As always, I recommend sampling before you buy! I have not read most of the new releases listed (although I always end up one-clicking a bunch as I prepare these posts LOL).
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CLAIM OF EON (EON WARRIORS BOOK 6) by Anna Hackett
VS Note: I love Anna Hackett and she’s a one click autobuy for me…
She’s an alien warrior dedicated to her job, but a tough, handsome Terran captain is a temptation she never expected. As a female Eon warrior, Second Commander Airen Kann-Felis has fought for her career and is proud of her work aboard the warship, the Rengard. She has no time for men or frivolous pleasures, especially with the deadly insectoid Kantos causing the Eon trouble at every turn. When the Eon Empire makes an alliance with the small planet of Earth, she never expected to be working alongside a man like Sub-Captain Donovan Lennox. A good-looking, smart, and tenacious man who tempts her in ways she’s never been tempted before.
Donovan Lennox was born for space, and he’s happy to be aboard a high-tech Eon warship and helping to take down the Kantos. He’s even happier to work with the disciplined, independent female Eon warrior who is very easy on the eyes. Donovan believes in respect and pleasure, but what he doesn’t believe in is the myth of love. It was the one lesson his loser dad managed to teach him. As Donovan tries to tempt Airen into playing with him, she’s keeping her walls up, even as every second they spend together draws them closer. When Airen and Donovan are on a shuttle mission together, they find themselves under attack by the Kantos and forced to crash-land on a deadly prison planet. With only each other to depend on, both of them will have to learn to trust each other, or they stand no chance at winning the race to survive the Kantos, or the prison planet’s dangerous creatures and bloodthirsty criminals.
EXPOSED BY THE CYBORG (CYBORG PROTECTORS BOOK 7) by Alyse Anders
A spy must expose his heart to save his mate. Pax has been a spy undercover at The Prison for years. When he learns of a plot to assassinate the head of the Grus Prime space station, he knows he must get the information out before it’s too late. But when an attempted prison escape leaves him with damaged memory, Pax must go to extremes to fill in the gaps. Sabeen left Earth, she didn’t expect to end up the supposed mate of a cyborg spy. When she learns that he’s about to undergo a dangerous procedure to help repair his memory and discover to stop an assassination plot, she realizes that she must help him, or risk losing him forever. Connecting their minds to that of a killer, Pax and Sabeen put their relationship and their lives on the line to help save a man and stop a war.
PROTECTED BY THE ALIEN WARRIOR (WARRIORS OF AGRON BOOK 5) by Hope Hart
What’s scarier than being abducted from Earth and almost eaten by cannibals? The idea of falling in love with a huge alien warrior. Just a few days ago, I was living my best life. Now? I’m on the run on a strange alien planet. Thanks to my short temper and a severe lack of self-control, I’m being hunted, and it’s only a matter of time before I end up captured or dead. Now, a hulking Braxian warrior has found me, right when it looked like I had no way out. To say that it’s suspicious timing is an understatement. Everyone knows you can’t trust the tall, dark, handsome types. Vrex may have his own reasons for joining me on this rollercoaster ride, but all I know is that I need his help. Now, I just have to convince him to help me sneak into the dragon’s territory and find Charlie, who the beast seems to think belongs to him. Cause the aliens who bought us? They weren’t alone. Their friends are on their way to Agron. Us human women need to stick together if we’re going to get off this planet alive. As for Vrex? If he helps me, I’ll be in his debt. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the giant warrior, it’s that he always gets what he’s owed. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it.
GODDESS IN THE MACHINE by Lora Beth Johnson
When Andra wakes up, she’s drowning. Not only that, but she’s in a hot, dirty cave, it’s the year 3102, and everyone keeps calling her Goddess. When Andra went into a cryonic sleep for a trip across the galaxy, she expected to wake up in a hundred years, not a thousand. Worst of all, the rest of the colonists–including her family and friends–are dead. They died centuries ago, and for some reason, their descendants think Andra’s a deity. She knows she’s nothing special, but she’ll play along if it means she can figure out why she was left in stasis and how to get back to Earth.
Zhade, the exiled bastard prince of Eerensed, has other plans. Four years ago, the sleeping Goddess’s glass coffin disappeared from the palace, and Zhade devoted himself to finding it. Now he’s hoping the Goddess will be the key to taking his rightful place on the throne–if he can get her to play her part, that is. Because if his people realize she doesn’t actually have the power to save their dying planet, they’ll kill her. With a vicious monarch on the throne and a city tearing apart at the seams, Zhade and Andra might never be able to unlock the mystery of her fate, let alone find a way to unseat the king, especially since Zhade hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with Andra. And a thousand years from home, is there any way of knowing that Earth is better than the planet she’s woken to?
FREEING LUKA (THE CLECANIAN SERIES BOOK 2) by Victoria Aveline
Luka has spent his life researching fertility in the hopes of discovering a cure for the Clecanians’ low birth rates. After years of working tirelessly with little progress, he becomes enraged when he uncovers a sinister plot to abduct compatible species from their home planets. But before he can tell anyone what he’s discovered, he’s captured, drugged, and thrown in a cell.
It’s just Alice’s luck that when she finally begins to get her life on track, she’s kidnapped by reptilian creatures and forced into a cell with a fierce incoherent alien for some kind of breeding experiment. Even though they aren’t able to communicate, Alice and Luka find solace in each other’s company. As the days drag on, it becomes harder to keep her heart locked away, until she can’t help but wonder what a life with Luka might look like outside their dark prison. When an opportunity to free herself, Luka, and the other human prisoners presents itself, Alice takes it.
Once free, can Alice and Luka’s tenuous relationship survive on this planet? Will the evil men that held them prisoner ever see justice? And can they play a part in the rescue of the other women being held captive around this strange new world? Alice knows only one thing for certain—her life will never be the same again.
PLANETARY ANTHOLOGY SERIES: EARTH (TUSCANY BAY’S PLANETARY ANTHOLOGY SERIES BOOK 6) by Various
VS Note: Not romance but some of the scifi stories sounded good…
Welcome to Earth. We know so much about our home planet, yet so very little. From the ancient astronomers who sought to figure out our place among the stars to the modern day scientists studying the deepest oceans to those who looking for life on other planets. In this anthology resides 18 stories of discovery and daring that exhibit the spirit of adventure that has led explorers to risk their lives trying to discover the mysteries and secrets of Earth.
MACHINE: A SCIFI CYBORG TENTACLE ROMANCE by Lizzy Bequin
Zoe: As soon as I saw the lifeless, derelict research vessel, I knew we should leave it alone. But I never expected to find myself caught in a nightmare such as this. Captured by a rogue A.I. His bionic tentacles have dragged me deep into his lair. He says I’m his specimen now. He says he’s going to examine me. He says I will teach him how to be a man. And to make matters worse, he’s creating an artificial body for himself. A brutal, dominating body, layered with hard, bionic muscles. I should be trying to run for my life. But my body is responding to his curious touch in unexpected ways. Shameful ways. Now escape is the last thing on my mind… “She broke my programming. Now I will break her…” Eon: I’ve never seen a specimen quite like her before. When my digital mind was damaged in the catastrophe, I lost all memory of women. Zoe will help me recover it. I will study her habits. I will study her emotions. And most of all, I will study her soft and fertile anatomy. I will be exceedingly thorough. This female specimen belongs to me now. She is mine and mine alone. I will not share her. I will never allow her to escape. There is so much she can teach me about being a man. And I’m so very eager to learn.
RESONANCE FACTOR: A TAKAMO UNIVERSE NOVEL (AEON PROJECT BOOK 4) by AR DeClerck
Sevyn felt the silent creeping of the monster inside him growing stronger every day. With each moment, his skin grew numb as the rage grew hotter. Death was the only salvation he could imagine. When he met Samaira he knew he found a warrior worthy to deal the final blow.
Samaira turned her back on her bloodthirsty brother and craved a life of peace in service to her god. But a chance encounter with the icy-eyed stranger left her on the run as he began to relentlessly persue her. He wanted death, and he wanted her to be the one to kill him. Unable to run any more she proposed a deal; he would give her a chance to save him and, if she couldn’t, she would do as he asked and kill him before he hurt anyone he loved. As they work together to trace the scientist who might be able to save him, they realize that there’s more between them than a simple deal. The salvation they both crave may be closer than they thought.
FAITH TAKING FLIGHT by Julie Murphy
Faith Herbert is a pretty regular teen. When she’s not hanging out with her two best friends, Matt and Ches, she’s volunteering at the local animal shelter or obsessing over the long-running teen drama The Grove. So far, her senior year has been spent trying to sort out her feelings for her maybe-crush Johnny and making plans to stay close to Grandma Lou after graduation. Of course, there’s also that small matter of recently discovering she can fly….When the fictional world of The Grove crashes into Faith’s reality as the show relocates to her town, she can’t believe it when TV heroine Dakota Ash takes a romantic interest in her. But her fandom-fueled daydreams aren’t enough to distract Faith from the fact that first animals, then people, have begun to vanish from the town. Only Faith seems able to connect the dots to a new designer drug infiltrating her high school. But when her investigation puts the people she loves in danger, she will have to confront her hidden past and use her newfound gifts—risking everything to save her friends and beloved town.
SURVIVOR SONG: A NOVEL by Paul Tremblay
VS Note: Not a romance. I one clicked this – you know me and the post apocalyptic genre!
In a matter of weeks, Massachusetts has been overrun by an insidious rabies-like virus that is spread by saliva. But unlike rabies, the disease has a terrifyingly short incubation period of an hour or less. Those infected quickly lose their minds and are driven to bite and infect as many others as they can before they inevitably succumb. Hospitals are inundated with the sick and dying, and hysteria has taken hold. To try to limit its spread, the commonwealth is under quarantine and curfew. But society is breaking down and the government’s emergency protocols are faltering.
Dr. Ramola “Rams” Sherman, a soft-spoken pediatrician in her mid-thirties, receives a frantic phone call from Natalie, a friend who is eight months pregnant. Natalie’s husband has been killed—viciously attacked by an infected neighbor—and in a failed attempt to save him, Natalie, too, was bitten. Natalie’s only chance of survival is to get to a hospital as quickly as possible to receive a rabies vaccine. The clock is ticking for her and for her unborn child. Natalie’s fight for life becomes a desperate odyssey as she and Rams make their way through a hostile landscape filled with dangers beyond their worst nightmares—terrifying, strange, and sometimes deadly challenges that push them to the brink.
ALIEN BRUTE’S CAPTIVE (ALIEN’S FROZEN MATE BOOK 2) by Ava Morningstar
Krakon treats me like a piece of cargo. I’m abducted. Manhandled. Picked up and put down like a toy. I thought the only falling I’d be doing was from his 7-foot high shoulder, but I’m a sucker for an asshole. What? At least I’m honest. And apparently that includes the type with glowing blue eyes and chiseled teal abs. When we crash land on a frozen and savage planet, he defends me. And when I’m freezing to death, he warms my body with his. So maybe I can trust Krakon to protect me…but who’s going to protect me from him?
FORBIDDEN MATES (SHARED MATES BOOK 2) by Athena Storm
I have a big problem. Luckily, I have three even bigger solutions. My alien warriors. Most women in the galaxy would be happy with one male of any species. If you’re lucky you get mated to an alien male. Either a big, brooding warrior. Or maybe a dark mercenary from the reaches of space you’ve never heard of. Perhaps even a cosmopolitan alien. Someone whose been to every planet and can definitely show you a good time. Most women would thank their lucky stars if they got an alien like that. But me? I’m beyond lucky. I got three. ..(more blurb on ebook seller page…)
UNCONQUERABLE SUN (THE SUN CHRONICLES BOOK 1) by Kate Elliott
VS note: Not a romance but a release of note. “Gender spun Alexander the Great on an interstellar scale…”
Princess Sun has finally come of age. Growing up in the shadow of her mother, Eirene, has been no easy task. The legendary queen-marshal did what everyone thought impossible: expel the invaders and build Chaonia into a magnificent republic, one to be respected—and feared. But the cutthroat ambassador corps and conniving noble houses have never ceased to scheme—and they have plans that need Sun to be removed as heir, or better yet, dead. To survive, the princess must rely on her wits and companions: her biggest rival, her secret lover, and a dangerous prisoner of war.
HAUNTED HEROINE (HEROINE COMPLEX BOOK 4) by Sarah Kuhn
Everything in Evie Tanaka’s life is finally perfect. As a badass superheroine, she defends San Francisco from demon invasion on the regular. Her relationships with superhero partner Aveda Jupiter, little sister Bea, and hot, half-demon husband Nate have never been stronger. Maybe it’s possible for a grad school dropout turned put-upon personal assistant turned superhero to have it all? Just when she thinks life can’t get any better, Evie learns she’s pregnant. Everyone around her is overjoyed…but Evie has major doubts about whether she’s cut out for motherhood. Before she can dwell on her dilemma, a local women’s college reports a string of mysterious “hauntings,” and Evie and Aveda are called in to investigate, going undercover as grad students during the creepiest time of the year: Halloween. As she confronts terrifying ghosts and lives out a bizarre version of the grad school life she left behind, Evie can’t help but wonder about the road not taken: what would her life be like if she’d stayed here instead of pursuing superheroing with Aveda? And can an overwhelmed pregnant superhero truly have it all? She’s about to find out.
KAZAN (JORKAN PROTOCOL MATES BOOK 1) by Ava York
A mate is the last thing on my mind.Especially one as sassy as the human female they say is my match. Even if her lush curves call for my touch, and her fiery spirit is equal to my own. I will endure the thirty days demanded by the Protocol. But with every look, every word, I can feel us bound closer together. Will I be able to leave her, even for her own safety?
DREAMS OF STARS AND LIES by Jean Davis
VS Note: Not romance, scifi…interesting concepts…
A collection of five short stories, including Sipper: Poverty has shaped Tia’s life since childhood, labeling her a roach. A day without hunger pains or despising looks is pure fantasy until she accepts a job offer to explore a wondrous deserted city on a distant world. All she can think about is the life-altering payout she’ll receive in six months. A hundred roaches are set free in the city of crystal spires. Their mission: To learn what they can about the previous occupants and to verify that the place is habitable for the host of wealthy future occupants waiting in orbit. Well-provisioned, Tia and her fellow roaches scatter to explore the dunes and spires. Then people start to disappear. Are they being picked off to lessen the payout or is there a killer among them? All the credits in the world won’t matter if she’s dead.
REMEMBER ME, SYNTHETICA by K Aten
What happens when a woman loses her memory but gains a conscience? Dr. Alexandra Turing is a roboticist whose intellect is unrivaled in the field of artificial intelligence. While science has always come easy, Alexandra struggles to understand emotional cues and responses. Driven by the legacy of her late great-uncle, she dedicates her life to the Synthetica project at her father’s company, Organic Advancement Solutions (OAS).
Her life is rebooted when she wakes from a coma, six months after being struck by a car. Traumatic brain injury altered Alex’s senses, her memory, and her personality. Despite the changes, she feels reborn as she navigates her way back into her old life. Part of her new journey includes dating the alluring Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Emily St. John.
Emily is enamored with the hyper-intelligent scientist, but there are things about Alex and OAS that don’t add up. With Emily’s prompting, Alex undergoes testing that leaves her with more questions than answers. What she discovers changes more than her life, it will change the world around her.
DRAGON’S PARADISE (THE DRAGON’S SPACE ORDER BRIDE BOOK 1) by Piper Fox
An island paradise planet – a dragon shifter mate for this curvy girl – Hallie ~I signed up to be a mail order bride. Sort of. I’m being shipped off to be the mate of some alien hotty. But our ship has crash landed on some kind of desert island planet and not only do I know nothing about how to survive, I’m pretty sure I just saw a dragon fly overhead. Drake~ After years of being alone, my beast was ready to give up on ever finding a mate.
But a fiery shining rock fell from the sky and more women than I’ve ever seen in my life emerged from its depths.
They are strange creatures who know nothing of hunting or even how to find shelter, so my clan and I must care for them. One of them is my mate. Mine. I do not know how I will woo her into my bed if she runs away from me scared every time I see her.
THE FAIR (TIME BOX BOOK 2) by John A Heldt
Months after stealing two time machines from a madman who wants them back, the Lanes, a family of six, seek safety and contentment in 1893, the latest stop on a journey through time. While parents Mark and Mary find relief at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, an extravaganza of science and splendor, children Jeremy, Laura, and Ashley find romance, friendship, and thrills. Older son Jordan, meanwhile, heads west in search of answers. Grieving the loss of a lover from 1865, he travels to Virginia City, Nevada, where he integrates himself into a storied mining community and the heart of a pretty library clerk. Billionaire Robert Devereux could not care less. Reeling from the theft of his million-dollar devices, he sends an assassin to the past to retrieve his property and rid the world of his former business partner and his troublesome family.
LONDON STEAMPUNK: THE BLUEBLOOD CONSPIRACY BOX SET 1-3 by Bec McMaster
VS Note: I don’t usually cover box sets at ALL but we’ve been light on steampunk lately and this is a fun series.
Standing between London and a deadly plot against the throne, are the dangerous spies and femme fatales that form the Company of Rogues… that’s if they don’t kill each other first. MISSION: IMPROPER – Entire families have gone missing in the East End. When Caleb Byrnes receives an invitation to join the Company of Rogues as an undercover agent pledged to protect the crown, he jumps at the chance to find out who, or what is behind the disappearances. Hunting criminals is what the darkly driven blue blood does best, and though he prefers to work alone, the opportunity is too good to resist. The problem? He’s partnered with Ingrid Miller, the fiery and passionate verwulfen woman who won a private bet against him a year ago. Byrnes has a score to settle, but one stolen kiss and suddenly the killer is not the only thing Byrnes is interested in hunting. VS NOTE: THE MECH WHO LOVED ME and YOU ONLY LOVE TWICE also included…blurbs on ebook seller page.
FATED MATE TAMED: A DARK MAFIA SCIFI ROMANCE (VOSTRA CRIME LORDS BOOK 1) by Luna Voss
I knew the men of the Vostra expected obedience from their mates. I didn’t know one of them would claim me…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)
LOVE IN RETROGRADE by Charlie Cochet
Enthusiastic, play-it-safe Kelly Sutton is an American intern at the Photonic Royal Society in New London. He’s been working on Project Mars for over a year, a mission kept so secret by the Society even Kelly doesn’t know exactly what it is. What Kelly does know is his contribution to the task will benefit mankind, and that’s enough for him. Kelly’s world turns upside down when concerns over his mentor’s behavior lead Kelly to investigate and stumble upon a wicked truth. What is supposed to be a project to advance human life turns out to be an endeavor capable of mass destruction. The terrifying reality forces Kelly to choose between looking the other way to keep his job, as he’s always done, or risking his career and even his life to do the right thing by saving the man who’s captured his heart.
DUKING IT OUT: A M/M SUPERHERO ROMANCE (ROYAL POWERS BOOK 1) by E J Russell
Sander Fiala, Duke of Roses, is fourth in line to the South Abarran throne, even though his rogue power earned him the nickname “The Monster of Roses” and got him banished from the Castle. But right before he’s about to set off on his annual birthday sailing trip, the Queen asks him to meet with the notoriously volatile North Abarran Duke of Arles. Tarik Jaso, Duke of Arles, expects the worst from people because—let’s face it—people are the worst. His superpower bombards him with any and all electronic transmissions, which…yeah, people suck. So when he’s attacked and wakes up in the cabin of a stranded boat, he knows he’s royally screwed. Because the man looming over him—the man he’d gone toe-to-toe with right before the attack—is the infamous Monster of Roses. Tarik is positive the Monster is behind his kidnapping. Sander is sure the whole thing is Tarik’s fault. As they work toward rescue, Tarik realizes that the disturbingly hot Sander is no monster, and Sander discovers that Tarik’s temper masks a caring soul wrapped in a cantankerous (though undeniably sexy) body. For their burgeoning connection to endure, they’ll have to duke it out with political factions, dark conspiracies, and centuries of traditions that keep them on opposite sides of the border. But first? They have to get off this damn island.
SPARROW’S FLIGHT (SAVAGE WORLD BOOK 1) by Jenika Snow
VS Note: Author states: “This story was previously published under the same title. It has since been reedited, minimally revised, and new content has been added.” Sounded good to me and I’d never read it before so I pre-ordered.
It’s been five months since an immunization for the flu collapsed civilization. Sparrow Gray had nothing to her name but the backpack she carried and the meager contents inside. Utterly alone, she fought to survive daily. Everyone was a suspected foe, and the ones unlucky enough to be infected were nothing more than walking corpses.
Mason, an ex-Navy SEAL, and Asher, a back-alley fighter, found each other at an unlikely time. The two never thgouht they’d find pleasure each other’s arms. Then came Sparrow, and both realized they wanted her as badly as they wanted each other. And they meant to make that their reality. The world was a dangerous, ugly place, and their trip was filled with fear, pain, and everything in between. But when Sparrow was taken by men who wanted to use her for the only commodity left in this barren world, Mason and Asher would do everything in their power to get her back safely. But could Mason and Asher get to her before all hell broke loose?
THE LOST CITY: THE OMTE ORIGINS (FROM THE WORLD OF THE TRYLLE) by Amanda Hocking
he storm and the orphan – Twenty years ago, a woman sought safety from the spinning ice and darkness that descended upon a small village. She was given shelter for the night by the local innkeepers but in the morning, she disappeared—leaving behind an infant. Now nineteen, Ulla Tulin is ready to find who abandoned her as a baby or why.
The institution and the quest – Ulla knows the answers to her identity and heritage may be found at the Mimirin where scholars dedicate themselves to chronicling troll history. Granted an internship translating old documents, Ulla starts researching her own family lineage with help from her handsome and charming colleague Pan Soriano.
The runaway and the mystery – But then Ulla meets Eliana, a young girl who no memory of who she is but who possesses otherworldly abilities. When Eliana is pursued and captured by bounty hunters, Ulla and Pan find themselves wrapped up in a dangerous game where folklore and myth become very real and very deadly—but one that could lead Ulla to the answers she’s been looking for.
THE ANGEL’S FIRE (MASTERS OF MARIA BOOK 8) by Holley Trent
In sixteenth century Central America, the goddess La Bella Dama witnessed the explosion of a slave ship off the coast. A rare moment of softness to the benefit of some of the nearly dead compelled her to make a deal with the devilish fallen angel responsible for the disaster. Four hundred years on, she and Tarik still get along like fire and gasoline, but he’s the only creature she’s ever encountered who can make her heart race. While they may be uniquely equipped to withstand each other’s heat, she’s in no position to commit to such a dangerous being. She learned her lesson well enough already. The last time she was humiliated by a lover, she created an entire race of shapeshifters out of spite. But it may be too late. She’s created something even more personal with Tarik—something that can turn her life upside down…and something that shouldn’t be possible.
WITCH HUNT by Cate Conte
Violet Mooney owns The Full Moon crystal shop in quaint North Harbor, Connecticut. Still grieving her beloved grandmother’s recent unexpected death, she takes comfort in her fat orange cat Monty and her work. Not everyone in town is thrilled with her business, however. When disagreeable town councilwoman Carla Fernandez picks a fight over Violet’s “voodoo shop,” the two have a very public confrontation. Of course, when Carla turns up dead, Violet gets little sympathy from the police as suspect #1. But the shock of two policemen showing up at her door pales in comparison to the sudden appearance of her estranged mother Fiona and a surprise sister, Zoe. What Fiona reveals will rock her world and her sense of self—and reawaken her long-dormant mysterious power. Good thing. She’s gonna need it.
TO MATE A DRAGON (VENYS NEEDS MEN) by Naomi Lucas
The human race is dying under the red comet soaring through the skies above…and with it, the sounds of dragons are in the air. My name is Aida, and I was destined to lead the Sand’s Hunter tribe into a new generation—promised to mate with one of the last born males along the Mermaid Coast. But before Leith was delivered to my tribe, my younger sister came of age and the elders chose her to be his mate instead. Then a messenger came from the north with rumors of dragons turning into virile males from a single, human touch. Fresh hope blooms within me as I plan to reclaim my rightful place as future matriarch to my people, and with that hope, I ready my supplies to hunt down one of these dragons to make my own. To touch him, to claim him, to take his seed and honor my people with a new generation. But a storm is on the horizon. And with that storm, soars an alpha dragon in heat. He’s heading straight for me. He sees me. All my plans crumble under his dark draconian stare.
A SPRINKLING OF MURDER (A FAIRY GARDEN MYSTERY BOOK 1) by Daryl Wood Gerber
Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she’s starting a book club tea.
But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source.
OR WHAT YOU WILL by Jo Walton
He has been too many things to count. He has been a dragon with a boy on his back. He has been a scholar, a warrior, a lover, and a thief. He has been dream and dreamer. He has been a god. But “he” is in fact nothing more than a spark of idea, a character in the mind of Sylvia Harrison, 73, award-winning author of thirty novels over forty years. He has played a part in most of those novels, and in the recesses of her mind, Sylvia has conversed with him for years. But Sylvia won’t live forever, any more than any human does. And he’s trapped inside her cave of bone, her hollow of skull. When she dies, so will he. Now Sylvia is starting a new novel, a fantasy for adult readers, set in Thalia, the Florence-resembling imaginary city that was the setting for a successful YA trilogy she published decades before. Of course he’s got a part in it. But he also has a notion. He thinks he knows how he and Sylvia can step off the wheel of mortality altogether. All he has to do is convince her.
HEART TO HEART VOL 4 by Various
Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered…Why should Heart2Heart – the phenomenally successful dating app – only work its magic in the human world when lonely lycans, dejected dragons, and jilted jackalopes need love, too? In this new paranormal universe, mages and shifters, vampires, psychics, and even humans, will reach out to Heart2Heart podcast host Gene E. Del’Amp for help finding a magical match… and they just might find that talking about their woes helps their wishes come true. Eighteen of your favorite gay romance authors have come together to bring you brand-new paranormal and urban fantasy stories inspired by reader suggestions! Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its forms will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
STOLEN PRINCESS (FATED ROYALS BOOK 1) by Nikolai Andrew and Dani Wyatt
As far back as I can remember all I’ve known is war and pain and death. My mother always told me our people came into this world fighting and went out the same way. Only, something inside me died along the way; the desire for victory and destruction is no longer my muse. Lost, I returned to the only place that felt like home since my own was destroyed long ago. And that’s when it happened. When she happened. Raven hair and emerald eyes that hardened and melted me with one look. Lush hips and womanly curves called for me to do something I’d never before considered: make her mine, bind her to me, and I don’t even yet know her name. Her youth deserves better than a scarred monster ravaged from years of battle. Still, deep down I know she is my destiny. But, when cruel secrets and painful history come to tear us apart, I find my true purpose. To settle old debts. To lay waste to those that wish to harm her. To secure that which was stolen from her. to topple kingdoms to keep her. Forever. No matter the bloodshed.
RAISE HELL (HELL HOUNDS HAREM BOOK 7) by Briana Michaels
VS Note: The author released Book 7, 8 and 9 on the same day so here’s Book 7’s information:
ll Angels fall eventually, some are just better at landing on their feet…In the Brotherhood of Angels, Lucifer quickly discovers he is not like the others of his kind – a difference that not only sets him apart, but paves his way to becoming the most notorious Angel ever created. When a female enters the brotherhood, secrets are uncovered and alliances are forged. In the midst of chaos and corruption, an elite group of Angels rebel against Divinity’s most powerful leaders to bring justice and freedom to the masses. As swords swing and loyalties divide, Lucifer realizes his future, and the survival of those he loves, hinges on sacrifice. What happens if the very thing they desire most must be lost to win the battle? When war is waged and love is on the line, there is only one thing left to do: Raise Hell.
This is how it all began. This is the story they never wanted you to read. Are you ready to learn Divinity’s best-kept secret about love, righteousness, and betrayal? Raise Hell is Book 7 of the Hell Hound Harem series and Book 1 in the third trilogy.
SEVENTH SEAL (LOVIN’ THE COVEN BOOK 7) by Jacquelyn Faye
May you live in interesting times. I’m not quite sure who said it, but I’d sure as hell like to find him and beat him in the head with a shovel. One thing about Cedar Falls…it was definitely interesting. I’d have settled for boring. Maybe even dull with a smidge of mediocrity. I guess I had nobody to blame but myself.
That’s what happens when your mother is the biggest witch, and I mean that literally, on the planet, your father is the god of night, and you’re something in between. Something that keeps getting stronger. Something you can’t always control. Something that raises the dead from their rest, makes vampires think you’re a monster, and drives angels into punishing you for breaking rules you didn’t even knew existed. Sometimes life just wasn’t fair.
Ask my father. He’d been imprisoned for ninety years just for having a daughter. I mean, if sleeping with my mother wasn’t punishment enough, they had to throw him into the deepest pit in the deepest hell with no chance of parole. I was his only hope, but unless I got a handle on my powers…he might just have to settle for a cellmate.
SHADE OF VAMPIRE 90 (RULER OF CLONES) by Bella Forrest
The universe is filled with secrets and lies. Who can be trusted? Thayen, Astra, and their fellow Shadians are still trapped in the alternate Shade where, aided by an uneasy alliance with Brandon and Myst, they continue their treacherous search for the rest of their missing friends and the truth behind HQ’s sinister plot. Back home in the real Shade, Sofia and Derek work with the rest of the team to search for any possible clues related to Isabelle’s clone. What they find opens up a whole new world of questions and raises the stakes even higher for getting Thayen’s group home safely. Meanwhile, Unending is still reeling from Anunit’s latest revelation and struggling with a deep anger that comes both from within herself and from a mysterious outside source. She and Tristan must work together to face their greatest challenge yet – uncovering Death’s oldest lie and exposing her darkest secrets in the process. But if completing this final task could put others at risk, they may be forced to choose between their own dreams and the greater good.
THE BEAST OF BLACKMOOR by Milla Vane
VS Note: Prequel to Gathering of Dragons series…
A warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. When she arrives in Blackmoor, however, she finds a land cursed by a demon and ruled by an evil warlord…and discovers that the beast isn’t a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.
DESOLATION ROAD (TORPEDO INK BOOK 4) by Christine Feehan
Torpedo Ink is Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov’s whole life. They’re his brothers, his family—his everything. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting something that only belongs to him. That’s why the tough biker has spent the last six weeks at the library, reading every book he can get his hands on and watching the prim and proper librarian who makes his blood rush.
For the past six weeks, Scarlet Foley has been fantasizing about the handsome, tattooed man whose eyes follow her every move. She senses he’s dangerous. She wants him to get close enough to touch. She wishes she could let him know the real woman, not the one she pretends to be. But Scarlet has a plan to carry out, and she can’t afford any distractions. Absinthe is well aware that Scarlet is hiding something. She’s a puzzle he intends to solve, piece by intoxicating piece.
ELEMENTALLY LOCKED (PRISON FOR ELEMENTALS) by Lexi Ostrow
Adina Charnel’s entire world dropped out from under her. Her twin sister, Celeste, was found murdered – electrocuted. With a history of arguments between them and Adina’s ability to control electricity, she found herself arrested up, tried, and dumped in solitary faster than she could blink, and a reputation that might keep others fearful and at bay long enough for her to figure out how to prove her innocence and wrongful conviction.
Stuck in a four by four cell with no outside contact and nothing but her innocence to keep her alive, Adina gave into the pain and landed herself in Mr. Stone’s office. A man she shouldn’t desire, but does. An elemental she should stay far away from, but doesn’t.
For half a dozen years, Fox Stone kept the women of Tridale Elemental Prison alive and as sane as he could. To survive, the prisoners needed to leave their pasts behind to stay safe in their present. To survive, the prisoners needed to leave their past behind to survive their present. When meetings grew heated, as they often did, Fox fixed the problem. An elemental himself, Fox controlled frost and water. He’d developed a reputation as the best, which left him little time outside of the prison to live his life. His powers never failed him. Fox managed to do his duty, keep a safe distance, never got emotionally attached…until Adina. …(more blurb on ebook seller page…)
ALPHA GEEK: SHAW by Milly Taiden
Panther shifter Poppy Cain has been living a secret life. She’s been hiding her nursing career from an overbearing uncle and terrifying cousins. They run a shady business in town, and when they want to use her as a pawn, Poppy makes a hard decision: run. What she didn’t expect was to find a mate in the process. Shit just got real.
Shaw Eagan uses his hacking skills for good. Or in the very least, he toes the line. But when the evil Cain family pushes him over the edge, he comes up with a dangerous plan. He clears their bank accounts and steals a mysterious serum to turn himself into a shifter. His family depends on it. When they meet by pure coincidence, sparks fly. Poppy’s life is in danger, she has no time for a mate. And Shaw doesn’t know she’s a Cain. The truth is exposed. Lives are threatened. Trust is on the line. Can Poppy and Shaw put away their pain long enough to survive?
STONE: A DOYLE WITCH COZY MYSTERY (THE WITCHES OF DOYLE BOOK 8) by Kirsten Weiss
A murder. A haunted house. A possessed spell book…What could go wrong? Since childhood, Doyle Witch Jayce figured the old stone house was haunted. Turns out, she may have been right. A string of odd deaths in the house has culminated in murder, and newlywed Jayce is on the case. She is a witch after all. So what if it’s Samhain season, when the veil between the worlds is thin? Right? But when Jayce finds creepy connections between the old house and the spell book she’s sworn to destroy, she’s plunged into a conspiracy darker than anything mysterious Doyle has thrown at her before. Are supernatural forces at work? Or is Jayce facing a mortal foe?
STALKED MATE (FATED MOUNTAIN WOLF PACK BOOK 3) by Jessica Aspen
It was just another ordinary day for Glenna…until she was violently attacked and thrown into a world of wolves—a world she never knew existed. Now she’s hell-bent on escape… After nearly going wild wolf, Sam Wulfric is back and sane—mostly. The last assignment he wants is babysitting a new wolf shifter—and all the chaos that involves. Even worse, she’s one of the sexiest women he’s ever seen. And to top it all off—she’s driving his wolf crazy. But everyone from the US Government to an unknown assailant is after Glenna and Sam’s instincts take over. Now, he’ll do anything to keep Glenna safe—even if her new found mating urge drives him over the edge. Sam’s already found and lost and he’s hell bent on never going through that again. But fate has other plans.
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THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING (THE RISING BOOK 1) by Kristen Ashley
Once upon a time, in a parallel universe, there existed the continent of Triton. The land was filled with beauty, but it was also splintered by war. Out of the chaos grew a conspiracy to reawaken the Beast, a fearsome creature who wrought only tragedy and devastation. The only way to stop him was to fulfill an ancient prophecy: Triton’s four strongest warriors must wed its four most powerful witches, binding all nations together and finally bringing peace to the land. This is the story of their unions: the quiet maiden Silence and the savage king Mars. The cold warrior Cassius and the fiery witch Elena. The steadfast soldier True and the banished beauty Farah. And the pirate king Aramus and the mysterious queen Ha-Lah. Their unions will not be easy, but each couple must succeed, for the fate of their world is at stake.
CHAPTER AND CURSE: A PARANORMAL WOMAN’S FICTION COZY MYSTERY (VAMPIRE BOOK CLUB BOOK 2) by Nancy Warren
An ancient curse seems to be causing bad luck in the charming village of Ballydehag, Ireland—witch Quinn Callahan’s new home. When someone is murdered is it the curse? Or is there a very human murderer on the loose? Moving to a small Irish village was supposed to keep the middle-aged witch out of trouble. Yeah, that didn’t happen. Quinn and her bookish vampires must find the real killer and end the curse before someone else dies.
BITTEN BY FLAME (DRAGONBORN DAUGHTERS BOOK 1) by Kimber White
CASSIA – Secrets. I have to hide the truth about myself. As a half-dragon, I’m wanted, Coveted, Hunted. I’m a weapon of mass destruction, With a fiery temperament, That can destroy anyone. And they want me. Hellbent on finding my parents, I’ll stop at nothing to rescue them, Even if it means enlisting an unlikely ally, With smoldering eyes and scars of his own, One who’s determined to protect me. But at what cost?
COLM – A price, On her head. But I refuse to give her up. I refuse to let them have her. and when they offer the ultimate prize, I have to choose, My future or hers. Torn between desire and freedom, Love and loss, I have one choice to make. Get burned by the flame, Or die trying.
CINDERELLA IS DEAD by Kalynn Bayron
It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew .
WICKED GAMES (AN IVY MORGAN MYSTERY BOOK 17) by Lily Harper Hart
Ivy Morgan knew she was in for a world of hurt when she was sentenced to community service. She had no idea just how bad things were going to be, though. On her first day of picking up trash along the roadside, one of her crew members stumbles over a body, and it happens to belong to someone she knows.
Sasha Carmichael was described as a “good girl” and nobody can figure out how she ended up alone in the woods, so close to a road and help, and abandoned. When Jack Harker and his partner start digging down, though, some dark possibilities come to the surface.
It seems Sasha had ties to more than one person on Ivy’s work crew, which means Shadow Lake’s favorite witch is working with a killer. Finding the guilty party is difficult, especially given the way her crew chief is watching her.
If Ivy sticks even one toe out of line, her community service could be extended. That means her wedding is on the brink and her honeymoon might be lost. Jack isn’t about to let either of those scenarios happen.
It’s going to take both of them working together to solve the crime, and even then nothing is guaranteed.
Hang on to your hats, because murder has come to Shadow Lake and this killer might not be done … by a long shot.
BREWING UP A STORM (A MOONSTONE BAY COZY MYSTERY BOOK 6) by Amanda M Lee
Storm season has hit Moonstone Bay and with it comes a whole lot of trouble. Hadley Hunter thinks she’s ready for what’s to come, but she’s not. Before the storms can wreak havoc on her life, though, she has something even more frightening to deal with … lunch with her boyfriend Galen Blackwood’s mother.
Despite her best intentions, things don’t go as smoothly as Hadley envisioned. Before she has a chance to deal with that, though, the storms bring another surprise in the form of an unconscious woman on the beach and a yacht that keeps appearing (and then disappearing) with each subsequent storm. Hadley can’t wrap her head around what’s happening, especially when news breaks regarding the identity of the individual who was found in front of the lighthouse. It seems she’s the wife of a very rich and powerful man … who disappeared a year before. In addition to that, the couple had two daughters with them at the time their boat fell off the map. What happened to them?
It’s a race against time for Hadley and her motley band of paranormal friends. They must find the yacht and uncover every horrible secret one family has managed to bury beneath a deep blue sea … and they have to do it with a monster on their tails.
At the heart of almost every family is love. At the heart of this one is despair. Somehow, Hadley will have to overcome her worst fears to become the best witch she possibly can.
Here’s hoping she’s up to the challenge.
THE BOOK OF DRAGONS: AN ANTHOLOGY by Jonathan Strahan and Various
Here there be dragons . . .From China to Europe, Africa to North America, dragons have long captured our imagination in myth and legend. Whether they are rampaging beasts awaiting a brave hero to slay or benevolent sages who have much to teach humanity, dragons are intrinsically connected to stories of creation, adventure, and struggle beloved for generations. Bringing together nearly thirty stories and poems from some of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers working today— Garth Nix, Scott Lynch, R.F. Kuang, Ann Leckie & Rachel Swirsky, Daniel Abraham, Peter S. Beagle, Beth Cato, Zen Cho, C. S. E Cooney, Aliette de Bodard, Amal El-Mohtar, Kate Elliott, Theodora Goss, Ellen Klages, Ken Liu, Seanan Maguire, Patricia A McKillip, K. J. Parker, Kelly Robson, Michael Swanwick, Jo Walton, Elle Katharine White, Jane Yolen, Kelly Barnhill, Brooke Bolander, Sarah Gailey, and J. Y. Yang—and illustrated by award-nominated artist Rovina Cai with black-and-white line drawings specific to each entry throughout, this extraordinary collection vividly breathes fire and life into one of our most captivating and feared magical creatures as never before and is sure to become a treasured keepsake for fans of fantasy, science fiction, and fairy tales.
THE DAMNED (THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK 2) by Renee Ahdieh
Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien. Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not ready to learn. Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.
SCARLET ODYSSEY by C T Rwizi
Men do not become mystics. They become warriors. But eighteen-year-old Salo has never been good at conforming to his tribe’s expectations. For as long as he can remember, he has loved books and magic in a culture where such things are considered unmanly. Despite it being sacrilege, Salo has worked on a magical device in secret that will awaken his latent magical powers. And when his village is attacked by a cruel enchantress, Salo knows that it is time to take action.
Salo’s queen is surprisingly accepting of his desire to be a mystic, but she will not allow him to stay in the tribe. Instead, she sends Salo on a quest. The quest will take him thousands of miles north to the Jungle City, the political heart of the continent. There he must gather information on a growing threat to his tribe. On the way to the city, he is joined by three fellow outcasts: a shunned female warrior, a mysterious nomad, and a deadly assassin. But they’re being hunted by the same enchantress who attacked Salo’s village. She may hold the key to Salo’s awakening—and his redemption.
BOOK OF DARK MAGIC (FAMILIAR KITTEN MYSTERIES BOOK 4) by Sara Bourgeois
When Richard Jordan is found dead in the woods outside of Coventry, the town’s reputation for being paranormal is put into the spotlight. Richard wasn’t just murdered. The person who found him was shocked by what looked like a Satanic ritual murder. Suddenly, the town’s regular tourism starts to dry up. In its place is a flood of weirdos and wannabe Satanists who are there to finish the ritual they believe Richard’s murder began. Is this the apocalyptic scenario that Kinsley was prophesied to stop? Or, did someone want the town drunk dead and used a bunch of dark magical items to make it look paranormal? What about the mysterious black book that shows up on Kinsley’s doorstep? Does it hold the key to solving the crime, or does it represent something far more sinister?
THE PRINCESS WILL SAVE YOU by Sarah Henning
VS Note: This one is being described as “Princess Bride” in reverse…
When a princess’s commoner true love is kidnapped to coerce her into a political marriage, she doesn’t give in—she goes to rescue him. When her warrior father, King Sendoa, mysteriously dies, Princess Amarande of Ardenia is given what would hardly be considered a choice: Marry a stranger at sixteen or lose control of her family’s crown. But Amarande was raised to be a warrior—not a sacrifice. In an attempt to force her choice, a neighboring kingdom kidnaps her true love, stable boy Luca. With her kingdom on the brink of civil war and no one to trust, she’ll need all her skill to save him, her future, and her kingdom.
THE UNLEASHED (THE HAUNTED BOOK 2) by Danielle Vega
After everything that went down at Steele House, Hendricks just wants her life to return to normal. Prom is coming up and the school is in full preparation mode. Hendricks tries to pitch in, to mimic her best friend Portia’s enthusiasm, but the events of the last few months still haunt her. Steele House. Raven. Eddie.
Hendricks believes Eddie is still out there. She just has to find a way to reach him. Together with her friends, she forms a circle of seven and attempts to summon his spirit. Suddenly things start happening again. Flickering lights in the school library. Mysterious girls roaming the halls. The same song playing on a loop wherever she goes. It all culminates in a violent attack and Hendricks realizes what they summoned may not be Eddie at all. The one thing she does know is that Steele House was only the beginning. And whatever they’ve unleashed is more dangerous than anything they’ve ever seen before.
NEVER BEEN HEXED: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION MYSTERY (WITCHING HOUR BOOK 2) by Christine Zane Thomas
VS Note: From late June…
Constance Campbell learned on her fortieth birthday that she comes from a long line of witches. Now, struggling to learn her magic, Constance dives deeper into her family’s sordid past. Constance vows to find the truth behind her mother’s disappearance. She’s determined to seek out the Faction, an order of witches and warlocks vying for power in the supernatural world. But when Constance’s father shows up looking a little ghostly pale and see-through, she has other problems to solve. Like who killed him and why. And is she next on their list? Can Constance find her father’s killer? Is her mother still alive somewhere? And can Constance save herself before either the Faction or her father’s killer put an end to her as well?
PRINCESS OF FROST: A SNOW QUEEN RETELLING by Mila Young
The family I never knew left me a cursed legacy that could get me killed…or worse. I wield snow magic, a power everyone around me fears. I must hide it and the truths of my past or end up dead. Because the cruel prince whose castle I serve has no mercy on anyone for the slightest offence. Much less wielding forbidden magic. But when I’m caught stealing mere scraps of bread by the unyielding prince himself, my fate is forever changed. Now I’m his servant, imprisoned here in his walls, punished for my hunger and made to do his bidding. Only he doesn’t yet know what I truly am. Or that our destinies are impossible to untangle. The truth of my past and the fate of the cursed kingdom are as intertwined as what is happening between me and the dark prince. To survive, I must learn all that came before. I must harness my power to become a deadly and powerful and ice-cold wielder of snow magic.
UNRAVEL THE DUSK (THE BLOOD OF STARS BOOK 2) by Elizabeth Lim
Maia Tamarin’s journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. Edan, the boy she loves, is gone–perhaps forever–and no sooner does she set foot in the Autumn Palace than she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor’s bride-to-be to keep the peace. When the emperor’s rivals learn of her deception, there is hell to pay, but the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the mirror to see her own eyes glowing red; losing control of her magic, her body, her mind. It’s only a matter of time before Maia loses herself completely, and in the meantime she will stop at nothing to find Edan, protect her family, and bring lasting peace to her country.
MAID IN TIME: ONLY TIME WILL TELL (WOMEN OF TIME COLLECTION BOOK 4) by Leann Ryans
Taken in by Aunt Mary at the age of 6 when her parents die, Ivy is treated worse than the hired help. Looked down on as less than her noble-born cousins, she’s trapped in a life of drudgery. When she finds a chest in the attic with a gift from her mother, something unbelievable happens. Thrown through time to when England was first being settled, will Ivy find her way back to Regency England, or will the woodsman who helps her try to keep her for his own?
POWER INVERSION (THE EVANSTAR CHRONICLES BOOK 2) by Sara Codair
Do you have to be a monster to fight one? Erin Evanstar is a demon hunter, a protector of humanity from nightmarish predators that feed on people’s fears and flesh. They are settling into their dual life of being a teen and hunting demons. When a tentacled horror abducts Erin’s partner, José, Erin and their family go on the hunt to get him back. But Erin gets an ultimatum: help the Fallen Angels bring on the apocalypse or watch José die. Erin will do anything to save José, but fighting monsters comes with a grim price–becoming one themselves.
MODERN WITCHCRAFT: GODDESS EMPOWERMENT FOR THE KICKASS WOMAN by Deborah Blake
VS Note: NONfiction, saw this in Carrie Anne Ryan’s twitter feed and it sounded like something I should include here, in case anyone might find it of interest. I have NOT read this…
In a time when most formal religions are on the wane, Wicca is said to be the fastest growing religion in North America. What is it that draws people to Witchcraft, and how does a spiritual path with its roots in ancient beliefs and traditions transform itself into a practice that resonates so deeply with today’s modern woman?
There are a number of explanations for the phenomenon, such as Witchcraft’s connection to the natural world, or acceptance of members regardless of lifestyle choices. For women, however, the greatest appeal may be the worship of a goddess (or goddesses). No stern patriarchal God here. Instead, Wicca and most other forms of modern Witchcraft embrace deity in both the feminine and the masculine. Suddenly, women can look at the divine and see themselves reflected back. In addition, many women are frustrated, frightened, triggered, and down-right furious with the current social and political environment, but feel powerless to create positive change. Witchcraft can give them a sense of personal empowerment.
There are many different Witchcraft paths and a multitude of approaches to its practice. This book will guide the reader on the journey to connecting with the feminine divine both without and within, and open the door to this magical religion that will enlighten, uplift, and energize their lives.
WITCH IS WHERE MAGIC LIVES NOW (A MAGIC P.I. MYSTERY BOOK 37) by Adele Abbott
There have been many changes to Jill’s life during the last six years, but she’s just as busy as ever. A family heirloom has disappeared from Tweaking Manor, and a man claims he saw a woman being shot, but the police insist no such shooting ever took place. Meanwhile, Winky is up to his old tricks.
SIEBOLD (BERSERKER WARRIORS BOOK 2) by Lee Savino and Ines Johnson
A wounded warrior wants to claim me as his mate…For years I’ve lived alone in the deep woods, hiding my powers from the world. But when I meet a wounded wolf on a forest path, I can’t bear his suffering. I call on my magic to heal him. Then he follows me home and I find he’s no ordinary wolf. He’s a Berserker warrior, cursed long ago to become a ravening monster. His only hope: find the woman who can tame his beast. Siebold thinks that woman is me. But this handsome warrior doesn’t just want me to lift the curse. Siebold wants me. All of me. And he’ll possess me: body, soul, and heart. Because nothing can stop a Berserker when he decides you’re his mate.
PHANTOM BLEND (A PARAMOUR BAY PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY BOOK 12) by Kennedy Layne
he quaint coastal town of Paramour Bay is once again hosting their annual garage sale, and Raven Marigold is happily participating for the first time with two tables of gently used items and select pieces of clothing. She’s taken special care to ensure that no magical auras remain on the items that she’s included for sale, and she is quite confident that her first time joining in on the sale will go off without a hitch. Raven hadn’t counted on her familiar taking his annual battle with the local squirrel population to a new level, resulting in a collapsed table, a broken mirror, and a trapped phantom who leads Raven and the gang onto their next murder mystery that might not reveal the fairest of them all.
HER DRAGON PROTECTOR’S BABY (SHIFTERS OF THE ELEMENTS BOOK 6) by Lark Sterling and Meg Ripley
Through the ages, the High Alphas protect, guide, and shelter the Shifters from harm. It’s a noble job, a fate passed down through the stars, and it has been my future from the moment I was born. Me and my three cousins are all different, and not just because we’re all different Shifter species. For me, growing up in the High Alpha castle, my grooming is nearly complete. Nearly…I needed to spread my wings, literally. I needed freedom with my Griffin to experience the real world before I took over protecting it. So, with my best friend, Kilo, a Dragon Shifter Guard, I settled into my mother’s old airport. Disgusting and decrepit doesn’t even begin to explain. The Shifter world was in a bad place, with Darkness steadily pushing in, but I didn’t fear the Dark Shifters in the least. With the man I knew was my fated mate always by my side, I could defeat anyone. But the love shared was a love that held secrets I may have realized too late.
The future of the Shifter species rides on the birth of the Golden Child, a child created between a Griffin and a Dragon. No child of two species had ever been born, and if it made it, the Dark Shifters were poised and ready to take it from my arms. The Dark Shifters are gathering, planning, watching. As the evil flows across the land, the child grows within me. Will they be born to rule the land with light and good? Or will the faceless man steal them from my breast and end the Shifter world as we know it?
STICKY TIES (THE FAMILY NOVAK BOOK 4) by Susi Hawke and Christa Crown
Boris Novak watched four of his brothers find happiness with their fated mates, but never considered he might be that lucky. When a family member dragged in a fainting goat shifter suspected of working with their enemies, it took only one scent for Boris to recognize his mate and know that he’d fight anyone and anything to protect him. Even if it meant fighting his own family.
One year ago, Gary never would have imagined being caught up in such a mess of crime bosses, turf wars, and smuggling. He’d never imagined anything beyond a quiet life. Until that life was stolen from him. Together, the two find a wholeness that neither looked for, but deeply craved. But before they can find peace, they have to defeat the woman who killed Gary’s family and tried to kill Boris’s father. All while keeping Chicago from erupting into a street war, saving kidnapped kids, and avoiding the eye of the Feds.
WOLF’S SOUL (GUARDIANS OF THE PHOENIX BOOK 2) by JL Madore
Four mates to claim. Three crystals to find. Two realms to unite. With news of my fiery resurrection spreading through fae communities like wildfire, all eyes fall on me. Am I ready for the battles to come? Um… no, not even close. If only my destiny was as simple as sorting out the horizontal hijinks of four scorching hot mates. That I could handle.
With a rogue fae contingent pulling strings behind the scenes, my life in danger, and a mysterious Black Knight plotting, the only thing keeping my crazy train in the station is faith that the magic that put me and my guardians together chose us for a reason.
THEIR WILD ONE by Lacey Thorne
Running with wolves…Jess Mueller has spent her entire life with one obsession. Wolves. She’s chased legends surrounding them all over the world and stumbled across the biggest discovery of all in the wilds of Oregon. Playing with alphas…Drawing out an enemy brings the four wolf alphas together. When a lone woman is injured during an attack meant to hurt them, there’s nothing to do but take her with them. Driving them wild…Four alphas. One woman. They’re fighting for more than their lives. They’re fighting for their packs, their way of life, and the one woman none of them can let go.
DEVEN AND THE DRAGON by Eliot Grayson
VS Note: From late June…
The beast doesn’t ever really get a fairytale ending…does he? Deven’s mission is clear. All he has to do is convince the dragon to give up one of his magical scales. Lies, deception, seduction—nothing is off-limits. It should be easy. But it isn’t. Especially not when said dragon is so alluring in human form. It’s not long before Deven starts to want something way more valuable than a scale from his beautiful beast. But how do you convince a dragon to give you his heart when your entire relationship was built on deceit?
Fiora is cursed. Love can kill him. Literally kill him. So keeping his mind (and hands) off the devilishly handsome Deven shouldn’t be a challenge. But it is. Deven’s entirely too warm, too attractive, too…everything to resist. And spending time with the lovable human makes Fiora question what’s more frightening—the curse, or the possibility of a life without Deven by his side. If they want a shot at happily ever after, Deven and Fiora will need to break the potentially deadly curse and overcome all the secrets that stand between them. Easy, right? They wish.
FERAL ALPHA (OMEGA UNIVERSITY BOOK 3) by J L Wilder
Can an omega return human qualities to a feral shifter? Xavier – To be human is to be weak. I rather stay in my wild animal form. I rather chase wild game and eat raw meat. I don’t care if they call me a feral. I don’t care if I’m packless.
I’d rather live alone on the borderlands. And I wouldn’t care for anything at all, If it wasn’t for her. For the omega. I want to claim her. Take her whole. But can I sacrifice my animal nature to have her? Zoe – I feel like I don’t fit in at Omega University. I don’t follow the rules of omega life. I like wearing make-up. I don’t want to submit. I’m more in touch with my human side, And no alpha wants me here. But now that I’m lost in the borderlands with a feral shifter,
I can feel the wild in my veins, I can feel my desire to submit. But can I unleash my inner animal to save us both?
HER BETA TRIPLETS by J L Wilder
At Omega University, relationships between betas and omegas are strictly forbidden. Omega: I’m the golden girl. The perfect omega. They call me the teacher’s pet. I’m top of my class at Omega U. If I’m such a great omega, How come I can’t resist these betas? It’s my responsibility to be available to an alpha. It’s my responsibility to let him claim me.
But now three betas want me. Three betas protect me. If I gave myself to them, I’d be dishonoring my role as an omega. Triplet Betas: We should have been born alphas, But our power broke into three. We crave what alphas have,
especially her, the forbidden omega. If we can claim her. If we can win the alpha games. We will become what we were meant to be.
LUNA CONFLICTED: BOOK 3 OF THE LUNA RISING SERIES by Sara Snow
So much in my life has changed…At first, Axel, Xavier, and I were divided, but now we are on the run together from the Council to save our lives. Unfortunately, we collided with something so much WORSE in the process. Werewolves thought that vampires no longer existed after they wiped them off the face of the planet…...but it turns out that information was bullsh*t. Vampires weren’t extinct at all. They created cities hidden underground and have been replenishing their ranks for decades, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back. In that time, the werewolves, their natural rivals and greatest enemies, have forgotten their scent. They’ve forgotten how to fight them. To make matters worse, I’m now plagued with odd visions no one understands. Oh, and no one bothered to tell me a vampire’s bite would feel like acid burning through my veins. Do you remember when I said I was cursed? My life can’t get much worse than this, right? Wrong! It can.
ESCAPING MIDNIGHT (STANDALONE TALES BOOK 8) by Viola Grace
Enticed by the elf king to a ball in his kingdom, Amelia gets magical assistance for her wardrobe and a chance at a new life… after midnight. Amelia has lived her life serving her family. At her stepmother’s urging, she has been running through the barrier that confines the elf king and stealing from the plants and trees that she can reach. Every time she passes the barrier, she starts a countdown and makes it out of the enchanted forest before the king thunders upon his horse. She listens for the hoofbeats and makes every moment count.
Being caught by the elf king was less terrifying than she had imagined. He gave her aid and made her smile before telling her that he was going to be hosting a party… and she was going to attend.
The king had been searching for a woman to break the curse he was under, and this young woman with the sad eyes and her penchant for the flora of his forest seemed precisely what he needed. She was definitely what he wanted. With her agreement and a little seduction, she might assist him in escaping midnight.
THE HELLHOUND’S UN-CHRISTMAS MIRACLE (A MATE FOR CHRISTMAS BOOK 4) by Zoe Chant
VS Note: From late June.
His past is a nightmare. And the woman of his dreams just walked into it…Hellhound shifter Fleance thought he’d escaped his evil former alpha for good – and the life of crime and misery he was forced to live. But when he loses control of his hellhound, Fleance realizes the past isn’t as far behind him as he’d hoped. If he wants to protect his new pack, he needs to track down Angus Parker and make him pay for what he did to Fleance and the others. Even if he needs to travel to the other side of the world to do it. The last thing he thought he’d find there was his fated mate. Suddenly, his pack isn’t the only thing he needs to protect.
New Zealand sheep shifter Sheena can’t wait to escape her rural life and overbearing shifter family. She’s sick of being treated like she can’t take care of herself just because her inner sheep is so tiny and adorable. Except… it’s kind of… true? Her sheep isn’t just tiny, it also has a major habit of wandering into danger. Even when she’s in human form. So it’s almost a relief when her fated mate turns up to save her from the fiery death she accidentally ran straight into (whoops) and the terrifying hellhound shifter who wanted to make her its new chew toy. Fleance is a dream come true. Except for the little matter of his previous alpha biting her. Sheep shifters can’t be turned into hellhounds… right?
BAD BEAR (WEREBEAR CREEK BOOK 1) by Layla Silver
I’m a well-known player, a bad bear of the worst kind. I’m knee deep in supermodels, begging for my attention. But I was a goner from the first moment I saw her. I wanted to claim her sweetness, protect it, and make it wholly mine.
But she disappeared on me, ghosting me and leaving me hanging. The problem becomes a catastrophe when I show up at the office on Monday. I have a new boss. And it’s her. The killer red heels have been replaced by kitten-heeled pumps. But the distractingly long legs are exactly the same. She plays a leading role in my dreams in delectably indecent ways. But she’s forbidden territory. Getting involved with my boss would be playing with fire. Pursuing her is a terrible idea. But here’s the thing. I’ve always liked terrible ideas.
FATE OF THE DEMON FAE (A FATED MATES NOVEL BOOK 2) by Ava Mason
Sometimes, breaking the rules can be the best decision you ever make. Being surrounded by forbidden fruit in the shape of four possessive, sexy men is as alluring as chocolate is to my obnoxious cat, Tuddle. All I want to do is lick the seductive taste on my tongue, savor its sensation…Breathe it in so deeply that it becomes a part of me. Unfortunately, a small thing called ‘my psychotic aunt’ forces me to press pause on all my fantasies. How dare she interrupt my sexy time to do evil crap? In order to retrieve the only weapon that can kill her and her side-kick monster, I’m thrust into another realm and forced to battle powerful creatures not of my world. Resisting the compulsion of a beautiful siren, Racing to solve a puzzle while the world crumbles around me, And fighting an unkillable creature…That’s nothing compared to facing the determination of the protective men around me, battling for my heart.
A WARRIOR’S PROMISE: BOOK 2 by Minerva Vesta
VS Note: From May…
Love brought them closer together. War threatens to keep them apart. It’s been months since Samaria last laid eyes on her golden-eyed warrior. The heated kisses and whispered words of love and adoration were but a few the things she missed. But she’s coping with the loss and working hard to keep his household afloat until his return. With the soldiers deployed; the city and surrounding villages are no longer safe. Samaria and those living at the estate are far better off than most. When she offers to lend a helping hand to those in suffering from the war, she faces more troubles than she ever expected. Has her caring heart put everyone living at the estate at?
On the other side of war-torn Erilea, Rheon is fighting hard for the freedom of Braddeck’s citizens. Every day brings additional challenges as he moves closer towards enemy lines. The enemy has become ruthless, cutting off supply chains into the kingdom, the men are losing faith, and there may be a traitor among them. He fights an internal battle not to abandon the cause and return to the woman he loves. But he swore an oath to defend the kingdom of Braddeck…death before dishonor.
When the kings on both sides of the war threaten the union between Samaria and Rheon, things take a turn for the worse. Fairytales end in happily ever afters. But in war, there are casualties. Someone will be betrayed. Long buried truths will be revealed. And Death lurks in the shadows, ready to claim his next victim. A Warrior’s Promise is a historical fantasy romance. This is book two of three in the epic trilogy.
DONAHUE (FOSTER’S PRICE BOOK 2) by Kathi S Barton
Parker Carter spent eight years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit—murdering her father. Now that the justice system had finally admitted their mistake, Parker was set free. Parker could have left anytime she wanted, she was a powerful witch, but for reasons of her own, she had remained locked up and didn’t use any of her magic. Donahue Foster, a teacher at the local school, was having a hard time resting. Taking a run and stretching his legs as his lion was something he hadn’t done in a while. He hadn’t gotten far when he noticed two things, he smelled fresh blood, and he felt a presence. Don was dumbfounded when the woman used a mind link to communicate with him. She told him her name was Parker Carter, she didn’t like people, and she was his mate. Don was so stunned with that news that he was nearly run over by the night hunters Parker chased off. Now that Parker was back, her past needed to be settled. Half-truths and well-kept secrets needed to be exposed. And the possession of her mother, Meggie, was the most mind-boggling of all. What kind of screwed up magic was this?
THE SOUL SACRIFICE (HIDDEN LEGENDS: ACADEMY OF MAGICAL CREATURES BOOK 6) by Megan Linski and Alicia Rades
Sophia – The final battle has arrived. We’re prepared to face the Elders, but we can’t do it without the Azaimperiai. The ancient artifact will summon the ancestors to fight beside us. It’s our only hope at winning this war. But first, we must find the Familiars the Elders stole— before they can slaughter them and kill our people. We’ve finally discovered the true meaning of the prophecy, but it’s nothing like we expected. The prophecy says I’ll lose my life to save the tribe. Nothing could ever prepare me for leaving my daughter behind.
Liam – At the end of the world, things have never looked better just as they’re falling apart. My daughter gives me hope for the future, but there won’t be a future for her if the Elders continue to rule. To defeat them, we have to make a last stand. The fate of the Hawkei will be determined in the greatest battle of our time. If the rebellion falls, our people will be lost forever— as well as our magical creatures. Yet the prophecy is clear. To prevent the Elementai from going extinct, a sacrifice must be made. Sophia and I have to choose between saving our tribe… or saving our family.
WHICH WITCH IS WHICH (THE WITCHES OF PORT TOWNSEND BOOK 1) by Kerrigan Byrne, Tiffanie Helmer, Cynthia St Aubin and Cindy Stark
Moira. A water witch, Moira has always been a healer, but the one soul she can’t mend is her own. When a magical spell summons her away from the safety of the Bayou, she doesn’t foresee that Conquest, the first deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse is the mysterious danger she’d been hiding from. But the discoveries don’t stop there, she has three sisters who looks exactly like her, and their stories are as unbelievable as her own. Claire. A fire witch, Claire’s a passionate woman cursed by her powers, longing to find someone who can withstand her love. She believes she’s forever destined to be alone until she receives a message summoning her “home.” The world’s most violent man stands between her and her family, and even if she wins the battle, she may lose her heart to War. Aerin. An air witch, Aerin is a ruthless businesswoman well on her way to ruling the corporate world, until she discovers she not only has three identical sisters, but their fates are entwined with the apocalypse. When she meets Pestilence, an immortal whose destiny is to wipe out entire civilizations, she not only withstands his lethal touch, she craves it. Tierra. An earth witch, Tierra is all about nature and nurturing her relationships with her newfound sisters. Family means everything to her, and she’ll do whatever she must to keep her sisters safe. But unless she can resist Death himself, humanity’s prospects are grim. The de Moray sisters clash with the most dangerous immortals the earth has ever known. Locked on opposing sides of a battle older than time, their fight is only the beginning…of the end.
GRAVE DECISIONS (HELLGATE GUARDIANS BOOK 3) by Ivy Asher and Raven Kennedy
My name is Medley Bell, and if you had told me this time last week that I was demon, then I’d have said you were nuttier than a squirrel turd. Of course, that was before I started seeing the strangest things. I’ve always been a little off, but it took stumbling into a backwater bar to understand how different I really am. So when two drool-worthy guys stop by to tell me that I’m Hell spawn just like them, I’m more relieved than shocked. I mean, it sure does explain a lot. Now, I just have to convince my mama and daddy that they can’t come with me on my first trip to Hell, deal with a hellish biological family I never knew I had, and keep from getting kidnapped by some weird Morax fella with snakes for hair. Things are about to get crazy around here. I guess it’s a good thing I like that.
ELEMENTAL COMPASS (SUPERNATURAL PRISON BOOK 7) by Jaymin Eve
Jacob Compass is stuck in the human world, navigating a peaceful treaty so that supernaturals are not exposed. Justice Winter reluctantly finds herself helping him with this task, all the while dreaming about punching him in his perfect, smug face. Suffice it to say, their coexistence is a challenge in many ways. Turns out, though, that during this battle against an enemy that they can’t just kill and get rid of–annoying as it may be–they learn that they have more in common than just their fey race. More than the fact that both of them find joy in the fire element. There’s something deeper that exists in their souls, and maybe, it might just take the end of the world for them to figure out what it is.
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VS Note: From my back list:
STAR CRUISE: IDOL’S CURSE Amazon Apple Books NOOK KOBO
STAR CRUISE: MYSTERY DANCER Amazon Apple Books NOOK KOBO
STAR CRUISE: SONGBIRD Amazon iBooks Kobo B&N
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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:
“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’.
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…
I check and verify all the buy links at the time I create the post but after that I’m not responsible.
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