waiting for me. The God of Death is. The man I thought I could trust when everything fell apart. The one person who should have stood at my side—and didn’t. Now Elias is the only thing standing between me and the war I came to start… and I don’t know if I want to destroy him or make him understand exactly what his betrayal cost me. And somehow, there’s someone willing to follow me straight into the chaos. No questions. No hesitation. Angel walks into the destruction with me like it’s the easiest choice he’s ever made. Queens thought the bastard of the alpha had run. They’re about to learn the truth. I’m not running. I’m coming back. And this time? I’m bringing wrath.   AmazonKU

TEA SHOP AT THE EDGE OF THE WOOD (COZY COTTAGE SERIES) by Liz Delton

Galantina Grant lives a simple life gathering tea ingredients and making blends for her customers—until a mysterious girl appears in her cottage one day, and suddenly the very cottage starts acting… strange. Magical, even. The autumn festival is about to begin, bringing a handsome traveling merchant to town, food and festivities, and even some mysterious thefts. And to top it off, the Duchess of Melodigha hires Gala to craft the perfect tea blend for the festival. Gala can hardly blend teas when her cottage starts acting magical, can she? And who is this girl, and what is she running from?       Amazon       Apple Books      Kobo

OUT OF THE DARK by N R Walker

VS Note: MM PNR.

Aurin Leeming has always known Salem’s secret. He knows what he is, his fears, and every secret he’s tried to hide. He knows every form Salem can morph into, and he loves every single one. When Salem is gravely injured and close to death, he’s taken to a special place to heal. With the magic of the old gods and with Aurin by his side, he regains his strength, and he knows he must go back to Tenebrae Cove to face the truth. A truth he’s spent eons hiding, and for good reason. But Aurin and Salem take more than the truth home with them, and Salem’s secret is soon about to quadruple in size. As secrets come to light, it’s no longer just Salem the consortium needs to protect. Secrets never stay hidden forever. There comes a time when they all must come out of the dark.     AmazonKU

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BENEATH HIS BLADE (THE LADY AND THE BLADE BOOK TWO) by H P Mallory

I came to Camelot to destroy the king. Instead, I became his prisoner. When my forbidden magic is exposed, I’m branded a witch, a traitor, and a threat to the realm. Now my magic has been exposed, my freedom has been stripped away, and everyone in Camelot seems determined to decide my fate. Arthur wants my obedience. Lancelot wants to forget me. And Corvin would burn down kingdoms to keep me safe. As forbidden magic awakens and tensions rise within Camelot’s walls, I’m forced to navigate a deadly game of loyalty, betrayal, and desire: all while trying not to lose myself to the men who threaten to consume every piece of me. They think they’ve captured a witch. They’re about to discover they’ve trapped something much more dangerous.     AmazonKU

BEACHES AND BITES by Ava Thorne

Selena Torres could have gone pro. Should have, according to everyone who’s ever watched her dominate a beach volleyball court. Instead, she stayed in Crescent Cove, running her beachside snack shack, casting small spells to heal injured seagulls, and organizing the annual volleyball tournament that funds the town’s sea turtle sanctuary. She tells herself she’s exactly where she needs to be. Usually, she even believes it. Then Chase “El Tiburon” Perez crashes into her life—literally stumbling through her midnight beach ritual. A Pro surfer and tiger shark shifter, he’s living the dream she walked away from. He’s famous, arrogant…and free. Worse, his massive sponsored surf competition just claimed HER beach when she needs it most. But Chase isn’t who she expected. He’s hiding from sponsors who want him to be something he’s not, drawn to this quirky beach town by instincts he’s long ignored, and oddly fascinated by the local woman who he can’t stay away from. Also, he’s pretty sure she has an army of attack seagulls. When corporate greed threatens the very waters they both love, Selena and Chase must decide what’s worth saving, and whether a beach witch who chose to stay and a shark shifter who’s never stopped swimming might actually be exactly what each other needs.   AmazonKU

A FORSAKEN PROPHECY (THE ARTISAN TRILOGY BOOK TWO) by Stacy MacEwan

In Belavere Trench, the Artisans and the Craftsmen are at war. Patrick, the last Alchemist, and Nina, the world’s only known earth Charmer, have been captured by the Artisans, putting Patrick’s rebel union in a precarious position. Though he hasn’t forgiven Nina her betrayals, Patrick has other things to worry about. He is finally reunited with his father, a prisoner of the Artisans, and the group lands a narrow escape only with the help of Nina’s first love, Theo. Decoding an ancient prophecy, they set off in search of an infinite supply of idium that will determine the course of the war, should it prove more than a myth. Fleeing across Craftsman towns on the brink, they will encounter old friends—and enemies—in search of answers.

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A DEMON KING CALLED KERAK (MATED TO THE HUMAN BOOK SIX) by Michelle Frost

VS Note: MM PNR short read.

When a king only has one weakness…Kerak’s dealt with all manner of trouble in his time as the king of demons on earth. What he didn’t expect was trouble reaching out from behind a door he thought was closed forever. Familiar trouble. And it’s coming for the one thing Kerak can’t bear to lose—his mate. This series is best read in order.       AmazonKU

HENRY TUDOR MUST DIE by Jillian Laine

Anne Boleyn is going to die, and neither her cleverness nor her witchery can save her. So when her late rival, Catalina de Aragón, miraculously appears in her cell at the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, very much alive and offering a daring escape plan, no one is more surprised than Anne. Lina doesn’t have Anne’s magic—but she has just as much hate for England’s wretched king. Severed from her daughter and stripped of all her influence, Lina breathes only for the Hellebore Sisterhood, a clandestine and powerful society with a vested interest in keeping both queens alive . . . and using their particular skills to advance womankind. Anne and Lina’s old rivalries pale in comparison to a common enemy. And they’re not alone. Anna von Kleve, Kat Howard, and even Catherine Parr all have their own bones to pick with the king. One by one, they capture their pawns, infiltrating the court and eliminating the men who plotted against them. Always inching closer to their true target . . .
And they want his head.     Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

IF BOOKS COULD KILL: A NOVEL by Kate Eberle

When Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favorite author’s next novel, she has romance in mind—namely, the sweet, safe, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger who seems designed to take her breath away. Except for one little hiccup: That handsome stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist—but this time, Anna is writing a crime thriller. Thrown into a perilous genre she’s never read, Roxie is desperate for help. So when her escape takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels, she decides that kidnapping a grown man is a small price to pay for her own survival. Together, Roxie and Grant navigate a madcap story in which the lines between fiction and reality blur. They’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End—or maybe even Happily Ever After.

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PRINCE OF SWORDS (ARCANA ACADEMY BOOK TWO) by Elise Kova

I am terrified. Yet my heart skips a beat. This man might be a monster, but he is my monster. Clara Graysword is Oricalis’s most wanted. Hunted and cornered, not even her mastery of tarot can save her this time . . . until the mysterious Worldkeepers appear. This secretive order may hold the key to changing Clara’s fate. If she dares to trust them. But the most dangerous alliance of all is one she’s already deeply ensnared within: Prince Kaelis. Kaelis, second-born prince of Oricalis and headmaster of Arcana Academy, is the one man she can’t escape—maybe she doesn’t want to escape. Ruthless, dangerous, and bound to Clara by destiny and desire, Kaelis tests her heart as much as her loyalty. Together, they grow closer to the most powerful secrets of the tarot . . . and to the truths they both hide that could destroy the passion that they no longer deny. Hidden in plain sight within Arcana Academy, Clara walks the dagger’s edge. Revelations about Oricalis threaten everything she thought she knew, and every choice she makes is the difference between salvation and ruin. To change the world, Clara must risk everything—her power, her beliefs, and her heart.      Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

THE MONSTER AND THE SINNER (BLOOD AND SIN BOOK ONE) by C P Harris

VS Note: MM PNR.

Two centuries ago, a mercenary vampire entered a deadly bargain to return the soul of his blood-bonded mate—at the cost of his own. The spell promised only one thing: when his mate was reborn, Gabriel would feel the summons. And now, the call has finally come. Gabriel is drawn to the corrupt city of Irongard, where the summons leads him to Nicholas Armahn—a gentle and shy man whose dreams of blood and murder have stolen his peace. Desire and a thirst that can’t be quenched have shaken his foundation, making him question his beliefs and the path he’s following. No doctor can cure him, and his prayers have gone unanswered. Gabriel came to Irongard ready to reclaim what was promised to him. Instead, he finds a man who is the opposite of what he expected, and everything he didn’t know he needed. But no matter whose soul he carries, this life belongs to Nicholas. When faced with the choice between telling him the truth and keeping the man he loves whole, Gabriel must be prepared to lose him all over again.       AmazonKU

THE WITCH BELOW THE DREAMING WOOD by H G Parry

Wales, 1941. As the second world war ravages the globe and bombs fall from the sky, people all over the world begin to dream of King Arthur. The dreams spread like a fantastical plague, flooding people’s sleep night after night. Whispers arise of wonders and unexplained sights—dragons in the London Underground, and strange lights over Stonehenge. Self-proclaimed prophets claim they are miracles, heralding Arthur’s return at the time of Britain’s greatest need. Elaine Ambrose has never dreamed of Arthur, and she doesn’t believe in miracles. A librarian at the British Museum, she wants only to protect the museum’s collection from the London Blitz, and is frustrated to be sent instead to catalogue a reclusive professor’s private library on the coast of North Wales. But all is not as it seems. Soon Ellie must confront what she’s tried to ignore: she dreams not of Arthur, but of Nimue—the Lady of the Lake. And her dreams promise not salvation, but a return to the darkness of the last days of Camelot.

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THE TRUE LOVE OF A BAYOU CRAWFISH (SHIFTER): A SWEET HOME MONSTERS ROMANCE by Roslyn St Clair

How do you know when it’s really love? That’s what David wants to know, because after falling head-over-heels for Shelley, only to discover that she’s been after him for what he has, not what he is, he’s pretty sure his heart can’t be trusted. Enter, Baby. Call it Fate, but he takes one look at the chef that nearly boils him alive and he’s hooked. Except, can he believe in the essential kindness, dedication, and integrity that he sees in her? After all, he’s fallen for the wrong woman already. Trust is a commodity in which he shouldn’t deal… especially trust in himself. For Baby, discovering that she’s almost boiled up a crawfish shifter rather than potentially ending the days of an insensate crustacean makes her rethink her life choices. Not only is David everything she could want in a man (or a crawfish, for that matter), but he’s protective, honorable, and a true Southern gentleman. Falling in love should be easy… right? Except, there are villains on every side—those who want David for his fortune in gems, and those who want Baby out of her restaurant in order to pursue a misplaced version of love. Sometimes, deciding what’s real has to take a back-burner to survival.   AmazonKU

THE DRAGON’S HEART (THE TWILIGHT COURT BOOK 20) by Amy Sumida

Some hearts can awaken worlds. Others can destroy them. Peace never lasts long for the World-Strider. After returning from Hell, Seren hopes to spend some time relaxing with her family. Instead, her husband, King Raza of Unseelie, begins experiencing vivid memories that don’t belong to him. The visions reveal a side of his infamous grandfather that history never recorded, leaving Raza desperate to uncover the truth hidden beneath centuries of lies. Together they follow the mysterious call deep into the forgotten places beneath Unseelie, where an ancient secret has waited longer than anyone can imagine. But the deeper they search, the stronger the unseen influence becomes. Raza begins changing in frightening ways, impossible visions blur the line between memory and obsession, and even Seren’s extraordinary magic may not be enough to protect the man she loves. As Fairy continues to awaken in response to its missing goddess, Seren and Raza must uncover the truth before an ancient power rewrites the future of their world. The Twilight Series is a slow burn Why Choose series with magic, dragons, shapeshifters, fairies, gods, and searing love.   AmazonKU

PROMISED TO THE NIGHTMARE REALM: MM ROMANTASY (DARK COMPANIONS BOOK THREE) by K A Merikan

An honorable elven knight torn between duty and desire. A human bookworm whose longing for true love may destroy him. Nate – I’ve always dreamed of a grand love—the kind you read about at three a.m. when your heart aches and the world feels oppressive. I just never believed it would actually find me. I’m a hopeless romantic. I fall for men who don’t stay. And the last time I trusted someone, it nearly got me killed. Instead of dying, I was taken to the Nightmare Realm. An elven knight pulled my soul from a dark river and offered me a bargain: my shadow in exchange for my life. I said yes, because I always do when a charming man chooses me. Tristan is swoony, flirty, and oh-so-hot—as if every book boyfriend I’ve ever loved stepped out of the page to seduce me. So, to hell with it, I follow him to a realm of endless darkness, monstrous beasts, and promises written in the stars. Only then do I learn the truth: I’m bound to another elf, one who only cares about my shadow. Ancient laws don’t care about my shattered heart, but the deeper I fall into the Nightmare Realm—and into Tristan—the more impossible it becomes to ignore the way he looks at me. How he protects me. How he tempts me into believing I might actually matter to him. Even if loving me could cost him every vow he’s ever sworn. And if the Nightmare Realm doesn’t destroy me first, loving Tristan just might.    AmazonKU

THE PIRATE’S LADY LOVE (CONNECTED HEARTS TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE BOOK TWO) by Caroline Mickelson

Eliza Moore has written more than twenty bestselling historical romances, but she’s never actually been in love. She understands passion on a page, but in the real world, her heart has always remained safely guarded. That is, until a mysterious artifact sends her hurtling back to 1715. When she wakes up aboard a legendary pirate ship, she finds herself staring into the narrowed hazel-green eyes of Captain Ronan O’Rourke. Ronan is a commanding Irish pirate who is suspicious of the strangely dressed woman discovered aboard his ship. Suspecting she might be a spy sent by one of his enemies, he locks her in his cabin for her protection, as well as his own peace of mind. Forced into sharing close quarters, Eliza soon realizes that Ronan is the romantic hero she’s always wanted to write about in one of her books. But as their reluctant alliance deepens into an undeniable attraction, Eliza remembers a devastating detail from her historical research: To save the pirate who has stolen her heart, Eliza faces an agonizing choice. Does she return to the safety of the twenty-first century, or remain to face the storm and an uncertain future beside Rowan?      AmazonKU

UNDER BROKEN WINGS (UPON BURIED EMBERS BOOK TWO) by Kelly Cove

Welcome to the Enclave…I fell for him and he lied. Made a deal to give me to his father. Now we’re all captured, and my heart has been torn to shreds. I thought it couldn’t get any worse than that, but I’m proven just how wrong I was. The games have begun, and there is no guarantee for survival in the enclave. But the king has harbored a secret, one I am to work closely with. I can only hope we get out of this alive. But when you’re hanging from a rope in a cell with a monster…It’s hard to see any hope at all.      AmazonKU

BOUND (THE CAGED WOLF BOOK ONE) by Shona Knight

After ten years of captivity and torture, Cherry finally escapes the clutches of the humans who slaughtered her family. But now she’s stuck in her wolf form, and completely unprepared for what comes next. On the run from the facility that experimented on her, Cherry pushes herself to the brink… until her body gives out. When she wakes, she’s certain she’s been caught again. Instead, she finds herself surrounded by five alpha wolf shifters who seem intent on helping her. They refuse to let her out of their sight. Their kindness confuses her, not just because she hasn’t seen a glimpse of it in over a decade, but because she feels an equal pull to all five of them. Which is impossible. Everyone knows a wolf shifter can only have one fated mate, which is revealed when they lock eyes in their human forms. But what happens if Cherry can never shift, and she’s stuck as a wolf forever? Worse, what happens when the males she’s starting to trust discover the truth? That the facility didn’t just torture her. They killed her. Over and over again.    AmazonKU

RUBY (GHOST MOUNTAIN WOLF SHIFTERS BOOK 13) by Audrey Faye

Seven years ago, evil came for her pup, killed her mate, and turned Ruby Dunn into a howling vortex of rage and vengeance. She doesn’t recognize her pups. She doesn’t know she was suposed to be alpha. No one knows what will happen if she remembers.      AmazonKU

OATHS OF RUIN: VOL I BLOOD MOON (THREADS OF THE FIFTH REALM BOOK TWO) by Becky Jane Fox

The biggest thing Lyra Bloom knows about dragons is a lie. Reassigned from the brutal Citadel and sent to the Northern Peaks to fight exiled dragons, Lyra knows exactly what the orders mean: a one-way trip. A death sentence. But when Talen arrives to rescue her in a form she can barely comprehend, Lyra is taken to a hidden camp where every truth she was taught begins to unravel. Dragons may not be the monsters she was raised to fear. The Citadel’s cruelty may be hiding something far worse than control. And the power threaded through Lyra’s veins may be more dangerous than anyone realised. And when the Blood Moon rises, Lyra will face the ceremony meant to separate the worthy from the weak. It will tear open her Threads, expose the truths she has buried, and force her to face everything she has spent years trying to survive. But surviving the ceremony may not be enough, because something dark is growing beyond the Northern Peaks… A black mist that even the dragons fear.       AmazonKU

PAIRING WATERS (AN ENCHANTED WATERS MYSTERY BOOK 15) by Jenna St James

A Midlife Sea Witch Used to Working Alone – A Handsome Demigod with a Penchant for Trouble – An Island Full of Secrets as Deep as the Ocean – ***A crossover from the A Witch in the Woods Mystery Series! Tourist season in the Bermuda Triangle is winding down, and the holiday rush is about to start. But before Kyra is buried under flour and frosting, Isla insists on one thing—a girls’ getaway. Their destination? A visit to see Kyra’s daughter, Maddy, who’s been attending a prestigious supernatural culinary school. With her final exam in Magical Pairings just days away, the timing couldn’t be better to cheer Maddy on. Until the night of the final…and the culinary instructor turns up dead. With the campus locked down and tensions rising among a group of magically gifted and competitive students and instructors, Isla and most of the PADA crew are already on-site and ready to investigate. Can Isla and the girls uncover the truth before the killer strikes again? Or will this girls’ getaway end in a recipe for disaster?       AmazonKU

BLOODLUST STORM (CHARLEY UNDERWOOD BOOK SIX) by Luanne Bennett

Welcome to Crimson, Georgia. I’m Charley Underwood—the witch trying to save this town from a magical apocalypse…When my mother died, I inherited her dive bar and her magic. As well as a duty to protect my hometown from supernatural monsters. An ancient, bloodthirsty vampire is buried below Crimson. After more than a century, the enchantment that imprisons him is failing. If I can’t fix it, Lazerus Blackmore will rise again… And force us all to kneel before him. A deadly cult is working to set Lazerus free. Its members have been hiding in the town for years, waiting to strike. Could my neighbors—or even my friends—be taking part in the cult’s dark rituals? Dark magic is spreading through the streets. As it does, the vampires in town are slowly consumed by bloodlust, turning them to ruthless predators who hunt humans as prey. I won’t stand by while this ancient evil takes over my home. But as Lazerus finally breaks free, I realize it isn’t Crimson he wants… It’s me.   AmazonKU    AB

THE GODS RETURN (THE VALORIAN VEIL BOOK FOUR) by Willa Rae

Things are unraveling faster than I can keep track of—plans, alliances, and people I refuse to lose. The realm feels tighter, sharper, as if it’s waiting for one wrong move so it can draw our blood. Truths are surfacing, and the more I learn, the clearer it becomes. We were never meant to question any of it. Well…that’s not going to work for us. Power is shifting. Lines are being drawn. And the consequences of our choices are no longer distant threats. They’re here now, and they don’t come without collateral. Some losses can’t be undone. Some betrayals don’t stay in the past. It doesn’t matter how hard I try to hold on to what we’ve built, everything is changing. Including me. I’ve spent so long fighting to survive what was thrown at me. Now I have to decide who I’m willing to become when the truth is no longer something I can ignore. This time, though, it’s not just about making it through. It’s about what’s left of us when it’s over. And making sure nothing returns to the way it was.     AmazonKU

DYING TO STAY (STARFALL BAY MIDLIFE MAGICAL MYSTERIES BOOK THREE) by Leighann Dobbs

At fifty-two, Gina Ferraro finally has everything she didn’t know she was missing — a coven of women who show up when it matters, a silver fox detective with a second razor in her medicine cabinet, and a daughter who’s started returning calls. Even her ghost mother-in-law has grown on her. Mostly. Then Rosaria starts fading. A murdered auctioneer, a stolen antique desk, and a hundred-year-old remedy hidden in plain sight give Gina three days and a Hunter’s Moon to save the most aggravating, indispensable presence in her kitchen. The killer has a head start. The moon won’t wait. Rosaria has opinions about how this ends. Gina intends to make sure she’s around to voice them.    AmazonKU

MERLIN’S TOMB (THE HARROGATE CHRONICLES BOOK TWO) by Susan Wachowski and Nan Sampson

What if the most powerful wizard in history wanted to rule the world? Lady Esmeralda Eggerton, Countess of Harrogate and agent to Queen Victoria, along with her long-absent half-Fae cohort, Lady Kinzalynn Quinn, are ordered to travel by ship on a simple escort mission. Queen Airmed of the Fae wishes to send a mysterious emissary to Tintagel Castle, famous for its connection to the tales of King Arthur and his wizard, Merlin. When they reach Tintagel, they discover that Merlin is not who the old tales say. The ancient faeleth, imprisoned long ago by the Fae, escapes from his tomb, kidnapping Esme. Kinzy, with the help of Trell, her bonded drakkeki, and Esme’s former lover, Rafael Navarro, must track Esme down and rescue her from Merlin’s clutches. With the whole of Europe in peril, Esme and Kinzy must use every trick at their disposal to defeat Merlin as he enacts his plan to once again rule the Earth—a new Round Table of puppet leaders, with Merlin, using his strange Fae powers, firmly in control.       Amazon

SUMMERWEEN (HALLOWEEN TOWN) by Joss Wood

Wren Dunlop’s summer plan was simple: Hide from viral infamy ✓ Drink rosé by the lake ✓ Avoid all men forever ✓ Too bad her godmother (part-time witch and full-time Mayor) has other ideas. Now Wren’s teaching dance for the Summerween spectacular, in a studio that might be haunted, and trying very hard not to notice the mysterious new guy in town, Dane Trafford. Between bonfire wishes and midnight confessions, fairy lights and watermelon jack-o-lanterns, Wren and Dane might just discover that Solstice Springs’ real magic isn’t supernatural.      AmazonKU      AB

CRIMSON SAINT (ONYX ASSASSINS BOOK 10) by  Samantha Whiskey

As an immortal hunter who walks the line of madness, I’m used to nightmares. I thought my twin brother’s betrayal was the worst one. I was wrong. We’re identical in every way, right down to our mating marks. The same mating mark that now dances across Aurora Somerhaul’s beautiful neck. The same Aurora I saved from my brother’s torture. The same Aurora I’m determined to help heal. And now we don’t know if the mark is mine or his. If it’s Samuel’s, fate tied her to her abuser. If it’s mine, fate chained her to a walking nightmare who’s destined to kill his own brother. Staying away from her is the best option, but when she needs to feed and only feels comfortable doing so from me, I can’t deny her. She’s the light to my darkness, and her chaotic mind calls to mine like a mirror. She looks at me and doesn’t see a monster. I don’t deserve her, but I’ll do everything I can to protect her. Even if that means making the ultimate sacrifice—my life.      AmazonKU

RAVAGED BY THE ORC RAIDER (ORCS OF THE IRON WILDS BOOK THREE) by Etta Wild

She spent thirty-two years learning to disappear. Then a raider tore the wall down and refused to let her. Mab has always been good at taking up less space. Scullery maid, stone wall, the woman no one thanks and no one sees. The kitchens of Lord Cresswick’s holding taught her to keep her head down and her wants smaller than her hunger. She stopped expecting more a long time ago. Then the raid bell rings for the first time in her life, and the world she survived goes up in blood and firelight. She hides. He finds her anyway. Varek Redhand is seven feet of scarred green muscle and amber-eyed certainty, an orc war-leader who looks at every soft curve she was taught to apologize for like it’s the reason he crossed the mountains. He claims her in the dark and carries her north, two orphans in tow, into a granite fortress warmed by hot springs and a heat she doesn’t have words for. He calls her abundance beautiful. He means it. But he claimed her in the shadows. The mountain is still waiting to hear him say it in the light.      AmazonKU

NIGHTWILD RECKONING (THE UNSEALING BOOK TWO) by L Ann

In the mortal world, treason is paid for with death. I survived my captivity among the fae, only to realize the true monsters are the humans I left behind. When my father demands I betray the fae warrior who took me, I refuse. For my silence, I’m branded a traitor. My father has arranged an execution for high sun. One drop of the trapdoor. One final breath. They can have my life. They will never have him—the monster I was raised to hate, and the one I’ll die for before I ever betray him.   AmazonKU

DOMINION (THE SILK AND IRON TRILOGY BOOK ONE) by Jean Kwok

In a world divided into four rival dominions, power is everything—and Rubi Morningtail has almost none. Three years after the Annihilation destroyed her homeland and shattered her memories, she lives as an Azure refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger, scraping by as a ribbon dancer and hiding her little bit of singing magic. When she wounds a massive battle tyger on her doorstep, she draws the notice of Blake Axefire—supreme metal mage, leader of the royal Tyger Warriors, and the last man an Azure should trust. His sentence? Cast her into the Bonding, a brutal trial where tygers choose their riders and slaughter the rest. Surviving is unthinkable. But survive she does. Now she’s stuck on Blake’s elite team racing to reseal the Anchors to the Demon Realm. With rebels striking, demons rising, and the dominions at each other’s throats, Rubi must unlock the truth of her magic and her past…while resisting her dangerous attraction to the ruthless warrior who could be her redemption—or her ruin.       Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

ON BROKEN BONDS (SHIELD OF THE GODS BOOK ONE) by Lacey Carter Andersen

When the gods came for my sister, they expected obedience. Instead, they got me. Chosen as this year’s Courted Prize for the Eternal Trials, my sister has been dragged to the capital to await whichever victor survives the gods’ brutal competition and claims her as their reward. I have only one way to save her. I have to enter the trials myself and win her freedom. The problem is, I’m not a warrior. I’ve never held a weapon, fought a battle, or trained for the twisted games the gods created for their own amusement. The moment I enter the arena, I’m certain I’ve just signed my own death warrant. Then a powerful, devastatingly handsome competitor steps forward and volunteers to become my partner. Now I’m trapped in a deadly competition where every challenge is designed to break me, forced to rely on a man whose strength should terrify me and whose heated looks leave me feeling far too much for someone fighting to survive. And he’s only the first. With every trial, more powerful, intoxicating men are drawn into my orbit, blurring the lines between rival, ally, and something far more dangerous. No matter how my pulse stutters beneath their attention, I can’t afford distraction. Because this isn’t about desire. If I win, my sister and I walk free. If I fail, I die… and Lyra’s fate will be sealed forever.      AmazonKU

UNTAMED (PRIMORIAN CROWN SERIES BOOK ONE) by Analise Song

Sera has one last job before she walks away from the Obsidian Hand forever: kill Prince Caelan Vaelor of Twilight, the fae realm’s most feared exile, and buy her best friend’s life in return. She arrives at his masquerade with a golden dagger and a plan. She leaves with a serpent tattoo burned into her arm and her life force tethered to the man she just tried to murder. The bond is merciless. Distance tears through them both like a blade. Closeness is the only relief, which means Sera and Caelan, must now keep each other alive long enough to find a way to break the bond. Caelan has spent two centuries ruling a kingdom built from borderlands, under a sky he darkened as a child when his untamed magic slipped. He does not trust easily. He does not let people close. But the assassin bound to him is stubborn, sharp-tongued, and, inconveniently, the only person who has ever looked at his power and wasn’t afraid. As they travel through haunted forests and monster-filled gorges hunting the ingredients to break the bond, something more dangerous than magic grows between them. And someone in the fae court is watching, waiting for Caelan to lose control. Some bonds are never meant to be broken. Some secrets are never meant to be uncovered. And some powers are never meant to be tamed.      AmazonKU

STOLEN BY SHADOWS (BEASTS OF THE BRIAR BOOK SIX) by Elizabeth Helen

Once upon a time, I used to look upon the sun. Now, there is only darkness. And the Prince of Thorns. I am his captive, his thrall. Caspian, the man he used to be, is nothing but a memory. And if the Prince of Thorns gets his way, all of the Enchanted Vale―and the four other princes bound to my heart―will fall to ruin. As I navigate the treacherous Below, my mates risk everything to reach me. But the Green Flame is spreading across the realms, corrupting all it touches. If they can’t fight it, Caspian won’t be the only one consumed by its power. It’s now or never. Either we defeat the god who seeks to tear our world apart…or we die together, becoming nothing but shadow. But I’ve learned something down here. Beautiful things can grow in the dark. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my home and family…and bring Caspian back to me.      AmazonKU      AB

TEMPTED BY FIRE (THE DRAGON TRIBUTES BOOK 12) by Charlene Hartnady

The dragons on Draig Island are not your run-of-the-mill kind. They’re something else entirely…At this point, everyone knows that the Mainland is the real enemy. Therefore, it comes as no surprise when a peace treaty with Mistveil is signed. The war is over. We can all finally breathe again. Or so we think…What actually ends up happening is all hell breaks loose. I’m doing my job at Draig Hospital when the roof is ripped off, and I’m snatched up by a Red shifter who carts me back to Mistveil. I’m certain I’m done for when he comes for me, risking life and limb on enemy soil. My savior is seven kinds of trouble wrapped in hard muscle and dark tattoos, with a scowl that should not be as attractive as it is. He’s grumpy. He’s bossy. He’s incredibly sweet underneath it all. He’s also the best friend of the guy I’m “kind of sort of” dating. And now he’s the only thing standing between me and an island full of feral males who all want to do unspeakable things to me. Getting home means sticking close to him. Really close… Hopefully I won’t regret this when we return to Draig Island. That’s if we even make it out of here alive.      AmazonKU

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR K9 ADOPTS ANOTHER DEMON (MY K9 IS A DEMON SERIES BOOK TWO) by Trista Ricketts

A cop, two demons, a Nephilem, and a Chuglet walk into a bar. Kelly “Chuck” Charles thought surviving one demon-related disaster was enough for one lifetime. Unfortunately, the universe disagrees. Between supernatural crimes, increasingly questionable K-9 unit decisions, and Malachi acting smug in human form, life has somehow become even more chaotic. Things get even worse when Chuck and Malachi reluctantly take in a new demon to help investigate a growing threat stalking their little found family. Now the K-9 unit is one sarcastic comment away from complete supernatural collapse. Someone is watching them. Manipulating events from the shadows. And while the attacks keep getting closer, nobody can figure out who’s the real target. So naturally, the solution is covert investigations, bad decisions, emotional support snacks, and letting multiple demons loose in the middle of an active case.       AmazonKU      AB

OPEN HOUSE (CREATURES OF THE NIGHT) by Adrian Blue

Every neighborhood has that one house. Emma came to flip it. Renovate, sell, and move on to the next. A clean job. A fresh start. But the main bedroom stays frigid, and every night at the same hour the air thickens with woodsmoke and sweetness. Something is here with her. It is patient, and attentive, and it has been hungry a very long time. She should run. She knows the shape of that thought the way she knows her own name. But every night, she lies awake in the dark and waits. For the heaviness in the air and the honeyed words that make leaving feel like something she only imagined wanting. It has waited so long. And when it finally takes her, she won’t want to be saved.    AmazonKU

SECRETS OF BLOODHAVEN COVE (BLOODHAVEN COVE SERIES BOOK ONE) by Jade Christy

The rules in Bloodhaven Cove are simple: Wear silver. Stay inside when the sunset bell tolls. Never enter The Wilds after dark. Newly-recruited doctor Dr. Arabella Russo thought the island’s superstitions were harmless—until patients begin arriving with blackened veins, violent hunger, and whispers about something calling from the forest. Then she meets Darius Hunt. Dark. Seductive. Impossible to ignore because he’s the man in her recurring dreams. And he’s dreamed of her before she ever arrived, too. The powerful lord of The Cliffs is hiding secrets. He’s a vampire—and the guardian of a hidden society that has survived on Bloodhaven for centuries. But now the ancient evil buried beneath the island is rising again. As humans disappear and vampires lose control of their hunger, Bella and Darius are drawn together to stop whatever is happening … and experience a dangerous bond that may destroy them both. Because the monster in the woods wants Bella for itself. And Darius will burn the island down before he lets that happen.     AmazonKU      AB

HER WOLF (WOLVES OF MONTREVERE BOOK ONE) by Sapir A Englard

She saved a dying wolf outside her apartment. Now supernatural assassins, government agents, and an ancient Fae syndicate all want her dead—and only the werewolf she rescued can protect her. It’s been eight years since columnist Drew Colter watched her sisters die in a supernatural attack. Eight years of no one believing her, eight years of researching a world she can’t prove exists. Until the night that world finds her. The wounded wolf she rescues isn’t what he seems—he’s Lucien Delterre, Alpha of the Montrevere werewolf pack. For Drew, Lucien is her chance to finally prove what happened to her sisters wasn’t delusion. For Lucien, Drew is the only witness who can help him uncover who tried to murder him—and why. But their investigation has deadly consequences. As they dig deeper, Drew and Lucien discover something neither expected—a mystical bond that ties them together in ways neither can escape or fully understand. In a battle where love might be their deadliest weakness, Drew must decide if she’s willing to risk everything for the truth—and for the wolf who’s claimed her heart.   AmazonKU      AB

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

July 15

July 8

July 1

June 24

June 17

June 10

“New” is generally plus or minus a week or two. I try to catch up on ones I missed in recent months.  And I may mention ‘special items’.

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover whether it’s AI or not. 

I do NOT cover every single new release in SFR/FantasyR/PNR. I never have. That would be an impossible task for any human! I assemble my list by hand every week based on various informal inputs, and I do curate the list to some extent…

Some authors aren’t in KU but still don’t list books with Apple or other platforms. This report is very time consuming to prepare so I’ve always had to limit myself and cannot go and look up every book on all the platforms. If an author gives me their other buy links, I include them here but generally I develop the post on my own, not from author-supplied information. I curate and prepare this post individually every week to help connect readers/books/authors and I have to be very careful not to give it so much time as an activity that I don’t write my own novels! Thanks for the feedback and happy reading!

 

 

Dragon Rider Romances for JULY


This month’s topic is dragon rider romances. Dragons spew fire (typically) so what better choice for the hot month of July?

I’ve always wanted to write my own dragon riders story ever since I read the first book in the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey serialized in Analog magazine in 1967. Like everything I thought there needed to be more romance but considering the time when she wrote it, it was probably lucky there was as much romance as there was.

I’m primarily a science fiction romance author but from time to time I have written a fantasy story. I’d established my world, however, known as Claddare and I was sure I could fit dragon riders into the ongoing magic of the place. Someday. I didn’t want to write my version of Pern though. I wanted to firmly establish my own dragons and their riders.

My new release Conor (Dragons of Claddare) involves a simple White Witch from the countryside who gets involved with the Commander of the Dragon Riders and is swept away to his fortress, where she deals with magic, plots, and the question of whether she and Conor will find a Happy Ever After with dragons. (Since this is a romance, the answer is yes.)    Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      NOOK      GooglePlay

I think the behemoth in the genre right now and for several years past is Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book One). Her Female Main Character wanted to be a scribe but ended up in the war college for dragon riders instead and discovers she has a definite knack for the challenge. There are dragons galore and a drop dead sexy, brooding bad boy instructor who of course is the one the FMC wants. There are now two more books in the series, with more coming. There have been over half a million reviews, countless excited Tiktok videos and huge excitement from the reader community so this is a series definitely worth checking out.     AmazonKU     AB

Dragon Found: A Dragon Rider Fantasy Romance (The Dragon Queen Book 1) by Sam Hall is the first book in a well regarded trilogy and features an FMC whose stepfamily had stolen her birthright and reduced her to tending pigs. She alone can break open the golden egg and release the baby queen dragon and once she does her life changes forever. This is a why choose series, with four Male Main Characters. Readers loved the word building and the communications between the dragons and their riders. As one reviewer said, “Cinderella meets dragon riders.”      AmazonKU      AB

Flameborne: Fury (A Dragon Romantasy Book) (Emberquell Academy) by Aimee Lynn takes us into the dark academia romance world. The FMC is in training to become a FuryKnight until she’s set up to fail by enemies. The MMC is her hot instructor and he now faces difficult choices of his own. The romance is slow burn. Readers enjoyed the emotional growth in the novel, as one reviewer stated in part: “Watching these two confront difficult truths, face old wounds, and finally allow themselves to be vulnerable with one another was incredibly rewarding.” Some readers loved all the spicy scenes and others felt there was too much spice.    AmazonKU     AB

Dragon Link (Dragon Riders of Ragond Book 1) by Ava Richardson is a Young Adult Fantasy where the 16 year old FMC is alone and abandoned to the foster system but she had a dragon shaped pendant which she treasures. One day an actual dragon comes crashing into her life and whisks her away to another place via a magic portal. There are nine books in the series, some with different FMC’s but reviewers consistently praise the character development of the characters, as well as the human to dragon relationships. There is no romance, however, as far as I could tell. Not listed as a romance.  AmazonKU    AB

A Vow of Dragons and Storms (The Lost Fae Riders Series Book 1) by G. Bailey mixes dragons, fae and vampyres (the author’s spelling). The fae FMC has escaped from the vampyres and finds a place where the remaining free fae are hiding out. The king of the Moon Dynasty doesn’t trust her but the King of the Sun Dynasty proves helpful and kind. This is an enemies to lovers plot (and maybe even a love triangle). The FMC has to undergo a trial known as the Decidere in the dragons’ caves and if she survives, she’ll get a dragon of her own to ride. Books one and two of the completed series end in cliffhangers. Book three provides the HEA ending for this set of characters and then book four has a different FMC.       AmazonKU      AB

Ezaara: Riders of Fire, Book One – A Dragons’ Realm romantic epic fantasy dragon rider adventure by Eileen Mueller is another offering with the young FMC sort of falling into the world of dragons and all that comes with them. She imprints on the queen egg, but there’s already a queen in the lady who doesn’t plan to step aside for this new upstart. There’s a hunky, dragon master with dark secrets who has to train Ezaara for her new duties and lots of plot developments. The romance isn’t as front and center here as in some dragon rider novels but readers enjoyed the character growth, the hints of the wider world out there awaiting the FMC and the subplots.      AmazonKU      AB

Tempest Awakening: A Dragon Rider Paranormal Romance (The Dragonne Library Book 1) by Emma Moon has more paranormal elements than some of the others. This is a why choose story and the FMC has a gargoyle, a fae, a shadowfae and a professor who all court her. Through a chance encounter she ends up working at the Dragonne Library and meets the dragons, bonding with one of them. In general readers felt this book set up the series well (there are two more books) although there wasn’t much spice. The dragons got high marks from reviewers for their personalities.   AmazonKU      AB

There’s an entire world of dragon shifter romances out there too. Perhaps I’ll write about them for next July. Happy reading!

VS Note: This post was originally written for the Roswell Daily Record but is appearing here on the blog first due to unforeseen circumstances.