New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JUNE 29

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). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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CORSAIRS: MATHIRAS (CORSAIR BROTHERS BOOK 4) by Ruby Dixon

VS Note: Any week with a new Ruby Dixon is a good week!

Someone is illegally stealing humans from their home world and cloning them. For months, we’ve been hunting this ring of criminals and the end is in sight. I’m separating from my brothers and taking my ship to track down the bad guys. One small problem — Helen insists upon joining me on this dangerous mission. Helen herself is a clone, created to be an object of beauty. She’s not safe if she goes with me, as her kind are coveted all across the universe. But she’s not interested in staying safe. She’s interested in staying at my side…and tempting me to kiss her. And kef me, is it ever a temptation. Am I really going to run headlong into danger with the universe’s most beguiling female at my side? Am I going to be able to resist her charms? (I think we all know the answers to those questions.)      Amazon KU

QUEEN OF THEIR COLONY: KINDRED TALES 45 by Evangeline Anderson

A middle aged science teacher who feels unloved and unwanted meets Three huge alien warriors desperate to find their Queen When Terra agrees to go on a quest with V’rone, Tem, and Rive
Will she end up as…the Queen of their Colony?
Terra Engels is a regular middle aged science teacher with nothing special about her—or so she thinks. She comes up to the Monstrum Mother Ship to arrange a tour for her senior class…and sets off an alarm on the Dark Side of the ship. The alarm is a Heart-finder arch, tended by three Colony Monstrum, who must share a female. V’rone, Tem’blx, and Rive have pretty much given up on finding the one perfect woman who can be the Queen of their colony. Imagine their surprise when Terra walks through the arch and sets off the alarm, proving that she is the one they’ve been looking for! Terra, however, disagrees. She just got out of a failed marriage and she’s not ready to make another commitment—especially not to three huge guys at once! However, she makes a deal with them—she will go on a quest to help them find the right woman if they will attend her ex-husband’s wedding with her as her dates. That’ll show the cheating bastard! The Monstrum agree. Thus begins a crazy—and extremely hot—adventure to four different alien worlds that involve a host of dangers…and a lot of heated encounters. Each door between the worlds requires that the four of them become more and more intimate and less and less inhibited. But at the end of it all when Terra almost loses her guys, can she find a way to get them back? And will she ever consent to be…Queen of their Colony?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PROTECTED (ICEWORLD WARRIORS BOOK 7) by Jessica Grayson and Aria Winter

Ever since he rescued me from my captors, Rokan has been by my side as my constant friend and protector. Gentle and kind, he’s always going out of his way to spend time with me, making me smile and laugh. He’s a good friend, but lately I suspect he wants something more. I can’t deny the pull I feel toward him, but I’m not sure I’m ready to be his. Not after everything I’ve been through. The more time we spend together, I begin to wonder: what would it be like if I allowed myself to explore these feelings I have for my protector?      Amazon KU

RESCUED (SETTLERS OF THE OUTER RIM BOOK ONE) by Jessica Grayson

VS note: Not sure if this is a re-release or new. Author note stated this had a different title previously but it almost sounded like she meant as a pre-order?

When I went into stasis sleep on my way to Mars, I never expected to wake up in a cage. I have no idea what happened to my crew. Alone and afraid, I think all hope is lost until I’m rescued from slavery by a Kitsune fox-like alien, name Kyo. Lost, and with no way to return to my home world, he says he’ll take me to a planet that’s safe. We’re very different, but I cannot deny that I’m drawn to him in ways I don’t understand. The more time we spend together, I begin to wonder: what would be like if I allowed myself to fall for him?     Amazon KU

THE ALIEN’S FARMER (ALIENS AND ANIMALS BOOK 3) by Skye MacKinnon and Arizona Tape

Rachel thought it couldn’t get worse than losing her farm. But when a hot stranger turns out to be an alien, her life is about to change forever. Tamsia’s sisters both have human mates, but she can’t quite understand the appeal herself. Until she meets Rachel, the owner of an adorable yet intimidating Highland cow. Will Tamsia be able to persuade her to move to Kyven?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

STRELS AND ISIR: KLAGAN WARRIORS BOOK 3 by Holly Hanzo

Klagan warriors Strels and Isir might be twins, but their physical appearance and personalities couldn’t be more different. Ever the stoic over-thinker, Strels had an innate need to plan, to be prepared for everything. Impulsive Isir lived everyday like a blind adventure, thriving on the adrenaline rush that came with spontaneity and recklessness. It was hard to believe they were battle-hardened warriors, sons of the Sovereign of Klaga. Weary of battle, the brothers decide to retire from a life of war and espionage–no more missions, no more being taken advantage of, being used for someone else’s benefit. They’re about to make the biggest transition in their lives until the human mate of a battle-brother and friend begs them to take one last mission: find and rescue her lost sister. Traumatized by her sister’s abduction during the Elodian attacks, Emily has spent the years since trapped in the shadow of a resistance organization. Living in fear is nothing new to her, and it’s a seductive prison she can’t bring herself to escape from. That chain around her tightens when two massive Klagan males land on Earth, insisting they’re on a mission from Audrey to rescue and retrieve her. But her distrust of aliens runs deep and…(more blurb on ebookseller page…)      Amazon KU

RADR: GALACTIC CYBORG HEAT SERIES by Jessie Rose Case

This is a HEA, Hot Romantic Fiction Novel. A tantalizing story of passions and desires, that unexpectedly brings together a two people through unexpected events.      Amazon KU

ZAR-RYNN (GALAXY GLADIATORS ALIEN ABDUCTION SERIES BOOK 18) by Alana Khan

VS Note: Love the cover as always but a bit too naked for my PG13+ blog. Happy to see a new book in the series!

Their love will face the ultimate test. Just days after meeting, Zar and Anya planned and executed a slave revolt, freeing themselves and their friends from their evil masters. For the past three years, these truemates traveled the galaxy righting wrongs, and freeing slaves. Their love is a beacon, an exquisite linking of body and soul. What threatens their mated relationship couldn’t be predicted or prevented, and cannot be reversed. Can love this deep transcend even the most devastating struggles?     Amazon KU

RADIANT RITES (FALLING STAR BOOK 3) by Chloe Parker and Clarissa Bright

Our family is fractured and I’m about to lose them for good…especially if we can’t stop the Queen of Homeworld. We have a ship, an army, and allies. But the thing we need most is each other, and it feels like my men are more distant than ever. My lizard assassin, Orion, can’t find a place in our family; Taln doesn’t know who he is now that he can’t fight; Ryker is still convinced that I’m his mate…and Nereus is drifting further away, following the man he loves. And Kye? Well, it feels like there’s a whole galaxy between us. If we want to defeat the evil queen, we’ll have to find a way back to each other. Because I can’t see a path forward without them. RADIANT RITES is a MMFMMM space opera romance with a team of hot alien heroes and a strong heroine.     Amazon KU

RESOLVE: THE ADVENTURES OF A XENO-ARCHAELOGIST BOOK 5 by Jenny Schwartz

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

The unmissable conclusion to the science fiction series that has it all—ancient aliens, rogue AIs, beleaguered royalty, semi-repentant pirates, and the chance to go where no humans have gone before (well, not for five hundred years)—all wrapped up in the possibility of a happy-ever-after for everyone (bad guys excluded). Resolve is the triumphant conclusion to Nora and Liam’s story, begun in Astray in the unexplored depths of the Avestan Range and the quirky precinct of Border Station.   Amazon KU

CHOOSING THE DEMON (DEMONS OF PROTHEKA BOOK 1) by Celeste King

Life was hell under the Dark Elves. And then the demons came. And it somehow got even worse. They raided our town in a vicious magical battle, killed the Dark Elves and took the humans.  couldn’t do a damn thing when they took my sister away. Then the leader of the invaders set his gaze on me.
A monster so cruel and so perfect that to look on him was to cry in sadness and desire. He made me a bargain. He’d help me find my sister and get her out of Hell. In return, he would get…me. I’ll do whatever it takes. Give him whatever he wants. No price is too high. Not even my heart.     AmazonKU

THE NEW NIRI : MOONS OF VES’ONI BOOK 3 by Aeryn Zaera

Dying is the last thing I remember until I look into the hulking male’s green eyes. His eyes remind me one person wants me and a second chance is needed for all of us. I hated my life. I didn’t fit in anywhere, and the only thing I am good at is being a thorn in everyone’s side. They don’t know the real me. They don’t what I’ve done for them. I think it’s better that way… until we’re rescued. It’s a second chance for life, right? Not for me. I’m still the outcast. Then something crazy happens. I’m kidnapped and killed.     Amazon KU

POINT OF INTEREST: THE OBSIDIAN SERIES by Kate Pearce

After escaping from Heliodor and the wrath of the empire, Nia and the crew head to Earth to forge new alliances. Before Nia can investigate some unsettling information about her own family, they must leave, taking onboard fresh crew members in their quest to reach smaller Adamite communities and warn them of the emperor’s plans. As new relationships are formed and old ones tested, Brec finds himself drawn to Peri, a reluctant recruit from Earth who wants nothing to do with him. But the emperor’s diabolical schemes reach further than anyone imagined, and when the journey is disrupted by an anomaly, the crew realize that nothing will ever be the same again.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

GODSLAYERS (GEARBREAKERS BOOK 2) by Zoe Hana Mikuta

The Gearbreakers struck a devastating blow against Godolia on Heavensday, but the cost of victory has been steep. Months later, the few rebels who’ve managed to escape the tyrannical empire’s bloody retribution have fled to the mountains, hunted by the last Zenith—Godolia’s only surviving leader. Eris has been held prisoner since the attack on the capital city, which almost killed her. And she begins to wish it had when she discovers Sona—the girl she loves, the girl she would tear down cities for—also survived, only to be captured and corrupted by the Zenith. The cybernetic brainwashing that Sona has forcibly undergone now has her believing herself a loyal soldier for Godolia, and Eris’ mortal enemy. With the rebellion shattered and Godolia moving forward with an insidious plan to begin inducting Badlands children into a new Windup Pilot program, the odds have never been more stacked against the Gearbreakers. Their last hope for victory will depend on whether Eris and Sona can somehow find their way back to each other from opposite sides of a war.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

CASTOR’S KISS: SOUL BONDED IN THE STARS BOOK 2 by Tai James

Kidnapped. Tortured. Left for dead. The fact that Mia Grey has survived is nothing short of a miracle. Now, every day of her life is a battle. Thrown into the arena daily, she fights to the death against others imprisoned as she is. She’s become a crowd favorite. A darling to the masses. Still, she dreams of escape. The opportunity presents itself when the tall, dark, and mysterious Atlantean, Castor, comes striding into her life. He claims to be sent to save her, but Mia has endured too much to blindly trust him. Her doubt works against them and ensnares the two in the ultimate challenge. Out of options, the pair must form an alliance if they hope to survive. Amid the battle for their lives, they find the bond of fated mates growing between them. In the face of growing odds, can their love survive? Or will the bond between them be the weakness that gets them killed?     Amazon KU

EXILED (ARCADIA BOOK 3) by Mary Brock Jones

VS Note: Not listed as a romance. Saw this mentioned on the excellent Whiskey With My Book blog.

When off-worlders promise Seolta den Coille revenge against those who helped falsely imprison him, he grabs hold with both fists. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t end well and he’s banished into exile. All that does is give his hunt for vengeance a few more targets. Top of the list, the two off-worlders who lured him into betraying his home world. Anyara a Prithand2 wants only two things in life: to be left in peace to manage the biota systems of her space station, and to avoid giving her uncle an excuse to kill her. When a newcomer to her home world offers to help her escape, she accepts. Now she just has to survive the adventure. Chased across Alliance space by their enemies, Seolta and Anyara’s only chance lies with the Alliance Council, the overall governing body of settled space. An organisation as riven with political strife as the enemies they are fleeing. Can the cleverest of the den Coilles and the habitat worlds’ best biome scientist stay alive long enough to expose those threatening their worlds?   Amazon KU

ALIEN SUNRISE by Alinea Lynnette

Earth has been dead for a long, long time. Humanity has lived in isolated underground vaults for so long, ‘the surface’ is just a legendary fable most folks don’t actually believe in anymore. Soleil has spent her 23 years surrounded by concrete walls and dim lights–and, apparently, surrounded by lies as well. ..[SNIP]…She didn’t expect to find aliens on Earth’s surface, though. Chai Charoen and his people have been here for a while now, trying to revive the planet back to full health again. But with the peaceful come the ravenous–intelligent and wily insectoid people known as nyd. Chai Charoen is a hunter, scouting the forests for wild game and enforcing the border to keep nyd away from his people’s territory–and stumbling across a strange, delicate, pale little creature like Soleil is the last thing he expected. With a gap in communication, neither can make heads or tails of who the other person is or where they came from, but as we all know–True love transcends language. The question now is what Soleil will do when forced to choose between the man she now loves, and returning home to the dark vault to receive life-saving treatment for her illness. Because her towering, teal, tentacled, fated mate certainly won’t be welcome in her home.       Amazon Possibly KU

99 DAYS LATER (99 DAYS SERIES BOOK 2) by Matt Converse

While the world awaits the aliens’ return in 99 days, Mitch pines to see one alien in particular. Will Claytone return? If he does, is it crazy for Mitch to dream of a future with him? Will he pass the IQ test the aliens said they will mandate? One thing is certain: in 99 Days, planet Earth—and Mitch—will never be the same.     Amazon KU

COSPLAY: A HISTORY OF THE BUILDERS, FANS AND MAKERS WHO BRING YOUR FAVORITE STORIES TO LIFE by Andrew Liptak

VS Note: Nonfiction. Sounds fascinating! Got my copy and have dipped into it a bit – thorough discussion and SO much detail. I got the paperback so I can look at the photos better, although it’s not photo-heavy. Quite a few small ones, can’t see all the amazing details.

A history of the colorful and complex kingdom of cosplay and fandom fashion by Andrew Liptak, journalist, historian, and member of the legendary fan-based Star Wars organization the 501st Legion. In recent years, cosplay—the practice of dressing up in costume as a character—has exploded, becoming a mainstream cultural phenomenon. But what are the circumstances that made its rise possible? Andrew Liptak—a member of the legendary 501st Legion, an international fan-based organization dedicated to the dark side of Star Wars—delves into the origins and culture of cosplay to answer this question. Cosplay: A History looks at the practice’s ever-growing fandom and conventions, its roots in 15th-century costuming, the relationship between franchises and the cosplayers they inspire, and the technology that brings even the most intricate details in these costumes to life. Cosplay veterans and newcomers alike will find much to relish in this rich and comprehensive history.

Amazon      AB     Kobo

HIS HUMAN SOCIALITE (MONSTERS LOVE CURVY GIRLS BOOK 7) by Michelle Mills

I’ve been set up on a blind date with a Hyrrokin named Idun Grindstone? Noooo. This will never work! How can a human who is set to gain a significant inheritance have anything in common with a foul-mouthed, satanic-looking security specialist? Smoke regularly wafts out of this guy’s nostrils and his shiny barbed tail juts out in the air behind him as he prowls across the military hanger. But…I’m enchanted with Idun’s deep voice, his massive bare chest and (swoon) those epic thighs. This Hyrrokin is a handsome red devil and oh so touchable. And I want my tongue in his mouth, immediately. Unfortunately, Idun thinks I’m a spoiled, irresponsible party girl and he wants nothing to do with me. *eye roll* Party girl? He must have me confused with my evil twin sister. And then I’m kidnapped by the Hyrrokin mafia and held for ransom. When Idun finds out, he activates his team at Molten Lava Security and all hell breaks loose. And that’s when I discover how much this fiery ex-soldier really cares about me—despite his protestations. Ha!     Amazon KU

DRUNK ON ALL YOUR STRANGE NEW WORDS by Eddie Robson

VS Note: Not a romance but s scifi mystery release of note.

Lydia works as translator for the Logi cultural attaché to Earth. They work well together, even if the act of translating his thoughts into English makes her somewhat wobbly on her feet. She’s not the agency’s best translator, but what else is she going to do? She has no qualifications, and no discernible talent in any other field. So when tragedy strikes, and Lydia finds herself at the center of an intergalactic incident, her future employment prospects look dire—that is, if she can keep herself out of jail! But Lydia soon discovers that help can appear from the most unexpected source.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

INVISIBLE THINGS: A NOVEL by Mat Johnson

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note, Sounded intriguying, put it on my TBR list.

When sociologist Nalini Jackson joins the SS Delany for the first manned mission to Jupiter, all she wants is a career opportunity: the chance to conduct the first field study of group dynamics on long-haul cryoships. But what she discovers instead is an entire city encased in a bubble on Europa, Jupiter’s largest moon. Even more unexpected, Nalini and the rest of the crew soon find themselves abducted and joining its captive population, forced to start new lives in a place called New Roanoke. New Roanoke is a city riven by wealth inequality and governed by a feckless, predatory elite, its economy run on heedless consumption and income inequality. But in other ways it’s different from the cities we already know: it’s covered by an enormous dome, it’s populated by alien abductees, and it happens to be terrorized by an invisible entity so disturbing that no one even dares acknowledge its existence.  Albuquerque chauffer Chase Eubanks is pretty darn sure aliens stole his wife. People mock him for saying that, but he doesn’t care who knows it. So when his philanthropist boss funds a top-secret rescue mission to save New Roanoke’s abductees, Chase jumps at the chance to find her. ..(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

RARELY PURE AND NEVER SIMPLE (VARIANT CONFIGURATIONS BOOK 1) by Angel Martinez

In his isolated cabin, variant Damien Hazelwood avoids human contact as much as possible to prevent attacks of blind berserker panic. But his rare talent as a locator makes him the go-to contractor for tricky missing person’s cases and when agents bring him a troubling contract involving missing variant children, he finds it impossible to refuse. Licensed tracker Blaze Emerson can’t help being irritated when he’s expected to follow the strange, twitchy locator’s lead on his latest case. He works alone, he’s damn good, and as a variant sparker, he has both the fire and the firepower to take on anything out there. Though he has to admit there’s something intriguing about a man who can find people with his brain. With vastly different temperaments and backgrounds, Damien and Blaze need to negotiate quickly how to work together if they’re going to crack this case. Add in the sudden appearance of Blaze’s outlaw ex, the perils of tracking in the wilds, and a maddening lack of discernible motive or method, and they soon find themselves in as much danger as the kids they’re trying to rescue.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

RETRIBUTION: PROGENY DUET BOOK 2 by Rebecca Rathe

I came to warn them, but instead I put them in the line of fire. Now one piece of my heart is missing, while the other pieces are forced to leave behind everything they’ve ever known to protect me. The truth about who I am and where I came from weighs on me. Is anything real? All I know for sure is that the people responsible for bringing me into the world are the very ones putting the only family I have ever known in danger. But I will stop at nothing to keep them safe. I will use everything they gave me against them and risk everything to take them down. Little do they know, a reckoning is coming.     Amazon KU

STUNG BY THE COBRA (SECOND CHANCES IN SPACE) by Aurora Springer

SciFi mystery. Interstellar spy befriends enemy commander in a tragic tale with a happy ending. Shan Zennia, Senior Curator of the Archives of Galactic Culture on Lumos, plays a dangerous double role as a researcher and a spy for Solarian Intelligence. She embarks on a new mission to observe the spring festival on Harappi, a planet recently conquered by the ambitious Emperor and now governed by his niece, Domina Allia. Zennia finds unexpected mysteries on the planet, including the enigmatic Nagari. Once a victorious commander in the Emperor’s space fleet and nicknamed the Cobra, he was forced to abandon his military career when Allia claimed him as her consort. Her abusive treatment has driven him to the brink of madness. Intrigued by the ex-commander and aware of his value as a source of information on the enemy, Zennia agrees to meet him during the festival of rebirth. Opposing forces clash at the height of the celebrations, catalyzing deadly violence. Can Nagari and Zennia survive the chaos and win a new and happier life?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ANOINTED OMEGA (QUARANTINE OMEGA BOOK 5) by Lizzy Bequin

The Quarantine Zone is dying, and it’s my fault. Now, in order to set things right, I must give myself to the the alphas. Five primal males who intend to share me in ways I never thought possible. My rational mind is telling me to run for my life, but my omega instincts are begging to be dominated. And in the Zone, instinct always wins.     Amazon KU

ROAN (ASTRAL MATES BOOK 4) by Luna Hunter

I only know two things for certain. One: My name is Roan. Two: The small, pale, trembling human female in my arms is my soulmate. My dunatar. My everything. My mind is chaos. Pain and anger swirl around in a vortex with no memories to make sense of it all, but when Nova’s close… all the pain goes away. Her touch, her scent, her taste… it makes everything better. Her crewmates — General Kai and Commander Tyr — don’t trust me. Enemies from my past hunt me. But no one is going to come between me and my fated mate. No one. I’ll take her from her ship and kill every Dragan who opposes me if I have to. She’s mine.      Amazon KU

ALPHA HUNTED (KNOTTY AND SWEET OMEGAVERSE) by Crea Reitan

I lost everything in a freak accident. My entire family; everything I’d ever cared about – gone in an instant. Unable to bear the constant reminders and emptiness of my life, I moved across the country to dull the loss, hopefully falling into the anonymity of a large city where even an alpha could disappear. Starting over was never in my plans. All I wanted was to blend in and let life pass me by. Live in my modest studio apartment with my mindless job as an absentee owner of a popular juice bar downtown. I spent my days with headphones in as I worked through each machine at the gym, grabbing a juice from my cafe on the way home, and drowning myself in the solitude of my house. And then I met the only thing I’d never managed to obtain with my pack – an omega who made everything in me spark. And in the next breath, a shy beta who made my most basic instincts rear up and want to wrap her in my arms and give her the world. Try as I may, I can’t seem to run far enough away from either of them. Once we meet, something keeps pulling us back together at every corner. Just as I start to give in and wrap myself in their pack that consists of two other alphas, I find out that the freak accident that took my first pack from me wasn’t an accident at all. And now I’m being hunted by the murderers who intend to finish the job.     Amazon KU

ZAEN (XILTRI SECTOR WARRIORS BOOK 5) by Ava York and Starr Huntress

She’s been here the entire time. My mate. My heartbeat. The missing piece of my soul. Every fiber of my being demands I claim her, protect her, keep her safe. But the mystery of the Xiltri Sector won’t let us go. Can I complete the mission and defend my mate? And when we’re faced with a shattering revelation, will we make the right choice?      Amazon KU

ROCKET GIRLS LOVE ALIENS (SMART GIRLS LOVE ALIENS BOOK 2) by Alina Jacobs

There’s a hot alien male living in my apartment…and he hates my guts. Vidanric reminds me daily that he despises Earth and wants to go home. He’s miserable, and so am I—even though I can’t help but admire the view when he’s standing shirtless in my kitchen making a smoothie. Loudly. At three in the morning. My horoscope didn’t prepare me for any of this. He chewed up and ate one of the inspirational notes I gave him. He cooks squirrels in my cast-iron skillet. He complains nonstop about my annoying Earth-girl habits. This alien’s not grumpy—he’s downright hostile. All he wants to do is go back to his home planet. But it’s impossible for him to go home. So I do the next best thing and try to make him fall in love with something on Earth. But Vidanric doesn’t like it when I surprise him on a run. He snarls when I bake him cookies. And he growls when I strip off my clothes and convince him to do an interplanetary nasty. It might not be enough to make him fall for Earth. But I might end up falling in love with him. And that will be a planet-sized disaster.      Amazon KU

SAVED BY THE ALIEN BOSS (A MATE FOR THE LURAELLA TRADERS BOOK 1) by Alina Riley

For the family’s business, I need a mate; she needs an escape from danger. Who decides that a male nekrozzro has to get a mate the moment he is a mature one? My father decides that I have to do exactly that to get my slice of the family’s business. It doesn’t help when I’m the eldest in the family. For my sanity, I need a vacation away from home. I’m busy settling down and forgetting my cheating fiance. I don’t expect to meet anyone. A crazy stalker chases me, and I end up in a huge and muscular man’s arms. My heart races for him and his touches are golden. He saves my life and offers me the cash for me to be his fiance. He says that his family lives far away, which is reasonable until I see what he means.     Amazon KU

SOUL COGS: EVEN IF YOUR SOUL BREAKS (GEAR HEART BOOK 2) by Michelle R Young

The battle isn’t over yet. Aspen, Keagan, Lori, and Thomas flee Currlion with only hopes that the dimies they freed from the battle on Damon’s ship made it home safely. Now in London, they seek refuge with a half-insane old friend, Uncle George, who might just hold the keys to the city. With a city full of mistreated slaves seeking freedom, our trio of heroes rise to the call with the help of new teammates comprised of dimies and humans alike. Temptations and aspirations will threaten the bonds of Keagan, Aspen, and Lori and ultimately cause even deadlier damage. Will they split up when Lori’s head is turned by a free-spirited Gypsy or will they be granted pardon from the Queen to once again walk the streets as innocent people? With Damon holding a lost friend for ransom and their trust in each other stretched to the limit, how will our heroes survive this city of regality and danger?     Amazon KU

SAVE THE WORLD (WRITERS SAVE THE WORLD) by Various

VS Note: Not romance but timely scifi!

Twenty ways to fix the planet. Climate change is no longer a vague future threat. Forests are burning, currents are shifting, and massive storms dump staggering amounts of water in less than 24 hours. Sometimes it’s hard to look ahead and see a hopeful future. We asked sci-fi writers to send us stories about ways to save the world from climate change. From the myriad of stories we received, we chose the twenty most amazing (and hopefully prescient) tales. Dive in and find out how we might mitigate climate change via solar mirrors, carbon capture, genetic manipulation, and acts of change both large and small. The future’s not going to fix itself.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ENDURANCE by Elaine Burnes

What if you were stranded. On a spaceship. Four light years from Earth. With a hundred tourists. And you are the captain. Then things start to go wrong. Welcome aboard the Endurance. It’ll be the trip of a lifetime. For five years, Captain Lyn Randall of the Endurance has ferried tourists around the solar system for Omara Tours. Now, as she takes in the rings of Saturn for the last time, she’s looking forward to indulging in simpler pleasures like flying antique airplanes over her childhood home in Montana. The routine tour becomes anything but when a mysterious phenomenon flings Endurance and two other ships into the Rigil Kentaurus system, four light years from Earth. Stranded, with no way to get back. Lyn’s first duty is to rescue survivors from the other ships before she faces the most daunting task of her life, much less her career. She has to control her fears and grief to lead an untested crew and panicked guests on a quest for a new home planet or risk a return to their solar system that could kill them all. Unfortunately, Lyn’s past with a clandestine military mission gone wrong doesn’t sit well with some guests and crew members, and they don’t quite trust her. Diana Squires, rescued from another stranded vessel, grudgingly reveals her identity as the daughter of scientists who researched traversable wormholes. To complicate everything, Lyn develops an affection for Diana, something at odds with her responsibilities as captain and her unhealed grief over her own lost loved ones. Feelings aside, suspicions aside, her own doubts about her ability to lead aside, Lyn has to fight to protect her passengers, her ship, and her heart.

Amazon     Kobo

TWIN PASSIONS (WIZARD TWINS BOOK 3) by Lora Leigh

VS Note: A re-release.

Astra Al’madere, betrayed by all. All she loved. All she swore to protect. And all for the Dark Wizards whose passion and heat she could not turn away from. A Sorceress can sense her Twins, the men destined to join her in her power to strengthen the planet of Sentmar, and there was one thing she’d sensed for a while… the Demlari were hers. She could not turn her back on them, or deliver them to justice, even though they had turned from her many years ago. A pain that still ripped her heart in two. Torran and Rhydan knew the road to claiming their Sorceress would not be an easy one. After all, a painful lie had driven her away, causing her to believe they did not burn for her. Were not consumed by her. But when she chooses to save them rather than to honor her duty, these Wizards know they now have the chance to show her she has always been the only one they desire.     Amazon     Kobo

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

Veronica’s Backlist highlight (because I make my living writing and selling my books): This week is the story of the birth of Mateer and Megan’s baby, but not before the mom-to-be is kidnapped by traitors. 

BADARI WARRIOR’S BABY: MEGAN AND MATEEER (A BADARI WARRIORS NOVELLA)

Dr. Megan Garrison, mate to the Badari Warrior pack’s senior enforcer Mateer, is perilously close to the due date of their baby when she’s kidnapped by human malcontents in Sanctuary Valley. The kidnappers threaten to harm her and intend to ransom the half human-half Badari child to the evil Khagrish scientists in return for their own lives.

Mateer and his fellow Badari launch a desperate effort to save his mate and child but the situation is made more complicated as Megan goes into labor. Can they rescue her in time to save mother and child?

A 25K word novella…

Amazon     Apple Books     Nook      Kobo    Google

*********************************OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ONWARD WE GO!**************************************************

DEFENDED BY DEMONS (THE HEART OF A MONSTER BOOK 3) by Eva Chase

Monstrous is as monstrous does…I’ve finally accepted my fate. I can’t bury my head in the sand while vicious fiends threaten everything I care about. Even if protecting the beastly men I love means committing a betrayal more brutal than anything they’ve ever done. Even if getting a handle on my powers requires walking into the den of the most monstrous human beings I’ve ever known. I’ll find the answers to defeating our enemies, whatever it takes. I’ll find my way back to the life I was supposed to have. Or maybe I’ll die trying. But you’d better believe I’ll do everything in my power to take the worst of the villains down with me.      Amazon KU

HEIR OF MONSTERS (THE QWYVERN CLAN SERIES BOOK ONE) by G Bailey

My job is to hunt monsters and I’m damn good at it—until a monster breaks into my apartment in the middle of the night and kidnaps me. Turns out he isn’t just a monster. He’s the Wyern king. Wyern’s, a race feared by everyone, are known to be stronger than the fae who rule my world, and no one has seen them in years. The king needs my help to track down his missing sister from within a city his race is banished from and I’m the best he can find. Only, he isn’t the only one looking for monsters in Ethereal City. The Fae Queen’s grandson is missing. Working for fae, monster or not, is risky. Most end up dead and I have too much to lose to end up as one of them. I’m going to find the missing royals and be careful about it, especially with my grumpy boss breathing down my neck and watching my every move. The Wyern King is cruel, cold, and unbelievably beautiful for a male… and my new enemy.     Amazon KU

WATERBORN: TALES OF THE WERE: GRIZZLY COVE (TRIDENT TRILOGY BOOK ONE) by Bianca D’Arc

A seductive sea siren and a handsome water elemental meet – and try their best to save the world.
Molly, a sea siren with dangerous powers, swims to the mainland on behalf of her people. Menaced by an evil supernatural sea monster known as the leviathan, the siren conclave has no choice but to reach out to those on the mainland for help. Rick is a Navy SEAL, son of Admiral Morrow, who oversees all of the Special Forces soldiers who have paranormal abilities. But Rick’s lineage is something different from most. He’s an Elemental with vast powers over water. The oceans, rivers, lakes and streams are his domain and all those who dwell there recognize his influence. When the Admiral sends his son and the siren on an overland dash to Grizzly Cove, they encounter enemies, ambushes and danger. They also meet unexpected allies and new friends. But most surprising is the fierce passion that blooms between them as they work together, discovering how well their abilities complement each other and how well their personalities – and bodies – mesh. Their ultimate goal is Grizzly Cove – the bear shifter community where the leviathan first reared its ugly tentacles. They will seek the Alpha bear’s assistance in safeguarding the small siren community… Goddess grant that they’re not too late to save them.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

KINGDOMS OF NIGHT by Various
Welcome to Kingdoms of Night, an anthology of standalone novels and novellas, brimming with magic and romance. Emma Hamm, Tasha Black, Lexi C. Foss, Ines Johnson, K.N. Lee, May Sage, Alisha Klapheke, Miranda Honfleur, Jessica M Butler, and Lucy Tempest have come together to give you a glimpse of their incredible worlds. If you love fantasy romance, don’t miss this collection of complete, brand new stories. From fated mates to enemy to lover, alpha-holes to cinnamon roll, there’s a book for every taste!     AmazonKU

THE FERAL’S CAPTIVE (STOLEN MATES BOOK 1) by Sarah Spade

There’s no escaping him…Fate sucks. As a shifter, I’ve always known that Fate—in the form of our goddess, the revered Luna—would have the final say when it came to my life. That includes everything: my pack, my rank, even my forever mate. And I hate it. I want to choose. I want my life to be mine, and if that makes me the odd one out in our pack? Oh, well. As a delta, it’s not like the higher ranks—our Alpha, his Beta, and the pack council—have much use for me anyway. Still, even I’ll admit I’ve always been drawn to the Beta of the Sylvan Pack. When I discover that he’s my fated mate, it seems like giving in to the Luna’s demands might not be such a bad thing after all—until he rejects me for a female he can’t even have. Because, yeah. Not only does Fate suck, it has a twisted sense of humor when it comes to me. So that’s that. I have to pretend like my broken bond isn’t a constant ache while watching as my fated mate begs for table scraps from another wolf. Is it any wonder that I start spending my free time in the woods surrounding our territory? I wasn’t afraid. Even at my low rank, I know I’m scarier than anything else that lurks in the darkness of the trees. But I was wrong—and when I see those insane golden eyes staring at me, I know I’m in deep, deep trouble. My name is Quinn Malone, and I’ve just been captured by a feral.    Amazon KU

BOUND BY THE SHADOW DEMON: SINNER LORDS SERIES STANDALONE TWO by Brenna Harlow

It was only meant to be a stupid, silly game…When my roommate, Shelby, unveils a Ouija board during our small Halloween gathering, I’m all for it. Excited even, considering I’ve watched a million found footage horror films featuring the paranormal toy. I expected nothing to happen. I certainly didn’t expect for the planchette to move on its own, our lights to surge, or for my crush, Hutson Williams, to experience a supernatural force. Between the electrical anomalies, I see his face contorted in agony, his eyes as black as night. But a few days later, everything is fine. Better than fine, actually, because Hutson is showing an interest in me. He showers me with attention, his focus borderline obsessive, but I revelin it. I mean, I’ve waited two years for him to notice me. Yeah, he’s changed a little since our wild night with the Ouija board, but the changes have brought us closer. We’re together, and I’m over the fucking moon. There’s just one problem… I’m keeping a secret. Since the night of our ghostly encounter, two shadowy apparitions have been haunting me. Their attacks are growing stronger; physical enough to leave scratches on my body. And when my new lover finds out? I realize I’ve been wrong about him the entire time. Demons are real, and I’m on their turf now.   Amazon KU

A SHATTERED SILVER CROWN (SAN AMARO INVESTIGATIONS BOOK 4) by Kai Butler

Parker Ferro is fine. Sure, he’s still recovering from his last case and his sister has started keeping secrets, but that’s just another day in the life of the Windrose of San Amaro. Then the local werewolf alpha calls in a favor when he’s turned on by his own pack and the last thing Parker wants to do is get mired in the city’s pack politics. Throw in the recent murder of a local cult leader with disturbing connections to the hidden fae in San Amaro, a long lost relative showing up to reconnect, and a group of brownies taking up residence in his car, and Parker cannot catch a break. Hopefully he can solve this case and figure out some family secrets before everything blows up in his face, taking the city along with it.     Amazon KU

THE GOBLIN’S BRIDE (A FEUD SO DARK AND LOVELY BOOK 1) by Leigh Kelsey and Lyssandra Glass

Marry him. Kiss him. Kill him. But never love him. The goblin prince killed my sister. For years, I’ve waited for justice, and I’ve finally found the perfect opportunity: Kier Kollastus, the prince himself, will agree to peace with his human enemies if a sacrifice is given. A human bride. With my face veiled and my knives hidden, I offer myself as the prince’s sacrifice, wearing a liar’s smile as I wait to cut his throat when he sleeps. But Kier is indestructible except for one night every year. And worse—he’s not the barbarian goblins are supposed to be. He’s almost … appealing. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose my head. Or my traitor heart.       Amazon KU

UNICORN SHIFTER ACADEMY BOOK ONE by J R Thorn

VS Note: Cliffhanger.

There are three rules at Unicorn Shifter Academy. 1. Keep unicorns a secret. 2. Never compare horn sizes. 3. No girls allowed. Whoopsie. I broke all three. You’d think that unicorn shifters would be chicks, right? Yeah, me too, but turns out unicorns are always males. Until me, that is. I’ve never shown a drop of magic in my life, even though I’m from a family of powerful witches. Well, my parents had the grand idea of performing an awakening ceremony courtesy of Fortune Academy’s best and brightest… and I think it worked a bit too well. Imagine their surprise when I sprouted a horn. A FREAKING HORN. Not. Cool. Turns out there was some serious rainbow hanky-panky in my family history and now the unicorn shifters are pissed off I’m in on their secret community. Seriously, spilling the magic beans is the least of my worries. Being a unicorn means bonding with seven other shifters for life—a life I never asked for. And since I’m the first girl in a male-only tradition, I expect this could cause some serious problems, especially because these guys hate me right off the bat. The feeling is totally mutual—even if they are as hot as sin. Thing is, we better get our act together because this Academy isn’t just for show. Unicorns are the only creatures who stand between good and evil on a cosmic scale. A monster lurks in a terrifying pit in the center of the Enchanted Forest. And it looks like somebody let it out. The clock starts now to trap the beast before it eats my home realm as a snack. I’ve got my big girl panties on—even if they are rainbow-colored.    AmazonKU

MONSTERS RECLAIMED (THE RUTHLESS DARK BOOK 2) by Kyla Quinn and LJ Swallow

Trinity now knows what happened the night her parents died. And now she no longer know who to trust at Briargrove. Malagan moves closer to achieving his goal and Trinity’s only way to escape his plans is to find a way out of Briargrove. One of Trinity’s monstrous lovers holds the key to her safety but can she believe he’ll help her?     Amazon KU

THE DIPLOMAT’S BRIDE (TREATY BRIDES BOOK 2) by Samantha Cayto

Being a bride is a state of mind, not of body. Kexen of the Outer Vale has made a unique splash in the Moorcondian palace and has captured the attention of Benedict, Lord Tentrees, a diplomat trying to make his mark. When a winter-long mission arises to negotiate a trading treaty with a foreign queen, Ben needs a wife by his side. Never having been attracted to women, he sets his sights on marrying the enticing Kexen. He means for him to be both a helpmate navigating court society and a shield against the flirtatious queen. Because Kexen is someone who—by his own admission—is neither male nor female, he is intrigued by the idea of becoming Lady Tentrees and presenting entirely as a woman. Ben sweetens the offer with a lucrative trade deal between their families. Kexen will not ignore his duty while also being drawn to the virile diplomat who desires him. He cannot help but accept the proposal. Their journey through both their diplomatic mission and marriage proves to be a rocky one. Kexen is not as experienced as his husband first believes, Ben is more driven by his career than Kexen appreciates and neither of them anticipates the intrigue waiting for them at their destination. The strength of their growing bond will be tested as they fight for their survival.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

FAE’S RETURN (QUEENS OF THE FAR BOOK NINE) by M Lynn and Melissa A Craven

Tia O’Shea is finally going home. It’s all she’s wanted since her arrival in the strange land, and yet, leaving Lenya feels like abandoning her heart and the one who holds it. But all of Lenya is in danger. The fire plains encroach upon their lands, destroying villages and the fae within them. Soon, there won’t be anything left of the place she’s come to love. Not without the crystals that provide the only magic the Lenyans have. The same crystals that are in short supply. The same crystals that lie in abundance across the four kingdoms on the other side of the fire plains. To reach them, they have to find a way home. And that means traversing the violent maelstrom beyond the Vale of Storms—a voyage no sailor has ever survived and few have attempted. If they stay, they will die. If they leave, they will also likely die, but they have to try. Tia’s family awaits her return, but Keir doesn’t want to let her go. And the fae of Lenya hope their leaders can conquer the storm and reach the foreign shores in time. Because that’s all they have left. Hope.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PROOF IS IN THE POTION (SPELLFORD COVE MYSTERY BOOK 7) by Samantha Silver

Robin’s beginning to think that everything has settled down in Spellford Cove after Antonio’s death, and that she can finally start living a normal life. But little does she know, things aren’t going to be nearly that easy. People in town are disappearing, and Robin thinks there might be something magical at work. And why does she have a bad feeling about the new woman who’s arrived in town?   AmazonKU

THE DUKE TAKES A BRIDE (MONSTERS AND GENTLEMEN BOOK ONE) by Jeanette Lynn

Lord Eldricht Kraught, Duke of Dunnewik Isle, has met his future duchess in Miss Annabelle Lee Colvik of Ravenscroft Portsbay. Their first meeting is its own happenstance, an awkward, happy accident, but their connection is instant and undeniable. The hearts he wasn’t aware he possessed are no longer in his possession. They’ve been taken captive by a deathly pale, curvy, raven-haired beauty with sharp brown eyes darker and deeper than the mines of Dunnewik and equally as full of secrets. Eldricht finds her unique features and standoffish nature enchanting. Those eyes too large for her human face meet his shadows-struck gaze evenly, without guile or fear. She’s as genuine as the tentacles writhing about on his face. A pure spirit, the light for the darkness that plagues his being. He’s taken in from her first softly uttered squeak of mortification, the deep pinkening of her apple cheeks as she tries to stutter and stammer her way out of their first encounter. He can’t help but think of other instances in which she might make those adorable, high pitched sounds…There’s just one small problem. She’s betrothed to another, Lord Hawksmoth, Eldricht’s most trusted friend and confidant. Is Eldricht willing to betray his best friend to woo his future duchess? Can he convince Annabelle Lee to forsake Hawksmoth for him? Of monsters and gentlemen, Lord Kraught may just be willing to channel his inner beast of old if it means he gets the beauty.     Amazon KU

A PENCHANT FOR GROWTH (AN AFFINITY FOR BURNING BOOK 2) by Alex Nonymous

Saffyr Tremblay’s done exactly what she was supposed to do. After tricking her only competition into leaving, she’s won the boy. The crown. The ability to keep her Affinity. But life within the castle is not what it appears to be and she’s quickly wrapped up in a sinister secret spanning decades. With both her life and the life of the girl she’s in love with hanging in the balance, she’s now fighting for far more than just a crown. Luckily, she’s not all she appears to be either. A Penchant for Growth is still one giant childhood friends to enemies to friends to childhood crushes back to enemies to friends to lovers trope masquerading as a book except this time they spend even more time talking about their feelings than actually moving the plot forward. It’s still told in 2 POVs, but this time Saffyr’s is front and center because it’s always been her story to save or destroy, for better or worse.    Amazon

HER BROKEN BEASTS (SHADOW WORLD BOOK ONE) by Amber Ella Monroe

While trying to find a loophole to a spell, I accidentally summon a monster—a powerful, dangerous, dark entity from the shadow world. No worries, I’ll just send him back. That was the plan… But one night of seduction left me powerless and chained by the beast who’ll use me to do anything he commands. Especially once he discovers the power I possess. Now that he knows my strengths and my weaknesses, he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. And what he wants is impossible to get without grave consequences. To fuel my magic, I’ll need massive otherworldly power. Power which can only come from a trio of beasts at my side. When his brothers join us, there is no stopping these villains. Or is there? I crave their savage touch just as much as a I seek freedom. Caught between a world of magic and monsters, I have but one option left. I make a deal with three devils. It’s going to cost me. Either my life or my soul. Maybe both. And chances are, I’ll be their captive forever.   Amazon KU

ROAR AND ORDER (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY 54) by Milly Taiden

Alpha lion shifter Darren Handler is a successful defense lawyer with more than enough cases. He doesn’t need another. But when Gerri Wilder waltzes into his office, asking for his help with the most mismanaged case he has ever seen, Darren has to get involved. This lion doesn’t sleep when there’s an injustice! Hailey Thornby’s life is not what it should be. She was tried and convicted for crimes she did not commit, and her sentence is only the beginning of her troubles. She isn’t safe, and the people who framed her don’t want her free. When Darren Handler offers to represent her for her appeal, Hailey has hope … for all of two seconds. The cellblock is no place for an innocent woman, especially not when she is a shifter’s fated mate! Good thing Gerri Wilder knows all kinds of people. Justice might be served, but love just might save the day.     Amazon KU

OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES (DRAGONS AND BLADES) by Aliette de Bodard

It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea. But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive. Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can—and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they’ll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

WOLF PRINCE (WOLF PRINCESS BOOK 2) by M Guida

War between the wolf kingdoms is brewing and I’m caught in the middle of it. My heart is torn between my two protectors and my choice will not only impact my destiny, but my pack as well. I can’t make a mistake. I must pick a mate that the other kingdoms will accept to stop the wars. But try telling that to my wolf, she knows my fated mate and doesn’t care about wolf politics. The key is finding the witch to prove my uncle’s a traitor and retake my crown, but he knows I’m coming, ready to imprison or kill me. My two defenders can’t help me. I must face him alone and seek my revenge. Delve into forbidden romance.     AmazonKU

AWAKENED (SPARK OF THE PROPHET BOOK ONE) by E J Rekab

Demons wreaking havoc on Earth. A secret council run by mysterious angels. A warrior whose dreams could save the world. While grieving the loss of her father, 19-year-old Alice Griffin wakes up with perfect vision. Odd since she’d worn glasses every day since she was a child. Soon after, she’s attacked by a malevolent force and learns not only do demons exist, but that she’s been chosen to fight them. At the behest of a mysterious, handsome stranger with ties to her past, Alice joins a hidden school meant for training warriors. Once there, she quickly realizes that demons aren’t the only things that go bump in the night. Vampires and shapeshifters exist too. So do angels, who predict waves of violence from terrifying creatures. Angels who only speak through prophets chosen from the noblest warriors. Only prophets are meant to have predictive dreams. So, why is Alice having them too? And why are her dreams warning her that her father’s death was no accident, that the angels can’t be trusted… and that an apocalypse may be looming just around the corner?   Amazon KU

MYSTERIOUS MIDLIFE (SWEET MOUNTAIN WITCHES BOOK 7) by Cindy Stark

The witches in Sweet Mountain Meadows are bursting with jubilant anticipation. Samhain has arrived, and Daisy’s excited to learn that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of their coven. The old inn where they’ve decided to gather for this auspicious occasion is charmingly perfect, even if it’s quite possibly haunted by a disgruntled miner’s ghost. The evening is everything Daisy could hope for, until one of the inn’s employees is found dead, and everything begins to unravel. She’s shocked to learn there’s a murderer in their midst and that it could be one of her coven sisters. Worse, some start whispering that Gideon’s the one who’s brought death to their doorstep, and Daisy doesn’t know how to stop the rumors. If that wasn’t enough, Gideon’s haunting past makes him question his relationship with Daisy. When he disappears, Daisy’s heartbroken and struggles to focus on the investigation. Luckily, her friends are around to bolster her, and they have some creative ideas to reunite the couple. But will it be enough to bring Gideon back and help her solve the murder?     Amazon KU

LIKE SILK BREATHING by Camille Duplessis

When Tom Apollyon returns to Cromer to help oversee his uncle’s pub, it’s a difficult adjustment. Overwhelmed by his born ability to sense auras, Tom relies on constant drinking and drifting to function normally. Coming back is too much to handle and one night, he decides to end it all. He just doesn’t expect to encounter a bewitching stranger when he tries. While on an annual seaside holiday with his lover, Theo Harper takes a solitary evening stroll near the water. He thinks it’s just the thing a landlocked selkie needs, yet instead of being soothed, he stops a troubled man from drowning. The earnest good deed sparks a romance that makes Tom and Theo hope for a happier, gentler life together. While both need to decide to trust themselves and each other, they’re not daunted until an alarming problem presents itself. Theo’s skin — which can definitely be used to capture or kill him, to Tom’s horror — has gone missing. To build the future they want, they have to get the skin back.      AmazonKU

SORROW’S SONG (THE LIZZIE GRACE SERIES BOOK 9) by Keri Arthur

They say breaking up is hard to do. They’re wrong. Living with the consequences is so much harder, especially when sorrow is a powerful draw to evil …Lizzie Grace is trying to get on with her life now that she and Aiden have gone their separate ways, but it’s a difficult thing to do when just about everything reminds her of the damn man. The situation is made worse when a body is found, and her job as Deputy Reservation Witch means she has no choice but to interact with him. At first, the death seems to be nothing more than an accidental drowning in a remote location, but it’s soon evident a supernatural entity is involved. As they race to uncover what is going on, it becomes clear that this evil is not only targeting werewolves, but one particular pack—the O’Connor’s. And the reason might well be the song of sorrow. A song that Lizzie’s grief might have given birth to.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MOON SEDUCED (RAVEN MOON WOLVES) by Marty Mayberry

Everly: I’ve come to the fae kingdom to save the half-fae brother I didn’t know I had, then make sure he rightly takes his place on the throne. Nothing to it, right? I discover he’s entombed with the mythical dragons. With the help of an unexpected ally and my fated mate, Asher, I must cross the kingdom to free my brother. If that means taking on the dragons, so be it. But the head of the Drudge shifter pack is determined to steal the throne for himself, and he’ll do anything to keep me from rescuing my brother. Asher: When I came to the fae kingdom with my fated mate, Everly, my role was clear: fuse with her to give her the power she needs to release the serpents and kill the leader of the Drudge pack. But the dragons stand in our way, all magic has been stolen from the kingdom, and the evil Drudge leader, Richard, is determined to destroy our bond. Sacrificing myself may be the only way to save the woman I love and the world.     Amazon KU

PERILOUS PASSAGES: THE WELLINGTON MYSTERIES VOL 2 by Edale Lane

VS Note: Not exactly, fantasy, not exactly steampunk as far as I can tell but adjacent to those.

Mysteries follow her wherever she goes. The sequel to an Amazon #1 Lesbian Romance and #3 Historical Mystery – After solving a minor case for a major payout, Stetson embarks on a trip to America with Evelyn and her burlesque company, hoping to find her long-lost father. But the inventive detective leaves with an unidentified art thief still at large. Musician Evelyn has grown to love the unique woman who bends the rules to pursue her dreams. But facing the disapproval of her family and society at large, how can their relationship move forward? Can Stetson keep her newfound love alive, or will confronting lethal foes end in her own death?     Amazon KU

REAL ALPHA’S MATE by C R Jane and Mila Young

Syn is the girl no one wanted…And now, they’ll light the world on fire to claim her – Syn never believed in fairy tales until she met the three men who stole her from her fated mate. They may be a dark fairy tale, but every touch, every kiss, every whisper seals their bond. She now calls them her alphas…her future. But when her past returns with vengeance, she must defeat the monster determined to break her again. Before the dust settles, lives will be lost. And she must find a way back to her three mates. Even if it means sacrificing everything.

  Amazon KU

BITE OF LOYALTY (BLOOD OATH BOOK ONE) by R L Caulder

Being the sole survivor of the Van Helsing family was never a burden I wanted to carry. Yet here I was, an orphan with a score to settle against Dracula for orchestrating the near genocide of my bloodline. One small kink in that plan: I was turned into the blood sucking creature that I was born to destroy. Being admitted into the Dark Imaginarium Academy to hone my new skills as a vampire, and to survive the blood lust, was the first step towards achieving that particular goal. No one was prepared for me…A vampire slayer amidst their ranks. But I wasn’t prepared for them. Lincoln, Andrei, and Drake. My teacher, the star pupil at the academy, and my ultimate sworn enemy. They weren’t going to let me get my revenge without blood being spilled. Luckily, I’m okay with coating my nails with the entrails of anyone who stands in my way. My name is Alina Van Helsing and I’m out for blood.     Amazon KU

SMALL MIRACLES BY Olivia Atwater

VS Note: From May 6.

Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself. What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MEGAN SLAYS VAMPIRES by Sophie Stern

If monsters aren’t real, why do I kill so many of them? I’ve spent the last five years training as a vampire hunter. My goal is to hunt, maim, and kill as many of the bastards as I can. They’re infecting our city and each time I manage to kill one, five more spring up in its place. The vampire hunter’s council is breathing down my neck, but I’m already working 25 hours a day, eight days a week. Then one night, everything changes. I make a mistake and a vampire catches me. He doesn’t kill me, though. Instead, he brings me into his lair and he makes me question…everything. What if everything I’ve ever been taught has been a lie? What if the vampires aren’t the real monsters? What if it’s me?      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE TIME TRAVELER’S SECRET: ALL WHO WANDER BOOK 4 by Emma Strike

Felix Welham is out of time, out of sorts, and out of luck. He’s been banished from Welham to the modern-day world, as punishment for his rebellion against his father. He has a shot at a new life with one condition: he must find a wife within the year. Though Felix has no trouble seducing women, talking to them is a different matter. Finding someone to marry is thus impossible and, with days to go before his deadline expires, he is sinking into despair. That’s when he meets Ava Pascal. It’s the night of her bachelorette party. She is about to get hitched to her long-time partner and is very much out of bounds. But then her world falls apart, and she finds herself single and homeless. Felix helps her when she needs it most, and she wants to return the favor by agreeing to a marriage of convenience. But Felix has a secret to keep. He can’t tell her the truth about the Time Medallion till after they are married, so he decides holding her at arm’s length is best. Will Felix ever let Ava into his time-bending universe? Will she accept him knowing who he really is – and what he has done?   AmazonKU

THE CAPTIVE THRONE (LEGENDS OF ABREIA BOOK 4) by Kenley Davidson

In a royal marriage of convenience, nothing is less convenient than love. Princess Evaraine always knew she would one day wed a stranger, but her arranged marriage to the Prince of Garimore is nothing like she expected. She never anticipated losing her heart to the man she would marry. And she certainly would not have guessed that she’d be leaving him behind within hours of their wedding.After the arrival of devastating news, Evaraine must make her way home in a desperate—and likely doomed—attempt to save her father. One tiny shard of hope remains, but it is a hope that requires her to face the darkness alone. Far from anyone familiar or beloved. Far from the man she knows will never return her love. But she has no choice. There is no one else to fight for the people she was born to lead… no one but the most unlikely ally imaginable. Prince Danric of Garimore has endured the dissolution of everything he thought he knew and found himself at a crossroads where only one certainty remains—if he cannot save the woman he has pledged his life to, every other victory will seem hollow. But how can he convince her to trust him? Forgive him? How can he even find her when she seems determined to hide? Time is running out, and the fate of all Abreia may rest with two wary hearts afraid to trust in the one thing that could save them both.     Amazon KU

HOW NOT TO DATE A DRAGON LORD (HOW NOT TO SERIES BOOK 13) by Stephanie Burke

War is coming. Vissar sends Alita, his Dragon Lord who speaks with his voice, to the village below with orders for the upcoming invasion. Trouble is, Alita would rather burn the village to the ground than speak with any of them. But orders are orders and Alita, along with her lover, the runaway princess Suli, in tow must venture down to the village. Explosive secrets are bound to be revealed and Alita is forced to deal with her own painful past as a dragon sacrifice. Meanwhile, the army is advancing, Vissar’s heat is rapidly approaching, his mate Nithe is off finalizing business in the dragon lands, and the idiot Prince Ranid keeps advancing, despite the drama unfolding in his own camp.

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STOLEN (LOVE AND REVENGE BOOK 2) by Kaye Draper

I thought I had found a family. I thought I had found freedom. But it seems I’m destined to always be someone’s possession. I don’t know if my found family is still even alive thanks to the chaos when I was stolen. And now I’m drowning in the overwhelming decadence of the fae sect of the syndicate. The more I learn about Robin’s court, the more I question their motives. Maybe it all really was just pretty lies. The fae are cold and terrible, but alluring in their own way. And they are willing to use a combination of mistreatment, manipulation, mind tricks, and sweet words to get information about my abilities and the rebel court. I can’t control my powers, and I don’t know anything about Robin’s plans. But telling them that seems more dangerous than playing their games. They’ve sent one of their kind to befriend me. But I won’t fall for that trick again. Friends are a luxury you can’t afford when everyone wants to use you for your magic.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

IMMORTAL INHERITANCE: BLACKSTONE VAMPIRE CLAN BOOK ONE by L A McGinnis

Constantine Darke was the altar I wanted to sin on—my darkest desires made flesh—a beautiful predator I’d make mine, no matter how many scars I had to endure. I’ve always been a survivor—death, violence, cruelty—I’ve seen it all, and I’m still here. But nothing prepared me for Con, King of the Blackstone Vampire Clan. Nor for Robert Lockhart, who might be able to draw me out of the shadows, after nine long years in hell. Our history goes back a long time, five hundred years to be exact. Generations for me, a single lifetime for them. As I’m drawn deeper into their savage world of blood feuds and death curses, I feel more alive than ever, despite the dangers. My enemies are no longer human. They’re faster than me, they’re stronger than me, and they have fangs. But they aren’t smarter. And that will be their downfall.     Amazon KU

VAMPISH (BLOOD BONDS) by G K DeRosa

Lies run deeper than blood. Everything I thought I knew about my life was a lie. Now I’m the only one left to assemble the broken pieces. With new mystical powers and both sides of fangers on my tail, my best option is to run, but I can’t. Not when the vampire who killed my “parents” is trying to raise the god of death. If he succeeds in resurrecting the immortal who sired all vamps, all of Azar is royally screwed. And here’s the kicker—the rebel king needs my blood to do it. As if things weren’t complicated enough, I still have a blossoming mate bond to a vampire and his dead wolf to deal with. I know I shouldn’t be with him, but every bone in my body compels me to his. I can’t fight the irresistible pull to complete our bond any longer, but what will happen when we do? I doubt we’ll get our happily ever after when the god of death sets us in his immortal sights.     Amazon KU

A MAGE’S GUIDE TO AUSSIE TERRORS (R’IYAH FAMILY ARCHIVES VOLUME 2) by AJ Sherwood

One ghost from the past. Two unknown Australian monsters eating people. Three men who won’t let either problem win. Tags: Familiars of choice, healing old wounds, Australian mythology, yes Nico and Wicky are in Australia, that goes about as well as anyone expects, giant amphibians of unusual size, even the MAD research department is stumped, Wicky may have summoned Godzilla, in his defense he was left unsupervised, conversations via air guitar, the next time they have to travel to a different continent Bel is drugging Nico first.      AmazonKU

ETUDE (THE DARK NOCTURNE BOOK 2) by Morgan Shamy

For November Huntington, the past haunts worse than any ghost. After spending a summer without Vincent, a tortured pianist who also happens to be immortal, November tries to move on. When kids begin to fall into comas, November is thrust back into the haunted, musical world. Except, this time, more danger lurks. Vincent is powerful. Dreams are causing these comas, and November believes he’s the one behind the attacks. To stop him, November must find the Blood Magic—the only power capable of helping her save these kids. But in doing so, she awakens a horrific group who live off of blood and kill for sport. What’s worse? A brood of witches con their way in, hungry for the power at hand. One by one, November finds all her loved ones being wrenched away. Fear grips her, and she’s worried she might lose her mind, her sanity slowly fading, until she must face Vincent alone. Is he her true love? Or is he out for her blood?     Amazon KU

SECRETS OF A MIDLIFE WITCH by J C Yeamans

Middle-aged Gwynedd Crowther is taking her first graduate class after thirty years in the small college town of Bearsden, Delaware while working a monotonous, part-time insurance job. Recovering from her husband’s death, she’s sleep-deprived and dealing with menopause. She feels lucky to get out of bed in the morning and put on matching shoes. She meets Scottish professor Dr. Archibald Cockburn and her already jumpy demeanor is tested to the max. He’s younger, easy on the eyes, and amiable. Soon after, she begins to experience unusual phenomena and the weirdest hot flashes ever. Her best friend convinces her to join the local pagan group of community members and Zillennial graduate students to expand her social circle. When the murder of a local homeless man occurs, her strange experiences go into overdrive, making her question her reality. Are these experiences real? Is the murderer a serial killer? Or something more sinister and supernatural?     Amazon KU

VORTEX CONUNDRUM (GHOSTLY GUARDIANS BOOK 2) by  Louisa Masters

Wanted: one demon hunter. Beware the matchmaking ghosts. After years managing a haunted hotel and estate, I thought things were good. Sure, the ghosts can be a handful—nosy, opinionated, interfering—but they’re also friendly and fun. We have a system. Everything was under control. Cue hysterical laughter. But after a minor blip with a demon in the basement and a vortex to the spirit world, the ghosts swear they have no more secrets. The danger is gone, and we’ve done everything we can to make the vortex safe. It should be fine. Nothing’s come through it for fifty years. It’s never that easy at Mannix Estate. Lucky for us, the demon expert we met online is willing and able to help us out. I’m so grateful, I’d willingly kiss his feet. Until he arrives and opens his mouth. Connor is… a jerk. But he’s a sexy jerk who’s doing us a favor, so I’m going to be polite no matter what. Even when he makes me mad. When he flirts hard. When the roof falls in and we have to share a bed. When we realize the vortex upstairs is just the beginning. Suddenly, Connor’s real strengths shine. Beneath the smoking hot yet annoying surface is a heart of gold, and I don’t think I can hold out against it… or that I want to.      Amazon KU      AB

MAGIC PORTALS by Various

Most people will never see one. Most will never even hear of one. Those few who do usually only get
one chance to go through. Dare you step through? We’ve all dreamed of going someplace far, far away.  Someplace magical. Here are seventeen tales of magical adventures to take you to those far away places.     Amazon     Kobo

WITCHES OF A CERTAIN AGE by Various

60 is the new 40 and magic isn’t just for the young. In these pages, you’ll meet witches who are open about their magic and others who keep their power a closely-guarded secret. They find lost pets and lost people, break curses and hexes, and cast more than a few spells of their own. WITCHES OF A CERTAIN AGE presents thirteen female magic-users in their prime – women who have power and both the experience and the wisdom to wield it.

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WITCH SHIELD: GUARDIANS OF CHAOS by C D Gorri

She’s on a mission to prove magic exists. He has to change her mind. What happens when a Witch falls for a feisty normal bent on outing the single most vital secret in the known universe? Egros must convince Elena’s mate’s sister to stop her investigation into the supernatural world. The cunning female is too smart to bespell. He’ll just have to try the old fashioned way. Margo Wells has done the unthinkable. The human woman has tracked her brother all the way to the Guardians of Chaos’ Keep, and she’s not leaving without proof magic exists. All her life Margo was different. With this revelation, she’s finally found vindication. Will Egros put a stop to the infuriatingly beautiful woman’s investigation, or will he lose his heart instead?

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SNOW DRAGON (DRAGON SANCTUARY BOOK 4) by Minerva Howe

High in the Utah mountains, dragon Seth feels like his brothers and his cousins are all one step ahead of him. They’re smarter or more useful or stronger… When his youngest brother Samuel takes a mate who shares some of Seth’s interests. his isolated life improves. and he hopes against hope that his mate is coming soon. But after Justin’s twin chooses another, Seth decides he’s destined to be alone. PI Beau Harden has always felt a strong pull to the mountains, so when he’s sent to investigate the whereabouts of a missing scholar, he’s happy to explore. He heads way up into the Uintahs, and finds far more than he bargains for in a sanctuary for a certain dragon family, and in Seth. He can’t resist the way Seth makes him feel, but he’s not sure if can convince Seth he’s the guy for the job. Seth wants to believe that Beau is the one for him, but he’s not sure if it’s real or if what he wants is just wishful thinking. Will Beau get to the bottom of this mystery?      Amazon KU

THE DEAD ROMANTICS by Ashley Poston

VS Note: So I have this pre-ordered but if there’s not an HEA, I’m gonna be mad! It’s listed in one romance category and the editorial reviews seem okay with the ending so…

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE WARRIOR PRIESTESS (THE WARRIOR MIDWIFE BOOK TWO) by E P Bali

Concubine. Wife. Priestess. Captured by a demon king, Drake, with his memories returned and Saraya, must now come to terms with a surprising truth: That Drake is not only Saraya’s true mate, but is also the son of a monstrous deity who bound his powers at the age of thirteen. But now the demon king wants Drake’s true powers to be unbound for his own nefarious purposes. Forced to marry one another, Drake and Saraya must now gain the trust of the Court of the Demon King in order to escape. But there are even bigger forces at play here. Will Saraya give into her desire to be Drake’s fated mate? Or will she do the unthinkable?     Amazon     Kobo

VIOLENT DESIRE (BLACKROSE BROTHERHOOD BOOK 1) by Arianna Nash

Twelve immortals, twelve outcasts, one mission. To kill their own kind, before it’s too late. Detective, killer, vigilante. Eric Sharpe is tired of watching criminals walk free. When a lowlife drug dealer kills his partner and escapes justice, Eric plots his own revenge. His plan is faultless but for one thing: the handsome, mysterious man who arrives moments before Eric’s plan comes to fruition. Not only does the mysterious man know Eric’s an undercover cop, he knows exactly what Eric did fifteen years ago—an event so traumatic Eric has been trying to bury it ever since. And the mysterious man? Fifteen years ago, Eric killed him. Now he’s back to reclaim what’s his: Detective Eric Sharpe. Immortal, predator, vampire. After betraying himself and the Blackrose Brotherhood fifty years ago, Zaine can’t afford another mistake. There’s one rule above all others the Brotherhood stand by. One rule that can never be broken. Never, ever care. All Zaine has to do is hunt and kill the savage nyktelios vampires and keep his head down. And he was doing just fine until he saved Detective Eric Sharpe from a vicious vampire attack. He can’t stop thinking about the intelligent, handsome, haunted man. Walking away is the right thing to do, but the detective and Zaine are hunting the same killer—a vampire who knows more about both of them and the Brotherhood than anyone realizes. A vampire seeking to bring down the Brotherhood for good. Zaine can’t walk away. Eric won’t walk away. The vampire must be stopped, Brotherhood rules be damned, and they’ll go down fighting together to end him.      Amazon KU

TREACHERY OF INK (LORE OF NOMADIA BOOK 2) by Angela J Ford

A mad sorceress with a plan to dominate the known world. . .Elmira’s determination has brought her far, but the next hurdle will force her to rely heavily on magic. Close to achieving her ultimate goal, she believes there’s nothing that will defeat her. A curious librarian with ink magic. . .Araceli discovers her heart’s desire only to lose it. Using magic she doesn’t fully understand, her actions will determine the fate of the empire. Especially as she chooses where her allegiance lies. A water nymph who’s lost everything. . .Torn between the call of home and staying in the empire, Darya struggles to find her place in a world where everything she’s known has been stripped away. A bounty hunter on the run. . .Reeling from grief and loss, Nurimil sets off on a quest to unite the races of the empire against the sorceress.     Amazon KU

FIGHTING FOR HER HEART: THE VAMPIRES’ ILLUMINANT BOOK 5 by Mara Leigh

How can I truly love others, when I don’t know who I am? A surprise arrival brings more questions than answers and tugs at my loyalties. My love deepens for all three men, Ryker my pirate bad boy, Zuben my billionaire intellect, and Axe my powerful bear shifter, but I no longer know whom to trust.
New dangers emerge as mysterious forces continue to hunt me. I struggle to harness my magic and my powers as a vampire, and have yet to discover my full powers or destiny. When the ultimate truth about the Illuminant comes out, alliances and power dynamics shift, and I face the ultimate betrayal and loss. My heart is shattered but I must fight to save those I love. I must fight for myself.     Amazon KU

THE MAGICAL MIDLIFE OF MOLLY THORN: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (,AGICAL MIDLIFE MOONLIGHTING BOOK 2) by Lisa Wells

Unceremoniously whisked away from Harmony’s epic showdown between the Mythicals and Slayers, hot-flashing, brain-glitching, middle-aged Molly Thorn decides it’s time to reenter the dating world. But first, she needs to figure out which type of man wets her dehydrated whistle. Thankfully, her boss the Grim Reaper, has offered to take her on a couple of practice dates to work out some of her memory kinks before she does it for real. What could possibly go wrong with this plan? Plenty! That’s how much can go wrong when the Grim dates his assistant. So wrong the Grim is placed on administrative leave. A leave he may never be allowed to return from. To make matters worse, Molly is informed by the new interim Grim if her boss goes, so does her undead status. Rude.     Amazon     Kobo

THE GARGOYLE AND THE STRIPPER (A PARANORMAL’S LOVE BOOK 37) by Charlie Richards

Into the Paranormal World: When a gargoyle sneaks into a strip club, he scents the other half of his soul in a distrustful stripper. When Tasker overhears a few bonded gargoyles and their mates planning a night out at a strip club, he convinces them to sneak him in through the back. Once there, to Tasker’s shock, he scents his mate somewhere in the seedy joint. With a little help from friends, Tasker discovers that a sexy black stripper with the stage name Mongo is his mate. The human’s medium-brown skin and bleached-blond hair calls to him, but as much as Tasker would love to whisk the human from the place, he knows that wouldn’t be a good move… so he once again relies on friends. Camry Palcha never thought he would end up a stripper, but after getting cut off when he came out, desperate times calls for desperate measures. The pay is good, even though he refuses…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)

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FEATHERS OF HOPE: YA FANTASY UKRAINE CHARITY ANTHOLOGY by Various

Like a phoenix, hope rises from ash. Immerse yourself in uplifting tales of love, friendship, growth, and forgiveness. Visit enchanting realms and mysterious worlds where anything is possible, happily ever afters are guaranteed, and hope leaps from the pages. Featuring 10+ stories, Feathers of Hope is a young adult fantasy anthology featuring work from NY Times, USA Today and award winning bestselling authors. Best of all, 100% of the royalties will be donated to organizations working in Ukraine for refugees and children displaced by the conflict.* Feathers of Hope is only available for a limited time, so share the love and one-click your copy today. *The authors aren’t affiliated or endorsed by these charities; they simply wish to help.    Amazon   Kobo

SALVAGED DJINNS (DEPRAVED MONSTERS AND DECADENT MYTHS BOOK 6) by V T Bonds

Good versus evil never felt so decadent. I fought. I lived. I lost. But I find hope in the darkness. With the help of a massive, cat-like deity, I’ll bring my light back from the grave. I’ll do whatever it takes to resurrect my lifemate, even submit myself to this beast’s sandpapery tongue.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MONSTER ROOMMATE (HELLS BELLS AND DEMON DEALS WORLD) by Amanda Aggie

A witty heroine and a sexy, alpha-hole hero. I’m Nora and in my entire afterlife, I never expected to be roommates with a possessive, cocky, sexy-as-sin vampire. Since I’ve been dead, no one has been able to see me, but that changed the second he stepped through the front door of my internal prison–aka my old house from before I flew the coop. I damn near made the poor man drop his blood bags when he walked in to find me chillin’ in my panda PJs and eating imaginary cereal. Though Landon drives me bat-shit crazy, it’s nice to have a friend, and pushing his buttons isn’t all bad. There’s something about the anger that burns behind those eyes that just does it for me. He’s dark, mysterious, maniacal, and downright wrong. Yet, the more he pisses me off, the more my heart warms for him. Partially because I know there’s something deep, deep down that is good, like Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. And partly, because his stupid vampire mumbo-jumbo has my lady bits dusting out the cobwebs. Thank God the logistics won’t work…or will they?    Amazon KU

DRAGON KING’S ASSASSIN (THE DRAGONS OF SERAI BOOK 1) by Amy Sumida

My life changed the day I tried to take his. Mhavenna is a glorious city but, like every city on the face of Serai, it’s run by Dragons. As a human, I’m on the lowest rung of the racial ladder here, as far from an illustrious Dragon as I could be, and I’ve made me peace with that. I don’t like Dragons much, but like or dislike has nothing to do with my work. So when my broker offered me the task of killing the Dragon King, I took it. It was the sort of kill that could make an assassin’s career, and I was certain that I had the skills for it. I was wrong, nearly dead wrong. The King caught me before I could finish the job, but instead of killing me, he made me his. I’m now the Dragon King’s assassin. A warning and a weapon. A way for him to bypass his own laws without personally breaking them. But that’s not all. He’s tasked me with guarding him against future attacks. Who better to stop an assassin than another assassin? And who better to find the one who hired us? If only the King didn’t have a body that made me salivate, a face that made my knees weak, and a pair of teal eyes that made me whimper. If only he didn’t stare at me with those stunning eyes as if I could be more than property to him. Maybe then I could do my job, find the person who wants him dead, and save my own life. But I don’t believe in miracles.      Amazon KU

TIME ZONE (A TIME TRAVEL NOVEL) by Elyse Douglas

VS Note: I put this on my TBR List. Sounds intriguing.

Mary McLane Carson has two lives and two loves. She has time travel mysteries she can’t understand, and secrets she can never tell. In 2015, Pilot Mary McLane Carson struggles with a left engine fire. Her airplane plunges through a strange flash of light, crash-landing into a Kansas field. She wakes up, alone, in December 1942, being cared for by the handsome Dr. Thomas Fleming. Shortly after Epic Airlines flight 452 takes off from Denver en route to Chicago, an engine catches on fire, and the airplane bursts through a strange flash of light. Single mother and First Officer Mary McLane (“Lane”) Carson fights to stay airborne as the plane plunges toward the earth. Lane awakens in a strange bed, in the office of a handsome doctor who says he rescued her from a plane crash that’s being investigated by the Army and the FBI. He also tells her she’s living in December 1942. As the days and weeks pass, Lane is forced to establish a new life in 1942 in order to survive, but she misses her 2-year-old daughter, her fiancé, and her life in 2015. She struggles to find a way to return to them, knowing that such an attempt could hurl her into an unknown past or future, or even kill her. But she must try.     Amazon KU

REAPER’S KEEPERS (THE ACCIDENTAL REAPER SERIES BOOK 2) by Misty Evans

When it comes to reaping souls, I’m a natural, but I’m two weeks overdue on a wily shifter who’s robbing folks of Christmas gifts, along with their holiday cheer. Killion, the local master vampire and my partner, is no help. He requests—okay, demands—I do him a “favor” and investigate an odd hybrid creature he believes was animated with ancient, dark magic. This off-the-books undertaking puts me on the naughty list with my boss, Death, but worse, I end up cursed by the same magic and am now able to raise the dead. Sort of. What’s a grim to do when she raises a soul as fast as she reaps it? Death is playing reaper’s keepers, and if I don’t fix this, my soul will be next.

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NUTCRACKER PRINCESS by Courtney Milnestein

n the city of Holmgarðr, in the nation of Garðaríki, on Christmas Eve, there is magic in the air, as Uncle Drosselmeyer presents his gifts before the young children of the ambassador of Gloriana, Clara and Fitz. Yet for all the magic and festivities of Christmas, there is a sense also of danger, the shadow of war growing longer from the neighboring nations of the Hanseatic League. Caught on the cusp of the peaceful life she has always known and the threat of impending war, Clara finds himself alone in a magical realm save for the company of her cat, embroiled in dangers hitherto unimagined as she finds herself increasingly drawn to a handsome Nutcracker Princess and faced with a choice that will impact both her own fate and that of the world around her.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE FOOL AND THE SPARROW (ARCANA OF THE TAROT BOOK 1) by Dana Fox

Spy. Fixer. Assassin. Sparrow. As the top operative for a global shadow government known as the Order, Thea has served and protected the elite 1%. Her life changes suddenly when she escapes the Order with damning evidence of the group’s existence. Now she is on the run for her life, looking for a way to expose what she’s stolen. Fate intervenes when a fortuitous encounter with a tarot card reader leads her directly into the path of a divine being from another realm. Kit the Fool leaves the Arcana realm for Earth, following visions sent to him from his sisters, Fiona the Moon and Kathryn the High Priestess. As he accompanies Thea on her quest to expose the Order, he is thrust into a cat-and-mouse adventure that captivates his curious and impulsive nature. As does the Sparrow at his side. The stakes are raised even higher when he uncovers a threatening connection to his own people. Together, Thea and Kit set off to expose the nefarious Order, but along the way, the two find themselves tumbling headfirst into an attraction that defies cosmic logic. How will these two souls from very different worlds defeat the odds stacked against them?     Amazon KU

GHOST LIGHT by Jane Tesh

Theodosia “Teddy” Ballard knows nothing about community theater, but when the stage manager for “Little Shop of Horrors” takes a tragic header down the costume-loft stairs, she agrees to fill in for the sake of her actor friend, Will. Teddy takes the superstitions and swelled heads of The Stage in stride—till she meets George Clancy Everhart, the theater ghost, who informs her that the previous stage manager was murdered and demands that she find the killer. Both investigation and rehearsals are complicated when she makes a surprising discovery about her relationship with Will—and learns that George has his own dramatic agenda.     Amazon KU

FATE IN SUSPENSION (HORN AND HAVEN BOOK 1) by  Archer Kay Leah

Quiet. That’s how he likes life, no drama to clean up…Tai Xen-Vorsy leads a straightforward life: work, time at the local clubs where shapeshifters like him can play without fear, and the comforts of home with a cat that’s more than half attitude. After breaking up with his last submissive, he’s even taking a break from Dom duties. Meeting Gates changes everything, and when Tai’s childhood home is destroyed, his simple life goes up in flames. The Callensdale haven was his refuge as an orphan, a hideaway that saved his life. Now it’s time to return the favour. Bringing in the Fluff Brigade Brotherhood would make all the difference… if he could just get them back together. Tai won’t give up—he’s not that kind of unicorn. But can he reunite the brotherhood and keep his new relationship with Gates kindled at the same time? The darkness is dragging him into the shadows, one case at a time…Helping others is all Gates Colfaethe wants to do, being mostly unicorn shifter with a splash of Faerie. But years as an agent on trafficking cases leave him fearing just how far he’ll lose himself in the job before he burns out completely. A random hookup with Tai might be the very change he needs. A new Dom means new rules and the chance to create safe distance from work—until his worlds collide in a twist Gates should leave well enough alone. What he knows is bad enough, but running headlong into danger could kill him.
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LOCKLANDS: A NOVEL (THE FOUNDERS TRILOGY BOOK 3) by Robert Jackson Bennett

Sancia, Clef, and Berenice have gone up against long odds in the past. But the war they’re fighting now is one even they can’t win. This time, they’re not facing robber-baron elites or even an immortal hierophant, but an entity whose intelligence is spread over half the globe—one that uses the magic of scriving to control not just objects but human minds. To fight it, they’ve used scriving technology to transform themselves and their allies into an army—a society—unlike anything humanity has seen before. With its strength at their backs, they’ve freed a handful of their enemy’s hosts from servitude, and even defeated some of its fearsome, reality-altering dreadnoughts. Yet despite their efforts, their enemy marches on. Implacable. Unstoppable.  Now, as their opponent closes in on its true prize—an ancient doorway, long buried, that leads to the chambers at the center of creation itself—Sancia and her friends glimpse a last opportunity to stop this unbeatable foe. To do so, they’ll have to unlock the centuries-old mystery of scriving’s origins, embark on a desperate mission into the heart of their enemy’s power, and pull off the most daring heist they’ve ever attempted. But their adversary might have a spy in their ranks—and a last trick up its sleeve. And to have a chance at victory, Sancia, Clef, and Berenice will have to make a sacrifice beyond anything that’s come before.

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THE ORIGIN OF STORMS, THE LOTUS KINGDOM BOOK THREE by Elizabeth Bear

The Lotus Kingdoms are at war, with four claimants to the sorcerous throne of the Alchemical Emperor fielding three armies between them. Alliances are made, and broken, many times over—but in the end, only one can sit on the throne. And that one must have not only the power, but the rightful claim.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DAUGHTER OF REDWINTER (REDWINTER CHRONICLES BOOK ONE) by Ed McDonald

Raine can see—and speak—to the dead, a gift that comes with a death sentence. All her life she has hidden, lied, and run to save her skin, and she’s made some spectacularly bad choices along the way.
But it is a rare act of kindness—rescuing an injured woman in the snow—that becomes the most dangerous decision Raine has ever made. Because the woman is fleeing from Redwinter, the fortress-monastery of the Draoihn, warrior magicians who answer to no king, and who will stop at nothing to reclaim what she’s stolen. A battle, a betrayal, and a horrific revelation force Raine to enter the citadel and live among the Draoihn. She soon finds that her secret ability could be the key to saving an entire nation. Though she might have to die to make it happen.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

AWAKENING: THE DARK RITUALS BOOK ONE by Catrina Burgess

VS Note: A re-release. Author sez: This series originally appeared on Wattpad with over three million reads and it was published with a Digital First house in 2015. I’m now relaunching the series as New Adult with new covers and additional content.

She’ll do anything for vengeance, even confront death itself – Born a healer, nineteen-year-old Colina has been taught to fear dark magic. But now vengeance and survival are her only goals, and she seeks the help of the Death Dealers—dark mages who wield the death arts, drawing their power from the spirits of the unsettled dead. Colina asks a death dealer named Luke for help. Little does she know convincing him to train her will be the easiest part of her journey. Three dark rituals, each more terrifying than the last. If she survives her trials, what will she become?     Amazon KU

NOT GOOD FOR MAIDENS by Tori Bovalino

They’ll lure you in with fruit and gems and liquor and dancing, merriment to remember for the rest of your life. But that’s an illusion. The market is death itself. Beneath the streets of York, the goblin market calls to the Wickett women—the family of witches that tends to its victims. For generations, they have defended the old cobblestone streets with their magic. Knowing the dangers, they never entered the market—until May Wickett fell for a goblin girl, accepted her invitation, and became inextricably tied to the world her family tried to protect her from. The market learned her name, and even when she and her sister left York for Boston to escape it, the goblins remembered. Seventeen years later, Lou, May’s niece, knows nothing of her magical lineage or the twisted streets, sweet fruits, and incredible jewels of the goblin market. But just like her aunt, the market calls to her, an echo of a curse that won’t release its hold on her family. And when her youngest aunt, Neela, is kidnapped by goblins, Lou discovers just how real and dangerous the market is. To save her, both May and Lou will have to confront their family’s past and what happened all those years ago. But everything—from the food and wares, to the goblins themselves—is a haunting temptation for any human who manages to find their way in. And if Lou isn’t careful, she could end up losing herself to the market, too.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books      Kobo

PATRICIA WANTS TO CUDDLE by Samantha Allen

VS Note: LGBTQ+ Horror, sounds good! Put it on my TBR list.

When the final four women in competition for an aloof, somewhat sleazy bachelor’s heart arrive on a mysterious island in the Pacific Northwest, they prepare themselves for another week of extreme sleep deprivation, invasive interviews, and, of course, the salacious drama eager viewers nationwide tune in to devour. Each woman came on The Catch for her own reasons—brand sponsorships, followers, and, yes, even love—and they’ve all got their eyes steadfastly trained on their respective prizes. Enter Patricia, a temperamental and woefully misunderstood local living alone in the dark, verdant woods, and desperate for connection. Through twists as unexpected as they are wildly entertaining, the self-absorbed cast and jaded crew each make her acquaintance atop the island’s tallest and most desolate peak, finding themselves at the center of an action-packed thriller that is far from scripted—and only a few will make the final cut.  A whirlwind romp careening toward a last-girl-standing conclusion, and a scathing indictment of contemporary American media culture, Patricia Wants to Cuddle is also a love story: between star-crossed lesbians who rise above their intolerant town, a deeply ambivalent woman and her budding self-actualization, and a group of misfit islanders forging community against all odds.

Amazon      AB     Kobo

OUR CROOKED HEARTS: A NOVEL by Melissa Albert

The suburbs, right now . . .Ivy’s summer break kicks off with an accident, a punishment, and a mystery: a stranger whose appearance in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, heralds a string of increasingly unsettling events. As the days pass, Ivy grapples with eerie offerings, corroded memories, and a burning question: What if there’s more to her mother than meets the eye? The city, back then . . .Dana has always been perceptive. And the summer she turns sixteen, with the help of her best friend and an ambitious older girl, her gifts bloom into a heady fling with the supernatural. As the trio’s aspirations darken, they find themselves speeding toward a violent breaking point. Years after it began, Ivy and Dana’s shared story will come down to a reckoning among a daughter, a mother, and the dark forces they never should’ve messed with.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE PATH OF THORNS by A G Slatter

Asher Todd comes to live with the mysterious Morwood family as a governess to their children. Asher knows little about being a governess but she is skilled in botany and herbcraft, and perhaps more than that. And she has secrets of her own, dark and terrible – and Morwood is a house that eats secrets. With a monstrous revenge in mind, Asher plans to make it choke. However, she becomes fond of her charges, of the people of the Tarn, and she begins to wonder if she will be able to execute her plan – and who will suffer most if she does. But as the ghosts of her past become harder to control, Asher realises she has no choice.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THIS VICIOUS GRACE: A NOVEL (THE LAST FINESTRA BOOK 1) by Emily Thiede

Three weddings. Three funerals. Alessa’s gift from the gods is supposed to magnify a partner’s magic, not kill every suitor she touches. Now, with only weeks left until a hungry swarm of demons devours everything on her island home, Alessa is running out of time to find a partner and stop the invasion. When a powerful priest convinces the faithful that killing Alessa is the island’s only hope, her own soldiers try to assassinate her. Desperate to survive, Alessa hires Dante, a cynical outcast marked as a killer, to become her personal bodyguard. But as rebellion explodes outside the gates, Dante’s dark secrets may be the biggest betrayal. He holds the key to her survival and her heart, but is he the one person who can help her master her gift or destroy her once and for all?     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

BOUND THROUGH TIME: FUTURE (VIKING BROTHERS NOVEL BOOK 3) by Twyla Turner

The final chapter in the Viking Brothers Series…Dag knows his destiny lies within the future. Will it be with his eldest brother or beyond? Has time bound him to a woman, the way it has for Thorin and Jerrik? And if so, who will she be? Either way, he’s ready to head straight into the mist. Desiree has been running from love her whole life. With a rough start in life, she’s only ever depended on herself. Now, after a fling gone wrong, Dez finds herself in a delicate situation. Her life is about to become a party of two. During a celebration for Jett and Jerrik’s twins’ first birthday, Dez finds herself ripped from her time and thrown into the future. A dystopian future. And the only person to help her is Jerrik’s terrifying bastard half-brother. Dez and the scarred Viking get off to a rocky start as they try to find out what happened to the world around them. ..(more blurb on ebook seller page…) AmazonKU

SECRETS OF THE CHOSEN (THE APPRENTICE OF ANUBIS BOOK 4) by Laura Greenwood

When Ani and Nik travel to the York Temple of Anubis to oversee the burial rites of a distant relative of Nik’s, the last thing they expect is to find themselves uncovering more temple secrets. With a new Blessed at the temple, a body to prepare, and their concerns over what might be happening in London to contend with, they already have their hands full. Can Ani call on a favour from her mentor in order to uncover the truth behind the temple’s new Blessed apprentice?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE WHITE STAG (THE MONSTERS UNDER MY BED BOOK 1) by JB Trepagnier

I was protected by the monsters under my bed when I was a kid in the foster system. I have a feeling I could use them again. My time in the foster system wasn’t great. Maybe they were imaginary, but when things got bad, the boogeyman and an imp always came to my aid. If I needed to run, a beautiful white stag would appear at my window to let me know to get out of there. I’ve touched the stag. I know he’s real. Alastair Rex saved me from the streets and another bad foster home. He’s never raised a hand to me or tried anything inappropriate. But I’m a doll in his playhouse. I can only leave when he lets me. I dress in the clothes he wants me to wear. I say what he wants me to say because I get the feeling he would react violently. I could use my monsters, but they disappeared the day Alastair showed up in my life. Until I look out of my cage and see the white stag again. It’s time for me to escape Alastair Rex.      Amazon KU

WEAVER by Tish Thawer

He walked out of my dream, identifying himself only as the Weaver. In a black cloak, with eyes like stars, there was a shimmer to the way he moved. He was beautiful … Ethereal. And I was going to make him mine. Alone for most of her life, Milly is determined to make the man of her dreams a reality. Using her hereditary magic, she sets out on a lifelong quest, entering a world of shadows and secrets. Little does she know, to possess his heart, she’ll have to give away her own … for the only way to love a Dream Weaver is to become his Queen of Nightmares. The choice between love and magic is a dangerous thing.     Amazon KU

DEATH LORD (CLAIMED BY LUCIFER BOOK 4) by Elizabeth Briggs

Death is my fated mate—and my worst enemy. He is Death. The 4th Horseman. The son of Lucifer. And I’m going to kill him. He’s the Grim Reaper of New Orleans, stealing souls to make up for his absent one, but he’ll pay for the lives he’s taken. Someone has to stop him, and it’s going to be me. He murdered my father, Fenrir, and I’m ready to unleash my wolf upon him. I’ll tear him to shreds to get my revenge and prevent him from claiming any more lives. But how do you kill Death—especially when he’s your fated mate?      Amazon KU

GIRL OF HEARTS: LUCK GOD SERIES BOOK ONE by J Gabriel Gates

A proud nerd and teen scientist, Aggie doesn’t believe in gods or in luck. Her OCD is under control—mostly—and her mom, Rachel, has just finished building a dark matter machine that could win back her job as a physics professor. When Rachel disappears, Aggie sneaks into the casino where her mom has been earning money as a card-counter. Instead of finding her, Aggie is captured by a gang of men with tattoos of clubs on the palms of their hands—the Blackovers. A dangerously beautiful boy, the mercurial Jack Valentine, helps her escape. Because of a glitch in the dark matter machine, Aggie has been filled with charm, good luck energy, while her mom received bad luck energy and may be forced to become a Blackover. To save her, Aggie must join Jack and his fellow Valentines. She finds herself whisked into their world of opulent mansions, gorgeous people, and fancy cars. But being a demigoddess isn’t all glamor and popularity. It can be deadly. Aggie must master her newfound luck powers, battle the dark suits, and brave the unlucky underbelly of Detroit, all while keeping her OCD at bay—or risk losing her mom forever.      Amazon KU      AB

DARK WHISPERS FROM THE PAST (THE CHILDREN OF THE GODS BOOK 62) by I T Lucas

A brilliant scientist and programmer, William lives for his work, but when he recruits a young bioinformatician to help him decipher the gods’ genetic blueprints, he find himself smitten with more than just her brain. A PhD at nineteen, Kaia is considered a prodigy and expects a bright future in academia. But when William invites her to join his secret research team, she accepts for reasons that have nothing to do with her career objectives. William’s promise to look into her best friend’s disappearance is an offer she just can’t refuse.      Amazon KU

SHADOW KISSED (MAGIC SIDE: WOLF BOUNS BOOK 4) by Veronica Douglas

I released the Dark Wolf God. Now he’s using me. Last week, I defeated a monster hellbent on killing us all. I thought I was stopping a prophecy, but it turns out, the dark omens were about me all along. Now I’m destined to steal the souls of the pack—my pack—and help the Dark God bring destruction down on the world. Jaxson Laurent, my fated mate, is determined to help me fight back, but what if he has to choose between me and his wolves? The Dark God is beginning to take control of me, and unless I can heal the wound in my soul, I won’t be able to resist his call. Worse, if I can’t heal the centuries-long blood feud between my family and the pack, our city won’t be able to stand against his wrath. Unfortunately, my only choice may be to betray them all and do the one thing Jaxson may never forgive me for. It seems my destiny is to destroy everything I love. The fates have a wicked sense of humor. Good thing I’ve never been one who follows the rules.     Amazon KU

WITCH WITH A GRUDGE (WITCH WARRIOR BOOK TWO) by T R Cameron, Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

Cait Keane and her Dragon partner Aza have a score to settle with an assassin – and whoever hired him. Investigating the murder of a judge wasn’t the plan for Cait’s first weeks in Boston. But they’d caught the assassin, so, case closed, right? Not so much. Everybody wants a word with the killer – the Marshals, the PDA, and the two criminal bosses in town. One of the bosses hired the hitman and he’s not saying a word. Cait better slice through the tangle of lies fast. The animosity between the Roses and Dragons organizations is already heating up. At home, a new threat has emerged to endanger her coven. Now that her family is in charge, it’s on them to deal with it. But Cait has never faced shifters before, making it one more step into the unknown. Events will push her to grow in power and skill – or kill her. The US Marshal with something extra wouldn’t have it any other way.    AmazonKU

PLAY THE DEMON (DEALS WITH A DEMON BOOK 6) by Stacia Stark

What do you do when the demon you’re reluctantly obsessed with knows your deepest darkest secret? Every. Excruciating. Detail. If you’re smart, you push him away and bury yourself in work. Except that Vas isn’t the kind of guy who’ll allow me to hide from my feelings for long. Even if he did return from the underworld… different. Meanwhile, I’ve been ignoring all my instincts to hide my tech magic. Instead, I’m using it to help Evie and Kyla solve a high-profile kidnapping case. Not only is it the right thing to do, but the reward money will also allow me to make a fresh start. But now, my bar is being targeted by my enemies. And Vas insists on shoving his body between mine and any kind of danger. Even though he has his own vengeance to plan. But by choosing to shield me, Vas may have switched from the hunter… to the hunted. Now it’s my turn to protect him.   Amazon KU

IN DEATH WE PART (DANGEROUS LOVERS BOOK ONE) by Maggie Bonnet

My routine was simple–classes, work, repeat–then an unearthed family secret changed everything. Four mysterious men shattered my life and stomped on the pieces until I had nothing left. They were strangers to me, but I was no stranger to them. They had been watching me… waiting until the time was right to strike. The peculiar, dangerous magic that surrounded them has always been there in the shadows, just out of sight to normal people. I needed to get away from these depraved, alluring monsters. Go somewhere they could never find me. They said they would chase me, hunt me down because I belong to them. I may not have been the woman I spent years preparing to be, but I wasn’t their pawn or their property. I didn’t ask for danger to follow me like a shadow over my head, pushing me deeper into a world I am not prepared for. They promised they’d catch me, but they never expected that I was better at disappearing than they thought possible.     Amazon KU

BEAR EX NEXT DOOR (SECRET SHIFTERS NEXT DOOR Book 2) by Roxie Ray

My new neighbor is irresistible, but he’s already broken my heart once…Being a fashion model had its perks until stalkers and a nasty tabloid scandal forced me to return to my hometown of Lily Valley. When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I meet my new neighbor—my old high school sweetheart. Steff used to be my brother’s best friend before he shattered my heart into a million pieces. He’s just as stubborn and sexy as I remember. Unfortunately, he’s also responsible for my personal security while I’m living here. With my stalkers closing in, Steff and my brothers are determined to protect me. That doesn’t mean it gives Steff the right to warn me off dating Ryland, the new guy in town. Steff says Ryland isn’t what he seems. But I’m starting to suspect there’s another side to Steff as well, and it’s possible I never really knew him at all. I could be wrong, but I have a bad feeling that I’m cursed to lose my heart to him a second time.     Amazon KU

OF DREAMS AND DEMONS (OF MOONS AND MONSTERS BOOK 2) by Willow Hadley

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Alistair never meant for anything bad to happen to Isla. He’s spent his entire life wishing he could be more like her and hating the demon side of his heritage. Since realizing his immortality has settled, he’s been scrambling to find a solution. He can’t bear the thought of living a day without Isla by his side, let alone eternity. When his plans to make Isla immortal are thwarted, Alistair’s only hope to rescue his best friend lies with his newly discovered fated mates—Lord Rian of the Unseelie Court and the eccentric and ancient witch Matthieu. Meanwhile, Isla is doing her best to adjust to her new life in Briya. She’s settling into a routine with her four new mates, learning the language, making new friends, and trying desperately not to fall apart whenever she thinks about how she ended up here. While the language barrier is beyond frustrating, it’s easy to fall in love with Maalik, Caelan, Audun, and Reule. The four Guardians have made it clear they’ll go to any lengths to reunite Isla with her best friend. When they learn that Alistair is a demon, and that Isla might very well have two other supernatural mates searching for her as well, they’re torn. They don’t want to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to them, but they want to do right by Isla—even if that means betraying their king and coming to terms with the fact that they’ve spent most of their lives acting like the monsters people always feared them to be.   Amazon KU

TAKING THEIR MAIDEN (KAVARI MASTERS BOOK 3) by Demi Lane

She was meant to be kept pure. Then she was taken for breeding. When she was carried off, Talia was an innocent virgin, a maiden sheltered from the rough appetites of men for all of her twenty-one years. But Kavari warriors do not ask, they take. ..(more blurb on ebook seller page…)    Amazon KU

RECKLESS SOULS (SAINTS ACADEMY BOOK ONE) by KC Kean

I’ve walked the streets of Phoenix Valley for twenty two years knowing exactly who I am – an orphan, a human, a nobody. Summoned by The Hex to test my humanity, I was prepared to fail, destined to be the same mundane girl …I was wrong. Pandora’s Box called to me, sensing a magic I never knew existed. With my world turned upside down and full of possibilities, I must now call Paradise Heights home. To live amongst supernaturals, attend Saints Academy, and find my place. Curiosity has me willing to give this a try, but the Elites of Saints Academy tempt to distract me, and that’s something I can’t afford. Xander is gruff, Khaos cold, Zen soothing, and Adonis … lives up to his name. Angel, Demon, God, Vampire, Shifter. I could be anything, anyone. I have three years to figure out who I’m meant to be…Let the countdown begin.      Amazon KU

TRAGIC BONDS (THE BONDS THAT TIE BOOK 5) by J Bree

Nothing will ever be the same again. Our Bonded Group has been torn apart, and the monsters are now the prey. But we’re not going to just wait around for our enemy to strike; the blood on his hands is unforgivable, and the god living inside of me wants her revenge paid in blood. And a thousand souls. We have been pushed to the limit, tested in ways that have devastating outcomes, and paid the ultimate price. Can we recover from such losses? Is the promise of a world without our enemy worth the sacrifices we’ve made? Can we prove to everyone, and ourselves, that together our bonds are unbroken?     Amazon KU

BROKEN MATE FOR BEAR SHIFTER (SHIFTERS FATED MATES BOOK 4) by Brittany White

Dating App = A Conflict Between my Heart and my Head – Single Lion Shifter Looking for Good Mate – I hated signing the divorce papers. Thayden had been my love forever. But the abusive Thayden I was married to was not the lion shifter I had fallen in love with. Trying to help me overcome the depression from my failed marriage, my friends suggested a dating app. A sexy bear shifter, Kane, hit me up almost immediately. He was sweet, and considerate, and did I mention sexy? The problems? One, my father doesn’t believe in mating between different shifter breeds. Two, he’s keeping a secret – one that nearly costs me my life. A lion shifter also messaged me. He was mysterious but sounded very sweet. We seemed to have everything in common. A lion shifter would make my father happy. How was I to know that he harbored his own dark, deadly secrets? How can I choose between two men? My heart told me that one of these men was my fated mate. My head told me that the other man would make my dreams of a loving family come true. Will I be able to discover the truth in time to save myself and my love for my fated mate? Bear Shifter with a Bad Rep Looking for a Good Woman – I belonged to a clan of bear shifters who had a reputation for violence and crimes. My brothers were the worst of the worst. I was the anomaly. I had a moral compass. Regardless of the fact that I was one of the good guys, my clan’s reputation already cost me one fiancé. When I met Rainie after seeing her online, I knew that she was my fated mate. I wanted to let her get to know the real me before revealing my clan’s identity. How could I have known that keeping that secret could cost me her love – and more? Can Kane come to grips with his identity and tell Rainie the truth in time to save their love and her life?       Amazon KU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

June 22

June 15

June 8

June 1

May 25th

“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…

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!

I check and verify all the buy links at the time I create the post  but after that I’m not responsible.

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

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Jaine Finds a Weapon Weekend Writing Warriors

Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)

Sharing from my second scifi romance gladiator novel RENNYR.

If you want the full story of what they go through and how they battle to survive and protect each other, and their romance, with all the nuances and details, the book is available wide. 

The excerpt, switching to Jaine’s POV as she waits to enter the arena:

The wall in front of her was gone and Jaine felt pressure at her back as the crowd of prisoners was forced onto the waiting sands. A pile of shields, swords and other gear waited in the center of the arena as promised so she broke into a sprint. She was barely conscious of the screaming of a crowd in the seats above the fighting field. Her only goal was to grab a weapon and then find the safest space she could and make a stand.

Jaine circled  the disorderly pile of gear, dismayed by the selection. The shields were two feet by four feet and thick, impossibly heavy and although she’d love to have one, she doubted she could lift it. She barely gave the swords and spears a glance but when she saw a spiked ball at the end of a chain lying in the sand, she pounced. Yanking her find free from the items piled haphazardly on top, she discovered she had a short handled mace with three chains fastened to the end. Even better, each of the chains had a spiked metal ball at the tip. Taking an experimental swing, she was sure she could manage to defend herself with this, if all her opponents had were swords and spears. Of course if the men after her had shields, all she could do would be to batter at them ineffectually.

Swipe at the legs, she thought.

VS: Next week I’ll switch back to Rennyr’s POV as he attempts to join Jaine in the arena to defend her.

RENNYR (BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK 2) by Veronica Scott

Rennyr was a genetically engineered senior soldier in his Badari Warrior pack until one day he woke up on a strange planet naked, disoriented and about to be sold into the gladiator arena for the rest of his life. Unscrupulous guards faked his death in the lab where he was created and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. Kill or be killed is the rule in his new life and a Badari never gives up. He’ll fight to stay alive until the Badari goddess sees fit to decree his death and release him from the wretched existence.

Jaine Mitchel of the Sectors was on her way to an exciting research internship until pirates seized the spaceship on which she was a passenger and took her to feature in a gladiator ‘death match’ in the galactic hinterlands. She has no hope of surviving in the arena until a man she only glimpsed in passing breaks out of his cell and saves her life, declaring her to be his fated mate. Given to Rennyr as his reward for winning the death match, Jaine must share a cell and a bed with the handsome, not human, gladiator and together they have to find a way to survive in this merciless world of violence and death. Their mutual attraction is off the charts. Falling in love is the easy part, finding a way to escape or even to remain together is the challenge. At any time their mutual owner could decide thumbs up or thumbs down on one or both of them, or sell them separately.

Their only hope is a mysterious gladiator master from offworld who may be coming to buy Rennyr. Will he take Jaine as well? Could Rennyr win freedom for them both if he does well enough in the arena? Badari Warriors claim their mates for life and Rennyr has no intention of losing Jaine…RENNYR is an 80K word novel and can be read as a standalone. KYDEN is the first book in the series.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

Why I Wrote KYDEN A #SciFi Romance Gladiator Novel

From the Archive: When I was a kid, I used to watch the old “sword and sandal” movies on the local TV station on weekend afternoons and I loved them! Something about the gladiators of ancient Rome really appealed to me and especially as a venue for telling good stories. In particular I loved “Demetrius and the Gladiators” and pretty much any version of “Last Days of Pompeii,” but especially the 1984 TV miniseries with Duncan Regehr as the gladiator Lydon. Oh yessss…..I also hugely enjoyed the first season of “Spartacus” on the Starz cable channel in 2010. That one was almost too gritty for me but presented quite a picture of what the life was like.

The important thing to remember is that a gladiator wasn’t necessarily fighting to the death every time he or she stepped onto the sands. Yes, that did happen on occasion but gladiators were too valuable and too much was invested in their training to just kill off half of them every week. So based on the research I’ve done, I suspect many times the participants simply fought to a draw or till one was vanquished but not killed. Thumbs up.

Live to fight again another day!

As I’ve been writing the Badari Warriors series, I kept thinking they’d make terrific gladiators and I planted a seed in LANDON (SPOILER)……… when two men were rescued from a plan by Khagrish guards to sell them to slavers for the ultimate purpose of becoming gladiators, because by then I’d decided I would write a spinoff series at some point.

Photos from DepositPhoto

I’d previously established the fact in earlier novels that there’s a wild west kind of lawless frontier to the Sectors interstellar civilization. This Hinterlands as it’s known is a dangerous place where anything goes.  No Star Guard, no interstellar police, venture there at your peril, lots of credits to be made doing nefarious things. There’s also the Outlier Empire, which I envision as kind of Old Tsarist Russia but translated into a science fiction equivalent. (I explored this more in my book LADY OF THE STAR WIND, if you’re curious.) So it also made sense to me that there’d be smaller civilizations, not part of the Sectors, maybe allied with Outlier and a world like that would be a perfect place for the local citizens to be clinging to an ancient allegedly ‘glorious’ tradition of hand to hand combat, sometimes to the death.

Of course they don’t want to be the ones in the arena fighting for their lives, so there’s quite a brisk trade in slaves brought from elsewhere and condemned to life as gladiators with the mostly illusory promise of freedom dangling in front of their eyes.

So I had all the structure waiting to tell a good – I hope! – story and then my hero Kyden came to me and I was ready to go. He’s a Generation Five Badari, whereas the men in my main series are Generation Eight. I’m being a bit fluid with time and one must remember the Badari can have extremely long lifespans if the Khagrish scientists who created them don’t kill them off as part of their ‘experiments’. It’s really fun to be able to tell some different Badari stories in a completely new setting, without having to wait for my first series to end. I’ll absolutely continue writing the primary series too! REEDE IN THE SECTORS is the next book I’ll be doing.

All these years there’s been one scene in “Demetrius and the Gladiators” which has bothered me because although I understood how it made the plot work in the movie, I didn’t like what transpired. So I’ve “fixed” that to my own great satisfaction now by having Kyden step into a situation which arises to threaten Elara, the woman he loves (which is how they meet, actually).

I’ve had a few readers tell me they were uncertain about the gladiator aspect of the novel but I’m very careful to explain in the book how and why Kyden and his fellow gladiators are forced to fight in the arena, dress in the ancient uniforms and wield the reproduction weapons. It all has a nice solid scifi basis! And a lot of the action and adventure occurs outside the sandy floor of the arena, as in any other science fiction romance.

Here’s the blurb:

DepositPhotos

KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE

Kyden is the top ranked gladiator in the Five Systems but he’s hardly there by choice. Unscrupulous guards faked his death in the lab where he was created and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. He has no idea where his home is or how many years have passed since he was condemned to a life of endless combat. Kill or be killed is the rule and a Badari never gives up. He’ll fight to stay alive until the Badari goddess sees fit to decree his death.

Elara Vasclavian is the daughter of a senator, as far removed from the life of a gladiator as a noblewoman can be until through the machinations of a political enemy, she ends up in terrible jeopardy. Abducted and given to a group of drunken gladiators for their amusement the night before the games, Elara vows to put up a fight but there’s no real hope of saving herself. Until Kyden steps in, responding to the goddess’s commandment to protect those who are smaller and weaker. And discovers she’s his fated mate.

Rescued, Elara returns to her life of privilege but she can’t forget the man who saved her life. The gulf between their places in the Five Systems is unbridgeable, no matter how much Kyden longs for even a glimpse of her in the arena audience. No matter how much she feels the pull to be by his side. As matters stand, they cannot be together…Or can they?

KYDEN is the first book in a new series, spun off from my ongoing Badari Warriors series. Kyden is a Generation Five Badari whereas the main characters in the long running series are from a later time and are Generation Eight. This new series stands alone and you don’t have to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one. I couldn’t resist the temptation to tell a few other Badari stories, set in the galaxy’s Hinterlands, and who can resist gladiators?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

A quick excerpt from one of Kyden’s afternoons in the arena: 

His bout was last, as befitting for the champion of the Five Systems. While he was waiting in the wings, he pondered how good it felt to have a person in the audience who was there just for him. Not for the Death Dealer and the spectacle, but to support him. The difference in his attitude was amazing and he cautioned himself against enjoying the experience too much. Kind as it was of the lady to attend the bout today, surely she’d only meant it as a one-time event. A small sign of gratitude for what he’d done last night.

When it was time for him to return to the sands, he found the klixta worms waiting for him in a writhing mass. They were quite ferocious in appearance, with tentacles and barbs but were actually a mindless mass of parasites from a forest world. A clever gladiator could make the creature appear to be a formidable opponent by dancing in and out of reach, slicing off appendages as the klixta roared and advanced, but in reality the alien life form ate only lichen and large insects. They were a closely held secret of the gladiatorial world because crowds loved them. Occasionally a gladiator was assigned to be ‘devoured’ by the klixta and other men assigned to ‘rescue’ him, which the crowds adored. The common people ate up all the public relations flackery about the gallant warriors and the friendships and feuds which supposedly went on.

Erment and the other masters kept tight control on the promotional machinery.

Kyden made an excellent show of his time with the klixta, conscious of Elara in her luxurious box, watching. He wanted her to see him at his best and he was glad he wasn’t fighting other humanoids today. He had no desire to hurt or kill anyone in front of her. This protoplasmic chimera didn’t feel pain as far as anyone could ascertain and regenerated in an acid bath in a few days so he had no qualms. The crowd roared its approval as he cut off the final ‘head’ and the klixta collapsed, oozing brightly colored fluids onto the sand.

He bowed to the empty emperor’s box and then—greatly daring—to the Senatorial seats. Warmth ran through him at the quick sight of the lady applauding his effort.

The bored officials brought him the afternoon’s crown of woven greenery while the announcer read off his point totals and then Kyden left the arena without attempting to see Elara again. In the antechamber, gladiators congratulated him profanely on his ‘win’ as they disrobed and cleaned their weapons from their own bouts. He responded in kind and headed for the refresher chamber, which his status entitled him to use rather than the communal showers.

Erment intercepted him. “You did a nice job today. Thanks for putting all the effort into it just for the bored lower tier rats.”

“If I set foot on the sand, I do my best,” he said, curious as to why the master was here at all.

“You’ve been requested for an audience,” Erment said, lowering his voice. “In the special office.”

A surge of hope spun through his mind, quickly pushed away. She’d never be so indiscreet. Being in the stadium today was a risk for her after the unsavory events of the prior evening. Probably some overawed young scion of a House wanting private lessons will be waiting for me. Erment was practically incapable of turning down the chance to make a credit from services provided by any of his gladiators, no matter what the client wanted the man to do. “All right, let me shower and change. I’ve got the damn klixta sap all over.”

Shaking his head, Erment handed him a wash rag. “No time. She said immediately. Wipe yourself off and come on.” The master reached out and snagged a fresh scarlet cloak from a hook on the wall. “Wear this and you’ll be fine. She didn’t ask for or pay for skin privileges.”

As he was rushed across the huge space to the visitors’ office, Kyden couldn’t decide between being insulted on Elara’s behalf that Erment even considered she might lower herself to ask for a quick sexual encounter, or disappointed for himself. He’d dreamt of her soft skin and lush curves.

 

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JUNE 22

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). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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TETHERED SOULS (THE INFINITE CITY BOOK 5) by Tiffany Roberts

Kier and Kayl only foresee one fate for themselves. For Kier is wrath. And Kayl is vengeance. They have but one purpose—slay the pirate Vrykhan at any cost. They expect to give their own lives in pursuit of their revenge…But they never expected her. Aileen. Their na’diya. Their mate. Their missing piece. They never imagined a different fate. Is it too late to claim the future they never dared hope for?   Amazon KU

PROVOKING ODIUM (CYBORG UNITY BOOK ONE) by Cynthia Sax

VS Note: She’s an autobuy for me!

A Beautiful Cyborg – While accompanying his leader on a mission, Odium, an E Model cyborg, hears a distress call over the communication lines. The voice on that message makes his circuits surge with energy and all his systems light up. He has to respond to the mysterious female, would risk his lifespan and the lifespans of everyone on board their ship to protect her. A Human Female Others Call Beast – Briella gained her nickname due to her flying abilities, her fearlessness, and her scarred countenance. Her verbal-only relationship with the sexy cyborg who answers her distress call is a steamy yet short-lived fantasy. His kind is physically perfect, and she is…not. He will uncover that truth when…if they survive the attack upon her freighter.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PANDORA AND THE PRISONER (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 16) by Honey Phillips

Can a renegade alien warrior rescue a curvy librarian? Pandora likes her life as orderly as the books in her library. But when she and two of her friends are stolen from Earth and the spaceship crashes on an alien planet, the rules no longer apply. Separated from her friends and unable to communicate, she must rely on her instincts as well as her intelligence. The huge alien warrior who captures her arouses her mind as well as her body. What secrets lie behind those enigmatic eyes? Boxtar has no use for rules – not after he was so cruelly betrayed in the past. Now, he lives life on his own terms. But the curvy human female awakens a part of him that he thought long dead. He is determined to protect her – but can an ex-prisoner be the hero she so desperately needs?     AmazonKU

ALIEN WARRIOR UNCLAIMED (GALAXY GAMES BOOK 4) by Ava Ross

I was stolen by invaders when I was three seasons old and taken to Lord Vunne’s chamber. There, he tried to mold me into a monster. I became fast friends with other youngling males who I soon called my brothers. We protected each other until Vunne sold us to the Galaxy Games, a series of traps and pitfalls with an elusive final destination. If I complete my desert course, I’ll be free, but if I fail even one task, I will face extermination. I don’t care about what happens to me. My life was lost to me when I was three. Then I’m paired in the Game with Summer, and she ignites my second heart, proving she’s my fated mate. She’s lush and sweet and much too fragile for a torturous Game.
I will compete. I will protect her. And when I win, I will claim her as mine forever.     Amazon KU

FLAME (INFERNAL FORCE OF THE DREXIAN WARRIORS BOOK 5) by Tana Stone

I wasn’t supposed to end up on the Drexian space station or be matched to one of their gorgeous warriors as a tribute bride. My perfect twin sister is the one they wanted. Instead, I stole her spot. The trouble is, I’m not tribute bride “material,” whatever that means, and I’m on the first transport back to Earth in disgrace. Before I can be shipped off, my sister’s transport to the station is hijacked. Feeling that her abduction is all my fault, I stow away on one of the rescue ships but am quickly discovered. When we’re also attacked by the Kronock, we end up crashing on an alien planet. The Drexian I’m stranded with is gorgeous, brave, and a giant pain in my ass. From what I can tell, he finds me just as aggravating. What I don’t yet know? The pilot is also the Drexian my sister was supposed to marry—and we’re stuck together on an alien world with no sign of rescue.     Amazon KU

HEART OF A KRAKEN (MONSTER HEARTS) by Cara Wylde

I became a marine veterinarian because I wanted to make a difference in the world. No one gets it, because why would I want to work when I come from old money? I don’t care. I want to make something of myself, not marry well and spend my life playing tennis and throwing yacht parties.
I get my chance to prove my skills when Dr. Glenda Smith bursts into my workplace and whisks me away to a secret island off the coast, where I have to save the life of an octopus. Except when I get there, I realize she’s kind of lied to me…Yes, the sea creature has the tentacles of an octopus, but the head and torso of a man. He’s a kraken, an alien from a faraway planet, and he’s been wounded in battle. I will do anything to save him. It’s my job. But then I approach him, he gazes at me, and his three hearts stop at once.     Amazon KU

THE GHOSTS OF TANTOR: THE MISSIONS OF THE TFS PIKE BOOK ONE (THE CASSIDY CHRONICLES) by Adam Gaffen

VS Note: Not a romance. An LGBTQ+ scifi release of note.

They think they’re ready for this mission. They’re wrong. The Terran Federation is finally at peace and ready to begin serious exploration. The TFS Pike is the newest ship in the Fleet, purpose-built for deep space missions. Four kilometers long, with a crew of four thousand, she’s well-equipped for the years ahead. If only her crew was as prepared. Ensign Nicole Crozier, the former Premier of the Luna Free State, has left politics behind to pursue a career in the Fleet. But her stint as the Artemis Minister of War has landed her in Tactical instead of Science, her passion, and she’s not happy about it. Still, she’s been promised a chance to switch tracks, so for now she’ll deal. Everything changes when Nicole discovers a rogue planet, and she’s given command of the landing party. She’s irritated her superior but that’s the least of her problems when an ancient alien artifact emerges from the ice. As Nicole and her team explore the interior, the planet and her team vanish. The crew of the Pike must use all the tricks and tools available to get their missing people back. When they finally do, Nicole brings aboard a discovery which could change the course of history. Or end it.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE ALIEN’S BATTLE (OUTCASTS OF CORIN BOOK 3) by Ella Maven

I offer myself as bait… but am I really just a pawn? Trix: The red aliens make me a deal I can’t refuse—help them fight their enemies and they’ll rescue my friends. I agree to act as bait to lure the blue Drixonian leader. But the heated, knowing look in his violet eyes makes me suspect I made a bargain with the wrong aliens…Kutzal: This female isn’t like the others. She’s prickly, cold, and shot me with an arrow. I want her. But she thinks I’m the enemy, and unless I can find a way to communicate despite our language barrier, her friends will be the ones at risk. I never back down from a battle, so this is one I will win. And then I’ll claim my mate.     Amazon KU

AVENGED (MATE FOR THE ALIEN MASTER BOOK 3) by L V Lane

Calm and deadly, Kane, the Devlin warrior, is determined to claim me. Sweet and sinfully monstrous, Lan, the human-gargoyle hybrid, is determined to save me. The aliens who stalk my dreams at night have set their sights on me. Only they are no figment of my imagination. I met the former space pirates long ago. Then I escaped. …with a monstrous secret. And when a certain alien finds out what it is, he’s going to avenge himself on me.     Amazon KU

NEW WORLD: STAY WITH ME by Lily X

Cedra: Running a farm on your own is exhausting and lonely. The Servana 200 service bot I ordered was expensive, but I need the help—and if it can also hold a conversation, it will be worth the price.
When the bot arrives, though, her hair is curlier than I selected, her skin is surprisingly soft, and she’s curvier and more beautiful than I imagined. But do bots tremble at the lightest touch? Do they smell like a heady mix of flowers and hot, sweet blood, teasing my fangs to life? Technology is truly a marvel. Or is it? Twyla: Running from a forced engagement is terrifying. But I’m backed into a corner, and my only escape is to crawl into a packing box for a bot modeled after me. It’s certainly a panic move, but it got me out of one bad situation… And landed me right in the middle of another. At first, Cedra isn’t the most welcoming sort, not when she presses a knife to my flesh and threatens to kick me out of her home. I come clean fast, pleading with her to let me stay and be her housekeeper. She’s hesitant, but I can tell she’s warming up to the idea…Something’s flaring between us—fierce and urgent and insistent. And if these primal desires are mutual, maybe she’ll be the one begging me to stay.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE KING’S CHOICE (INTERGALACTIC ALLIANCE SERIES BOOK 6) by Bella Blair

No matter what it takes. I will maker her see that she is MINE! Olive: My mission is to save fifty innocent people, not fall for a blue skinned alien. Even if he is a king. His pretentiousness makes it easy to dislike him, but . . . I have to be careful not to look deeper, because there might be more to this man than mere arrogance. Cygroth: I swore not to fall for a human female like all the other males around me, but when my eyes fall on Olive, I know she was born to be my queen. Now I just have to breach her defenses and make her understand that fate has brought us together.     Amazon KU

SHIFTING TIDES (A SHIFT IN SPACE BOOK 4) by Danielle Forrest

Jessie is just plain tired of her sister’s romantic antics. And envious. After spending most of her teenaged years on a pirate spaceship trying to avoid her sister’s revolving door of beaus, she’s ready to spread her wings, find her place in the world, and maybe even find that special someone she hopes is out there somewhere. But her first steps toward independence don’t exactly go to plan. She’s starting to get noticed as an artist, but her love life is nothing but a long string of first dates… and a stalker who just got violent. Then, when she spots him outside her apartment, she knows it’s time to do something desperate.     AmazonKU

HER SAVAGE BEAST (HER ALIEN BEAST BOOK TWO) by Starla Fleet

Lylah – I wake up on a strange ship with no memory of who I am. All I know is that the hulking beast of a man who woke me is my savior. I’m meant to be with him, I can feel it in my bones, but he’s not so sure. I can sense his reluctance and confusion. Though I can’t remember, my heart insists I have to convince him that we’re meant to be together. Colton – The last thing I expect to find in the pod I pull out of space is a woman. A petite fragile creature who looks at me as if I’m her world. It makes my heart ache. It makes me want things… Things that I don’t deserve. I need to steer clear of her. I can’t be drawn into temptation. But when I look into her eyes, I can’t help but hope to be the man she sees. When danger threatens to rip her from me, the beast inside me awakens ready to cut down any force that dares take her away from me. But what if that means I’m the biggest threat to the woman I can no longer live without?     Amazon KU

CITIES OF CLOUD AND EARTH: FIFTH CLASS by A Jane Dove

Naelani is a 5th Classer, her place in society forever on display thanks to the red tattoo around her wrist. It means that, like every 5th Classer, her world is small and predictable: dating her childhood friend and working as a servant for a 2nd Class couple on the cloud city Nebula each day to make sure there’s food on her family’s table. Until a refugee Prince from another city appears in her employers’ apartment, hiding from the assassins who killed his parents. Now, her life is getting much bigger: dragged into a world of lies, family secrets, and a potential government conspiracy. Not to mention a pair of honey-brown eyes that she tries to evade. Because a 5th Classer could never be with a 1st Classer, no matter how attracted they are to each other. No matter how enticing his idea of creating a classless city is.     Amazon KU

ALIENS’ PRINCESS by Cady Austin

The crash landing on an alien planet should’ve been the last moments of my life. Until three cat aliens save me, then hunt me, and now they claim I’m their hard won princess. Nothing is expected on this outlaw planet…Being a princess to a small kingdom of cat aliens wasn’t on my bucket list. I led a fairly uneventful life before this as a small town country girl who worried about putting gas in the tank, not mating rites or ruling a kingdom. However, these possessive, sometimes feral alien princes are impossible to ignore. They won me as their princess and they’re never letting go, no matter what threat is chasing me. I’m starting to think choice isn’t an option when it comes to fate.   AmazonKU

QUEEN (HIDDEN EARTH BOOK 1) by J S Fields

VS Note: Not listed as a romance. A Lesbian scifi release of note.

Nobody leaves Queen. On the tidally locked, women-only planet, a vulva and an authority problem are the only immigration requirements. Emigration is banned. Ember spends her days cruising Queen’s endless sand dunes, hunting sand pirates and wallowing in memories of her dead wife. After an ambush, Ember is dragged to the pirate camp and learns her wife’s biggest secret—before her death, she’d joined the pirates, built an illegal spaceship, and plotted to leave the planet. Ember’s sister, Nadia, hatches a desperate rescue that leads her to the very edge of the habitable zone. There, Nadia stumbles across other secrets kept—a flourishing, impossible ecosystem and a New Earth mining installation. Queen’s hidden resource, highly sought after and limited, should have made its inhabitants rich. Instead, Queen’s scientists live in decaying houses, battle the elements, and struggle to eke out a living. Ember, Nadia, and the sand pirates must take back the planet and expose the corrupt New Earth mining. Taming giant beetles, wrestling stinkhorn fungi, and enlisting Queen’s rabbit population in a high-stakes aerial battle are just part of the hijinks that will determine Queen’s fate as a galactic player, as well as the futures of all its conscripted inhabitants. The newly minted outlaws must also grapple with Queen’s narrow concept of “womanhood” and where trans and intersex people belong in its future.     Amazon     Kobo

THE NAGA’S PET (NAGAS OF PROTHEKA BOOK 2) by Celeste King

I am human bedsport. Death would be a mercy at this point. As a human woman on Protheka, my life is miserable. So it’s no surprise when the dark elves put me up on a market in Nagaland. That’s when Kazhir sees me. At first I don’t know what he sees in me – a frail girl in irons. But he brings me to his home. Gives me food and rest until I am healthy and comfortable for the first time in my life. Am I to believe he is more than my master? There is no way I can ever pay back Kazhir for his kindness. But I have one gift to give. It’s broken, bruised, but slowly healing. And I’ll give it to him if he just asks. My heart.      Amazon KU

THE MINOTAUR CAPTAIN’S MATE (MINOTAURS OF PROTHEKA BOOK 1) by Celeste King

My whole life I have been the property of evil beings. Until the love of a minotaur freed my soul. I’d lived under the shadow of Dark Elf oppression on the alien planet of Protheka for so long that my spirit was almost broken until I found Romas. He was the survivor of a shipwreck. I nursed him back to health. He was an honorable warrior. Savage, fierce, and yet filled with great tenderness. My heart became his. My body soon followed. But my beloved had a price on his head. And now the Dark Elves have come to collect it. They’ve made one fatal mistake, however. If you’re going to take this bull by the horns then you need to be prepared for… The wrath of my Minotaur mate.   AmazonKU

THE WALL by Marlen Haushofer

VS Note: This is a resissue of a dystopian classic. Not a romance. I’m looking forward to reading it!

While vacationing in a hunting lodge in the Austrian mountains, a middle-aged woman awakens one morning to find herself separated from the rest of the world by an invisible wall. With a cat, a dog, and a cow as her sole companions, she learns how to survive and cope with her loneliness. Allegorical yet deeply personal and absorbing, The Wall is at once a critique of modern civilization, a nuanced and loving portrait of a relationship between a woman and her animals, a thrilling survival story, a Cold War-era dystopian adventure, and a truly singular feminist classic.      Amazon      Kobo

WHAT ROUGH BEAST (THE REMEMBRANCE WAR) by Michel R Johnston

VS note: Not a romance. An LGBTQ+ scifi release of note.

As the Zhen Empire descends into civil war, Tajen, Liam, and Katherine each have their own part to play in the final conflict between the human race and the Zhen Empire. As Tajen searches the outer regions in an attempt to find and recruit Zhen deserters to his side, Katherine heads for Marauder space to seek out technology their Tabran allies need. Liam, believing his two best friends dead, must keep the human fleet alive as it is pursued across the Empire by Zhen forces. As the final battle approaches, each of them will be tested to their limits.     Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

DEKAR (ALIEN MATES AND MARSHALS BOOK 1) by Julie K Cohen

Sara – Now that Earth’s conquerors have fled, Sara’s excited about her future. Until a handsome alien complicates her life. With his glowing hands and sweet smile, Dekar claims Sara is his fated mate. There’s no such thing as fated mates, but it’s hard to ignore Dekar, with his persistence and unusual attributes. Sara finds herself growing increasingly attracted to Dekar, but Dekar hasn’t told her about his past. Then one day, Dekar disappears. No goodbye, no explanation, no way to find him. He’s just gone…Dekar – Dekar’s life fell apart the moment he betrayed the Grud. His world exiled him and the Grud are hunting him. The marshals of GI7 (Galactic Intelligence sector 7) offer him a chance to survive. It means giving up his name, his identity, everything he is, and relocating to a backwards planet. Earth. His dislike of the planet quickly changes when he meets Sara, a female who makes his hands glow and his heart race. After Dekar finally settles into his new life, the marshals relocate him, barely one step ahead of the Grud. Dekar will never see Sara again. He can’t accept that. He needs her in his life, and he’ll risk everything to return to her.     Amazon KU

ALIEN GENIE (ALIEN ABDUCTORS BOOK 6) by Calista Skye

Thora – He can fulfill all my wishes. So why won’t he break me out of this harem? He’s an alien, but he’s also a genie, big and blue and with long, golden horns. He’s breathtaking and powerful and magical beyond anything I’ve ever seen. And he’s incredibly gifted in some interesting areas that make me dizzy with need. Now he thinks I’ve betrayed him. His yellow eyes pierce me from inside the cage. He’s furious, and I should run. It’s just, this is a dangerous galaxy. And with him, I’m safe. Safe from everyone but him. Omaroc – The Earth female has betrayed me! Nobody else knew I was here. Now I’m locked up in a ridiculous cage and my magic has abandoned me. After all the pleasure I gave her! But it’s fine. I have remarkable powers. I will get my revenge on her. And she’s so delectable, with her small, round body, that I know precisely what the revenge must be. Maybe she will enjoy it, too. She should. It will be the last pleasure she’ll ever have.      Amazon KU

NOVAS GOT NERVE (LIQUID ONYX BOOK 1) by BL Jones

He’s got far too much nerve. He can blow things up with his mind. Yeah. The world should probably brace itself for this one. When Rex Nova was four years old, he became one of the world’s first superhumans. When Rex turns twenty, he feels the drive to use his scientifically given abilities to protect the world. He leaves home to become a member of the Secret Superhero Security team, alongside three of his friends and Danger City’s own superhero, Polaris. Rex fights murderous Mages, evil organisations, criminal mafias, his agency appointed psychiatrist, his own weird brain, and the most frightening of all, his attraction to a certain blue-eyed superhero.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

ALIEN’S POWER by Eden Ember

The hot alien just happen to be in the right place at the right time to rescue me. Delaina works in a small dive serving drinks and food for the weary alien travelers. Since the crash landing on Reazus Prime, she’s forged a simple survival living life day by day. That is until Carx shows up. The green alien kidnaps her from her comfortable simple life! The crazy thing is how did he know there would be a natural disaster coming which would have killed her. She still doesn’t believe in fate, even though he insists on it. She escapes his clutches only to end up in a worse situation. Carx will do anything to win the affections of the stubborn terrain who stole his heart and activated the visions. If onlly he could find her.       Amazon KU

ENEMY ON BOARD (A SPACE ADVENTURE BOOK 3) by Ellis Leigh Clarke

VS Note: Not listed as a romance but charting in SFR.

The possibility of a war being started weighs heavy on Karma as she uncovers more intel on a plot that she’s inadvertently been a part of. Still stranded light years from League space, with no way of contacting the authorities to warn them, she’s left holding the secret. Fuel and chart data are the only thing standing between the crew and home, yet both those things are guarded by a long-forgotten race, the old arch enemy of the humans. Time and chance aren’t on her side. It’s going to take some poker-level bluffing to get them back on the road, and she still has to figure out who she can trust.     Amazon KU

MATED AND RAVAGED (MOLTOV PLEASURE ALIENS BOOK 1) by Mila Frost

Everyone has a reason for joining the Moltov-Human mating system. Some do it for wealth, some do it for endless pleasure, but I just want to find someone to fulfill my fantasies. Over two centuries ago the Moltovs came to Earth. We thought it was an invasion, but they were a peaceful race. All they wanted were humans. There was a need inside of them that burned hot and deep, a fire that consumed their soul when they found their perfect match. On Earth, I’m a chubby twenty-five-year-old who can barely score a kiss. On Hades, my innocence is desired and revered. The choice is easy.  When I step on the shuttle, I come face-to-face with my perfect Moltov. It is ingrained in his DNA to fulfill my darkest fantasies. Krek curls his fingers around my wrist and drags me behind him… let the rest of my life begin.      Amazon KU

KALI AND THE KING (MATES OF ARTRIZIKAS BOOK 1) by Natalia Prim

Kali’s only ever been good at one thing—turning tricks to survive. Life on the toughest remnant of Earth taught her to follow her gut, and it’s never once led her astray. Until she’s nearly killed by a secretly sādistic client and saved by an absolutely massive winged giant. After returning the favor, she’s whisked to a new world full of pleasure and more aliens who want her. It’s a better future than she ever dreamed possible. But everything isn’t just roses and orgāsms, though there’s a helluva lot of those. From a language barrier, to culture shock, to injuries, to conspiracy, and even murder, Kali and her males have a lot to overcome before their happy-ever-after. And that’s assuming she can survive the very public mating ceremony.      Amazon KU

GLORIOUS DAY by Skye Kilaen

Elsenna Hazen left spaceport security and ended up a royal bodyguard. She should have known better than to fall in love with a princess. It’s been two years since one ill-advised kiss in the garden pulled them apart. With uprisings in the streets, the nervous princess transfers Elsenna back into her service. Her Highness has no idea Elsenna is leaking data to the revolutionaries bent on overthrowing the princess’s oppressive father. Now Elsenna wakes up each day wondering what will happen first: her own execution, or that of the woman she could never stop loving. When rebel attacks escalate and the king plans retaliation, Elsenna discovers that the fights for her love and her life are one and the same.      Amazon KU

SMART GIRLS DON’T KISS ALIENS (SMART GIRLS LOVE ALIENS BOOK 1) by Alina Jacobs

VS Note: From MAY 31.

Crash-land on an alien barbarian planet and told there’s no way home? LMAO! I’m a rocket scientist. Miss me with that noise. Anyone else might have a nervous breakdown, but I was abducted with my besties! Between us, we have fifteen PhDs. We will be getting off this planet. Trust. No, I will not be finding an eternal bonded mate among the seven-foot-tall alien males. No, I will not be wearing a furkini and walking around barefoot. And no, I will not be moving into a cave with no internet or running water and accepting my fate like the rest of the freed human women on this craft-cocktail-forsaken planet. Two liquid hydrogen rockets and a smidge of deep-space travel later, and we’re back home on Earth. Except that our spaceship had stowaways. Now there’s a seven-foot-tall alien named Cassius in my Los Angeles condo. He’s calmly explaining that according to the ancestors, we are to be eternally mated and have a litter of children. Also, he’s wearing a loincloth. And he has horns. Wipe that smirk off your face. No, it is not as sexy as it sounds. He barked at my cat. He harassed my busybody Karen neighbor (actually, I’m okay with that one). And he’s obsessed with the ice maker in my fridge. What’s a smart girl to do? The smart thing is to build a rocket ship and send Cassius and his other hot alien friends back to their home planet. The not-smart thing to do is fall into those deep blue-gray eyes and let him show me just how good that forked tongue feels. And the downright stupid thing to do is fall in love with an alien.      Amazon KU

NINE REALMS OF THE UTI 2 by Kaitlyn O’Connor

When the epidemic struck the Earth colony of Atlantis on the world of the barbarians known as the Uti they were forced by circumstance to use a subterfuge to get what they needed to survive. They sent out a woman to each of the nine realms posing as a ‘Di-ore’ which, in the Uti tongue meant pleasure woman. They had seven days to collect as many specimens as they could and return them to the colony for analysis to find what they needed to develop a cure. Dr. Melinda ‘Mindy’ MacGyver drew the short straw. She was sent to the Warlord Javar–a warrior so fierce even the other barbarians feared him.

Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

METAL GLADIATOR (WARRIORS OF GALATEA BOOK 4) by Lauren Esker

VS Note: Reviews are mixed but the earlier books in the series have been well reviewed overall.

There’s an angel in her rooftop garden …Except he only looks like an angel. He’s actually a winged alien, and an escaped gladiator at that. Rook has been a prisoner for more than a year, forced to fight in brutal arena games on an alien world. He’s finally managed to escape to a planet called Earth, but his captors are close on his heels, and soon both Rook and the beautiful woman who saved his body and soul will have to fight or flee. Luckily, if there’s one thing Rook knows how to do, it’s fight. And this time he’s fighting for more than mere survival. He’s fighting for his future, and his happiness, and the woman he loves.      Amazon KU

A BRIGHT CELESTIAL SEA: MM SCIFI ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE by Chani Lynn Feener

Pryor Oro came to the Olympus to find a missing Imperial, not fall for one. On the space station Olympus, a disappearance and a theft have captured the attention of the Intergalactic Police Force. Assigned to the case, Pryor heads to the World Ship in order to search for a missing prince. While there, he’s forced to work with the Emperor, Wystan Aurelius, who seems to never let Pryor out of his sight. Confused over why a man he’s never met is acting so possessive, Pryor’s urgency to solve the case and get away from Olympus and its ruler intensifies, even as the unruly Emperor starts to grow on him. Wystan Aurelius finds life on a World Ship dull, until Detective Pryor steps onto his ship, and into his territory. More concerned with discovering who has stolen missing medical technology, Wystan couldn’t care less about a vanished prince from another planet. At least, not until he sees how invested in the case Pryor is, and realizes how upset he gets when he doesn’t have the Detective’s full attention turned his way, and his way only. Wystan finds himself at a crossroads. Force Pryor to accept him by telling the truth? Or win him over the old-fashioned way?  Wystan’s secrets could unravel everything, but he isn’t the only one hiding things. Pryor’s privy to some classified information could end up turning the entire galaxy for a loop. Together, the two must navigate through their emotions and the seedy underside of Olympus to solve the case before it’s too late, and life, as they both know it, is altered forever.     Amazon KU

UNTAMED SAVAGE (WIVES FOR DROKAN WARRIORS BOOK 1) by Athena Storm

I set traps to catch food. I caught feelings instead. Our planet is dying, after the Great Burn. There is no food. What little is found is taken by our evil alien masters. With no other hope, I leave my village and hope to find something – anything – to eat. I set my traps and wait. And that’s how I catch an untamed beast named Alaric. The huge Drokan warrior with the heart of gold. His body makes me tingle. But his wit makes me melt. He says that together we’ll defeat everyone that’s holding us down. That we’re fated mates. I believe this handsome warrior. Why? Because only fate can cause someone whispering in my ear To turn my knees into jelly.      Amazon KU

SURRENDER (THE DRAAX SERIES BOOK 4) by Elizabeth Kelly

Finding out you have only two months to live really puts a damper on a girl’s plans. But thanks to the Draax healing juice, I’ve got my life back…And all I have to do is work on their planet for a year. One and done. My sister needs to return to Earth, and I need to go with her because nothing matters more than her. Until a quiet, slightly grumpy, and sexy as hell Draax makes me reconsider. Melu might be one of the few Draax not interested in a relationship, but it doesn’t stop our mutual fascination with each other. The chance for a little sexy fun is impossible to resist. He’s not looking for a mate and I can’t stay, so a friends-with-benefits agreement is perfect. Our story can’t end with happily ever after. So, why does being with Melu make me ache to stay by his side? Why do his possessiveness and surprisingly sweet nature have me dreaming of a new future?     Amazon

MY MERCILESS ALPHA (ROYALLY CLAIMED BOOK 3) by Jupiter Belle

Life in New York blows. I get cheated on and skip town because I’m determined to find myself again on one epic road trip. But I last all of a damn week before I find myself hurtling through time and space and landing ass up on the floor of a spaceship. It gets worse from there when I’m put up for auction, and the man that buys me? I don’t think he’s a man at all…Men don’t call you their mate and growl? Do they?     Amazon KU

BRUTAL BARGAIN (THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF THE APOCALYPSE BOOK 1) by L J Anderson and Ashlyn Fables

VS note: Put this on my TBR List. You know me and post apocalyptic!

When the zombie apocalypse comes to town, Remi is lucky to find shelter to wait out the storm.
Unfortunately, the storm never ceases, and her situation grows dire. Out of food and desperate to survive, she reaches out over a CB radio for help. But the man on the other end of the line isn’t helping for free, and his demands are shocking. Will she accept his Brutal Bargain?     AmazonKU

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

Veronica’s Backlist highlight (because I make my living writing and selling my books): This week is CAMRON, one of my absolute favorites to write and read. I always wanted to tell a story of two people forced to escape a big game hunter chained together and it very much fit the Badari Warriors series arc. Plus towards the end Camron and his mate meet some important people who go on to appear in a future book (TRATUS). All Badari books can be read as standalones.

CAMRON: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 7) 

Dr. Gemma Madarian is far from her home in the human Sectors, kidnapped along with hundreds of other humans to be used for horrifying experiments conducted on a remote planet by alien scientists.

She and another prisoner, Camron of the Badari, are the only survivors of a deadly crash landing. She’s paired up with the genetically engineered soldier by their mutual enemies and sent fleeing through rough country, hunted for pleasure by an enemy officer and his ferocious trackers.

The enemy wants a triumphant kill. Gemma and Camron want to survive.

Camron never dreamt of having a mate but Gemma shatters his preconceptions and makes him desperate to do everything in his power to save her life and claim her for his.

There’s no help or refuge to be had in the desert where they’re fleeing for their lives.
Or is there?

Will Camron and Gemma live to fight another day and explore the growing attraction between them, or will ancient secrets and bitter rivalries end their bid for freedom?

Amazon     Apple Books     Nook     Kobo     Google

*********************************OKAY, ONWARD!**************************************************

GLOW (THE PLATED PRISONER SERIES BOOK 4) by Raven Kennedy

My life has been made up of gilded lies. But death has been shaped from rot. Like a phoenix caught fire, I will need to rise from the ashes and learn to wield my own power. Because my wings may have been clipped, but I am not in a cage, and I’m finally free to fly from the frozen kingdoms I’ve been kept in. Yet the world doesn’t want to let me. That’s the thing when you turn against a king—everyone else turns against you. Good thing I have a different king in my corner. But even with the dark threat of Slade Ravinger, the other monarchs are coming for me. So I will fight for him and he will kill for me, and if we need to become the villains, then so be it. Because so long as I live in this world, I won’t be used again.     Amazon KU

MIRROR OBSCURE (VISTA DE LIRIO MYSTERIES BOOK 2) by Elizabeth Hunter

Dr. Vivian Wei is juggling multiple life changing events when her aging mother witnesses a violent death on the thirteenth tee. The only problem? There doesn’t seem to be a crime to go along with the witness. As an empath, Vivian knows her mother is telling the truth, but feelings don’t prove a murder. Can Vivian and her friends prove a murderer is stalking the country club before he claims another victim?      Amazon KU

LYCAN’S DESIRE (TALES OF MONSTROUS DESIRES) by Harpie Alexa and Hazel Persephone Fraye

Stuck in a loveless marriage with a man who acts less like her husband and more like an indifferent roommate, Debbie leaves before her nerves get the better of her. But in the haste of her decision, one that had been brewing in her mind for so many years she’d lost count, she suddenly finds herself embroiled with a demon and his web of deals and in the merciful hands of a Lycan who not only desires her, but who’d purchased her. Now she’s stuck in another realm, with another man, and another problem. This Lycan won’t let her go. Lonely and desperate for the touch of a female, Warok strikes a deal with a demon to procure him a mate. Debbie is smart, compassionate, and beautiful, everything a male such as himself desires, but convincing her they’re meant to be is harder than he originally thought. Still, he tries… against the ticking clock counting down the remaining time he has left to complete his end of the bargain. Can Warok convince his mate to stay or will she be forever reminded of a man who made her feel so worthless her heart refuses to give love another shot?

Amazon KU

NIGHT TRIALS (MIDNIGHT MAGIC BOOK 3) by Richard Amos

Secrets are like hot coals—you can’t hold onto them for long. And my biggest secret just burned right through my hands. Damn. Things have really turned sour. I’d been looking for answers, but then along came the biggest plot twist of my life, with me as the star. Core-shaking stuff, details I would’ve been happy to never know. Sometimes it’s good to be left in the dark. Damn. My relationship with the mega-yummy billionaire vampire Tae Frost is now on the line. One moment things were heating up between us, the next… WHAM! Rug pulled out from under. Hard. I only have myself to blame. Have I already said damn?  With danger at every turn, my Arcana powers growing at an alarming rate, I’m left with no choice but to face the music of these awful truths. After all, there’s no run option. Man, what a trial!     Amazon KU

CASTLE OF DECEPTION (THE BARD’S TALE: NAITACHEL ONE) by Mercedes Lackey and Josepha Sherman

Kevin, a young bard, faces webs of lies and deception in a world where nothing is as it seems — and everything is a trap for the unwary.     Amazon

SOVEREIGNITY (HOLLOW ROCK SHIFTERS BOOK 8) by Brenda Trim

VS note: From MAY 15

For the longest time the plight of shifters was nothing more than a curiosity for FBI lab geek Dax Wells, and getting involved never seemed like a good idea. But when his friend Ewan asks him to use his access and connections to investigate a bombing related to the shifters’ rights movement, Dax doesn’t hesitate, and the decision changes his opinion, and his life, forever. Diving deep into the evidence leads the handsome analyst to proof of a conspiracy against shifters. Now in over his head with both the cause and a very sexy shifter named Hannah, Dax can’t back down. Senator Hartwell, the only political ally the shifters have, is sponsoring a bill to give shifters sovereignty, but Dax and Hannah must find enough evidence to help the senator gain a majority vote in favor of freeing shifters once and for all. The dark, deep connections of the anti-shifter faction have no intention of letting the bill pass. Will they kill it, along with Dax and Hannah, before this unlikely couple can find the proof they need to keep their love and the possibility of shifter freedom alive?    Amazon KU

MAGICAL DELIVERY: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (MIDLIFE WITCHERY BOOK 9) by Brenda Trim

Solving one crisis after another with my coven left me battered me to a pulp at times, but it prepared me for my most difficult journey yet: returning to Eidothea to save my child’s life. Apparently, most beings can’t successfully carry a dragon’s baby unless they undergo trials and tribulations to reach the lava tunnels in a forbidden mountain in the Fae realm. I know I will make it, because I have a much bigger issue to deal with. Argies’s overprotective brother, who just so happens to be my new king, is insistent on having things his way. Argies and I have barely made it past his discovery of my pregnancy, and now his brother thinks he can force me to stay in his realm. I’ve outsmarted a controlling ex, mastered the language of manipulation, and I’m one-third of the Backside of Forty. And did I mention I’m about to give birth to a dragon? King or not, he’s got to learn that I’m not someone to be messed with.      AmazonKU

THE COMPANY OF FIENDS (TEMPTING MONSTERS BOOK 2) by Kathryn Moon

After eight years on the stage with The Company of Fiends, the glow of the spotlight is starting to wear thin for Hazel Nix. The theater is perfect for a girl like her—one with a secret she keeps even from her more monstrous peers—but playing pretend is only exciting for so long. After so many lovers, on stage and otherwise, Hazel has yet to make a lasting connection with anyone and considers taking her last bow at the company. Just as Hazel encounters a new and intriguing patron, disaster strikes the theater. Girls are going missing and suspiciously bad luck plagues the stage. Between ex-lovers, current bed partners, and new faces at the theater, Hazel’s heart is tangled more than ever and she finds it increasingly impossible to draw herself away from the life she’s known for so long. It is time to make a choice. Start fresh before she’s drawn into the mess, or take a stand and fight for the family she’s found in the strangest of places.     Amazon KU

MIDNIGHT HOWL (MIDNIGHT MATES BOOK 1) by Milly Taiden

Cassie Burch, high school vice-principal and recently single lady, has met the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, her heart isn’t ready for another relationship after finally dumping her worthless ex. When she agrees to a casual link, she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Romance is about to hit her harder than she ever expected. Alpha wolf shifter, Talon Ruiz, is restless and can’t figure out why. He just opened a high-end shifter nightclub, and the newness has already worn off. When his mate stumbles into him, he’s more than ready to keep her forever. And he’ll do whatever he needs to prove to her he’s worth her love. The problem is Cassie doesn’t want a serious bond. And everything he does to try to romance her fails. He was kind of a jerk, but he’s changed. If he doesn’t figure out what he’s doing wrong, Cassie will leave him in the dust. And by pack law, if the alpha doesn’t mate, he must fight to the death to keep his status. His heart and his life lay in Cassie’s hands. Can she love a man who turns into a wolf?     Amazon KU

SHIFT IN MAGIC (MISFIT BAY BOOK 1) by Milly Taiden

Wonky witchcraft, shifter magic, and romance run wild in Misfit Bay, Louisiana. Workaholic Clara has had enough of the corporate rat race. She yearns for more in life—companionship, laughter, and dare she say love? Leaving all she knows, she moves to Misfit Bay with two friends to start over. Quickly, Clara learns that the climate isn’t the only thing steamy in the South. Clint is a broken wolf shifter who can’t control his shifting nature. During each full moon, he is forced into his animal form and not released until days later. Outcast from his pack, his life has been lonely until he meets the lovely Clara. Hope grows in his heart that maybe his loneliness might come to an end. When Clara uses witchcraft to help Clint’s shifting, a sinister plot comes to light that not only pulls them apart, but brings evil to their unsuspecting town. Time is running out for Clara and her friends to figure out how their powers can save the man she loves. If they fail, her new love life in Misfit Bay could come to a premature end.     Amazon KU

THE JINXED JEWELRY BOX (PARANORMAL ARTIFACTS COZY MYSTERIES BOOK 4) by Tegan Maher

When an heiress with an auction addiction reports her jewelry stolen then turns up dead, I just know that’s the kinda crazy that has “cursed artifact” written all over it. However, the problem is coming up with a way to get into a high-security mansion to prove it. Fortunately, I’m a witch with a lot of magical firepower, a crew that includes several powerful witches and a centuries-old shifter, and an insider at the sheriff’s department on my side. Come hell or high water, I’ll recover that artifact before it kills somebody else – as soon as I figure out what it is!      Amazon KU

PIRATE’S PROTECTOR (SENTINELS OF SAVANNAH BOOK 7) by Lisa Kessler

After two centuries as an immortal pirate, Duke Proctor figures he’s experienced pretty much everything. Which is exactly when he finds himself held at gunpoint…by a mermaid. But the exquisitely lush blonde—whose eyes are deeper than the sea—is here for a reason. Someone has stolen from her and she’s certain Duke is behind it. Annika Mare knows for a fact that the Sea Dog’s crew has her comb. In the wrong hands, it places Annika under the control of whoever wields it. But the comb has been taken—and working with this unbelievably sexy human pirate to recover it poses an entirely different kind of threat.Now these two immortals must find the thief, and fast. But there are other forces at work, bigger than Duke or Annika could possibly know. And a powerful artifact in the hands of evil isn’t nearly as dangerous as the sizzlingly-hot attraction that could engulf them both.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

KELRAZ THE VICIOUS (ORC MATES) by Cara Wylde

When the orcs invaded the human dimension, no one could stop them. War raged for years, and now the monstrous beasts have agreed to peace on two conditions: one, the human scientists must rebuild the machine that brought them to this world; and two, they must be provided with fertile brides to bear them orc babies. Silvie has always believed in the saying, “be the change you want to see in the world”. That’s why she volunteers to become a tribute and goes to one of the first institutes for orc brides to open in North America. Then the institute is attacked, and an orc horde saves the young women from a terrible fate. The orc captain must be rewarded, and Silvie ends up being his prize. She’s always known she would be mated to an orc. She just thought she’d have more time…Kelraz the Vicious is a monster on the battlefield. He spills his enemies’ blood without remorse, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a code of honor. There’s one thing he won’t stand for – innocent females and children being hurt. On his way to the mountains, he hears the screams of the human females, and swoops in to save them. As a reward, he can pick one of them. He picks Silvie, the curvy, green-eyed beauty who doesn’t flinch at the sight of blood.     Amazon KU

SHIELD BAND (ELVEN ALLIANCE BOOK 6) by Tara Grayce

Prince Julien of Escarland was the kingdom’s spare. His duty is to quietly stand in the background at his brother’s side, protecting him and his heirs. Julien’s younger siblings might have duties as ambassadors or in a marriage of alliance that would take them away from Escarland, but not Julien. Yet when it becomes clear that one more marriage is needed to secure the three-way alliance between the kingdoms of Kostaria, Tarenhiel, and Escarland, Julien agrees to an arranged marriage with a troll. He doesn’t know their language and he might not be strong enough to fit into their battle-focused culture, but other than that, how bad could it be? Vriska always thought she knew her future. As King Rharreth’s shield sister, she is duty-bound to protect him and his queen. But she never expected her duty to include an arranged marriage with a human, of all people. An empire-hungry kingdom is lurking, seeking any weakness in the alliance. Will this final bond safeguard the alliance or cause it to crumble? And can Julien and Vriska find love in a relationship based on duty?   AmazonKU

PACK EVADED (BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT BOOK TWO) by Jarica James

He’s got me right where he wants me. After finding myself alone yet again, I try desperately to seek out my mates. But the tracker refuses to let me go, taunting me with ghosts he knows I can’t ignore. With a hefty price on my head I know he’ll never give up. And now he’s not the only one after me. After evading death at every corner, I’m finally reunited with my mates. We quickly learn that there are more wolves missing every day. And the longer we search for answers, the further we seem to get from the truth. Until enemy wolves come for us. Now Nyx and I are forced to escape under the cover of darkness and confront my past in a desperate attempt to save our pack. Can I step up and be the Luna our pack needs, even if it means I’m on my knees?     Amazon KU

A SEASON FOR ROMANCE: SPRING BLOSSOMS by Various

VS Note: includes various genres. From MAY 31.

From high fantasy to cyberpunk – romance for every taste! Hoping to reveal all shades of romance, we have gathered together ten authors from around the world, including Canada, England, Lithuania, and the United States, for this sweet romance anthology, A Season for Romance. In twenty stories, you will find true love in a variety of genres and styles, from first kisses to second chances, on epic journeys and in bittersweet moments. Nine of these stories feature main characters who identify as LGBTQ+. In this first flash fiction anthology of A Season for Romance: Spring Blossoms, the characters in our stories are just starting to acknowledge their budding feelings for one another. There is beauty, tenderness, angst, and even humor in these carefully crafted stories meant to transport you to distant, fantastical worlds where love is just moments away. We hope you enjoy them.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE VAMPIRE LOVER (MORETTI BROTHERS ROMANCE BOOK 7) by Juliette N Banks

Lethal vampire, Oliver Cambiaghi, has just been promoted to head assassin at The Institute – a private security company tasked with eliminating the worst of the worst. His spare time is spent honing his warrior body to defend the vampire race, and pleasuring beautiful women. Plural.
Life couldn’t be better… until Piper Roberts shows up with her smart beautiful blue eyes and sassy demands. Piper is a journalist and knows the man dating her sister is dangerous. She just can’t prove it – yet. Told they are on a tropical holiday, Piper is determined to find the two lovers if she can get past Oliver, the irritatingly ugly henchman. Okay fine, he’s sexy AF. If you like muscular leather-clad men with tattoos and mussed-up hair. Oliver needs Piper out of his dangerous world, and his perfect mate-free life before her desire for truth gets her in trouble, and he can no longer let her go.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PLEAS OF THE POLTERGEIST (MEOWING MEDIUM BOOK 3) by Molly Fitz and L A Boruff

My name is Mags McAllister, and I really need to stop being surprised when new ghosts show up at my door. Thanks to my special spectral feline Shadow, I have a largely unwanted link to the spirit realm—and word is starting to spread that I’m a good person to haunt for those who wish to button up their unfinished business. This time, my new ghost has a voice of her own, and she is definitely not afraid to use it—to make demands, complain, and even to criticize my choice of clothing. Frankly, I’m eager to help her just, so that I can be rid of this 1950s era loudmouth. Once she’s taken care of, maybe I can finally start getting my own life in order… and finally choose between the two men who each hold a piece of my fractured heart.

Amazon      Apple Books

LITTLE WINGS OF FATE (MMM MONSTER ROMANCE) (CREATURE CAFE SERIES BOOK 9) by Clio Evans

Creatures of all kinds go to the Barista to find love, including the fanged fallen angel Gabriel. Gabriel is looking for another mate for his Cam. After all of the terrible things they have been through, he is willing to finally let a human into his life — even though they are definitely not for him, and certainly just for Cam. The Barista has the perfect person in mind— his tattoo artist, Seth. Gabe, Cam, and Seth have all walked alone in their lives up until meeting each other. Between curses and broken wings, the three of them find comfort in the arms of desire. The walls of trust can be built, but will they be strong enough to keep their lives from crumbling when Lucifer returns?     Amazon KU

HUNGRY LIKE HER WOLF: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (HUNGRY FUR LOVE BOOK 1) by C D Gorri

Can I embrace my destiny as a seer witch, save my hometown, and claim my mate all in one weekend? You bet my Aunt Edna sized butt I can! Time to put on my big girl panties and do this thing! Growing up in Castor’s Corner was a bit tricky for a Castor. As mayor, I’m always working. On top of that, my two BFFs and I make up the town’s witch trifecta. It’s our job to keep our supernatural town off the human radar and to keep outsiders out. You see, our town has a history of going to hell in a handbasket every time someone new moves in. Like literally. About a hundred years ago, the witches who lived here agreed to keep outsiders out forever. But when I’m accidentally late to our monthly gathering, I kinda left the barrier down. Now we’ve got Ghosts, Ghouls, and smexy Shifters invading! The town kids are spooked by something in our cemetery and Mr. Hottie McFurry is giving me all sorts of naughty thoughts. Castor’s Corner was turning into one hot mess, and it was up to me to clean it up. I just haven’t figured out how yet.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BATTLE OF THE HEXES: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE  (SISTERS BOOK 1) by Kinsley Adams

Exile is a fancy five-letter word, and one I didn’t take seriously until Baba Yaga sentenced me to live here in Cold-as-Balls, Alberta. Canada, ya’ll. Seriously. My southern blood can’t handle all this snow and ice. There’s no summer in sight either, thanks to some ex-witch-bitch with an inflated ego who thought it’d be funny to curse this town into endless winter. A curse I’m charged with breaking. Even worse? That ex-witch is also the ex-wife of the local alpha werewolf, who claims I’m his mate. He may look yummier than a donut dipped in honey, but I’m not interested in commitment, no matter how much I may be tempted. Frozen wastelands, a jealous ex, and a sexier-than-sin mate is more than enough to make me want to strap on some snowshoes and get the heck “oot” of here. Unfortunately, true love’s kiss is the only thing that can break this curse and free me from this hellhole. Ha! Someone really got their wires crossed when they chose me for this task. True love ain’t nothing but a fairytale. Right?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SPELLS AWAKENING: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE by Rose Betancourt

Piper Perdue’s Paradise Spa and Retreat becomes anything but calming when guests are attacked with malicious magic spells.  Running a spa where paranormal folks come to get their magical mojo back is much more challenging than Piper anticipated. Has a bad witch infiltrated the spa posing as a guest? Lucky for Piper she has help from a handsome cop, but someone from her past returns  and is not happy with Piper’s budding romance with the sexy police officer. This causes even more tension. Now Piper must find the nefarious witch and get rid of the negative energy at the spa before the pampering and relaxation turn into permanent repose.

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PLAY THAT SKUNKY MUSIC: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (THE BACKCREEK CHRONICLES BOOK TWO) by Erick Buckley

Brittany Flair is turning the old Stagger Inn in Backcrack Creek, KY into the hottest Shifter spot east of the Mississippi: QUEEN B’s CABARET!  Great food! Cold drinks! And most importantly, the hottest music sung by the hottest WereSkunk to ever earn her fur: Brittany herself! If she can find that “special sound” she’s searching for, it’s going to be the party destination of the Shifter world.  Except there’s this Vampire…Olé Nast E’Fuqhuer is just what his name says. The undead, immortal poo-head  has decided to build one of his chain of cheesy, tacky hillbilly hellhole club’s; Uncle Roy’s Redneck Roadhouse right in Backcrack Creek! And he will lie, cheat, steal, and yes, drain the blood from anyone who wants to try and compete with his plans. And he’s brought 1970s WereWolf Elvis-wannabe D-listers Arlo Mantooth and his Wooden Retainers as a nostalgic, secret weapon. He’s also brought his dominatrix twin WereMinks, Olga and Inga Swenson with him for (ahem) stress-relief. With so much on the line, a former WereElk boyfriend stuck in animal form, her Witch and Warlock benefactors, and a new and very unexpected love interest to take care of, all Brittany can do is work her striped tail off and PLAY THAT SKUNK-Y MUSIC!     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

LOVE POTION 999: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (THE WITCH DOCTORS BOOK 2) by C S Edwards

Did you hear the one about what happened when a witch doctor met a witchologist in a bar? Well, it most definitely involved… a fight with her mother, too many Gnome Island Iced Teas, and a cloud of intoxicating glitter. But for Betsy Babington, life—and love—is no joke. The famous apothecary and alchemist witch doctor is 135, single, successful, and… bored. Ready to change things up, Betsy enlists her coven of misfits and two mischievous cherubs to make a rogue love potion recipe—for the next big thing in her well-known brand. Definitely not for herself! Some magical historians have said Betsy Babington’s tangle with the trouble of Love Potion #999 was like opening Pandora’s box, but that was a little extreme. For those who were there, it was more like a weekend in Vegas.

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WICKED OBSSESSION: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (WICKED SERIES BOOK 8) by Teresa Gabelman

With the past behind her, Ember is ready to live a normal life once again. Searching for the one person who can help her, she finds herself in the town of Assjacket. Because of a spell, Ember has been living in a world where she has faced nothing but cruelty. Her obsession to break the spell placed upon her leads her to a man who sees past it all to the woman she really is. Zach looked past the scars both visible and hidden the first time he noticed Ember. Instead, he sees a kind soul who is being treated horribly. Her quick wit and intelligence, as well as humor, attracts him to her instantly. He vows to help her fight the ghosts from her past. One thing about Zach, he has never lost a fight. Welcome back to the town of Assjacket for more wickedly hilarious mixtures of paranormal personalities.

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HEX ME ALL NIGHT LONG: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (HEX DRIVE BOOK 5) by Renee George

When your love life is laggin’, and you’re crushin’ on a dragon, it’s time to practice safe hex. Shirley Brothers, the head of the Rogue Magic Control Agency (RMCA),  has one mission on her mind. Find a dragon’s heart and don’t lose her own in the process. Falling for the dragon isn’t part of the plan. Plan’s fail. Andrak the dragon is big, he’s sexy, and he doesn’t have to breathe fire to get her hot. He’s also single-minded when it comes to getting what’s his. Andrak searched for the pieces of his broken heart for thousands of years. He’s finally closing in on the prize, and nothing will stop him from reaching his ultimate goal.  Well, nothing except a 200-year-old witch. She’s a little bit bossy, and he finds that a lot sexy. But when the fragments are taken by a cult of necromancers and the witch council call for Shirley’s arrest, the two of them go rogue for a  mission that puts their romance and their lives in jeopardy.

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TONGUE TWISTED: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (WEEKEND MAGIC BOOK THREE) by Amy Gregory

Rox Dee is the brother of not one, but two sisters. He works hard all day at Carpe Diem, their family-owned bed and breakfast. In his spare downtime, he enjoys music, especially playing his guitar. Lately his sisters’ lives have been requiring more of his time. Especially with weddings and fighting off bad immortals. Not that he minds because his mate hasn’t come to him yet. Yet, the moment she does, he turns into any TV character ever that has played a completely speechless idiot, with a worthless wingman to boot. Honey Efronavich has spent her life hiding quietly in plain sight. In a mortal’s world that is. She’s happy with her peace and books, and her guilty pleasure–Cosmopolitan Magazine. After all, how else is going to learn about men. Surely at least some of the same rules apply to warlocks as well. She doesn’t get the chance to study her latest issue before she’s standing face to face with the first gorgeous man in her life that she knows is immortal. Terrifying circumstances brought them together, and though everything is all right, Honey is not. The “be confident” advice in all the articles over the years has flown out the window, because she can do is hope to evaporate.    Amazon     Kobo

HOODOO YOU LOVE: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (HOODOO AND BAYOU SERIES BOOK 3) by Kathy Love

Something strange is in the air…For the past few month, Mally Jourdain–wait, it’s Princess Mally Dubois now–feels as if things are going pretty well in her witchy world. She has managed to save the day for the rougarou pack that she now lives among. Some of them even seem to like her. Well, a little anyway. She’s made some new bayou friends, including a fairy and a real Bayou Witch. And it appears her arranged marriage to the rougarou prince is getting interesting. Very, very interesting…But a shadow from the past is lurking. She can feel it. Her witching abilities are still dicey, and she needs to get them working—and fast. So, when she encounters another Bayou Witch, who offers to help her with her magic, Mally can’t resist.Unfortunately, not all is as it seems, and she finds herself in a big, ole, magical mess. Can she sort out her shoddy magic and save herself and her family? Again.

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STONE COLD CRONE: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (GAME OF CRONES BOOK 1) by Donna MacDonald

The power of three isn’t what it used to be. Violet likes living as a Crone. Even though her nearly toothless smile looks like a Halloween pumpkin carving gone wrong, she will never regret making her Crone bargain with Hecate. She hopes her centuries-old coven of three from Salem doesn’t have regrets either, but she rarely knows what Listeria and Katherine really think. Being the oldest and the only natural witch among them, her coven witches mostly enjoy giving Violet a hard time. Normally, she’s fine with being the butt of their jokes, but a blast from the past is back to haunt them. And that’s no joking matter. The witch hunter they sent to The Place Between centuries ago is back among the living and busy building the dark witch coven of his dreams. The husband who abandoned her a decade ago, and who wants them to get back together, thinks Violet should leave taking care of the bad guy to the Baba Yaga. That’s never going to happen because…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)

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WITCH ON THE FLY: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (WITCHES OF MYSTIC GROVE BOOK 3) by Isabel Michaels

Three witches, three wolves, one prophecy – It’s time for the Witches of Mystic Grove to join the 21st-century. But first, they need to expel all their archaic rituals. Cassandra Gray understands better than anyone the task before them. It’s the reason she’s been avoiding her best friend, Asher Alexander. But when a night of passion produces a positive pregnancy test, Cassie’s world is turned upside down. Plagued with fear, anxiety and a prophecy looming over her head, she reluctantly tells the father. The last thing she wants is a relationship based on duty and obligation. Asher Alexander is the omega of the Mystic Wolf Shadow Pack. When chaos erupts, he’s the calm, cool, collected one. Until he discovers, he’s going to be a father. All reason flies out the window when his mate rejects his proposal.

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THAT DINO’S HANGIN’ TEN: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (MAIDENS OF MAYHEM BOOK 7) by Julia Mills

Take one crazy Crow who knows she’s not a Raven. Add the best Flock ever given wings by the Great Goddess. Mix it up with an Ancient Greek Dino, a group of goofy gobsmacks who thinks he walks on water, and don’t forget the Almighty Shifter Wanker – and you’ve got one heckuva mystery only the Maidens of Mayhem can solve. Will the girls find the ‘jewel’ in time? Or will Tallulu Parish get sucked into Hell where its inhabitants will be forced to scoop Hellcat litter boxes for the rest of eternity? Well, nobody knows but it’s bound to be better than a ride on Uncle Horace’s airboat during a hurricane.

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WITCH UPON A STAR: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE by Marianne Morea

I’m Linzie Hellborne. Half-witch/half-demon, and most recently the local it girl for the Queen of all witches, a.k.a. the Baba Yaga. I’m her Salem connection when she needs a shenanigans stopper, like when she sent me to the swamp to stop an illegal witch-blood ring. That swamp was a trip and a half, but some good came out of it. His name? Daniel Saint. And we’re engaged! The wedding is on the day of the Witch’s Star, a magical twenty-four hours where wishes can come true. So imagine my surprise when the Baba Yaga offers to officiate. If you think that raised an eyebrow, you’re right. Turns out there are more shenanigans at play, only this time it’s way personal. As in my mother and little sisters in danger, personal. I’m leaving my wedding lace behind and donning my O.G. black leather to raise my demon side and search for my family in the darkest of places. With Daniel and the Baba Yaga riding shotgun, I’m loaded for bear… or vampire… or evil witch…Care to join our posse?

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THE CHEEKY PRINCE: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (CHRONICLES OF THE VEIL BOOK 3) by Julia Morgan

The day I took my life back I was able to see the damage my lunatic aunt had caused, and my only ally was my purple chicken, Harriet. I’m the prince of the Dark Fae kingdom, yet, my people treat me as if I’m an outsider. I can’t say as I blame them. Imagine being locked in your own mind and someone tosses in a stink bomb from an Ogre. You’d fight like hell to escape, too. Then there’s the woman I knew to be my true fated mate, Shyla Olsen. She fought to save me until the day I had her banished from the kingdom… but it wasn’t me, not really. It was my aunt pulling the strings and I was nothing more than her marionette. But I’m no longer a shiny puppet and dammit, I’m no doll to toy with. And now my psychotic cousin has come to town. If he has his way, the kingdom will be his. I have to put an end to his scheme and with Shyla by my side, nothing can stop us. Except her heart… if she’ll forgive me and become my wife.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

FANGS AND CAULDRONS: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE (STAKES AND SPELLS MYSTERIES BOOK 3) by  Lynn Morrison

When my shifter boyfriend promised a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it to be a corpse. A dead witch? Bad. On vampire land? Worse. And that vampire happens to be my ex? You’re kidding me, right? The call to investigate ruins a perfectly good date night, sending me and my werewolf boyfriend from a romantic interlude to a crime scene. Someone strangled a young witch and it falls to us to identify the culprit. While few investigations are simple, this one comes with a hefty side of politics and the presence of my ex. Between Baba Yaga holding my feet to the fire, and my ex trying to fan new flames of passion, I’m desperate for a way out. But a dead witch on vampire land threatens a delicate truce between the sides. With the clock ticking, we’ve got one chance to solve the case. The cost of failure: all out war. It’s time to sharpen my fangs and stir my cauldron. I’m not about to let anyone get away with murder.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE WITCH WITH AN ITCH: MAGIC AND MAYHEM UNIVERSE by Virginia Nelson

Flemming Fletch is a witch with the perfect life—until she gets hit by a moving truck full of her own belongings lovingly packed by her suddenly-ex-fiancé. She heads back to her hometown to figure out where it all went wrong, but instead of solving problems, she makes even more. One badly cast love spell later, and she’s covered in hives. She can’t ask other witches for help—forbidden spells come with some nasty punishments, after all—so she turns to a healer. Can a guy dedicated to healing bodies possibly cure her broken heart?

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THE FINAL STRIFE by Saara El-Arifi

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control. Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance. Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible. Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes. Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts. Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm. As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

TITAN: A GARGOYLE DADDY DOM ROMANCE (ROMANCING HIS STONE BOOK 1) by Jillian Graves

When former child star Julianna Novak loses everything to her shady managers, she’ll do whatever it takes to win her independence back, even if it means rushing to find a new sugar daddy. When Titan, a wealthy businessman, makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she soon realizes he may not be what he seems. His curved horns, massive wings, and ribbed prehensile tail are, however, more than she ever bargained for. Leader of the last surviving gargoyles, Titan knows what desperation looks like, and he recognizes it in Julianna. The heavy weight she carries is one he’s able to bear—and one he finds he wants to. Julianna needs a Daddy, and Titan is ready to be the firm hand—and more—she needs. When his missing supernatural artifact and her financial troubles unexpectedly align, Titan and Julianna find that a single night together won’t be enough. Confronted by old enemies, the diverging paths they once followed may no longer be the destiny their hearts desire. Important Note: Please check author’s website for full description and CWs.     Amazon KU

TRAIN BOUND TO FORTY: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (SCENIC MAGICAL MIDLIFE TOUR BOOK 1) by Stephanie Berchiolly

Turning forty isn’t for the faint of heart! My name’s Florebelle Fairfield. I thought when you hit this age, your life’s supposed to be sorted out? Nope! Mine fell apart! I’ve heard of midlife crises, but a whole magical destiny no one prepared me for? That requires reinforcements! Luckily, I have my childhood besties, Star and Amira, a couple of kick-ass witches, who’ve always got my back. If anyone can help me through this mounting magical mess, it’s them. Hopefully, they can save my sanity, too. This isn’t what I signed up for… Can I just skip to forty-one?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BETRAYAL AND CURSES: BOOK TWO VENOM & STONE DUET (CURSED WOMEN BOOK 2) by Erin O’Kane

Maya has been lied to and betrayed by those she loves. She’s learnt first-hand that appearance doesn’t always make the monster. Some of the worst atrocities she’s seen were actually committed by humans. After meeting the King Kai of Saren, she’s left with a choice that threatens to tear apart everything she knows. Returning to the city of Vaella, Maya continues her search for the missing child slaves whilst trying to decide the best course of action. With her mates at her side, she’s stronger than ever before, except there are secrets and heartbreak around every corner. Can she see through the lies and make the right choices to break her curse, or will she succumb to her monster and let her heart turn to stone? Is there really such a thing as a happily ever after for a monster such as her?   Amazon KU

TODD #3: PARANORMAL MMM KRAKEN-DRAGON SHIFTER ROMANCE (TANGLED TENTACLES by JP Sayle and Lisa Oliver

Todd Thalassa is the youngest of five krakens and the only omega. When he discovers he has not one, but two fated mates, it sends him and his overprotective brothers into a tentacle spin. Todd has to navigate being part of a triad and stopping his brothers from interfering while working against the clock to find stolen dragon eggs ─ simple. Lucas Benenati and Kijina Damaris have always known they were meant to be together, along with a third. A mission to find missing dragon eggs leads them to their fated mate. Unfortunately, they don’t make the best first impression on Todd or his brothers. While searching for the missing eggs, the mates discover a despicable pattern that puts others at risk. Can they navigate a new relationship that’s full of revelations and surprizes while keeping everyone safe?       Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

A CROWN OF HOPES AND SORROWS (APOLLO ASCENDING BOOK 2) by Nicole Bailey

Two souls bound together. But one thing threatens to tear them apart. Jealousy. While tensions build and fates shift, Hyacinth and Apollo seek Zephyrus. God of the west wind. Well connected among low deities. And Hyacinth’s previous lover. Amid political schemes and personal struggles, Apollo and Hyacinth tumble through a world verging on war. But as jealousy flares and secrets come to light, all their careful planning may burn to ash.     Amazon KU

WALL MEN BOOK TWO: A VOW BROKEN (THE WALL MEN SERIES 2) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Here’s a terrifying fact: monsters live in a world only a step away from ours. And they love eating people. I’d know because I was taken prisoner by one, the Blood King. Vampires. Blech! Steer clear of those. Luckily for us, getting here isn’t so easy. They’d have to cross a bridge that’s protected by a wall built by my ancestors and guarded by the Wall Men. Unlucky is that the wall is under attack, and the king of the Wall Men wants my help. By marrying him. Did I mention he’s a fifty-foot-tall warlord? And that the marriage must be—gulp—consummated? To save both our worlds, I must say “I do” in a forever vow with a major string attached. Except my giant husband kept the biggest string hidden from me, and now it’s too late to escape.

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QUEEN OF ROT AND PAIN (THE PALE COURT BOOK 2) by Liv Zander

I punish lies and deceit, An eternal damnation of agony and pain. Yet, when it is my wife whose deception plagues me, I know what I must do. Shackle her soul to the lying, cold corpse that she is,
Ensuring that she never escapes me. My wrath, My torture, My pain, And my pleasure. I am the King of Flesh and Bone, Every part of her I possess and own. She is mine, Death shall never do us part.
Welcome home, my queen.      Amazon KU

COURTING THE PROFESSOR (MATCHMAKERS IN TIME BOOK 5) by Kit Morgan

The 21st Century: Professor Andrew Beaumont was a chemistry professor, not a physicist, so when two strange men show up asking about time travel, he was a little confused. Never mind the fact one claimed to be a duke, it’s when they brought up Clear Creek that Andrew’s ears perked up. One of his students had seen bright lights just outside the town and talked abut aliens. Was there more to the boy’s story, or had the kid been reading too many science fiction novels? The 19th Century: Tillie White was different, shy, and some folks in Clear Creek thought she was just plain loco. Little did they know she was so much more. And though Tillie had an inkling she was differnt, she had no idea how much. That is until a strange man dressed in odd clothing showed up on her doorstep. Yet, as odd as he was, he was also familiar. Too bad she was too terrified to leave her house to find out why.    AmazonKU

FATED SOULS (SHADOW CITYl: DEMON WOLF BOOK 3) by Jen L Grey

The truth didn’t set me free. Instead, it shattered my world and destroyed everything I thought I knew. I had been hidden away with my powers cloaked by those who were desperate to protect me. But now that my true identity has been revealed, a vile enemy is desperate to capture me. I need Cyrus, my fated mate, now more than ever. His support makes me stronger, and I need that strength as I uncover more about my hidden heritage. By doing so, I inadvertently awaken deadly threats that target me and those I love. Danger is closing in as my adversaries grow intent on killing Cyrus and handing me over to the prince of Hell. To protect my mate, I’ll have to harness my emerging powers and prepare for war. My days as a pawn are over, and I will fight to protect those I hold dear… even if it takes my last breath.     Amazon KU

THE SCARLET THREAD: A GOTHIC GASLAMP VICTORIAN PARANORMAL MYSTERY by Kat Ross

Bloody Mary Worth. Say her name thirteen times in a mirror and you might see the face of your future husband. Or, less happily, your own shrieking demise. December 1889. When society girls start dropping like flies at the start of the Winter Ball Season, Harrison Fearing Pell lands her first juicy case since she was suspended from the Society for Psychical Research. And the prime suspect is the very same client who landed her in the soup last time—criminal prodigy and all-around nuisance James Moran. The victims appear to have been scared to death. But is the real culprit the ghost of a vengeful dead girl—or something even worse? As Harry digs deeper into Mary’s unsolved murder thirty years before, the icy hand of the past reaches into the present. What is the significance of the scarlet thread wound around the victims’ fingers? Is there a connection to the mesmerism fad sweeping New York? And if he’s innocent, why is James still such an insufferable bastard? Moran’s connections to the city’s seedy underworld might be the key to untangling the mystery—assuming Harry can find the answer before she ends up killing him herself.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

WITCHSLAYER’S SCION by L T Getty

Koth’s life was decided for him since before he was born, for his ability to heal wounds by touch is rare even among his people. When an attempted kidnapping turns to sacrificial murder, he embraces vengeance and the sword. As he journeys far from his small, isolated village in the north, he learns the truth as to why his bloodline is targeted by strange magic, in a world still rebuilding from a time when dark sorcerers didn’t bother with secrecy. Koth thinks his quest is straightforward enough: find the men responsible and kill them—and any who aid them. He will soon learn that those who have both privilege and power, there are few things they lack—and in the pursuit of godhood, their allies can prove even more sinister as mere mortals seek to advent empires and dynasties.

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CURSED WITCH (CREATURES OF THE UNDERWORLD) by Brogan Thomas

Tuesday Larson thought she’d settled for normal. A disappointment to her mother for never taking well to magic, she deliberately put distance between her family and any witchery. But the supernatural destroys her barriers when a group of mercenaries tears through her home looking for blood. Escaping with her cat-sized dragon to find her coven under attack, Tuesday’s stunned when a hunky wolf shifter saves her from an elf abductor. But when she ends up at a quirky hotel that unleashes her abilities, she’s shocked to learn she’s part of a race that’s being hunted to extinction. Finally graced with formidable powers, will she outlive the shift?      Amazon KU

THIS WICKED FATE (THIS POISON HEART) by Kaylynn Bayron

Briseis has one chance to save her mother, but she’ll need to do the impossible: find the last fragment of the deadly Absyrtus Heart. To locate the missing piece, she must turn to the blood relatives she’s never known, learn about their secret powers, and take her place in their ancient lineage. But Briseis is not the only one who wants the Heart, and her enemies will stop at nothing to fulfill their own ruthless plans. The fates tell of a truly dangerous journey, one that could end in more heartache, more death. Strengthened by the sisterhood of ancient magic, can Briseis harness her power to save the people she loves most?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE BALLAD OF PERILOUS GRAVES by Alex Jennings

Nola is a city full of wonders. A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women help keep the order. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To Perilous Graves, it’s simply home. In a world of everyday miracles, Perry might not have a talent for magic, but he does know Nola’s rhythm as intimately as his own heartbeat. So when the city’s Great Magician starts appearing in odd places and essential songs are forgotten, Perry realizes trouble is afoot. Nine songs of power have escaped from the piano that maintains the city’s beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unwilling to watch his home be destroyed, Perry will sacrifice everything to save it. But a storm is brewing, and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Nola’s time might be coming to an end.

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THE LOOPHOLE by Naz Kutub

Sy placed all his bets for happiness on his boyfriend, Farouk . . . who then left him to try and “fix the world.” Now, the timid seventeen-year-old Indian Muslim boy is stuck in a dead-end coffee shop job and all he can do is wish for one more chance . . .Sy never expects his wish to be granted. But when a mysterious girl offers him three wishes in exchange for his help and proves she can grant at least one wish with an instant million-dollar deposit into Sy’s struggling bank account, a whole new world of possibility opens up. Is she magic? Or just rich? And can Sy find the courage to leave Los Angeles and cross the Atlantic Ocean to lands he’d never even dreamed he could visit, all to track down his missing ex? With help from his potentially otherworldly new friend, will Sy go all the way for one last, desperate chance at rebuilding his life and refinding love?

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JUNIPER AND THORN: A NOVEL  by Ava Reid

A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites.  Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya’s last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than a tourist trap as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate her tyrannical, xenophobic father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. But at night, Marlinchen and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city’s amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theater, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart. As Marlinchen’s late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father’s rage and magic. And while Oblya flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.

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ENCHANTED TO DEATH (THE CRAYON KITTEN COZY MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 2) by Constance Barker

The victim loved playing games on people and she may in death as well. Could the death be her own last laugh on those she wanted to exact revenge? Her children weren’t fond of her games or each other. Has one of them taken the sport of pranks one step too far? And why was a man written into her will at the last minute? Seems strange. Can Kacie collect clues from the dear departed or does the deceased still want to play games, even in death?     Amazon KU

THE NOBODIES by Alanna Schubach

Jess and Nina, Nina and Jess … to everyone else they’re typical best friends, sharing closeness and confidences in their own little world. But Nina and Jess have a secret. Simply by touching their foreheads together, they can swap bodies. In Jess’s assertive persona, self-conscious Nina turns bolder, free to say what she’s frightened to voice on her own. Inhabiting Nina, Jess becomes part of the loving, stable family she craves. Now, in crisis after her father’s death, Jess has reentered Nina’s life following a long separation. Once again they switch bodies, and their worlds begin to mesh. Each deceives the other, confesses, is forgiven. But how deeply can you sink into another’s life before there’s nothing left of you? Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, The Nobodies poses questions about the nature of intimacy, the many flavors of betrayal, and the value of female friendships.

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SORCERY’S KISS (DEMON TALES AND FAIRY GAMES BOOK 1) by Kayleigh Sky

Welcome to the Fillery Hotel, home to the Bells and Balls Convention, and last stop for a runaway fairy prince and the grumpy demon hunter who loves him. Dick Slumber is a growly demon hunter with a three-legged cat he doesn’t want and a secret he must keep at all costs. But Dick has a problem—he’s not who he says he is, and he’s running out of ways to hide it. Gin Lark is a feisty fairy prince whose job is to help his sister keep demons out of the human realm. But Gin has a problem—he doesn’t possess an ounce of magic, and somebody wants him dead. When Gin goes into hiding as a hotel housekeeper, and Dick is hired to find him, they discover themselves in the center of a cursed hotel, a resurrected pinball convention with its own secrets, and a tear in the sky called the rift, which is about to let loose a horde of demons. Falling in love should be the last thing on Dick and Gin’s to-do list—unless love is the only thing that can save them.     Amazon KU

THE UNEXPECTED GENTLEMAN (LOVE THROUGH TIME) by Augustina Van Hoven

The Honorable Henry Darington, third son of the Earl of Lindford, thinks himself very ill-used by circumstances. His father does not agree, and Henry soon finds himself with a one-way ticket to the former British colonies. He’s prepared for a difficult adjustment, but not for twenty-first century America, where horses are iron, women are half-naked, and his heart is endangered. Laurel Bishop is in the midst of her feeding the animals on her little farm and worrying about a predatory developer’s next moves, when she stumbles across an unconscious man. If that isn’t enough, he’s dressed like a character from a Jane Austen play. When she finally realizes he’s the real thing—a time traveler—she’s torn. He’s a complete stranger. How can she just take him in? But how can she not?    Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THEY HAD EYES OF SILVER (THE WULFIN SERIES BOOK 1) by S E Davis

Veterinarian Reina Kirke is exhausted. So, when her best friend suggests a European vacation, she doesn’t hesitate. A much-needed break and a chance to investigate her mysterious family tree sound perfect. Too bad she’s in no way prepared for what she finds. The fairytale town in Belgium hides family secrets grounded in the supernatural. Legends of werewolves and witches surround her, and a taboo love affair threatens to pull her into a danger she might not be able to handle. What seems like a chance encounter with Blaise Woodward, a brooding hunk with his own secrets, sets up a sequence of events that could unravel both of their families as they realize their deep connection to each other is generations old. But only one thing is certain. Their lives will never be the same.   AmazonKU

AN OMEGA BEAR FOR VICTOR (BRUIN RIDGE BEAR-GINNINGS BOOK 3) by Lorelai M Hart and Colbie Dunbar

Victor thought it was all a dream—until he discovered that it wasn’t. Alpha cheetah shifter Victor grew up rogue, living his life among humans. When he starts dreaming of pack life, he brushes it off. He’s fine living his life solo. He doesn’t need to be surrounded by others like him to find his worth. Besides, he just finished his residency and has offers from some of the best hospitals in the country. So, why is he feeling the pull to answer a call in the mountains—in a bear den of all places? When he accepts a job and is on his way to the city, he finds himself driving through Bruin Ridge territory. What could it hurt to stop by and check it out? Omega bear shifter Brian loves all the changes that he’s seen in his den. What was once a place where omegas were treated as less than is now a place where true equality reigns. When a stranger comes to see about taking over as Healer, Brian scents his true mate. His bear is thrilled, and so is he—that is, until he’s slapped in the face with the truth: Victor is moving to the city in a week. He’s never had any intention of becoming Healer. What good is a mate if he’ll ask you to leave everything? Brian isn’t willing to stick around and find out, taking his fur and hiding until the fancy city doctor takes his leave.      Amazon KU

ACCIDENTAL CUPID (SUPERNATURAL RETRIEVAL AGENCY BOOK 4) by Laura Greenwood

As a cupid, Pippa does everything she can to avoid setting people up, but sometimes, she just can’t help herself. When her best friends get engaged, she ends up at a Halloween party with the last person she ever expected to see again. Can Pippa avoid matchmaking and her ex-boyfriend all in the same night?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

CROWNED EMPRESS (BEYOND THE CURSE BOOK 3) by Laura Greenwood

Time is running out for Keira and her friends. The consequences of not getting her crown back are starting to show, and if she doesn’t do something to fix it, there’ll be even more trouble. Crowned Empress is book three in the Beyond The Curse dark fantasy fairy tale series. It is inspired by fairy tale lore, including Sleeping Beauty and Hansel & Gretel. It includes an m/f romantic sub-plot.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

HELLHOUNDS AND HELLFIRE (VAMPIRES OF BLOOD AND BONES BOL 3) by B A Stretke

Evrard, the Hellhound Bard, is a fearsome leader seldom seen outside his Rocky Mountain compound. When he reached out to Coven DuCane for a meeting, the entire Coven went on alert. Evrard isn’t a man who makes social calls. He arrived on hellfire, bringing devastating news, an old foe of Coven DuCane has returned, and he brings with him something so deadly that only someone as old and powerful as Evrard can bring it down. The visit takes on a whole new dynamic when a young man stumbles his way to the gates of Palace DuCane, pleading for shelter and protection. His entire family has been murdered, and he fears he will be next. That sweet boy will shift the old Hellhound’s world off its axis and give him so much more to fight for. Kyler is the youngest member of the Zamfir family and is now the sole survivor. He’s running for his life with only the family’s magic, grief, and his own determination to fuel him. He was told to seek out Louis DuCane. The great Master Vampire would shelter him, keep him safe from whatever was determined to end his family line. At Palace DuCane, he will find so much more than a roof to shelter him. He will find a war on the brink and the most gorgeous and powerful man he’s ever laid eyes on. If he can survive what is to come, maybe, just maybe, he could have a future with the man. What he wouldn’t give to have a man like that dominate his life, own him mind, body, and soul. He just has to live.     Amazon

MAGIC BETRAYS (THE RANDI SANDERSON SERIES BOOK 2)  by Lia Davis

War is brewing. One rogue outfit inspires fear in both Heaven and Hell alike. The Shade. A group of half-angel, half-demon malcontents bent on domination over the middle. But first, they’ll have to deal with Jacksonville’s lead detective, Randi Sanderson. A hybrid herself, Randi distanced herself from the magical world, content to live and work among humans. However, after she barely managed to save her own son from the grip of Shade operatives, she’s prepared to dive back into the supernatural underbelly — and tear it apart. Hell’s no place for a kid, but without safer alternatives, Randi lets her father take her son into hiding while she deals with…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BADGE (COVEN OF DESIRE) by Ellen Mint

They’ve found her. Layla’s life is a mess. Thanks to Ink’s big mouth, Cal knows that she knows about the big red wolf, and he is pissed. She can’t find a way to bring Daniel back from death and even worse, Ink seems to think that’s the perfect time to dissolve their bond. Naturally, the second she’s abandoned by her guys, the witch hunters strike. ..(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)    AmazonKU

THE SORCEROR’S ALPHA (THE MIDDLE SEA BOOK 2) by Corey Kerr

They’re lost in the wilderness. And there’s only one tent. When a routine mission goes horribly awry, expert wilderness scout Marut finds himself solely responsible for protecting one of the powerful court sorcerers. Marut is suspicious of magic and more comfortable with horses than people, but he comes to begrudgingly respect Sycamore as they flee for their lives. Lost in a strange and wild country and forced into close quarters, Marut and Sycamore develop an unexpected and unsettling intimacy during the long and treacherous journey home. Because Sycamore isn’t only a sorcerer, he’s also an omega, and he has needs Marut is irresistibly tempted to fill. But Marut’s first loyalty is to his kingdom, and the war they’ve fled from isn’t over. As they’re plunged back into the conflict, Marut is torn between serving his people and saving the man he’s grown to love.     Amazon KU

OMEGAS DON’T CRY (KNOT THAT KIND OF GIRL) by Violet Fox

I’m being chased. Hunted. My pursuers? Three gorgeous hitmen with a penchant for killing omegas, each one more brutal than the last. That’s what I get for attacking my Correction Officer at the Omega Correction Compound. Somehow, I managed to escape by the skin of my teeth, and now I live a life on the run. They were going to kill me for being too spirited. Untameable. An omega with too much backbone. Yet to my surprise, my hunters only go and spare me, and that was how I ended up in the custody of Pack Cobra. Roman, Sebastian, and Isaac are tempting in every way, yet falling for my kidnappers is out of the question. I have to escape them. After all, I belong to no pack. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself, thank you.     Amazon KU

FOUND BY THE LAKE MONSTER: A LOVE BATHHOUSE MONSTER ROMANCE (MONSTROUS MATCHES) by Lillian Lark

A lake monster in heat, a lost human in the woods, and the lie that gets her stuffed…Getting lost in the woods was not the adventure Amy had in mind when she jumped at the chance to search for the local lake monster. She just wanted to liven up her steady but boring life, not wonder if every shadow on the ground is a snake and worry that no one will ever find her. Luckily, someone does find her.
Unexpectedly, that person isn’t human. Wildly, he seems to think that she’s his date. 
Adrian faces what could be his last heat. As his temperature rises and his biological clock ticks, his only hope is that the witch being sent by a famous matchmaker will be as compatible as he dreams. Can he convince his date to not only provide relief during his heat but also carry his eggs?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

CHAMPION OF DUSK AND DAWN (CHAMPIONS BOOK 2) by Megan Derr

Immediately after winning his spurs, Leonine is sent on a quest: track down the person or persons who assassinated the late king, and bring them back—dead or alive. Still exhausted from helping his former master win a vital championship, and reeling from being discarded by his lovers, all Leonine wants is a chance to catch his breath. Instead he is met with foul weather, brigands, and the very last two people in the world that he wants to see: Everard and Odilia, the lovers who discarded him, who decided he wasn’t worth the trouble. Just like everyone else in Leonine’s life. His vows as a knight require that he see them to safety, however, even as he continues his dangerous quest. Surrounded on all sides with challenges, Leonine isn’t certain what will break him first: the killers or the broken heart.   Amazon     Kobo

GATEWAYS TO THE PARANORMAL: 14 CLEAN AND SWEET PNR ADVENTURES by Various

VS Note: Story details on ebook seller page.

Fourteen beautiful and romantic paranormal adventures you won’t want to miss!     AmazonKU

THE GRYPHON AND HIS THIEF by Karen Michelle Nutt

VS Note: I always enjoy her writing!

Darrien Andros, a gryphon sworn to protect humans is cursed to live forever, safeguarding the items in the Museum of Cursed Antiquities. His mundane life between the world of the living and turning to stone as the sun rises is disrupted when a thief attempts to steal Hecate’s Stone. He cannot eliminate her for her thieving ways. Not when she resembles his dead wife. Cali Angelis, a thief for hire, needs Hecate’s stone for her client. Only Darrien makes her question her client’s motives. She’d like to think Darrien delusional, but she’s seen the unbelievable. Will they unravel the mysteries behind the stone before history repeats itself?      Amazon     Kobo

INTO THE LION’S DEN (SECRETS OF THE NORTHLAND SHIFTERS BOOK 1) by A S Green

It’s not just Shifters who lurk in the shadows. Mountain lion shifter Reese Fitzpatrick never expected to be running his father’s business–a luxury resort hidden away in Minnesota’s Northland. But when his father is killed by a hunter’s bullet, it’s up to Reese to keep his father’s legacy alive. The job would be hard enough without the arrival of Sarah McAvoy, a mysterious woman with secrets of her own. While she quickly has Reese’s mountain lion purring inside his skin, she’s also such an irritating distraction he wants nothing more than to snarl and bite her. But Reese has more to worry about than an accidental reveal of his animal nature. If he and Sarah can’t get past their differences, overcome the slow-burn of their sexual tension, and make the summer a financial success, the Fitzpatrick land could soon be covered in parking lots and strip malls. Turns out, Reese’s father wasn’t the competent businessman he always believed him to be. And those vulture real estate developers are already hovering. Just waiting for Reese to fall. That is, if the hunter who killed his father doesn’t return to get him first.     Amazon KU

WITCHIN MOONBEAM by Charity Parkerson

For all of his adult life, Wade has worked the night shift for the Elvenwood police department. It’s an easy gig with only the occasional burst of excitement. Either nothing happens in his town or it’s a case too big for the local police. Mostly, Wade just kills time on the clock. Now, people’s pets are going missing in droves. As a huge dog lover, that’s something that doesn’t sit right with Wade. He has to figure this one out. With zero clues, Wade heads to the local psychic, hoping Caspian might see something he can’t. Instead, Wade realizes the answer is a lot closer to home than he thinks, and he has a much bigger problem than he ever dreamed.      Amazon KU

GUARDIAN OF HONOR (THE SUMMONING SERIES BOOK 1) by Robin D Owens

VS Note: Re-release. It’s an “Author’s Preferred Edition,” so I don’t know if that implies any new material or re-editing.

Marwey had ambitions – to become the chief of staff of the Marshall’s Castle – the seat of power in her land. Until she saw Pascal, a poor Castle Soldier. But he’s determined to become a Knight, and then a Marshall himself…years of danger on the battlefield, defending Lladrana from monstrous invaders. Sharing his life means sharing his danger, pairing with him and fighting as a Shield to his Sword. Then comes a new challenge, a woman from another land Marwey must help. Where does her destiny lie? With their magic boundaries collapsing and flesh-eating monsters invading, the Marshalls of Lladrana follow ancient tradition and summon a savior from the Exotique land.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

KISS OF SHADOW (COURT OF STARLIGHT AND DARKNESS BOOK 2) by Kinsey Hall

Accepting the throne could be a death wish….My coronation is near, but life is more dangerous than ever. King Lore and I are like an inferno waiting for a single match, but we still don’t trust each other. And as we travel to the High Court of the Fae for our wedding, a stalker lurks in the shadows. Someone doesn’t want me to be queen, and they’re willing to kill me to keep me off the throne. My only chance is to trust Lore, but I have too many secrets that could get me killed.     Amazon KU

ATONE by J C Owens

VS Note: Sounded intense but good…one clicked and couldn’t stop reading. Loved it! Bought another book off the backlist…

Once, Tal Oryan was an elite warrior, fighting for the kingdom at the side of the powerful general who loved him. Then Tal loses everything in a haze of pain and betrayal after his hand is severed in battle. Now labeled a “cripple” and cast out from the warrior life he’s known for so long, he has no choice but to return to his past, a place of horror and guilt. He can no longer stay in the capital after High General Ramidine Swal, the man who once claimed him, never shows up after Tal is wounded. Worst of all, the priceless sword Ramidine once gifted to Tal is gone. Now Tal struggles to find a new purpose as the traumatic events in his past demand the most brutal of sacrifices…Ramidine Swal is known as The Golden General, feared, revered, and the right-hand man to the prince. But when he returns from a desperate victory to Tal, the wounded warrior he was forced to leave behind, he discovers that Tal has fled the capital. Ramidine soon learns of a twisted cover-up and a betrayal so dark it threatens not only the future peace but the very man he loves. Ramidine is not a man to be stolen from, and certainly not someone so precious as Tal. He is determined to find Tal and set things right, no matter the distance and no matter the cost. Tal will be his again.      Amazon     Kobo

WICKED GRAVES: AN IVY MORGAN AND MADDIE GRAVES MYSTERY by Lily Harper Hart

Maddie Graves-Winters should be preparing for the biggest day of her life – she’s going to become a mother in three months after all – but that’s impossible without the right crib. That means an outing to nearby Shadow Lake with her husband Nick, which turns into a nightmare she wasn’t expecting when a local author is struck in the middle of the road and left for dead. Ivy Morgan-Harker didn’t even know they had a famous author in town until she was already dead. When helping her husband Jack and his new partner search the dead woman’s house, she finds an entire wall of grievances, which seems to indicate the victim had more than one enemy. When Maddie and Ivy cross paths, sparks fly … in a magical way. It isn’t long before …(more blurb on ebook seller page…)    Amazon KU

FORESTS OF GRANDEUR AND MALICE (A MAGE’S INFLUENCE BOOK 4) by Melanie Cellier

With the borders breaking down, and their friends in the settlement in deadly danger, Cadence and Airlie need to act fast. Instead they’re caught up in politics where torn allegiances threaten their freedom. But the greatest danger lies across the border in the fallen kingdom. The threat of the General still looms large, and the wild power is far beyond the control of any one person. After a lifetime of deception, the sisters are still discovering their power and heritage. Airlie wants to let go of her final secret, but she worries it could pave the path to further destruction, and she fears its revelation might mean losing Cadence for good. But it also might offer their only hope of salvation. If the sisters have any chance of saving their world, they must do it together.     Amazon KU

THE LAST GOD by Gillian St Kevern

Kel, a former prince turned gravedigger, serves the Unknown God. Bitter about the gods’ neglect of their people, Kel’s limited patience with the divine is tested when his former lover, now a famous general, shows up in the tiny town of Farport. Done with being the gods’ plaything, Kel quits the priesthood—only to discover that the unknown god has plans for him and his ex. Iscar’s shocked to discover that the prince who was too good for a lowly soldier now follows the god of outcasts. He’s even more shocked when the unknown god declares himself to be War and claims Kel as his high-priest. Having experienced all war’s horrors, Iscar is determined to free Kel from the god, escorting him to Celestial City in an attempt to win Kel away. Kel fights his attraction to Iscar and struggles with his duty to his god. Iscar’s belief that the gods are just, and reward those who are deserving, is challenged by their journey. His allegiance is no longer to the gods, but to his love. But Kel, consumed by doubt, cannot see what a man—or a god—would want in him.

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MAYHEM IN MONTREAL (CASE FILES OF AN URBAN DRUID) by Auburn Tempest and Michael Anderle

Welcome to the whacked and weird world of Fiona mac Cumhaill. If you’re new to Team Trouble, welcome. If you’re back for more—awesomesauce. In the past two years, I leveled up as a kick-ass urban druid and became the leader of the Fianna Warriors my ancestor Fionn mac Cumhaill needed me to be. The thing is—four months ago everything changed. The veil between realms came down. With dormant genes waking, the dominant races jockeying for their place in the hierarchy, and the world around us pulsing out of control with power, my position as the Fae Liaison of Toronto has gotten off to a chaotic start. Is anyone really surprised?     Amazon KU

WITCH APPEAL (MAGICAL RENOVATION MYSTERIES BOOK 10) by Amy Boyles

When three mysterious people move to Peachwood, all of whom exhibit magical powers, Clem and Rufus are on high alert. You see, they had been warned that the Clearers, an order intent on destroying witches and wizards, are coming to their town with one goal–to end witchcraft in Peachwood. This leaves Clem with one question–who is the Clearer? Is it the preacher creating miracles at First Baptist? Or the barista whose every coffee concoction overflows with magic? Or could the owner of the new sporting goods shop be the one that Clem and Rufus are looking for?
As their investigation deepens, chaos ensues. Media coverage of Peachwood reveals what folks really think about the witches and wizards in town–and y’all, it ain’t good. And when catastrophe strikes, Clem finds herself flying solo, without a wingman for help. Will she uncover the Clearer before they overtake her town? Or will Clem find herself on the wrong side of magic?      Amazon KU

WOLF SCHOOLED by Emily Carrington

Midnight Sons: Amaruq, a transgender Inupiat werewolf, is confident in his own body. Still, he runs up against challenges living and loving in a small town college. Nootaikok, a former tracker, finds solace in Amaruq’s peaceful nature, but when they’re threatened by terrorists, Nootaikok must reclaim his past, despite his demons. Tainted Son: David’s history doesn’t stop him from lusting after Liam, but biting is central to werewolf society. When he falls for Liam, a wolf who longs to bite him, David must overcome his past or spend the rest of his life alone. Outcast Son: Cast out of his pack because of his psychic abilities, lone wolf Seiji yearns for love. Will Nicholas’ capacity for loving kindness help Seiji find himself and what his heart desires most?

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HELL’S FLAME (SOUL REAPER ACADEMY BOOK 2) by Rune Hunt

The Flame holds the power to all of the underworld. It controls all of the souls, demons, and all of the supernatural beings living in Hell and in the Shadow World. I am next in line for the Flame and becoming the Queen. In order to prepare me for my new role, my father has given me one task before I can take over: become a soul reaper and find my three hellhounds. Completing the task is harder than expected when two out of the three hellhounds I’ve chosen don’t want anything to do with me. And with people after me and my throne, I’m finding completing my father’s orders nearly impossible. Now, it’s a race against the clock to finish my tasks at the Grim Reaper Academy, claim my throne, and the Flame before it’s too late.      Amazon KU

BLADES AND BRIDESMAID (MITZY MOON MYSTERIES BOOK 19) by Trixie Silvertale

Mitzy Moon is a dry land kinda gal. Never in her life has she wanted to take an extended adventure in a tippy canoe. But when her newly engaged cousin calls for help, she’ll have to put her faith in a snippy rival or risk losing everyone…With a militant environmentalist stalking the bride-to-be and her maids on a camping trip, Mitzy is stuck with only mean-girl Deputy Paulsen as backup. After last-minute advice from Ghost-ma and her feisty feline, she heads deep into the wilderness to find the missing girls—with nothing but a tent and a flimsy plan. Will Mitzy chance spilling her secrets, or turn turtle and transform the pending nuptials into a funeral?       Amazon KU

MAGIC AWAKENS (THE EVERMORES CHRONICLES BOOK 8) by Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

Fran and Cam have deciphered the prophecies. Something dark and terrible is coming soon and the light is needed to defeat it. Will they be able to find out exactly what they need in time? Magic is failing on earth causing fights, chases, and a quick break for beer. Fran needs to convince the Evermores that her generator is a better solution than the Source. Could a wrong step lead to a magical civil war? The resistance is steep, and it will take every ounce of persuasion she has to get them to agree to her plan. Hope is a powerful weapon. Will Fran and the Evermores be able to use it to return things to normal and remove the darkness?       Amazon KU

FAMILIAR OR NOT by Pelaam

Julen might be a witch, but Halloween is too commercial for his tastes these days. When his Aunt Cassandra learns that Julen likes their new neighbour Aleck, she can’t resist trying to bring them together, and invites Aleck to a Halloween soiree. But she interferes a little too much. To Julen’s delight, he and Aleck seem made for one another. Until he discovers his Aunt’s involement. Heartbroken to think what he shared with Aleck isn’t real, Julen runs away to a mountain cabin to get over the hurt. When the truth comes out, can Cassandra and her familiar Wiley get Julen and Aleck back together before it’s too late?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ALPHA’S TRUST (THE CLARITY SERIES BOOK 4) by Cassandra Faye

One innocent decision ruined Karissa’s life, changed her forever, but she’s determined to find normal again… no matter the risks. Returning to the real world will require the pack to trust each other like never before, because in a universe where Omegas are ruthlessly hunted, one mistake can mean life or death. It would be easier for the pack to keep her locked away, protected, but the Alphas want a mate — not a prisoner. And if the pack wants a future, they’ll have to fight their instincts, and gamble it all for a chance at something more.     AmazonKU

BERTA (TALES FROM ALTA NOVIS BOOK ONE) by Linda Mooney

Author Henry Elder came to Alta Novis to learn more about the fabled battle lord and his lady. But rather than re-tell the tales of their already well -known exploits, he wants to hear about the couple from the people who really know them. The people who live, love, interact, and fight alongside with them. He wants to hear those personal anecdotes in order to discover a side of Yulen and Atty that few people know. These are the stories he discovered. Story #1 – Berta’s been managing the kitchen and main lodge since Yulen D’Jacques was a baby. She’s been there to see the good and the bad happen between the Battle Lord and Lady. But one memory, in particular, sticks out among all the rest.

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ALPHA’S MATE (SILVERDALE WOLVES BOOK ONE) by Mia Wolf 

He’s hot. He’s determined to be the next Alpha. And he just rejected me as his mate. I’m a traitor’s daughter, so I can never be the Alpha’s mate. But how can he deny our bond … the flame we felt beneath the willow tree that night? I want to hate his guts for ghosting me … but I can practically hear his wolf calling to mine. If determination had a name, this black wolf would be it. Tall, broad and muscular, he’s been training his whole life to take over as the new pack leader. With his sharp gray eyes and thick black hair, he looks every bit the part … And his delicious scent makes it impossible for me to stay mad at him … or resist him. Fine, let him prevail in the rank fights and become the new Alpha. Let him pretend that what happened between us was a one-off. And I will pretend to hate him and never want him again. Yet not even proud Alphas or rejected mates can escape fate…How much longer can we resist the delicious pull?     Amazon KU

NIGHTMARE’S DANCE (DREAMBOUND BOOK ONE) by Dakota Brown

Playing pretend isn’t as innocent as it seems when your “imaginary” friends turn out to be all too real. Running wild in the woods with three amazing friends is a great way to grow up. Even if my parents think they’re made up. Everything is better with them by my side—hide and seek, pirates, wedding…Twenty years later, I have everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I travel all over the country with my circus troop and our aerial silks acts are always sold out. Time stops while I’m in the air, and I live for every daring performance of aerial skill with my best friend and lover, Geraint Knight. That all comes to an end after our last act of the season. Bloody Mary herself forces us through a mirror and drops us into the world of dreams and nightmares. My captors claim I’m the princess of Nightmare after my childhood “wedding.” And my princes want me back.     Amazon KU

PACK POSSESSED (THROWN TO THE WOLVES BOOK FOUR) by J Kearston

You can’t outrun your demons, but you sure as hell can give them a run for their money. The monster that’s tormented us from the shadows has finally stepped into the light, and he has his sights set on me. But discovering that my entire life has been orchestrated as a twisted form of training to help him literally unleash Hell on earth? Not exactly my idea of a romantic gesture. There’s an invisible noose around our necks, tightening more with every passing day, every saccharine smile Ash sends my way. He may have had centuries to put his plans in place, but he underestimates the depth of my spite, the lengths I’m willing to go to protect what’s mine. You don’t die for the people you love, you live for them. And unfortunately for Ash, he forgot to take the most important variable into account when making his plans; me. The thing even Nightmares fear.     Amazon KU

TRENTON (MARSHALL’S SHADOW BOOK 6) by Kathi S Barton

Trenton was the last of the brothers to find a mate. He saw his brothers’ happiness and wanted to experience that for himself. Libby had moved in with her aunt to help her out. And when a crazy neighbor was plotting to poison their water to make them sell their property to her, the Marshalls stepped in to help. From the moment Trenton figured out Libby was his mate, she suddenly possessed a great deal of magic. With the little people popping in and out and the house constantly changing, Libby thought she was on the brink of losing her sanity.       Amazon     Kobo

DINOSAURS, DISASTERS & ALBERT EINSWINE (DINO MAGIC BOOK 1) by Sedona Ashe

I have huge man problems. Literally, since one of my mates is a T-Rex. Things are about to get interesting, because my day job happens to be in a museum. A museum full of dinosaur bones, if you know what I mean. It turns out my bloodline is older than dirt, and an ancestral matchmaker decided to send me some gifts…aka, men. And not just any men, but dinosaur shifters from the past. I’ve read enough paranormal romance to know all about fated mates, but I’ve never heard of fated dinosaur mates. These men are supposed to be my perfect match, here to help me learn about my magic. Rawr. Yes, they are as sexy as you are imagining. My life had been a routine of working and spending time watching TV with my pet pig, Albert Einswine. Now I needed to learn to control the magic I never knew I had, learn more about my family line, and help these sexy dino shifters adjust to modern society. All while hiding a T-Rex sized secret from the world. To make matters worse, detectives are looking into the explosion I may or may not have caused when my blood mixed with some magic-infused ancient dust, which is a serious problem since the sexy green-eyed detective has my heart flip-flopping in my chest.      Amazon KU

DRIVEN TO DANGER (MANNHOFF 5) by Angela Gaines

Journalist Megan Bristol has landed her dream assignment — an interview with mysterious and dangerous Evan Scott — to take place at his seaside estate in Florida. Scott has a large collection of fast cars and one motorcycle. It’s a Mannhof, a handmade bike that will only run for one person. That person is Megan. When the Mannhof senses his mate’s presence and shifts into a human man, Megan and Theo forge a strong sensual connection. Theo knows assassins are coming to execute Evan, and Megan is in danger. But he can’t convince Megan to believe in him and trust him to protect her. When Megan takes matters into her own hands, Theo fears he will lose his one and only mate.      Amazon     Kobo

EMBRACE A WOLF (IRON WOLVES NEXT GENERATION BOOK FOUR) by Elle Boon

PIPER… searched for the male she’d connected to long before she knew what a truemate was, only to find he wanted nothing to do with her and their bond. Hearts can’t mend like they say, but maybe she could find something else to ease her soul. JAXON…knew Piper was his from the moment he heard her within the Fey Queen. Yet he has an ability thanks to his time with his Crew. That ability has shown him a future that is too grim for him to allow to come to fruition. THE FATES DENIED… when you try to change the future, the universe will find a way to right what you’ve made wrong. Can Jaxon manage to keep what he’d seen happen from being his future, or will he lose everything, including his mate and future children?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BETA UNTAMED (FERAL PACK BOOK 2) by Eve Langlais

Asher is determined to never settle down—until he meets his mate. Asher is a flirt and the fun-loving joker of the Pack. He’s determined to remain single forever, but that plan goes out the window when Valencia arrives. A feisty human, she teases him at every turn. Makes him want something more. Especially after they spend a weekend as a pretend couple to avoid trouble with his old Pack. Problem is he’s got a secret, a howling and hairy one. And she’s mentioned more than once the fact that she’s not crazy about dogs. Things come to a head when Valencia is threatened and he’s forced to show her his feral side. Will she run or stay to tame the beast?

Amazon      AB     Apple Books      Kobo

**************************************************************************************

LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

June 15

June 8

June 1

May 25th

May 18th

“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…

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!

I check and verify all the buy links at the time I create the post  but after that I’m not responsible.

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

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

What Did He Say Weekend Writing Warriors

Still in that time frame where it’s all testing, with the answers I need yet to come. I’ll keep posting a  weekly snippet because the effort to do so isn’t too taxing, but I just can’t make it around to everyone else’s blog to comment. 

Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)

Sharing from my second scifi romance gladiator novel RENNYR.

If you want the full story of what they go through and how they battle to survive and protect each other, and their romance, with all the nuances and details, the book is available wide. 

The excerpt, switching to Jaine’s POV as she waits to enter the arena:

I’m not going to cower and run. I’m not going to make it easy for whoever comes after me. They’re going to have to acknowledge I want to live. Maybe a miracle will occur. Maybe the people here will change their minds.

Maybe the fighter in the cell will keep his word and come help me.

One of the guards was issuing hurried instructions. Realizing she’d missed the first part of his lecture, she took a deep breath and concentrated, wiping away all other thoughts. She elbowed the man beside her. “What did he say?” she whispered.

“Weapons in a pile in the center of the arena,” he answered with irritation, moving away from her a few steps. “Try to grab one. Better pay attention.”

The guard was still talking. “By a stroke of luck, our boss won the toss and you sorry lot have the privilege of entering the arena first today. Gives you a better chance at the weapons anyway. Make a good showing, impress the odds makers and the audience and the master might let you live. Two minutes till you hit the sand, people.”

“Who are we fighting?” yelled someone on the other side of the room.

“Anyone in blue,” the guard answered with a crooked smile, as if the answer was obvious. “Don’t worry, they’ll find you.”

VS: Meanwhile, Rennyr has broken out of his cell and is rushing toward the arena. But can he arrive in time to save her?

RENNYR (BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK 2) by Veronica Scott

Rennyr was a genetically engineered senior soldier in his Badari Warrior pack until one day he woke up on a strange planet naked, disoriented and about to be sold into the gladiator arena for the rest of his life. Unscrupulous guards faked his death in the lab where he was created and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. Kill or be killed is the rule in his new life and a Badari never gives up. He’ll fight to stay alive until the Badari goddess sees fit to decree his death and release him from the wretched existence.

Jaine Mitchel of the Sectors was on her way to an exciting research internship until pirates seized the spaceship on which she was a passenger and took her to feature in a gladiator ‘death match’ in the galactic hinterlands. She has no hope of surviving in the arena until a man she only glimpsed in passing breaks out of his cell and saves her life, declaring her to be his fated mate. Given to Rennyr as his reward for winning the death match, Jaine must share a cell and a bed with the handsome, not human, gladiator and together they have to find a way to survive in this merciless world of violence and death. Their mutual attraction is off the charts. Falling in love is the easy part, finding a way to escape or even to remain together is the challenge. At any time their mutual owner could decide thumbs up or thumbs down on one or both of them, or sell them separately.

Their only hope is a mysterious gladiator master from offworld who may be coming to buy Rennyr. Will he take Jaine as well? Could Rennyr win freedom for them both if he does well enough in the arena? Badari Warriors claim their mates for life and Rennyr has no intention of losing Jaine…RENNYR is an 80K word novel and can be read as a standalone. KYDEN is the first book in the series.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

#SciFi Romance Reads for 2022 Ripped Bodice Bookstore Summer BINGO

The Ripped Bodice Bookstore in SoCal is conducting their sixth annual Summer Romance Bingo. As in other years, I thought it would be fun to take their bingo card of categories, which you can view on their website and identify scifi romance titles that would satisfy the requirements for readers. I asked the members of The SciFi Romance Brigade on Facebook to recommend books and definitely allowed authors to recommend their own titles, although SFR Brigadiers are avid readers and also provided books from other authors. As always some categories were hard to fulfill and others were wayyy popular! I kept a closer limit on the number of books in each category this year.

I put my own selection of Happy Ever After titles for the category in the center “square”.

As the Ripped Bodice notes on their rules, “You can interpret the categories however you want” so we did take a bit of license on a few to fit scifi romance. If we altered the category to find SFR books to fit, the revision is in parenthesis behind the actual category.

To be clear, we’re NOT playing bingo here, merely providing a list of suggestions! Hop over to the Ripped Bodice Bingo site if you want to enter their contest, which runs all summer 2022.

And I certainly included a few of my own titles!

Many of the books were suggested for more than one category; however I only listed each title in one category to keep the list as unique as possible. This post takes two full days to collate and create so I only looked up the Amazon buy links (and their audiobook link if there was one). I have to have enough time to write my own books too!.

Quotes listed are from the authors or from me unless otherwise noted.

It makes for a fun reading list. Happy Summer Reading to All!

Second Chance Romance:  ENTWINED FATES (THE INFNITE CITY) by Tiffany Roberts     Amazon KU

CYBORG’S SECRET BABY (CYBORG SIZZLE) by Cynthia Sax    Amazon

TWIN DRAGONS’ DESTINY (DRAGON LORDS OF VALDIER BOOK 11)  by S E Smith     Amazon     Audiobook

ABOVE THE STORM (INTERGALACTIC DATING AGENCY) (SILVERSTAR MATES SERIES BOOK ONE) by Lea Kirk     Amazon

STAR KING (STAR SERIES BOOK 1) by Susan Grant     Amazon KU

THE HEIR (KELDEREN RUNIC WARRIORS BOOK 3) by Jessie Donovan     AmazonKU

ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL (COVENANT OF THE RAINBOW BOOK 2) by Elana Brooks     AmazonKU

REN: WARLORD BRIDES (WARRIORS OF SANGRIN BOOK 11) by Nancey Cummings and Starr Huntress     Amazon

ENTRY VISA (THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME WORLD SECURITY BOOK 5) by Cassandra Chandler    Amazon

Bath (the place or the activity): MAIL ORDER MOM (MY HOLIDAY TAILS) by Marina Simcoe…”The alien baths have live fiush in them which freaks the heroine out.”      Amazon KU

CONTAGION by Amanda Milo     Amazon KU

CAPTIVE OF THE HORDE KING by Zooey Draven…”lots of sexy bathing in this one” sez a reader.      Amazon KU

MATCHED: JENNIFER’S DIARY (XAERD MATES BOOK 1) by L Starfyre   Amazon KU

STOLEN BY STARLIGHT by Sara Ivy Hill     Amazon KU

Amnesia: UNCHAINED MEMORY (INTERSTELLAR RESCUE SERIES BOOK 1) by Donna Frelick      Amazon KU

JADRIAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 3) by Veronica Scott     Amazon

ALEXANDRU’S KISS (MAGIC NEW MEXICO BOOK 3) by S E Smith   Amazon      Audiobook

NEBULA NINE by Pauline Baird Jones     Amazon

FORTUNA: THE APPRENTICE VOLUME FOUR (THE TWELVE SYSTEMS CHRONICLES) by E G Manetti     Amazon 

WARRIOR WENCH (ASARLAI WARS BOOK 1) by Marie Andreas   AmazonKU

TARA’S BIG O (ANGUIS DEFENDERS BOOK 2) by Stephanie West    Amazon KU

WARLEADER (THE BORDERLANDS BOOK 1) by Susan Grant     Amazon KU

AN UNCOMMON WHORE by Belinda McBride     Amazon KU

BELLE STARR by Belinda McBride      Amazon 

DUBIOUS TREASURE (COSMIC KISSED) by Harpie Alexa     Amazon KU

A GIFT FOR THE ALIEN WARRIOR by Honey Phillips      Amazon KU

THE FALL (TALES OF TOLARI SPACE BOOK 3) by Christie Meierz       Amazon

Cover has food on it:  ALIEN ABDUCTION FOR MILKMEN (THE INTERGALACTIC GUIDE TO HUMANS BOOK 6) by Skye MacKinnon     Amazon     Audiobook

MY TINY GIANT (MY HOLIDAY TAILS) by Marina Simcoe    AmazonKU

Bicycle (or one person vehicle):  WARLORD’S RETURN (CHAMELE BARBARIAN WARLORDS BOOK 6) by Cynthia Sax…”space motorcycles”      Amazon

STAR PRINCE (STAR SERIES BOOK 2) by Susan Grant…”a Harley”     Amazon KU

THE ALIEN’S RANSOM (DRIXONIAN WARRIORS BOOK 1) by Ella Maven…Reader sez: “motorcycles”    AmazonKU    Audiobook

EXPERIMENT by Marina Simcoe…”bad aliens ride hover bikes”   AmazonKU

NEW YEAR NEW PLANET: BLIND DATE WITH AN ALIEN (MY HOLIDAY TAILS) by Marina Simcoe…”bad aliens ride air bikes”      Amazon KU

THRILL-KINKY (CHRONICLES OF THE MALCOLM BOOK ONE) by Teresa Noelle Roberts…”a zip bike, which is basically an air borne motorcyle”      Amazon

THE FATED STARS by Veronica Scott…the mercenary heroine Larissa has a nifty air bike.   Amazon

Superpower: SCATTER by Molly J Bragg      Amazon

DARK THOUGHTS (REFUGE BOOK 1) by Cynthia Sax…”Kralj can read minds and kill with his mind”      Amazon

THE EXTRAORDINARIES by TJ Klune      Amazon      Audiobook

SUPER STARELLA (SECRET SUPERS BOOK 1) by Aurora Springer   Amazon

RENEGADE (THE SURVIVAL RACE BOOK 3) by  K M Fawcett    Amazon

WEAVING FATE (GUARDIANS OF INORE BOOK 1) by Octavia Kore   AmazonKU

DANGER IN THE STARS by Veronica Scott…Mirielle is an alien empath who can influence the actions of humans and can kill with her power.      Amazon

Mistaken Identity: GENMATE MISTAKEN (GENMATE BOOK ONE) by Cara Bristol      Amazon

STAR CHAMPION (CHAMPION OF BARESH) (STAR SERIES BOOK 4) by Susan Grant      Amazon KU

HERS TO COMMAND (CYBORG SIZZLE BOOK 8) by Cynthia Sax   Amazon

TWIN DRAGONS (DRAGON LORDS OF VALDIER BOOK 7) by S E Smith   Amazon     Audiobook

ROYALLY MATED (OTHERWORLDLY MEN BOOK 2) by Susan Grant   AmazonKU

TARON (VIRILIAN MAIL ORDER BRIDES) by Ella Blake    AmazonKU

KRAL (CYGNIAN 7 BOOK 2) by Cassandra Chandler     Amazon

Halloween:  TRICK OR ORC (A MONSTERLY YOURS ROMANCE) by S J Sanders      Amazon KU

NIGHT OF THE DEMENTED SYMBIOTS (DRAGONLINGS OF VALDIER BOOK 5) by S E Smith     Amazon     Audiobook

EARTH HALLOWEEN FOR THE ALIEN (EARTH ANTICS FOR ALIENS) by C Y Croc      Amazon KU

TAKEN FOR GRANITE (KHARGALS OF DURAS BOOK 6) by Nancey Cummings…Author sez: The entire book takes place in the days leading up to Halloween. The alien is mistaken for having a really good costume.”   Amazon

HIS DARKEST CRAVING (THE CURSED ONES BOOK 1) by Tiffany Roberts   AmazonKU     Audiobook

A MATE FOR OIGR (THE MATE INDEX BOOK 8) by S J Sanders      Amazon KU

Dance:  STAR CRUISE MYSTERY DANCER  by Veronica Scott…My scifi romance take on the Anastasia legend, with dancing.    Amazon

HA’VEN’S SONG (CURIZAN WARRIOR BOOK 1) by S E Smith   Amazon     Audiobook

ALIEN PILOT NEEDS A NANNY: ALIEN NANNY AGENCY #2 by Tasha Black…”Classically trained dance ris tricked into signing a contract to dance at a gentleman’s club off-planet. She is able to terminate this by signing a nanny contract.”    Amazon

SEIZED (TRIBUTE BRIDES OF THE DREXIAN WARRIORS BOOK 2) by Tana Stone…”protagonist is a professional ballet dancer abducted by aliens”     AmazonKU     Audiobook

ALIEN GODDESS: SARAH (MAKAEN WARRIORS BOOK 1) by Zina Wes      Amazon KU

SILENT LUCIDITY (THE INFINITE CITY BOOK 1) by Tiffany Roberts      Amazon KU

DUSTWALKER by Tiffany Roberts      Amazon KU      Audiobook

I MARRIED A MERMAN (PRIME MATING AGENCY) by Regine Abel…”The merfolk have a Bollywood style of courting and mating dance they normally perform underwater, enhanced by their bioluminescent cells but exceptionally do it above water for the MC’s wedding since she can’t breath underwater.”       Amazon KU

PROVOKING ODIUM (CYBORG UNITY BOOK 1) by Cynthia Sax…”Can cyborgs dance? We find out the answer in this story – theres a dancing competition at the end of it.” OUT JUNE 21     Amazon

FEARLESS (THE SURVIVAL RACE BOOK 2) by K M Fawcett…”Miya dances the ceremonial mating dance for Kendrick three different times in the book. Each time it gets hotter.”      Amazon

Made Up Country (or planet for scifi romance):  THE CARTEL: THE APPRENTICE, VOLUME ONE (TWELVE SYSTEMS CHRONICLES) by E G Manetti      Amazon

NORTH BOUND (CYBORG EXPLORATION BOOK 5) by Cynthia Sax…”Set on a lush green planet ruled by a sentient male-eating plant named Steve. The human inhabitants are Amazonian-like warrior females.”      Amazon

BREAKAWAY (VERDANT STRING BOOK 1) by Michelle Diener   AmazonKU

DARK PLANET WARRIORS by Anna Carven     AmazonKU    Audiobook

GLADIATOR (GALACTIC GLADIATORS BOOK 1) by Anna Hackett   AmazonKU     Audiobook

RIVER’S RUN (LORDS OF KASSIS BOOK 12) by S E Smith       Amazon      Audiobook

AYDARR by Veronica Scott     Amazon

LOST TO THE ALIEN LORD (LORDS OF DESTRA BOOK 1) by Ella Blake     Amazon KU

ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE by Veronica Scott     Amazon      Audiobook

CRUDRAT: THE TINKERED STARS by Gail Carriger     Amazon      Audiobook

THE STARK DIVIDE: LIMINAL SKY: THE ARIADNE CYCLE BOOK ONE by J Scott Coatsworth    Amazon

POSSESSED BY THE ALIEN KING (FATED MATES OF THE VAROOL BOOK 1) by Krista Luna    AmazonKU

TREASURE OF THE ABYSS (THE KRAKEN BOOK 1) by Tiffany Roberts     Amazon KU     Audiobook

SAFE PASSAGE: A LESFIC SPACE OPERA by Rachel Ford      Amazon KU     Audiobook

High Tea:  HIS HUMAN WARD (MONSTERS LOVE CURVY GIRLS BOOK 5) by Michele Mills…”She does get served a fancy tea they call Traq, but it’s by herself in her fancy suite overlooking the gardens.”   AmazonKU     Audiobook

COLONY UNDER SIEGE: INTERSTELLAR VIRUS by Veronica Scott…The heroine has to eat a formal refreshment with the hero’s elderly grandmother, who is a very high ranking priestess.     Amazon

Protagonist smells like laundry (or for scifi romance any book where the pleasant scent plays a role): AMIR: FORBIDDEN MATES OF THE ARDUN ROYAL GUARD by Ami Wright…”The heroine’s scent profile is described as being like Dava blossoms (alien tree) and cherries or roses with earthy undertones like rain in summer on a warm pavement! Okay, so he obssesses over her scent just a little.”      Amazon KU

POSSESSED  BY THE ALIEN PRINCE (FATED MATES OF THE VAROOL BOOK 2) by Krista Luna…”the hero smells like smoked ginger.”   AmazonKU

BRIGHT STAR: THE APPRENTICE: VOLUME 2 (THE TWELVE SYSTEMS CHRONICLES) by E G Manetti…”The hero smells like the sea. It’s an important detail that gets the heroine through desperate situations.”     Amazon

THE OVERLORD’S SACRIFICE (INTERGALACTIC ALLIANCE SERIES BOOK 5) by Bella Blair…”The heroine went through some traumatic experiences and when the hero carries her, she smells forest and trees on him, which calms her.”      Amazon KU

TRATUS: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 14) by Veronica Scott…In each of the Badari Warriors books, the hero recognizes his fated mate by her uniquely floral scent, which is a sign from their goddess the woman is meant to be his, if he can win her.       Amazon

Happy Ever After (Veronica’s Picks):  KYDEN (BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK 1) by Veronica Scott     Amazon

AURIC (CRASHLAND COLONY ROMANCE BOOK 1) by Leslie Chase   Amazon KU

THORN BEARER: THORN RAVEN VOLUME THREE (THE TWELVE SYSTEMS CHRONICLES BOOK 10) by E G Manetti     Amazon

ICE PLANET BARBARIANS  by Ruby Dixon     AmazonKU    Audiobook

SUBMIT (THE SKY CLAN OF THE TAORI BOOK ONE) by Tana Stone    Amazon KU

OVERLORD (GALACTIC KINGS BOOK 1) by Anna Hackett     AmazonKU     Audiobook

I MARRIED A MINOTAUR (PRIME MATING AGENCY) by Regine Abel      Amazon KU

BOUND (THE SPIDER’S MATE BOOK 3) by Tiffany Roberts     Amazon KU

OLIVIA AND THE ORC by Honey Phillips      Amazon KU

SILVER SAVAGE: WARRIORS OF VALOSE SAGA ONE by Iona Strom      Amazon KU

Hawaii (or for scifi romance any tropical style planet or island):  TAIL, DARK AND HANDSOME: CELESTIAL MATES (TAIL AND CLAW BOOK 3) by Nancey Cummings… “The main characters meet on a tropical planet while the heroine is on her cancelled honeymoon (nonrefundable – what are you going to do?).”     Amazon     Audiobook

A NUDE ATTITUDE (EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS BOOK 3) by Honey Phillips…”tropical island. Hawaii maybe?”     Amazon KU

ANGEL BRAVE (AZURA CHRONICLES BOOK 3) by Vijaya Schartz…”Set on a tropical planet. The hero Keoke is an Islander and was raised in a Hwaiian type of society.”     Amazon

DAEGAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTIORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 10) by Veronica Scott…The action takes place at a secret lab in the southern seas, on a Hawaii-like island.     Amazon

STAR CRUISE: IDOL’S CURSE by Veronica Scott…The plot revolves around returning a piece of an ancient idol to Tahumaroa, which is a tropical style planet very much like Hawaii.     Amazon

TIME TRAP: A PROJECT ENTERPRISE STORY by Pauline Baird Jones…”occurs on a tropical island.”   Amazon

Mafia: RUTHLESS KING (RUTHLESS WARLORDS BOOK 1) by Alison Aimes     Amazon     Audiobook

FARRYN’S WAR (EXILES OF THE DRIFT by Christie Meierz…reader sez “exiled alien ruler turned Mafia underboss who plots to rescue the estrangedwife he thinks betrayed him – so he can kill her himself.”  Amazon

STAR CRUISE STOWAWAY: A NOVELLA by Veronica Scott…The heroine is an alien empath who has been kidnapped by the Amarotu Combine, the interstellar crime syndicate which appears in a numbe rof my books.      Amazon

ALIEN’S CHALLENGE (OUTLAW PLANET MATES) by Nancey Cummings…”The hero is part of a gang of thieves.”     Amazon     Audiobook

ONE TWO PUNCH by Pauline Baird Jones…”future New Orleans mystery scifi with Mafia.”   Amazon

SHIELDED HEART (THE INFINITE CITY BOOK 2) by Tiffany Roberts…”character is a criminal hacker and has a gang.”      Amazon KU

Title has a number in it (and I specified for scifi romance it could not be simply ‘book three’ or whatever): ESCAPE FROM NOVA NINE (CENTRAL GALACTIC CONCORDANCE) by Carol Van Natta    Amazon

SIXSHOOTER (HORIZON CROSSOVER) by Lyndi Alexander   Amazon

5TH GENDER by Gail Carriger    Amazon      Audiobook

THE SIXTH DISCIPLINE (HAVEN SERIES BOOK ONE) by Carmen Webster Buxton      Amazon

A TALE OF TWO COLONIES by Aurora Springer      Amazon

TWO AGAINST THE STARS by Veronica Scott      Amazon

RAYZOR’S ONE by Michele Mills   Amazon KU     Audiobook

EXPERIMENT B4HR (RED PLANET DRAGONS OF TAJSS BOOK 21) by Miranda Martin    Amazon KU

College Dorm (or for scifi romance we said any academy or school situation):  HAWK (SKYMATES) by Susan Grant…”aliens come to Earth to participate in galactic Top Gun school”   Amazon KU

ROGUE (ALIEN WARRIOR ACADEMY BOOK 1) by Tana Stone…”takes place at an alien military academy.”    Amazon KU     Audiobook

COSMIC SUTRA by Jessica E Subject…”takes place at an academy.”     Amazon

PICO’S CRUSH: CENTRAL GALACTIC CONCORDANCE BOOK THREE by Carol Van Natta…”takes place at a university where one of the main characters is a professor and a supporting character is a student. The school is in a galaxy-famous resort town.”      Amazon     Audiobook

ALIEN ABDUCTION FOR BEGINNERS (THE INTERGALACTIC GUIDE TO HUMANS BOOK ONE) by Skye MacKinnon…”Aliens are learning how to abduct humans and graduate from the Intergalactic University.”      Amazon      Audiobook

Widowed Protagonist (we said widow/widower): GIRL GONE NOVA (PROJECT ENTERPRISE BOOK TWO) by Pauline Baird Jones   Amazon     Audiobook

CLAIMED BY THE STRYXIAN (STRYXIAN ALIEN WARRIORS BOOK THREE) by Ella Blake     Amazon KU     Audiobook

ENTICED FROM THE DEEP: VENORA MATES BOOK FOUR by Octavia Kore      Amazon KU      Audiobook

TRIAL BY FIRE: INTERGALACTIC DATING AGENCY (SILVERSTAR MATES SERIES BOOK THREE) by Lea Kirk       Amazon

THE WAY MAKER (THE CODES OF CREATION – THE ZEMYNEAH EXPERIMENT BOOK ONE) by Arlie Sheehan      Amazon

GRIM (TORNIANS BOOK ONE) by M K Eidem     Amazon     Audiobook

IVOKK: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 12) by Veronica Scott      Amazon

PAUL’S PURSUIT (DRAGON LORDS OF VALDIER BOOK 6) by S E Smith      Amazon

Steampunk: THE WIZARD OF AETHER (VILLANOUS AFFAIR BOOK TWO) by Heather Massey      Amazon

A TOUCH OF PURPLE (THE TOWERS OF EARTH BOOK SIX) by Nita Round     Amazon KU

HEART OF IRON (LONDON STEAMPUNK BOOK  TWO) by Bec McMaster   Amazon     Audiobook

STEAMROLLED (PROJECT ENTERPRISE BOOK FOUR) by Pauline Baird Jones     Amazon     Audiobook

HOUSE OF SABLE LOCKS by Elizabeth Schechter     Amazon     Audiobook

THEIR HYBRID: STEAMPUNK REVERSE HAREM by Skye MacKinnon   Amazon

THE GOLDEN SPIDER (AN ELEMENTAL STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE BOOK ONE) by Anne Renwick   Amazon      Audiobook

Architect:  ALIEN ARCHITECT NEEDS A NANNY: ALIEN NANNY AGENCY #1 by Tasha Black    Amazon

IGNITE (INFERNO FORCE OF THE DREXIAN WARRIORS BOOK ONE) by Tana Stone…”the female protagonist is the first human astro-architect.”   Amazon KU      Audiobook

Work Rivals: RAVISHED BY THE ALIEN VIKING: BOOK THREE IN THE GALACTIC VIKINGS MAIL ORDER BRIDE SERIES by Lucee Joie…”The two characters work in a lab. One is there because he has been given everything. The other worked hard to get there and the conflict arises becaus eof that.”      Amazon KU

TATTLE TAIL: CELESTIAL MATES (TAIL AND CLAW BOOK 4) by Nancey Cummings…”workplace romcom with fake fiance.”     Amazon     Audiobook

STAR CRUISE TIME LOOP by Veronica Scott…Not exactly a workplace rivalry but the heroine has won a crew contest for a bit part in a trideo (futuristic movie) being filmed on board the star ship and one of her co-workers shows up and tries to edge her out of the scene.      Amazon

Property Inheritance:  HER ALIEN FARMHAND: BLIND DATE WITH AN ALIEN by Honey Phillips…”the heroine has inherited her farm.”       Amazon KU

MISSION TO MAHJUNDAR by Veronica Scott…Technically the heroine Ptincess Shalira is an heir to the throne and should/could inherit the planetary empire.     Amazon      Audiobook

Animal Shelter: VIRAK: VIRILIAN MAIL ORDER MATES by Ella Blake…”The hero has built a huge sanctuary for the many alien anomals he rescued from the black market traders.”     Amazon KU

ZANDRO (ALIEN ANIMAL RESCUES BOOK 1) by E D Walker…”some adorable but dangerous bajo kittens are rescued.”     AmazonKU

DARK STRENGTH (REFUGE BOOK THREE) by Cynthia Sax…”Balvan, the huge alien hero, rescues wounded creatures and has converted his domicile into an animal shelter.”     Amazon

KARLA: SEEKING FREEDOM (XAERD MATES II) by L Starfyre…”Her mates adopt pets for her daughters from an animal shelter.”    AmazonKU

THE ALIEN’S ZOOKEEPER (ANIMALS AND ALIENS BOOK ONE) by Skye MacKinnon and Arizona Tape   Amazon

I MARRIED A NAGA (PRIME MATING AGENCY) by Regine Abel…”They have a hidden valley inside the mountain range their city is built in that is a shelter for animals.”      AmazonKU     Audiobook

Graduation: GRAND MASTER’S PAWN (GRAND MASTERS’ GALAXY BOOK ONE) by Aurora Springer…”begins just after the heroine graduates.”      Amazon

COLONY UNDER SIEGE: INTERSTELLAR VIRUS by Veronica Scott…takes place very soon after the heroine graduates from medical school (and the advanced training which follows).      Amazon

Ghost:  GHOST (COLONY: HOLIDAY BOOK TWO) by Demelza Carlton…The hero is an alien djinn who can materialize and dematerialize.      Amazon

GHOST OF A MACHINE (CYBORG SIZZLE BOOK 9) by Cynthia Sax…”Many question if he truly existed.”   Amazon

SPECTERS IN THE STORM by Pauline Baird Jones     Amazon

HER ALIEN GHOST (MONSTER BITES BOOK TWO) by Michele Mills   Amazon KU

AFTER DARK (GHOST HUNTERS BOOK ONE) by Jayne Castle…An alien race left behind eerie ghosts in the ruins of their long gone culture.     Amazon     Audiobook

GHOST PLANET by Sharon Lynn Fisher…set on a planet every inhabitant is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one.      Amazon KU     Audiobook

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VS: The Science Fiction Romance Brigade and I wish you a very happy summer full of hours and hours of good reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JUNE 15

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). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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CRAVED BY THE ALIEN LORD (LORDS OF DESTRA BOOK 4) by Ella Blake

Rayna – If one male remained alive in the universe, and that male was Lord Ledos, I’d let both of our species die out. He looks like a rock star, swaggers like the galaxy’s greatest gift swings between his leather-clad legs. He’s a force of nature. I’m a wallflower. We couldn’t be more opposite. It would be so much easier to ignore him if my body didn’t light up like a display screen every time he was near.
When I’m forced to live on his ship because some marks on his chest mean I’m his mate, I’m furious. I’m not cut out to be anyone’s mate, especially his. Ledos – I am Ledos, wielder of the longbow and lord of my Sola, my living ship and symbiont. My brothers consider me a waste, and yes, I have been known for indulging in pleasures of every kind. But that was before an enemy attack caused my ship to become separated from the others. Before I rescued one of my brothers and his Sola from certain death, and with him, the human females under his protection. Before I met her. The instant I meet Rayna Lee, my body burns with the mating marks. The little human is mine. My true mate. My love. And for some reason, she detests me. When an accident causes us to be stranded on the planet’s surface and forced to survive on our own, Rayna accepts me as her mate, but being away from my symbiont ship for so long is slowly killing me. I can survive anything the enemy Brakken throws at me, but I cannot survive losing her.     Amazon KU

STORM (ELITE ROGUE ALIEN WARRIORS BOOK 1) by Hattie Jacks

He’s the monster on the space station. I’m the girl who always runs. I thought I would die alone in the heap of floating space junk orbiting a planet that’s not Earth. But then he burst through an airlock. And now I know two things: We are not alone and aliens are not little green men. They’re hulking great winged predators with abs that go on forever and a penchant for hunting humans. My alien has to be the most gorgeous being I’ve ever seen. From the look in his dark eyes, he wants so much more than first contact. He wants to consume me…And for the first time in my life, I stop running. With any luck, I’m going to be lunch.     Amazon KU

SAVED BY THE MAW (UNUSUAL PIRATES BOOK 4) by Layla Stone

There’s nothing worse than being stranded on a freezing cold planet with a Demon who lived on a diet of driving her crazy and self importance? Prussia was a phenomenal ship mechanic; there’s nothing she can’t figure out and fix, until she was given a strange object that transported her and the Night Demon from their ship to a new planet. Refusing to die next to the arrogant x-pit fighter she attempts to figure out the object so that they can go home. Unfortunately, poking things to see what it does ended up transporting another member of the Maw to her awful situation. One obnoxious Demon, one emotionally broken Kingling, and one despondent Ahpaki…..trying to survive the impossible.      Amazon KU

A GRIM BABY (TORNIANS BOOK 8) by M K Edidem

VS Note: I think GRIM is one of the best scifi romance novels I ever read and I still want the heroine to be one of my besties. So I’m happy to see this new sequel novel and have it pre-ordered.

It’s a busy time within House Luanda. Women are finally choosing Warriors. A facility is being prepared for the first willing females from Earth. The time is drawing near for Grim and Lisa’s daughter to be presented, and Grim is struggling with it. The thought of his Queen being at risk terrifies him. Then Grim discovers another threat that affects not just his queen but every Tornian, Kaliszian, and person on Earth. New life and old grudges are revealed during this fragile time, and only the Goddess knows what will happen.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PLANET OSTER: FERTILITY FUSION (THE HOLIDAY HEDONISM SERIES) by  J L Logosz and Vera Valentine

VS Note: I saw an absolutely hilarious review of this on Tiktok so I’m listing it. It’s listed in Erotica. Released APRIL 23.

When broma pod smuggler Ch’ik Wazo finds herself – literally – down and out on an unfamiliar planet in the Rahnbo system. she’s forced to admit she’s in one hell of a tight spot. Just as she’s preparing for a long, boring, and credit-less wait through the harvest season, an unlikely trio of long-eared aliens makes her an irresistible offer. Zul, Roz, and Jau promise they’ll help her save her cargo if she’ll agree to carry theirs. But with hidden dangers ready to turn a not-so-simple business arrangement into an all-out space war, it will only take one wrong move for this strange partnership to go supernova.  Planet Oster: Fertility Fusion is an explicit Easter-themed alien romance intended for 18+ audiences only. It involves very explicit group activity, colorful (and frequent) explosions of “egg dye,” ovipositor action, knots, designations of the verse-of-omega variety, discussions of fertility, pregnancy, birth, brief mentions of stillbirth/infant loss (not directly affecting characters), allusions to sex work, allusions to drugs, vaping, pain kinks, praise kinks, kidnapping, gross vending area snacks, graphic violence, space gun violence, extensive property damage, unethical hacking, stealing, unaliving of baddies, awakening of furry tendencies you might have been previously unaware of, alien anatomy, mating bites. And finally, while neither sweet bunnyboys still carrying their V-cards for certain acts or MM interaction needs a “warning,” consider this a notice this lovely stuff is in here too. (If you have any questions about potentially problematic content, please feel free to reach out to the authors directly on social media!)      Amazon KU

NICOLE’S PRISONER (INTERGALACTIC WARRIORS BOOK 3) by Mara Jaye

This alien messed with the wrong gal. And now? He’s tied up in my mountain cabin. It’s been a couple of months since hundreds of thousands of people were abducted by aliens. We were all glued to the news as it happened. Even now, everyone is jumpy when a plane flies a little too low. Hell, or even flies at all. When I spot a guy who looks a little too shiny and strong to be from around here, I panic. Determined to catch and turn him over to authorities, I lure him inside my home, conk him over the head, and tie him up. Which was such a bad idea, because now what do I do with him and why does he keep insisting we’re mates?      Amazon KU

VOWS OF EMPIRE (BOOK THREE OF THE BLOODRIGHT TRILOGY) by Emily Skrutskie

VS Note: Not listed as a romance but certainly there are romantic elements.

Gal and Ettian have never been farther apart. Once, they were roommates and best friends, each suffocating under a secret of galactic consequence. When Gal’s came to light—that he was heir to the Umber Empire and all of its brutal conquest—the two were forced to flee their military academy, fall in with a brewing rebellion to reclaim the Archon Empire from Umber’s grasp, and face their long-held feelings for each other. Then the rebellion discovered Gal’s identity and to save his life, Ettian had no choice but to unveil his own secret: that he was the long-lost heir to the Archon throne. With Gal as a political prisoner, Ettian began the fight to restore his own empire—and to open Gal’s eyes to the possibility of a galaxy reclaimed from Umber’s greed. But just when Gal was starting to come around, a team of Umber operatives rescued him from Archon’s clutches and dragged him home to take up his crown. Now, separated for the first time and in full command of the might of their respective forces, the star-crossed rulers find themselves truly at odds. And with the war reaching a tipping point, the time has finally come for Gal and Ettian to confront what they owe their empires, their friends, and each other if they’re ever to forge a universe where the two of them can be together.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

ZADOC (ZENARIANS BOOK 4) by Anne Rainey

She awakens the beast in him…Zadoc has known happiness when he met his beautiful Jasmine. His ofelia. His soulmateShe was his whole world. Only to have her ripped away from him when she was murdered during the war with the Mordaines. Her death was a knife to his heart. As a centuries-old Zenarian immortal, Zadoc is aware that he will never love another. Never feel the soft caress of a lover’s hands upon his wings. The physical scars he bears are a constant reminder of all that he’s lost. Until he meets Laura. Sweet, shy, and Earth-born. Her presence brings light and joy to his soul—and his creature isn’t immune to her innocent allure either. After so many years of cold emptiness, Zadoc will go to extreme lengths to keep Laura by his side.     Laura enjoys a simple life. A good book on a stormy night. Sunday dinners with her family. Her life is as modest as it gets and she’s happy with the status quo. When she meets Zadoc, co-owner of Zenarian Industries, she’s instantly drawn to him. His commanding presence and the deep, gravelly tone of his voice sends tingles of awareness along her nerve endings. Everything feminine in her stands up and takes notice. Until she glimpses the black wings sprouting from his back. Wait, wings? Before she can wrap her mind around what she’s seeing, she’s kidnapped by a disgruntled co-worker and tortured, marking the beginning of Laura’s crazy adventure into a world she never knew existed.     Amazon KU

BOYS, BEASTS AND MEN by Sam J Miller and Amal El-Mohtar

VS Note: Not romance. An LGBTQ+ scifi release of note. I’m buying it for the story which is kind of a follow on to “The Thing”.

Despite his ability to control the ambient digital cloud, a foster teen falls for a clever con-man. Luring bullies to a quarry, a boy takes clearly enumerated revenge through unnatural powers of suggestion. In the aftermath of a shapeshifting alien invasion, a survivor fears that he brought something out of the Arctic to infect the rest of the world. A rebellious group of queer artists create a new identity that transcends even the anonymity of death.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE RUNAWAY ALIEN (THE LOST PLANET SERIES BOOK 9) by Nicole Blanchard and K Webster

Everyone found their mate. Except me. I’m destined to die alone. Being jealous of my brothers and their happiness is something I’m not proud of. But this simmering anger won’t cool. I want to move past my own feelings and focus on winning the war against the Kevins. But then she calls for help.
Stella. She’s fierce and protective over her son, but she’s no match against a pack of sabrevipes—or the Kevins here to destroy us. Time is of the essence, and she needs me. It means running from the fight my people are in the midst of and setting off on a reckless mission with terrible odds. I’m determined, though. I’ll protect my runaway alien at all costs. Stella may hate every creature on Mortuus, including us morts, but it won’t stop me from keeping her and her son safe. If she hates me for that, so be it. I’d rather have her annoyed company than spend another second alone. Fate has brought me to them, as though delivering me right to my mate. All I have to do is convince her she’s forever mine.      Amazon KU

ESCAPING WITH THE ORC ENFORCER (MATES OF THE BURNING SUN CLAN BOOK 5) by Celeste King

My life is worthless. I’ve always been told I’m a freak. Not quite human. But never an orc. I was bred to fight the orcs. You may look at me and see a human woman, but they’ve added some of the traits of our enemies. Now no race wants me. And I am alone. Except for the handsome orc who calls himself Xenon. In a planet where human women are treated as objects to barter with, Xenon treats me like a person. He shares with me his food, his shelter, and one day soon I hope…His bed. He’s good, kind, and noble. His strength protects me and he’s given me everything while asking for nothing in return. So I’m going to give him something I know he’ll cherish forever. My heart.   AmazonKU

SEER KNIGHT (BRIDGE AND SWORD BOOK 5) by JC Andrijeski

Plagued by prescient nightmares and with hostile seers on their trail, Allie and Revik set up camp in New York, along with the remnants of their alliance. Then a human-killing virus strikes San Francisco.
Allie’s loved ones begin to disappear. Allie and Revik are forced to make impossible choices: robbing banks, dealing with double agents, hunting assassins and spies, building a refugee camp out of a five-star hotel––fixing their marriage. Meanwhile, Allie’s brother, Jon, is going through big changes of his own. He and ex-rebel, Wreg, search for humans on a list marking them as key players in the apocalypse––an apocalypse which already seems to be underway.      Amazon KU

TRICKSTER CAUGHT (GLADIATORS OF THE VAGABOND BOOK 2) by Robin O’Connor

Chloe – My entire life has been one disaster after another. And now I’m stuck in the cargo bay of a spaceship, hoping the hulking great alien shapeshifter who just walked in won’t find me. Except… When he makes a sound of pain I have to look. Of course I do. Abs that go on for days, intriguing lines marking a path down his body, and more injuries than I can count. I feel  sympathy and fear and desire. He lets me in on his darkest secret just to gain my trust, now what do I do with it? I want to run and hide. I want to run straight into his arms. Kitan – I can’t get over those blue eyes. This little stowaway, I want her. I want to protect her, take her, love her, fly with her. But first she has to trust me. So I show her the one thing I’ve hidden all my life, but sharing my secret comes at a prize. Her nav-ports are degrading, killing her slowly unless we do something. Somehow I need to find a way to get her the replacements she need. I’d do anything to save her life, anything. Even if it means I end up back home, trapped in hellish servitude.      Amazon KU

CELTAN DILEMMA by Eileen Troemel

Traitor or criminal? Lieutenant Lillian Buckner receives orders to take her squad of women pilots out to specific coordinates and destroy an unarmed transport. Lilly must decide whether to be a war criminal by firing on an unarmed vessel or to be a traitor and disobey her orders. Her life and those of her six pilots depends on her decision. No matter her decision, the punishment may kill her if she returns to the human forces. Trust or Punish? Lord Hugh Korol fights against the humans. They invaded the Celtan’s territory and took sectors of space from them. The humans attacked their home world. When human women aid one of their unarmed transports, he must decide what to do to them. Can he trust the one he desires or will she break more than the fragile trust growing between them?      Amazon KU

URIALE’S REDEMPTION (SHADOWS IN SANCTUARY BOOK 5) by Susan Trombley

Abandoned by the Father of Light and hunted by his Flock, Uriale craves vengeance against the Diakonos—humans who once worshipped him as a god, and then betrayed him by stealing his power over light. The chance for that vengeance stumbles into his talons with former Diakonos, Ellana Reese. Sparing her from death in the unforgiving jungle is no mercy on his part. He plans to torture the location of the other Diakonos out of her, but finds his own protective instinct standing in his way. To make matters worse, Ellana isn’t just any beautiful and fragile human female. She once captivated him as his devoted servant, her words of praise brightening his moments of darkness. Now that she’s in his grasp, he feels enchanted all over again. A dangerous secret – Ellana once loved Uriale as her god and also harbored a more forbidden desire for him, until he abandoned those he was meant to protect, destroying her faith in him. Now, she must lure him away from her son—their son—the genetically engineered child the Diakonos created to usurp Uriale’s power to give it to mankind. Ellana knows the fallen prince will kill Micah if he discovers the boy’s location. But Uriale’s unexpected mercy touches her heart as she realizes that he isn’t a perfect god of a light, but a flawed and scarred mortal of flesh and blood. Her fantasy is finally in her grasp, and his touch heats her blood, but the secret she must keep from him could destroy the love that grows between them. And the secrets Uriale keeps could destroy their world.      Amazon KU

THE BOUNTY by Liliana Carlisle

Everything’s gone wrong…all because I’m an Omega. My once normal, relatively happy life has been stripped from me. There’s a bounty for my capture. The government wants to keep me in a gilded cage, a prize to be enjoyed by other Alphas. But I refuse. Until three Alphas find me, each more captivating and handsome than the last. If they turn me in, I’ll never be free of the lust and greed of powerful men. But if they decide to keep me…They may steal my heart as well.      AmazonKU

ALIEN’S FIRE by Lynnea Lee

VIVIAN – What does it take for a chubby, socially awkward girl to get all the attention? Easy peasy. Just get kidnapped from Earth and thrown onto an alien planet. Since landing here, I’ve been fought over by every single alien I’ve met. Even the local wildlife want a taste. The one who has me now is terrifying. He’s huge, red, and looks like a demon—complete with a pointy tail! His touch does strange things to my body, and that’s even worse than being scared. COAL – All I wanted was to get the human female off my mountain. I’m not interested in having a mate; I’m very happy living alone. But the more time I spend with Vivian, the more I realize I can never let her go. What starts out as a chore to get back my peace and quiet becomes a race to win my mate. I might not be the warrior I once was, but my mate makes me whole, and I’ll do anything to keep her.     Amazon KU

MY ALIEN INVADER, F’IR (BLACK GIRLS OFFWORLD BOOK 2) by Nikki Clarke

Humans finally know they’re not alone in the Universe. The confirmation comes in the form of a ship landing on Ellis Island in the middle of a live national broadcast. They’re invaders, but they come in peace. They want to know us, help us. They offer an exchange–their advancements in health and science, the eradication of our worst diseases, the neutralization of our weapons of war. The going rate for peace on Earth? An invitation. For those who are interested, a chance to live off world in their society, to understand the greater Universe, to be space explorers. Niwa signs up, ready to see the stars and the planets among them. When she and the other volunteers board the ship, everything seems gravy, until she realizes something strange. They’re all women, and all of their hosts are male.
This isn’t what scares her though. It’s the look of the alien commanding the ship, a the fact that it makes her want to run toward him and not away.     Amazon KU

THE VAMPIRE (FATED MATES OF THE OLD WORLD) by Veronica Dean

I thought this was the beginning of a life of luxury, now I’m just wondering how I will survive the night. My whole life I have been training to be a princess. Now the day of my ascension is finally here, and I am about to meet my prince for the first time. All I know is that Azriel Vastarien is one of the fiercest warriors in all of Vaterra. I expected him to greet me with open arms, as excited to meet me as I am him. Instead, I am met with contempt and aggression. None of this is what I expected. I feel like a lamb surrounded by a wolf pack. There is something wrong with these people, with this castle. The pale, gaunt faces of the royals haunt my dreams; the way they leer at me and lick their lips disquiets me further. I have no one to turn to other than my brooding warrior prince. He doesn’t say it, but I know that underneath his smoldering red gaze, he must feel something for me. Every time we touch, it’s electricity, but I can sense something dark inside him, a secret that is burning a hole in his soul. Could his distance be a way of protecting me? But if so, from what? I’m terrified of what he might do if I give myself to him, but I’m more terrified of what will happen if I don’t.     Amazon KU

A KISS TO SPARE by Stein Willard

VS Note: Lesbian scifi. Not listed as a romance.

A mysterious race has settled in the Milky Way galaxy after a decades-long trek across the universe. Frighteningly advanced and confined to their ships, their quiet presence was puzzling, but oddly non-threatening. Eager to establish a rapport with them, the Alliance was getting nowhere in their efforts to engage the race’s Imperial leadership. That is until a bizarre incident brought the elusive Empress to their doorstep.       Amazon

DRONE (DERIDIA BOOK 7) by Catherine Miller

Chained. Forgotten. Wilful. Proven useless in the breeding rooms, Gwynn is relegated to the tunnels for punishment. Left to toil—or maybe to die, if no master returns for her. If only she could let herself. A desperate escape, the barest taste of freedom. Only to find herself ensnared by another. Not as a thrall. Not as a drone. But as something else entirely.     Amazon KU

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

Just a reminder, my primary occupation is scifi romance author! It was mentioned to me a few times this past week that people may not know that…every week I do highlight one book from my 50+ backlist, but I guess having it at the bottom of the post means many readers never see it. I’ll try it this way for a week or two; not sure I like putting it here.

VS: The next book in my  Badari backlist is KIERCE. This was an important book in the series because (mild spoiler) for the first time of the Badari can shift into his alien predator and I also wanted to set up a situation where the Badari tried to keep the soldier and his fated mate apart for what seemed like good reasons to them. But she’s having none of it! And (next spoiler) Kierce is from a Badari pack no one knew existed, which also sets up events in future books. 

KIERCE (A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL): Sectors New Allies Series Book 6

Elianna McNamee, spaceship engineer, is far from her home in the human Sectors, kidnapped along with all her shipmates to be used for horrifying experiments conducted on a remote planet by alien scientists.

Her captors decide to toss her in a cell with a ferocious predator, expecting him to kill her…but Kierce, the Badari warrior in question, has too much honor to mistreat a human woman. The trouble is, he’s trapped in a form drastically different from his own as a result of twisted genetic meddling and hiding dark secrets to save other Badari lives.

Able to become a man again briefly with Elianna‘s help, he and Elianna bond over their mutual hatred for the enemy but when rescuers finally arrive, the pair are separated by well-meaning Badari authorities.

Kierce struggles to overcome flashbacks from the torture and drugs the alien scientists inflicted on him. He and Elianna despair over whether he’ll ever be able to regain his rightful place as a man and a soldier in the pack, much less be ready to claim a mate.

Elianna accepts a risky but essential assignment far away from where Kierce is being held, working with another man who’s more than professionally interested in her. Her heart belongs to Kierce and she can’t forget their two nights of shared passion but will that be enough to lead them to a happy reunion?

Amazon     Apple Books       Nook     Google    Kobo

*********************************OKAY, ONWARD!**************************************************

THE STORM PRINCESS AND THE RAVEN KING (HEIRS OF MAGIC BOOK 4) by Jeffe Kennedy

VS Note: She’s an autobuy for me! Love her books…

A Broken Heart – Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo thought she was over her broken heart. She’d put her first love and childhood sweetheart, Rhyian, firmly in the past where he belonged. His bitter betrayal of her was locked away deep inside, along with her foolishly innocent hopes and dreams. Now Lena has been thrust together with him, the prince of shadows, the one man she could never resist, on a mission to save the world from a terrible cataclysm. Worse, Rhyian refuses to believe her when she says there’s no hope for them. An Irresistible Longing – Rhyian is rather accustomed to being a failure. Goddesses know, he’s not magical enough for his sorcerous mother and not alpha enough for his father, the King of Annfwn. It hasn’t helped that he’s spent the last seven years trying to drown his sorrows—and to forget the one woman he ever loved, whose heart he carelessly shattered in a moment of weakness. Rhy knows he has to change to win back Lena’s trust, but how? A Love That Can’t Die – As Lena and Rhy struggle to overcome the wounds of the past, they and their friends approach the final confrontation with the strange intelligence intent on rending apart the very fabric of their world. And it looks like it will come down to the pair of them to strike the final blow. But only if they can build a new trust on the bitter past.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DRAGON ETERNAL by Donna Grant

He’s a man of few words, but she fills his soul with poetry. Quiet. Brooding. Capable. Shaw’s mission is simple: Root out Stonemore’s leader and determine what the Divine has in store for the people of Zora and the Kings. Just as he gets started, however, a breathtakingly beautiful woman finds and tempts him like no other. Nothing can stop him from engaging in the pleasures she offers. After all, pillow talk is sometimes the best way to uncover secrets. Nia’s life has never been hers. From starving on the streets to becoming a slave to the Divine, she merely does what’s needed to survive. But when her latest assignment brings her face-to-face with a handsome man who makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, she begins to see that while she’s been living, she’s not really thriving. As truths are revealed, and Nia’s blinders are removed, she realizes that she can no longer sit by and allow things to continue as they have been in her city. It’s time to take a stand. With Shaw by her side, they spark a war so many have tried to avoid. But the injustices being perpetrated must be stopped—no matter the cost.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

ARCANE CHAOS: AN ARCANE SHOT SERIES NOVEL by Joey W Hill

VS Note: She’s an autobuy for me!

I don’t fear the Reaper. Not when he can kiss like that…A Grim Reaper knows when every living thing will die. But Silas can’t see Ramona’s death. It’s one of many reasons the Chaos witch intrigues him. She’s the antithesis of order, but when a dire threat to a single soul reveals a deeper attempt to ruin the order of life and death in the world, her power might be the key to making things right. If they survive the evil that wants to destroy everything that matters to them both, Ramona wonders if she’s finally found the male who won’t run from who and what she is. Suddenly the term “Death is the only certainty in life,” isn’t a threat—it might be a promise.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Author’s Universal Buy Link

THE VAMPIRE’S SUNNY SWEETHEART (NOCTURNE FALLS BOOK 14) by Kristen Painter

Sunday Wells comes from a long line of powerful witches, but that doesn’t explain why she’s plagued by dark shadows everywhere she looks. It’s not a great way to live, especially for a preschool teacher with young impressionable minds to watch over. Desperate to get control of her questionable powers, she gets help from the only reliable source she can think of. Her very powerful great aunt, Alice Bishop. But what Sunni finds out about herself will change everything. Vampire Lorenzo Robillard has dedicated his life to rescuing kidnapped children. It’s dangerous work with high stakes, and Ren ends up with a lot of enemies. Like the European crime boss who’s currently after him. With a target on his back, Ren runs to the safest haven he knows, his distant great aunt, Elenora Ellingham. But his troubles are far from over, and not just because there’s a woman in his aunt’s house he wasn’t counting on. Sunny and Ren clash like night and day. They’re so very different. And yet, so much alike. Love isn’t something either of them wanted, but the heart wields a magic neither of them can control.      Amazon KU

TROUBLE WITH THE CURSED (HOLLOWS BOOK 16) by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan, witch-born demon, has one unspoken rule: take chances, but pay for them yourself. With it, she has turned enemies into allies, found her place with her demon kin, and stepped up as the subrosa of Cincinnati—responsible for keeping the paranormal community at peace and in line.
Life is . . . good? Even better, her best friend, Ivy Tamwood, is returning home. Nothing’s simple, though, and Ivy’s not coming alone. The vampires’ ruling council insists she escort one of the long undead, hell-bent on proving that Rachel killed Cincy’s master vampire to take over the city. Which, of course, Rachel totally did not do. She only transformed her a little. With Rachel’s friends distracted by their own lives and problems, she reaches out to a new ally for help—the demon Hodin. But this trickster has his own agenda. In the end, the only way for Rachel to save herself and the city may be to forge a new understanding with her estranged demon teacher, Al. There’s just one problem: Al would sell his own soul to be rid of her.

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WOLF IN THE NIGHT (SALVATION PACK: THE NEXT GENERATION BOOK 5) by N J Walters

Driving home from a trip, Emma Matheson is run off the road in an abduction attempt. Seems the alpha of her father’s former pack never forgave his defection. To settle the old score, he plans to force her to mate with a male of his choosing—his son, Dmitri. Dmitri Gribkov wants no part of his father’s revenge. A loner by choice, nothing has prepared him for sexy, stubborn Emma. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect her—even if it means losing her. Determined to control her destiny, she does her best to escape, even as the attraction between her and Dmitri sizzles. Doesn’t take long for her to realize this huge, sexy wolf is a protector at heart. Tracking and killing are what he does best. Before this is over, he’ll have blood on his hands, but winning her love will be the hardest battle.

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SAPPHIRE: HOME AND ABROAD (THE STONES OF POWER BOOK 8) by M D Grimm

The time has come. The Dark Mage, Lord Morgorth, and Aishe of the Ravena Tribe, are to become bondmates. Morgorth is equal parts nervous and excited. He wants to unite with Aishe in the sacred dialen ceremony, to proclaim their devotion to the world, to show everyone that Aishe is his equal and deserving of respect. After all they’ve survived together, why shouldn’t they make the cosmic promise before friends and family? But duty must often come before pleasure. When Morgorth’s estranged mentor, Master Ulezander, comes to him with a time-sensitive mission involving a major stone of power, Morgorth has little choice but to acquiesce. Aishe knows his mate struggles with the revelation of his true destiny, after a lifetime of defining himself as the future Destroyer of Karishian. All he can do is reassure Morgorth that being the Savior is a far better fate for both of them. But as Morgorth and Aishe leap through worlds and dimensions in pursuit of a stone of power, more pieces to the puzzle of Morgorth’s destiny are revealed. And they form an image of sacrifice and tragedy. The dark cloud of an ancient enemy looms ever closer, and the path to becoming the Savior might prove more monstrous than that of the Destroyer.     Amazon     Apple Books    Kobo 

RESISTING HER SHIFTER by Laura Greenwood

Aella Dentro has always wanted to take her place on the High Council, but now she has discovered a problem…her fated mate. Barker has been waiting his entire life for his mate to show up, but now she has, he’s realised they can’t seal their mating bond, not while both of them are working for the High Council. Can they resist the connection between them? Or do they give in and risk losing everything they’ve worked for?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

WITCH’S LESSON (PURPLE OASIS BOOK 3) by Arizona Tape and Laura Greenwood

Reese finally feels like she’s found a home amongst her fellow witches at Purple Oasis, and while working in the medical bay is challenging, she’s keen to prove she belongs there. When a patrol finds an unconscious tea witch outside the oasis, all of Reese’s skills are put to the test. Annabelle has never learned how to use her magic, but now she’s found herself at Purple Oasis and in the care of a gorgeous witch who is determined to teach her everything she knows, she realises that might change. Can Reese teach Annabelle how to use her magic, or will their lessons break them apart before they’ve even started to explore the connection between them?

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MATING HER (SAVAGE KINGS BOOK 3) by Milly Taiden

Lion shifter Weston King runs his family’s business, and that’s enough for him. He doesn’t want the hassle of a mate and kids. He’s fine all by himself, thanks. That stern exterior melts the second he lays eyes on Gabrielle Katz. Weston gives himself one night with his mate. Then he will walk away. Forever. Gabrielle Katz’s life is seriously upended when she spends the night with Weston King. One night of frivolous fun sure wasn’t supposed to turn into the lifetime commitment of motherhood. Pregnant and with no clue how to tell her billionaire baby daddy about their child, Gabrielle’s future doesn’t look so great. The second Weston learns he is to be a father, he knows he has to step up. Not an easy thing to do. What’s a lion to do when he doesn’t deserve that kind of love and happiness? Gabrielle might just be the woman who melts his heart … one meal at a time. This chef has the recipe for happily ever after, and Weston King is the main ingredient!    AmazonKU

BIG FANG THEORY (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 53) by Milly Taiden

Donna works diligently to earn a spot on the city’s philharmonic orchestra as a violinist. She has little time for dating, because most men she’s met are selfish. She meets Gerri Wilder at a fundraiser. Gerri promises to find her the perfect man. Donna is skeptical but gives Gerri the chance. What’s the worst that can happen? Jay is a billionaire who loves classical music and classic cars. Donna represents a chance to finally open up instead of living in his very private world. Jay can’t believe she’s the one. She’s not only beautiful, she’s someone he can connect with that truly understands him. Things get complicated when Donna tries to help an abused student. They get tangled up in an international conspiracy involving kidnapping, drug running, and evil shifters. This romance is about to go from zero to sixty really quick in the complicated level.      Amazon KU

BLOOD ON HIS LIPS (THE FAE PRINCE OF EVERENNE BOOK 2) by Emma Alisyn and Alisyn Fae

Blood on his lips. Power in his touch. A maelstrom in his eyes. The Prince, an Old One, High Lord of House Montague, is fixated on claiming me. The weight of his grip crushes my throat, and resistance is . . . well. Futile. I am Aerinne Capulette, last daughter of Faronne, and survival forces me to accept he killed my mother, that he will drag me to his bed fighting and cursing as he laughs. But I will not accept the subjugation of my House, my family, my friends. If any blood coats my hands, it will be his. My unknown power stirs, and with it a glimmer of understanding. Of course he wants me for more than my body. For why am I the only person in the city who can see the shape of his power? Renaud is power. He plays the long game. . . .and if you wish to walk the board as queen, and not as pawn, you will play it too, my halfling. I have said you have no choice. You anchor my sanity. I have also said I will make you strong enough to bear me. You have noted the storm gathering on the horizon? Scented smoke and crushed blooms in the air? Yes. A danger that eclipses us both approaches. I will destroy you before I allow you to be taken. I do not yield what is mine. But. . .if you submit, it may not come to such a pass. Your darkness may yet rise stronger than my own. Give yourself to me, and I will give you answers. And then, my halfling, I will teach you to rule. Blood On His Lips is an adult high heat, dark romantic fantasy, second in the Fae Prince of Everenne series. This not a standalone and ends in a cliffhanger. Book one must be read first.      Amazon KU

BONDED (THE CANDLE DISTRICT) by Isabeau Moon

VS Note: A re-release

Meeting your mate in a bar by chance, while your girlfriend is waiting for you at home. Welcome to the Candle District. Naemi makes a split decision to take control of her life that leads her down a path she was not expecting. Arami on the other hand always knew she would be the next Alpha and lives each day controlling every moment of her life with her partner, that is until she meets a stranger that changes everything for her.      Amazon

THE MIDLIFE SHIFT: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (PACKLESS IN SEATTLE BOOK 2) by Lia Davis

Things got off to a shaky start, but Matilda Carol is settling in and grasping her newfound independence by the horns. Figuratively speaking, of course. Now that her life is purely her own, this half-wolf shifter, half-witch has a lot to learn and do, but she also has responsibilities and bills to pay. Even with her abilities, finding a job proves more difficult than she thought, but she refuses to give up. The universe will reward her determination when the time is right. In the meantime, she’s juggling the dating phase of her relationship with Talon. This mating dance confuses her, but not as much as the news about her supposedly dead father. Turns out he’s very much alive, and in Seattle. How can she possibly avoid him when he has answers about her growing powers and her destiny? And just as she settles into her place in the local coven, a relic the group is sworn to protect goes missing. Charged with leading a team to locate it, Mattie must brace herself for battle because the thief isn’t giving up easily and doesn’t mind killing to protect their secrets.       Amazon KU

FAT OMEGA: AN OMEGA GIRLS NOVEL by Juniper Kerry

When she signed up for a reality tv show, Haven Avery was just looking for a way to pay off her debts. She never expected that her number might come up. Now she’s living in a pack house with a ruthless feral alpha and a beta with a secret… and things are about to get intense. Haven – Fat girls like me don’t make the prime time hours on shows like Omega Girls. Instead, if our number comes up, we’re relegated to the late night spots as we search for a pack. I get one camera guy—Arlo, who is a beta, of course—and some motion-activated cameras. I’m basically entertainment for insomniacs and obsessives. But I never wanted to be a star, so that’s the least of my problems. I’m much more concerned about one very angry alpha, a feral felon who has been assigned to “take the edge off” my heat spikes until I settle on a pack. Apparently the show pulled him out of prison just to… keep me calm. He’s bulky and bitter and seems to prefer punching people to talking. But as soon as I scented him, I knew there was more to him than a feral with a record…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)      Amazon KU

BETRAYED SECRET WOLF (SHIFTER WOLVES OF PLEASANT VALLEY) by Serena Meadows

Claiming a human was wrong and forbidden, but I couldn’t keep my distance from her. I fell in love the moment she fell into my arms after the accident. Chloe doesn’t know of my identity as a wolf shifter. And her memory has been wiped out. The only thing she’s aware of is my love for her. I took her in after the accident. Kept her safe when I knew a bunch of men were after her life. I’m a protector. And in this small town of Texas, I’ve also protected secrets that could destroy the town.
Chloe trusts me and feels safe in my presence. Touching her and keeping her close is my greatest honor. I would never let her down. Even if that meant betraying my own toxic family. Even if that meant going against the entire town. Our list of enemies is growing exponentially. So would I be able to save her from the men that were still out there?      Amazon KU

ALMOST MAGIC (MINITHOLOGY) by Various

VS Note: From MAY 30

A desperate wife flipping a coin. A bartender giving advice. A young woman keeping a family tradition amid war. On these moments hinge the future, and the outcomes are quite a coincidence. Or perhaps they are magic. You will always wonder… Authors M. L. Akin, Heidi Moone, Roan Rosser, and N. D. Gray bring you four fantasy stories centered around coincidences and close calls that are magical to read, if not in origin.      Amazon     Kobo

RED PANDAMONIUM: A QUEEN HUMOROUS URBAN FANTASY (CHAOS MENAGERIE BOOK ONE by Roan Rosser

When you have chaos magic, the only thing you can do is expect the unexpected. Zombies. Shoestorms. Illicit unicorn rides. A talking red panda.  Before today Max never believed in magic, despite bad luck so terrible he used to jokingly call it a curse. Now he’s a reluctant believer. His first day as a mage he draws the attention of the magic police, not to mention the mysterious hooded figures chasing him all over downtown Portland trying to kill him with magic. With the help of his new speed-demon red panda familiar, his fortune-telling neighbor, a gadget-obsessed witch, a grumpy vampire, and his maybe-brother, Max needs to learn to use his chaos magic, and quickly, or his ‘curse’ is going to be the end of him and the people he loves.     Amazon     Kobo

A SOUL TO KEEP: DUSKWALKER BRIDES BOOK ONE by Opel Reyne

All Reia ever wanted was freedom. Known as a harbinger of bad omens and blamed for Demons eating her family, Reia is shunned by her entire village. When the next offering is due and the monstrous Duskwalker is seen heading their way, her village offers her an impossible choice – be thrown into the prison cells or allow herself to be sacrificed to a faceless monster. However, he is not what he seems. His skull face and glow eyes are ethereal, and she finds herself unwittingly enchanted by him. All Orpheus ever wanted was a companion. Each decade, in exchange for a protection ward from the Demons that terrorise the world, Orpheus takes a human offering to the Veil – the place he lives and the home of Demons. The brief companionship does little to ease his loneliness, and their lives were always, unfortunately, cut short. He’d thought it was a hopeless endeavour, until he met her. She’s not afraid of him, and his insatiable desire deepens within every moment of her presence. But will Orpheus be able to convince Reia to stay before she’s lost to him forever?     Amazon KU

BEWITCHED BY A VAMPIRE (ETERNAL MATES SERIES BOOK 21) by Felicity Heaton

An important undercover mission for her coven could get Lilian killed. Targeting one powerful vampire is dangerous enough, but when she’s left with his lethally seductive brother, Night, the stakes have never felt higher. Night Van der Garde is in no mood to visit his uptight eldest brother, so when he finds Bastian flying out of his mansion door, the evening is looking up… until Bastian orders him to spend the week looking after a human—a bewitching female who rouses a fierce hunger that has him treading the fine line between duty and desire. When a new threat to his bloodline emerges and secrets about Lilian are revealed, will Night choose to follow his heart or listen to the ghosts of his dark past?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MOONGATE ISLAND MATE (MOONGATE ISLAND TALES BOOK 1) by C D Gorri

Adrian Donnelly is a Fur Seal Shifter and an ex-mercenary, but retiring isn’t as easy as it looks. With more money than he could ever spend, he buys himself a mansion on one of the few uninhabited coves of Moongate Island. The Shifter friendly vacation destination is home to the softest sands and clearest waters he has ever seen. It’s just what his Fur Seal needs to recover from his last expedition. Losing his left foot in an explosion while saving a war-torn nation from a ruthless dictator is a small price to pay for the freedom of millions. But will his pain ever subside? Adrian doesn’t want any help, but his former captains insist on it. When the curvy female arrives, his Fur Seal can barely contain himself. The beast insists she is his mate. He demands he stake his claim, but how can he when he is maimed? Meadow Romano is a physical therapist. When her fiancé, and boss, leaves her for her best friend, she suddenly finds herself without a home or a job. A strange advertisement catches her eye, and no sooner has she packed her bags, then she’s on a plane headed for paradise. Change is exactly what she is looking for, and her new job as a personal live-in therapist to an old and infirm recluse on a tropical island sounds perfect. But is Meadow ready to lose her heart to a man who is more than meets the eye?     Amazon KU

A FOX IN SHADOW by Jane Fletcher

Politics in the Kavillian Senate is a dangerous, high-stakes game, and the odds aren’t on Cassie’s side. As imperial envoy, she’s tasked with adding a new region to the empire. Normally, this is a simple matter for the legions, but rivals want Cassie to fail. Without military support, success will require all her guile and cunning, plus a good dose of luck. Persuading the local inhabitants won’t be easy, especially in the case of Arian, the king’s sister. Arian is ardent about her people’s independence and traditions. The land is theirs, given by the gods and paid for in blood. She despises both the empire and its envoy, and doesn’t hesitate to say so. Despite her hostility, Arian is troublingly attractive. Yet Cassie is determined to stay on track and ignore any thoughts of seduction. Things are difficult enough without extra complications—and that’s before the murders start.      Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

CITY OF RUIN (RUINED LANDS) by Lindsay Pogue

Centuries ago, the skies turned black, and for 300 years, Londoners survived in the dank, underground tunnels of the city. Until one day, a stranger from a faraway land offered to save them. Though it wasn’t without cost . . . and he has come to collect. When Selene is taken to Master Blackburn’s infamous estate, she fears she and the orphans she’s sworn to protect will meet a gruesome end, like so many others before them. But the beastly landowner is not all there is to fear, and Selene soon learns nothing in Briarwood is as it seems.

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RAGING SEA (WARRIORS OF THE STONE CIRCLES BOOK 2) by Terri Brisbin

VS Note: A re-release.

An ancient goddess drawing her followers closer to free her from her prison. . .A man who discovers he can control the winds and storms. . .The woman he betrayed who must trust him if they are to conquer the evil one. . .Soren Thorson thought his uncle’s stories of an evil force trying to return to destroy their world just another tale of outdated gods. When the powers rise in his blood and he can call and control the winds and sky, Soren realizes he is part of a bigger plot. And when groups of strangers arrive in Orkney and threaten the one woman he loved and lost, he is willing to do what he must to protect her. He never expected it meant battling others who held the powers of ancient gods within them. After Soren’s betrayal, Ran Sveinsdottir turns her attentions to learning and controlling her father’s trading company. Until a powerful and terrifying man arrives and uses her father to force her into his dark plan. Until she discovers that her affinity to water and the sea is much, much more than simply that. As more innocent lives are put at risk and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, Ran must discover the truth about Soren and her own new powers and decide if she can risk her life, heart and soul to the one man who’d thrown them away once before.    AmazonKU

BOUND BY NIGHT by Amanda Ashley

Drake has lived a long, tumultuous life. As he walks the crumbling castle, he wonders if it’s time to end it all. He’s lived alone on his estate for over four hundred years. Until she comes into his life, surviving a night in his lair to wake in his strong arms. Elena Knightsbridge has come to Wolfram Castle, a place once featured in a horror movie, ignoring the warnings of it being haunted by witches, ghosts…and something more, something dangerous, something worse. Elena doesn’t believe what she’s been told, until she wakes to find him. To her, Drake is the most handsome, alluring man she’s ever met. To Drake, Elena is the most compelling woman he’s held for many long, lonely years. By the time Elena realizes just what Drake is, it’s too late. She is his willing captive and has taken his heart in captivity herself, willingly taken for herself the Vampire’s Kiss.      AmazonKU     AB

A SONG OF SILVER AND GOLD by Melissa Karibian

Out in the open sea, it’s kill or be killed. No one knows that better than Kaelyn. For the past year, Princess Kaelyn of Avalon has disguised herself as a man, Captain Kae, and led her crew into tumultuous waters to eradicate sirens on a journey fueled by revenge for the death of her brother. When they return home and experience a fatal siren attack on Avalon’s harbor, Kae sets sail again to destroy the sea demons once and for all. Aqeara is a siren warrior of Meyrial, an underwater kingdom hidden from humans. When her negligence during the Avalon harbor attack causes the death of Meyrial’s princess, she accepts the help of a sea witch to overturn her banishment. Aqeara is given a human body and has until the next full moon to carve out Captain Kae’s heart in exchange for a spell to bring the dead princess back to life. When Kae’s and Aqeara’s paths cross, they fall into a whirlwind romance, complicating their respective plans. Kae must decide whether her desire for revenge against sirens overrides her feelings for the woman she’s falling for, and Aqeara must choose between resurrecting the dead princess or sparing Kae’s life.

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AGAINST OWL ODDS (THE OWL STAR WITCH MYSTERIES BOOK 8) by Leanna Leeds

Forkbridge’s local dance club/underground vampire lair Sanguine hasn’t caused too many problems since Rex opened it. Sure, the blood bank seems to always run low and the town’s budget to replace lights that mysteriously go out is always high, but those are small problems considering the population size. When Ami reads her tarot cards at a fundraiser and the star card glows for a particularly rude vampire—one who’s committed some terrible crimes of his own—I wonder if the rude undead is truly threatened, or if the goddess is pointing us to a larger undead threat in Central Florida that we’re not seeing. When another vampire’s found dead outside the club that very same night, it only makes things more convoluted. And if things weren’t bad enough, my partner Emma is keeping secrets—secrets that will bring a werewolf pack into town. As if I didn’t have enough to deal with. It’s gonna be a long night.       Amazon KU

GO SCORCH YOURSELF (STRAWBERRY SHIFTERS BOOK 3) by Marilyn Barr

Bad Girl Betty is ready to start her new nursing career after her boyfriend overdoses at her feet. Moving in with her sister was supposed to be safe, but now Sluagh and vampires are chasing her instead of unpaid drug dealers and detectives. Sluagh are monsters but the Vampire King is just a bully, and Betty plans to take him down. If only her scheme didn’t involve getting close to his prince…
Lucien Von Popescu, mild-mannered microbiologist and Vampire Prince wants to rock and roll all night and sleep all day. Too bad he is being blackmailed. When Lucien is ordered to secure an alliance by seducing Betty, he can’t decide if it’s a dream come true or his worst nightmare. Will Betty open her heart to Lucien, or tell him to go scorch yourself?

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ENSNARED (KNIGHTS OF THE BRETHREN BOOK 3) by Jody Hedlund

Nursemaid to the Earl of Likness’s two young daughters, Mikaela despises the earl for his cruelty to his subjects, and she longs for the day when she can make a difference in the lives of her suffering friends and family. As one of the Knights of Brethren, Gunnar is on a mission to find the sacred chalice for the queen, convinced it’s the cure for her deadly bleeding disease. His quest takes him home, and he soon learns his brother, the earl, may know more about the chalice than he lets on.
As Gunnar reunites with Mikaela, the maiden he’s always loved, he tries to keep his feelings for her a secret, desperate to protect her from his brother. But as they venture into the perilous Hardanger Forest and battle to survive, will Gunnar realize her love is worth fighting for?     Amazon KU

THE DAWNHOUNDS (THE ENDSONG BOOK 1) by Sascha Stronach

The port city of Hainak is alive: its buildings, its fashion, even its weapons. But, after a devastating war and a sweeping biotech revolution, all its inhabitants want is peace, no one more so than Yat Jyn-Hok a reformed-thief-turned-cop who patrols the streets at night. Yat has recently been demoted on the force due to “lifestyle choices” after being caught at a gay club. She’s barely holding it together, haunted by memories of a lover who vanished and voices that float in and out of her head like radio signals. When she stumbles across a dead body on her patrol, two fellow officers gruesomely murder her and dump her into the harbor. Unfortunately for them, she wakes up. Resurrected by an ancient power, she finds herself with the new ability to manipulate life force. Quickly falling in with the pirate crew who has found her, she must race against time to stop a plague from being unleashed by the evil that has taken root in Hainak.     Amazon      AB      Apple Books     Kobo

DIVINE DEVIATIONS (DEMONS AND DEMIGODS BOOK 3) by L A Boruff and JL Burns

They stole his heart, and now there’s Hell to pay. Abaddon made a grave mistake when he went after Lexi. Now her father, Loki, has a plan to win Lucifer a powerful ally that could help get her back. But not all is as it seems beyond the bifrost, and the time for a reckoning has come. Meanwhile, Lexi finds allies in the unlikeliest of places and discovers connections she never imagined. While she carves a path through the nine circles of Hell, she learns more about herself and the icy magic that’s been haunting her for weeks. Lucifer and Lexi are worlds apart, but their bond is strong. Will it be enough to survive what’s coming, or will Lilith finally succeed in tearing them apart permanently?   AmazonKU

DOWN TO THE SEA (MYSTIC BEACH FANTASY ROCKSTAR ROMANCE BOOK 1.5) by Aislinn Archer

Aedan “Mace” Mason is the lead singer of legendary rock band Telltale Signs and a fixture in the annual celebrity “Sexiest Guy” lists. Brighid Weaver is the notoriously shy best friend of the guitar player for Telltale Signs opening act aMUSEd. Mace and Brighid have nothing in common except a love of music — at least as far as anyone knows. But when a chance meeting brings the two together, secrets are discovered and sparks fly. What happens behind closed doors stays there, but this sneak-peek novel reveals what really happened when these two forces of nature collided…[SNIP]… “Down to the Sea” is a steamy paranormal rockstar romance that tells the story known by only two of the characters in “Once Upon a Dream” and “Dream Weaver” — the first and second books in the Mystic Beach Fantasy Rockstar Romance series. It is an interstitial novel (Book 1.5 in the series) set between those two books and should not be read as a standalone. Anyone not wanting spoilers for portions of “Once Upon a Dream,” as well as those who’d prefer to remain in the dark about what actually happened “off-screen” in that book, may want to hold off on reading this one…(more on ebook seller page…)     Amazon KU

HUNTED (WAYWARD MAGE BOOK 2) by Ann Gimpel

Learn magic they said. Or at least shore up your paltry skills. Talk is cheap, and that edict has cost me dearly. I had a comfortable life, once upon a time. A quiet life. One where I’d carved a realistic niche for myself. No more. Power is seductive, and a bitch of a mistress. Once I pulled the cork out of that bottle, a million genies sallied forth. None of them were nice. No one offered me three wishes, or any wishes at all. I’ve been working my fanny off for the last two years. Most days, I slog along from dawn to dusk and beyond. Sleep has turned into a distant memory. When I do lie down—or fall on my face, which is what really happens—my mind whirls in circles as I relive the failures du jour. And the very occasional success. I am stronger. So much stronger it scares me. My talent sparkles, flowing bright and clean. Soon, I’ll leave the well-hidden spot that’s allowed me time to claim what’s mine. Whether my crash course in sorcery was wise remains to be seen.

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THE GRACE OF SORCERORS (THOSE WHO BREAK CHAINS BOOK 1) by Maria Ying

To be a warlock in this age is to trade in powers and promises and poisons, to bind demons and men to your will, to break them as you see fit…Viveca Hua is the warlock of her era, and she has finally obtained her enemy’s greatest weapon—the demon Yves, an entity powerful beyond imagining… and far more alluring than any mortal woman. But each ritual has a price. Yves has her own past, one brutally intertwined with the nemesis that killed Viveca’s mother. Her secrets will make or break the hunt. Whatever the risk to her heart or her soul, Viveca is sure of one thing: she will have victory at any cost. The Grace of Sorcerers is a lesbian urban fantasy of smoldering shapeshifters, brooding demons, and the bloodthirsty mages who engage their services in both vengeance and lust.       Amazon KU

THE GRIEF OF STONES (CEMETARIES OF AMALO BOOK 2) by Katherine Addison

As a Witness for the Dead, Thara Celehar can speak to the recently departed: see the last thing they saw, know the last thought they had, experience the last thing they felt. It is his duty to use that ability to ascertain the intent of the dead and to find the killers of the murdered. Celehar’s time in the city of Amalo has brought him both friends and enemies—and no little notoriety. Now, when solving the murder of a marquise raises more questions than it answers, he finds himself exploring Amalo’s dark underside. His investigations lead him to the Cemchelarna School for Foundling Girls, where all is not as it seems. Discovering the truth about its headmistress will lead Celehar deep into the city’s history—and into the shattering depths of the loss he fears the most.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

A MIRROR MENDED (FRACTURED FABLES) by Alix E Harrow

Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer and lapsed Sleeping Beauty is over rescuing snoring princesses. Once you’ve rescued a dozen damsels and burned fifty spindles, once you’ve gotten drunk with twenty good fairies and made out with one too many members of the royal family, you start to wish some of these girls would just get a grip and try solving their own narrative issues. Just when Zinnia’s beginning to think she can’t handle one more princess, she glances into a mirror and sees another face looking back at her: the shockingly gorgeous face of evil, asking for her help. Because there’s more than one person trapped in a story they didn’t choose. Snow White’s Evil Queen has found out how her story ends and she’s desperate for a better ending. She wants Zinnia to help her before it’s too late for everyone. Will Zinnia accept the Queen’s poisonous request, and save them both from the hot iron shoes that wait for them, or will she try another path?     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE SEA KNOWS MY NAME by Laura Brooke Robson

If there’s one thing Thea Fowler has learned from her mother, it’s that the only way for a woman to survive in a man’s world is to make herself strong, invulnerable even. Strength, after all, is how Clementine Fowler survived after her world was washed away by ash and lava and became one of the most notorious pirates the world has ever known. Unfortunately, Thea has inherited none of her mother’s ruthlessness and grit. After a lifetime of being told she is a disappointment, Thea longs to escape life under her mother’s thumb. And when she falls for a handsome sailor named Bauer, she thinks she’s found her chance at a new life. But it’s not long before first love leads to first betrayal, and Thea learns that there’s more than one way to be strong.

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THE SHACKLES THAT HOLD US: THE MAGI ACCOUNTS TWO by Michele Notaro

As if crushin’ on a shifter wasn’t bad enough, I had to go and date one. A mage and a shifter walk into a bar… No, that’s the whole joke. Magi and shifters don’t mix, and yet I find myself in a relationship with Cosmo, a lion shifter. And on top of that, Cosmo, and all his pride members, consider my brothers and me to be a part of their pride. Three magi in a shifter pride. Who would’ve ever thought? Navigating our connection while trying to figure out what’s going on in the world isn’t easy. Trusting that Cosmo means forever when he says it? Even harder. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since meeting the Ono-Nais, it’s that taking a risk with my heart will be worth it to be a part of their lives.      Amazon KU

BREAKING TIME by Sasha Alsberg

When a mysterious Scotsman suddenly appears in the middle of the road, Klara thinks the biggest problem is whether she hit him with her car. But, as impossible as it sounds, Callum has stepped out of another time, and it’s just the beginning of a deadly adventure. Klara will soon learn that she is the last Pillar of Time—an anchor point in the timeline of the world and a hiding place for a rogue goddess’s magic. Callum believes he’s fated to protect her at all costs after being unable to protect the previous Pillar, his best friend, Thomas. A dark force is hunting the Pillars to claim the power of the goddess—and Klara and Callum are the only two people standing in the way. Thrown together by fate, the two have to learn to trust each other and work together…but they’ll need to protect their hearts from one another if they’re going to survive.   Amazon      AB      Apple Books     Kobo

RISE OF THE VICIOUS PRINCESS by C J Redwine

Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart. When violence erupts in the castle itself, nearly killing the queen, Charis must assume her mother’s duties and manage both the war and her kingdom. But as an unseen enemy begins sinking Calera’s ships, Charis realizes a threat much greater than Montevallo is coming for her people. So she forms a plan. By day, she is Calera’s formidable princess intent on forging an alliance with Montevallo. By night, she disguises herself as a smuggler and roams the sea with a trusted group of loyalists, hunting for their new enemies. And through it all, she accidentally falls in love with the wrong boy. But her enemies are much closer than Charis realizes, and her heart isn’t the only thing she has left to lose.

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PROTECTING HIS POTENTIAL (STEELWICK BOOK 3) by Jena Wade and Lorelai M Hart

Not all cinnamon rolls come from Steelwick’s bakery. Alpha Rainer never lets his injury get in the way of his work as a member of Steelwick. He might have a prosthetic leg, but he can take down the strongest shifters in a fight on the worst of days. At least he used to be the fiercest fighter in the pack, since his last mission he’s a mess—his tiger’s not doing well coming off the potion forced upon him, the forced mating scent has his body in a turmoil, and then there is the new omega taking up his every thought. Omega Silvano’s life was turned upside down when he applied for a manny position only to find the job nonexistent and the entire situation far more sinister. Forced to be a contestant in the Omega Games, he saw no choice but to risk everything and help Steelwick shut them down permanently. Nowhere else to go, he agrees to stay with Steelwick temporarily and help with the pack’s young. It’s a nice enough pack, even if Rainer keeps ignoring their connection. If only that were Silvano’s biggest problem. His life is at risk from the people who should’ve protected him the most. Now it is up to Rainer to save his mate and take his place at his side where he’s always belonged.      Amazon KU

A BEDEVILING SPELL (THE BEWITCHED COZY MYSTERIES BOOK 3) by Constance Barker

When the girls enrolled in a finishing school have fallen in love with the two older ‘out of the closet’ gentlemen owners, the paranormal crew are called into figure out what kind of spell has been cast. Has the girl’s taskmaster Grismelda been cooking up revenge on the girls, or has a much more sinister curse been unleashed on the school? And is Click’s sister really as evil as she thinks. Her crew can’t see it, and Click isn’t necessarily thinking clearly. Has Kayla put a spell on her or is Click actually suffering from delusions?      Amazon KU

EMBRACE OF THE SANDMAN: DEATH IS NOT THE END by Ellis Leigh

Death isn’t always the end. My death wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair or just. My murder was a punishment I hadn’t deserved, and killing me affected my fated mate much worse than anyone could have expected. I am allowed to continue in the land of the dead, not living but not gone, while he lives a half-life. A lonely one, empty of love. I see him. I watch him. I know he misses me every day. I miss him too. So much. Enough to defy Death himself…and find a way to reunite with my mate. His friends call him Sandman. I call him mine.

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FATED: HARPY AND THE MOUSE (PACK OF HEIRS BOOK 5) by  Hawke Oakley

Meeko – Don’t trust anyone. That’s Meeko’s life motto. As a mouse shifter, he’s the weakest of the weak. But Meeko has a killer survival instinct. He skilfully wields his father’s sword to protect himself against the world. No matter what he’s been through, he’ll live—even if it means going it alone forever. But when Meeko’s prized sword is stolen by a mysterious entity, he’s forced to put his trust in a terrifying foe—a harpy with razor-sharp talons, an obsessive gaze, and who makes Meeko’s heart race for reasons other than fear…Cloud – Everyone deserves a chance. Cloud lives by relentless optimism, always seeking the silver lining. Gloomy loners aren’t his cup of tea and he certainly doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life with one…When Cloud gets burned by someone he thought was a friend, he’s thrust into a situation that challenges his every belief. Can he still trust everyone? How long can he tolerate the cute-but-crazy omega mouse shifter who wants to stab him? And worst of all, why can’t he stop obsessing over Meeko?     Amazon KU

ALPHA WOLF’S ENEMY (THE WOLVES OF ANCHORAGE BOOK 2) by Brittany White

The Half Wolf Female – I never belonged anywhere. My father was a wolf shifter. My mother was a human. The wolf pack in Anchorage abandoned them both. Because of old prejudice, the Alpha exiled my father. We lived as nomads, bouncing from place to place. Until we were targeted by a vampire. My father begged the Alpha for help. But he refused. He allowed my parents to die. I survived, alone in the woods. Until another vampire found me. One who was willing to raise me as his own. He fostered my hatred of the pack. He helped me plot my revenge. When the time was right, I infiltrated the pack. I met a sexy shifter named Derek. My relationship with him would be the key to my revenge. I hadn’t expected to be attracted to the commanding wolf. What happened when my enemy became my lover? The Enemy Wolf Shifter – Even from an early age, I served my pack faithfully. But I had a roving eye, and a wandering heart. I could not settle down, and I loathed staying in one place. To keep the restless feeling at bay, I traveled. I partied. I dated every female that crossed my path, and I slept around. It was all in good fun, until I met a gorgeous female shifter.
Her name was Kyra, and I suspected that she was my mate. There was something mysterious about her, but I didn’t care. I was smitten with this gorgeous shifter, and I ignored every warning sign.
Until I found out that she wasn’t who she claimed. She was looking for revenge, and she saw me as the enemy. My beautiful Kyra had betrayed me. She had put my pack at risk. Even if she asked, how could I ever forgive her?
Could a wolf shifter forgive his mate for endangering his entire pack?

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PRETTY HEXED (WITCHES OF WINTERFIELD BOOK ONE) by Sara Bourgeois

VS Note: From MAY 26.

In the small town of Winterfield, almost everyone is a supernatural being of some sort. So, when stylist Belladonna Nightshade opens her front door to see the Tory mansion, home to the powerful and indomitable witch Elspeth Tory, in flames, her reclusive neighbor’s death is much more than a mystery. Detective Benjamin Carmichael isn’t sure what’s different about Winterfield. New in town, and with no powers to call his own, he’ll have to investigate the old-fashioned way. Everyone seems to have a secret … and no one intrigues him more than the bewitching Belladonna. When the case proves resistant to modern science and solid police work, Bella sets out to help the handsome detective. With the aid of Sterling the cat, Granny Pepper, Aunt Sumac, and her best friend Murielle, she must uncover the truth of what happened to Elspeth — before she meets the same fate.   AmazonKU

AUNT ROSIE STEALS (IT’S ALL RELATIVE GHOST MYSTERY BOOK 1) by Sara Bourgeois

I’m Caryse Reyes and my life is a disaster…That’s par for the course when you come from a large family. But when you come from a large family of untamed witches like mine, it’s chaos on steroids.
It all started with dear, sweet Aunt Rosie…Who am I kidding? Everything bad that happens in Misery, Indiana has Aunt Rosie’s name written all over it. That should make problems easy to solve, right?
Not so much. Aunt Rosie is dead-ish. A mishap with a spell she was told never to try made her and about a dozen other relatives disappear into the unknown space between the living and the dead.
To make matters worse, no one can know and I’m the only person who can see or hear them. When the town’s claim to fame–an artifact worth more than 20 million dollars–goes missing, the crime has all the hallmarks of something my Aunt Rosie would do. Why? Because she’s done it before. Friends, foes, and former neighbors want to speak to her about it. I can only buy time for so long. If I don’t find a way to reverse the ancient spell and bring her and my other aunts and uncles back to the land of the living, I’ll have a lot of explaining to do about where she is and why she won’t answer questions. Or worse, they’ll think I’m in on the theft and will make me pay for the crime neither of us committed. I don’t want to go to prison and Aunt Rosie couldn’t have stolen the artifact–this time. Can we find the brazen thief before people get wind of Aunt Rosie’s current circumstances and learn the truth about my family?      Amazon KU

BELTANE BEWITCHMENT (FAMILIAR KITTEN MYSTERIES BOOK 17) by Sara Bourgeois

Kinsley Wilson is having a tough week…As the leader of a prominent local Coven, she’s overseeing a massive Beltane Festival in her hometown of Coventry. Everything is going great until a dead body is discovered. The nature of the crime seemingly makes it evident that a witch committed the murder. But, she is surrounded by hundreds of witches, both familiar and strange…To make matters worse, the victim happened to be a vampire, and a Royal Conclave of bloodsucking jerks shows up to give Kinsley a hard time. Some rogue witch decided the festival would be the perfect place to do an unsanctioned blood ritual. Now the vampires are breathing down Kinsley’s neck, and she has days to find the killer and turn them over before the snooty, undead royalty take things into their own hands. Oh, and her best friend, who isn’t even a witch, somehow got herself crowned Flower Queen of the festival. Nobody is ever going to take Kinsley seriously again…Except for her familiar, Meri, he takes everything a little too seriously. The snarky black cat loves his family more than life itself, but that doesn’t stop him from grousing about idiots around him. Between ornery familiars, ticked off vampires, and her duties as a mother of two beautiful girls, Kinsley has her hands full. When you add in some family problems, plus a bunch of witches who are partying a little too hard, Kinsley will be lucky to make it through the week. She’ll need Meri and her husband, the hunky Sheriff, as well as her motley crew of family and friends, to help her solve the crime one spell at a time.     Amazon KU

LOVE SET APART: BOOK ONE OF EDNA’S WORLD by Jennae Vale
A wish on the moon and a witch on a mission…In the French court of Louis XIII, a young woman desperately seeks help to escape an impending marriage to a man she doesn’t love. In present day Edinburgh, Edna Campbell, in her role as The Council of Witches’ chief romance expert, answers the call. It’s her first assignment in her new job. Will she succeed? Anyone who knows Edna knows it’s a good bet she will.       Amazon KU

ELFED IN NEW YORK: MAGUS by Erik Schubach

Twenty one years ago, Evander Laun and Natalia Havashire went on the air throughout the world on almost every news channel simultaneously, to reveal to the human race that Elves walked among us. It is the most-watched historical event in modern times. Killishia Renner, Kia, after recently discovering she was an Elf too along with the rest of the world when she Elfed on live television, has had a hectic few weeks with no time to catch her breath. Working for WTRL Channel 3 in New York City as a probationary investigative reporter, she is assigned to the baffling case of the possibility of actual magic in the world when a video of a ritual involving the Magus of the Arcanium is leaked to a rival news station. Things are never as they seem as Kia brings her own brand of geeky chaos with her misfit crew into the investigation.

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CHERISHED BY GHOSTS (GHOST CREW 231) (GHOST CREWS BOOK 3) by Dagmar Avery, Aurora Maris and Stella Price

Settling in with five men she barely knows but feels in her soul, Evan Noori has her hands full. Five men, five different seductions, and Evan is eager to experience them all. Time with Galen, Zeke and Blue means a deeper connection with each, but how they get there, the path they each take, will give her things she never thought possible. Because she is the true mate of each of these men. Being a non-predisposed female to five different factions, one of them Monstera, comes with its own set of challenges, and Evan is thrust into a world filled with sensation, wonder and love. It’s not easy, and coming out unscathed the other side is something that each of them will need to fight for. The situation they left behind in the pacific northwest has raised too many questions without answers, and she and Ghost Crew 231 are left with a convalescing teammate and the information that they have only small window of time to get him well in order to finish the operation and take out Caldera for good. With a game plan in play to end the fight against their adversary once and for all, everyone in the house is on edge and worried. Creating connections with her men will take time, time they do not have with the mission they have been given. They are going back to Abbotstown, and when they finally leave the world will be changed forever.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE SOUL ALWAYS REMEMBERS: THE BEACON SERIES by Georgia Cates

My name is Caroline Beaumont. I appear to have it all––beauty, a successful career, friends and family who adore me. But I have a secret. I was four years old when the past began reaching out to me. Sometimes it came to me as a voice in my head. Other times, it presented as a vision of a lovely redhead and handsome dark-haired man from decades ago. The doctors call it schizophrenia. They’re wrong. I have something else. Something that doesn’t have a name. Something that modern medicine can’t explain. And I’m ready to embrace it.       Amazon KU

ANUBIS: WOLVES INCARNATE II by Adrienne Wilder

It was supposed to be over: The Utah Facility discovered, New World Genetics dismantled, and the people hunting Luca, dead. Then strangers who call themselves Varu, come to Luca for help. They claim he’s a Cana and tell him he’s the only one who can bring back their wolves. Nox doesn’t want to trust them, then he learns how people called Mah are responsible for the atrocities committed in the Utah Facility. And that the Anubis residing inside Nox will consume him and destroy Luca. But they promise they can protect Luca if Nox will let them cure him of the ichor.  Luca knows the perception of the Varu is contaminated by the tragedy that decimated their people and separated them from their wolves. He also knows the Anubis isn’t the mindless entity they believe it to be, a danger to him, or the world. In fact, the Anubis might be the only thing strong enough to unite a warring people and protect humanity against the real enemy who wants to enslave it. If Nox won’t listen to reason, Luca will use the Anubis to save them both. Afterall, Luca is Nox’s Alpha. And the Anubis is really Luca’s wolf to call.      Amazon KU

ROSE OF RAVENSWOOD: HEARTTHROBS OF HEARTSGATE by June Marie Saxton

Dr. Rose Richards isn’t convinced she can marry her feminist attitudes to the ideals and traditions of 1825 England, but the time and place need her medical knowledge. Sir Byron Coventry is a knighted hero who has borne his share of sorrow. With the introduction of lady doctors from America, he sees his critically ill daughter begin to heal, putting a new smile on his face. The talk of his happiness strums on the wind, and people ask, “Have you met her—Rose of Ravenswood?”     Amazon KU

TRAPPED WITH THE WEREWOLF (MATE HUNT BOOK 3) by Lola Glass

All it took was one friendly barbecue to change everything…Because when I showed up, I met him.
Rocco. He says I’m his mate, which is basically a werewolf’s instant wife. Honestly, I’m not all that opposed to the idea. Mostly because my instant-hubby comes with a house, and I’m a day away from being homeless. I don’t expect the family-like wolf pack that comes with said mate, though, or the mysterious dude who isn’t Rocco who is also apparently living in the house I inherited when he decided I was his and then got stuck in his furry form. I’m not sure what my future holds, but one thing’s becoming crystal clear: Rocco will be a part of it, one way or another.     Amazon KU

FREDDY AND ARCHIE (FATED FANTASIES DATING SERVICE BOOK ONE) by Holly Oliver

The Fated Fantasies Dating Service makes dreams a reality. Freddy is an adorable hedgehog shifter who finds himself having one of the worst days of his life, but do the Fates have a different plan in store for him? Archie is an obnoxious harpy, a driven businessman who thanks to losing a bet finds himself heading off towards his worst nightmare – a date! There is magic in the air and budding friendships, and there has to be a bad guy, or does there? This promises to be a sweet read so fall in love with the array today.      Amazon KU

PLOTS, SCHEMES AND SCANDALOUS MEANS (WORLD OF WEYVAR BOOK ONE) by Becca Fogg

Four worlds collide in this 18+ fantasy romance standalone novel. The Thief is the Queen’s sword and shield, protecting her and the Realm from the Queen’s enemies. The Rabble is a revolutionary, serving the Duke’s desire to overthrow the Queen. When the Thief and the Rabble intersect on equal opposite missions, the result is an outcome no one anticipated. After all, the guillotine doesn’t care whose neck rests on its block. The Thief ◆ I protect the Realm, through protecting the Crown. The Queen cannot do the things that need to be done, so I do them instead—by whatever means necessary. I’ve never let a bit of fun distract from my goals . . . until now. The Rabble ◆ The Queen must be stopped; she focuses solely on expanding her power. They may call me usurper, but I am a revolutionary seeking the betterment of my neighbors. It’s not until I’m confronted with the Queen’s right-hand woman that I question whether the ends justify my means. The Queen ◆ My priority is the Realm, and I will protect it with whatever means available. Some may not agree with my decisions, but I undertake nothing lightly. My commitment to the Crown is paramount to all else, especially my betrothal to the rakish Duke.  The Duke ◆ I’ve assessed the Queen’s rule, and found it wanting. Only I have the means to right the ship, and set the Realm back on its course. My arranged betrothal is a small piece of this plan—one I intend to manipulate to the fullest.      Amazon KU

TEE UP TO DIE (A KARA HILDER MYSTERY BOOK 2) by Jenna St James

When Kara and Zane get a call from the Paranormal Apprehension and Detention Agency about a murder in Mystic Cove, the two crime-solving detectives head to Supernatural Sport Resort…only to discover the body of Sloan Hoffman, the new golf instructor. But who would want Sloan dead and why? It doesn’t take Kara and Zane long to discover a list of people who had issues and motives. In between narrowing down the list of suspects, practicing her wayward magic with Bettina and Zahara, and figuring out who her biological father might be, Kara has her hands full. But when Kara finds herself drawn to a possible friendship with someone at the resort, will it backfire on her? Will this new friend turn out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing?      Amazon KU

JUST A WOLF (LOVE BY GLITTER BOMB BOOK 18) by Maggie Hemlock

Omega wolf, Marlin, has lived his whole life in the Temple of Juda on Hemlock Mountain. When he’s asked to move to a new temple in the Guardian of Glitter Bomb Territory, he takes up the mission and looks forward to a little adventure. No one warned him that it wouldn’t just be a *little* adventure. No one had the forethought to tell him not to be tricked into thinking a smaller temple meant less work. Now, he’s so busy he can barely squeeze in time to sit down with a book by his favorite author. Little things like attacks on the clinic, squabbling teenagers, and meeting his true-mate keep interrupting him every time he turns the page. Of course, some of those things are more welcome than others. Alpha wolf, Emil Hemlock Night-Star, has floated through life since moving to Earthside with his family. He’s battle-hardened and doesn’t know what to do with himself now that his life in the Other World seems so far away. At the prodding of his older brother, Emil joins the Followers of Frost and is assigned to a group relocated to the Guardian of Glitter Bomb Territory. He’s not thrilled about it, but one Earthside community is just like the next, isn’t it? When Emil meets Marlin he finds out that’s not always true. Theirs is a passion that heats up quickly and threatens to explode and take them with it as both personal and group drama unfolds around them. Marlin’s headstrong and set in his ways. Emil craves a new life. Will the true-mates be able to come to terms with each other in time to save the territory from another devastating fire? Embers burn under their noses. Only no one knows where they’re coming from.      Amazon KU

ALPHA’S REDEMPTION (CHOSEN BY THE ALPHA BOOK 3) by Skye Wilson

Luna always knew that falling for Remus, the alpha from the rival clan, was risky. Now Remus has been betrayed by those he trusts, and Luna’s pack has given her an ultimatum—stay away from Remus or be banished forever. Those closest to Remus will go to any lengths to make him to forget about Luna so he can find his true mate. Except someone in the pack has been keeping secrets from Remus that could make those around him question his power. When Remus discovers that Luna has been keeping a precious secret of her own, he knows it could be their one chance to be together. But first, he’ll need to destroy the Marnet, the alpha who rejected Luna as his mate. And he’s prepared to fight to the death.      Amazon KU

BARGAIN WITH THE DEMON LORD (RISE OF THE DEMON LORDS BOOK 1) by Skye Wilson and Viola King

It’s too late for me to escape the cage of power, money and sin I’m trapped in. But the baby growing inside me . . . I hope it’s not too late for her. Pushing paper in some forgotten back office is the perfect way to go unnoticed here. This multibillion-dollar corporation tore my family apart, and now that I’ve got a job inside it, I have eaverything I need to burn it to the ground. Until Caezar comes shattering into my world. He’s the wickedly sexy billionaire CEO of the company I work for and despite my unimportance, he definitely notices me. He’s the architect of all my pain and suffering. His charm only makes me hate him more.  Worse, he has a secret that could destroy us both. Caezar is not just a CEO–he’s a demon lord, a mafia boss; and I’m his only chance at redemption. The only thing more powerful than my hatred for him is my desire. His lust for me is a wildfire that’s quickly losing all control. And this is one demon my soul doesn’t have the strength to fight. But now it’s not just about us anymore. I have to think of our child. To keep safe, I’ll have to be stronger than I’ve ever imagined–or watch everything I love go up in smoke.     Amazon KU

LOVE AT FIRST HOWL (APEX MOUNTAIN SHIFTERS BOOK 4) by P Jameson

Dane knows he’s a hard wolf to love. His heart has a lot to offer but it’s protected by an arrogant, flippant outer shell that can only be cracked by the right person. Nevertheless, he’s ready for a mate to call his own, and he’s found his perfect match in the gorgeous warrior bird shifter who allied with his pack in their war against the grasshoppers. From first glance, the beast inside him knows…She is his to have. His to hold. His to cherish. Shanti is strong and brave and sexy as hell. But she doesn’t feel at home with her flock, and she’s hiding a secret that could be Dane’s undoing. Except he doesn’t scare easily and he’s ready to go to war to win her heart. With a little luck, he can show Shanti he’s exactly what she’s needed all along. Someone to fight tooth and claw for her… and their happily ever after.     Amazon KU

ROMAN (VAMPIRE’S MATE BOOK 1) by Grae Bryan

Danny Kingman is used to fending for himself. Working nonstop as an ER nurse to pay for his mother’s care, he’s been putting his own life on hold since he can remember. But when an unbelievably hot, strangely intense man saves him from a mugging, Danny has a feeling everything is about to change. Especially when that man suddenly pops out a pair of fangs. Roman Mourier has been wandering aimlessly for decades, waiting for the inevitable day when the last of his humanity leaves him, and the demon inside him takes permanent control. He doesn’t believe in fated mates, or the myth that there’s a soul out there that could tether his humanity to him. Until he feels a strange pull to the lovely young man at the hospital, and hope stirs in him for the first time. But Roman has demons other than just the one inside him. Is he strong enough to keep Danny safe from the past that haunts him? He knows one thing for sure: now that he’s found his mate, he will do anything to keep him.       Amazon KU

DARK BLUE WAVES by Kimberly Sullivan

VS Note: From MAY 27.

Janet Roberts dreams of an academic career in literature, so she can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s accepted into a Jane Austen graduate seminar in Bath, England. Settled in Georgian splendor among her seminar colleagues, Janet and her classmates live, eat and breathe Jane Austen. An accident interrupts this idyll when Janet regains consciousness in her own room—back in Regency England. For a scholar of nineteenth-century literature, this should be a dream come true. But Janet quickly learns there’s a world of difference between scholarly knowledge of the written page and maneuvering real life as a reluctant time traveler. Her burgeoning friendship with Emma Huntington eases her entrée into nineteenth-century society. However, Emma’s brother, the handsome, proud and frustratingly magnetic Sir Edward, is far less welcoming. While desperately attempting to make sense of her dilemma, Janet treads a thin line between trying to blend into her new world and not being unmasked as the imposter she is. Can she find the way to return to her twenty-first century life before her secret is discovered? After working so hard to create a rewarding nineteenth-century life for herself, does she even want to?       Amazon     Kobo

GARDEN OF SERPENTS (DEMON QUEEN TRIALS BOOK 3) by C N Crawford

Once, Orion and I were lovers. Then, the gorgeous demon king broke my heart. He kicked me out of the City of Thorns, exiling me to the mortal world. Now, I have plans to get back at him–and save the world while I’m at it. Orion wants revenge on all the mortals. If I steal his crown, I can stop the bloodshed. All I have to do is beat him in a series of trials, proving that the gods chose me as queen.
But Orion seems determined to seduce me with his apologies and sensual charm. And the fact is? He’s hard to resist. In the City of Thorns, nothing is ever as it seems, but figuring out who to trust is the most important trial of all. Because if I get it wrong, I’ll have the blood of thousands on my hands.      Amazon KU

THE ALPHA CONTRACT (MISMATCHED MATES BOOK 8) by Eliot Grayson

Sometimes you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get more than you bargained for…Brook’s alpha-centric family doesn’t respect him. He’ll only succeed his father as CEO if he takes an alpha mate. But an alpha is the last thing he wants. Brook likes to be on top, in life and in bed. A paid mate seems like the ideal solution. The alpha can run interference with Brook’s family, but Brook will be in charge. When he hires Dimitri, a rough-around-the-edges criminal who’s deep in debt and desperate enough to take any job, Brook expects a transactional relationship. One night together to form the mate bond. Simple. Dimitri’s never been with another man, but how bad can it be? Even if Brook is a snobby rich dude, like his family. Only he isn’t. He’s funny, honorable, open-minded, and surprisingly vulnerable…and an unexpectedly willing lover. Dimitri’s protective instincts are as aroused as his body. Brook can’t help responding to Dimitri’s kindness, humor, and ability to take charge in bed and out—something that’s never appealed to Brook until now. And that makes things anything but simple. It’s supposed to be a means to an end. A mutually beneficial arrangement. But for this to be anything more, they’ll have to expose their family secrets and admit their real feelings.   AmazonKU

SEDUCED BY BEAR FIREFIGHTER (BEAR HEROES OF NEW YORK) by Lisa Daniels

I knew I was in trouble when the stairs shook during my escape. I knew I was dead when an impossibly gorgeous firefighter appeared to save me. That strong square jawline looked like the face of a perfectly carved statue, The deep brown eyes were lively and dark, like a forest at night. Assuming that my soot covered savior was just another person in my past, I had no idea that my own personal problems would reunite us. Soon enough, he was saving me again, but this time my injuries were no accident.Then his brother exposed my dirty secret, who my family really is. Instead of running from me, he held me close, his warmth and comfort making me realize I didn’t want him to fade into my past. But he has a secret even darker than mine; he comes from a bear shifter family And he’s decided that I’m the only mate for him.      Amazon KU

DEADLY ILLUSIONS (ARCANE AGENT SERIES BOOK 1) by T S Snow

Battle Mage or Magical Engineer? Like that was even a real question. Battle Mage. Obviously. Magical Engineers live quiet, boring lives. I crave excitement. And as an agent for the Arcane Mage Intelligence Agency, That’s exactly what I get. It’s a pretty great life. I go on solo missions, kicking ass and taking names, I hook up with men whenever I want to blow off some steam, And I hang out with my family if I’m ever after company. Everything changes when my psycho uncle fails in his attempt to kill my father.  Now, I’m in charge of the manhunt against him. I’ll make sure he pays for threatening those I hold dear. The only problem? I’m no longer working solo, And the team I’ve been assigned is a threat to both my sanity and my heart.     Amazon KU

I AM NOT YOUR CHOSEN ONE by Evelyn Benvie

Kell Hồ Sinh Porter is twenty-six years old and desperate to leave his unhappy life and his dead-end town. One night his wish is granted by a mysterious voice—though not in any way he would’ve imagined—and he finds himself in the semi-magical land of Allune where everyone thinks he’s the “Chosen One.” Kell politely disagrees, and absconds from his duties. On the search for an adventure that doesn’t come with world-saving responsibility attached, he’s joined by companions. Every adventurer needs them, but his turn out to be Ansel, a sheltered fallen angel, and Fre, a half-orlk who wants to be a hero. Destiny, bad luck, and the gods conspire against him. The Dawn Goddess wants him to take up his Chosen One mantle, which Kell is sure means becoming cannon fodder in an ancient divine war. The Lich King’s demonic minions carry out sporadic attacks in an attempt to kill him and prove he is not the Chosen One. Temperamental elves, talking stars that aren’t all that helpful, image-conscious demons, maddening pieces of prophecy that everyone thinks Kell should already know, and his growing feelings for Ansel all mix in a frustrating stew as Kell tries to juggle his feelings, his duties, and all the things trying to kill him. No one asked him if he wanted to be anyone’s Chosen One, and he can’t begin to understand why he was chosen. Kell needs to figure out who to trust and how to forge his own path before it’s too late for Allune and for him.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

INSATIABLE GHOST MONSTER (GALLICHAN MANOR BOOK 1) by Khloe Wren

VS Note: Erotica. Check trigger warnings.

I’ve never been a big risk taker. And taking this too-good-to-be-true job offer is one of the biggest I’ve ever taken. But beggars can’t be choosy. I need somewhere secluded to hide and the owner of this hidden away mansion has a library they want cataloged. It’s a match made in heaven. Sex is the last thing on my mind when I accept the job, but before I make it through the manor’s front door, my dark inner desires have been ignited and they flare bright, demanding to be sated. Lucky for me, Noah, the hot-blooded monster who resides at the manor is more than happy to step up to the plate. In fact, he’s so in tune with me and my needs, I soon forget the danger that’s been chasing me for the past five years. At least until it catches up with me, then there’s no ignoring it.    Amazon KU

CHOSEN by Tiffany Patterson

Volunteering was supposed to be a way to honor my grandmother’s memory, not a place to meet hot guys. But that’s exactly what happens when Chael lands in my life due to a string of disappearances and deaths at the nursing home I volunteer at. There’s something different about the private investigator that goes beyond his breathtaking good looks. The way he’s behaving around me, anyone would think it’s his job to protect me rather than solve the case. When I become a target, I discover that Chael’s far more than a private investigator. He’s a wolf shifter, who is the alpha of his pack. And he believes I’m his mate. If I accept Chael, I’ll need to have the courage to become an alpha queen. But no matter how strong my feelings are for Chael, it’s forbidden for humans and shifters to be together. And it’s becoming dangerously clear that someone will go to any length to keep us apart.     Amazon KU

GENIE’S HEARTWISH (HEARTWISHES BOOK 2) by Daisy Dexter Dobbs

VS Note: Author states this was “inspired by” a previously published novella.

Five thousand years ago, Sumerian warrior Zakkar Tymon gallantly protected the virtue of a love struck virgin priestess, dooming him to an eternity of servitude to women. Reduced to being a slave to women’s impulses, this bold, brave hero now exists solely to give women pleasure, act upon their every urge, and grant them three wishes. Months after reaching her goal weight, popular weight-loss counselor, and baker extraordinaire, Laila Malone, is tired of waiting for men to fall at her feet, dumbstruck by her leaner visage. So now she’s focusing on business instead of love. With enough money, maybe she can open the diet-conscious bakery she’s dreamed of owning. On the way home from work, a sign for an estate sale at a mansion in the ritziest part of town, catches Laila’s eye. Maybe the ancient bottle she unearths in the musty basement is a treasure that will allow Laila and her dog to happily grow old together—alone, but filthy rich…and thin. When Laila uncorks her find, she gasps in fear as a half-naked, saber-wielding man exits the bottle in a vapor. With sun-bronzed muscles, long dark hair and hypnotic eyes, he’s devastatingly handsome. The epitome of all her fantasies, he says he’s here to give her pleasure. If she has to lose her mind, this is exactly the hallucination Laila wants.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PRESSURE (LUNAR WOLVES BOOK 1) by Kiki Burelli

Axe Landry needs a fake mate—fast. Axe Landry is the disgraced heir of a defeated Alpha. He craves law, order, and stability, but he’s clinging to his position of Chief of the Lunar Council Enforcement Agency, the protectors of Crescent City, by a thread. If he doesn’t find a mate—a witch mate, at that—by the next full moon, he’s bound for a life of ridicule and isolation. And to Axe, that kind of humiliation is a fate worse than death. Enter Caden Borealis—wild, reckless…and irresistible. Caden hasn’t made much of his twenty-three years on earth. His dysfunctional family and traumatic past sent him on a five year bender, but when his grandpa gets sick, Caden knows he needs to take care of the only person who ever cared about him. Caden’s life is a mess, though, and he desperately needs money if he wants to save his grandpa’s life. A deliciously indecent proposal. When Caden first hears Axe’s proposal, he can’t believe Axe is serious. All he has to do is pretend to be Axe’s husband and Axe will give him half a million dollars? There has to be a catch. Sure, Axe is a little strict. And yeah, there’s a list of rules Caden has to follow. But he can play the obedient pretend husband for as long as it takes for his grandpa to get better.  Unless it’s all real…When werewolves start to go missing in Crescent City, Caden realizes he might be in over his head. He’s never let himself rely on anyone before, but Axe—older, gorgeous, steady Axe—becomes his rock as he learns to navigate this newfound world of witches and werewolves. But as the lines between real and pretend blur, Caden can’t always remember that he’s only acting like he’s in love. He needs to keep his head in the game, but it might just be his heart that’s calling the shots now.      Amazon KU

INHERITANCE (MASTERS OF VALOR BOOK 3) by Delta James

I did not believe it when they said you can hear the sword sing … I should have. My life changed forever the day I acquired the sword. Gillian – Telling anyone you are a dragon shifter is difficult, telling your lover – nearly impossible. I have been hiding for years after escaping my origin clan and their plans for me. When the first dragon showed up I thought I had been found. But now that he is dead, I hoped he never had the chance to tell anyone where I was living. I was wrong. Ford – Gillian was everything I could ever want from a woman. I knew she was meant to be mine, now I just need to convince her. I feel like she is keeping something important from me. The odds are not in our favor – four humans against a whole clan of dragons. Can we save Gillian when she is taken by her origin clan, even with the swords?     Amazon KU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

June 8

June 1

May 25th

May 18th

May 11th

“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…

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!

I check and verify all the buy links at the time I create the post  but after that I’m not responsible.

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

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

 

Spotlight on LGBTQ+ #SciFi and SciFi Romance Novels

Note: This post first appeared in the Roswell Daily Record.

Since June is Pride Month, I thought I’d feature a few LGBTQ+ science fiction romances in this column. Many of the authors mentioned write in a wide variety of genres but for today’s post I’ll stick to their works in the SF genre.

Author Skye MacKinnon’s Animals and Aliens series are “out of this world F/F romances with strong human women and determined alien females.”  The Alien’s Zookeeper (Arizona Tape is the co-author on this one), The Alien’s Veterinarian and the forthcoming Alien’s Farmer each set up a different scenario for the pairs to meet and the animals are a fun plot device. The author also wrote Alien Abduction for Milkmen (The Intergalactic Guide to Humans Book Six), a humorous take on what would happen if an alien scientist doing an experiment curdles all of Earth’s milk and needs a human specialist to help fix the problem. Who else but a hunky milkman? The story is a short, humorous read.

Rachel Ford’s Safe Passage (Black Flag Book One) was a 2019 Lesfic Bard Award Winner in the scifi category and presents a lesbian romance set in the midst of a rollicking space pirates tale. The Black Flag series currently stands at seven books, with the eighth due out in December and the author broadened the focus into wider space opera themes, as the galactic situation in which the pirates function is revealed. The series does follow the same couple – a pirate captain and a computer geek –  through all the books.

The Ariadne Cycle Series by J. Scott Coatsworth lands more in the hard science fiction category, with romantic elements but I thoroughly enjoyed all three books. The plot revolves around a generation ship, which is a plot device that is always catnip to me, sent out from Earth to find a new home for her passengers. I enjoyed the depth of the world building and as the focus of the novels moved from one set of characters to the next, I was fascinated by how the events all played out. The Stark Divide is the first book in the trilogy.

Kim Fielding is an autobuy for me and author of fantasy, paranormal and scifi books. Her SF tend to be standalones, like the recent Potential Energy, where a down on his luck interstellar smuggler takes on what seems to be a simple job and of course discovers there’s a lot more to delivering a ‘package’ than he expected. Refugees tells the story of a World War II veteran wandering the Pacific Northwest after the war ends, who finds himself in a strange little town where everyone is eager to befriend him and the café serves food just like his grandmother’s. There’s a nice romance and a reveal of the town’s secret. It’s reminiscent of the old “Twilight Zone” form of storytelling, but on a more upbeat, cheerful note.

In the Eve of Destruction series, author Benjamin Medrano tells the never ending adventures of Evelyn Tarth, a former warlord who had settled into a more or less peaceful retirement until attacked by mercenaries and now roams the stars. She has a Djinn assistant and a harem and life never seems to calm down for Evelyn for long, fortunately for the avid readers. Chosen of Chaos is the first book in the series.

Here’s the setup for the Oaerthecan Star Saga by James Siewert: “In the furthest reaches of space, a cyber-thief with a heart of gold meets a ex-navy captain who refuses to be beaten. Though they’re from opposite ends of the galaxy, fate slams these two men together in desperate bid to stop a race of elitist cannibals from destroying all these men hold dear.” And of course the thief and the captain fall into a steamy romance. Book one is Allure of Oartheca and book two is Barons of Oartheca, which continues to follow the same couple.

C. W. Gray’s Blue Solace series takes place aboard the namesake ship and on the Charybdis Station. Book one was The Mercenary’s Mate and sets up the overall situation. The first two books deal with the same couple and thereafter the focus widens to other men caught up in tense scifi situations of galactic and personal challenges on the station or on other ships, and finding their mates in the middle of the action. As the blurb for book one says: “Their love is easy, it happens just like that. Staying alive and keeping the galaxy safe? That’s a little harder.”

A few standalone novels in this genre to finish out the post! Mail Order Bride by Molly J. Bragg is an excellent read, not as heavy on space opera themes as some of the others and more focused on the central lesbian poly romance between an Earth girl sent to marry an alien and the alien in question. From the blurb, here’s the conflict: “Sam arrives on Talamh, a planet ravaged by disaster, expecting to find herself promised to some rich alien prince. Instead, she finds herself among a species that has no concept of gender, promised to a beautiful alien that makes Sam’s little gay heart skip a beat every time she looks at them. There’s just one problem. Orla, the person Sam is promised to, is already in love with their best friend Sorcha. As Orla and Sam’s betrothal moves forward, they find themselves falling in love, but Sam can’t help but worry that Sorcha will come between them. At least, until she and Sorcha start to develop feelings for each other.”

Naturally as this is a romance, the Happy Ever After ending will be achieved.

In El Nuevo Mundo author Brian Yapko’s main characters are a couple who’ve been together for twelve years in New Mexico and are now the key to preventing the alien invasion of Earth. As one reviewer said, “This wonderfully imaginative sci-fi story involves love, deception, the threat of global extinction, and the promise of survival and renewal.” What more does one need?

There are so many other authors I could mention but there’s only so much space in a post. Here are a few more to look for – Adam Gaffen, N. D. Shar, Lexa Luthor, Eryn Ivers and Nita Round. Wishing you many hours of happy reading!

Resourceful RENNYR Weekend Writing Warriors

I’m not formally participating in either weekend snippet hop right now because I’ve had a medical issue which is constraining my time and energy (not cancer), and right now am in that time frame where it’s all testing, with the answers I need yet to come. I’ll keep posting a  weekly snippet because the effort to do so isn’t too taxing, but I just can’t make it around to everyone else’s blog to comment. 

Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)

Sharing from my second scifi romance gladiator novel RENNYR.

If you want the full story of what they go through and how they battle to survive and protect each other, and their romance, with all the nuances and details, the book is available wide. 

The excerpt: Rennyr is desperate to get out of his cell and into the arena where Jaine has been sent to meet her fate. Continuing on from last week. “But I have to fight,” he’d said…

“What you have to do is stay put and wait for the Master to have time to deal with you.” And the man was gone, striding away to catch up with his squad and the doomed prisoners.

Incredulous, Rennyr stared after him, fangs and talons deployed. It had never occurred to him he wouldn’t be in the arena today, able to watch over the woman—Jaine—and make sure she survived the carnage unharmed. She didn’t have the stance or bearing of a soldier. She wouldn’t last five minutes in the kind of melee he’d been involved in the last time.

No, no, no. He searched the tiny cell for something, anything he could tear loose and hurl at the force barrier in an effort to short it out. This place wasn’t built to hold Badari and certainly not one enraged at the threat to his prospective mate. Getting a good grip on the sink, he exerted every bit of his strength, drawing on reserves he’d rarely had to dip into, and slowly, with the shriek of stressed metal the unit tore free of the wall. Water spewed from the broken plumbing in a torrential downpour, drenching him as he spun with gathering force and threw the whole thing into the middle of the barrier.

With an explosion of sparks and a concussive sound that shook the immediate area, the doorway blew out as the force field yielded. Rennyr leapt through the opening and sprinted through the hall toward the arena staging room.

VS: But meanwhile Jaine has already been sent into the arena, so how is she faring? Shall I switch POV to her next or stick with Rennyr’s actions?

RENNYR (BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK 2) by Veronica Scott

Rennyr was a genetically engineered senior soldier in his Badari Warrior pack until one day he woke up on a strange planet naked, disoriented and about to be sold into the gladiator arena for the rest of his life. Unscrupulous guards faked his death in the lab where he was created and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. Kill or be killed is the rule in his new life and a Badari never gives up. He’ll fight to stay alive until the Badari goddess sees fit to decree his death and release him from the wretched existence.

Jaine Mitchel of the Sectors was on her way to an exciting research internship until pirates seized the spaceship on which she was a passenger and took her to feature in a gladiator ‘death match’ in the galactic hinterlands. She has no hope of surviving in the arena until a man she only glimpsed in passing breaks out of his cell and saves her life, declaring her to be his fated mate. Given to Rennyr as his reward for winning the death match, Jaine must share a cell and a bed with the handsome, not human, gladiator and together they have to find a way to survive in this merciless world of violence and death. Their mutual attraction is off the charts. Falling in love is the easy part, finding a way to escape or even to remain together is the challenge. At any time their mutual owner could decide thumbs up or thumbs down on one or both of them, or sell them separately.

Their only hope is a mysterious gladiator master from offworld who may be coming to buy Rennyr. Will he take Jaine as well? Could Rennyr win freedom for them both if he does well enough in the arena? Badari Warriors claim their mates for life and Rennyr has no intention of losing Jaine…RENNYR is an 80K word novel and can be read as a standalone. KYDEN is the first book in the series.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JUNE 8

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). 

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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DAISY’S DECISION (ICEHOME BOOK 16) by Ruby Dixon

VS Note: This is waiting on my kindle for me to read it!!! I love the Ice Planet and Icehome series.)

I fear I’ve made a mistake. I left a pampered life and a loveless relationship to live on an icy, primeval world, all for the promise of a soulmate and children. But three years have passed, and my hopes and dreams have become dashed. I haven’t resonated. Without resonance, there will be no children for me, and no loving mate. So I keep waiting, and waiting…But then I come up with a brilliant plan to get me everything I want. And my plan needs a volunteer, one that would be happy to be my mate in all ways. Luckily, I know just who to approach.       Amazon KU

RELUCTANTLY KEPT (HER ALIEN MATE BOOK 2) by Annalise Alexis

Raze – I am the last of the first. A machine-human hybrid forced to serve under the regime that murdered the rest of my line. For two hundred years I have killed my way to freedom, determined to find the remnants of my people and revive them, but the Trian Syndicate will not let me go easily. Desperate to uncover all my secrets, the leader assigns me one final mission: Protect a tiny, human female. After centuries of death, this should be easy. She will fall in line and I will treat her like every other task I have mastered. But it’s not. She won’t. And I can’t. She’s not a task. She’s everything. Bea – My life was a series of calculated choices until the moment I stared down the barrel of a gun. With my sister’s life on the line, I abandoned all logic and agreed to help a group of cyborgs. But all is not what it seems, and my only hope of surviving is a lone warrior sent by the Trian Syndicate elite. Raze is violent and angry, but the depth of suffering in his eyes mirrors my own. With iron fists and a gentle touch, he turns my universe upside down, but his secrets put us both at risk. I was built to survive, but can I save myself and the cyborg who’s become my whole world?   AmazonKU

IGID’S BOUNTY (EARTH’S BOUNTY BOOK 3) by Deysi O’Donal

A newly found cache of human females is being sought throughout the universe—and now it’s up to my crew to protect them. Born in a slum of a brothel to an indentured mother, I’ve endured unspeakable things, but now, I am a badass bounty huntress. I’ve buried my past and with it, any desire for mates or kits. Those things were never meant for me anyway. Tasked with locating the human women recently sold at an illegal auction, the last thing I need is for my heat suppressants to fail mid-mission. Thanks to my Niveron biology, I’m unexpectedly thrown into a heat unlike any I’ve ever experienced, and the only male who can help? Brox, the one person who can get under my skin, the one I’ve sworn not to get close to. Now I have two choices; accept Brox’s help, or let my dark past send me fleeing from the one male who might be my future.      Amazon KU

ODDER STILL (NO MAN’S LANDER) by D N Bryn

Rubem of No-Man’s Land was content keeping to his wine, his pets, and his extensive collection of fishnets. But since a sentient, fuel-producing parasite bonded to his brainstem, every morally-depraved scientist and hardcore rebel for a hundred miles wants to ruthlessly dissect him. The parasite itself is no better, influencing his emotions and sassing him with his own memories as it slowly takes over his body. The only person offering Rubem help is Tavish K. Findlay, a dashing and manipulative philanthropist whose mother’s fuel company monopolizes their corrupt underwater city with an iron claw. She desperately wants to tear Rubem apart for the parasite before those who oppose her can do the same. Her son is irresistibly charismatic though, and after a lifetime of being kicked out and disavowed, Rubem is desperate to believe in the friendship Tavish offers. With revolutionary plots and political schemes tangling his every choice, Rubem must soon decide whether or not to trust Tavish in his fight against the parasite’s growing control. Odder Still is a M/M fantasy novel with a class-crossing slow burn romance, murderous intrigue, and a parasite-human friendship in an underwater steampunk city.        Amazon

HELL FOLLOWED WITH US by Andrew Joseph White

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with. But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.  Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

RUNT by Linda Mooney

Waking up disoriented, she doesn’t know where she is, or who these men are who are talking over her…about her…about her being their creation. Apparently they ran out of parts, but she turned out okay, if not a little on the small side. Being dubbed Runt, she soon learns these men are not friendly, and she’s about to be sold to the highest bidder. From what she overhears, she fears the new owners will be crueler than her creators. Runt doesn’t speak much, not wanting to give anything away, but she soaks in everything around her, memorizing everything she witnesses. Planning her next move for freedom. She’s alive, a special creation, and she will live the life she was created to have. She just has to bide her time until the opportunity presents itself. When her escape attempt goes awry, she’s rescued by Axel and his crew of salvagers, but it’s hard for her to trust anyone. He tries to earn her trust and claims he cares for her, but how? She’s mechanical, a cybie. But Axel proves that she’s human enough where it counts—her brain and her heart. He makes her feel emotions foreign to her, like happiness. Of all the things she’s learned, learning to love is the most important. Still, something plagues her. Who was she before she was Runt? Memories and flashbacks tell of another life, and she needs to find out what happened to her.      Amazon KU

ENTICED BY THE ALIEN OUTLAW (WARRIOR MATES OF ZIVON BOOK 5) by Presley Hall

It’s been months since we crashed into the Zivonians’ ship and were offered a place to stay, and in that time, I thought I had explored every part of The Oasis. But I was wrong. There’s one new place I just discovered: the brig. I wound up down there by accident, and now I can’t stop thinking about the Zivonian prisoner with the mesmerizing eyes and the intense stare. I know I shouldn’t let myself be drawn to him. He’s behind bars, after all, and the Zivonians wouldn’t do that to one of their own unless he had done something awful. The smartest thing to do would be to pretend I never stumbled into the brig in the first place and forget all about him. But for some reason, I can’t stop myself from going back to visit him, curious about this mysterious alien in spite of myself. I visit him every single day…Until the day he escapes—and takes me with him.      Amazon KU       AB

THE MUTOPIANS BOOK ONE: IMPOSTER SYNDROME by SJ Whitby

VS Note: Not a romance but an LGBTQ scifi release of note.

We saved the world. We found a home. But our problems aren’t close to over. The English countryside is hallucinating, we’re harbouring a literal alien, and now there’s a killer on the loose wearing my face. And as the trail of my murderous doppelgänger leads deeper into darkness, we’ll need to dig up secrets from mutant history in order to fight back. I’ve never been the best at being a hero, and as things spiral out of control, I’m about to come face to face with my worst nightmare: myself.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

HESAM: FORBIDDEN MATES OF THE ARDUN ROYAL BUARD by Ami Wright

Dark desire, undone by the scent of her heat. No tail, no pride, no honor. Finally Hesam is about to prove to himself and everyone else that he deserves a place of prestige in the royal guard. But the dark, hungry part of him wants something more. Beautiful vivacious singer Rosa is too tempting to resist. He longs to taste her. Mark her. Stake his claim. But as a royal guard, he’s forbidden to take a mate. And who would want him with his stunted tail? Worst of all, when her heat sends him into a rut, he needs things from this little human he should never want. Can he hold back? What if she discovers his dark side?     Amazon KU

AURORA: A NOVEL by David Koepp

VS Note: I pre-ordered this – you know me and dystopian! Not a romance.

In Aurora, Illinois, Aubrey Wheeler is just trying to get by after her semi-criminal ex-husband split, leaving behind his unruly teenage son. Then the lights go out—not just in Aurora but across the globe. A solar storm has knocked out power almost everywhere. Suddenly, all problems are local, very local, and Aubrey must assume the mantle of fierce protector of her suburban neighborhood.  Across the country lives Aubrey’s estranged brother, Thom. A fantastically wealthy, neurotically over-prepared Silicon Valley CEO, he plans to ride out the crisis in a gilded desert bunker he built for maximum comfort and security. But the complicated history between the siblings is far from over, and what feels like the end of the world is just the beginning of several long-overdue reckonings—which not everyone will survive.

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BEFORE TAKEOFF by Adi Alsaid

VS Note: Sounds good! Put it on my TBR List.

James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn’t be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light–and each other. Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually… a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe–at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos–before it’s too late.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS: A SCIFI SIZE DIFFERENCE FAIRY TALE (ALPHA WORLDS) by Chloe Parker

VS Note: A re-release.

If this gentle giant breaks me, it will be a beautiful way to break. When a giant beanstalk crawls over the window of Jess’s house and up into the clouds, she has to find out what lies above. What she doesn’t expect is a living ship, walls of liquid gold, and a giant who might be her mate.   AmazonKU

THE CITY INSIDE by Samit Basu

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. Sounded good! On my TBR.

Joey is a Reality Controller in near-future Delhi. Her job is to supervise the multimedia multi-reality livestreams of Indi, one of South Asia’s fastest rising online celebrities—who also happens to be her college ex. Joey’s job gives her considerable culture power, but she’s too caught up in day-to-day crisis handling to see this, or to figure out what she wants from her life. Rudra is a recluse estranged from his wealthy and powerful family, now living in an impoverished immigrant neighborhood. When his father’s death pulls him back into his family’s orbit, an impulsive job offer from Joey becomes his only escape from the life he never wanted. But as Joey and Rudra become enmeshed in multiple conspiracies, their lives start to spin out of control—complicated by dysfunctional relationships, corporate loyalty, and the never-ending pressures of surveillance capitalism. When a bigger picture begins to unfold, they must each decide how to do the right thing in a world where simply maintaining the status quo feels like an accomplishment. Ultimately, resistance will not—cannot—take the same shape for these two very different people.

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A DROP OF MOONSHINE by Holly Day

In a world where the government controls everything, and every citizen is given one government-approved kill, Sid Barker is doing his best to keep his head down and not get noticed. At some point, he must have failed. Being a potato farmer doesn’t generate enough income, and Sid is making moonshine on the side to keep himself fed, but one day a liquidation agent shows up at his farm, not to kill him, but to blackmail him into giving away his moonshine for free. Thorn Hull is a liquidation agent. Every time someone hands in an application to have someone terminated, he or one of the other agents has to perform the kill. It’s a well-paying job, but no money in the world can fill the void in Thorn. He regrets ever becoming an agent, but no one has ever quit the agency and lived to tell the tale. One night in a bar, Thorn runs into Sid, who’s far from the dirty little kid he’d been the last time Thorn had seen him. Sid remembers Thorn from his childhood and asks him to help him talk sense into the agent who’s blackmailing him. Things soon escalate, and Sid and Thorn find themselves on the run from the liquidation agency. How will they be able to deal with the blackmailer at the same time as they’re on the run from the government’s trained killers?

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WHEN IT ENDS by Penelope Black

VS Note: Apocalyptic reverse harem.

What if the end is just their beginning? They stole my heart at fourteen and broke it before we even graduated high school. It’s been five years since I’ve seen them, and only a twist of fate reunites us when the mountain falls. It’s the first disaster in a predicted apocalypse—a string of natural disasters that could be catastrophic. It’s the beginning of the end of everything. Finis omnibus. Old feelings reignite and new feelings blossom as the four of us form an unbreakable bond. As the world starts to fall and society fractures, it’s a race against time for survival.      Amazon KU

THE BROKEN CODE (CAT JOHNSON CHRONICLES BOOK 6) by Katerina DeGratte

On the lam. Nowhere to turn. Is this the end of the line? Cat Johnson lives in fear. Though she’s escaped the nightmare prison world, the former game store clerk remains stuck in feline form. And with her brother hunting her under the influence of a manipulative seer, the beleaguered heroine is rapidly running out of options. Desperate for help and uncertain what’s happening to her, Cat flees from even her giant-sized pet. But as her human memories fade and her enemies close in, she’s terrified she may at last be out of lives. Will Cat finally claw her way to peace? The Broken Code is the sixth and final book in The Cat Johnson Chronicles LGBTQ science fiction series. If you like page-turning thrills, neurodivergent characters, and talking animals, then you’ll love Katerina Degratte’s cat-tacular conclusion.       AmazonKU

SCREWED by Torri Heat

VS Note: Sounds intense! I put it on my TBR.

The Collapse. Otherwise known as the fall of civilization as we know it. You’d think it would’ve taken a lot longer for people to turn on each other. But humans will do anything and everything to sustain their quality of life. Work unsavoury jobs. Take up robbery. Assault. Forced breeding, with babies traded as a commodity. Mila has managed to stay out of reach of the black-market breeders – the Kingsnakes – by living on her own in the woods. Until a routine trip to the city for supplies changes her life of solitude in ways she never expected – and never wanted. Ray never wanted to be a Kingsnake. But caring for his two young sisters means taking extreme measures to keep them from falling victim to the same fate as his captives. Bit by bit he chips away at his soul, protecting his own, keeping food on the table, and still offering a shred of dignity to anyone he can. When Mila shows up at the Kingsnakes’ headquarters, everything changes. The risks Ray takes for his family are scary enough but will saving Mila from a fate worse than death compromise his own life, his family, and any hope of a real future together?      Amazon

FORGET ME NOT by Karissa Kinword

After years of forming an intimate bond with a mysterious man every time she closes her eyes to dream, a young woman, Eliza, forces herself to find a fulfilling life outside the confines of her own mind. Along with her partner Logan, she roams the safely discovered planets and moons of a newly traversable galaxy by inter-galactic transport, centuries after the evacuation of humans from Earth to a new home, Otera. Silas, the unknown man in Eliza’s dreams has spent most of his life as a contract pirate, formally known as a Mako, mining the unexplored lands of dangerous moons to earn a living. Having dreamt about a woman he’s never met every night for as long as he can remember, Silas has never allowed himself a relationship that reaches beyond physical: confident that one day, he would find the woman in his fantasies somewhere in the universe. With Silas returning to the Otera following a final job for a man to which he owes a debt; and Eliza heading back home after visiting the Glade moon with her partner– the two come face to face…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)    Amazon

HEART BEAT: DIMENSION JUMPERS BOOK 3  by Melissa Blincoe

Rowen is perfectly fine being on his own. But when a chance encounter in the human dimension causes something to emerge, he is less than pleased….I don’t want a mate. I don’t need a mate. But the female in the human dimension is so annoyingly alluring, that I find myself powerless to resist. With bitter irritation at getting hit with the mating fever, I’m not left much choice. I must take the tempting creature back to Suttern and rid myself of this damned fever…..But that doesn’t mean I have to like it!      Amazon KU

THE DARK ELF’S MATE (DARK ELVES OF PROTHEKA BOOK 4) by Celeste King

I just need to survive. It doesn’t matter what these Dark Elves do. I will survive. The Dark Elves are vile. But I’m tired. And hungry. The orphans that I take care of are even hungrier than me. I’m desperate. I’ll do anything to feed them. That’s exactly what the Dark Elf Commander they call Karish is expecting. That I’ll be his filthy human toy so that I can save what’s left of my town that the Orc’s didn’t destroy. What neither of us is expecting is how our spirits will collide and fuse together. How in trying to desecrate me, he’ll open himself up to my own twisted affections. Two broken people. Playing with the fires of affection. Karish and I will rock Dark Elf society to the core. And their society, built on violence and degradation will deal with a weapon it has never encountered. Love.   AmazonKU

SAVAGE ORC (BRIDES OF ATTIS BOOK ONE) by Luna Hunter

They say humans used to be free. Now savage and brutal orcs rule our scorched world. All us humans can do is serve our green-skinned masters with our hands and with our bodies. I’m one of the ‘lucky’ ones for I get to work in the fields, breaking my back to feed the ravenous orc hordes while my people go hungry. No orc has claimed me. Yet. Until I try to steal some grain to feed my sick grandma and I’m caught red-handed by my worst nightmare. Chieftain Grimdar of Arogh-Bul. Better known as Grimdar the Savage. His name is known throughout all of Attis. Everyone fears him. I think I’m dead meat, but no. The hideous imposing tower of green muscle and deep scars isn’t going to kill me for my crimes. It’s much worse. He’s going to claim me.      Amazon KU

THE LOST (LIVE AND LET LIVE 2) by Stella Craig

Lola survived the last act of her painful past. Cole lost the one thing he never hoped to have. The undead still surrounds them, and there’s a new threat on the horizon. Can they survive the next treacherous chapter long enough to consummate their feelings? With the help of her long-lost crush Cole, Lola Jenkins made it through the emergence of the zombie apocalypse. This despite the horrors that awaited them, both undead and human. Now that she’s free of the shackles of her past, Lola’s ready to grab happiness with both hands. Cole faced his greatest fear and lost. But if he gives in, he dies, and that’s not an option. With Lola by his side though, he’s slowly coming out of his broody shell.  Together, they’re fighting to live in this treacherous new world but the apocalypse brings more than just the slavering, ever-hungry undead, and now they’re faced with a threat they could never have imagined.  Lola’s faith is tested. Cole’s honor is tarnished. Can they escape the newest tyranny or fall to the megalomaniac waiting in the wings to make them pay?       Amazon KU

MINE TO KEEP (CYBERSERVED 2) by Tracy St John

He was the most hated cyborg on Earth, and love is far from his original design. But when old enemies hunt the woman he’s sworn to protect, he discovers a passion for vengeance…and her.  
On Earth, he was known as the Warden, and his punishment of prisoners was legendary. Reprogrammed by the president of CyberServe as an assistant in the office…and as her chief researcher of intimate programs…PSM-426021, better known as Alek, is a flawless example of what buyers want in their repurposed cyborgs. CyberServe’s president Lillian Kwolek enjoys Alek on her terms: no love, no strings attached. It’s easy to keep him at a distance and guard her heart from hurt until an extremist group determined to right old wrongs targets her. Alek is loaded with a security program to keep Lillian safe, and it opens the cyborg to learning emotions. Alek doesn’t like these feelings, which include a confusing mix of devotion to and wariness of Lillian. She doesn’t like his developing emotions either. The new Alek, who fulfills desires and her need for safety from increasing threats, is too intoxicating a temptation for a woman who can’t trust men, whether they’re flesh or machine. They can’t resist each other, but past hurts threaten to destroy what they could have…and open the door to killers bent on annihilating cyborgs and Lillian.

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THORN’S DOVE (ORC MATCHED 0.5) by Carlotta Hughes

VS Note: A re-release.

RUTH – After my old life burns to ash, I make the wild decision to buy a coastal farm intending to convert it into a Tolkien-inspired bed-and-breakfast. The ramshackle buildings, overgrowth, and daunting hard work are all things I expected. What I didn’t expect was to stumble across an enormous washed-up wall of muscle on my beach. Thorn isn’t human. He’s an orc from across the universe who speaks with a Scottish accent, wears a kilt, and is dead set on making me his mate. But I’ve got more important things to take care of, like completing the renovations on time and keeping a nosy FBI agent at bay. Thorn stays, he helps me, protects me, and shows me heartbreaking patience. Thawing my heart even as he heats my blood. I want him, badly, but I’m too broken. And the last thing I want to do is break his heart of gold. THORN – A dream sets me on a path far from my homeworld of Talam, to a broken gate that awakens at my touch. Drawn forward by fate, I travel through the gate and across the stars. I wake on a strange planet called Earth with the lovely human female from my dream draped atop me. Ruth is my cridhe, my soul-bound mate. But how …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)     Amazon KU

PURSUED BY THE ALIEN [IRATE (ALIEN BRIDES BOOK 6) by C V Walter

Dorcas knew what she was doing when she volunteered to join the Forward Hope; getting as far away from her past as possible. What she found on board was a purpose and community far beyond anything she’d dreamed of since her escape. Off the planet and surrounded by aliens, she’s safe from the machinations of the creature who abducted her years before…Or so she thought. When a nightmare from her past threatens to come after her family, Dorcas does the only thing she knows how to do; confront the monster in his lair and pray for a rescue.      Amazon KU

CEASE FIRE (A SPACE ADVENTURE BOOK 2) by Ell Leigh Clarke

VS Note: Not listed as a romance but charting well in scifi romance.

Stranded in uncharted space, Karma is finding it harder to keep information from the crew. But what she knows will affect their chances of survival. At least with the crew knowing about the device it means that she can work with them to get it back online and find a way home. That would be the plan, but for a pesky distress call. A distress call they have to answer. The problem with responding to distress signals in unknown space, with untold threats all around, is that you also run the risk of needing to send out your own distress call. Which presupposes that there are friendly folks somewhere around. And that you’re not going to attract the attention of any lurking hostiles. Not only that, but their side quest could very well result in losing crew members. And we’re not just talking about red shirts.      Amazon KU

HEART OF THE SKY (SONS OF KULKULCAN BOOK 8) by R L Olvitt

VS Note: From MAY 31

Adventure, knowledge, alliance: Melania Abbot is looking for all three when she walks aboard the ramp of the Xithilene ship the J’vinka’s Claw. The arrival of the same aliens on Mars approximately six months ago brought her career to a standstill, but as part of a human honor guard selected to celebrate the deepening bond between the two species and their planets, she hopes to reclaim some excitement and purpose in her life. Lieutenant Xath has had his fill of human women. They may be fascinating and beautiful, but they only bring trouble—especially aboard a ship full of Xithilene warriors. Still feeling the sting of a recent rejection, he isn’t going to let their new crew mates get in the way of his duties. Unfortunately, with a prince at the helm, there’s been little enough adventure aboard the Claw, and when he learns of their next assignment, it doesn’t look as if that will change anytime soon. Melania and Xath may both crave excitement, but they receive more than they wished for when it becomes clear there’s a saboteur aboard the ship. Tensions rise between the Xithilene and their human allies, and no one is sure who to trust as rumors fly and systems fail. When a routine scouting mission goes horribly wrong, Xath will find himself relying on the one human soldier he’s tried his best to ignore: Melania Abbot. They will need to work together if they wish to survive—and they soon learn their discoveries will prove vital to the survival of all Council species—but only if they can live long enough to tell anyone.      Amazon KU

MECHANICAL MASQUERADE: STEAMPUNK NOVELLA (SEASONS OF SOLDARK) by Lizdelton

The most prestigious Midsummer celebration in Soldark is only three days away, and this is Verity Pennington’s best–and last–chance to attend. Verity thinks she might just be able to pull off a fantastic mask in order to gain entry, if she can only tap into her unwilling artistic side. But when a thief breaks into her family’s clock shop and steals invaluable plans, it isn’t just summer revelry on Verity’s dance card. She’ll need to track down the thief–who’ll be showcasing an invention at the ball–and find a way to confront him amid the Soldark elite, without getting kicked out in the process. With her family’s reputation at stake, she’ll do anything to make it right. But things at the ball are not as they seem, and Verity must find her way through a maze of lies and mechanical masterpieces before she can find out the truth.

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THE KRINAR RAKE by Chris Roxboro

VS Note: A special item because this poor author had all kinds of difficulties with the “major ebook platform” so I’m being supportive. I can’t imagine all the stress they had! A re-release.

Author’s Note: This is the remastered version of the original novella titled Krinar Covenant published in 2018. Due to unforeseen hiccups, I had to unpublish the expanded version’s title, The Krinar Covenant, released on April 9th 2022, and republish with the new title, The Krinar Rake. If you already purchased the expanded version titled The Krinar Covenant, published April 9th 2022, you do not need to buy and read this one, as they are the same book. X-Club owner Jerik realizes in the middle of a hot encounter with two humans that he’s bored beyond belief and ready for a change of pace. In the past, a change of pace meant new partners in a different location in different positions. But his restless ennui cannot be extinguished, and in a sea of lusting bodies, he’s adrift in unaccustomed loneliness. It’s in this unusual state of mind he accidentally knocks over the stunning yet aloof heiress. Her disinterest in him as a Krinar or a man stirs a primeval need to pursue until she is his, if not in soul, in body. Unfortunately, she’s firm with her boundary…(morte blurb on ebook seller page…)

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THE HELION BAND by AJ Mason

VS Note: Not listed as a romance. An LGBTQ scifi release of note.

Rose’s only crime was to show kindness to her royal mistress…Now she’s a fugitive, fleeing from Queen Penthesilea, aided only by the mysterious bracelet that was a scornful gift from her merciless ruler. Rose lives in uncomfortable symbiosis with it, ignorant of its origins and potential. All she knows is that if Penthesilea catches her, she’s as good as dead. Now Queen Penthesilea knows what she gave away in error—an ancient treasure which imbues its bearer with powers and abilities beyond imagining—she must get it back. Without the Helion Band, her throne and life are on the line. When Rose’s feelings for the dashing captain Vash Munro intensify, she’s faced with a choice; leave Vash behind and keep running alone, or trust Vash with her secrets and run together. Relentlessly pursued across the galaxy by an increasingly desperate Pentesilea, will Rose find the strength to take a stand or will she fall to the queen and lose everything?    AmazonKU

THE HEARTBEAT OF A MILLION DREAMS by Halo Scot

VS Note: From FEB 25 but as FF scifi romance is hard to find, when I saw this on the Queer SciFi twitter feed I decided to add it here. Good reviews.

You are the voice for those who have none. You are the heartbeat of a million dreams. Mars has a shadow, a mirror world torn from the chaos of an eons-old rivalry between gods and titans. An elite few protect this secret to preserve the peace. But when a girl comes along with the power to reunite Mars, worlds collide in cosmic war. Slade Hawk is a monster. That’s what they tell her, at least. Hunted since birth, she’s lived her life in dumpsters, subways, and in-between places. She’s a ghost to most, a forgettable blur. Some call her a wolf, a leader of the pack, the bridge between worlds, but she can barely survive each day. She is one of the evolved humans, a starchild who can shift between matter and energy at will—though her power stretches farther and reaches darker. Earth fears her people and exiles them to Mars. They want her dead, want Mars to burn, and fear can shape fate, can erase the brightest stars. Slade must overcome horrific odds to conquer Earth’s cruelty and free Mars from war. Are you a moment? Or are you infinity? Will anyone remember your name?     Amazon

MARRIED TO THE ALIEN SPY: NOVA BRIDES by Thea Dane

I came to Planet Xaxos to be a physical therapist. I thought I was there to rehabilitate human and alien soldiers. Then I woke up one morning and found myself married to an alien spy.
Colbix Edar is a secret agent for the Wanderstar Fleet. His wildcard ways and checkered past leave me more curious than shocked. I keep telling myself it’s just a temporary mission, but when he holds me at night I think this has the potential to be a lasting arrangement.
I’ve been hurt before, though. Can I trust Col to protect my feelings as well as my life during this mission…and even beyond?     Amazon KU

TATTERED THORNS: A WILD HUNT ADVENTURE (NIGHT QUEEN BOOK 1) by Yasmine Galenorn

I’m Lyrical, and I was born to the Leannan Sidhe. But then, the King of the Kelpies kidnapped me (yeah, I know, a lot of “K’s), and all hell broke loose. My mother begged Morgana, goddess of the Sea and the Fae, to save me. But my parents decided that I’m used goods, so I’m a princess without a kingdom. I now work for the newly revamped Wild Hunt Agency–a PI firm, and boy are my colleagues quirky. For one thing, it’s run by a wild demi-god named Yutani, who is as chaotic as his father, the Great Coyote. I find him too attractive, and a little dangerous. And now, life suddenly becomes a rollercoaster as the dragons lose their immortality and all hell breaks loose.

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WICKED BEAUTY (DARK OLYMPUS BOOK 3) by Katee Robert

VS Note: Listed in Erotica

On Olympus, you either have the power to rule…or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city’s inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning. Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize…or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way. Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give to away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can’t keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?

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WE ALL FALL DOWN (THE RIVER CITY DUOLOGY BOOK 1) by Rose Szabo

In River City, where magic used to thrive and is now fading, the witches who once ruled the city along with their powerful King have become all but obsolete. The city’s crumbling government is now controlled primarily by the new university and teaching hospital, which has grown to take over half of the city. Moving between the decaying Old City and the ruthless New, four young queer people struggle with the daily hazards of life—work, school, dodging ruthless cops and unscrupulous scientists—not realizing that they have been selected to play in an age-old drama that revives the flow of magic through their world. When a mysterious death rocks their fragile peace, the four are brought into each other’s orbits as they uncover a deeper magical conspiracy.

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WISHES AND WAVES by Various

Dive under the waves with this limited-edition collection of sea-themed paranormal and fantasy romance stories. Whether you want to go speed-dating with ocean shifters, go adventuring with mermaids, or go up against the might of Poseidon, there’s something for you in this spell-binding collection.

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WOLF CLAIM (BLUE MOUNTAIN WOLF PACK BOOK 6) by Emma Dean

Noah is the levelheaded twin who has always looked out for Liam, not that many people could tell the difference between the two of them. Their coping mechanisms for the last decade of hell was to make jokes and laugh it all off. It has its upsides and downsides, which includes no one in the pack really taking them seriously. When their new witch offered to scry for his mate, he agreed, ready to settle down, but the last thing he expected was to find out that his mate was a raven shifter – notorious assassins within the paranormal world. How is he supposed to get in contact with her when no one really knows anything about them? Noah is resigned to his lonely future, and then their blood debt to a raven flock gets called in – to free his mate from the pack that has captured her.    Amazon KU

WRATH GODDESS SING: A NOVEL by Maya Deane

The gods wanted blood. She fought for love. Achilles has fled her home and her vicious Myrmidon clan to live as a woman with the kallai, the transgender priestesses of Great Mother Aphrodite. When Odysseus comes to recruit the “prince” Achilles for a war against the Hittites, she prepares to die rather than fight as a man. However, her divine mother, Athena, intervenes, transforming her body into the woman’s body she always longed for, and promises her everything: glory, power, fame, victory in war, and, most importantly, a child born of her own body. Reunited with her beloved cousin, Patroklos, and his brilliant wife, the sorceress Meryapi, Achilles sets out to war with a vengeance. But the gods—a dysfunctional family of abusive immortals that have glutted on human sacrifices for centuries—have woven ancient schemes more blood-soaked and nightmarish than Achilles can imagine. At the center of it all is the cruel, immortal Helen, who sees Achilles as a worthy enemy after millennia of ennui and emptiness. In love with her newfound nemesis, Helen sets out to destroy everything and everyone Achilles cherishes, seeking a battle to the death.  An innovative spin on a familiar tale, this is the Trojan War unlike anything ever told, and an Achilles whose vulnerability is revealed by the people she chooses to fight…and chooses to trust.

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WOLVES AND WARRIORS by Various

Get bitten, abducted, dominated, and claimed by these SMOKING HOT alpha-hole baddies…Whether you prefer your hero dark and brooding, sweet and sensual, monstrous or beautiful, we’ve got him ready and waiting to give you exactly what you desire. This collection holds nothing back with all the tension that drives you wild and all the panty-melting steam you crave. Rouse your desire for top-notch paranormal romance with 16 all new books, and then keep reading for 5 equally enticing stories of the sci fi variety. Shifters, vampires, demons, and more are ready and waiting to bend you over that bed and pound their stories into your brain until you’re panting, moaning, and screaming for more.      Amazon     Kobo

THE 12 HUNKS OF HERCULEIA: MONSTROUSLY MYTHIC ROMANCE PART 1 by C Rochelle

I thought I was living the dream—until the fateful day I found my boyfriend in bed with my boss. As a professional copywriter, it was the tired cliche that hurt me the most. What’s a big city girl to do but pack my bags and go solo on that Grecian cruise I’d booked with my ex? Who needs a man when you have tropical breezes, stunning vistas, and free cocktails with frilly umbrellas? But thanks to a freak storm, I find myself washed ashore on a mysterious Greek Isle inhabited by 12 hotties determined to help me in any way they can. What in the rom-com setup is this? Somehow, I’ve ended up inside a famous Greek myth, tasked with conquering the very men I find myself unable to resist—despite their fur, fangs, tentacles, extra appendages, and extremely large…secrets of their own. Danger lurks around every crumbling ancient ruin, but the longer I stay, the more I wonder if I want to return to my old life at all. Here, I get to be the heroine of my own story, and it might just be time to rewrite history.      Amazon KU

DIRTY DEEDS 2 by Various

Join NY Times bestselling authors Faith Hunter and Jennifer Estep along with USA Today bestselling authors R.J. Blain, Diana Pharaoh Francis, and Devon Monk on a brand-new romp through magical worlds where the damsels bring the distress, what can go wrong will go wrong, and nothing is as it seems. Adventure with Eli Younger, Liz Everhart, and Brute in the thrilling world of Jane Yellowrock. Face off against old gods and lost souls at a magical crossroads on Route 66. Become entangled in Ashland’s dark, deadly web with side characters from the Elemental Assassin series. Return to the irreverent world of Beck Wyatt, where disaster waits around every corner and cheesecake makes it all worthwhile. And finally, meet up with the Quinns and friends in the zany world of the Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series. In this collection of all-new urban fantasy and paranormal stories, the gloves are off and simply surviving might just be the dirtiest, most difficult deed of all.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

KAPAEMAHU by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson

In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing. As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HAUNTED HOTEL HOOPLA (A CHARLIE RHODES COZY MYSTERY BOOK 11) by Amanda M Lee

Charlie Rhodes is struggling. She thought finding her family would fix everything. It hasn’t, and the threat that’s cast a long shadow over her life is only getting larger. Still, when an opportunity arises to go to Savannah – one of her bucket list cities – she jumps at the chance. Savannah was made famous by ghosts, but five missing women – and the return of only one body – seems to point to a different sort of culprit. Whatever is going on, it’s weird … and it’s only getting weirder. Charlie’s mind keeps wandering to the friend she lost, who keeps haunting her dreams, but her determination never wavers. That’s why she hits the ground hot and hard … and the answers that start unspooling do so at a fantastic rate. There’s just one problem: Whatever evil is haunting Savannah, it’s more than ghosts. Actually, there might be two problems, because the ghosts in Savannah are multiplying exponentially and nobody knows if it’s tied to the missing women. Charlie has enemies coming out of the woodwork, although the big one is elusive. The answers she seeks are close, and they might just be provided by an unlikely source. It will take all of them working together, every faction in town, to beat back a terrific foe.     Amazon KU

GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM by Rachel Menard

Victory is the only option. Once a year, the Olympian Empresses grant the wishes of ten people selected by a lottery—for a price. Seventeen-year-old Gen, a former circus performer, wants the freedom of her father, who was sentenced to life in prison for murders she knows he didn’t commit. Castor plans to carry the island Arcadia into the future in place of her brother, Pollux, but only after the Empresses force a change in her island’s archaic laws that requires a male heir. To get what they want, Gen and Castor must race to complete the better half of ten nearly impossible labors. They have to catch the fastest ship in the sea, slay the immortal Hydra, defeat a gangster called the Boar, and capture the flesh-eating Mares, among other deadly tasks. Gen has her magic, her ability to speak to animals, her inhuman strength—and the help of Pollux, who’s been secretly pining for her for years. But Castor has her own gifts: the power of the storms, along with endless coin. Only one can win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.     Amazon     May be KU

THE STRIPE ZONE (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 52) by Milly Taiden

Being a loner came naturally to Rev. After all, tiger shifters are rare and tend to lead secretive lives. Finding a mate in that situation was pretty much impossible. So, living a quiet life alone in the wilderness of Bayou Rouge was never much of a problem. But his tiger streak had a lousy tradition of arranged matings. No human mates allowed. Hallie had devoted her life to science. Being absorbed in her work never left much time for romance. Plus, her obsession revolved around big cats, not men. When a friend sets her up with a matchmaker, Gerri Wilder, it fires off a chain of events filled with love, romance, adventure, danger, and the closest encounter with the wild cat of her dreams. Unfortunately, her stubbornness get her into trouble that only the strongest, more fearless creature can rescue her from. Rev has a choice: save his human mate and be rejected by his streak or live the rest of his life alone.      Amazon KU

ICED HEART: F/F VAMPIRE PARANORMAL ROMANCE  (THE IMMORTAL REIGN BOOK 2) by Ariel Marie

A vampire and a human with a strong attraction neither of them could resist. Vampires won the war years ago, and everything on Earth had changed. Alima Morgan refused to watch her people bend to the will of vampires. She hated them for all of the destruction they had caused. She was a rebel and would fight until there was no more breath left in her body. But then her name was chosen in the draft. Apparently, she had been matched with a powerful vampire—the daughter of the king. Against her will, she was shipped off to the princess. Alima wasn’t afraid of the bloodsucker, and she sure as hell didn’t believe in destined mates. Lethia Riskel wasn’t opposed to mating with a human. As a warden of the east, she needed someone at her side to rule. Her curiosity was piqued with one look at the human. She was stubborn, fiery, and would have to be tamed. Lethia was just the vampire for the challenge of breaking her new charge. Thrust into a world of darkness and desire, Alima found herself falling for Lethia. As much as she tried to resist, she found herself craving Lethia’s touch, kiss, and even her bite. With a war on the horizon, Lethia was a strong vampire who would protect her mate from the enemy, and prove they were meant to be.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DOMINATING IN THE MIDLIFE: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (FANGED AFTER FORTY BOOK 5) by Lia Davis and L A Boruff

Newly mated vampire, Hailey Whitfield has a long to-do list that involves protecting her brother, dealing with newfound powers, and plotting to take over the entire vampire political leadership system. It’s not enough that she and Jax have done everything the council asked. Yeah, sure, there were some rocky roads and a little defiance on her end, but they managed it. Still, Soran and Gretchen aren’t happy. Something to do with a prophecy about Jax and Hailey being the new power couple that could bring an end to the council. Well, they have a right to be paranoid. Don’t mess with Hailey and her tight circle of family and friends. It won’t end well. When Hailey and the Bond Girls track down a skip who isn’t human, they have decisions to make. But this skip has information Jax and Hailey need to implement their plan for dominating the midlife. Their lives, along with those of the vampire race, are about to change forever.     Amazon KU

THE SLAYER OF DARK HOLLOW by Juniper Kerry

Luna – I was born a Slayer, and I’ll die a Slayer. There will never be any other life for me. And most of the time, I’m cool with that. ..[SNIP]… I hate that I’m worming my way into his life, knowing I’m going to have to betray him. But if I don’t do this, my family will turn their backs on me. I’m torn between my head and my heart, and it’s an awful place to be. Ronan – When Luna walked through the doors of my bar on the night of a full moon, I thought it must be a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, I honed in on her like a starving man. I’ve been lusting after her ever since I first laid eyes on her, all those months ago. But despite looking at me with bedroom eyes, she’s been avoiding me. And the truth is, I’ve been avoiding her too. Slayers are slayers from the day they’re born ‘til the day they die. They don’t hook up with wolves for the heck of it. I should know better than to trust her. I definitely shouldn’t be taking her as my mate. My body has other ideas. And once I touch her, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to stop, even if it means risking everything.        Amazon KU

SIN AND SALVATION: BLACK HEARTS MC by Cate Corvin

My life has never been mine. Sold by my own brother to cover his gambling debts, I’ve been the plaything of a wealthy demon for years. But when I risk my life to escape, the only place to flee is to the territory of the Black Hearts MC. Their price for my safety? To strip in their club and earn them money. But soon the MC leaders can’t keep their hands off me, and they decide I’m theirs… even when my owner comes looking for me. Suddenly I’m not just a stripper, I’m their mate. And they will commit any sin to save me… because they’re my salvation.     Amazon KU

 

ALPHA’S RESCUE (SHIFTER OPS SERIES BOOK 5) by Renee Rose and Lee Savino

The curvy human saw me shift–now she can never leave. I took the lovely female with bright pink braids as my prisoner. She trespassed on our mountain. Saw my bear. With our land already under threat, I must keep her until I find out what she remembers. And she’s in danger. Her brother wants her dead, and she needs my protection. I shouldn’t keep her. I swore I’d never take a mate, but I can’t stop myself from wanting Lana. I can’t resist tying her to my bed. Claiming her. Then destroying anyone who dares threaten my mate.  Amazon     Kobo

JUNIPER’S TRIAL (ACADEMY OF THE ELITE BOOK 3) by Jarica James

VS Note: From May 23.

Rose Haven Academy put us up against a demon, and we won. Now my team of four hunky guys and I are part of the Elite Forces. I’m not sure if that’s good news or not. Our biggest foe, Captain Levi, seems to have warmed up to the possibilities of our powers, but that doesn’t mean she plans to make life easy for us. Within days of becoming part of the Elite forces, we are off on our first mission. We thought we were out of danger, but our biggest trial has just begun. A mysterious creature has overrun one of the training facilities of the Academy. Since our squad is the only one with experience dealing with creatures from beyond the veil, we’re prime pickin for the job. Lucky for me, my boyfriends and I have become a strong unit. Each of our powers complements the others. We arrive at the camp and immediately set out on a fact-finding mission. Having been through training and defeating my demon, this haunting seems like a cakewalk – until it isn’t. When we find the entire town surrounding the camp is in league with dark forces, our well-laid plans fall to pieces. Between fighting off deranged townies and staying safe from entities that lurk in the lake, we’re spread thin. And of course, that’s when things take a turn from bad to worse, nearly breaking me for good. Will we be able to solve the mystery of the Nøkken in time? Or will our first task as Elites lead us to a watery grave? Things that go bump in the night aren’t always harmless.     Amazon KU

SHIFTERS EVER AFTER (SHIFTERS UNLEASHED) by Various

Find your Happily Ever After…in Shifters Ever After! Dive into worlds of wonder-filled paranormal romance and urban fantasy with sizzling stories of shifters and their sassy fated mates as only Shifters Unleashed can deliver. Escape reality and go along for a journey of tantalizing tales with Wolves, Lions, Dragons, Bears, oh my, and so many more. Realize your dreams and live the fantasy with Shifters Ever After.     Amazon KU

HERALD”S CALL by Jaymie Wagner

VS Note: F/F/F PNR

It is said that long ago Herne, the god of the Hunt, could use his Horn to make wolves obey his commands. A legend that Amy Oakley, Alpha of the Howlers pack, learned as a child and stopped believing in long before her first change beneath the full moon. After spending three years fighting for her lovers and packmates’ right to live among the werewolves of Londinium, all she wants is a chance to breathe, go back to running her pub, and never see the manipulative Marcel Charron again. As an ancient prophecy begins to unfold, can Amy and the Howlers find the Horn of Herne and keep it out of Marcel’s hands, or will his web of schemes and plots spell doom for their pack and the rest of London’s werewolves?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE DRAGON’S FAKE FIANCEE (SHIFTERS OF RAWR COUNTY BOOK 6) by Sophie Stern

Cosmo has been living in Rawr County for the last 10 years because he hates himself and wants to be miserable. Dragon Isle was no good for him. Everyone there was too happy and joyful. A dragon like him deserves to be unhappy. When his family tries to set him up with a childhood friend to date, he blurts out a lie: he’s engaged. It’s not true. But when they surprise him with an unexpected visit, he grabs his nearest employee, Athena, and introduces her as his fiancée. What could possibly go wrong?

Amazon     Will probably show up on Apple Books and Kobo eventually

PRINCE OF RUIN (CLAIMED BY THE DEMON BOOK 1) by Bec McMaster

VS Note: From MAY 23

Sera – Sera knows the taste of the bitter ashes of love. The former angel gave her heart and soul to a demon once, and it cost her everything. Cast from Heaven and newly mortal, she’s forged herself anew on the vicious streets of New Purgatory, but she’s never forgotten him. And when Uriel offers her a chance of redemption, she takes it. Even if it means facing her most vicious heartbreak—and her greatest threat. And stealing from him. But when she walks into Azazel’s club, she can’t deny the obvious. Even though he won’t recognise her new body, one look into his piercing eyes and she knows the fierce connection they once shared hasn’t faded. Is there any mercy left in Azazel’s villainous heart? Or will his darkness consume her? Azazel – Once upon a time the angel, Sariel, betrayed him. He swore to break her. Ruin her. Destroy her. Until she vanished over a thousand years ago, and he was forced to leash his desire for vengeance…But when a sassy blonde calling herself Sera comes strutting into his club during one of the infamous reaping nights—wearing a pair of angel wings in a blatant middle finger to his kind— he can’t take his eyes off her. Her innocence consumes him. But it’s the knowing look in her eyes that makes his breath catch. Because his soul hasn’t forgotten hers. And while he swore to punish her, he takes one look at her and realizes vengeance has a new desire… He will possess her, body and soul.

Amazon     Kobo

MAGIC AND MIDNIGHT (STARRY HOLLOW WITCHES BOOK 6) by Annabel Chase

Everything’s coming up Roses in Starry Hollow. Ember is thriving both personally and professionally, along with the other descendants of the One True Witch, and life has never smelled sweeter—until the bloom is off the rose, of course. When a resident known as the Midnight Surfer is found dead on Balefire Beach, the community is shaken. The aging surfer was a fixture in Starry Hollow, albeit an ornery one, and the whole town is eager for Sheriff Nash to solve the case. With more suspects than grains of sand, the sheriff needs all the help he can get, and Ember is more than happy to offer her services. Meanwhile, Marley falls under the influence of an older friend and begins to test boundaries at home and school, much to Ember’s dismay. The broomstick mama isn’t used to challenging behavior and it seems the only way to hold on is to let go. Will the gathering dark clouds have a silver lining or will Ember succumb to the dead of night?      Amazon KU

OUT THERE: INTO THE QUEER NEW YONDER by Various

Into the queer new yonder! To conclude the trio of anthologies that started with critically acclaimed All Out and Out NowOut There features seventeen original short stories set in the future from fantastic queer YA authors. Explore new and familiar worlds where the human consciousness can be uploaded into a body on Mars…an alien helps a girl decide if she should tell her best friend how she feels…two teens get stuck in a time loop at a space station…people are forced to travel to the past or the future to escape the dying planet…only a nonbinary person can translate the binary code of a machine that predicts the future…everyone in the world vanishes except for two teen girls who are in love.      Amazon     Kobo

THE GIFTS THAT BIND US by Caroline O’Donoghue

It’s senior year, and Maeve and her friends are practicing and strengthening their mystical powers, while Maeve’s new relationship with Roe is exhilarating. But as Roe’s rock star dreams start to take shape, and Fiona and Lily make plans for faraway colleges, Maeve, who struggles in school, worries about life without them—will she be selling incense here in Kilbeg, Ireland, until she’s fifty? Alarm bells sound for the coven when the Children of Brigid, a right-wing religious organization, quickly gains influence throughout the city—and when its charismatic front man starts visiting Maeve in her dreams. When Maeve’s power starts to wane, the friends realize that all the local magic is being drained—or rather, stolen. With lines increasingly blurred between friend and foe, the supernatural and the psychological, Maeve and the others must band together to protect the place, and the people, they love. A thrilling sequel to All Our Hidden Gifts.        Amazon     Kobo

HYBRID (IMMORTAL WEST BOOK 2) by Kerry Adrienne and L A Boruff

Claire and Blake continue the fight against the wicked Fae King in this second installment of the Immortal West Series. But will their mutual attraction jeopardize their efforts to save Claire and the other human women the Fae need for their devious plans?    Amazon KU

THE PEACE KEEPER: A NOVEL (THE GOOD LANDS) by B L Blanchard 

North America was never colonized. The United States and Canada don’t exist. The Great Lakes are surrounded by an independent Ojibwe nation. And in the village of Baawitigong, a Peacekeeper confronts his devastating past. Twenty years ago to the day, Chibenashi’s mother was murdered and his father confessed. Ever since, caring for his still-traumatized younger sister has been Chibenashi’s privilege and penance. Now, on the same night of the Manoomin harvest, another woman is slain. His mother’s best friend. This leads to a seemingly impossible connection that takes Chibenashi far from the only world he’s ever known. The major city of Shikaakwa is home to the victim’s cruelly estranged family—and to two people Chibenashi never wanted to see again: his imprisoned father and the lover who broke his heart. As the questions mount, the answers will change his and his sister’s lives forever. Because Chibenashi is about to discover that everything about their lives has been a lie.     AmazonKU      AB

WILD OAK CROWN by T A Creech

People stumbling into Jack Hawthorne’s little town of Reeve’s Creek isn’t anything new. It happens from time to time. Those who need a safe place to hide from the world. Not the same way he needs a safe place, mind, but he lives with it and keeps to himself on the edge of town. Then two come at once. One is an irritating blip on the radar of his quiet life no matter how much this stranger upset the town, and the other … well, Sheriff Mason Carrow is there to turn Jack’s world upside down. Which is unexpected, and Jack can handle that. Mason likes to hand him surprise after surprise, though, and Jack’s in too deep before he even knows what hit him. The monster in the swamp on the western edge of his territory is something else. It’d take some real special care to deal with, if Jack manages to keep the good Sheriff Carrow from getting in the middle of that mess.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SUSPENDED: THE BEGINNING (THE PAST LIFE PRISM SERIES BOOK 1) by Julie Bawden-Davis

They have loved each other…over many lifetimes. When Sophia Strand is in college studying to be a therapist, she meets handsome physics professor Phillip Farrow. One look at Phillip and Sophia is struck by how hauntingly familiar he seems. She soon comes to understand at a deep level what her intuitive Greek grandmother has always told her. There will be significant people in her lifetime she has known before. But soon after Sophia and Phillip reunite in this lifetime, he must leave her. What will happen to the soul mates, whose love has spanned centuries?      Amazon

FORGING SILVER INTO STARS by Brigid Kermmerer

Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They once loved the stories of the powerful magesmiths and mythical scravers who could conjure fire or control ice, but now they’ve learned that magic only leads to danger: magic is what killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her alone to raise her younger sister. Magic never helped Jax, whose leg was crushed in an accident that his father has been punishing him for ever since. Magic won’t save either of them when the tax collector comes calling, threatening to take their homes if they can’t pay what they owe. Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn are astonished to learn magic has already returned to Syhl Shallow–in the form of a magesmith who’s now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it. When a stranger rides into town offering Jax and Callyn silver in exchange for holding secret messages for an anti-magic faction, the choice is obvious–even if it means they may be aiding in a plot to destroy their new king. It’s a risk they’re both willing to take. That is, until another visitor arrives: handsome Lord Tycho, the King’s Courier, the man who’s been tasked with discovering who’s conspiring against the throne. Suddenly, Jax and Callyn find themselves embroiled in a world of shifting alliances, dangerous flirtations, and ancient magic . . . where even the deepest loyalties will be tested.

Amazon      AB       Apple Books   Kobo

KNAVE OF SECRETS by Alex Livingston

When failed magician turned cardsharp Valen Quinol is given the chance to play in the Forbearance Game—the invitation-only tournament where players gamble with secrets—he can’t resist. Or refuse, for that matter, according to the petty gangster sponsoring his seat at the table. Valen beats the man he was sent to play, and wins the most valuable secret ever staked in the history of the tournament. Now Valen and his motley crew are being hunted by thieves, gangsters, spies and wizards, all with their own reasons for wanting what’s in that envelope. It’s a game of nations where Valen doesn’t know all the rules or who all the players are, and can’t see all the moves. But he does know if the secret falls into the wrong hands, it could plunge the whole world into war.     Amazon      AB     Kobo

LITTLE BIRD by Tiffany Meuret

The skeletons in the closet have nothing on the one in your backyard.
Freshly divorced and grieving the death of her father, Josie Lauer has caged herself inside her home. To cope with her losses, Josie follows a strict daily routine of work, playing with her dog, and trying to remember to eat a decent meal—and ending each night by drinking copious amounts of vodka. In other words, she is not coping at all. Everything changes when Josie wakes to find a small shrub has sprouted in her backyard the morning after yet another bender. Within hours, the vine-like plant is running amok—and it’s brought company: a busybody new neighbor who insists on thrusting herself into Josie’s life, and a talking skeleton called Skelly that has perched itself in Josie’s backyard on a throne made of vines. As the strangely sentient plant continues to grow and twist its tendrils inside Josie’s suddenly complicated life, Josie begins to realize there’s a reason Skelly has chosen to appear. All Josie has to do is figure out what that reason is—and she has only a few days to do it, or else she might find herself on the wrong side of catastrophe.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MELIORA by Talli L Morgan

Winter Fae takes a job at the Summer Palace with two goals in mind: keep his sister alive, and keep his family’s secrets safe. He intends to keep his head down and avoid drawing attention, but that plan crumbles when he crosses paths with the notoriously reckless Prince Arturo, who’s last in line for the throne and would rather see the world than rule it. Arturo claims he knows someone who can cure Winter’s sister for good, if Winter can trust him enough to travel across the country. But Winter’s family has attracted enough suspicion over the years, so he needs a damn good reason for disappearing with the prince. And what’s a better excuse than elopement?     Amazon KU

GIVE UP THE GHOST (SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES BNOOK 11) by Angie Fox

VS Note: From MAY 31

Ghost hunter Verity Long is no stranger to scandal. In fact, it seems to follow her around like her pet skunk, Lucy. But Verity is as shocked as anybody when a town relic discovered in a time capsule unleashes a torrent of secrets that lead to murder. Trouble is, the only residents in Sugarland who know the truth behind the scandal also happen to be very dead themselves. With a killer on the loose and a town in crisis, Verity braves a side of Sugarland she’s never seen before. From a booby-trapped haunted mansion to a run-in with the spirit of Sugarland’s most notorious blackmailer who may hold the key to setting mob ghost Frankie free…for a price. But when a live killer gets an inside track on Verity’s investigation, will she live long enough to give up the ghost?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

NEVER THE WIND by Francesco Dmitri

Praise God, never the wind – 1996 – Luca Saracino is thirteen and has been completely blind for eight months when his parents move to a Southern Italian farmhouse they dream of turning into a hotel. With his brother dropping out of university and the family reeling from Luca’s diagnosis, they are chasing dreams of rebirth and reinvention. As Luca tells his story without sight – experiencing the world solely through hearing, smell, taste and touch – he meets the dauntless Ada Guadalupi, who takes him out to explore the rocky fields and empty beaches. But Luca and Ada find they can’t escape the grudges that have lasted between their families for generations, or the gossiping of the town. And Luca is preyed upon by the feral Wanderer, who walks the vineyards of his home. As Luca’s family starts to crack at the seams, Luca and Ada have to navigate new lands and old rivalries to uncover the truths spoken as whispers on the wind.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ORDINARY MONSTERS: A NOVEL (THE TALENTS BOOK 1) by J M Miro

England, 1882. In Victorian London, two children with mysterious powers are hunted by a figure of darkness—a man made of smoke. Sixteen-year-old Charlie Ovid, despite a brutal childhood in Mississippi, doesn’t have a scar on him. His body heals itself, whether he wants it to or not. Marlowe, a foundling from a railway freight car, shines with a strange bluish light. He can melt or mend flesh. When Alice Quicke, a jaded detective with her own troubled past, is recruited to escort them to safety, all three begin a journey into the nature of difference and belonging, and the shadowy edges of the monstrous. What follows is a story of wonder and betrayal, from the gaslit streets of London, and the wooden theaters of Meiji-era Tokyo, to an eerie estate outside Edinburgh where other children with gifts—like Komako, a witch-child and twister of dust, and Ribs, a girl who cloaks herself in invisibility—are forced to combat the forces that threaten their safety. There, the world of the dead and the world of the living threaten to collide. And as secrets within the Institute unfurl, Komako, Marlowe, Charlie, Ribs, and the rest of the talents will discover the truth about their abilities, and the nature of what is stalking them: that the worst monsters sometimes come bearing the sweetest gifts. Riveting in its scope, exquisitely written, Ordinary Monsters presents a catastrophic vision of the Victorian world—and of the gifted, broken children who must save it.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

SINS OF THE ORC (ORC FORGED) by Finley Fenn

He’s fallen too far to save… but his enemy is going to try. In a world of warring orcs and men, Kesst of Clan Ash-Kai is a pawn. A pretty, pliant plaything, bound to the cruelest orcs in the realm. Until the new healer storms in. He’s huge, hostile, and hideous, with a powerful scarred body and terrifying ancient magic. And it only takes one disastrous meeting before he and Kesst are bitter enemies, and Kesst vows to see the vile brute destroyed…And then a sudden, deadly attack hurls his helpless body straight at the healer’s feet. Kesst fully expects to be mocked, belittled, abandoned to his doom — but instead, his new enemy picks him up. Soothes his wounds. And carries him home…Soon Kesst is trapped in a tiny sickroom beneath Orc Mountain, caught in the thrall of the healer’s impossible magic. In the surprising gentleness of his touch. In the strength of his stubborn, seductive safety…But with his horrid handlers close on their scent, Kesst can’t possibly be falling for his forbidden foe… can he? Can a healer save him from his sins… or destroy him?     Amazon KU

THE CURSED CANVASES (THE LADIES OF ALMACK’S BOOK 4) by Marissa Doyle

Young widow Annabel Chalfont, Countess of Fellbridge, has two small sons to raise, a mountain of her late husband’s debts to pay off, and a secret: she’s a shadow-shaper, able to manipulate shadow as anyone else might clay. She and six other high-born ladies with equally extraordinary abilities defend England against supernatural crime—but the world knows them only as the Lady Patronesses of Almack’s, Regency London’s most exclusive social venue. The Lady Patronesses are trying to discover who is vandalizing the pictures at this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, in the process uncovering a personal vendetta dating back nearly twenty years. Meanwhile, Annabel gains a very eligible suitor in Lord Glenrick, brother of one of her fellow Lady Patronesses and son and heir of the Duke of Carrick—but she’s not quite sure he’s the suitor she’d prefer.     Amazon     Kobo

THE CHARMING SPELL (HEAVEN SPRINGS PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 2) by Constance Barker

Mandy is up to her neck when her ex from Hollywood shows up uninvited. She’s done with the guy but he can’t take no for an answer. And when he becomes a murder suspect, will she feel obligated to help in the investigation? What was a warrior angel doing in town? Is something dark and mysterious brewing just below the surface of the community? Are friends actually enemies in disguise? Can Mandy trust her own grandmother?      Amazon KU

SUNFLOWER SEASON: HISTORICAL ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY FOR UKRAINE by Various

VS Note: Although this collection isn’t in the genres I feature, I am supporting the worthy efforts for Ukraine.

SUNFLOWER SEASON is a charity collection featuring stories (some never-been-published and some old favorites) by over 70 — that’s right — SEVENTY of your favorite Historical Romance authors. ALL royalties will be donated to humanitarian relief in Ukraine. This set will be released on June 7, 2022 and will only be available for a limited time. Preorder now and enjoy a summer of historical romance!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

WHERE THE DEVIL DON’T GO by Onley James

VS Note: A re-release of a previously serialized story.

Sam is known by many names: Samiel, Samyaza…Lucifer. But Sam isn’t the devil. He’s simply a demon, attempting to earn peace by slaughtering the demonic offspring he created. It’s in slaying one of those offspring that Sam finds Christopher, who’s been enslaved for so long he’s forgotten how to be human. He doesn’t look human, not anymore, not after the barbaric things he’s endured at the hands of his captor. But even then, Christopher never suspected his master was anything but a normal mortal man. When Sam’s mission puts him in Christopher’s path, Christopher isn’t horrified by the literal demon before him—not even when Sam tells him he has to die. Instead, intrigued by Sam, Christopher offers his body in exchange for his life. An offer Sam finds himself accepting. Their joining is an abomination. Humans and monsters aren’t meant to mate. But together, they work. Sam feeds on others’ pain, and Christopher needs to hurt to get off. They’re a perfect match made in hell…until Sam is left with only one name between him and the death he’s craved for millennia. Now, he has a decision to make. Stay and start a war…Or finish what he started and leave Christopher alone in a world that’s forgotten him.       Amazon KU

FOR A FEW WITCHES MORE (A HANNAH HICKOK WITCHY MYSTERY BOOK 10) by Lily Harper Hart

Casper Creek is a town in flux. Contractors are on the scene making plans for the new restaurant, owner Hannah Hickok is plotting ridiculous couple’s costumes for the Halloween party, and there’s a new demon in town. Instead of coming after Hannah directly, the demon does an end-run around the witch and starts possessing the area children … and sending them into a frenzy. Through a fluke, Hannah manages to put an end to the first attack. Unfortunately, a wave of them are set to follow.
Hannah’s boyfriend Cooper Wyatt believes she can handle almost anything, but a threat against children puts her in a tough position … especially since the demon seems to be demanding something that’s impossible for Hannah to give him. He wants to be there for her, but this fight is one he’s not certain they can win. Demons are nothing new for Hannah, but this one has a particular agenda, and nobody will survive if it comes to fruition. Because she has no other options, Hannah is forced to join forces with an enemy who can provide an exponential power boost. Will it be a mistake? Hannah is determined to protect those she loves. This time, the foe might be too strong for her to defeat.      Amazon KU

FORGOTTEN VOWS: MM FAE ROMANCE (FOLK BOOK TWO) by Lily Mayne

My mortal skin is gone. I’m one of them. One of the Folk. And all I feel is anger. I’m going to kill the Carlin and her sons for everything they did to me. It’s all I care about. But first, I have to navigate this new world. My new skin. My new brother. And, when I fall into her clutches, my fae mother—the Brid. The Seelie Queen. I don’t like what I’m becoming, but I can’t stop it. Something’s wrong with me. Something’s missing. There’s a hollow ache in my chest and I can’t fill it, no matter what I do. It’s like I’ve forgotten something vital from my time on unseelie land. Why do I feel so incomplete? Why do I have an oath etched onto my skin, one I don’t remember making? Why is there a tiny black feather nestled in my throat that I can’t bring myself to take off? Why do I feel so much longing every time I see a beautiful black-haired, black-eyed unseelie fae, even though I don’t remember him at all? My life has become yet another game of cat and mouse, but this time it’s not just the Carlin and her sons trying to get me. New threats lurk, and I have to force myself into this new fae skin to be able to fight them.     Amazon KU

UNTIL THEFT DO US PART: A FOLKLORE FALLS ROMANCE RETELLING by Emily Fluke

Loxley isn’t lonely–who dares suggest that? Plus, she’s too busy helping townspeople who struggle to stay afloat in Folklore Falls and find the dagger from the town’s historical legend. She doesn’t have time for relationships. Though her reckless thefts don’t make her an ideal girlfriend, she captures the eye of a new name in town. But it’s the wrong kind of attention. Officer Gideon Notting trusts nothing but rules and loyalty to the law–everything Loxley is not. When an investigation thrusts them together, Loxley has no choice but to lie, trick, and… fall in love?      Amazon KU

OLD BONES AND ICE CREAM CONES: DESTINY FALLS MYSTERY AND MAGIC SERIES BOOK 6 by Elizabeth Pantley

VS Note: From MAY 15

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery. The Island Mystery: Hayden’s boyfriend Han is missing. But she swears she saw him zoom by in his car. She’d thought it was a surprise, and that he was home early from his secret service case. She was wrong. The surprise is that his signal isn’t pinging, and no one knows where he is. There appears to be black magic behind his disappearance. Can they learn who’s responsible and bring Han safely home? The Murder Mystery: A pile of old bones is found in an ancient fishing boat. They could be tied to the disappearance of two young women years ago, back when many of the Destiny Falls people where in high school. Many of the citizens had bad history with the missing students. Do the bones belong to them, and what happened? Were the they murdered? And could the murderer be living among them?   AmazonKU

DRAGON’S MATE (IRRESISTIBLE DRAGONS BOOK 1) by Nora Phoenix

VS Note: From MAY 31

One dragon. One wolf. And they’re both alphas. Surely Fate must’ve messed up. After spending the last two hundred years locked up in the family castle with his three younger brothers, Erwan is climbing the walls. Literally. He’s a dragon who isn’t allowed to fly, forbidden to use his magic, all to stay hidden from the rest of the world. How will he ever find his mate like this? But when he finds an injured omega in the woods around the castle and brings him home, the spell that kept them hidden is broken. Erwan’s father is furious—not that that’s anything new. The man has basically been angry all Erwan’s life, though why, he doesn’t know. When wolf pack alpha Rhene comes a-knocking to demand the omega back, Erwan is shocked by what Fate whispers in his ear. Then again, the same is true for Rhene. Neither one of them imagined their mate quite like this. Two alphas? A dragon and a wolf? How on earth could that possibly work? But they have bigger problems. It turns out Erwan’s father is hiding more than a surly attitude. Much more. Like an old connection with the wolves and a betrayal that runs so deep, it could tear Erwan and Rhene apart.      Amazon KU

THE BLOOD OF PROMISE (THE WOLVES OF PROMISE FALLS BOOK 3) by T S Joyce

Marsden Wyland is a walking bag of secrets. He’s walking the line between opening up to his new Pack, and keeping them from finding out what he’s really done. And on top of that, he’s seeing a ghost girl that can only mean one thing—he’s dying. The ghost is beautiful, and is there for him in hard moments, and showing up in memories, and nothing is making sense. He wants to know everything about her, but any time he tries to talk to her, she disappears. He is supposed to be helping his new Alpha take his place at the head of the Pack, but instead, Marsden is becoming a huge liability.     Carly Callaghan has been hired to find out what has happened to the mountains around Leadville, Colorado. Something has left huge scorch marks, and the local police department needs someone with her…talents. One touch of a scorch mark, and she is thrown down a path she never would’ve guessed. Werewolves exist. Werewolves exist! And one of them has all of her attention. A green-eyed, muscle-bound wolf-man has somehow tethered her powers to him, and now she has an important decision to make—finish her job and expose him to the police department, or protect a werewolf with a volatile past.     Amazon KU

TOGETHER WE BURN by Isabel Ibanez

VS Note: From MAY 31.

An ancient city plagued by dragons – Eighteen-year-old Zarela Zalvidar is a talented flamenco dancer and daughter of the most famous Dragonador in Hispalia. People come for miles to see him fight in their arena, which will one day be hers. But disaster strikes during one celebratory show, and in the carnage, Zarela’s life changes in an instant. A flamenco dancer who must become a dragon hunter to save her family legacy – With the Dragon Guild trying to wrest control of her inheritance from her, Zarela has no choice but to train to become a Dragonador. But when the most talented dragon hunter left in the land — the infuriatingly handsome Arturo Díaz de Montserrat — withholds his help, Zarela cannot take no for an answer. Without him, her world will burn.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

BY YOUR SIDE: THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF YURI ANIME AND MANGA by Erica Friedman

VS Note: Nonfiction but I like to include books of interest in this report. It’s part of the joy of curating! From MAY 31.

The Untold Story of Lesbian Love in Japanese Anime and Comics – By Your Side is the complete Yuri resource I only ever dreamed could exist. Decades in the making, this glorious collection surveys, analyzes, and contextualizes Yuri with unparalleled detail and enthusiasm. Friedman graces readers with illuminating insights as they follow her through a century of the genre’s evolution and revolution. By sharing her extraordinary knowledge, she provides inquirers, scholars, and aficionados alike with a deeper appreciation and understanding of lesbian anime and manga while galvanizing them towards the next era of Yuri.” -Nicki Bauman, Yurimother     Amazon     Kobo

THE CAVE OF RUIN ARSA (THE CROSS OF CIARAN BOOK 3) by Andrea Matthews

iarán Donnelly is ready to leave his past behind and concentrate on his new life, but his past may not be finished with him. His dreams have returned with a vengeance, and this time they’re telling him Ruadhán, the long-dead priest who entombed him fifteen hundred years before, is threatening to kidnap his unborn twins. Of course, his dream interpretation leaves a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to those he loves. As if the dreams are not bad enough, his anxiety over them is causing stress on his new marriage, which is the last thing Caitlin needs in her current condition. The twins are on the way, and everyone advises him the dreams stem from his own insecurities over becoming a father. After all, Ruadhán was the chief priest, a member of the high council, loyal to his goddess unto death. What are the chances he suffered the same fate as Ciarán and survived fifteen centuries? The theory sounds reasonable, and he’s happy to accept it, until Aodhán comes across an empty tomb in the Hills of ár Sinsear that looks as though it may have been occupied at some point. Could Ruadhán have survived after all? And if so, where is he now? To complicate the issue, Aodhán stumbles across another piece of information that could alter the possible meaning of his brother’s dreams. But will Ciarán manage to put the pieces together before it’s too late, or will he lose his family to an ancient adversary?     Amazon KU

PRINCE AND ASSASSIN (PERILOUS COURTS BOOK 1) by Tavia Lark

Whisper doesn’t remember his real name. All he knows is the elite assassin guild that raised him—and controls him with the threat of blood magic. Plagued by nightmares, he doesn’t get to refuse assignments, even when his new job doesn’t make sense: Infiltrate Prince Julien’s court, protect him until the signal arrives, then kill him. Julien hides his own schemes behind a sordid reputation. He trusts nobody besides his brothers, and he certainly doesn’t trust the aloof, beautiful new stranger at court. But he doesn’t have to trust the stranger to be drawn to him, especially when he saves Julien’s life. Then Julien saves Whisper too, and Whisper’s reserve shatters. Beneath Julien’s playboy facade is a warmth Whisper can’t resist. Whisper’s never been comforted before. He’s never been cared for like this. As his nightmares darken, Julien’s touch is his only solace—but falling in love could ruin them both. Because Whisper’s mission hasn’t changed, and the price for failure is worse than death.   AmazonKU

HOUSE OF LIES AND SORROW: FAE OF REWYTH BOOK ONE by Emily Blackwood

Jade Farrow will die tomorrow. Her fate was decided years ago, when her useless father made a deal with the greedy fae king to save his own life. Now, she is being sent to marry one of the five ruthless fae princes. The only problem is that she is not the first human to marry a fae prince. And like every human wife before her, Jade is going to be killed before she can find a way out. Malachi Weyland is the heir to the fae throne. It’s the reason his brothers have despised him all these years, and it’s the reason his father is adamant on finding him a human wife. Malachi has one job, and that is to unite the fae and human lands. But Malachi has a secret, and it’s one that gives him his rightful name amongst both the human and fae lands: The Prince of Shadows. Jade and Malachi are faced with life-or-death challenges as Jade is thrown into Malachi’s magical world. Will she die just like every wife before her? Or will Malachi, the same fae who is feared across all of Rewyth, be the one to save her life?      Amazon KU

SWEET BERRIES – CAMBRIC CREEK SWEET & STEAMY MONSTER ROMANCE BOOK 2 by C S Nascosta

Grace has a job she loves, a community she adores, and plenty of friends . . . but her lack of bedroom action has left this event planner too horny to think. When one ill-advised night at the bar leads to her giving an exhibitionistic show to an unknown presence outside her bedroom window, she thinks she’s hit a new low. When her voyeur turns out to be a nebbishly charming mothman, Grace needs to decide if she can trust her body — and her heart — with this garnet-eyed stranger before he flys out of her life for good.     Amazon KU

SACRIFICE OF THE BRAVE KING (THE POSEIDON TRIALS BOOK 3) by Eliza Raine

The Poseidon Trials have never been more deadly, and it’s not just my life at stake. Poseidon, my sister, and the whole realm of Aquarius are just as likely to die as I am if we don’t stop Atlas. But the revelations coming my way are so much worse than anything the insane Titan can throw at me. Between discovering the rest of the Oracle’s prophecy, what happened between Poseidon and Atlas’ wife, learning to use my magic, and trying to save my sister’s life, only one thing is certain. If I fall in love with the fierce sea god, it will kill me as surely as the stone will.    Amazon KU

THE DARK HALF: BOOK ONE by Shane Morton

After his parents’ untimely death, Roam finds himself embroiled in a world of magic and demons. His whole life has been one big lie – but the biggest lie of all may cost him his life. Can he balance the world between Chaos and Order, or will he be the one who destroys it? Destiny is calling for him to take his place – but all he wants is a chance to fall in love with a man he shouldn’t desire. War between the forces of Order and Chaos is at a tipping point, and the demon king knows that Roam is the one he’s been waiting for. Roam’s grandmother Guinn also knows the truth of Roam’s lineage and the terrible destiny that lays before him. Truth has a way of coming out and Roam must decide who he is. Will he choose destruction or will love keep him tethered to the forces of good?    AmazonKU

WILD GHOST CHASE (GHOST DETECTIVE BOOK 7) by Jane Hinchey

VS Note: From MAY 31

The cut-throat attorney’s death puts a crimp in my plans, for here I am, all dressed up and ready for the Scarecrow Ball, when she turns up, un-living, riding shotgun in my SUV. Usually an optimist, I’m finding my beloved cup o’ joe less than half full as I set about finding her killer while deflecting questions from my family about my impending wedding to Detective Kade Galloway. Smokin’ hot, lustworthy, mine. Right? I can’t believe it either! But here we are, knee-deep in vampires, zombies, and scarecrows, hunting a murderer, bathing raccoons, stumbling from one crisis to another, asking myself, red wine or white at the reception?      Amazon KU

SASQUATCH MOON (VAMPIRE FOR HIRE BOOK 26) by J R Rain

When Samantha Moon is hired on by a film crew to help hunt for the most elusive creature of them all, she’s pretty sure they have the wrong person. Turns out this is a super well-funded expedition, and the eccentric backer is sparing no expense, including hiring, among dozens of other specialists, a private investigator—someone trained to find the missing. And there is nothing more missing than Bigfoot. The logic almost makes sense to Sam. But the money is right and the vampire private eye finds herself intrigued. After all, even among her fellow supernaturals, the creature known as Sasquatch is thought to be myth only. When the team arrives at the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, Sam is drawn to the bear guard, a tough as nails man named Wally Seymour hired to keep the expedition safe; after all, Wally seems particularly adept in the forest…But it’s when Sam heads out into the woods on her own reconnaissance mission that things get interesting. Turns out, the vampire detective is particularly adept at finding elusive creatures who don’t want to be found. And when Samantha sees a disturbing image in the team leader’s mind—an image of death and mayhem—she understands there’s more at play here than a simple expedition to find the world’s most popular cryptid. The hunt is on—but who is hunting whom?     Amazon KU

TAURUS UNTAMED (FATED BY STARLIGHT BOOK 3) by January Bell

I’m a world away from anything familiar—but it’s like I’ve known him my whole life. I never realized my father’s stories about alternate dimensions were a warning. But when I wake up in the gentle arms of a horned giant, his theories become all too real. My sisters are gone, I’ve traveled through some kind of rip in the universe… and the man holding me says I’m his fated mate. I need to find my sisters, but the people here have been under attack. They need my nursing skills, and I can’t find it in myself to abandon them… or the gruff, brutish man who’s set on taking care of me. So I get to work, staying as busy as I can. My so-called fated mate makes it easy, and despite his stern exterior, I sense a heart of gold. I’m undeniably attracted to him, but I’m not ready for forever. Then the unthinkable happens. I’m kidnapped, taken by the same people responsible for the attacks on the village:  vampires. I can only hope he’ll fight for what he thinks is his… me.     Amazon KU

WITCH WOLF (ELVENSWOOD TALES BOOK 6) by Alexa Piper

Will is a witch wolf, a werewolf who can do magic, but his life so far has been anything but magical. He was sold by his own pack and for four years, Will suffered as a slave to his captors — who used him any way they wanted. Now, after a leap of courage has brought him to Colin’s doorstep, Will’s past should be just that, his past. Colin can see the new apprentice he’s supposed to teach magic has been hurt. Colin wants to comfort the young werewolf who takes to magic much more easily than he takes to human contact. Their attraction seems mutual, but how can Colin be certain Will even knows what he wants? As slow affection grows between Colin and Will, Will’s magic does as well, and he allows himself a sliver of happiness. Except the dark past Will thought he escaped from is not quite done with him, and now, it’s not just Will’s life on the line, but also Colin’s, the witch Will’s heart is beating for.     Amazon     Kobo

ACROSS THE STARLESS SKY (THE CURSED PARLEY BOOK 2) by C M Hano

Deadly Deals – When archeologist Gabrielle Bocknite seeks out help from the notorious Crow Sisters, she finds herself in a deadly situation. With letters from the past motivating her journey, she must do what is necessary to get back to them. What price will she have to pay, and will it leave a black mark on her soul? Cursebreaker – Maxwell Godfrey will stop at nothing to save his friends and get his Lass back. When another curse stands in the way of their freedom, Max is forced to make a fatal decision. One path will bind him to the seas, and another will seal his final destiny. Silent Avenger – Two brothers are lost at sea, befriending a pirate in the deep. Death hangs an ax over one. Another seeks vengeance, in the wake of the evening silence.    Amazon KU

THE SHADOW PRINCESS (CHRONICLES OF THE STONE VBEIL BOOK 6) by Sawyer Bennett

My name is Thalia Clairmont and I am heir to the throne of Vyronas. A title that was unknown to me after the love of my life, Bastien Dunne, had me stripped of my memories and sent me through the veil into another dimension. He maintains it was for my protection after my parents were killed and our kingdom was overthrown, but I see it as a betrayal. Overwhelmed by my feelings of both love and anger for Bastien, I quickly understand that things aren’t what they once were. Vyronas is at war and an evil sorceress has claimed my throne by casting her blood magic to subjugate my people. With my memories returned, I realize Bastien isn’t the man I once loved and has instead become a distant, hardened warrior whose heart is as cold as ice. My magic alone cannot defeat the blood sorcery, so I delve into the deepest shadows to find a way to regain control of my kingdom. Can I defeat evil without succumbing to the darkness? And will Bastien and I be able to reclaim the love we once shared? I am the Shadow Princess and it’s time for me to reclaim my throne.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

CLANDESTINE (SANGUINE BLOOD SEEKERS 2) by J Hali Steele

Joshua’s spending more and more time at club Sub Rosa. It’s time he emerges from the shadows to take a more active role. Pursuit of the aloof nightclub owner obsessed with voyeurism carries him over the edge. The stranger’s scent awakens a desire Joshua has not felt in centuries. He vows to have the man. If it means bleeding dry everyone close to either of them, so be it. Mason Kildare, owner of Sub Rosa, doesn’t play in his own backyard. Instead he frequents other night spots in search of fulfillment. A reserved disposition coupled with gray hair keeps most of the young men he finds attractive at arm’s length, but not Joshua. Joshua storms Mason’s defenses, breaking them down one by one. By the time he discovers Joshua’s bloody secret, Mason has lost more than his body — he’s given away his soul.

Amazon     Kobo

HER REVENGE (THE SHATTERED ISLE SERIES BOOK 2) by Jade Presley

VS Note: From MAY 31.

Cari’s father—king of the Shattered Isle—escaped her clutches in the All Plane, but she’ll stop at nothing to stop his reign of terror. With the help of her four new husbands—the kings of the All Plane—they set off to stop her father once and for all. But he’s not retreating to the safety of her beloved isle. He isn’t hiding behind his place walls. He’s taking his revenge out on the innocent elemental realms, and the people start to question the All Plane’s ability to protect them. When he threatens someone she loves, Cari realizes just how much she underestimated her father. And in order to save them, she’ll have to become something she never wanted—the ruthless princess her father raised her to be.       Amazon KU

BEAR’S MIDLIFE SURROGATE (SHIFTER NATION: FATED OVER FORTY) by Meg Ripley

At 41, I never imagined I’d be signing a baby contract. Or that the father would be my one true mate. My ex gambled away my kids’ college funds Along with my dreams of starting a business. After putting everyone else first for the last 23 years, Nothing will stop me from making my dream a reality. So when a bear posts he’s looking for a surrogate, As crazy as it sounds after having three grown kids, I know this could be the ticket to getting my food truck off the ground. I loved being pregnant and know what to expect, But when I meet Evan at a coffee shop, My bear’s buzzing, and it has nothing to do with my latte. The man I’m sitting across from is my mate. And he wants us to start a family. Together.  Raising another cub was never part of my business plan. Until we end up making it the old-fashioned way.     Amazon KU

IN THE MIDST OF MAGIC by Christian Cura

VS Note: FF Fantasy. From MAY 25.

Meet Kara Hartman, a young photojournalist who is hiding her magic from the world. Traumatized by the death of her brothers he wants nothing more to do with magic. But just when she thought she could neglect her gift, it becomes apparent that the universe has other plans for her. When an old foe breaks out of prison, hellbent on exacting vengeance, Kara has no choice but to embrace the only power that can stop her.      Amazon

DARK BEAST by Sara Fields

I can protect her from the world, but nothing will protect her from me. For centuries I’ve walked this land, watching over humanity even after they turned their backs on me long ago. But though many a lass has blushed for me over the years, I’ve never claimed one for more than a night screaming my name in bed. A beast like me wasn’t meant to find a mate. Until Layna. When I first set eyes on this beautiful creature she was fighting for her life against more men than I could count, and at that very moment I vowed to protect her… and to make her mine. That is a promise I plan to keep, even if it means stripping her bare, marking her bottom with my belt, and forcing her to one heart-stopping climax after another until she surrenders completely. I’m not just going to keep her safe. I’m going to keep her forever.      Amazon KU

RAVISHING THE FORCE (THE FORCE SERIES BOOK 2) by Jade Royal

Having the ability to see the dead was both a gift and a curse for Drax Triton. He was tormented by spirits to a point where he was succumbing to weakness because of his power. Not only did his older brothers dote on him because he was the youngest; his inability to control his power made them even more wary to watch his every move. But it was his unstable power that led him to meet the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. Not only was Ivy Ash alluring and positively seductive; she was a demon that held a mystery about herself that Drax wanted to uncover. Ivy and Drax were from two separate worlds that deemed they could never be together, but their connection was undeniable, especially in the way their eyes twinkled at the pleasure of torturing enemies. Despite the rules that said a demon and a panther could never coexist, Drax would stop at nothing to capture the female that ravished his soul the moment he locked eyes with her. But to be together meant that the rules of their worlds would forever be altered in ways that neither Ivy nor Drax could prepare for. In the end, the prospect of a true mate bond was too good to resist despite the chaos that was promised to come.       Amazon KU

BRONX’S BITE (PRYDE SHIFTER SERIES BOOK 3) by Giovanna Reaves

VS Note: From May 31

Fate has a wicked sense of humor when enemies become lovers. After the death of his parents, Bronx Harrison had to take on the responsibility of his family’s company, not to mention taking the throne as the king of his sect. Bronx thought he’d actually found his mate in his childhood best friend, Jordan Sutton. Although they loved each other, there wasn’t any passion. With the threat of the Blackburn Hunters trying to kill his kind, Bronx put love out of his mind. When he was asked to extract information from a captured hunter, Bronx didn’t expect that the man would turn out to be his mate. Captured and in the hands of the enemy, Kallen Blackburn was on death’s door and was ready to accept his fate. But just like everything else in his life, things changed. He was trained and conditioned to be the best paranormal hunter, but one mission had him going from hunter to hunted Since he was a child, Kallen’s world had been filled with torture and death. Love was something he had never experienced. His only purpose was to be used and discarded. When he failed on a mission and was punished severely, Kallen realized he needed to escape from the family business as a Blackburn Hunter. Kallen thought he was incapable of emotions, let alone loving anyone. When Kallen encounters Bronx, he questions the meaning of life and love. This is not a standalone series please read books 1 & 2 first.     Amazon KU

BAILEY: MORGAN’S LEAP BOOK 3 by Kathi S Barton

Bailey Golden and his five brothers were the first of their kind. Born leopards, they were blessed with the magic of being the first leopard shifters. Morgan, their mother by proxy, raised them to blend in with humans and to be good men. Blessed with immortality, they all lived together on Morgan’s Leap, a sanctuary for all nature. Zippy and her sister, Venita, were born witches. Veni, Leslie’s mate, was the grand witch, but Zippy was no slouch when it came to magic. Zippy and their parents came to Morgan’s Leap because they had discovered that Veni was alive, not dead as they’d been led to believe, and they wanted her back in their lives. Although Zippy was thankful to have her sister back in her life, discovering she had a mate was both a shock and a blessing. Bailey was surprised but not at all unhappy when Zippy appeared in his life. Everything around him was changing so fast. And when Zippy didn’t hesitate to take in the three abandoned infants from the hospital, his heart couldn’t have been fuller.    Amazon     Kobo

FATHER (BLOOD BROTHERHOOD) by Loki Renard

Sin, and be punished. I’ve broken every commandment, but I do not fear Hell, because Hell is here on earth. I protect the weak. I punish the wicked. And I slay demons. I do my work alone…until fate steps in. Now I’m legal guardian to the daughter of the one who got away. But she’s no child. She’s headstrong and spoiled…and mesmerizing. Addictive. Angelic. Pure temptation. Claiming her is against every tenet, commandment, and moral law above and below. But when I am with her, nothing else matters. I am a demon hunter — but she is the one I will possess.     AmazonKU

COSMIC JINX (THE WITCHES OF HOLLOW COVE BOOK 10) by Kim Richardson

Lucifer took my magic. Okay, so technically, Derrick the incubus douche took it, but he was Lucifer’s guy and following orders. Still, I can’t be a witch or a Merlin without magic. Can my life get any worse? Of course, it can. As I try to adjust and accept life without a drop of magic in my veins, Marcus disappears. Well, not exactly, more like he ghosts me. He’s not returning my calls or my texts. Just when I think I finally have my love life on track, it gets derailed, and my heart is slowly torn apart. Even if Marcus is gone, I’m not about to give up on my magic. I have plans. Crazy-ass, possible death plans, but I’ll do just about anything to get my magic mojo back. Yes, it’ll be dangerous. Insane. Only a crazy person would be willing to try it. Good thing I’m just crazy enough.     Amazon KU

CLAIMED BY SHIFTERS (HATE TO LOVE FAE BOOK 2) by J L Wilder

As a hybrid, I thought there was no place for me. Until three shifter brothers found me and claimed me as their own. A tattoo-covered bear who delighted in my torment; A dragon that consumed me with his heat; And a wolf who knew the part of me I kept hidden. When they finally learned to trust me, is when I led them into the belly of the beast. Now the fae want every drop of their blood; and these babies inside me, may never know their fathers. There is only one way out of this. I need to make an alliance with my enemy; The monster in the cell adjacent to mine. Monsters are toxic, but this one draws me to him like a moth to a flame. And there’s something about how forbidden he is that makes me want him more. I just hope my mates can forgive me for putting us in danger,
because maybe the only monster we are all running from is me.       Amazon KU

THE INFIDELITY CLAUSE by Lisa Oliver

Caspian, fourth son and yet still a Crown Prince of Gunkermal knew he was a party to a marriage contract. Arranged marriages were common in his family, and he expected the contract would cement various trade or security agreements with another country. He just didn’t realize the other party to his contract was a full-grown man, who stepped off his ship and into Caspian’s life as if he owned it. How much is this marriage worth to our king again? Nikolas, Crown Prince and only heir of Westland, arrived in Gunkermal to fulfill his part of a marriage contract that was six months in the making. He was under no illusions about his prospective spouse. By all accounts, his intended was a womanizer, a lay about, and was likely someone who fussed if Nikolas should use a wrong fork at dinner. That’s why Nikolas insisted their marriage contract have an infidelity clause. He figured his spouse would invoke what was known as the “piss-off” clause before Christmas and he’d be free. It’s far better to marry someone whose weaknesses we’re already aware of. One man went into his marriage contract blindly. The other thought he knew everything there was to know about his intended spouse. When circumstances suggested that neither man knew what was actually going on, was there a possibility the marriage could work after all? And what did a pirate captain have to do with anything at all.       Amazon

FIRE (FIRE AND ICE BOOK 1) by Shae Evans

VS Note: From May 30.

He’ll make her pay the ultimate price, in his quest for revenge….A dutiful daughter…Promised to a king she’s never met; Princess Anais was resigned to her fate. From the outside looking in, Anais lives a pampered existence but in truth, the palace walls serve as her prison. She believes marriage to this unknown king can’t be worse than the life she already has. But she never imagined the king had plans of his own. A vengeful king…Zane has waited for the right moment to strike down the man responsible for slaughtering his family and destroying his kingdom. Now a powerful leader in his own right, Zane’s goal of revenge is within his grasp via a betrothal to his enemy’s daughter. But when he spies Princess Anais, he’s determined to have her not as his wife, but his mistress. When these two fiery royals collide, they’ll learn that there’s more to each other than meets the eye. But can they come together as one before dark forces threaten to tear them apart?     Amazon KU

JESSE AND THE MAGI VAULT: ZODIAC MAGIC ACADEMY (EXEMPLAR HALL BOOK 2) by JL Madore and Ruby Night

Being drafted into an elite, all-male academy of magik, monsters, and mercenary men was never the plan—but honestly, we had no choice in the matter. Maybe it was written in the stars or maybe it’s merely the design of corrupt men out to trap us and kill our traitor of a father. Either way, the Gemini twins are in the house. Trapped by the wards of the school. Chipped and trackable if we escape. Pretending to be a dude in a sea of testosterone. Ohhh, the testosterone. Maverick, River, Jack, Drake, Kade, Chad… Whether lovers, friends, or enemies, with my powers unlocked, they call to something wild in me. Maybe this Magi world isn’t so bad after all.     Amazon KU

KNOT HIS TYPE (MYSTIC SPRINGS BOOK 2) by Belle Kent

I was supposed to be his mate. Then he rejected me. So why won’t he let me go? When Jack Beaumont rejected me, I vowed to do my best to get on with my life. Suppression spells, potions — anything to keep the heats at bay whenever he’s near. Unfortunately, anytime there’s trouble, he’s there. Brooding. Protective. Alpha. And unwilling to give me the one thing I truly want: him. Our bond was a ruse, but I’ll do anything to protect her. Claire Landon should never have presented for me. I was her savior in her darkest hour, triggering a life of longing and need that I can never make good on. Now, someone is abducting witches in Mystic Springs. And the only way to keep Claire safe is by watching her every move. But can I possibly do that without finally taking her and making her mine, despite knowing that if I do, she’ll wind up hating me forever?     Amazon KU

STOLEN BY THE ORC KING (ORC OBSSESSION) by Jasper Thorne

He’s huge, intimidating, and could snap me in half like a twig. So why can’t I take my eyes off of him? 
Lost and alone in the wilderness after a hunting expedition gone wrong, things can’t be much worse…until I’m captured by a clan of savage, primal orc warriors. The chieftain is huge, all-powerful, and determined to claim not only my curvy body — but my heart as well. He’ll never stop, he says.
Whatever it takes, he says. Challenge accepted.      Amazon KU

REAPER HOSPITAL: CODE STUBBORN DOCTOR (THEIR REAPER BOOK 3) by  Lacey Carter Andersen

There are worse things than death…With my possessive god, my hot shifter, and my stubborn vampire, I felt a kind of safety and peace I never imagined in this life. We began to feel like a family. But all of that is gone now. They hate my kind. If they learn the truth about what I am, they’ll kill me. And if I can’t stop the other reapers from killing a shifter alpha, my wolf is dead. What’s more, my fallen god has angered his own kind and they intend to unleash chaos into our world, and into his life. In other words, the three men I’ve grown to care about need me right now. I could be the one person that can stand between them and life or death. But to save them, my secret will need to be revealed and this secret will destroy anything between us. So unless I come up with another plan, I’ll lose my men, one way or another. I guess this reaper needs to start thinking.     Amazon KU

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VS: The next book in my Badari Warriors backlist is GABE. He’s one of my favorite human heroes -strong, self confident (a bit cocky but with the skills to back it up), ex-Special Forces turned mercenary…and an eternal bachelor, or so he thinks. I also unveiled a Badari secret in this book which I’d carefully danced around in the earlier three books. No spoiler from me but which woman will Gabe fall in love with, if not a human? Hmmmm….I also was insanely pleased with this cover, because I thought the stock photo captured the essence of Gabe perfectly. He holds his own among the Badari Warriors pretty well.

GABE (A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL): Sectors New Allies Series Book 5

Gabe Carter, hotshot pilot and ex-Special Forces soldier, is far from his home in the human Sectors, kidnapped by alien scientists to be the subject of horrifying experiments. Shot down by the enemy over desolate territory far from his Badari allies and gravely injured, Gabe’s only hope is a mysterious woman on the run herself.

Keshara has to decide whether to abandon the human to die of his injuries on a windswept mountain top or give up her own quest for freedom and take him to a place he can be helped. The undeniable spark between them complicates matters.

His attraction to her is off the charts but when she betrays him to the Khagrish enemy, Gabe doesn’t know what to believe. Trapped inside an alien lab bursting with mysteries and lies, his only hope may be to trust her…again.

Because the renegade alien scientist running her own private experiments wants to use him to accomplish her goals and perpetuate the evil, no matter what she has to do to ensure his compliance. Keshara’s life hangs in the balance and Gabe has to make a choice.

Amazon      Apple Books    Nook     Kobo     Google Play

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

June 1

May 25th

May 18th

May 11th

May 4th

“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…

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!

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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