Did They Leave Me? 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!)

I’m now taking snippets from my third scifi romance gladiator novel TALINN, which just released last week in the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS  charity anthology.

The excerpt: From the beginning of the book, where we meet the heroine:

Bailey Kingsmere went to sleep a happy woman. True she wasn’t sharing the bed with anyone and hadn’t been for a long time—never date co-workers was her rule—but this cruise of the Stellar Aurora luxury cruise liner was going well. The rumors had been true and a bigtime talent scout was sailing with them this trip and he’d been spotted in the audience at the review twice now. All the members of the ship’s entertainment section hoped and prayed to their deities the man would discover them.

Her dreams were no different, she suspected, than anyone else’s. To sing and dance in front of a huge crowd as the headliner, not the interchangeable chorus girl. To be the name on everyone’s lips. And not have to cruise in this quadrant ever again.

She was in the middle of a pleasant dream when a blaring siren rudely interrupted. Gasping, heart racing, she sat up in bed and stared around her cabin wildly.

“You must evacuate now,” said the ship’s Artificial Intelligence crisply over the com. “All crew and passengers are directed to the nearest lifeboat with no delay—”

The sound cut off abruptly and the entire ship shuddered. Bailey screamed and clung to the bed until the motion subsided. She got out of bed and ran barefoot to the door, which took a scarily long time to open. The corridor was empty, smoke drifting ominously from various vents. Where the seven hells is everyone? Did they leave without me?

The blurb for TALINN: Talinn was a genetically engineered senior soldier in his Badari Warrior pack until unscrupulous laboratory guards faked his death and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. Purchased by a nomadic warlord and forced to fight in games for the amusement of the crowds, Talinn has endured through sheer strength of will. He sees no possibility of escape but a Badari never gives up until the goddess calls him to the afterlife.

Bailey Kingsmere was a talented and ambitious entertainer on an interstellar cruise liner when her ship was destroyed in an accident. She escaped in a defective cryonic lifepod, which eventually drifted out of the Sectors entirely and crashed on a primitive planet. Superstitious locals decide to place her in the arena as a prize for a lucky gladiator.

Talinn needs only one look to know Bailey is his fated mate. He’ll do whatever it takes to rescue her from the other fighters and claim her as his prize but how can he ensure her safety thereafter? Since he’s not human and has alien reptilian predator DNA which gives him extra capabilities, will Bailey accept him as a mate? And can they ever escape their desperate situation and find a way to freedom?

The blurb for the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS anthology:  Make contact with the hottest alien anthology in the universe! Claimed Among the Stars will rocket you to reading bliss with more action, adventure, and pleasure than one planet can contain. Curl up with this collection of wild and wonderful heavenly bodies and venture to the unknown worlds that only your favorite sci-fi romance authors could create. Hearts in zero gravity are free to fall, and destiny awaits unsuspecting heroines far across the galaxy. Whether you love a trip that’s nice and easy or dark and intense, this collaboration of more than fifty bestselling authors is guaranteed to please. Embrace the heat, the sweet, the dark, and the depraved, and grab your copy of Claimed Among the Stars today! A word of warning: this anthology is only available for a limited time, so grab your copies now before they blast off forever. The proceeds of Claimed Among the Stars will benefit The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, which serves women and children in the United States and abroad.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Universal Buy Link

The first two books in the series, although each can be read as a standalone. Available wide and also as paperbacks on Amazon.

KYDEN: Condemned to the arena for the rest of his life. Elara, a Senator’s daughter, moves among the elite of her civilization. Yet despite the odds they’re Fated Mates. How can they ever be together?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

RENNYR:  Kidnapped, far from home, he’s been sold into the deadly arena gladiator system as a slave. Jaine is a human woman kidnapped from the Sectors to serve as arena fodder for the crowds. Fated mates, battling against the system which has them trapped, sharing one cell and one bed, fighting to survive…and to escape.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

 

Why I Wrote TALINN #SciFi Romance Gladiator with Excerpt

When I had the opportunity to join the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS anthology lineup, I knew the basic premise for all the stories was to be about a woman on an interstellar cruise ship who ends up on an alien planet and falls in love. Happy ever after ending of course!  I thought it would be fun to write my third scifi romance gladiator novel and have that be my entry in the anthology. I’ve really enjoyed writing some Badari Warriors spinoffs, as a way to tell different stories about Badari, away from the central timeline of the main series, which involves them fighting for freedom and their human fated mates on their own planet.

And besides that I’ve always been fascinated by gladiators!

I knew many of the stories in the anthology would probably feature aliens as the male main characters and that led me to choose a Tzibir Badari, who were created using alien reptilian predator DNA. (Other Badari packs were created using alien feline and canine predator DNA.)  This makes them my most ‘alien’  humanoids. I’d written one fairly recently in TRATUS so the concepts were fresh in my mind. “Handsome, not human” is my motto for the Tzibir.

I try really hard not to write cookie cutter series, where each succeeding book is the same plot, just plug in new names and proceed, so I turned the gladiator concept on its head a bit with the world where Talinn has ended up after he was smuggled out of the original lab and sold. He belongs to the leader of a wandering nomadic clan on a desert planet, where he fights as one of a team of aliens for the amusement (and betting) of the people on this planet. The battles occur at oases and in dusty venues almost like fairgrounds, rather than in elaborate arenas with all the pageantry.  As someone observes at one point in the book, the teams of alien fighters are regarded as being somewhere between pets and children by their owners. I also made the dominant species on the planet bigger and stronger than even a Badari, which gave Talinn a new element to cope with. Badari are used to always being the strongest person in the mix.

Now here comes my very bewildered but determined heroine, Bailey, brought by a defective lifepod from the wreckage of her cruise ship in the stars to a planet outside the borders of civilization as she knows it. She’s literally dropped into the situation and has to cope, with Talinn’s help.

Of course there is crossover to the first two books in the Badari gladiator series although I tried hard to vary the manner in which Talinn discovers he might not be alone as a single Badari marooned in the stars. This book is a standalone though, so even if you haven’t read the other two (KYDEN and RENNYR), no worries. If you like Fated Mates, the one bed trope and some steamy ‘alien love’, then I think I’ve put it all together in TALINN!

The blurb for TALINN: Talinn was a genetically engineered senior soldier in his Badari Warrior pack until unscrupulous laboratory guards faked his death and sold him into slavery in the galaxy’s hinterlands. Purchased by a nomadic warlord and forced to fight in games for the amusement of the crowds, Talinn has endured through sheer strength of will. He sees no possibility of escape but a Badari never gives up until the goddess calls him to the afterlife.

Bailey Kingsmere was a talented and ambitious entertainer on an interstellar cruise liner when her ship was destroyed in an accident. She escaped in a defective cryonic lifepod, which eventually drifted out of the Sectors entirely and crashed on a primitive planet. Superstitious locals decide to place her in the arena as a prize for a lucky gladiator.

Talinn needs only one look to know Bailey is his fated mate. He’ll do whatever it takes to rescue her from the other fighters and claim her as his prize but how can he ensure her safety thereafter? Since he’s not human and has alien reptilian predator DNA which gives him extra capabilities, will Bailey accept him as a mate? And can they ever escape their desperate situation and find a way to freedom?

Short excerpt: An unusual scent struck his nose, easily overriding all the other bodily odors of the crowd. Floral. Delicate. Enticing. Talinn wanted to follow the olfactory notes to their source and the intensity of his longing to do so was shocking to him. The closest he’d ever come to such an impulse was in the grove of the Great Mother on his home world, where her special flowers grew. But as he drew in another lungful of the perfume and savored the fragrance, it struck him that although floral this scent wasn’t related to the goddess’s blooms there was a special spicy tang to the perfume which made his cock twitch and his pulse rise.

Irritated with himself because now was not the time to be distracted by some Ganamilian wearing too much perfume nearby, he flicked his talons in and out restlessly. The scent faded but he couldn’t regain his previous calm.

After a lot of loud cheering, which meant the city’s ruler had arrived with all his court and distinguished guests in tow, the gate was opened and the mass of fighters erupted into the arena. There were small stacks of prizes scattered around, for those men who didn’t care to risk themselves going for the true riches the kalishka laid out on the far side of the dangerous obstacle course. It was generally frowned upon to take the easy way out, although one year it was said the freedom token had been planted in the grab and go stacks. There were always men who opted for the simple, safe route.

Talinn headed straight for the obstacle course, using his Badari strength to leap to the top of the first barrier, a wall which was supposed to be difficult to climb. Not for him. He always fought barefoot in order to use the powerful claws he could deploy on his feet and he clung to the barrier with these daggers firmly dug into the soft wood. At the top, ready to leap to the next challenge—ropes hanging over a pit filled with acid-tinged water and predatory fish with fangs as big as his—he hesitated as the mysterious scent overwhelmed him again. A flash of color caught his eye and he turned his head to see what lay at the other end of the obstacles.

A human woman, bound to a pole and looking ready to collapse.

And she was his mate.

Talinn nearly lost his grip on the top of the wall where he balanced as the overwhelming, unexpected and unwelcome realization flowed through him. Now, of all inopportune moments, the goddess gave him a mate? One who had to be savagely fought for and then protected in this harsh place? What sin did I commit to bring this upon myself? Why does this woman have to suffer?

The beast wrapped around his DNA didn’t hesitate and launched them into the air toward the vines, which Talinn grabbed from pure instinct, swinging across the churning, stinking water with ease, even as another man slipped and fell to his death beside him. Landing neatly on the far side, Talinn made it two steps toward his objective when he was challenged by a Jorvathian, who’d decided to be a spoiler today, or who had been paid off to eliminate certain elite fighters. Talinn didn’t care which—he was in an immediate fight for his life, as the alien got a grip on his shoulder with its savage pincers and tried to inject him with poison from the tentacles wriggling obscenely on its carapace. Yes his system could fight off and neutralize toxins but not if too many flooded his body at once. Jorvathians could deliver a massive dose of their poison.

Talinn’s claws had been genetically engineered to pierce and rend super hard metals and materials used by the Sectors military, so he had no problem cracking open the Jorvathian’s bony chest plate and sending the fighter reeling away in his death throes. Without a glance, Talinn pressed onward, running the obstacle course as required because there was no other way to reach the main prize dais, where the woman was bound. Although he’d had an excellent head start, his brief hesitation when he saw the woman and realized what she was to him and the delay caused by the need to defeat the Jorvathian had allowed others to make up time on him.

He judged three to be actual rivals for the woman. Any one of the fighters was a deadly opponent, none would have her.

The blurb for the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS anthology:  Make contact with the hottest alien anthology in the universe! Claimed Among the Stars will rocket you to reading bliss with more action, adventure, and pleasure than one planet can contain. Curl up with this collection of wild and wonderful heavenly bodies and venture to the unknown worlds that only your favorite sci-fi romance authors could create. Hearts in zero gravity are free to fall, and destiny awaits unsuspecting heroines far across the galaxy. Whether you love a trip that’s nice and easy or dark and intense, this collaboration of more than fifty bestselling authors is guaranteed to please. Embrace the heat, the sweet, the dark, and the depraved, and grab your copy of Claimed Among the Stars today! A word of warning: this anthology is only available for a limited time, so grab your copies now before they blast off forever. The proceeds of Claimed Among the Stars will benefit The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, which serves women and children in the United States and abroad.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Universal Buy Link

The first two books in the Badari Gladiator Series. Also available in paperback at Amazon.

KYDEN: Condemned to the arena for the rest of his life. Elara, a Senator’s daughter, moves among the elite of her civilization. Yet despite the odds they’re Fated Mates. How can they ever be together?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

RENNYR:  Kidnapped, far from home, he’s been sold into the deadly arena gladiator system as a slave. Jaine is a human woman kidnapped from the Sectors to serve as arena fodder for the crowds. Fated mates, battling against the system which has them trapped, sharing one cell and one bed, fighting to survive…and to escape.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

 

 

 

 

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JULY 27

I have a new release this week – WHEE! TALINN, my 3rd scifi gladiator romance is included in the CLAIMED IN THE STARS ANTHOLOGY!

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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My ‘cover’ for my novel in the anthology!

CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS by Various, including me!

Make contact with the hottest alien anthology in the universe! Claimed Among the Stars will rocket you to reading bliss with more action, adventure, and pleasure than one planet can contain. Curl up with this collection of wild and wonderful heavenly bodies and venture to the unknown worlds that only your favorite sci-fi romance authors could create. Hearts in zero gravity are free to fall, and destiny awaits unsuspecting heroines far across the galaxy. Whether you love a trip that’s nice and easy or dark and intense, this collaboration of more than fifty bestselling authors is guaranteed to please. Embrace the heat, the sweet, the dark, and the depraved, and grab your copy of Claimed Among the Stars today! A word of warning: this anthology is only available for a limited time, so grab your copies now before they blast off forever. The proceeds of Claimed Among the Stars will benefit The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, which serves women and children in the United States and abroad.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Universal Buy Link

SAVAGE PLANET EMBRACE (SAVAGE PLANET BOOK 1) by Kassie Keegan

VS Note: Author states this is not Erotica and is trying to get the book removed from those categories.

A woman scarred by loss…must choose to trust. Will she release the past to embrace love or lose everything? Aubrey watched her mother die in agony, abandoned by those sworn to protect her. Despite being adored by worthy males; Aubrey holds herself back. Is it keeping her from true love? Strong, steady Commander Ferrand, silently bold Léandre and tech-genius Jovian claim their places in her heart while waiting for her to choose the last member of their Coalition. Who will she select to join them? When Daniel arrives, he triggers her irresistible Call to Mate, plunging them all into untamed lust. Aubrey must trust herself to her mates’ care and surrender her heart, body, and soul or die, leaving her mates abandoned and forever bereft. Can she conquer her fear to embrace true love?      Amazon KU

THE PRINCE’S PILOT (THE REGENT’S DEVICES BOOK 2) by Shelley Adina and R E Scott

Napoleon’s invasion of England is hidden in the clouds…It is 1819, and Cornwall is agog at the daring of the two young lady aeronauts who, earlier in the summer, flew nearly to France and back in their homemade air ship. Much more is riding on Loveday Penhale and Celeste Blanchard’s new and improved vessel—they plan to win the Tinkering Prince’s prize, offered to anyone who can help England win the war against Napoleon. To their dismay, they must take two local gentlemen aloft to report on the ship’s capabilities. While Captain Trevelyan and Emory Thorndyke are welcome in drawing room and ballroom, their presence on the air ship proves disastrous. Wildly off course, Loveday barely manages to bring the vessel down safely—in France! Now it is up to the gentlemen to keep the newly designed ship hidden while Loveday and Celeste secure supplies for its repair from Celeste’s former home, l’Ecole des Aéronautes in far-off Paris. But much has changed since Celeste left the capital, and enemies lurk in its very walls. With her famous aeronaut mother dead in suspicious circumstances, and the flight school closed, there is only one thing to do—make up a story about her absence and approach Napoleon himself. He promptly makes Celeste his Chief Air Minister, and commands her to plan the invasion of England by air. Can she and Loveday stay alive in this nest of vipers long enough to help their stranded friends? Before they are unmasked as spies—and before their beautiful air ship is captured and used to attack England?       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ALIEN’S TEMPTATION by Cara Wylde 

Angie – All I wanted was to travel the world. My world. Not some alien planet that’s trying to kill me at every step. One minute, I’m admiring the pyramids, the next, I’m being abducted by aliens. Then something goes horribly wrong, and my pod crashes on the most hostile island. And right on top of another alien’s ship! Thev is a massive wall of green-skinned muscle, all covered in tribal tattoos. Oh, and he has long, sharp tusks! Basically, he looks like an orc from fantasy movies, but when I tell him that, he disagrees. He says he’s a Zokunian, not an orc. And he also says I’m in his way, and he’s on a mission. I hate it that I have to beg him to help me. What I don’t hate is the Zokunian custom of going around shirtless. Thev’rar – My mission is to find my sister, bring her home, make her queen, and then follow my calling to become a priest. That means I will never take a mate, a fate I’m resigned to because I haven’t found the other half of my soul, and I’m too old and it’s too late. When tiny, curvy, rosy-cheeked Angie literally crashes on top of me, I’m determined to ignore her and mind my own business. But she’s sweet, enticing, and oh-so-human! The more time I spend with her, the more I start questioning what I thought was my destiny.      Amazon KU

ALIEN’S TEMPTATION (EARTH BRIDES AND ALIEN WARRIORS BOOK 3) by Tina Moss

I’m the captain of Earth’s moonbase. I can handle any mission. I do not need a partner, even if he is a sexy-as-sin alien commander, who looks at me like he’s trying to decide between throttling me or…something else.His grumpy demeanor and dominant streak make me want to shake him, but I can’t deny the heat between us. Do I dare put my hand to the flame? I’ve been burned before. And I’ve guarded my heart ever since. As we travel to a distant planet to find the rare substance that will save both our kinds, we soon discover the inhabitants have some odd customs. And if we don’t follow their sensual mandates, they’ll withhold the bounty. The survival of the Earth-Rhonar treaty depends on our success. We can’t afford to fail. But when victory depends on a death-do-us-part bond, can I put my heart on the line and trust again? And will this alien warrior lower his defenses to let me? Only the stars know.      Amazon KU

AKKARIAN SAVIOR (AKKARIAN ALIEN BOOK 5) by Ariel Marie

It’s Monday. Oh, and I’ve been left for dead on an alien planet by some a-hole who wants my job. Fantastic. Befriending the local aliens looks like my only chance of surviving long enough for someone to realize that I’m missing. Good job that I’ve got plenty to offer with all my military training. Then Klan’al wanders into my sights. He’s big, sulky, a definite loner, and he’s a giant with glowing orange eyes. The ideal co-worker. But all I need is to make it through the next few months and get back to my ship, my career, and making the lives of my underlings misery. Unfortunately, it looks like the aliens I’ve found aren’t as friendly as they first appeared. I want off this planet. Except leaving means leaving Klan’al. And suddenly I’m not sure my career is that important anymore.   AmazonKU

MARRIED TO THE INTERSTELLAR COLONIST (THE LOST ROMANS BOOK 6) by Ami Wright

Minerva Harris somehow stumbled across the man of her dreams and she’s just beginning to trust that the future looks brighter than she dared to hope. Marcus is cocky, charming, and their chemistry has always been sizzling. He’s the sort of man who never takes no for an answer. But when he pushes for an answer to the question she’s been avoiding, her heart is flooded with fears. She’s not perfect. She’s nowhere near the goddess he treats her. What will happen when reality sets in? And what the hell is she supposed to do about the fact that he’s determined to found a colony on a dinosaur-infested jungle planet at the back end of a remote system? Can she give up her career, her comfortable 31st century life, and try to be someone she’s not? Or is their relationship doomed to fail? Marcus Aquilius Felix is learning to live in the 31st century after being ripped from his own time in ancient Rome. He’s gorgeous, charming and now he’s even a celebrity. In fact, he’s about to become governor of an entire planet! So why is it so hard to grasp the one thing he wants beyond anything? Minnie is smart, strong and sexy. She’s the thing that makes everything else worth doing. But a bungled proposal leaves him feeling like he may never be enough for his goddess. Will his good luck return, or will she slip through his fingers?     Amazon KU

HER PIRATE TREASURE (HER SPACE PIRATE BOOK 2) by StarlaFfleet

Carter – After the captain leaves me in charge of the ship so he can get a little R&R, what do you think is the first thing that happens? Yup, we get hit by an asteroid! The damage is gonna cost us -possibly my position. So I have no choice but to turn to what I do best: treasure hunting. I’m lucky enough to bag a client immediately -and no, I don’t find that suspect. The job is simple enough. Problem is, I’m not the only one after the treasure. Tall, brutally handsome, and irritatingly sexy, the Draconi male on my tail makes it impossible for me to stay on track. Before I know it, it’s not just the treasure I’m in danger of losing…I’m in danger of losing my heart. Wyett – I only needed to accomplish one thing to make my life a success. Recover my people’s treasure and our race. The only problem is, she stands in my way. The tall blonde, female pirate is after my family’s heirloom. It’s obvious that we both need it to solve our problems. But the treasure is mine by right and I can’t let it go. Yet the more time I spend with Carter, the harder it is to ignore what she means to me. I’m suddenly torn between the obligation to my people and the duty to my heart. Dare I risk my people’s future for a love that only happens once in a lifetime?      Amazon KU

THE NAGA’S LOVE (NAGAS OF PROTHEKA BOOK 3) by Celeste King

I’m a survivor. I’ve never let myself be helpless. Except when it comes to the prince of snakes. On Protheka, your freedom can be snatched at a moment’s notice. When I’m ripped from the alleys of Liiandor, I think my miserable life is going to turn into pure hell once I’m sold to the snakes of Nagaland. I never expected it would be my salvation. Who knew a naga prince could be so gentle?
Nashaer has given me a life I could only imagine. Food. Freedom. Safety. Even love. I have no way to repay him. But there’s only one thing he wants. Something so bruised and battered I don’t know why he’d even accept it if I gave it. My heart.     Amazon KU

THE TIME TRAVELING MATCHMAKER (TIME TRAVELING MATCHMAKERS BOOK 1) by Janie Emaus

Like every goal-oriented twenty-something, Jessica Singleton, an aspiring filmmaker, is obsessed with finding her future as quickly as possible. What she doesn’t know is that the future is obsessed with finding her. Renn Porter, an agent with Time Traveling Matchmaker’s Inc, blasts back in time—and into her life—in order to transport Jessica to the soul mate who has paid for this service…in the future. But things turn dangerous when it’s revealed that Renn has been sent after his own soul mate. Caught between two times, Jessica and Renn struggle to stay alive. Falling in love is the biggest risk either of them have ever taken—because, as they are destined to learn, the very existence of Time Traveling Matchmakers, Inc. rests in Jessica’s hands.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DESTINED FOR THE ALIEN LORD (LORDS OF DESTRA BOOK 5) by Ella Blake

Sibyl – I am an environmental researcher, alone and stranded on an alien world after my vessel crashed. I’m running out of food and water until he arrives in the abandoned village I’ve taken refuge in. I keep hidden, stealing the scraps he leaves behind. By day he is a nightmare of muscle and steel. By night, he sets fire to my dreams. What will he do to me, when he finds me? Damiron – I am a Destran warrior. A thing of war and destruction. My ax has cut down more enemies than I can count. Nothing matters more to me than protecting my people and my Sola—my living ship and symbiont—from the enemies that hunt us. Until I meet her. Only then do I know what it means to want. What will she think of me, when I end this charade and claim her? But as we move closer to each other, those responsible for attacking my Sola emerge from the shadows. When the true faces of those enemies are unveiled, they are not what anyone expects. Every odd is stacked against us as we race against time to find our allies and undermine the enemy. If we fail, more than just our lives are at stake. The fate of many worlds sits in the balance.     Amazon KU

THE TRUTHSPOKEN HEIR: THE STARS AND GREEN MAGICS SEASON ONE (TRUTHSPOKEN UNIVERSE BOOK ONE) by Novae Caelum

VS Note: Re-release of a serial previously on Vella. Author states there are “three extra beginning episodes” included. Two shapeshifting heirs, one interstellar kingdom. When royals can be anyone else including each other, who will rule? Arianna can impersonate anyone in her star kingdom, keeping nobles in check as the Truthspoken Heir. But Arianna’s shapeshifting powers fail her when she’s attacked at her betrothal to a rival prince, her title torn away. Dressa never wanted to be the Heir, but she has a crush on the beautiful prince, and someone needs to hold the kingdom against plotting nobles. One sibling cast out, one sister in the fray, and enemies all around. Can they steer their kingdom from the coming storm?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

HUNTER’S PROMISE (XARC’N WARRIORS: MOUNTAINS BOOK 3) by Lynnea Lee

GABBY – A good girl gone awol – I knew when I Ex-Laxed our leader’s food that they’d send me to the arena if they caught me. It was worth it to get some of my friends out of this dump. What I didn’t expect was the seven-foot-tall Xarc’n hunter who has come to my rescue. My horned and fanged savior isn’t like any other alien warrior I’ve heard about. He dresses in furs, lives in a cave, and there isn’t a shuttle in sight. Every word sounds like a growl, but my body reacts to him like we belong together. But I can’t just hide in his den forever. I have to get back to my friends!  TAL’N – A hunter on the run – When I found out about Earth and the compatible females living here, I abandoned my mission to come to this blue-green planet. Hunted by my own kind, I did all I could to stay hidden. Now I’ve found the female whose scent called to me all through the cold season. Gabby is mine, and I’ll stop at nothing to claim her. Her people are searching for her, and mine now know I exist, but I will level this entire mountain if they try to separate us.      Amazon KU

A HALF-BUILT GARDEN by Ruthanna Emrys

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

On a warm March night in 2083, Judy Wallach-Stevens wakes to a warning of unknown pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay. She heads out to check what she expects to be a false alarm—and stumbles upon the first alien visitors to Earth. These aliens have crossed the galaxy to save humanity, convinced that the people of Earth must leave their ecologically-ravaged planet behind and join them among the stars. And if humanity doesn’t agree, they may need to be saved by force. But the watershed networks that rose up to save the planet from corporate devastation aren’t ready to give up on Earth. Decades ago, they reorganized humanity around the hope of keeping the world liveable. By sharing the burden of decision-making, they’ve started to heal our wounded planet. Now corporations, nation-states, and networks all vie to represent humanity to these powerful new beings, and if anyone accepts the aliens’ offer, Earth may be lost. With everyone’s eyes turned skyward, the future hinges on Judy’s effort to create understanding, both within and beyond her own species.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

MONSTROUS HEAT by Joerly Sue Burkhart

VS Note: Listed in Erotica.

I’m lost in the jungle, and something is stalking me. Discovering a Mayan ruin in the Guatemalan jungle should have catapulted my archeology career, but I’m lost hours from camp. Worse, something is stalking me. It’s not a jaguar. It’s bigger than anything I’ve ever seen before and wicked fast. I can’t outrun it. I don’t have any weapons. When it catches me… I can’t help but think I’ve fallen back through time to the Jurassic Period, because the creature looks like a T-rex and raptor had a very vicious baby. It’s hungry, too. Very hungry. Though it doesn’t hurt me. Yet. Then a naked man comes to my rescue. Not sus at all. Kroktl says his squad is on a top-secret mission to Earth, and his outrageous physique certainly fits the part of a lab-created super-soldier alien. Who coincidentally smells exactly like the dino-predator that chased me. He claims that I can help him through the heat. By the burning way he looks at me, he doesn’t mean air temperature. In fact, I suspect that I’m next on the menu. After he plays with his food. He’s even calling his squad to come see what he caught. I don’t think I’m getting out of the jungle alive.      AmazonKU

ALIEN TYRANT’S CONQUEST (INTERGALACTIC ALLIANCE SERIES BOOK 7) by Bella Blair

AUDRA: I knew pissing my boss off was a bad idea. But I didn’t know how bad until I am sent to The Tribulations to become fodder for the contestants. Resigned to my fate, I can hardly believe it when this golden god appears from out of nowhere to save me. Our attraction is mutual and when he offers to make me his queen, I am very tempted. I only hope he doesn’t expect me to fall in love with him, because that is the one emotion, I am incapable of. BRONDYK: I knew owing Aggamont was a bad idea and when he sends me to steal a contestant from The Tribulations right under the pirates’ noses, I realize just how bad of a mistake I made. Until I lay eyes on HER. The most beautiful female I have ever seen. And I won’t stop at anything to make her MINE. I only hope she doesn’t expect love in return, because my ice-cold heart is incapable of that emotion.     Amazon KU

REAPER’S PREY (REAPERS REBORN BOOK ONE) by Athena Storm

He’s the stuff of nightmares. And the only one I can ever love. Demon. Monster. Reaper. These are words the galaxy uses to describe the Ishana. Descriptions that come to mind when I crash onto their brutal world and am taken by a hunting party and held prisoner in their animal city. Where I’m threatened to give up my body to their basest desires. But then…I see Ishtar. He may look like a demon and a monster but he doesn’t bring out the terror in my heart. He brings out something else that tells me everything will end up for the best. Is his soul as sick as mine? Is that why we have such a pull? What is this he makes me feel? It’s something I’ve never felt before, but I think I’d call it…Love.   AmazonKU

MY RUTHLESS ALPHA (ROYALLY CLAIMED BOOK 4) by Jupiter Belle

I live a quiet life in a quiet town where nothing ever happens to me. It kind of sucks. All that goes out the window when I wake up in a spaceship and am immediately sold at auction to an alien that terrifies me. I’m missing my old quiet life until out of nowhere I’m rescued by the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. But I don’t think I’m safe yet, because the man that rescues me won’t stop calling me his mate.     Amazon KU

CRAVING LOVE (GHOST UNIT BOOK 2) by Michelle Howard

Danger abounds and Ghost Unit’s skills are needed. A credible threat to the Jutak Commander has the team racing to engage the enemy. Being a soldier fit Dorian Uchu like a second skin. After being rejected time and again, he’d finally found a place to call home and a team he’d die to defend. He didn’t expect the woman who came along and captured his interest with the same level of intensity. Now he has to figure out how to keep safe the one thing he’s always wanted—love. Time was limited for Zsamei Kreene. Determined to make the best of her life, she worked to find joy in her business and the few friends she allowed close. Falling for the mysterious man who showed up occasionally wasn’t in the plans, yet her heart grew to crave him with every beat. Was it wrong to take a leap of faith for love when she already knew this fairy tale couldn’t end in happy ever after?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ERROR: DETECTIVE NOT FOUND: A CAKEPOP NOIR (THE SHYROBOT SERIES BOOK 1) by Ellie Hazel

Tin 122-845 is a Sentient CanopicBot who loves baking, Wizard of Oz, and serving cake pops to the handsome, mysterious customer known only as Marcus. Marcus Delgado loves alien movies, coffee, and protecting a gentle baker named Tin 122-845 from a serial killer targeting “Sens” like Tin.
Two bodies have already turned up, and time is running out. Tin and Marcus could really use a detective but…there are none to be found.      Amazon KU

DRACUS (LUNAR UPRISING NOOK 4) by  Cyndi Friberg

Can a war-weary commander win the heart of his independent mate before the Pylorians silence her forever? Dracus has known nothing but war. With Morax hostilities escalating and a rebellion brewing among his own troops, he doesn’t see that changing any time soon. Then Addison visits Lunar Prime. Now he is in the grip of bonding fever and all he can think about is claiming his mate. She is stubborn and independent. Good thing he thrives on challenge. Addison is brought to Lunar Prime when her life is threatened, but secrets draw her back to Earth. Her attraction to Dracus is instant and powerful. Still, she is not willing to redefine her life to please a male. Even one as tempting as Dracus.   AmazonKU

HIS TO TAKE by Piper Stone

This morning I was his captive. Tonight I’m his property. When Zadok Vakan caught me trying to escape his planet with priceless stolen technology, he didn’t have me sent to the mines. He made sure I was stripped bare and sold at auction instead. Then he bought me for himself. Even as he punishes me for the slightest hint of defiance and then claims me like a beast, indulging every filthy desire his savage nature can conceive, I swear I’ll never surrender. But it doesn’t matter. I’m already his, and we both know it.      Amazon KU

R’AXELL: SPACE WARRIORS by Sheyla Drymon

Her life on the Moon IV ship sucked. The lab she worked in didn’t value her, the men on the ship were best kept as far away as possible, and to top off the day, mercenaries were attacking Moon IV! Wendy would try to flee in one of the escape pods, but…why was she reacting like that when she came face to face with a dangerous and sexy as hell alien, who was looking at her as if he was about to devour her? Ever since his people were nearly decimated, R’Axell had been attacking human ships, a task he hated, but which led him to his companion. As soon as he saw that little human, he knew she was his soul mate, the one female to whom he would give his undying devotion and the love of his two hearts. Could he get her to accept him? And his people? Humans were enemies of his people, could he keep this woman by his side? The Goddess would not be so cruel as to have granted him the honor of finding his mal’heim, his eternal companion, if afterwards Fate was going to take her away from him forever, would she?      Amazon KU

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

VS: Although the books can all be read as standalones, I really hope you’ll want to read KYDEN, book one in the Badari Gladiator series, and RENNYR, book two. And of course enjoy TALINN, book three, in the newly released CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS ANTHOLOGY! KYDEN and RENNYR are also available on Amazon in paperback. Full blurbs on bookseller platforms.

KYDEN: Condemned to the arena for the rest of his life. Elara, a Senator’s daughter, moves among the elite of her civilization. Yet despite the odds they’re Fated Mates. How can they ever be together?

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo      Nook      GooglePlay

RENNYR:  Kidnapped, far from home, he’s been sold into the deadly arena gladiator system as a slave. Jaine is a human woman kidnapped from the Sectors to serve as arena fodder for the crowds. Fated mates, battling against the system which has them trapped, sharing one cell and one bed, fighting to survive…and to escape.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

“5 Stars! This is the scifi romance gladiator novel we’ve been craving!”   An Amazon reviewer

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

DEADLY ABYSS (MIST AND MIRRORS BOOK 3) by Eve Langlais

Entering the Abyss with its tainted mist is terrifying but there is no other choice. The Valley is in danger and the only hope lies in the hands of the enemy. But are Zanir and his people the real problem? A great crime  was committed and the repercussions are finally coming to a head. As the past continues to reveal itself, the one known as the orphan of the night wonders who she is. What is she capable of? If prophecy can be believed, the fate of the world rests on her. Failure isn’t an option. Now if only she knew who to trust. She’ll travel deep into the deadly Abyss seeking answers. She’ll find more than she ever expected. But will it be enough?

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HONOR BOUND WITCH (MIS-MATCHED MIDLIFE DATING AGENCY BOOK 2) by Deanna Chase

With her new dating agency business starting to take off in Premonition Pointe, Marion Matched is busier than ever. Between yoga classes, her budding romance, and the ghost who won’t stop haunting her, Marian can’t seem to find time to get her hair colored and her upper lipped waxed for the upcoming wedding of her two favorite clients. Whoever said women should grow older gracefully never had to deal with patchy gray roots or whiskers that are stiff enough to cut someone. But all of her grooming worries vanish when the bride suddenly goes AWOL, and Marion realizes it’s one of her former clients who has abducted the bride. Now Marion finds herself in the middle of literal witch hunt so that she can bring the bride home and get her to the alter on time. Marion will need all the help she can get from the Premonition Pointe coven, the ghost who can’t stop flirting with the groom, and a gun-toting grandmother with a perchance for younger men.    Amazon KU

WHEN THE SPELL BLOWS: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (GRIMOIRES OF A MIDDLED AGED WITCH BOOK 3) by Renee George

Most days, I’m just trying to raise my kid, and not die. So, when a troupe of randy pixies gather in my garden, demanding I protect them, I’m like, bitch, I can barely protect myself. On top of that, I have to worry about monster attacks from enemies new and old. My grimoire keeps talking in riddles. No help there. Linda the Gnome is more surly than usual. Even less help. Thank heavens for my hottie druid boyfriend who has my back, front, and side, and a fat cat named Bob who calms me better than a prescription mood stabilizer. Tru-craft has been nature’s midlife gift that keeps on trying to kill me. Earth nearly turned me to dust. Fire almost extinguished my flame. If I don’t master this new element, Air is going to blow me into the next life. Literally.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

AURA OF NIGHT: A NOVEL (KREWE OF HUNTERS BOOK 37) by Heather Graham

True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark. All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet. FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

ROGUE’S POSSESSION (COVENANT OF THORNS BOOK 2) by Jeffe Kennedy

VS Note: A re-release.

One does not break an oath to the fae…But I am getting much better at finding and exploiting the loopholes. I may have promised the ruthlessly sensual fae lord, Rogue, that he can sire my firstborn child—but I never said when. And I’m not giving into his will-eroding attempts to seduce me until he tells me what will happen to my child. Which he refuses to do. So, I’m holding out against his allure, no matter how he tantalizes me, because the one way to protect my child is to make sure they’re never born. Unfortunately, Rogue is as wily as he is persistent, and soon I find myself in more bargains—I must give him a kiss every day and sleep by his side at night. Even as I travel through Faerie, perfecting my sorceress skills and seeking the answers to the questions Rogue won’t—or can’t—answer, he is constantly by my side, working his way through my defenses. He refuses to let me go. Most terrifying of all, I’m finding I don’t want him to.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BRAND THAT BINDS: BOOK TWOIN THE FORBIDDEN OMEGAVERSE by Evangeline Anderson

Being an orphan is tough…going through the foster care system is even tougher. I never would have made it through without my foster brother, Nick Callahan, to guide and protect me. But Nick and I have a troubled past. See, he’s full-blooded Were and I’m half Were and back before our fathers died, they swore an oath to be blood brothers and had both Nick and I branded to prove that we were family. Nick and I went our separate ways after we got out of the system, but I made the mistake of going back to my hometown of Wolverton on the night of the Open Breeding. And who should be there but Nick—my foster brother and protector and the one and only man I’ve ever really loved. But we’re forbidden to be together—the same brands that mark us as “family” keep us forever apart. And there’s another problem—Nick has a secret, one he’s been keeping from me for years. You see, he’s not a normal Were—he doesn’t shift into a wolf. Instead, he has a beast inside, half man/half wolf—an eight foot tall monster that hungers for me just as much as Nick does. Now I must choose between my foster brother and breaking the Unbreakable Laws of the pack. But under the full moon when his beast comes out and the Breeding Fever makes me crazy with need and desire, will I really have a choice?     Amazon     Kobo

NOIR REFORMATORY: THIRD OFFENSE by Lexi C Foss and Jennifer Thorn

So, I have a third mate. No big deal. Except, Auric punched my royal—descended from gods—betrothed right in the face. Novak has murder in his eyes, more so than usual. And my body is screaming at me to take all three males and teach them who’s in charge here. Because I believe the truth now. I’m a Noir royal, descended from the gods themselves and destined to fix the history my fake-father forged. The one where black-winged angels were the result of sin and scandal instead of the truth. My black wings mark me as a superior being, one that will reunite Angelkind to the glory they once were. But first, I need to get my three mates in line and keep them from killing each other. Ketos, a prince with gold-tipped wings, has a legion of Noir on his side, technology and power that we’ll need to play Sayir’s game. Not to mention he has always been destined to be my mate, a fact I know is as true as the sun and the stars. Novak, my lethal weapon, has been blessed by the gods, chosen to stand with us and slay our enemies. And Auric, my Commander, my Nora, represents everything I want for a new world, one where Nora and Noir work together like they were meant to. It’ll take a miracle, or divine intervention, to convince these three males to work together. It’s my ultimate test. A trial that I must pass. Because if I can’t bring my mates together, how am I supposed to unite a lost world?      Amazon KU

HELLBOUND (HELLHOUND SHISFTERS BOOK 4) by Richard Amos

The grand finale of the Hellhound Shifters series! And just like that, the world changed. A new existence stands in the place of, well, everything. All for the greater good. Talk about a huge shakeup of the status quo! I know I should kick back and relax. Enjoy the company of Micah and Lyle, laugh and hug my brothers every day, and get in some quality gaming time. You know, actually enjoy life and appreciate the ones I love. Be happy. But I can’t… I just can’t. This is wrong. This isn’t how things should be. I need to put a stop to this…Right?      Amazon KU

ALPHA GEEK: FOX by Milly Taiden

A bat shifter working to overcome the ghosts of her past, and an Alpha Geek who’s discovered a terrorist plot, team up to save the world. Fox Redman, a billionaire game designer, discovers a terrorist using his game as a means for mass destruction in real life. When he goes to the FBI, Fox sits at the top of the hit list. Who’s he gonna call? Nick, of course, which gets him the most beautiful bodyguard ever. Bat shifter Vella Marlowe has a past worse than Dracula’s. So when her mate walks into Nick’s office, she’s not sure if she can take his rejection. Asked to be his bodyguard, she can’t help but want to curl up with his big bear body. If only she could focus on the job and not how cute he is. This time, though, Fox’s transformation into an alpha isn’t enough to stop a monster bigger than he is. A monster determined to rid the world of a particular bat and bear shifter. If Fox can’t save his batgirl, he’s going to be a bear to live with.     Amazon KU

MAGICAL MIDLIFE SHIFT: BARBARA’S SASSY MIDLIFE TALES (SASSY EVER AFTER) by Milly Taiden

Old dogs can definitely learn new tricks, and so can wise witches. Sara Walters has spent her time teaching other witches about the magical ways, but now that she’s fifty and it’s time for her to retire, she’s not sure what to do with herself. When she meets a sexy suitor her world is turned upside down. She’s supposed to act like an adult, but that’s a tall order when he makes her feel so young and carefree. Rhett Armstrong had long ago decided he would be happy being a lifelong bachelor until one scenting ceremony brings him what he thought he’d never find: his fated mate. She’s the picture of beauty, strength and sass. And he wouldn’t have her any other way. Though Sara thought she knew everything there was to know about herself, it turns out there are still secrets hidden within, and a certain wolf shifter is the key to them coming to the surface. But then he makes her question if they could really ever work. Now, she’s out of time and has to decide between listening to her heart or focusing on her fears.      Amazon KU

A STREAK OF LIGHTNING (WARLOCKS MCGREGOR BOOK 10) by Michelle M Pillow

Lightning isn’t the only thing streaking in small-town Wisconsin. Warlock Raibeart MacGregor is on the prowl and looking for his true love. He has only one question for any lassie he meets, “Will ya marry me?” With his sanity often questioned by those who know him best, Raibeart believes there is a method to his madness. At least he hopes so. He’s convinced his true love exists, but he just can’t seem to find her. Tormented by nightmares, he’s compelled to run himself to exhaustion each night to keep them at bay. The fact that he prefers to drop the kilt while doing so is just a bonus. But when those nightmares begin to bleed into reality, he realizes the woman he’s been searching for is literally the one tormenting his dreams. Katherine Galbraith has been imprisoned by magick for so long that she can’t even remember what her crime was beyond the vague impression that she once loved a warlock. Bound to a world that never changes, she spends her days wishing for an end. But when prison walls begin to crack, she must decide if she wants a second chance at lost love or if that love is the reason for all her suffering. Magic, Mischief and Kilts!     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BROKEN ANGEL by Charlotte Brice

Blake – Leon and Aspen, Quinn and Kai. They all have their future at stake as we try to uncover the werepirie project and unravel the demon’s curse. No one seems to care that I am the cursed one. I see the darkness rising, I just don’t scream about it any more. My brother may have uncovered something about the Wood fae from my past, but it’s down to me to rip this thing open and finally rid myself of the knife hanging above my head. I’ve never had enough faith in myself before, but now, I might have found someone else to have that faith for me.      Amazon KU

THE THIRTEENTH FAE (UNDERCOVER ELEMENTALS BOOK 6) by Anna Durand

He can resurrect the dead, but can he get the girl? The fae Tris can’t seem to find his place in the world—either world, mortal or elemental. All his friends are married, but he can’t get a date, much less get laid. When he bumps into a hot girl, she’s not interested in sex or dating. Riley Jordan calls herself a cryptozoologist and only wants to follow Tris around to study him in his “natural habitat”—whether he likes it or not. Maybe he wouldn’t mind if she’d let him kiss her. But after one hot lip-lock, she puts her foot down. Now a series of bizarre disasters has led Tris to suspect he’s been cursed. After all, he is the thirteenth child in his family, born on the thirteenth day of the thirteenth month in the fae calendar. He might also have accidentally ticked off a few too many elementals. Add in his job as the guardian of a coveted healing vortex, and yeah, he’s screwed.     Amazon     Kobo

STOLEN PARADISE (KINGS OF EDEN BOOK 2) by Mila Young and Harper A Brooks

These monsters rule the city… and I’ve become their newest obsession. I’ve been caught in a war between the three most powerful gangs in the city… and I’m trapped with the most dangerous of them all. The Kings. With each passing day, they lurk closer, their darkness pulling me a bit deeper. They push me, demanding everything I have when my world is falling apart. Chaos is about to break out, and I’m finding myself craving the men who could just as easily break me. Ruin me. Kill me. I vow to escape, but I’m losing myself to this world of lust and war. The Kings of Eden don’t have hearts. So they want mine.      Amazon KU

BRAMBLEBERRY BAY MURDER CLUB by Addison Moore

My name is Hattie Holiday, and I can read minds. Sure people have all kinds of rouge thoughts running around up there, but I’m far more interested in using my special abilities to talk to my cat, Cricket, and whatever other furry creature I happen to come upon. Recently, I’ve lost my job at the public library but lucky for me a position opened up at the local country club, as an events coordinator, and I happened to secure the position. And since my love for books follows me wherever I go, not only will I have extravagant affairs to supervise but I’ve already snagged a few people to start a book club with. Sure the country club is pretentious and smells of old and new money, but I knew that going in. What I didn’t bargain for was finding a body right out the gate. And that book club I’ve just started up? Let’s just say the book club is out and the murder club is in. What I didn’t see coming were the secrets, and the deception, and the killer twist of a lifetime. Living in Brambleberry Bay can be a real killer.      Amazon KU

BILLIONAIRE’S FAMILIAR (FAMILIAR MATES BOOK 8) by TJ Nichols

Fated mates…there’s only one problem: their families hate each other. With old money comes old hatreds, and the fight to survive will take everything the familiar bond offers witch and shifter. Ethan Lumin has followed the plan laid out for him since the day he was born. As part of that plan, he needs a familiar before he turns thirty so he can take his place on the Shadow Board as expected. But he wants more than a bound shifter who’s only interested in his family’s power and money. Axel Hollins learned a long time ago that family comes first, shifters come second, and witches come last. He wants nothing more than to escape the family business, but even the idea of becoming an artist is frowned upon. A chance meeting leads to a one-night stand and waking up to find that he’s now the familiar to the richest witch in London.      Amazon KU

WHEN STARS COME OUT by Scarlett St. Clair

Anora Silby can see the dead and turn spirits into gold coins, two things she would prefer to keep secret as she tries to lead a normal life at her new school. After all, she didn’t change her identity for nothing. Hiding her weirdness is just one of many challenges. By the end of her first day, she’s claimed the soul of a dead girl on campus and lost the coin. Turns out, the coin gives others the ability to steal souls, and when a classmate ends up dead, there’s no mistaking the murder weapon. Navigating the loss of her Poppa, the mistrust of her mother, the attention of gorgeous and enigmatic Shy, and Roundtable, an anonymous student gossip app threatening to expose her, are hard enough. Now she must find the person who stole her coin before more lives are lost, but that means making herself a target for the Order, an organization that governs the dead on Earth—and they want Anora and her powers for themselves.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

TAKEN BY THE LYCANTHROPE (FATED MATES OF THE RIFTWOLVES BOOK 1) by Chloe Parker

Pack alphas are bad enough. It’s just my luck I’ve fallen in with the worst of them all. My life in post-Convergence Texas was always one of freedom— riding the plains and farming the land. But when my family clashes with the local shifter pack, our feud threatens to doom us all. Because the most dangerous alpha of them all decides to claim me as his omega. Ex-priest and Alpha Prime Reyes has demons of his own. He says my family is on the wrong side of the war, but he’ll do anything to get me in his bed— and on his side. He demands my confession, but I won’t let him break me, even if he’s the hottest alpha this side of the Rio Grande. He thinks I’ll find salvation on my knees, but I’m a warrior. And I’ll fight him tooth and claw until only one of us is left standing.     Amazon KU

PROMENADE (THE DARK NOCTURNE BOOK 3) by Morgan Shamy

When time isn’t on your side…With Vincent gone, November is left exposed. Having lost everyone she loves, she’s desperate to find a new life. It could’ve been possible—until a group of Shadow Fae who blames her for Vincent’s death. now, her only chance at survival is to deliver to them a live Vincent or face her own fate. Problem is, the dead can’t be brought back to life. So her only choice is to travel back in time and find him. In London, 1901, Vincent and November reunite. But he isn’t who she thought he was. He’s a rake, an aristocrat, with no recollection of her. But that isn’t all her troubles. A Shadow Wraith is on her back, trying to take her back to her own time, and the Shadow Fae are still hunting her down. November must find a way to make Vincent remember who she is and change the future, before time, and her death catches up with her.      Amazon KU

LITTLE SOULS OF FIRE (MMF MONSTER ROMANCE – BARISTA’S BOOK) (CREATURE CAFE SERIES BOOK 10) by Clio Evans

Creatures of all kinds go to the Barista to find love. Even the slimy, demented, horned ones. Even the psychopathic, hellish, tentacled ones. Even the one that has hated humans for as long as he can remember.     Amazon KU

PHOENIX HEART: SEASON 3 EPISODE 4 “FOR THOSE REGAINED” by Sarah K L Wilson

Even in the face of overwhelming odds, their hope burns strong. With Judicus’s sister’s wedding just days away, Mally and Sersha must race to save her from a fate she does not want, save Briccatore from disaster, and save the world from being plundered of magic forever, but with allies lost along the way and every resource used up, how can they possibly keep facing the darkness with nothing but hope on their side?      Amazon KU

DARK SENTINELS BOOK THREE: PARRISH by Dariel Raye

The brush of her fingers, one accidental touch, and he’s caught up in a world with which she is all too familiar. Dana Rainwater is dying. Her life becomes even more complicated when she witnesses a murder. Making matters worse, the murderer believes that she can identify him. Taking leave from the pop-gospel stage to live out her final months in peace, she visits a remote area to commission the designs of a famous, yet reclusive architect few have ever seen. Wolf sentinel shifter Vadrian Parrish is a renowned architect whose nature-inclusive designs have earned the title of “Healing Plans.” Born to a high calling, his disturbing premonitions render him nearly inaccessible to others, but Dana’s touch draws him into another nightmare, one he’s not sure he wants to escape. From the moment Dana and Parrish make eye contact, their connection is undeniable. Dana is compelled to be with him. If only she had met him sooner. Can their destiny overcome the dangers threatening to annihilate them?      Amazon KU

PEPPERMINT TEA AND NOTHING IS FREE (CAULDRON COFFEE SHOP BOOK 3) by Laura Greenwood

Willow discovers there may be consequences to saving a cursed warlock from his tea pot prison…-
Peppermint Tea and Nothing is Free is book three of the Cauldron Coffee Shop Series, a witchy modern fantasy series with a romantic sub-plot, a mysterious teapot, and a cat who might be up to no good.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SCUM VILLAIN’S SELF-SAVING SYSTEM VOL 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

To save his sect from destruction, Shen Qingqiu has at last submitted to Luo Binghe–though he wishes people would stop saying it like that! Unfortunately, they’re not wrong. Luo Binghe has finally made his desire for his old master clear. For all that Shen Qingqiu longs to return to their peaceful days together on Qing Jing Peak, he knows it’s impossible now that Luo Binghe has darkened into a true demon lord. But as Shen Qingqiu begins to uncover more of Proud Immortal Demon Way’s hidden plot, including his host body’s own backstory, he realizes he must learn to see Luo Binghe for who he truly is if either of them are to survive.

Amazon     Apple Books     The first two are on Kobo so I assume this one will be too, soon.

DRAGON’S INSTINCT (DAY CARE FOR SHIFTERS BOOK 2) by Elva Birch

The twos just got a lot more terrible. Ian had enough trouble trying to write for a living and keep up with his daughter, Lucy, even before she started shifting into a squirrel. Now that she’s turning two and breathing fire? All bets are off. Olivia is used to her cat Seltzer bringing her live trophies, but she’s not sure what to do with a squirrel that turns into an adorable little red-headed girl, or the gorgeous single dad who comes looking for her from next door. Olivia didn’t come to Nickel City expecting to be swept off her feet, or to discover magic, but the next thing she knows, she’s taking a temporary job at a day care for shifters and discovering a hidden world of enchantment and instinct. Ian’s dragon is sure that Olivia is the one, but Ian has already had one relationship go down in flames, and he’s not sure he can trust Olivia with his deepest secret. He’s going to have to learn to control his own power in order to save her…or lose her forever.      Amazon KU

FALLEN MATE (SHADOW CITY DARK ANGEL BOOK ONE) by Jen L Gray

I never expected to fall … especially for my enemy. Stumbling upon a group of escaped demons changed everything, and the responsibility falls on me to protect Shadow City. As the battle rages on, a tug radiates from my soul, drawing me toward a sexy, mocha-eyed demon. Though he voluntarily surrenders, I don’t trust him. I should’ve killed him then and there…He’s become the catalyst for even more demon attacks, but I can’t give him up. Every moment we’d spent together strengthened the bond between us, and now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. He’s my enemy… my mate. And he’s either destined to be my future… or to destroy it. Either way it’s too late. I can only hope he’s worth the cost.     Amazon KU

A STRANGE AND STUBBORN ENDURANCE by Foz Meadows

Velasin vin Aaro never planned to marry at all, let alone a girl from neighboring Tithena. When an ugly confrontation reveals his preference for men, Vel fears he’s ruined the diplomatic union before it can even begin. But while his family is ready to disown him, the Tithenai envoy has a different solution: for Vel to marry his former intended’s brother instead. Caethari Aeduria always knew he might end up in a political marriage, but his sudden betrothal to a man from Ralia, where such relationships are forbidden, comes as a shock. With an unknown faction willing to kill to end their new alliance, Vel and Cae have no choice but to trust each other. Survival is one thing, but love—as both will learn—is quite another.     Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HEARTS LOST (HEARTS BELOW) by Meredith Hart

In exchange for my sister’s freedom, I have to enter the Lands Below, stop their attempts to bring down the barrier that keeps them all trapped underground, and kill Princess Elanerill. There’s no way this ends well, but I don’t have a choice. Not if I want my sister to make it out of King Grathgore’s court alive. But my borrowed magic backfires, knocking me out of the Lands Below and into a forest filled with strange shadow animals where the ground itself shifts beneath my feet. And I’m not alone. Aloserin, the dangerous Royal Guard from the Lands Below who’s trapped with me, calls this place the void. He claims those who enter the void’s twisting forests and shifting paths rarely return. Still, I have an advantage those previous travelers did not: I can communicate with the shadow animals that so terrify Aloserin. Perhaps the two of us can survive long enough to find our way out. As long as Aloserin doesn’t discover that I’m the reason we’re both trapped here.     Amazon KU

GUARDED BY HER ORC PROTECTOR (MATES OF THE BURNING SUN CLAN BOOK 6) by Celeste King

On this Earth, a woman is never truly free. Evil orcs held me prisoner for their depraved experiments. But even when I was liberated by the Burning Sun clan, I carried a reminder of being their property. A half-orc baby growing inside of me. This is not how I’d have chosen to get pregnant, but I still want this child. The Earth may be blasted and ruined, but life is still precious. But how will I bring a life into this dying world? Who will protect me? Into this steps Jorgen. The orc protector from the Burning Sun who will be the rock that I’ll use to help me through this ordeal. He’ll be the shoulders hold up my world. And hopefully his will be the house to which I’ll bring not just the baby I’m carrying into the world. But so many more.      Amazon KU

THE VALKYRIE’S DAUGHTER by Tiana Warner

From the time she was born, Sigrid has only ever been ordinary. Being paired at birth with a plain horse—instead of the powerful winged mare of a valkyrie—meant there would be no warrior path for her. No riding the skies, no glory among the nine worlds. Just the simple, unremarkable life of a stable hand. Everything changes when a terrible enemy ambushes Vanaheim and Sigrid sees a vision of herself atop a mythical stallion, leading the valkyries into a harrowing battle. Finally, she can grab her future with her own two hands and become the hero of her own story…if she dares. But her destiny is tied up with Mariam, a fallen valkyrie who’s allied herself with the very enemy Sigrid is trying to stop. Now Sigrid has left ordinary behind as she begins a journey with the beautiful—if treacherous—valkyrie, each step bringing her closer to answers…and to awakened feelings for Mariam. Only, the life Sigrid has escaped may have been paradise compared to the one she’s racing toward. Because her destination is the realm of the dead: the gates of Hel.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

GEMINI QUEEN by Laura Navarre

I summon the lightning. I claim my power. The warlocks of Icarus Academy claim me. I start my night as a cat burglar in Singapore and I end up queen of the witching world. Too bad this rags-to-riches fairytale’s a gig I never applied for and won’t accept. My witchcraft is wild and lethal, so I’ve renounced my power. I’m a fish out of water at Icarus Academy. But these four sexy warlocks who rule the school just won’t take no for an answer. They want me to claim my power. They want me to summon the lightning. And they want to claim me as their consort. Because the witching world is dying, and I’m their last chance. But there’s a queen killer on the hunt. Unless I figure out how to claim my power before the killer claims my head, there’s a global extinction event looming. With my name written all over it.      Amazon (May be KU???)

MOTHER OF SPADES: LUCK GOD SERIES BOOK 2 by J Gabriel Gates

It takes a queen to defeat a queen. High school senior Aggie is ready to concentrate on important things like college essays, science projects, and her secret older boyfriend. There’s one major distraction, however: she’s a demigoddess with the power to control luck. Her mom is one, too—the deadly Queen of Spades. When Aggie discovers how wicked her mother has become, she knows she has to win her back from the evil forces controlling her before it’s too late. Aggie is shocked when she’s chosen to be the next queen of her suit. Accepting the role will give her the strength to defeat her mom and save her. But in order to become queen, Aggie must first face a deadly trial, a heist to steal a dangerous treasure from the most powerful luck god of them all.      Amazon KU

GORGON (SEX WITH MONSTERS) by Kaye Draper

A paranormal escort service. That kind of thing can’t possibly exist, right? But I’ve learned that otherkin are real, and my mage boss insists that sometimes they need a little quality time with a convenient, willing human body. My next client is a sexy gorgon. You know…a Medusa type? Every paranormal fangirl’s dream job, right? This short story is 6,500 words. This particular story is FF.     Amazon

EVIL EYED (HER IRISH TREASURES BOOK 3) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Three wishes for my leprechaun’s gold coin. One down, two to go…I won. I defeated the changeling who’d been feeding on me. My treasures escaped the trap set by Balor’s dark fae. But now I don’t even know what I am. Am I fae? Like the monster who trapped me in marriage and fed on me for five years? Or like my leprechaun, Warwick Greenshanks, who plays a delicate game of neutrality between dark and light fae? He swore to never lie to me, but he didn’t make that promise on his gold. Only his heart. Balor of the Evil Eye is closer than ever to destroying the veil between the mortal realm and Faerie. The secret to defeating him is written in my very soul, but I have no idea what to do. I don’t even know who—or what—I am, and each battle the four Irish treasures wage may be their last.   AmazonKU

THE WITCHERY by S Isabelle

Haelsford, Florida, is a hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a new witch struggling to control her powers, thinks when she arrives at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three: Iris, a deathwitch, who wants nothing more than to break the town’s curse; Thalia, the talented greenwitch, on the run from her religious family and a past that still haunts her; and Jailah, one of the most extraordinary witches at the academy whose thirst for power may lead her down a dark path. With the Haunting Season approaching, Wolves will soon rise from the swamp to kill, and the humans and witches must work together to survive the yearly onslaught. However, the history between humans and witches is long and bloodied, with the current truce hard-won and hanging in the balance. And this year, the stakes couldn’t be higher as two boys from Hammersmitt School prepare to make their first sacrifices to the witches in exchange for protection. But when students start turning up dead, Iris, Thalia, Jailah, and Logan realize they’ll have to harness their powers and stop the Wolves themselves. Yet old dangers lie in wait, and the cost to break the curse may be greater than any witch or human could ever know.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

VIOLET MADE OF THORNS by Gine Chen

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it. But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus. Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DIMPLES: UNLOCKED MATES by Athena Steller

Shawn – Shawn wasn’t looking for a mate when he’d accompanied Bryce to a book signing at the newly opened bookstore in town. The big bow-tied cutie isn’t Shawn’s usual type but when Shawn sets eyes on the bookstore’s owner, he feels something shift inside him. The boy that draws his attention is perfect in every way. Even before his wolf scents his mate. Sam – Sam is starting a new life, with a new business, and he’s excited for his future. He isn’t in town long before he sees the sexy biker who runs away from him. Sam thinks he’s lost his chance at learning more about the attractive guy. That is, until Shawn returns with gifts and sweet words. Sam would love to curl up against the biker and maybe whisper the word Daddy in his ear. He knows he doesn’t look like a typical boy. He’s too tall, too chubby, but that doesn’t mean his heart doesn’t crave to belong to a Daddy. Shawn sets out to woo his shy mate, but when a blast from his past makes Sam feel unwanted, things go from bad to worse. Then Shawn is shot by hunters and while he recovers, Sam goes in search of answers. Things are heating up and moving fast for our paranormal family. Unlocking the love of their mates might be the only way to save them all.      Amazon KU

THE BOOK OF GOTHEL by Mary McMyne

Everyone knows the tale of Rapunzel in her tower, but do you know the story of the witch who put her there?  Haelewise has always lived under the shadow of her mother, Hedda—a woman who will do anything to keep her daughter protected. For with her strange black eyes and even stranger fainting spells, Haelewise is shunned by her village, and her only solace lies in the stories her mother tells of child-stealing witches, of princes in wolf-skins, of an ancient tower cloaked in mist, where women will find shelter if they are brave enough to seek it. Then, Hedda dies, and Haelewise is left unmoored. With nothing left for her in her village, she sets out to find the legendary tower her mother used to speak of—a place called Gothel, where Haelewise meets a wise woman willing to take her under her wing. But Haelewise is not the only woman to seek refuge at Gothel. It’s also a haven for a girl named Rika, who carries with her a secret the Church strives to keep hidden. A secret that reveals a dark world of ancient spells and murderous nobles behind the world Haelewise has always known.

Amazon      AB     Kobo

STEALING INFINITY by Alyson Noel

VS Note: From JUNE 28

These days, I’ve been killing it when it comes to letting people down. Now I’ve been kicked out of high school, arrested, and accepted into a remote, off-the-grid school owned and operated by an inscrutable billionaire tech guru. Gray Wolf Academy is looking for a certain kind of student. Ones that no one will miss. Like me. Then there’s Braxton. The beautiful, oddly anachronistic guy who showed up right when the trouble started. And he’s a total enigma—which means that I definitely can’t trust him, even if there’s something about him that makes me want to. They all tell me I have a gift. A very rare gift. And Gray Wolf Academy wants me to learn it. To use it. Because if what they say is true, I have all the time in the world. And that makes me the most dangerous high school student you’ll never know.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DEVIL’S MARK (THE RECKLESS DAMNED BOOK 1) by Lark Taylor

Cal – I’ve never wanted a relationship—especially not with a human. With my father demanding my return to Hell and a demon leaving dead bodies in my bookshop, now is not the time to lose my heart. But one look in Oscar’s broken eyes, and I know I’m in trouble. Oscar’s been hurt before, and everything in me screams to keep him safe. How can I do that when I know being with me will only put him in more danger? More importantly, am I strong enough to walk away from him? Oscar – After escaping my last relationship with broken bones and an anxiety disorder, I’m tired of living half a life. My world revolves around my classroom, flat, and best friend. When fate throws Cal in my path, he seems too good to be true. He looks like he’s been pulled from my fantasies, and my baggage doesn’t scare him. Ok, so there’s the tiny issue of him being a demon, but I’ve dealt with far scarier. I’ve been broken once before, and I don’t think I’d survive it again. Can I let down my barriers enough to let Cal in?      Amazon KU

TWIST AND TURNS (FAE WILDS SERIES BOOK ONE) by W J May

A Fae determined to recover her memory and learn her place in the realm discovers that there are no simple answers. With the help of a soldier with secrets of his own, she charts a course between two worlds, a dark forest where no Fae dare set foot, and the capital of the realm, which might end up being more deadly. Can she uncover her identity before the rest of the realm’s secrets pull her into something she can’t talk or fight her way out of…?     Amazon     Kobo

SILENCED (LARKWOOD ACADEMY) by Jayce Carter

From spoiled rich girl to imprisoned siren—sometimes life sucks. My life was perfect—a cute, loving boyfriend, a rich and well-connected family and an immaculately planned-out future. As it turns out, perfection is a lie. After a random attack, I wake up to discover I’ve turned into a siren, had my vocal cords cut and am now imprisoned at Larkwood Academy, the most dangerous and heavily secured place for humans who have turned into paranormal creatures called shades. Everything here is out to get me—the warden, the guards and even the other shades. As I try to survive, I get closer to the men around me—Kit, a wendigo who is often called the warden’s lapdog, Deacon, a guard who isn’t a shade but also isn’t human, Knox, an incubus who struggles with accepting his own hunger, Brax, a berserker with a bad attitude and sharp tongue and Wade, a void who is far more dangerous than his innocent face and humor would suggest. The longer I stay here and get to know them, the more I realize I can’t trust anyone. Everyone wants me to follow the rules, but I can’t be that girl anymore. They might have stolen my voice, but they can’t keep me silenced.

Amazon     Kobo

HIS RELUCTANT OMEGA MATE (SWEETWATER PACK BOOK 1) by Jax Stuart

As an omega, Kade’s purpose is to mate with an alpha and carry children. Years on the run have stolen that from him and ravaged his body. A chance meeting with his fated mate has Kade asking if Blake could be the one to heal his heart as well as his wolf. But what kind of alpha would accept a damaged omega? Meeting his fated was a dream come true for Blake, but Kade keeps him at arm’s length. Blake doesn’t need Kade to trust all alphas, just that Blake would never harm an omega, especially his prickly, reluctant mate.      Amazon KU

WOLF IN THE SHADOWS (THE LEGEND OF ALL WOLVES BOOK 5) by Maria Vale

Julia Martel was once a spoiled young shifter surrounded by powerful males who shielded her from reality. Now she is a prisoner of the Great North Pack, trusted by no one and relegated to the care of the pack’s least wolf, the Omega, Arthur Graysson—the only wolf who has shown her kindness. Every day with Arthur opens Julia to the harsh wonder of Pack life and to a bond unlike any she’s ever known. But when the Pack is threatened, Julia must confront a legacy of doubt and insecurity. Only then can she lay claim to the power and fierceness that is her birthright. Only then can she protect the wolves she has grown to love. And especially Arthur, who is immensely powerful in his own quiet way.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THIRST (THE BEAST KING BRIDES BOOK 1) by Charlene Hartnady

Thane – I’ve been told I’m beautiful to look at, but I’m a monster all the same. Barely contained.  Terrifying now that the thirst is upon me… I’m a beast king. That comes with its pros and cons.
Big con, I have to take a bride. It’s built into my DNA. We all reach a point where the drive kicks in. I thought I still had time. I was wrong! I need to find her. The one. A vampiress whose blood will quench me. The hunt is on. If I don’t find her soon, I’ll be put down like a rabid dog, leaving my throne to my greatest enemy. My rival by blood. Can’t! Happen! Bellicent – What happens in the dark stays in the dark… Or so I thought. I’m a half-blood. More human than vampire. A weakling. A circus trick only good for being used and abused. When the vampire king shows interest in me, I tell him where to get off…then I spend the night with him. Don’t judge me! Who wouldn’t leap at the opportunity? He’s the most eligible bachelor…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)     Amazon KU

CURSED (BECOMING THE DEMON QUEEN BOOK 1) by Charlene Hartnady and Be Brouillard

I’ve been told I’m a demon, but that can’t be right! My life is turned on its head one morning. It starts off as any normal morning would. A day like any other. Except, I sprout wings. Yep, wings…as in feathers. From there, things really get a little crazy. I suddenly don’t need my thick glasses to see anymore. Other things about me change, too. Then two guys show up at my door. Two sexy guys. I take one look at them and my eyes bug out and my mouth falls open for a hot minute. Holy moly!  They start fighting over me. Me? I can hardly believe it. Then they tell me what I am. What I’m capable of doing. They tell me I’m one of their kind and that I’m changing…evolving into something more. I’m not human! They say that I’ll learn how to use my wings and how to shift into my demon form. That I’ll be super powerful. I also learn that there are other supernatural creatures who will start to pick up on my energy soon. They’ll come after me. I need to get a grip on my powers ASAP. Then I’ll need to choose between the two of them and leave this realm. Did I mention that they are both princes? As in royalty? And that I find them just as sexy in their demon form as in their human ones? Both of them! What’s wrong with me? I won’t be able to choose. I’m not even sure I want to leave. This is my home! I am told that I will have to go or pay the consequences. The problem is that I don’t trust them. I sense that they are both keeping something from me. But after all they’ve already unveiled, what could possibly be worse?      Amazon KU

OATH BREAKER (FALLEN MESSENGERS BOOK 4) by Ava Marie Salinger

When the past comes calling, Cassius and Morgan have no option but to face the dire consequences of the choices they made before the Fall. With Cassius Black’s secret operations to save the world in the last five-hundred years finally revealed by the agencies that govern the otherworldly, his status as the most vilified Fallen on Earth changes almost overnight. Unused to his newfound fame, Cassius tries to keep a low profile, but Morgan King’s reckless actions soon have them in the news again. Forced to take a sabbatical, the pair heads to London to meet with Victor Sloan, who’s been incommunicado since his identity as the demigod who betrayed Cassius and Morgan during the War in the Nether came to light in the Spirit Realm. Meanwhile, Theophile Serrano’s attempts to adapt to his new job as P.A. to Sion CEO Hugo Frost are derailed by the strange things that keep happening to him. Things that soon convince him that he is losing his mind. Destinies collide when a catastrophe engendered by the dark God Elios strikes London. As past and present meet, Cassius finally comes face to face with the Guardians who were left behind in the Nether. Will unlocking the secrets of Cassius and Theo’s past be the key to the city’s salvation? Or will the truth tear them all apart and give Elios the victory he seeks?      Amazon KU

TOUCHED BY MAEN LLIA (ONCE AND FUTURE HEARTS)  by Tracey Cooper-Posey

Catrin is a handmaiden to the old Queen of Dyfed, whose husband and king, Geraint, has died without an heir, leaving the kingdom ripe for plucking. Yet Dyfed is the birthplace of King Arthur’s enchanter and adviser, Prince Merlin, who travels to the troubled kingdom to settle the question of who should be king. Marcus Jorath is a newcomer to Camelot and wants only to serve King Arthur, whose peace has brought such a difference to the life and prospects of his family. Yet he is assigned to travel with Merlin to the out-of-the-way kingdom of Dyfed instead. When the Dyfed mage, Ianto, declares it is mid-summer’s day, the maids of the kingdom visit the Maen Llia to make a wish. Catrin disputes it is the solstice, for she can read and is learned in the ways of tracking seasons and more, but no one listens to her, and she is forced to visit Maen Llia with the other women. Merlin’s company of armed men come across the women, and Marcus finds himself drawn to the fiery redheaded Catrin and her blunt, direct way of speaking and thinking about the world. Their attraction puts them in the path of Ianto, who is more than the kingdom’s inadequate mage, and has plans of his own he will not let a mere slip of a girl interfere with… This novella is part of the historical fantasy romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

RUN RUN RABBIT (CAMBRIC CREEK AFTER DARKVERSE BOOK 1) by C M Nascosta

Vanessa loves having Grayson Hemming chase her, and she’ll do anything to keep him running. When werewolf Vanessa Blevin begins working at new law firm, she expects long hours, hard work, and harder personalities. Her boss is a demanding, demeaning bully who begins cutting her down on her very first day — cutting her down and setting her blood on fire. Grayson Hemming is tall, dark, alphahole handsome, the exact sort of werewolf she does not need in her life . . . but there’s something about the way he smells, his cutting smile, and the way his eyes always seem to find her. Her wolf wants his, and the feeling is mutual.  The lines between their professional lives and personal desires are blurred every full moon in his bed, and the only way she knows how to keep from being burned is to keep running. When she attends an exclusive Lupercalia celebration just outside of Cambric Creek, she knows exactly what to expect. The whole town knows what goes on at the invitation-only werewolf soirées, and every last one of them is eager for an invite. The Lupercalia festivities are an ancient rite of fertility and carnality, of sex and sweat and celebration, and she knows one of the wolves will have her before the night is done. One of them will have her, but only one wolf will do. One wolf, one knot, one set of teeth at her back . . . but he’ll have to catch her first.     AmazonKU

A NAIAD’S HEART (A NAIAD ROMANCE BOOK 2) by Gigi Rivers

Gabriel lives a quiet existence as a seaweed farmer in a small seaside village. But his life is turned upside down when a naiad rescues him from drowning during a storm. Now Gabriel returns to his simple life in his village, but he is obsessed with the naiad, whose wild green hair; toned, naked body; and regal features consume his every fantasy. Gabriel must see the naiad again. The naiad, Alke, is an adventurer with no desire to settle. He is happy to swim wherever the tide takes him and have sex with whomever he meets. Then a human turns up searching for him. A virgin who stares at him with complete adoration and desire in his pretty hazel eyes. Who is Alke to resist? It starts out as sex. It’s meant to be temporary. Just some fun. But as they get to know each other, feelings grow. Can Alke admit that he wants more? And is Gabriel willing to wait for Alke to figure it out?     Amazon KU

GIVE A GHOST A BAD NAME (A REAPER WITCH MYSTERY BOOK 6) by Elle Adams

Welcome to Hawkwood Hollow, where the dead outnumber the living. It’s time for the grand opening of Hawkwood Hollow’s first haunted hotel, and Maura and her friends are ready for the first guests to embark on their ghost tour. When a guest inexplicably drops dead of an apparent heart attack, it at first seems like a freak accident. But the victim’s widow thinks otherwise, and she’s determined to make Maura and her friends face the consequences. At first, Maura thinks the angry widow has lost her mind, but it soon becomes clear that there’s a murderer in the area… and they aren’t human. As if hunting a ghostly killer isn’t enough, Maura’s business is dealing with attacks on all sides as someone is determined to sink their business into the ground. Can Maura save the inn, protect her friends and catch the killer – or will it all go up in flames?      Amazon KU

DARK WHISPERS FROM AFAR (CHILDREN OF THE GODS BOOK 63) by I T Lucas

William knows that his budding relationship with the nineteen-year-old Kaia will be frowned upon, but he’s unprepared for her family’s vehement opposition. Family means everything to Kaia, so when she finds herself in the impossible position of having to choose between them and William, she resorts to unconventional means to resolve the conflict.     Amazon KU

DROWN THE SEA: DYING GODS BOOK ONE) by Elisha Kemp

VS Note: From JUNE 30

Adrienne had everything. The friends, the clothes, the college acceptance letter – not to mention a healthy social calendar. Then one stupid mistake has her packing her bags to spend the summer with her estranged mom in Santorini. Adrienne is determined to make the best out of her forced holiday until the date from hell results in her getting attacked, nearly drowning, then rescued by a bunch of seafaring cosplayers. Because what else could explain the Bronze Age-era boat full of shirtless, loincloth-wearing men? Now, if only there was a way to explain the complete lack of technology, the insurmountable language barrier, or the fact that everyone is staring at her like she’s from another planet.      Amazon KU

MAKINGS OF A MAGI KNIGHT: ZODIAC MAGIC ACADEMY (EXEMPLAR HALL BOOK 3) by JL Madore and Ruby Knight

I survived the first semester and despite Dean Belmont’s agenda and the Celestial Council’s misogynistic belief that women are the weaker sex and incapable of harnessing power, I showed them just how wrong they are. The Plus One taunting has ended, and instead of disdain, the looks being thrown at me heading into the second semester are wary and confused. Doesn’t matter. After the explosion at the end of the semester skills test, I’ll probably be expelled. Which—and I can’t believe I’m going to say this—would kill me. I need to learn more about my dad, my powers, and best of all…my guys:  Maverick – my distant and broody wolf.  River – my loveable and loyal bear. Brody – my… vampire, hot for teacher crush? Yeah, I’m not sure where that’s going. They call to the wildness in me and there’s no way I’m not going to answer that call.      Amazon KU

A MEDIUM FATE: THE HAUNTED LIFE SERIES BOOK 1 by Lynn Cahoon

I see ghosts, but I do my best to ignore them. When Eddie Cayce turned home to New Orleans from her carefully built Seattle life, it’s not just for her grandmother’s funeral. She’s home to stay. More to the point, now that she’s broken it off with the almost fiancé and quit her corporate junior designer position over one too many trainings on how to run a copier, she has no reason to return. With the money she’ll receive in her inheritance, she can finally open the antique store she’s always dreamed of – that as long as her ability to see ghosts stays dormant. In Seattle, her gift had dwindled down to seeing the occasional ghost during her morning runs in her Queen Anne neighborhood. But here? New Orleans is filled with the visitors, as her grandmother always called them. And now, they are finding Eddie and want to chat. Especially about the most recent murder. Can Eddie carve out a real life here among the spirit world?      Amazon KU

RISING FROM THE ASHES (DARKFOREST PACK SERIES BOOK 1) by Sheyla Drymon

Kelder O’Brien is the alpha of the DarkForest, a warrior with a past that has marked him deep in his soul, shattering his heart. For this reason, he lives by and for the pack, rejecting the very idea of finding love again. When he least expects it, his lonely existence will be shattered by the unexpected return of the only woman he once loved. Elisabeth Treamblay was his greatest secret, a memory that tortured him at night and that he cursed during the day. He thought he had forgotten her, that he had gotten over her leaving him with a terse note until he came face to face with her. It was an encounter that shook the foundations of his feelings and threatened to destroy everything he had achieved to date. What is Lis doing on his land? Why was she returning to his side? And those children who accompanied her…are they her children? He needs answers, to find out the real reason she abandoned him, and Kelder will do everything he can to get them. Danger lurks in the shadows for every member of the DarkForest pack, willing to do anything to achieve their goals. Witness the decisive battle that will change the destiny of them all.     Amazon KU

MERCY OF PROMISE (THE WOLVES OF PROMISE FALLS BOOK 4) by T S Joyce

Something big is going on in this town. Police officer Darren Callaghan has been hunting for the cause of a burned mountain on the outskirts of Leadville, Colorado, but when a woman goes missing, he can’t help the feeling that they are connected somehow. A call comes in that some fences have been cut, and he finds a ragtag group of trespassers is squatting on some abandoned land outside of town. This is his moment. This is the missing piece. This is his chance to figure out all of the strange occurrences that have been piling up lately. The trespassers he questions aren’t what he expected though, especially not the dark-haired beauty that seems to be leading these snarling people. Aspen is gorgeous, protective, smart, and courageous, but it’s clear to see she’s hiding something behind those bright-gold eyes…something dangerous that will change the course of his life forever. Aspen Moore is a werewolf on her very last chance. Tired of running from wars her last Alpha started, she’s pulling one last desperate move to find sanctuary for the Trader Pack in the mountains of Colorado. Her Pack is in need of an Alpha who can keep them safe, but no one wants to tether themselves to a Pack that is being hunted. One meeting in the woods with a handsome police officer throws everything she thought she knew into a tailspin. Nothing is as it seems near Promise Falls, but perhaps a big, powerful, dominant man in uniform is just what she and her friends need to stay alive. Falling for him is a horrible idea, but the heart wants what it wants. The more she gets to know him, the more she wants to protect him from what is coming for the Trader Pack, and now she must choose—the life of her Pack, or the life of the man she’s falling in love with.     Amazon KU

CENTAUR IN MY DREAMS: COVETED PREY BOOK 12 by L V Lane

I was a princess until my jealous sister betrayed me. Thrown into a portal, I’m picked up by a fallen centaur patrol. Here I become embroiled in a cruel and wicked world, where centaurs battle the monsters that spew from a broken portal and women are kept in stables and shared by all. Grimm, the leader of the fallen centaurs, is breathtaking from his human warrior body to the stallion beneath. He is also barbaric, ruthless, and monstrous in deed. I hide my omega nature, living among them as a drudge. Yet I cannot forever hide my response nor my growing fascination with the darkest centaur of them all.      Amazon KU

REIGN OF NIGHT (A STUDY IN SHADOWS BOOK 1) by Sara C Roethle 

Lyssandra’s life is a lie. As a hunter of the Helius Order, she’s dedicated to slaying vampires and protecting the innocent. But she’s also a vampire’s human servant. If her secret comes out, her own order will execute her. When she finds Asher, she’ll cut out his heart for tying her to him, even if he only did it to save her. Even if it kills her too. But when a young girl is found dead, Lyssandra’s mission is derailed. In the gaping hole where the girl’s heart once was, lies single red rose. Lyssandra has seen the signature before, left by the vampire who took her uncle’s life. Karpov is one of the ancients, and his death is the only one Lyssandra wants more than Asher’s. Unfortunately, Karpov is also the only being—dead or undead—who holds the key to Asher’s whereabouts. If Lyssandra ever wants to find him, she’ll have to work with her uncle’s murderer. Asher’s death could finally bring her peace, but can she accept it when it means leaving her uncle’s killer alive? Or will she fall into his waiting arms, unable to fight the pull of the master and servant bond.     Amazon KU

CHAYTON: BOOK ONE by Tiya Rayne

Chayton – Five years ago, I walked away from my pack and my true mate to save my son’s life. It’s a decision I will never regret. Since then, I’ve lived with only one focus: to protect my son at all costs. Once again, I’m faced with the decision to save his life. I’m forced to either marry the human that saved him or watch my son die. The latter is never an option. Elizabeth – I moved away from the city to fulfill my mother’s dying wish. I had no idea I’d become a part of a world found only in fiction. Yet here I am, mated to an Alpha that wants nothing to do with me. However, for the little boy that crashed into my life, I’ll do whatever it takes even if it means going toe to toe with a shifter. Two lives were brought together by accident. Will they accept their new roles as mates, or does fate have another plan?     Amazon KU

HER BIKER WOLF (OBSSESSED MATES BOOK 2) by Ariana Hawkes

Ever since I broke away from my MC pack, I’ve been living out in Perdue Town. Inking skin, enforcing the rules, and keeping tabs on my pack’s most wanted list—a price worth paying for my freedom.
Until she walks into my tattoo shop. Beautiful, innocent, desperate to save her family. Mine. All these years I’ve lived without the mating urge. Now my beast roars to life: Mate. Claim. Possess. Then, with a single word, she turns my world upside down. She has no idea of the bomb she’s just detonated.
But I already know I’ll protect her with my life. I’ll put her on the back of my bike, outride any danger.
And when I’ve gotten her to safety, I’ll claim her sweet body and make her mine.    Amazon KU

SEASCAPE by Stephanie Burke

VS Note: A re-release.

How sexy can a woman be after being tossed out of a plane into the deep blue sea? Very, apparently…Dr. Elanna Richfield, a world-renowned oncologist, is tossed out of a small, hijacked plane by a drugged-out fanatic over the Pacific Ocean.Storm is minding his business, sunning himself on the waves, doing what Merfolk do on vacation, when a beautiful, dark-skinned human falls into his lap. Elanna thought she would never see the light of another day — especially from several fathoms below. But Storm opens up a world she has never seen. A world filled with magical, elemental creatures of unending beauty and mystery. A world filled with political intrigue and danger.Now if she can survive mystical transformations, jealous queens, and the dictates of a ruling council, she may very well discover true passion and desire within her Seascape.      Amazon     Kobo

TAKEN BY THE ORC (MIST-RIFT MONSTER ROMANCE BOOK TWO) by Mina Carter

She’s always loved fairy tales. Starring in one isn’t on her bucket list…Not that Hope has much of a bucket list, except in her head. Forced to work for a pittance by her cruel stepfather, she has no way out of the drudgery of her life. Being mugged in the park at night is just par for the course… until a big, green monster rescues her. Rather than waking up in a hospital bed with a severe concussion as she expects, she’s whisked off to a fantastical land filled with all the creatures from her childhood stories. Only she quickly realizes that not everything beautiful is nice, and her big, green monster is not what she expected. A battle-scarred warrior, he might be her only chance of getting home alive. And, well… it doesn’t hurt that he’s put together like a Greek god, but boasting about his… equipment doesn’t get him on her good list. Saving her from certain death though… yeah, that might do it. Between a witch’s curse and a treacherous court, Hope must make a choice about her future and whether her monster lives or dies.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

UNMISTAKABLE MATE (FATED MATE SERIES BOOK 4) by Jess Bryant

We make our own family. Zander Leery gave up on the idea of family a long time ago. He grew up bouncing around the foster care system, never finding a home to call his own. He has no ties to anyone or anything so the last thing he expected was a phone call saying his estranged older sister made him guardian to a niece he’d never known existed. With no idea what else to do with the child, he heads for Noir, Louisiana in search of the younger half-sister he barely remembers, but what he finds in the little bayou town will change his life forever. We make our own fate. Maya DeLuca gave up on the idea of fate a long time ago. She has no use for a fate that let a crazed wolf kill her parents, kidnap her sisters and torture her. She’s worked hard to overcome her traumatic past, to grow into a strong, independent woman and a fierce Alpha Wolf. She makes her own decisions, not some supernatural force. She has her own plans and they don’t include the very human mate who just showed up on her doorstep with no idea that the supernatural world even exists. We make our own happily ever after. He’s human. She’s a shifter. But their connection is unmistakable. Can Zander accept this new world that he’s stumbled into? Can Maya accept the possibility that fate chose right? And if they can find common ground, will they discover that sometimes it’s our mistakes that lead us to exactly where we were always meant to be?     Amazon KU

OMEGA COVETED (MAPLE LAKE SHIFTERS BOOK 3) by Ava Gray

Those were the men that protected me. I could fall asleep at night knowing that I was safe. Until…Vampires attacked us in the middle of the night, shattering every illusion I had. They were after my blood, and after the blood of every omega. We fought back hard, but we knew the danger was far from over. So when our former pack demanded our return, we knew what had to be done. Returning home was a tough but safe option. But it came with its consequences. The old Alpha had died… and upon our arrival, I laid my eyes on one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen. Lucas. His charm captivated me in an instant. My heart and mind raced all at once, and guilt caught ahold of me. There was no way my three other mates would welcome him with open arms, right?    AmazonKU

THE ALPHA’S RUNAWAY BRIDE (WOLFKEEP BOOK 2) by Ava Hale

With a looming wedding to a man I will never love just days away, if I don’t get out now, I never will. 
I don’t expect a car crash to give me my opportunity, but it’s a chance to escape, so I take it. Now I just have to survive this wilderness before the fiancé who killed his last wife catches up to me. I never could’ve predicted that a naked mountain man would be my hero. But his strange habits, tragic past, and the sudden attraction that flares to life between us makes me burn like I never have before. If a sheltered girl could choose one man, it would be Nicholas. Even if I can never understand why he has a tendency to forget his clothes when he leaves his cabin. But with a determined ex who won’t stop until he’s caught up to his runaway bride, it’s going to take a strong man to stop him. I don’t know if Nicholas is that man, but my heart hopes he is.     Amazon KU

KIDNAPPED BY THE VAMPIRE PRINCE (ROYAL VAMPIRES BOOK 1) by Electra Cage

The cruel vampire prince held me as his slave until I escaped. Now he’s back to get me. As heir to the throne he must find a mate before his coronation … in just a couple of days. So he grabs me again … drinks my blood … makes me crazy for him …But never touches me for real. I fled him years ago but the memories still haunt me. The vivid dreams of the things he did to me … so bad, and at the same time so good. Now he’s mad at me for standing up to him, so he torments me. I must find a way to escape his castle, escape those wicked gray eyes, escape my yearning. I loathe this monster, but my body’s craving is slowly taking over. Is this the real reason why I didn’t I escape again when I had the chance to? I had undone the ropes … was out of the door …Yet something made me walk back into captivity. Will I give myself to the vampire prince willingly?     Amazon KU

I DATED A LEGAL DEVIL by Viola Grace

A bachelorette party brings Drin to the attention of the boss of the nightclub, Hell. Her problem is that he’s a long-standing crush and patron, and he knows it. Drin has a miserable life. She is constantly scrounging for money, fighting for respect, and hiding her activation. As far as she knows, she is a muse. She gives her targets inspiration and intellect, but her body pays the price. A metabolic active uses their body to power their manifestation, and Drin spends her life hungry as her body burns power to survive in public. She is asked to sing in public to help a bachelorette gain a win in a live singing competition, but she ends up going against the city’s most popular male singer. They sing a duet, and her opponent is so thrilled that he grabs her and kisses her. She drops him with her knee, and the club goes silent. The devil emerges and walks toward her. She sees him coming and is shocked to see her best friend’s brother approaching her, and she’s stunned when he kisses her in front of several hundred partiers. He sweeps her to his lair, and they have a short conversation involving her work for the Blind Date Corporation as his escort. A day later and she’s being arrested for breaking a restraining order. Her best friend’s family has blocked her, but now, she is hauled to lock-up for talking to Vikor. Things can only get better from there, right? When the devil arrives to defend her, her case is won, and her heart is lost.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BETA’S MATE (SILVERDALE WOLVES BOOK 3) by Mia Wolf

I was kidnapped to be forced into marriage. The hideous alpha of the enemy pack picked me as his mate. And as I sit here tied up in this dark basement, my wolf calls the only one it wants: The beta wolf with the rough beard and gentle hands. But will he hear me? We spent one drunken, steamy night together. My restless dreams are still haunted by the desire in his eyes. My dark days are lit up only by thoughts of him. They are the only things that get me through the pain and torture I’m exposed to. Maybe I never really expected him to find me. But in my restless dreams, there he is…He managed to cut the ropes, and now we’re lost in the most incredible kiss…We should run, leave this place, but the pull is unstoppable. One moment I’m a weak captive, the next I’m a hungry she-wolf bursting with desire. Am I just hallucinating? Or are my dreams turning into reality?    AmazonKU

ROCKSTAR GODS (FAUST BOOK 1) by Stasia Black

VS Note: From JUNE 27

What do you do when the devil has you in his sights? HIM: Some call me the devil. I’ve had many names. Mortals are so fun to play with. Desperate, hungry little things. And everyone says yes to my deals. Everyone. …Until her. Now I crave her soul. She has made me the desperate thing. So I’ll have my revenge. LUNA: Once, I stood at a crossroads and was offered the world in exchange for my soul. And I said no, a soul is too precious to ever trade! But if I was ever asked again? What wouldn’t I give, just to feel their touch? All night, all day, I dream of themmy bandmates. ALL of them. At once. Touching and being touched by them. They see me as their little sister, though. At least, they have until now…’Cause it turns out I’m being stalked by a devil who’s tempting me to do bad, bad things.     Amazon KU

RED ON THE RIVER by Christine Feehan

VS Note: From JUNE 28. Listed in PNR. Sunrise Lake book 2.

Vienna Mortenson isn’t your typical gambler. She prefers to stay under the radar, using her poker winnings to support her family and her community, including the local search and rescue team, which she heads up. Out in the backcountry there’s no time for hesitation when lives are on the line. Vienna prides herself on being tough and decisive. She’s not the sort to make a fool of herself over a guy, especially one who left her high and dry without a backward glance. Zale Vizzini’s job constantly puts him in harm’s way. Working undercover and disappearing for months at a time isn’t exactly a recipe for a stable relationship. Despite the challenges and the risks, Zale wants something real with Vienna. He just needed time to figure out how to be in her life without putting her in danger. Now, he’s determined to win her back, and he’s ready to lay all his cards on the table. As their friends’ wedding approaches, Zale takes advantage of the festivities to make a play for Vienna’s heart. But there are more deadly forces waiting to strike in the rugged terrain of Nevada and the western Sierras. Soon both of their lives are threatened, and the odds are stacked against them.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

TECH BEAR (B.E.A.R.S BOOK 3) by Candace Ayers

One, two, three four, I declare a cyberwar. Lukas Torres is both brawn and brilliance. He’s a skilled coder as well as a hardcore field agent. His social skills, though…well, they’re lacking. He needs help to win over his mate. So Lukas (accidentally on purpose) hacks into her server. Needless to say, that doesn’t go over well. When Brennan Malkovich gets a digital smackdown, it’s time to up her cyber game. And where should she turn for help? The cocky, arrogant hacker himself—Lukas Torres. Only he’s not so arrogant. Or cocky. In fact, he’s kind of sweet. In a snarly, growly, deadly assassin sort of way. B.E.A.R.S. (Bruin Evaluation Assessment and Reconnaissance Specialists)     Amazon KU

BALLAD OF NIGHTMARES: FIRST BOOK IN THE NIGHTMARES DUOLOGY by Jack Whitney

When the ravens and crows begin acting odd on the morning of Death’s Day, Samarius Cain knows someone dangerous has entered his kingdom. The witches’ texts warned him of this and warned him that he, Death, would meet his match when the ravens fell. After centuries of waiting, he’d begun to think the text was just a fairy tale…Until he spots the Tower of Chaos and Destruction herself, Deianira Bronfell, mingling with his people. Shadowmyer is the last domain on Deianira’s list. Death’s kingdom, if the rumors were true. Samarius Cain. No one knows what he looks like, and no one can get into his castle. But Deianira isn’t walking away without her final crown. She has a plan: climb the ladder. Get close. Seduce who she has to and kill the rest. Nothing will keep her from her final conquest… not even the man she finds herself entangled with and unable to stop herself from falling for.      Amazon KU

SEDUCED BY BEAR SOLDIER (BEAR HEROES OF NEW YORK) by Lisa Daniels

He left without a word and became a soldier. I was so broken hearted I didn’t think I could ever love again. It was as if I was reborn as a completely different person without my strong, silent shifter lover. After nearly a decade of pointless flings and long hours at work, I thought I was ready for him to come back into my life. Then I lost a patient, and all of the pain from the days when he left washed over me. I’m not ready. I’m not ready to see my mate. My love. I ran from it, hiding even from my family. Then I encountered another shifter, and everything changed. Now I might lose him all over again. I want to curse him for making me care. But he will always be my hot bear shifter, the love of my life. I can’t lose him again.      Amazon KU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

July 20

July 13

July 6

June 29

June 22

“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.

I Said I Would 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!)

This is the final excerpt from my second scifi romance gladiator novel RENNYR. Next week I’ll switch to the third book, TALINN, releasing in the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS  anthology on July 26.

If you want the full story of what Rennyr and Jaine 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, continuing on with his attempt to break into the arena to rescue Jaine. Since this is the final excerpt I’ll be sharing I’m jumping to the moment he reaches her:

He cleared the last twenty five feet between himself and the men threatening Jaine with a single bound, taking out three of the enemy as he landed. He moved between Jaine and the remaining fighters.

She collapsed onto the sand and crawled toward her weapon. Rennyr approved but she wasn’t going to need it again, not with him to protect her. He made quick work of killing the first man, outflanking him in a lightning fast move. Human reflexes were no match for Badari speed. Pivoting to the last member of the group, Rennyr checked his offensive movement. The man now had Jaine in his grasp, knife at her throat.

“Is this what you’re all hot and bothered about, Beastman?” the gladiator said in a mocking tone. “This little Sectors sweetie?” He pricked her with the tip of the wicked blade and a drop of bright red blood beaded her skin.

Jaine had her hands wrapped around the man’s hand and suddenly pulled his wrist and the knife down, away from her throat, pinning it to her body. With strength born of sheer desperation, she kept her grip on the knife and turned inward, ducking away as she did so.

Her unexpected movement was all the opening Rennyr needed. Taking two steps, he sank his fangs into the neck of the distracted gladiator. The predator inside him was in full on battle rage and as he disengaged from his prey, Rennyr had to work hard to regain control.

Jaine was sprawled on the ground and his heart stopped. Rushing to her, he knelt, checked frantically for wounds but finding only a few superficial slashes. As he’d suspected, the enemy had been intending to prolong the moment of her death.

“You came? You came for me?” she said, clinging to him.

“I said I would.”

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

Releases July 26

 

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JULY 20

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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GALE FORCE (CYBORG FORCE BOOK 2) by Cara Bristol

VS note: She’s an autobuy for me.

Gayle Chambers always dreamed of studying alien life. But now that she’s on a sand-blasted desert planet, the dream seems more like a nightmare. Dangerous, corrupt officials would just as soon see her dead as allow her research come to light. If that’s not bad enough, her bodyguard turns out to be her ex-husband who broke her heart and trust when he chose Cyborg Force over her. She’s never forgotten or forgiven the rejection. Now she’s stuck with him while she investigates the secrets of an alien intelligence. Will she be able to complete her mission or will her life and heart come under siege? As a young man, Axel Vander had wanted to become a cyborg and save the world. Then he met and married the love of his life, the brilliant, ambitious Dr. Gayle Chambers. He never fathomed joining C-Force would destroy their marriage. He’d only wanted to become a husband she could proud of. Instead she’d walked out, divorcing him and shattering his heart. He’s never gotten over the betrayal, but he’ll perform his duty and keep her safe. But how will he protect his wounded heart? Braving fierce dust storms and deadly government machinations, they’ll race against the clock to save an alien intelligence. But can Axel and Gayle regain the love they once had before time runs out?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Author’s Universal Link

QUINN AND THE QUELLER (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 17) by Honey Phillips

VS Note: Always lovely to have a new book from Honey P!

Can a fragile human female save an isolated alien warrior? Life has taught Quinn one inescapable lesson – she will always end up alone. That lesson has never been as painful as when the friends who were kidnapped with her disappear, leaving her abandoned on an alien planet. When she is sold to a terrifying alien warrior, she expects the worst. Instead, she finds an unexpected kindness behind his forbidding façade. But when he carries her off to his equally forbidding mansion, will she ever find a way back to her friends? When Dhar was forced to leave his home world, he cut himself off from everything and everyone. His career as a successful gladiator has enabled him to buy the one thing he now values most – his solitude. Until he is gifted with a beautiful, delicate female who brings an unexpected warmth to his isolated existence. He is determined to keep her. Yet the more time he spends with her, the more he also wishes to please her – but if he gives her what she most wants, will he end up alone forever?       Amazon KU

ALIEN RULER NEEDS A NANNY (ALIEN NANNY AGENCY #3) by Tasha Black

He’s in charge of an entire planet, but only she can rule his heart…Ba’shir Kreed is a hardworking single dad who also happens to be the leader of a planet of two billion souls. He is used to dealing with any issue that comes along. But he knows he’s got real problems the minute he lays eyes on his kids’ new Terran nanny. After all, the palace publicity team gave him only three rules for dating: No one too young. No one from off-planet. And never, ever, ever hit on the help. Falling for sweet Yasmine would mean breaking all three. But Ba’sh has always been a bit of a rebel. And the more time he spends with Yasmine, the less he wants to follow the rules. Yasmine Hall has some unhappiness in her history, but she’s excited to set her eyes on the future and her new gig as a nanny for the most powerful man on the planet. Thankfully, energetic Pia and soft-spoken Jax are amazing kids. And their father may be intimidating, but something about the way he talks to her makes Yasmine feel seen for the first time in a long time. She’s just starting to feel like she’s connecting with them all when her past suddenly catches up with her. She may have thought she landed an incredible nanny gig because of her work with the elderly on Terra-17, but it turns out the life she vowed to leave behind was front and center all along. When danger arrives at the palace, Yasmine may have to choose between protecting her peace of mind, and defending the family she has come to love. Will Ba’sh give in to temptation, even if it means breaking all the rules? Or will Yasmine put her principles ahead of her own happiness, and run before she ever gets the chance to follow her feelings?    Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

VALERIS (GALAXY GLADIATORS BOOK 19) by Alana Khan

How can a planet capable of interstellar spaceflight use such an outdated method to pick the queen? It leaves everything up to the whims of the Alagan River. Avania – No female in a hundred years has succeeded in plucking the red flower from the rushing water, a feat which guarantees her mating to the king. I’m still dripping wet and shivering when I’m ripped from my mother’s arms and dragged to the palace. Within hours, the high priestess has performed the mating ceremony binding me to a male I’ve never met–the King. I never dreamed the fierce ruler would treat me with such affection that he would crack open my heart… or set my body ablaze. Valeris – The river may have picked her. I may be forced to mate her. But all the outmoded expectations of my ancestors can’t prevent me from banishing her to the East Wing once she presents me with a son. How did the fates know this naive country female was more than my perfect match? She was the other half of my soul.    AmazonKU

BROKEN SONG: SHATTERED GALAXIES by Harpie Alexa

The moment he laid eyes on her, she was his. When Edith said she wanted a better life for herself, she didn’t mean she wanted to be transported to some barren wasteland of a planet filled with nothing but sand, storms and evil aliens intent on killing her, but that’s what she gets. And just when she thinks it’s way more than she bargained for, a giant Vesi’yir male slithers right in her life. This naga alien won’t take no for an answer. He wants Edith and he will slay anyone who stands in his way. As the enemies at his feet pile up, Edith has a choice to make. Does she give in to her desires to be with him or does she let her past get in the way of what her heart truly wants?      Amazon KU

WAKE THE DEAD (HEROES OF THE APOCALYPSE BOOK 3) by Baleigh Higgins

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

It’s the end of the world. The dead have risen, descending upon the living like a swarm of locusts. A plague released from the bowels of hell. The only thing that stands in their way are the ordinary men and women called upon to survive. Those who find the courage to fight despite their weaknesses and doubts. They are the heroes of the apocalypse.      Amazon KU

DYSTOPIAN GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Various

VS Note: Not romance but you know me and dystopian scifi! Yes, I one clicked…

Strap in for the ride of a lifetime. Escape from a dying earth, travel through the stars, and discover exotic planets in this thrilling new anthology. But reader beware: Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. The authors from Dystopian Ink have teamed up to take you on a twisted journey throughout the universe. Fourteen epic stories explore the dark side of human nature and government overreach where lines are muddied and survival isn’t guaranteed. For fans of Red Rising, Hunger Games, The Twilight Zone, and Dune, these captivating tales will transport you on an otherworldly adventure where unlikely heroes are forced to take a stand for justice to ensure a better future for their species…Or die trying.     Amazon KU

THE MOONDAY LETTERS by Emmi Itaranta

Sol has disappeared. Their Earth-born wife Lumi sets out to find them but it is no simple feat: each clue uncovers another enigma. Their disappearance leads back to underground environmental groups and a web of mystery that spans the space between the planets themselves. Told through letters and extracts, the course of Lumi’s journey takes her not only from the affluent colonies of Mars to the devastated remnants of Earth, but into the hidden depths of Sol’s past and the long-forgotten secrets of her own. Part space-age epistolary, part eco-thriller, and a love story between two individuals from very different worlds.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ALMOST THERE (SOLAR BURN #2) by Heather Carson 

VS Note: I enjoyed book one, which ends on kind of a cliffhanger, and have book two pre-ordered.

A woman who will do everything it takes to protect her children. A man that will stop at nothing to get back to his family. A love that transcends the chaos of the apocalypse…Tessa’s and Landon’s epic journey is only just beginning after multiple CMEs and solar activity destroyed the power grid and changed life as we know it. Now they are thrust into a dangerous world where the true colors of human nature are revealed in the fight to stay alive. Will they be able to make it to safety? Or are sinister forces destined to keep them apart forever?     Amazon KU

DARK ELF’S BESTINY (DARK ELVES OF PROTHEKA BOOK 6) by Celeste King

As a human, I’m nothing more than someone else’s property. That’s the most a woman can hope for in this hell called Protheka. I’ll always have a master. I just pray to the gods for one that doesn’t touch me. But what will happen when I hold the key that will change my new master’s life? When I harbor the secret that will give him his heart’s deepest desires and take mine away? Will his newfound wealth and power lead him to forget me? Or worse, will his past catch up with us? I know I’ll always protect him, but I don’t expect him to risk everything for me. That is until I realize he’s given me something that ties us together. Something he didn’t even realize he had to give. His heart.    AmazonKU

SPACE STORY by Fiona Ostby

VS Note: Has a 3.88 rating on Goodreads with 32 ratings and 18 reviews. Told in graphic novel format.

Two women fall in love and start a family on a dying Earth. Only one escapes to space. Her family is still on the planet. They won’t give up until they find each other again.

Amazon     Kobo

FURY (ELITE ROGUE ALIEN WARRIORS BOOK 2) by Hattie Jacks

He’s the monster in the cage. I’m the girl who never runs. I’m the alien’s cleaner. The abductee who has to do their dirty work to stay alive. My latest job? I get to play nurse to an injured seven-foot alien with a wingspan the size of a small aircraft and an attitude problem. Lucky me. We’re both captives and our captors have made it clear they would like us to ‘get closer’, something which is only ever going to end with trouble. But when your cell mate is devastatingly handsome, built like a Greek god, with liquid dark eyes you could drown in, and he makes a nest for you…It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it, right? Just as long as I don’t fall for him. Because, for me, love really does spell trouble with a capital ‘T’, whatever planet I’m on.      Amazon KU

WARRIOR RESCUED (CADY WARRIORS BOOK 8) by Stephanie West

Elena had no clue aliens existed before she awoke to discover her abductors had crashed while trying to colonize a new world. For two long years she’d been struggling on the baked and barren hellish planet, forced to survive all alone. The only thing that keeps her going is watching over her fellow humans, still in stasis and blissfully unaware of the nightmare all around. Then one day all that changes. She should’ve known better than to follow the crashing ship, because what she found in the wrecked cruiser is the devil himself. The alien is huge, muscles for days, with blood red skin, a tail, and fangs. It doesn’t matter that he’s built like a god and she is so very, very alone, she can’t afford to put her faith in the devil. Payim’s whole body is sore as he regains consciousness, though not as sore as his pride. This was supposed to be a simple reconnaissance mission. Go in, look for wreckage from the colony ship or proof the vile Jurou Biljana are building an outpost, then get out. He couldn’t believe he crashed. When his vision clears, he spots the petite human and her big brown eyes filled with terror. Before he can get out of his seat, she runs. As much as he hates chasing the frightened little survivor, he’s here to help.      Amazon KU

HEAT WAVE (THE EXTRAORDINARIES BOOK 3) by TJ Klune

Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are back in action bringing justice, protection, and disaster energy to the people of Nova City. An unexpected hero returns to Nova City and crash lands into Nick’s home, upturning his life, his family, and his understanding of what it means to be a hero in the explosive finale of the thrilling and hilarious Extraordinaries trilogy

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

AUGUST KITKO AND THE MECHAS FROM SPACE (THE STARMETAL SYMPHONY BOOK 1)  by Alex White

VS Note: Not a romance but contains romantic elements. A notable LGBTQ+ scifi release that reminds me (and other people) of what we loved about the movie “Pacific Rim”.

Jazz pianist Gus Kitko expected to spend his final moments on Earth playing piano at the greatest goodbye party of all time, and maybe kissing rockstar Ardent Violet, before the last of humanity is wiped out forever by the Vanguards–ultra-powerful robots from the dark heart of space, hell-bent on destroying humanity for reasons none can divine. But when the Vanguards arrive, the unthinkable happens–the mecha that should be killing Gus instead saves him. Suddenly, Gus’s swan song becomes humanity’s encore, as he is chosen to join a small group of traitorous Vanguards and their pilots dedicated to saving humanity.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

WANTING THE MONSTER (THE MATCH PROGRAM BOOK 4) by Rena Marks

Never judge a man by his looks, even when he has tentacles. Relion has so much more going for him. Protective. Playful. Caring. He’s become my best friend and it doesn’t even matter that we’re male and female. Or that we’re two entirely different species. I have to get married and I’m socially awkward and inexperienced and he’s going to teach me all I need to know about making a prime marriage catch. Tera is determined to marry an Earther male. A hairy one. She may be beautiful. Exotic. Graceful. My best friend. But the stubborn female is a bit low on intelligence. She has no idea that no male can ever measure up to her. That she’s worthy and unique. And I have no idea how hard I can fall for her.      Amazon KU

THE LAST STORM by Tim Lebbon

VS note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. Put it on my TBR list.

With global warming out of control, large swathes of North America have been struck by famine and drought and are now known as the Desert. A young woman sets out across this dry, hostile landscape, gradually building an arcane apparatus she believes will bring rain to the parched earth.
Jesse lives alone, far from civilization. Once, he too made rain, but he stopped when his abilities caused fatalities, bringing down not just rain but scorpions, strange snakes and spiders. When his daughter Ash inherited this tainted gift, Jesse did his best to stop her. His attempt went tragically wrong, and he believes himself responsible for her death. But now his estranged wife Karina brings news that Ash is still alive. And she’s rainmaking again. Terrified of what she might bring down upon the desperate communities of the Desert, they set out to find her. But Jesse and Karina are not the only ones looking for Ash. As the storms she conjures become more violent and deadly, some follow her seeking hope. And one is hungry for revenge.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

SOLAR VORTEX by Kathy Kulig

Royal historian Celia Stanhope thought she was safe living in the luxury underground city of Threshold. But as another deadly solar storm approaches, her brother goes missing on the scorched planet’s surface, and she fears for his life. Defying her father’s orders, she leaves to warn him, only to run into a handsome ruffian she dares not to trust. Inventor and reluctant spy Ethan Parkes will do anything to help his struggling town survive. Spying on the secret scientific community was the last job he’d ever do, but his people desperately need food and medical supplies. When he meets the stunning beauty from the mysterious city, he’s torn between loyalty and love. Seized by their fierce attraction, they’re swept into a passionate liaison, but soon plunge into unexpected trouble. Celia discovers Threshold is targeted for takeover. And Ethan’s determined to sabotage the invasion at all costs… even if it means losing her forever… How can he promise her a future if he doesn’t know if there will be one at all?      Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

SAVING ARAN: REDEMPTION FOR A RUINED PLANET (SONS OF ARAN BOOK 1) by G S Kenney

Aran native Cort has risen to head the premier gang in the rough slums that surround the aliens’ military base on his beloved planet. But his life is shattered when a powerful slumlord abducts his dearest friend Dilia to sell to the alien commandant. When Cort’s daring rescue attempt fails, the slumlord marks him for death. Cort’s only remaining hope is to flee to the one place the man and his minions can’t follow—the wilds of Aran’s strange, forbidding forest—and become the hunter, not the hunted. On her own in the heavily fortified base, gentle healer Dilia fends off the commandant’s advances while working on ways to escape and rejoin her love. Deep in the forests of Aran, Cort faces his own challenge: to confront his kinship with the ancient consciousness that lies deep in Aran’s heart, and to terminate the monstrous mission of the aliens, who are rapidly plundering the forest for profit. If they complete its destruction, they will imperil every living thing on Aran. Read Saving Aran to learn Aran’s innermost secret and see how Cort and Dilia overcome the forces that seek to destroy them and the home planet they love.        Amazon KU

ALIEN CLAW (FATED MATES OF THE SEA SANDS WARRIORS BOOK 10) by Ursa Dax

TAYLOR – As the resident historian, I’ve been recording everything that happens on this alien planet. Alliances, battles, and, of course, the whole alien/human mates phenomenon. But soon, there’s a new name to add to the list of human lasses with mates: mine. I, Taylor Bruce, apparently have an alien fated mate. And not just any mate – the biggest, strongest monster of the Bitter Sea army wants to claim me. Ten feet tall and covered in golden scales that glint like armour, Tok looks more like something from a nightmare than a dream come true. But when Tok tells me there’s an ancient alien records-keeping system back at the Bitter Sea to explore, I put aside my reservations and jump at the chance to travel there. With him. Alone. The more time I spend with this golden behemoth, the more I can’t help but imagine his claws on my skin, his fangs at my throat…As I get to know him… It’s not that he becomes less monstrous. It just turns out I have a wee bit of a thing for monsters. TOK – I will win my mate’s love to me. Grim and Kor were able to do the same with their women. I, strongest warrior of the Bitter Sea army and right claw to the king, should have no trouble with such a task. But my beautiful mate is of the strong and stubborn sort. I need to earn her trust, learn her ways, and get her to open up to all I offer her. So I take her on a trip…(more blurb on ebookseller page…)  AmazonKU

OUTCAST (RUTHLESS PARADISE) by Lexi Ray

VS Note: Ends on a cliffhanger. Some mixed reviews and ratings.

While a hundred elite students partied on Zion Island during spring break, the rest of the world was ravaged by war. Now, two years later, the stories about Zion are dark and mysterious. Some say Zion is paradise, run by those same students. But the few who came back don’t talk about it at all. I have a one-way ticket. Since I lost my family, the island is my only hope for a decent life. But I am wrong…When I reach the island, the first person I see is the one I’ve seen in my nightmares too many times. Him. Kai Droga. Four years ago, in one single night, he destroyed everything I had and made me run. He is my obsession. My dark secret. My shame. And his beautiful scorching eyes are full of hate when he looks at me. I might have made it to paradise. But Kai Droga is my hell. Except, this time, there is nowhere to run…And the stories they tell about Zion Island are wrong. The truth is much darker.      Amazon KU

SACRIFICED (IMPRISONED BOOK 8) by Victoria Vallo

If you commit a crime on Vaharis 6, there’s more than one way to work off your sentence…Talan is guilty of every charge against him, and he’s proud of it. As the Alpha, he had a duty to exact vengeance on the men who tricked and slaughtered his entire wolf pack, all in the name of sport. Without his pack, nothing else matters. When he’s offered a chance to leave the prison on Vaharis 6, he agrees simply to have the chance to be outside the cold gray walls. But the man who buys Talan’s sentence has tricked him as well, and soon Talan is going to find himself at the mercy of a being he thought was nothing more than a legend.     Amazon KU

ALIEN WARRIOR SEDUCED (GALACTIC GLADIATOR GAMES BOOK 2) by Margo Bond Collins and Sasha Caine

If they can stop arguing over every decision, they might prevail. He’s the leader of his clan, accustomed to being followed without question. She’s the top salesperson in her company, used to negotiating every transaction. Welcome to the Galactic Gladiator Games, where the toughest aliens in the galaxy fight for the most prestigious titles. But these games come with a twist: every alien warrior is mentally and emotionally bound to a potential Earth mate, forced to work with her to overcome their enemies–and sometimes each other.      Amazon KU

HER PRIMAL PAPA BEAR: (MATED TO THE THOLKON SMUGGLERS BOOK 3) by Kaylee Pike and Kyra Keys

VS Note: Listed in Erotica.

Orze – Becoming stranded on a strange planet is just another on a long list of things that have gone wrong in my life. The one bright spot? Trina. I’ll do anything to protect her from the murderous drones that are hunting us, and anything to protect her from me. If only she’d stop running straight into danger to try and save us. Trina – The problem with doing something brilliant is that everyone expects you to be able to replicate that brilliance, even when the things they’re asking are impossible. And the one person on the planet who seems to notice that I’m becoming unhinged, is Orze, the big, cranky tholkon smuggler who has appointed himself as my head of security. And when he’s not irritating me, all I can think about is what it would be like to be wrapped up in his muscles. And I wouldn’t mind a taste of his two big… you know. If only I could get him to stop running into danger to protect me. Because when I finally have him, I’m going to learn more about myself and my big Papa Bear than I ever expected.     Amazon KU

RARE FINDS by Cornelia Amiri

Earthman, Robbie McGreggor, eager to get down and dirty on digs at the far corners of outer space, lands on a remote planet, and is shocked by the alien culture he encounters—the gods of Irish mythology. When the chief god, Dagda, uses his powerful magic to hold Robbie at his mercy, Niamh helps him escape. She makes her getaway by jumping aboard the shuttle with Robbie. But not before Dagda puts a curse on the immortal beauty. What’s a cursed goddess to do? Team up with the mortal nerd, of course. And heat up the galaxy—uncovering alien artifacts as well as a passionate allure for Robbie…while she tries to answer the big questions: What dangers await? Can she break the curse? And will they survive?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ENSLAVED BY ANUBIS (FATED TO THE GODS OF YORIA BOOK ONE) by Veronica Dean

VS Note: It’s set on an alien planet.

My father sold me into slavery; my brother abandoned me. The river of pain flowing inside me has been blocked by my hardened heart. A slave must accept that she is just an object to be used by her masters. We are simply commodities, traded or sold at will. I am now the property of the Cult of the Dead. This is a place of hellish nightmares. The screams of torture and terror echo through the mighty halls of the palace. Everywhere I look I am faced with a new, horrifying glimpse into my future. I promise myself that they will not break me but I know that everyone breaks—It’s just a matter of time. In a world of unspeakable violence and horrors, I find an unlikely savior. Anubis, lord of the underworld, has risen from the depths wielding his flaming sword of justice. He may have slaughtered my masters, but I am far from free. Beneath his divine, emerald eyes, I see the savage lust of a wild beast. When he comes for me, I have no choice but to submit or suffer the gruesome fate of his other victims. He makes me do unspeakable things, debase myself completely. He takes me, uses me, possesses me. The scary thing is—I love it.      Amazon KU

HIS LITTLE GARNET (ELEADIAN MATERS BOOK 3) by Paige Michaels

What are the chances? Hundreds of women flock to Club Zoom every night out of curiosity. Only a few get chosen. Surely it won’t happen to Olivia. When Olivia slips and falls on the dance floor, it’s a good thing there’s a doctor in the house. But he’s no ordinary doctor. He’s one of the Eleadian males visiting Earth in search of a mate. Chadka knows Olivia is his the moment he steps into the club’s front office. Her arm is broken and she’s in pain. His heart is going to be broken too if she chooses to go to a human hospital. Olivia has a tough decision to make. Her mind tells her to flee, but her soul is bonding to the giant man in front of her. He’s holding her arm so gently, but he’s already holding her heart too.     Amazon KU

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SPECIAL ITEM:  I have a book in this “Love Me Some Aliens” Book Funnel event, along with 25+ other scifi romance authors!

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

VS: The next book in my Backlist Spotlight is LANDON. I worked hard to come up with a situation where the human woman would be in love with the Badari Warrior but refuse him, and what all the ripples would be. (There’s an HEA of course!) I got to stage a human wedding! And who do you think there is on the Badari planet who can legally perform one? Gabe, of course… I also had had the opening sequence in mind for a long time with the human prisoners trapped in their cells in a lab full of dying Khagrish. It’s quite dystopian! 

LANDON: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 11) 

When unexpected circumstances give her a chance to escape from an alien scientist’s lab after she’s been tortured, Mandy Rennegar knew she should run for the hills with the other prisoners. There’s one more special captive who hasn’t been freed, however, and she decides to risk everything to help him. Mandy’s not leaving anyone behind.

Captured by the enemy on a scouting trip, Landon of the Badari has been pushed beyond his limits of sanity and strength by the Khagrish experiments and waits to die…until the human woman sets him free and takes him into the wilderness with her on a desperate trek to freedom. If he could only regain his memory, he’s sure there’s a sanctuary on the planet where his people could help them both.

As Mandy and Landon flee the pursuing Khagrish new challenges arise, including secrets from the past which could destroy the growing attraction between them. Difficult choices have to be made, putting Mandy’s life at risk and Landon discovers the Khagrish have left a lasting mark on his mind.

Will they reach the Badari sanctuary in time? Can their love survive Mandy’s revelations? Will the Alpha of the Badari give them a chance to be together or will he allow her to die when Landon risks everything to save his fated mate?

Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo     Nook       GooglePlay

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

BRAVE HEART (THE DRAGON OF UMBRA BOOK 3) by Emma Hamm

Lorelei has seen the best and worst of this kingdom. She has fought through armies of the dead, fallen in love with a dragon, and discovered there may be more to her origin than she originally thought. Now, free from the rebellion, she can make her choice for where her life leads. If only that decision was a little easier. With the eggs now in hand, Abraxas has never seen his life take such a turn for the good. His mate. His family. His future. It’s all within his reach and he will stop at nothing to ensure no person ruins that. Unfortunately, the only way to open the box of dragon eggs lies within the hands of a long dead warlock who started all this mess. Unless, of course, he wasn’t dead at all. New companions follow in their footsteps while Lore and Abraxas fight to remain together. They must unveil the secrets of the past, bring about a new age of dragons, all while falling deeper and deeper in love with each other. But there is still an undead King who wants them killed, and they may find war isn’t too far off on the horizon.       Amazon KU

FINDERS KEEPERS (UNEXPECTED MAGIC BOOK 2) by Christine Pope

It’s tough for Penny to put the past to rest when it shows up dead in her living room…A few weeks ago, I discovered I’m a lodestone — a rare type of witch who attracts the things I need, right when I need them. Pretty handy for finding designer shoes on sale. Romance? Not so much. Isaac Zamora, the hunky male witch who’s crash-coursing me in my newly discovered magic, makes me long for something I haven’t wanted since I left my cheating ex. So what if Isaac wants to take things at a glacial pace? He’s worth waiting for. When I pick up an old compass with a wildly confused needle, I don’t question the tingle that zings up my arm. I take it straight to Isaac. The compass doesn’t give up its secrets easily, but it does point the way toward a mystery doubled-edged with danger. Because right about the time the compass appears in my life, so does my ex. Are you smelling a rat? So am I. Especially when he’s smelling up my living room, dead as a doornail. And looking like his last glimpse of life was a demon from hell.       Amazon     Kobo

MONSTERS OF MIDLIFE (MY EX-HUSBAND, THE GOD OF MONSTERS BOOK 1) by Melle Amade

I’ve dreamt about dark, ravenous monsters my entire life. Last night I found out…all my darkest dreams are real. At forty-five I didn’t think life had many surprises left, but I was so, so wrong. Monsters do exist and last night their demigod, Ryder, came to me asking for help. I would have been more willing if Ryder wasn’t my younger, too-hot-to-handle ex-husband. Apparently, he was hiding a few things during our marriage. I thought it was girlfriends when I divorced him. But according to him he’s been protecting the world by keeping his kind at bay. I wouldn’t have believed him except he turned into a creepy black monster with fangs, three glowing eyes, shiny black horns, and pointed ears right in front of me! Having Ryder back in my life releases something inside me I didn’t realize existed. It’s overbearing, angry, and chaotic. And I realize I still have feelings for him, but this time, they’re unleashing the monster buried deep inside myself. I’ll help him save the world, but the one thing I can’t afford to do is fall in love with him again. Not now. Not ever. I’ll lose more than my heart, I’ll lose my humanity.       Amazon KU

THOR (SPEED DATING WITH THE DENIZENS OF THE UNDERWORLD BOOK 9) by Rebekah Ganiere

Thor has spent the last thousand years single and alone, and he’s just fine with that. Having lost his home, his people, and his dignity, he’d rather work on motorcycles than try to find someone to share his time with. That is, until he spots an irresistible fiery haired beauty at an underworld speed dating event. Princess Sutrelle ‘Elle’ of Muspelheim has run from both an arranged marriage and an abusive father. Elle is more than happy as a waitress, living life hiding amongst mortals on Midgard. But when she accidentally sits at a table for a speed dating event and stares into the intense eyes of the one man who would want to see her dead more than her father, she loses all sense of reason. Will Thor listen to his heart and let her in for good, or slay her as he vowed to do with all those of her kind?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

TOUCH OF DARKNESS (FAE OF THE SAINTLANDS BOOK 4) by Leigh Kelsey

Darkness lurks in everything—including my soul. The truth has been revealed, and now I know the wicked depths my aunt will sink to. Ismene might be in hiding, but it’s only a matter of time before she returns for revenge. With all my mates finally at my side, I’m prepared to face anything. But when one of Azrail’s rebels goes missing, a perilous search will take us to Venhaus, where monsters and evil rule, dark saints rise, and a secret kept by one of my mates will change everything. And I’ll let the darkness inside me take hold.     Amazon KU

FORSAKEN BONDS (ISLE OF THE FORSAKEN BOOK 2) by Olivia K Moto

Why choose love when you can have adventure? I did it. I have everything I’ve ever wanted. A career hunting relics, and enough money to give Aunt Grace a happy life. Yet I still can’t stop thinking about those vexing men …So when Lady Frexin offers me the mission of a lifetime — retrieving a dangerous relic from the Forsaken Isle — it seems like the perfect distraction. At least until a missed rendezvous forces me to rely on the exact men I’ve been avoiding: The barbarian who betrayed me. The reckless liar who died in my arms. The arrogant fae prince who keeps my secrets. And the possessive ex-lover who thinks I cursed him. Can we tolerate each other long enough to survive the Isle? And will this tenuous partnership unravel when the true purpose of the mission is revealed?     Amazon KU

THE BIG DARK SKY by Dean Koontz

VS Note: I read him on occasion and I’ve had this one pre-ordered forever.

A group of strangers bound by terrifying synchronicity becomes humankind’s hope of survival in an exhilarating, twist-filled novel by Dean Koontz, the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense. As a girl, Joanna Chase thrived on Rustling Willows Ranch in Montana until tragedy upended her life. Now thirty-four and living in Santa Fe with only misty memories of the past, she begins to receive pleas—by phone, through her TV, in her dreams: I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me. Heeding the disturbing appeals, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana, and to a strange childhood companion she had long forgotten. She isn’t the only one drawn to the Montana farmstead. People from all walks of life have converged at the remote ranch. They are haunted, on the run, obsessed, and seeking answers to the same omniscient danger Joanna came to confront. All the while, on the outskirts of Rustling Willows, a madman lurks with a vision to save the future. Mass murder is the only way to see his frightening manifesto come to pass. Through a bizarre twist of seemingly coincidental circumstances, a band of strangers now find themselves under Montana’s big dark sky. Their lives entwined, they face an encroaching horror. Unless they can defeat this threat, it will spell the end for humanity.      Amazon      AB

RUTHLESS GUARD (FIERCE MATES ROCK CREEK CLAN BOOK 6) by Liza Street

After failing as a member of the Dragon Royal Guard and being lost for two hundred years, dragon shifter Hercules wants only to get lost in these modern times. When he first lays eyes on Brenna, he’s sure she’s been magicked into his life as a trick to entice him back to the queen’s service. She has not. It turns out, though, that Brenna’s struggling with her own brand of danger. One year ago on Halloween, Brenna’s stalker escalated his so-called “affections.” He was caught, but Brenna hasn’t truly allowed herself to relax…maybe for good reason. If Hercules isn’t fit to guard royalty, how can he guard someone even more important—the woman of his dreams—his fated mate?      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DUALWICK (MISFIT WICK BOOK 2) by Megan Derr

Massy has been notorious since birth: the son of the infamous Creawick, kidnapped as a child, and a legendary dualwick. He is feared, admired, studied—and alone, long abandoned by his childhood best friends, and betrayed by one lover after another. In the wake of yet another betrayal, though, he is ordered to go with his old friends to save a woman he met briefly while studying abroad. She has gone missing, and given her connections, his friends fear the worst. As they set out on their journey, the trio soon realizes the matter is even more complicated than they feared—and Massy learns that everyone, even his beloved father, has been keeping an important secret from him.

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HELIACLE RISING: THE WYTCHLING CHRONICLES by CC Davie

Raised to be a wife. Taught to be obedient. Expected to submit. Taken in as ward of Lord Drakon after her parents’ slaughter. Forced to navigate a new life, trying to become what is required of her
in a world so vastly different than what she had known. Then Attica, Kingdom of the Wytchlings, moves to rise again. Territories long alienated are forced to unite. Secrets begin to unravel.
Secrets that make her question everything. She is Amylia Sylvers. And she is about to show the world that even the most unexpected …can burn the brightest.     AmazonKU

WOLF’S WITCH (SALEM PACK BOOK 1) by Lisa Kessler

Werewolves and witches don’t mix in Salem, but after pack werewolves have been killed and dismembered during the full moon, tensions are rising to a boiling point. Someone is using wolf body parts to power their dark magic, and Zeke O’Brien is determined to stop them, or die trying. Ruby Towne is running out of time and magic. She’s the last of her mother’s line of witches, and gifted with clairvoyance, but seeing the future comes at a hefty mental price. When she catches a glimpse of her own death, she also sees a red wolf on a sacrificial table. Zeke shows up on her doorstep with retribution on his mind, but one touch sets them on a collision course with a forbidden love that could change the destiny of the Salem Wolf Pack forever. Can a wolf and a witch stop the dark magic brewing around them, or will Ruby’s ominous prophecy claim them both.

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REBEL AND HER KNIGHTS: PACK BOND OMEGAVERSE by Rosemary A Johns

My name is Rebel, and I’m the only Omega resistance leader. I should be hiding from my dad who marked me as a Reject. But instead, I fall into the path of the impossibly beautiful, wealthy, and influential Knight pack, during my first heat. Surely, I won’t be claimed by these enemies of the resistance? The captivating Alphas, their Beta bodyguard, and gorgeous but broken male Omega stand for everything that I’m fighting against. Can I survive my heat in the arms of my enemies? Will they reject me, sending me to the Omega Institute to be sold, if they discover that I’m not their cherished Omega but a secret rebel? But then, the Knight pack have as many secrets as me. A rebel. Her knights. A pack bond that changes everything.      Amazon KU

BLACKWATER by Jeanette Arroyo and Ben Graham

Riverdale meets Stranger Things in this debut queer YA graphic novel, developed from a hit webcomic. Set in the haunted town of Blackwater, Maine, two boys fall for each other as they dig for clues to a paranormal mystery. Tony Price is a popular high school track star and occasional delinquent aching for his dad’s attention and approval. Eli Hirsch is a quiet boy with a chronic autoimmune disorder that has ravaged his health and social life. What happens when these two become unlikely friends (and a whole lot more . . .) in the spooky town of Blackwater, Maine? Werewolf curses, unsavory interactions with the quarterback of the football team, a ghostly fisherman haunting the harbor, and tons of high school drama.

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OF FLESH AND BONE (TENEBRIS: AN OCCULT ROMANCE BOOK 2) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Robbed of her memories, Emma feels like a ghost trapped in her own body. She doesn’t remember much, but she knows one thing–something happened to her in Arnsmouth. Whatever had happened to her had been terrible. Desperate to learn the truth, she finds herself drawn to a nightclub known as The Flesh & Bone–a place that she knows might well lead to her certain death. Professor Raphael Saltonstall has a problem. Her name is Emma Mather. No matter what he does, no matter how hard he tries to stop her, she keeps charging headlong into danger. He did everything he could think of to protect her, and failed. So now he has to do all he can to keep her out of the hands of those who would use her to bring about the end of the world. Even if it means her death at his hands. Unfortunately, the Things that live inside him seem to have other plans for her.     Amazon KU

CLOAKED MAGIC (MIDLIFE MAGE) by Daphne Moore and L A Boruff 

Teacher and hidden witch, Ceri, has already had a rough day when she’s summoned to a party packed with psychic vampires. She was supposed to be on a boring date with safe and sturdy Nick, not dragging him along so the vampires could stare at him like… well, lunch. Oh, but it gets worse. She returns home to see her teenage son’s girlfriend has been replaced by a fetch. Welcome to a day in the life of Ceri Gault, witch extraordinaire. After staying as far away as possible from the supernatural, Ceri finds herself unable to escape any longer when a death omen brings trouble to her door. Now, she and her children are exposed to magical beings who live disguised among humanity. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Except everyone else is going to burn. Ceri’s just going to light the fire, sit back, and enjoy the show.       Amazon-Possibly KU

YOUNGBLOOD by Sasha Laurens

Kat Finn and her mother can barely make ends meet living among humans. Like all vampires, they must drink Hema, an expensive synthetic blood substitute, to survive, as nearly all of humanity has been infected by a virus that’s fatal to vampires. Kat isn’t looking forward to an immortal life of barely scraping by, but when she learns she’s been accepted to the Harcote School, a prestigious prep school that’s secretly vampires-only, she knows her fortune is about to change. Taylor Sanger has grown up in the wealthy vampire world, but she’s tired of its backward, conservative values—especially when it comes to sexuality, since she’s an out-and-proud lesbian. She only has to suffer through a two more years of Harcote before she’s free. But when she discovers her new roommate is Kat Finn, she’s horrified. Because she and Kat used to be best friends, a long time ago, and it didn’t end well. When Taylor stumbles upon the dead body of a vampire, and Kat makes a shocking discovery in the school’s archives, the two realize that there are deep secrets at Harcote—secrets that link them to the most powerful figures in Vampirdom and to the synthetic blood they all rely on.

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UNSAID (MIDLIFE MAGE BOOK 3) by Daphne Moore and L A Boruff

Ceridwen Gault—disaster witch extraordinaire. And right now, an involuntary guest in another dimension. Offering herself as a sacrifice to free her daughter from a kidnapping should have been a no-brainer, and it was. Only now Ceri finds herself trapped in a prison dimension, trapped with a magical asshat who is just as desperate to free himself as she is to be out of there. One problem: he actually deserves to be there. Second? There’s a bunch of other people trapped there who don’t deserve to be. Ceri doesn’t want to free he-who-definitely-should-not-be-her-problem. He thinks she’s capable of breaking the magic keeping him there, which should make her feel special but really only makes her feel even more trapped. Now her choice is simple: will she do whatever it takes to save herself and the innocents in this place, or will she choose the greater good by not unleashing an ancient power that could destroy everything she loves in her world?      Amazon KU

IMMORTAL BETRAYAL: BLACKSTONE VAMPIRE CLAN BOOK 2 by L A McGinnis

It was easy to fall in love with Constantine Darke, the vampire king. I’m head over heels for Robert Lockhart, my fiercest protector, and my best friend. Our fates were bound together long ago, and they will not be broken. But we’re hiding something from the rest of the Blackstone Clan. I’m a witch. An outsider. The enemy. And someone else has discovered my secret. Now I’m trapped in the past, and my only hope is Constantine and Robert—except these are not the civilized vampires I love—they’re savage, bloodthirsty strangers. To make it home, I’ll have to win over these dangerous males, and convince them that we love each other—two hundred years in the future. If I ever get home, I’ll use everything at my disposal—including forbidden black magic—to make my enemy pay.   Amazon KU

THE LOST ELEMENTAL (ROYALS OF KINGWOOD ACADEMY BOOK 1) by Tessa Hale

t was supposed to be simple. Graduate, get a job to keep my mom from drowning in mountains of medical debt, and maybe score a scholarship to a decent college. All of that changed in a single breath. Because it turns out I’m not human. And I just knocked out the power on an entire city block.
In a split second, all of my carefully-laid plans go up in smoke. There’s no chance for college because I’m being hauled off to Kingwood Academy. They say it’s for my own protection and those around me. But I know one thing for sure…I’m not welcome here. The mean girls don’t stop at insults and tripping you in the halls. They’re wielding magic that could cost me my life. And the rest of the school sees me as either a halfling that should be cast out or a powerhouse to be brought down. Everyone except them. The charmer. The gentle giant. The psychopath. And maybe even the cruel prince. The royals of Kingwood Academy have taken me under their wing and I can’t help but notice how my skin hums when they touch me. I shouldn’t be dreaming about a single one of them, let alone all four. But I can’t seem to stop myself. Only someone doesn’t like the attention the royals are showing me. And when the attacks start, the princes will do anything to protect me. But they don’t know the true evil we face. The kind who will do whatever it takes to seize our power, even if that means stealing the very last breath from our lungs.     Amazon KU

DUNGEONCRAWL by Mychael Black

Disowned by his parents, gay gamer Elijah Burrows takes solace in his video games. When a lightning strike takes out his electricity, he finds himself stuck in his favorite game — DungeonCrawl — where he becomes his game character, the assassin Elian Surgis, and meets his lover, lupine mage Sarin Eckhert. Then Fate throws a wrench into the mix: the appearance of another gamer, stuck in the game world Elijah now calls home. With war looming over their heads, and King Mirov hellbent on destroying all of Sarin’s kind, Elijah faces decisions no man should ever have to make. Mirov’s forces march toward them, hell bent on destroying the mages and their supporters. Elijah must stand by his lover Sarin, and with their friends, they must win the battle or face utter destruction. War is an ugly thing, though, and no one comes out unscathed. But hope looms on the horizon, if they can only make it through the night.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MIDNIGHT HUNTED (MATED BY MIDNIGHT BOOK 2) by Jessica Wayne and Heather Hildenbrand

My journalistic—fine, nosy—nature has led me a lot of places. Without question, Midnight Falls is definitely the craziest. Get in, get out. That was the plan. But now, thanks to a vengeful witch, I find myself trapped alongside an entire pack of werewolves—because apparently, they’re real. And the sexy, mysterious Sutton Hargrave seems to think I’m the key to freeing us all. If I want to do that, I’ll have to face more than just a witch out for revenge. I’ll have to let go of the one man who actually claims to love me. Even if it kills me to set him free.      Amazon KU

WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T Kingfisher

VS: A retelling of Edgar A Poe’s “Fall of the House of Usher.” Horror.

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania. What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves. Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

SHE NEEDS A LITTLE DRAGON (THE DRAGONS OF FATE BOOK 3) by Julia Mills

Sixteen years ago, Bette was planning her very own, very special Mating ceremony – but some things just aren’t meant to be. One thing’s for sure, Fate really has no clue what She’s doing. And as for the Universe,well, if She truly does only make one perfect Mate for each woman – then Bette needs a redo on the whole darned thing – and that seems as likely as her runaway Mate showing up on the doorstep with a dozen roses, a box of chocolates, and a time machine. Bette. might as well wish for a million dollars while she’s at it. All those years ago, Dillion made peace with his lot in life. It wasn’t a lot, but it was his life. As one of the Dragons of Fate, he helped keep others safe and the world spinning, as he served a purpose greater than himself. But, things have changed. He needs to reconnect with the only woman in the world he’s ever loved and try to explain why he disappeared and where he’s been for the last five-thousand-eight-hundred-and-forty days. Unfortunately, his Mate happens to be a highly strung White Panther Shifter with sharp claws…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)     Amazon KU

THE PHOENIX AND THE SWORD (THE CRANE MOON CYCLE BOOK 1) by J C Snow

For spiritual beings living in the mortal realm, time is a construct. Love never dies, some pasts can’t be forgotten, and history can repeat itself… for better or worse. Aili is planning to embark on her journey to the front lines, thinking she has already saved herself from the childhood she needed to escape. Suddenly a strange woman named Tairei binds her with blood and fire in an unexpected attempt to save her from a death she never imagined. When Tairei disappears, Aili must desperately seek her across the boundaries of worlds. Aside from her newfound power to command fire and survive death, Aili can’t shake the feeling that there’s something familiar about their stolen moments together. One thousand years before, two boys fell in love as they learned to cultivate spiritual power under the guidance of the Crane Moon sect. And now that she remembers her past life, Aili’s current life can never be the same. Inspired by Chinese danmei and cultivation novels, the Crane Moon Cycle is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in deep worldbuilding, spiritual quests, and queer love stories that withstand the test of time.     Amazon KU

MONSTER BRIDE: SHADOW PACT BOOK TWO by River Starr

To survive a world of monsters, sometimes you have to become one…Mrak and I have a relationship like no other–I know that now. What started as a pact, as both of us using each other, has now become something world-changing. But we’re not the only ones with such power. And now, with a portal open between Earth and Kithonia, it’s only a matter of time before there’s no going back. He must take back Kithonia. I must become his queen. The love Mrak and I share changed my world for the better. It’s time to change his.      AmazonKU

DARK PARADISE: SKULLS AND SCYTHES MC by Katie May and Ann Denton

The only way in is by blood, the only way out is by death. Blood in, blood out. MC Syndicates is a shared universe, crafted by a set of USA Today and International Bestselling authors, that feature an array of paranormal species, savage dominant men, and strong heroines. These stories are all set in the same world and can be read within any order.     Amazon KU

LIFE’S A WITCH (FORTY’S THE NEW FOREVER BOOK 6) by Sara Bourgeois

The day started off so well. Selene was finishing her errands in town, finally stopping by a local home decor store to buy some new pieces for the castle. She, Cullen, and Mrs. A had made great strides in redecorating the place. Suddenly, the lights shut off. Later, Selene wakes up to the sound of sirens. And the dead body of a fellow customer. What happened? She doesn’t have a clue, but now she’s the prime suspect in a murder case with Sheriff Andrew vowing to prove that she had something to do with the death. After the murder, Selene has a strange feeling in her chest. As if something is brewing inside of her and is only waiting for the opportunity to emerge. Rowena Hale has a few suspicions about what’s going on with her, as does Hortensia. Cullen promises to support her throughout the murder investigation. Presto becomes much more protective of her, and Selene is shocked to later learn the true reason why the kitten keeps following her around. She suspects Rurik is involved but isn’t sure how. A vision of how the human world will collapse if she doesn’t stop the fae ruler in time comes to her in a dream. The Veil is weakening with each passing day. It’s up to her to clear her name and stop the fae from infiltrating their realm, but can she do it in time? Will she ever find out the truth about Presto and his otherworldly abilities?      Amazon KU

VAMPIRES MAKE BAD ROOMMATES (COVENS OF EATON FALLS BOOK 3) by Mia Monroe

I’m a medium so someone please tell me how I never saw this coming. We’re at war with no idea why or how to stop the enemy, so when head vampire Augustus suggests we pair up to stay safe, logically it makes sense. Unfortunately for me, I end up with the only hyper vampire as my new roommate. Laramie has been making puppy dog eyes at me since the first time we met, but what he doesn’t know is I have zero intention of falling down the in-love-with-a-vampire hole like my friends Leo and Presley have. I don’t have time for a relationship and no desire to be immortal. A mortal lifespan is more than enough, thank you very much. What I don’t expect was Laramie to be so damn brilliant. Even with my connection to the spirit world, his time on the planet has given him insights I could never have. When he’s being serious, which is rare, I can hardly take my eyes off him. Slowly, I find myself feeling things. I’m not interested in love, but I might have time for some fun. I thought the vampire would make a bad roommate, but I’m beginning to think our living situation won’t be so bad after all.       Amazon KU

CHARMED TO DEATH (THE CRAYON KITTEN COZY MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 3) by Constance Barker

Deputy Danielle’s sister is getting married and their mother is a thorn in the former’s side. It seems no one in the wedding party is happy and when one of them is discovered murdered, shinola is about to get real. The victim’s ghost isn’t much help to Kacie. And Kacie’s on again off again romance with ghost Patrick is starting to get to her. Maybe she needs to look to a more mundane romantic partner, like Sheriff Warren. However, Danielle has her own sights set on the Sheriff. Oh what a tangled web we weave when love interests collide and death is the final answer.     Amazon KU

A BELEAGUERING SPELL (THE BEWITCHED COZY MYSTERIES BOOK 4) by Constance Barker

Click, Scatter and Walter are called into a odd case…so what else is new? But this one deals with what looks like a mad scientist tossing kitties into laundromat dryers. None of the felines are harmed as good Samaritans come to the rescue. But the man looks normal, with suit and tie and nicely groomed hair…that is until he enters the laundromat. Suddenly his eyes glow, his hair spikes and he rails to the heavens. A clue leads the crew to a lab where strange goings on are taking place. Experiments gone awry. Can the crew stop the madness before more peeps are killed?   AmazonKU

THE RESILIENT RACCOON (MALE ORDER BRIDES BOOK 6) by Lorelai Hart

To all appearances, this raccoon had made it. My recycled art pieces are in one of the most prestigious galleries in the city, I’ve sold pieces for more money than many people make in a month sitting behind a desk or standing behind a counter, and I had a hot and very rich alpha on my arm. Appearances lie. My pieces were bought as a favor to the owner of the gallery who used them to get me into both his bed and his penthouse just like he did with my younger and more optimistic replacement. It’s time for a change. Maybe trying that Male-Order app will bring me what the city never did. Happiness. I don’t mind being alone. Not really. But when my closest friend, on his deathbed, made me promise not to continue to live my life this way, I agreed without hesitation. What kind of bear would I be to deny him his dying wish? I should at least try the Male-Order app that many of my friends have been raving about. Who knows? Maybe I can find my fated mate just like they did.      Amazon KU

PRIESTESS OF THE TOMBS (THE APPRENTICE OF ANUBIS BOOK 5) by Laura Greenwood

Ani might finally be a priestess, but that doesn’t mean everything at the temple is running smoothly. Priestess Of The Tombs is book five of The Apprentice Of Anubis urban fantasy series with a romantic (m/f) sub-plot. It follows a new priestess in the Temple of Anubis, Ani, and her jackal familiar. It is set in an alternative world where the Ancient Egyptian Empire never fell, and set in alternate London.

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FANGSCREEN (hOLIDAYS OF LOVE) by Ellen Mint

Summer bites. What could be more pathetic than a vampire trapped on a tropical island? Jareth Hale despises everything about his exile to Samaná from the tourists’ necks slathered in sunscreen to the blaring sun overhead. He’ll do anything to return to his vampire castle in the forest until he falls onto Laiken, a sun-kissed beach himbo. Laiken is sweeter than spun sugar and hotter than Adonis in a Jacuzzi. He’s perfect…except for one tiny thing. He is a vampire hunter—possibly. Jareth isn’t certain. Despite his vampire leader and ex telling him to stay away, Jareth believes flushing out this nest of hunters will earn him back his castle. And, if it keeps him in the orbit of the adorable, golden-skinned Laiken, then all the better. Unbeknownst to him, Laiken is hiding a secret that will change everything in Jareth’s undeath. All Jareth thought he wanted and deserved was solitude, but Laiken’s opening his eyes to a whole new world. Can an old vampire open his heart and coffin in time to catch this impossible love?     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

REIGN OF WOLVES (WICKED WOLVES BOOK 2) by Amelia Shaw

My beta wolf and I found our fated mate, and once we got over the shock of the fact she was a witch, then we had to get over the fact we had to share her. That shock was nothing compared to finding out the heir to the high warlock wanted her as his wife, and they have a history. How are three men, natural enemies in the paranormal world, meant to share just one woman? Especially when there is darkness around us, a high warlock set on gaining an un-natural amount of power, and there’s still the curse to break. We want to save our pack, but first we’re going to have to save ourselves.      Amazon KU

GHOST OF AN IMAGE (HAUNTED SOULS BOOK 12) by Pandora Pine

A long-held family secret is coming for Copeland Forbes. With a vengeance. Still aching at the loss of countless family artifacts after his mother’s death a decade ago, Cope is shocked to see one of them, the mysterious Orpheus Box—along with a sepia photograph of two men, one a dead ringer for Cope—as the prized feature of an exhibit on Victorian Spirit Photography. Before her death, Cope’s mother had warned him the box must never be opened, but Jude and Cope are too late to prevent disaster. With a flurry of chaos and magic, an earthquake plunges the gallery into darkness, and when the lights come back on, Cope finds himself face to face with his long-lost ancestor. The man in the photograph. In a desperate bid to keep his family safe more than one hundred and fifty years ago, Camden Forbes trapped himself and his half-brother, Orpheus, in a complicated and dangerous spell. It should have remained intact forever, had the secret not been discovered by a mysterious puppet master who wants Orpheus’s secrets for his own nefarious purposes. Cope knows it’s only a matter of time before the bodies start dropping. Can the Forbes men solve the mystery and find Orpheus before he kills again, or will Cope and Camden pay the ultimate price?     Amazon KU

HALF OUTLAW by Alex Temblador

VS Note: Magical realism

fter the tragic death of her parents when she was just four years old, Raqi is sent to live with her uncle Dodge in Escondido, California. Taking after her Mexican father, Raqi immediately faces hostility from the members of Dodge’s all-white, 1 percenter motorcycle club, the Lawless, and from her uncle himself. Being raised by a drug addict is no picnic, and Raqi must quickly learn how to survive. She manages to form a few friendships. Still, as soon as she can, she leaves the violence and bigotry behind and doesn’t look back. Years later, Raqi is a successful partner at a law firm in Los Angeles. She gets a call from Billy, the leader of the Lawless. Dodge is dead, and Billy wants her to go on the Grieving Ride, a special ride taken for all deceased members, and one that strictly follows the deceased’s wishes. There is no way Raqi would ever attend, except for one thing: Billy promises to give her the address of her grandfather if she goes on the ride. It’s the address of her father’s father, her Mexican grandfather. Learning for the first time that she has other family and desperate to connect, she agrees. But this will be no ordinary Grieving Ride. Raqi is reacquainted with her old bike and with the various club members. During the cross-country trek, she will learn more about her uncle, and about herself, than she ever imagined possible. Alternating between Raqi’s childhood and a present 90s setting, and accented by moments of magical realism, Half Outlaw is the story of one woman’s quest to find a better future while still wrestling with a tumultuous past.

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AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER: THE DAWN OF YANGCHEN (CHRONICLES OF THE AVATAR BOOK 3) by F C Yee

Plagued by the voices of Avatars before her for as long as she can remember, Yangchen has not yet earned the respect felt for Avatar Szeto, her predecessor. In an era where loyalty is bought rather than earned, she has little reason to trust her counsel. When Yangchen travels to Bin-Er in the Earth Kingdom on political business, a chance encounter with an informant named Kavik leads to a wary partnership. Bin-Er is a city ruled by corrupt shang merchants who have become resentful of the mercurial Earth King and his whims. To extract themselves from his influence, the shangs have one solution in mind: a mysterious weapon of mass destruction that would place power squarely in their hands. As Yangchen and Kavik seek to thwart the shangs’ plan, their unlikely friendship deepens. But for Yangchen to chart her course as a singularly powerful Avatar, she must learn to rely on her own wisdom above all else.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DARK EARTH: A NOVEL by Rebecca Stott

The year is 500 AD. Sisters Isla and Blue live in the shadows of the Ghost City, the abandoned ruins of the once-glorious mile-wide Roman settlement Londinium on the bank of the River Thames. But the small island they call home is also a place of exile for Isla, Blue, and their father, a legendary blacksmith accused of using dark magic to make his firetongue swords—formidable blades that cannot be broken—and cast out from the community. When he dies suddenly, the sisters find themselves facing enslavement by the local warlord and his cruel, power-hungry son. Their only option is to escape to the Ghost City, where they discover an underworld of rebel women living secretly amid the ruins. But if Isla and Blue are to survive the men who hunt them, and protect their new community, they will need to use all their skill and ingenuity—as well as the magic of their foremothers—to fight back.

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OMEGA’S RELUCTANT MATE: HARRIS COVE BILLIONAIRES BOOK 6 by Lacey Daize

Corey’s been content to wait for his fated mate, but gets a shock when the other man runs at first sight. Corey has a good life. He loves his job as a dog walker, and takes his dedication further by volunteering at the local shelter. The only thing missing is a mate. But that’s ok. He’s known for a while that fate has a man chosen for him, so he’ll wait. In the meantime he’s got his best friends and plenty of dogs who’ll accept all the love he has to give. Nate knows there are expectations for fated mates—expectations that he’ll never be able to meet. Nate knew as far back as high school that there was something different about him—he didn’t lust after omegas like the other alphas did. But it wasn’t until college that he learned the word that described him: demisexual. For a while he was fine with it. It just meant that dating and relationships would mean a different process. Then he started feeling that he had a fated mate, who would expect to be bedded and bonded that same day. It’s not something he can do, and he knows it’s in his mate’s best interest if he lets him go to find another man. But the pull of fate is strong, and, despite himself, he wants to get to know Corey better. Can the two men give love the room it needs to grow first when fate itself is trying to push them together?       Amazon KU

THE DAUGHTER OF DR MOREAU by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia

Carlota Moreau: A young woman growing up on a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of a researcher who is either a genius or a madman. Montgomery Laughton: A melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers. The hybrids: The fruits of the doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities. All of them live in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Dr. Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction. For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and, in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

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FANG TO RIGHTS (PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY BOOK 56) by Milly Taiden

Olivia is a social media influencer who tries to promote up and coming artists. She loves what she does, and she’s not afraid to go after the bigwigs who act as gatekeepers to the industry. But getting set up with the biggest pain in her backside was not something she thought would ever happen. She also did not expect to want him more than her next breath. Henry Darrow has been the target of Olivia’s ire before, but the moment Gerri sets them up on a date he realizes that she’s his mate—and the only way she’ll have anything to do with him is if he changes his ways. Time to show his beautiful, mouthy little mate what he’s made of. Game on. But when an unhinged artist targets Olivia for not putting him on her podcast, Henry realizes there is more at stake. He’ll do anything to protect her, at any cost.      Amazon KU

SAVAGE (SONS OF LUCIFER BOOK 3) by N L Hoffman

After discovering his father is Lucifer, Cade didn’t think his week could get worse. Until Rebel returns to town. Ten years after a prank gone wrong, Cade finds her on his doorstep asking if he knows her brother’s whereabouts. Rebel dreads returning to Desperate, Missouri, but after her brother disappears, probably due to his obsession with the extremely powerful, Lilith, she must ask for help from the last person she wants. Together, Cade and Rebel fight alongside the rest of Lucifer’s offspring to end Lilith’s quest for more power. Can Rebel and Cade set aside their tension or will the wedge drive them further to doom the world?     Amazon     Kobo

REBEL (FAIREST OF THEM ALL BOOK 3) by Harper B Cole, Trisha Linde and Colbie Dunbar

Omega wolf shifter Mac has always dreamed of bigger and better things–or more specifically, anything that isn’t pack life. He yearns for bright lights, loud music, excitement, and a wide variety of people… but instead, he’s been stuck in the woods, in his brother’s shadow for his entire life. And even worse, everyone still treats him like a pup needing supervision. But he’s been working hard and saving his money, and at long last, his moment of freedom has arrived. It’s time to rebel. When human alpha Giles finishes his construction job in Dusk Fall, the last thing he expects is to be handed a babysitting gig. But when he learns that his job is to show Mac a good time in the city, all while keeping him safe, he finds he doesn’t mind the responsibility. Everyone sees Mac as the pack darling, in need of coddling, and who can blame him for wanting to stretch his legs. And if anyone knows how to have a good time, it’s Giles. Neither of them intend to act on their physical attraction. After all, they’re all kinds of opposite: shifter and human, big city and small town, and more importantly, alpha and omega. But when it comes right down to it, maybe they’re not as different as they first thought. In fact… they might just be the right kind of wrong.     Amazon KU

MAGPIE’S FALL (IRONHEART CHRONICLES BOOK 2) by Allison Pang

The worst of her nightmares has finally come to pass: Raggy Maggy is thrown into the depths of the Pits, an underground labyrinth of caves filled with Rotters, lost Meridians, and forgotten Moon Children. Her allies promised they would come for her, but once the darkness closes in, it’s hard to believe she will ever see a brighter future. Injured and desperate, Maggy follows the plan to uncover the true origins of the Rot, a plague that keeps the city of BrightStone under Meridion’s thumb. But when she’s welcomed into a village of Meridian scientists, charged with finding a cure, she wonders if once again, the truth is not what it seems. There are sinister things happening both above and below, and they may lead Maggy to unlock the secrets of her iron heart—and quite possibly, the very secret of Meridion itself.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MORGANA: THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER by Amber Withers
Every day I ask my father to start my duties as one of hell’s demons. He reminds me that I’m too young, I should enjoy myself before my eighteenth birthday – but I’m tired of waiting. One final agreement, have a night of fun and return to hell ready to rule by his side… But when I return to hell, my powers are gone. To my fathers pleasure, he sends Alistair with me to Earth to spend my days there until my powers return, but all he has done is send me to a fate worse than hell. High school. There is nothing Morgana despises more than humans, and as the daughter of the Devil himself, why shouldn’t she? Her world is turned upside down when she is stabbed by a cursed dagger, stripping her of her powers and rendering her nothing but a mortal. Lucifer, however, is quite pleased with the outcome and to protect her daughter from the demons below, he sends her up to Earth where she must attend a fate worse than Hell: High School.      AmazonKU

KEYS OF FATE (SOUL DOMINION 2) by Georgiana Kent

Fate can be cruel. Left devastated by the attack, Erica is thrown ever deeper into the shadows of Limbo society. And she is in danger. Someone is hunting GateKeepers like her, hunting and killing them. But why? And then there’s her family past – the one her mother’s kept hidden all her life. The one that impacts not only Erica’s future but Guy’s too. Are they ready to face their Fate? Though, these are the least of her problems. The army of Lost Souls, led by their mysterious commander, is preparing to strike.     Amazon KU

FANG’D by Vin George

Wrongly accused of murder and running for his life, Charley took a chance on the hot stranger with a fast car. He didn’t expect the gorgeous Luc to have any insights into Charley’s increasingly strange symptoms. He certainly didn’t expect to learn the fantastical stories he’d heard as a child were true. And he definitely didn’t expect to feel so strongly for someone he only just met. Luc’s impulsive offer has landed him in charge of a sexy, enticing, not entirely human someone. Charley might have vampire blood. Surely that should make him less attractive and not more? But the mysterious Charley is irresistible, addictive even. Luc is determined to protect him from anyone and anything…mortal or otherwise. Fang’d is the sexy first book in the Evergreen Council series, featuring a bratty half-vampire on the run, his stubborn wolf-shifter protector, and a fascinating world of supernatural beings hiding in the shadows. HEA. Standalone.      Amazon KU

DESCENT OF ANGELS by Elizabeth Blackthorne

I never thought I was special. I was a burden, worthless, unlovable. Until they came and changed everything. When the gates of Hell opened and vicious demonic creatures spilled out onto the earth, I thought we could stay safe by staying close to home. Not that my father would ever let me leave our farm, anyway. When we are attacked by a horde of hellions, four sinfully sexy angels descend to save us, and I realize that life will never be the same. Now I’m faced with which path to follow? Stay safe and continue to die a little inside with every breath I take, or take a chance on real love. They will stop at nothing to claim me as theirs. They will risk their immortal lives and even their souls to protect me. In return, all I have to do is to give myself to them fully and face my greatest fear, my father.      Amazon KU

THE ALPHA WOLF’S SECRET BABY (WOLVES OF ANCHORAGE BOOK THREE) by Brittany White

The Lost Mate – Growing up in a wolf pack was hell. My father was the Alpha. He ruled with an iron fist. My life was not my own. He chose a male for my mate. I had no choice. I could mate, or I could die. There was no one to save me. I fled. I made a new life, with others who rejected pack life. While working in a campground, I met a handsome male. He was charming and kind. He loved me, I could tell. And I loved him too. But a mate wasn’t safe. I couldn’t let down my guard. So I had to escape. I would never live under someone else’s rule again. Once again I fled, this time across the sea. I started over. But I was in for a shock. With that shifter, I’d created a new life. I kept our baby a secret, hidden from him. But seven years later, Our paths crossed again. Would he forgive me, or would he try and take our child away? The Wolf Shifter Father – I loved my pack. I served them well. My Alpha resisted progress, but I had a plan to change his mind. I took him with me when I traveled. I showed him what cities could offer. But I was the one whose life changed. During our trip, I met a captivating female wolf shifter. She was unlike anyone I’d ever met. We made love…(more blurb on ebook seller page…)   Amazon KU

THESE GOSSAMER STRINGS (THE LAST GIFT BOOK 3) by Allegra Pescatore

With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fay’s safety depends on the answer, and it’s not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon?      Amazon KU

THE CALLOWWOOD CANINE CAPER: A CALLOWWOOD SHORT by Siobhan Muir

VS Note: A re-release

Aaron Wulf is a loner, an alpha werewolf. And he’s content with his life until his roommate brings a champion Cocker Spaniel into his home to protect it from dog-napping while its owner is out of town. Detective Rhiannon Mulvaney has a real dog of a case. Someone’s dog-napping Kennel Club champs, and she’s determined to catch the culprits. But when she meets Aaron, the case gets much more interesting. Maybe police work isn’t just for the dogs.     Amazon

CURSED KINGDOM (UNBOUND KINGDOM TRILOGY BOOK 2) by J L Jackola

The immortals have awakened, ending the reign of the Gaernim. As they take back their world, Xali’s future and all that she cherishes lies in the balance. Thrust onto an unexpected path, she and Carnick must navigate a new life as she adapts to her flourishing powers. All the while, the danger to her life grows. Allegiances will be tested, enemies will surface, and Xali will discover that the most terrifying steps on her journey have yet to be taken. Will she have the strength to face the future she has rewritten, or will she come to regret the past she chose to leave behind?      Amazon KU

THE TITANIC PARADOX by R L Corn

VS Note: Ooh a new Titanic book! I one clicked.

In 2022, Dan Hunt and his wife drive to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to visit the Titanic Museum for a weekend get-away. Instead of the vacation that he had planned, Dan finds himself pulled into a situation well beyond his control and understanding. Dan awakes on April 13, 1912, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean with his new wife on their honeymoon. With no grasp as to why or how he got there, Dan must try to pass himself off as John Franklin, an employee of Harland and Wolff and one of the architects of the Titanic. Hosted in the body of John Franklin, Dan has John’s memories as well as his own. He will only have a couple of days to save the ship, or at a minimum, save himself and his new wife. With the remembrances of his previous life slowly fading from his memory, his plight is complicated. If he just knew why he had been sent back to the Titanic. Meanwhile John Franklin finds himself catapulted into the twenty first century where things have changed for the worse, due to Dan’s interference 110 years earlier. Begrudgingly Dan and John will have to work together to resolve the The Titanic Paradox.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

A KINGDOM OF STARS AND SHADOWS by Holly Renee

Destiny or desire? Where does your allegiance lie? I am told my union to the crowned prince will determine the fate of the kingdom, but it isn’t my betrothed who haunts my dreams. It’s the half-breed prince who stands at his side. He is darkness and sin, and when he whispers promises of wickedness in my ear, I crave a man who I can’t have. Every thought I have is treasonous. The way my hands ache to touch him deceitful. Even my dreams make me a traitor to the kingdom I am sworn to protect. But when the kingdom is attacked, I am forced to make choices I’m not prepared for. Our lies and deception are entangled in the shadows and stars, and as they unravel so shall my fate. Betray a kingdom or betray my heart.     Amazon KU

A BRIDGE TO NOWHERELAND: GOING NOWHERE by Donna Augustine

I worked hard, everything I planned almost within my grasp,and then one flicker in time, mere seconds, and it’s all gone. Now I’m starting at zero, stuck in a place called the outpost, which is neither here nor there but some limbo land for those who haven’t transitioned. I’m sleeping in a broom closet, choking on fumes, while everyone declares me useless. Kaden, the guy that runs this place, keeps telling me there’s nothing I can do to go back. That once the change is set in motion, it’s impossible to reverse. Every day, each step, takes me farther away from where I want to be and closer to Kaden and a mysterious land of darkness. The only way out of this mess is forward, away from the life I built, and the people I love.     Amazon KU

JUDGMENT (SYNDICATE MASTERS NORTHERNLIGHTS BOOK 32) by Delta James

Lars Jakobsson, the leader of the Berserker Syndicate controls everything. He is also my only hope. Lars – Rhys Donovan is mine. The moment I laid eyes on her she became my obsession. We had one fabulous night together before she disappeared from my bed. In the end, she’ll come to me because I marked her and started her transition. And when she does, I’ll demand judgment. Rhys – The moment our eyes connect my world shifts. I give myself one night with him and then I slip away. He isn’t a man to let go of what he considers his easily, and there’s no question that I’m his. I have never found myself so completely mesmerized by a man. The question is not would I submit but would I survive? Alliances are made. Complications are kept. Judgments are demanded.     AmazonKU

INTO THE MIST by P C Cast

The world as we know it ends when an attack on the U.S. unleashes bombs that deliver fire and biological destruction. Along with sonic detonations and devastating earthquakes, the bombs have also brought the green mist. If breathed in, it is deadly to all men—but alters the body chemistry of many women, imbuing them with superhuman abilities. A group of high school teachers heading home from a conference experiences firsthand the strength of these new powers. Mercury Rhodes is the Warrior, possessing heightened physical powers. Stella Carver is the Seer, with a sixth sense about the future. Imani Andrews is the Watcher, with a rare connection to the earth. Karen Gay is the Priestess, demonstrating a special connection with Spirits. And Gemma Jenkins is the Healer, a sixteen-year-old student who joins the group after losing her parents. As they cross the Pacific Northwest, trying to find a safe place to ride out the apocalypse, the women soon learn they can’t trust anyone, and with fresh danger around every corner, it will take all their powers to save themselves—and possibly the world.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books

GRAVE SHELTER (LOST SOULS SOCIETY BOOK 3) by Kate Allenton

Some secrets are worth dying to protect. Twenty years ago, a woman with a secret vanished only to turn up murdered a year later on the same shoreline where she’d disappeared. And now it’s happening again. Psychic Ryley St. James has found a killer’s dumping ground. Six dead bodies took their secrets to a watery grave. And now Ryley’s name has been added to the killer’s hit list. She refuses to be number seven. Her entire life is shrouded in mysteries and unspoken secrets. Ryley is the perfect victim for this predator, and time is of the essence to get her affairs in order. And that includes side lining the sexy new stranger that has just walked into her life that she’s unsure is friend or foe. She’ll have to unmask and outsmart a killer in hopes of sending him to his grave before he kills her first. With her life hanging in the balance, she’s playing a game she’s unsure she can win.   AmazonKU

THE FAIRYTALE CODE (ANNE ANDERSON BOOK ONE) by Cameron Jace

Anne Anderson, a brilliant folklorist on the verge of a shocking discovery about the origins of fairytales, is haunted by her memories of what happened to her sister as a child: a brutal crime that is drowning her in guilt. Anne’s redemption is a lifetime quest to decipher the hidden codes her sister discovered in a certain folklore story that leads to atrocious crimes to this very day. Detective David Tale is not that different from Anne. Witnessing his mother’s murder as a child left him with an unholy lust for catching killers, especially the rich and powerful who think they’re above the law. However, his mental state isn’t up to par, and his superiors only cover for him because of his relentless quest for truth. When David is assigned to solve the case of a dead, teenage girl hung on a cross inside the Westminster Abbey, he is exposed to a web of clues by a killer who claims that only folklorist Anne Anderson can match his brilliance. A killer raised by a cult of women who have been keeping history’s darkest secrets for centuries. A secret that will shatter the world and its history… one that has been cleverly encoded in the Brothers Grimm original version centuries ago… disguised as fairy tales. Anne’s sister was right. It’s her duty to uncover the shocking secret that would pull the rug from under politicians, the Vatican, the Royal Family and mankind’s history that has suspiciously been written by men — and never allowed women to tell their side of the story…The Fairytale Code is NOT a fantasy. It’s a real-life, factual, and fast-paced page-turner that takes place in Europe’s most neglected historical 600-miles long strip called the Fairy Tale Road, where the true-life stories of fairy tale originated.        Amazon

WEREWOLVES LIKE PINK TOO (PINK PIXIE BOOK 1) by D N Hoxa

What’s worse than a pink pixie living all alone in the Big City, eight thousand miles away from home? 
A pink pixie who’s stuck behind a desk all day, taking calls and managing monster-fighting crews without ever seeing the light of day herself. That’s what. For two years, I worked my ass off to prove myself to my boss, and prayed for a chance to do thework I left my family behind for. And I’m finally about to catch my break. I’ve got a mission, a real mission, and an undercover one at that. It’s like the gates of Haven have opened for me—right before I’m pushed off the clouds and thrown all the way down to Hell again. Because Dominic Dane is going to be my partner. That self absorbed, narcissistic werewolf who humiliated me in front of all my coworkers on day one, and loves to pretend that I don’t even exist. It’s bad enough that he tried to kick me out of my mission. It’s even worse that he’s sinfully hot and fries braincells with a single look of those gorgeous green eyes. Such a waste of beauty on that guy. Now, on top of having to kick ass on my first mission, I have to pretend to be his girlfriend for three days, and keep my ridiculous attraction to him under control, too. So much for catching a break. Lucky for me, I’ve got a secret weapon that’s going to help me handle Dominic Dane, and it’s God’s best gift to mankind: chocolate. Armed with as many bars as my purse can fit, and with my wits about me, I’m going to survive the gorgeous wolf-ass one way or the other—and win.      Amazon KU

LAYTON – TATE’S CROSSING BOOK 2 by Kathi S Barton

Cody Martin was a good attorney. Never appreciated at her job, she still never wavered in her loyalty. And when she was suddenly fired for no reason, she found it would be the perfect opportunity to start a business with her brother Matt. Layton Tate was also an attorney, but he and his brother Loren were bogged down with cases and needed to hire a new firm to help with their caseload. Cody would make a good candidate as her stellar reputation proceeded her. He reached out to shake Cody’s hand. The blast sent them both reeling to opposite sides of the room and shocking the family. Layton and his wolf both knew what that meant. Cody wasn’t stupid, she knew what Layton was to her too, but she had to make sure the ground rules were straight before she’d have anything to do with him. No one would be pushing her around, mate or no mate.      Amazon      Kobo

HATE MATES (THE ALPHA SHIFTER COLLECTION BOOK 16) by Sam Crescent

Since birth, Landon and Alexa have been told they will be together as true mates. There is no fighting destiny in the pack. But they hate each other. As kids, they couldn’t stand each other, but later, when the time comes for their mating, the pack wants them to finally come together. For three years, they ignore one another, never acting on nature’s gift. When one of Landon’s friends attacks Alexa, their alpha has no choice but to impose a punishment. They are to be bound together until they realize they are mates. Forced to live side by side, they are denied privacy from the other. The only problem is that they don’t truly hate each other. Spending time as a couple isn’t a punishment. Constantly being together, they can’t fight their needs. They want to mate, to love. They want it all. But is it too late to finally take each other?       Amazon     Kobo

ARIES MATED by Laura Wilde

Raising my son alone wasn’t the life Pi and I had in mind for him. As he approaches adolescence, I can see the bear-shifting side of him start to come out and I don’t know how to handle it…Between managing the Pleasures bar and trying to be a good mom, I haven’t had much time for myself. Luckily, I’ve found myself surrounded by four hot contestants who are participating in the Zodiac Games: Atlas – talk about muscles. Sympathetic to others’ feelings. From the outside, you would have never taken him to be a sensitive type, but I think that’s what makes him an amazing detective. TJ is a mysterious and cocky pilot. His confidence makes others gravitate toward him. When he’s with my son, I can see him being a great father. Kai the ranch owner helps me see the positive side of life. I feel safe around him like I can be vulnerable and still be protected. Matt is laid back and easy to be around. When it comes to my past traumas, I find comfort in his presence. In their own ways, these strong, fighting men have shown me their vulnerable sides. And it makes me want them even more. I just wish they weren’t competing against each other. Whatever happens in these Games, I know that I don’t want to lose any of them.      Amazon KU

SEDUCED BY BEAR DOCTOR (BEAR HEROES OF NEW YORK) by Lisa Daniels

VS Note: From JUNE 24

As if I needed the bar fight to highlight just how horrible the night was going to be. I did not expect one of them to pull out a knife. And when I would have sworn things couldn’t get worse, A dreamy eyed, perfectly-toned doctor tried to take care of my wounds. I escaped him once, but fate wasn’t going to let it go. The unexpected delight of seeing him completely out of his element with two kids is too much for me to ignore! That’s when I really should have protected my heart. The way his clear blue eyes looked so lost made him seem almost human. Almost. Finding out that he is the eldest son of the prominent Ott family was only half the problem – they are a family of bear shifters. And I’ve caught his eye.      Amazon KU

REJECTION: MOON FEVER BOOK ONE (REDFERN SHIFTERS ONE) by Olivia Concord

STELLA – It should’ve been a perfect night. The mating fever gave her a mate. He was beautiful. He touched her. It was supposed to be perfect. It was perfect. Her mate kissed her. He gave her a taste of what she always wanted. What she always dreamed of having. Then he shoved her away. Then the dream turned into a nightmare. JASPER – When the mating fever called his wolf, he had to respond. He knew he’d find his perfect mate at Fever Night. Instead, all he found was a woman he couldn’t love. A woman fate should’ve known better than to match him with. He rejected her. He should’ve hated her. But fate and his inner wolf had other plans, and they didn’t include letting her go.   AmazonKU

BETRAYED MATE (SILVERDAWN WOLVES BOOK 1) by Layla Silver

He’s my worst enemy. And my forbidden mate. He rejected me and exiled my pack, leaving me with nothing. Now my pack is forcing me to negotiate our return with him, because he’s the alpha. They have no idea about the delicious, forbidden things that we used to do… I didn’t ask to be confronted with him again. Didn’t ask to have to stare into those piercing gray eyes again. But I’m an outcast, the lowliest of my pack, so I have no choice. I have to face him and plead with him even when I don’t want to. What is it that I really want, though, deep down in the darkest depths of my heart? Do I want to feel the torture of watching him from afar for the rest of my life? Or do I finally want to be free and taste the sweetness of his lips again? Finally loose myself in his irresistible scent…And give myself to the alpha?      Amazon KU

ALPHA SHIFTER (MAGICAL WOLF TOWN BOOK ONE) by Alexa Griffin

He is loud, arrogant, and talks like everyone owes him something. Including me. He showed up in our small town to be the new Alpha of the pack. He sure has the annoyingly dominant personality for it, but there’s one thing he doesn’t know. This place is full of witchcraft and magical forces that are dangerous for shifters like him. There is one condition he has to fulfill to become Alpha: to find a mate. I tell myself that I don’t care whom he will pick. The thing that happened between us that night… it means nothing. I don’t like him, and all we do is fight. We don’t get along. Period. But strange things have been happening to my body ever since I met him. His kiss brings out a hidden part of me, a part that yearns for his touch. I’ve been feeling this strange and tingling sensation in my veins. Like there’s something glowing inside of me. Has he unlocked the witch inside of me?   AmazonKU

NOIRE (TEMPLE MAZE SERIES BOOK 1) by Anna Fury

Welcome to the Temple, the brutal maze where a cunning warlord rules over imprisoned monsters, bending and using them according to her whims. The maze is a dumping ground for souls in need of snuffing out. Got a relative you dislike? Send them in for prompt dispatch. Perhaps a political rival is a thorn in your side? For a price, you can have Rama’s psycho pets kill them for you. Happy hunting. DIANA – I crossed a ruthless woman, and my punishment? Death within the walls of her Temple Maze. The murderous beasts trapped in these dark halls have only one job tonight–to take my life. The maze is a game, one where the house always wins. But I’ve got a few secrets of my own. The key to my plan is unleashing the maze’s most dangerous monster–Noire. I know what he wants most of all, and I’ll offer it in exchange for revenge, something only he is capable of exacting. NOIRE – Marks will say anything to save their skins. I’ve heard every possible lie when they’re begging for their lives. But tonight’s hunt is different. When I reach my mark, I find a stunning woman. Diana’s body calls to mine, creating a blistering, blinding need that compels me. Her offer is even more enticing: freedom in exchange for exacting vengeance on the woman behind the maze’s creation. The woman I hate with every dark and twisted fiber of my being. Can I keep Diana safe long enough to get us out? Or will the maze destroy us as we risk everything for our freedom?     Amazon KU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

July 13

July 6

June 29

June 22

June 15

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

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.

Not Funny When You Face Me 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. Probably two more excerpts to come from this book and then I’ll switch to the third book, TALINN, releasing in the CLAIMED AMONG THE STARS  anthology on July 26.

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, continuing on with his attempt to break into the arena to rescue Jaine:

There was a fresh roar from the crowd. Glancing up, he saw himself on the giant trideo screen. With a shrug, he focused on identifying Jaine’s scent among all the conflicting smells. There! He was off and running full tilt, the beast roaring defiance at those who threatened his mate. He located her all the way across the arena, ringed by five men in blue, poking at her with spears. She was swinging a weapon he didn’t recognize and keeping them at a relative distance but being an apex predator himself, Rennyr knew the men were only toying with her. Their demeanor was casual, several were laughing and his rage spiked higher.

See if it’s all so funny when you have to deal with me instead of a frightened woman.

Already in motion, Rennyr hurdled a pair of dead or dying fighters, zigzagged around a trio of men fighting with swords and ran straight through a melee of hand to hand combat, leaving more than one fighter in blue moaning on the sand, bleeding profusely from the wounds inflicted by his lethal talons.

Ducking a well thrown spear, he made an unplanned leap sideways and landed already in fighting stance as a team of three men confronted him, shields raised. One cast a weighted net, sparking and crackling as the charge in the webbing activated. With a roar of defiance, he stood tall and plucked the offending object from his head and shoulders, unfazed by the neural blast. Badari tolerated much higher pain and disruption from Khagrish force whips and kept fighting. He threw the net to the ground with disdain and tore the shield from the nearest man, who stood there in shock for a fatal moment.

VS Note: So does he reach Jaine in time or not? We’ll see next week…

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.

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Releases July 26

Why I wrote DAEGAN #SciFi Romance

From the Archive (slightly edited), since DAEGAN was my featured backlist title this week:

When I wrote KIERCE a few books prior in the award winning Badari Warriors series, I established that there was another lab in the southern hemisphere which was also creating these genetically engineered soldiers of the far future and that this other lab was run somewhat differently. I knew I’d be taking a trip to that lab in a future book and exploring some of the differences. (All the books can be read as standalones.)

I decided it was a good time to write DAEGAN and give my existing Badari some good news, in the form of a large number of well-trained soldiers to join their ranks. The first problem to resolve was the way in which this second lab had been kept so super-secret by the Khagrish, no one knew where it was. So I needed someone to figure how to get there, go undercover and to make contact with the hidden Alpha.

Flo appeared in the first book, AYDARR, as one of the three mercenaries who helped Jill the northern Alpha’s human mate  free the original Badari from captivity but since then she’s kind of languished on the sidelines. I’d make sure to mention Flo in the ensuing books, usually by having her piloting a flyer during an attack or a rescue, but she had yet to have her own adventure or to find her potential Badari mate. I thought she’d be the perfect person to undertake this mission but that led to the question of how and why she’d be sent to the island. Not to to give spoilers, but it turns out the Khagrish have a specific experiment in mind and are shipping human women down there in connection with this idea. So I made it possible for Flo to be added to the group and off we went for the adventure.

The whole nature of the experiment and how much or how little the women and the Badari would or could co-operate or resist was touchy for me. I tried to make it clear both groups of prisoners were doing their best under the circumstances, which did lead to some difficult decisions for people involved. I had to add a trigger warning, which I’ve never done before because there is an attempted suicide by drowning in the book. I don’t linger on the scene, which involves a supporting character, or the details but I didn’t want to surprise any readers who’d be sensitive to the event.

And of course the readers know, because Flo knows, that ‘her’ Badari will be coming to the rescue as soon as they can.

I enjoyed having a tropical island and the ocean to write about, which allowed me to add some plot wrinkles.  Alien jellyfish, for example! I’m always happy to do research on new topics.

I set myself the challenge of dealing with a group of Badari who were never allowed to form packs, and where anyone who was alpha-born was executed by the Khagrish, which made it necessary for Daegen to hide who and what he was from a very early age.

I always say that I never want to write exactly the same story twice in this series, although of course certain fundamentals remain the same, and I truly enjoyed looking at things from a different standpoint this time out. It was interesting to me to write a group of Badari who don’t necessarily believe or know all the things the northern pack takes for granted.  It also felt good to give Flo her due as a gutsy woman and hand her a mission and a story where her talents as an elite soldier could shine.

And make sure she meets  a worthy mate!

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The blurb: Ex-Special Forces soldier and mercenary Flo Michetti is bored with her assignment as a pilot for the genetically engineered Badari pack in their fight against the evil Khagrish scientists. She jumps at the chance to take a dangerous undercover mission. She infiltrates a group of human prisoners on their way to a secret lab in the southern ocean, where the Badari believe many more of their own kind have been created and are being experimented on. Once Flo has located the lab, found the Alpha among the Badari there and sent a report back, the plan will be to attack and rescue all the prisoners.

Arriving at the island Flo learns the true nature of the horrific experiment for which the humans have been brought to this remote location. Time will be perilously short to escape before it’s too late for all of them. She has to locate the Alpha of this captive southern pack, who conceals his identity to escape death at the hands of the Khagrish, and get him to join with her and her allies.

Daegan feels an instant attraction to Flo when the Badari and the humans are forced together by the Khagrish scientists, but there are mysteries and questions surrounding her. Before he reveals himself as the incognito Alpha she’s seeking, he wants answers to allay his doubts. He also wants Flo in his bed…but can he risk his heart to claim her as his mate?

Complicating the situation is a dangerous rival for Daegan’s position as Alpha, an oncoming hurricane and Flo’s resistance to abandoning her life as a soldier of fortune…as the Khagrish scientists prepare to initiate the experiment, the clock is ticking for humans and Badari alike.

Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo     Nook    GooglePlay

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The excerpt:

Nerves on edge, Flo crouched in the darkness with the others as MARL did his bag of tricks, scanning the complex, identifying where the twenty human women were being held. He hacked into the artificial intelligence system running the lab, using secret back doors and passwords Jill set up a long time ago. The Khagrish might be absolute masters at genetic manipulation but they weren’t too adept with computers and artificial intelligence.

A small door to the right of her hissed open and MARL led the way. Flo stayed in the center of the tight bunch of Badari, knowing they were protected under his distortion field. Kierce remained outside to act as sentry. The lab was basically like all the others Flo had seen, and MARL brought them inside the facility in the middle of the cell block. The Khagrish had vids but MARL was giving them a false readout and the aliens’ security guards rarely patrolled at night.

As long as we’re efficient, we’ll pull this off undetected. Flo’s nerves were tightly wound nevertheless as she and her companions proceeded down the corridor.

When they arrived at the proper cell, MARL stopped, floating in midair, bobbing slightly, with violet and chartreuse running over him in a gaudy display. Aydarr sent a small dissolving canister of sleep gas through the tiny opening MARL created in the force field barrier in front of the cell and the group waited while the highly localized, concentrated gas did its work and dissipated. At the Alpha’s hand signal, MARL opened the cell entirely and the squad rushed inside. Aydarr swept up one of the unconscious women from a bunk at the rear of the cell. Darik quickly removed the unconscious woman’s neurocontroller bracelet before she was carried out of the cell. He then placed the black bracelet on Flo’s wrist setting off a brief flare of heat against her skin and pain along her arm as the device adjusted to her.

Biting her lip and muttering curses to herself, Flo lay on the cot and watched as her teammates left the cell. When MARL put the force barrier back up there was a sizzle and then she could no longer see the squad as the AI reinstated his distortion shield. Flo laced her fingers behind her head and stared at the ceiling. I’m in for it now. She hoped the woman who’d been rescued wasn’t close friends with any of the others in the cell but was prepared to spin a story about how the Khagrish had entered in the night and made the substitution for their own inscrutable reasons. Frankly she doubted anyone was going to care. Most humans in the Khagrish lab system were pretty beaten down and frightened, unlikely to make a fuss or take the risk of bringing the aliens’ attention onto themselves.

Flo moved her arm to where she could study the bracelet in the subdued light. She’d never had  to endure one of these either but it’d been made clear to her they could be used to inflict severe pain, at times enough to kill. She planned to be a model prisoner, obedient to a fault.

Right up to the moment when she wasn’t…

When the lights came up in the cell to signify morning and an annoying buzzer sounded to make sure the prisoners were awake, the other women rose groggily and milled around, using the limited bathroom facilities and straightening their  clothing and hair as much as it was possible to do so. Flo joined the group at the muster line toward the front of the cell and although a few looked at her with mildly puzzled expressions, no one asked where the other woman had gone. Actually no one spoke at all, which suited Flo fine.

The Khagrish guards brought the breakfast mush in bowls, carried on trays by robo servers and again no one blinked or said anything about Flo. The guards only seemed to care whether they had the same count of human women as they’d had the night before.

“We’ll be loading you onto the flyer in an hour,” the security captain said as the robos deposited the food trays on the tables and left the cell. “It’s a long flight to your next destination but the location will be the end of your journey.” He gave them a leer. “You should be grateful you were selected for this experiment, believe me.”

The guards marched away and the women headed for the tables.

“What do you suppose he meant by his last remark?” someone asked. “Has anyone heard anything about the reason the Khagrish gathered us up?”

Apparently the room full of women hadn’t been told anything about the purpose for which they’d been chosen, so Flo held her tongue as well while idle speculation buzzed in the air. Wild as some of the guesses were, no one came close to the true purpose behind the Khagrishi actions.

She wasn’t here to get to know the other women although she was mildly curious where they’d been in the Sectors when they were kidnapped, but not enough to ask questions when no one else was making any effort to become acquainted.

As promised, the guards returned all too soon and escorted the prisoners outside, to the landing field and onto a big, rear-loading cargo style flyer, which was the first one Flo had seen on the planet. We could sure use one of these. She amused herself by contemplating how she’d go about hijacking this craft if she had a different mission than the one she was actually assigned to. The women weren’t shackled or restrained in any way, merely told to stay in their seats. The guards seated fore and aft didn’t even pay much attention to them. Clearly they didn’t regard the women as any threat.

The flyer took off smoothly and flew south as far as Flo could tell from the limited view she had on the overhead vids.

“Where exactly are we going?” one guard asked the other in Khagrish, offering him a pack of feelgood sticks. “Have you ever heard of this island lab?”

His friend selected a purple-tipped feelgood and lit up. “Nah, but this whole planet is full of secrets of one kind or another. Probably soft duty for some lucky bastards.”

“Not if they’re guarding a pack of Badari.” The first man also lit up, inhaling the colored smoke with obvious pleasure. “I did two tours in the lab where the animals were kept on this continent and they were scary, let me tell you. Give them an inch and you’re likely to be dead. Glad I wasn’t there when they broke out.”

Checking to see where the officer was, the second guard said in a low voice, “I heard the authorities handled things smarter at this island facility. Didn’t let the Badari form packs, killed off any alphas at a young age. Easier to handle when they don’t have a leader.”

Flo wondered if the Khagrishi was right. If these new Badari were too tame, or too collaborative with the Khagrish, they’d be no help at all to Aydarr. They could even prove to be a hindrance. Of course Kierce was a fierce warrior and joined Aydarr’s pack willingly so that was a good sign. She leaned her head against the bulkhead and let herself drift into a light sleep. Better to arrive rested and ready for anything than to force herself to stay awake during a long and boring flight.

 

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for JULY 13

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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CHALLENGED BY THE ALIEN CAPTAIN (WARRIOR MATES OF ZIVON BOOK 6) by Presley Hall

I’m supposed to bring down the Zivonian warriors… not fall for one of them. The Kruul who captured me and my sister promised me they’ll let her live if I do one thing for them: infiltrate the Zivonians’ ship and find a way to destroy it. I’d do anything to protect Maya, so I have no choice but to accept their bargain. The only problem is, the Zivonians are nothing like I expected—especially Siro, the gorgeous alien captain. He’s honorable, powerful, and protective, and for some reason, he seems as drawn to me as I am to him. Getting close to him will give me the best chance to carry out my sabotage of the ship, but with every minute we spend together, I can feel my resolve wavering. If I don’t go through with my mission, the Kruul will kill my sister. But how can I betray the man I’m starting to fall in love with?       AmazonKU       AB

ECLIPSE THE MOON: A NOVEL by Jessie Mihalik

Kee Ildez has been many things: hacker, soldier, bounty hunter. She never expected to be a hero, but when a shadowy group of traitors starts trying to goad the galaxy’s two superpowers into instigating an interstellar war, Kee throws herself into the search to find out who is responsible—and stop them. Digging up hidden information is her job, so hunting traitors should be a piece of cake, but the primary suspect spent years in the military, and someone powerful is still covering his tracks. Disrupting their plans will require the help of her entire team, including Varro Runkow, a Valovian weapons expert who makes her pulse race. Quiet, grumpy, and incredibly handsome, Varro watches her with hot eyes but ignores all of her flirting, so Kee silently vows to keep her feelings strictly platonic. But that vow will be put to the test when she and Varro are forced to leave the safety of their ship and venture into enemy territory alone. Cut off from the rest of their team, they must figure out how to work together—and fast—because a single misstep will cost thousands of lives.

Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

STELLAR URGES (ALIEN GLADIATOR KINGS BOOK 5) by Jove Chambers

A grizzled gladiator – We both know I’m bad for her. My bite saved her life when she was an infant. It also bonded us together, mated us, created some perverse tie between us, even though I’m far too old her. Now, I’m thirty-five and she’s twenty. I’ve kept myself away from her for a long time. But now I’ve got to go to her. She’s in danger, and she is mine to protect. A human female – When I was a little girl, Sevren was my everything. My playmate, my babysitter, my confidante. Then he abandoned me without saying goodbye. For my own good, he said. Because my body was maturing but I was still too young. Because he couldn’t handle what our bond made him want from me. Now someone’s trying to kill me to get to him, and he’s back. I hate him for breaking my heart.  But his presence has kick-started my biology, and now I’m in heat. No matter how complicated our feelings for each other, or how many blaster beams are getting shot at us, the bond wants us to mate. We won’t be able to fight that forever.      AmazonKU

WED TO THE ALIEN WARLORD (ACCIDENTAL BRIDES BOOK ONE) by January Bell

The alien who hand-picked me to wed and bed is the most domineering warlord of the bunch. Lucky me. As the first humans allowed in Suevan space, there’s a lot riding on my all-woman team. Earth desperately needs their tech, and I’m determined to prove we can negotiate the price. Without their planetary defense systems, Earth is a sitting duck, ripe for invasion. Except the Suevan culture is nothing like ours. When I take part in what I think is a welcoming ceremony, I leave with more than I bargained for: a husband. A mate. Apparently, we’re there to marry them as payment—something the top brass on Earth doesn’t bother denying. Fantastic. And the Suevan who hand-picked me to wed and bed? He’s the most domineering warlord of the bunch. Lucky me. I’ll get the Suevan tech we need, but there’s no way I’m giving in to his demands… no matter how, ahem, persuasive he might be.      Amazon KU

SALVATION (CYBORG LIBERATION BOOK 2) by Maddie Taylor and Morganna Williams

Asha has endured unspeakable cruelty at the hands of her human master. She, and hundreds like her, are hidden away by their owners, their existence a secret even to others of their kind. During the uprising, when the cyborgs liberate themselves from their oppressors and flee Earth, Asha and her fellow slaves are unknowingly left behind. Faced with a dismal future of servitude, when Asha’s villainous master dies, she escapes, refusing to enter the black-market auction to be sold yet again. She is desperate to free the other abandoned females but can’t do it alone. Her cyborg brethren are their only hope. Asha hatches a plan to seek them out and prepares a clever disguise to gain passage aboard a bounty hunter’s ship. Senior cyborg officer Talus is known for his calm, unflappable demeanor, but the first time he sees Asha’s delicate beauty, he is deeply stirred. But after her horrific life on Earth how can she trust another male, especially after she vows never to do so again? Talus refuses her attempts to spurn their mutual attraction. His quiet nature and the strength of his protection slowly bring down her shields. In space, among the safety of her own kind, Asha is willing to let the spark of love ignite, but as the cyborg rescue mission approaches Earth, the more her traumatic memories resurface and the more withdrawn she becomes. In the chaos of freeing the captive females, can Talus convince Asha their love is meant to be and no matter what lies ahead, he will always be her ultimate peace and salvation?     Amazon KU

KNOW IT IN THE DARK (ALL THESE GIFTS BOOK 2) by Skye Kilaen

Jolie knows that Deneve staying in Austin is only temporary, especially when a government agency far too interested in people who developed powers from alien ship nanites may have its eyes on the city. Too bad Jolie’s heart doesn’t seem to be getting the memo that Deneve won’t be around forever. Deneve’s nanites won’t let her leave town, but without any precognitive visions of what catastrophe she’s supposed to avert next, she’s at loose ends. She’s also spending too much time close to Jolie, the beautiful woman who saved Deneve’s life with a wall of fire. When an attack connected to a secret from the alien ships leaves someone dead, Deneve’s visions come back with a vengeance. But surviving the confrontation that follows is going to take more than seeing the future. Deneve and Jolie must start trusting the growing connection between them… and confront the truth about what happens when their powers combine.     Amazon KU

DARK ELF’S DELIGHT (DARK ELVES OF PROTHEKA BOOK 5) by Celeste King

I’ve let a monster into my home. And I’ll never let him go. I’ve lived in a dangerous forest by myself for most of my life in an effort to protect myself from the fate of other human women in the Dark Elf cities. Until one day a Dark Elf noble ended up near death at my door. I knew it was foolish to help him. That it was dangerous to nurse him back to health and spend time with him. And how stupid it was to fall in love with him. In that moment I gave him my love, he took my body and my soul. I was no longer safe. I was at the mercy of a predator. But there was something this evil being did not consider would happen after I had given him my heart. What was it? That he had given me his in return.     Amazon KU

OUTLAND (THE BADLANDS SERIES BOOK 2) by Kristin Keppler

The battle for the wastelands continues as Dani and Kate struggle to find common ground. As White River burns, Danielle Clark wants revenge. She rejoins the Resistance, only this time, her friends are by her side. With Simon now in pursuit and her relationship with William wavering, her only hope to stay one step ahead of the fight is to trust her once sworn enemy and the general’s daughter, Katelyn Turner. Back within the ranks of the National Armed Forces, Kate struggles to understand the push for power and dominance over the wastelands. Her time spent as a prisoner in White River has left her conflicted about her command, and her growing attraction for Dani has awakened a desperate need to protect her from a new lethal force introduced by the general. Through it all, Danielle and Kate can’t seem to stay away from each other even as the war over the Badlands tests their loyalty to each other and to their people.      Amazon

ALIEN’S CAPTIVE by Sonia Nova

VS Note After the Fact:  Release date slipped to AUG 12 after the blog was posted.

The sexy alien hunk looks like a romance book hero from another world…One moment, I’m sunbathing at the lake and reading a steamy romance book. I’m just about to get to the good bits when aliens abduct me—in nothing but my bikini! In the blink of an eye, I find myself on an outlaw planet, surrounded by a group of bug-like aliens who intend to sell me. While I might’ve wished for an escape from reality, I definitely didn’t mean this! When a lizard-like alien with rippling muscles enters the Kratak’s ship, my odds may have turned. He sweeps me off my feet and rescues me…Or wait, does he? What does he mean he’s going to auction me?! The luscious human female is my captive. I cannot grow attached. There’s nothing on Reazus Prime but death and outlaws. I need to get out, and I think I’ve found a way. But when the Kratak go back on their word and demand a human female before they’ll accept me on their ship, I’ve had enough. I do what they want. I steal a female. Theirs. Now, the Kratak are after me and my trip off the planet got a new deadline. The soft, alluring human female is my ticket out. But when my third heart starts beating, I know I’m in trouble.
How could I sell my own mate?     Amazon KU

ALIEN ENSLAVED – REBELLION III – COLONY EARTH by Kaitlyn O’Connor

A reunion with college classmates turns into a nightmare when they’re ‘taken’ by alien slavers. Willow Rebow was as straight-laced as they came. She thought she was behaving wildly just going to Vegas to watch the male dance review. But then she really got to watch the naked men dance when she got thrown into a breeding pen with an alien Hybrid–bred from two of the most dangerous, most powerful alien warriors the Sheloni had ever captured–the Hirachi and the Satren. And as unnerving as that was, it paled beside the discovery that both the hybrid, Tarik, and the Hirachi war chief, Korin, wanted her.      Amazon     Apple Books

THE EXTRACTIONIST by Kimberly Unger

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. I love the concept. Put it on my TBR.

Eliza McKay is an Extractionist: an expert in the virtual reality space where people’s minds are uploaded as digital personas. When rich or important people get stuck in the Swim for reasons that are sleazy, illegal, or merely unlucky—it’s McKay’s job to quietly extract them. And McKay’s job just got a lot more dangerous. After McKay repels an attack on her Swim persona, hired thugs break into her house to try to hack her cybernetic implants directly. Meanwhile, the corporate executive she was hired to rescue from VR space is surprisingly reluctant to be extracted. Something is lurking in the Swim, and some very powerful people will stop at nothing to keep it secret. This job might be the big break McKay has been waiting for—if she can survive long enough to beat the hackers at their own game. IThe Extractionist, virtual reality and gaming expert Unger has created an unforgettable cyberplayground where the rich still make their own rules, but a skilled operator remains the wildcard.      Amazon      AB     Kobo

DOCTORING FATE (OUTER LIMITS QUADRANT BOOK 2) by Alexis Osborne

Darcy has wanted to be a doctor for as long as she can remember. Working as a combat medic in the military and eventually entering medical school, it’s right within her grasp—until her exposure to a deadly toxin leaves her bedbound. Her world shrinks to a single room, one forgotten by the military, school, and her family. Until the day General Amato comes knocking with the deal of a lifetime: the military’s blood nano Vaccine, a cure, in exchange for willing participation on a dangerous mission. They must travel straight into the unknown heart of the wormhole in search of the missing Sasha Robinson. All goes surprisingly well until she and her team crash land on an alien world hellbent on killing them. Carnivorous flowers, ambulatory trees, fantastic creatures straight out of fairy tales… and two green-scaled lizardmen offering a helping hand? Maddox is the Raxion planet’s ambassador, and he is given one crucial task: gain the stranded humans’ cooperation at any cost. His people are desperate to uncover the secret of Sasha Robinson’s mysterious blood nanos—what better opportunity than four marooned soldiers? He’s used to this work, lived and breathed espionage and subterfuge since long ago. And to avoid another Carthas massacre, he is willing to do anything, even woo the beautiful human medic named Darcy. Show her the local sights, appeal to her sense of adventure, maybe even steal a kiss… Falling in love with her wasn’t intended. And when the Raxion Prime General demands results, it all may come tumbling down.     Amazon KU

HOMEWORLD (THE DENNAMORE SCROLLS BOOK 3) by Gun Brooke

After leaving Earth’s orbit behind, the spaceship Velocity and its crew hurtle through the galaxy toward their alien ancestor’s homeworld, Dwynna Major. Trouble arises when Chief Engineer Claire Gordon’s neural interface device malfunctions, and she secretly struggles to retain the knowledge desperately needed to keep the Velocity running. Adding to her fear of failing, Claire’s falling in love with the only crew member who’s untouchable—Captain Holly Crowe. Holly’s only priority is to keep the crew safe as they face the unknowns of interstellar space. Maintaining the strict rules and regulations of her captaincy is the only way she can lead, even if it distances her from the rest of the crew. When Claire’s failing interface puts them all in danger, however, Holly’s rigid approach to command is called into question. Will Holly and Claire continue their mission to Dwynna Major even if it puts their lives and their hearts at risk?      Amazon

A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY (MONK AND ROBOT 2) by Becky Chambers

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

After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers’s new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?     Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DEVIANT CHALLENGED (GLADIATORS OF THE VAGABOND BOOK 3) by Robin O’Connor

Camila – Getting myself stranded, drifting through space was not on my to do list. But when the Alliance I’ve served for years suddenly tries to kill me, I’ve got little choice but to brave the endless void. Now who do I trust? Then there’s the big, leather wearing, pierced and tattooed gladiator who has it in for me. We trade sparks as easily as insults, his sexy as sin body, and bad boy vibes getting right under my skin. But it’s the pain he hides, even from his gladiator brothers that gets to me. Can I convince him to help me clear my name and get home? Or will I risk it all and give in to this sizzling attraction? Thorin – There’s a murder to solve and a feisty, traitorous human female to subdue. When she boards the Vagabond its clear she’s in league with our previous owner, the crimelord Drameil. I’d do anything to protect my brothers, even if that means locking up the pretty female that seems to want to challenge me every step of the way. When my investigation takes a surprising turn, its Camila that’s at my side, helping me. I want to trust that. Trust the instincts urging me to claim her. To make her mine. But she wants to go home to her family, and the Alliance is still trying to kill her. We have to find out why, and we have to stop them. I have to help her get home, even if that means I’ll lose her in the end.       Amazon KU

Brutal is one of many elite soldiers subjected to DNA manipulation against their will. His DNA was mixed with that of wild predators, making him Variant. He’s now head of security at Alliance, the Variant community they all live in. He’s dominant, and prides himself on control. He shakes his head, laughing at the antics of others like him when they meet their one female. Now he’s met Ginny, it’s not so funny anymore. She continually holds him at arm’s length. Ignoring her insistence that he stays away, he invites himself to a party she’s attending, and things go well — really well. Only now, after having actually claimed her, she refuses to answer his calls and messages. Either she’s gone missing, or she’s just done with him. Unfortunately, he believes the latter. All of his control means nothing when he discovers she’s been taken. Ginny has worked all her life to keep her heart buried deep inside, untouchable by any and all. It’s not that she doesn’t want love, in fact she craves it. But she’s afraid. ..(more blurb on ebook seller page…)       Amazon KU

VEDROCK (RAVAGED BOOK 3) by Cari Silverwood

Torturing Jinx Shade is normal by my rules. Injecting her with an illegal gene-ripper, just to make her grow that cute tail and those ears? My claws unsheathe at the sight of this deliciously slinky female. The OV compulsion has morphed our need to destroy each other into an irresistible pulsating knot. When I’m forced to flee, I take her with me. Our path across this planet is filled with ruined cities, treachery, assassins, and Jinx’s luscious rear. As I follow that rear, I contemplate serenity, and whether I will need implements to train her. ***JINX: I hate him, I hate him a LOT. Until I understand why he does what he does, and then I almost like him. Our attraction evolves and becomes more than mere desire. If only there wasn’t this problem … I may have been programmed to make him dead. Can true love flourish in the aftermath of the destruction that is unleashed? Probably not.     Amazon KU

TAKEN BY TWO (SEEDING EDEN BOOK 3)  by Aya Morningstar

They want to make a “triumvirate” with me. I ask what it does. They smirk. One whispers: “It makes babies.” If you’re from Eden and see a man, it doesn’t always taint you right away. As long as your mind doesn’t think dirty thoughts too quickly, and as long as you don’t like what you see too much, you’re probably safe. At least you’d have time to look away. It’s different with Khetar men. If you see one, you think of every dirty thought you never thought you could have, until this lifetime of repressed desire bursts through your resolve like a dam under a tsunami, and the unbearable longing for something you never knew you wanted brings you right down to your knees. Yeah, that all just sort of happened to me. His name is Kaav. I look up, still on my knees and tainted as sin, and he’s got parts of his body that we don’t even have words for on Eden. Kaav is big and golden, and he says he wants to have babies with me. Normally it takes two, but Kaav is special. He has two bodies. He says that he’s all we’ll need. When I see his second body for the first time, in all its glistening silver glory, I can’t wait to submit to it. To beg it to do to me all the things Kaav says only a Khetar with two bodies can do to a woman. But in order to rescue me, Kaav had to make a deal with the devil. The devil’s name is Hive, and it’s taken over Kaav’s second body. And now it wants to take me too.    AmazonKU

TEACHING THE ALIEN by Jessa Joy

Maria – My day isn’t going well. Correction. My life isn’t going well. My cat’s gone missing, I’ve just been fired and my boyfriend’s sent me a text saying he’s hooked up with my boss. So, when I wake up with what I think is a really bad hangover, I dismiss the massive purple alien warrior standing in front of me as a hallucination. Except he’s very real, very big and unbelievably bossy. He has three days to be able to pass as human in order to escape a death sentence. And apparently I’m the only one who can teach him.      Amazon KU

REAVER’S CLAIM (THAXIAN WARRIOR MATE BOOK 2) by Elin Wyn and Starr Huntress

A thin line of warm light appeared at the edge of my vision, growing broader and brighter. Until a demon leaned over the edge of the pod, flickering light dancing over his red scaled features, dark horns jutting up through his short black hair. This time, I was the one who screamed. The sound of my voice in my ears shocked me back to reality. It wasn’t a nightmare, it wasn’t some hell or some devil. It was just another alien, like the dozens of species we’d met on the Dream. I sat up, coughing, pulling my sweater tight around me. “Thank you.” My throat was clogged from disuse. How long had I been asleep? “Where’s this? Where’re the others?” The demon guy stepped back from the sides of the pod, a blank look of incomprehension across his face. Oh no. That couldn’t be right. “Do you understand me?” Nothing. Right then. There hadn’t been much in the manual about this. Statistically, it wasn’t totally impossible that the pod could end up on a world that could sustain intelligent life, yet hadn’t been contacted by the Galactic Alliance. Heck, that’d describe Earth for most of its history. No Alliance, no translator. Uh oh.      Amazon KU

FLIGHT OF THE OMEGA by Cherry Pickett

Jack loves the birds he cares for at Midlothian ranch. The owner’s bratty, spoiled son, JP Crane, is another story. As Jack prepares for the upcoming Rose Plate, though, he realizes there’s more to JP than meets the eye …JP Crane doesn’t want to be at his father’s ranch, and he doesn’t want anything to do with Jack or the Rose Plate. Or, at least, he thinks he doesn’t—until he goes into hear. Even before that, though, Jack’s gentle nature is slowly breaking down JP’s barriers … and leading him to realize a horrific truth about his past. Can a grumpy cowboy alpha and a spoiled brat omega overcome their differences and learn to love each other as they are?      Amazon KU

LIGHT THE FIRE (REVOLUTION INFERNO BOOK ONE) by Natalie Sloan

My entire life has been spent in a cage. I’m the only one of my kind. A triple threat. They keep me locked away, drawing my unique blood to transfuse into others so they may possess my skills. I’m too valuable to be set free or used as the assassin I’ve trained as since I was three. I am not a vessel. I am not simply a bag of blood. I am a human being—female—and we are dying out. But I will fight until my last breath for the freedom I finally grasp. And those who betray me will wish they were never created. I am Haina, a triple threat Hellcat, the Angel of Death, and I will build my army, and together we will light the fire of revolution and rise from the ashes to start a fair and just new world ruled by the most compassionate, the most honest, and the most powerful: women.    AmazonKU

ARENA (SPACE STATION ASTRAL VENTURE BOOK 1) by Elle Leigh Clark

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. I put it on my TBR.

Waking up in a hostile environment… not the usual start to the day. Not knowing who you are? Priceless. A group of strangers awake with their lungs full of stasis goo. What they don’t immediately realize is that they’re going to have to work fast if they’re going to survive a concatenation of organic and mechanical beasts, traps and deadly encounters. It’s going to take all their collective wit, guile and any innate abilities they can uncover because survival is far from guaranteed. More than that, they’re going to have to work together. If you liked Maze RunnerAliensThe Hunger GamesLost or Firefly, you’re going to love this psychological sci-fi mystery.      Amazon KU

THE PRICE OF SURRENDER (DARANII JUSTICE BOOK 1) by C J Dragon

The war with the Daranii, instigated by Earth, was short and brutal. Outgunned by superior weapons, the obliteration of the military outpost on Jupiter’s moon, Io, ended with Earth’s unconditional surrender. Captain Jonathan Thomsin of the warship Excalibur was the only Captain of Earth’s combined forces to successfully destroy Daranii ships, not by confronting them, but with guerilla warfare. Outraged by Thomsin’s dishonorable tactics, the Daranii demand the captain as part of Earth’s reparations to Daran. Captain Thomsin was given to Daran to protect Earth from Daranii vengeance. A Sacrifice. He expected to be tormented by loss and grief. He expected to be tortured and die on Daran. He never expected to fall in love. PLEASE NOTE: This is a slow burn, male/male romance with on-page torture scenes, health issues, and adult sexual situations.    Amazon KU

SEER OF WAR (BRIDGE AND SWORD BOOK 6) by JC Andrijski

Shadow’s deadly disease now blankets the planet. Everything points to the apocalypse, with earthquakes, rising tides, hurricanes, and New York now a military-run lockdown guarded by rich humans. To top it off, Allie’s husband, Revik, is acting really strange––and everyone seems to know why but her. Sociopathic seer Ditrini tells Allie Shadow is coming for her next. Only this time, he’s bringing his new pet intermediary, War, the fourth of the Four. War is hell-bent on bringing the end of human race for good––and Allie along with it. Unfortunately, she’s also one of Allie’s closest friends.      Amazon KU

TONGUED AND TEASED (THE MOLTOV PLEASURE ALIENS BOOK 2)  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 a love that lasts forever. 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’ve been ditched at the altar. Twice. All before I’m twenty-seven. But this time when my fiancé leaves me for a bridesmaid, I’m leaving, too. Leaving behind this planet, these men, and all these bad memories. My Moltov mate, Xavik, has a special adaption for his race. And all the things I’ve been missing from my human lovers, I find in him. He has a tongue that drives me wild and after our first night together, I will never look back on what I’ve left behind.      Amazon KU

THE ROYAL’S BUMBLEBEE: BOOK TWO OF OPERATION COLONISE by Millie Lowell

A jungle planet of Naga Aliens, who are civilised, allies, and sexy as hell? What’s not to like?! Billie Blac is a technical genius and was headhunted by Allico Inc to join the Operation Colonise mission. Her Aspergers makes processing the world around her difficult at times, but her coding skills are excellent. Billie has longed for independence and adventure for a long time, and with a little help, she intends to brave the unknown. She was destined to work in the Delta 4 compound, only, there was a mix-up. Upon arrival on Thelia she, and the others, are all herded into the pairing party. Prince Izule is a Royal, and the youngest son. Despite being the largest and strongest Royal heir, he is not destined to rule as he was hatched last. He is eager to become a sponsor, but any human who comes before him is terrified by his appearance. That is, until Billie comes running into his life and the protection of his coil. She is sweet ambrosia to him and their romance is sweet and spicy. A slow burn at the start, and an inferno of passion as the story proceeds. There are strong sexual themes in this story, and at times, blood and gore.      Amazon KU

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

Veronica’s Backlist highlight (because I make my living writing and selling my books): Next up is DAEGAN. I’d waited a long time to get just the right story for the human mercenary Flo and this was it – a dangerous undercover mission, far from help, a new Badari pack and an Alpha in hiding…I had so much fun writing the South Seas location. I try really hard to make each book in the series a different experience, aside from the basics like Fated Mates of course. I also had been dying to use this cover model and he was perfect for Daegan. Note: Each book can be read as a standalone.

DAEGAN: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 10)

Ex-Special Forces soldier and mercenary Flo Michetti is bored with her assignment as a pilot for the genetically engineered Badari pack in their fight against the evil Khagrish scientists. She jumps at the chance to take a dangerous undercover mission. She infiltrates a group of human prisoners on their way to a secret lab in the southern ocean, where the Badari believe many more of their own kind have been created and are being experimented on. Once Flo has located the lab, found the Alpha among the Badari there and sent a report back, the plan will be to attack and rescue all the prisoners.

Arriving at the island Flo learns the true nature of the horrific experiment for which the humans have been brought to this remote location. Time will be perilously short to escape before it’s too late for all of them. She has to locate the Alpha of this captive southern pack, who conceals his identity to escape death at the hands of the Khagrish, and get him to join with her and her allies.

Daegan feels an instant attraction to Flo when the Badari and the humans are forced together by the Khagrish scientists, but there are mysteries and questions surrounding her. Before he reveals himself as the incognito Alpha she’s seeking, he wants answers to allay his doubts. He also wants Flo in his bed…but can he risk his heart to claim her as his mate?

Complicating the situation is a dangerous rival for Daegan’s position as Alpha, an oncoming hurricane and Flo’s resistance to abandoning her life as a soldier of fortune…as the Khagrish scientists prepare to initiate the experiment, the clock is ticking for humans and Badari alike.

Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo     Nook    GooglePlay

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

AS THE UNDERWORLD TURNS: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL: GOOD TO THE LAST DEMON BOOK ONE by Robyn Peterman

What does a forty-year-old former child star do when she finds out she’s a Demon? A sitcom, of course.Age is just a number unless you’re an actress of a certain age trying to make a comeback in La La Land. Back in the day, I was the child star of the hit show Camp Bites. Today, I’m still living it down. After a disastrous soap opera audition and getting fired from a TV show for not having a bodacious enough backside, one would think I’d be smart enough to go into real estate. Nope. Just found out from the rudest, meanest, and hottest guy alive that I’m a Demon. The jerk, also a Demon, goes by the name Abaddon—Abe to his friends. I call him Dick. He’s come from the Underworld to protect me—insert laugh track—since there’s a bounty on my head. Dick is not a welcome addition to my midlife madness. However, he won’t go away, and now, he’s my new boss. Fine. Whatever. All I ever wanted to do in my life was pretend. I can pretend to get along with Dick. I can pretend that I’m not wildly attracted to him. Not sure I can pretend I’m human anymore, or that a supernatural assassin isn’t trying to cancel me, but I’m going to fake it until I make it. Or I get killed. As the Underworld turns upside down, so have the days of my life.

AmazonKU      AB

WEAVER’S WEB: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (MOONSHADOW BAY BOOK 6) by Yasmine Galenorn

VS Note: A re-release.

Just when Killian and I are planning our vacation, Cupid strikes Moonshadow Bay. But it’s not exactly love at first sight for the victims, and we at Conjure Ink have our hands full. Someone’s attacking townsfolk, shooting them with arrows that are enchanted by a love potion. Not only are the victims hurt, but they fall into obsessive love—a love that can be dangerous. And in the middle of this, a restaurant that used to be a funeral home is having ghostly encounters of the harrowing kind. I just hope we can take care of all of this before Killian and I head off on vacation to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THEIR HUNTRESS MATE (PACK WARS BOOK 7) by Vella Day

VS Note: From JUNE 20

Three people. One goal. If only they could work together they’d find success. An expert in bows and arrows, as well as guns, Charlene (aka Charley Palmer has one goal—to expose the doctor who illegally experimented on her sister, Darlene. While she was rescued by the Pack, Darlene will never be the same—mentally or physically. Connolly McLaughlin, a powerful werewolf and contract worker for the Pack, has no plans to let this pesky woman get in his way of taking down Elkhart himself. He has a grudge against the man too. Being a loner, Connolly doesn’t need Charley in the way. So what if she alters something inside him? To make the situation worse, his younger brother shows up wanting to make amends for his sins of the past, but Connolly isn’t ready to forgive Mick. Trouble ensures when Mick meets Charley, and the sparks fly. Too late, each man realizes that Charley is their mate. There’s one problem: the brothers never share. Hmm. What to do?     Amazon KU

BITTER DISCORD (JACKY LEON BOOK 8) by K N Banet

I try not to look for trouble, though it always finds me. Now I’m asking for it. I’m going to host a gathering of werecats to discuss the recent changes in our small world, changes I brought about for the most part. I told Hasan I would handle this and I am going to, even if he doesn’t believe in me. For this to work, I need to be vigilant. The humans are watching my every move, my werewolves are vulnerable, and the werecats are a wildcard. Three factions, one city, and years of animosity and treachery between them. And then there’s me: Jacky Leon, or Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan. Werecat representative to humanity, my father’s representative in the Americas, and fiancé to a rogue Alpha werewolf.     Amazon KU

VAMPIRE’S MODERN BRIDE (DARK LORDS OF LONDON BOOK 1) by Jessie Donovan

Blackmailed by her father into marrying a ruthless vampire mob boss, Yesenia Vale somehow makes it down the aisle to the male who only wants to use her as a broodmare. After all, she’s a fae witch without magic, an outcast, and marrying the bastard is the only way to ensure her brother and sister remain safe from his clutches. However, as soon as the groom slides his ring on her finger, she wishes she could be anywhere else, to have a future of her choosing. In the next moment, the world blacks out. And when she wakes up, she’s no longer in twenty-first century Boston but rather in late-nineteenth-century London, blooding a vampire she’s never seen before. Leopold Yates is one of the three Dark Lords of London, ruling over the vampires in the city and doing his best to keep his alliance with the fae witches and shifters to avoid a repeat of their bloody past. ..(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)         Amazon KU

OF FATE AND FIRE (A KINGMAKER CHRONICLES NOVELLA, BOOK 3.5) by Amanda Bouchet

VS Note: A re-release.

Piers, an exiled warrior from Thalyria, finds himself in the Big Apple just before the holidays. The world and everything in it might be utterly foreign to him, but that won’t stop Piers from helping to complete a vital mission for Athena. His goal? To protect Sophie, a French teacher from Connecticut who’s suddenly knee-deep in inexplicable phenomena, danger, and henchmen after an Olympian treasure that should never have ended up in her hands—or remained on Earth after the Greek gods abandoned it.   Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

OF WULF AND WYND PART TWO:  AN F/F OMERGAVERSE FANTASY ROMANCE THE KINGDOMS OF GYLDREN BOOK 3) by Lexa Luthor

Until the end of her days. Prince Tharon’s attempt to spy on her enemy kingdom might cost her the only person who once held her heart. But she is unwilling to accept Roswynd’s greatest sacrifice, even if it means ending her life too. Tharon will battle death to save her wife so they can live out their days together. Princess Roswynd’s final attempt to reach her childhood best friend may forever change the course of their future. Their forced marriage is unbearable and heartbreaking, but Roswynd will make any payment to save Tharon from the rage consuming her. Together, Roswynd and Tharon face their damaged relationship and try to find ways to mend their hearts. They decide that the best way to heal themselves and their kingdoms is to face the past and right old wrongs. Now they must untangle the dark past created by their parents. But can they handle what they uncover, or will it send their kingdoms into an uglier war?

Amazon     Kobo

WOLF FATED (BETA WOLF ACADEMY BOOK 5) by JJ King

One enemy gone, another looming, and three hot guys to drive her crazy. Lexi unleashed something wild and primal when she rescued her mates from Raphael’s Army, and discovered a global conspiracy in the process.  Their world is rocked when a new enemy attacks without mercy and vows to destroy everything The Sisterhood has worked to build for hundreds of years. Their goal, to take back the equality hard won by women around the world. Their method, by maiming, destroying, and killing anyone who would stand in their way. Can Lexi and her mates learn to control their new powers in order to help in the fight against the rising darkness or will watch as those she loves fight for their world?        Amazon KU

BACHELOR SECRET WOLF (SHIFTER WOLVES OF PLEASANT VALLEY BOOK 3) by Serena Meadows

Dominic is a wolf shifter. That was one of the reasons we could never be together. But I desperately wanted to. Dominic protected me with everything he had. Even while I was looking him in the eye and lying to him. Even when I was hiding a secret he could never find out. But Dominic was anything but naïve. It was only a matter of time until he figured out that I was deceiving him. That day would ruin me. It would break my heart… and potentially end my brother’s life along with my own. If I knew anything about Dominic, he would never let that happen. Even if he had to risk his own life to save mine.     Amazon KU

MOON HUNTED: A RAVEN WOLVES COMPANION STORY by Marty Mayberrry

He was fated to be mine, but he rejected me. Now he wants a second chance. Iva: Rejected by my fated mate, I had no choice but to flee my pack. A year later, I took a job at Ravenmire College. Who do I run into? Rowan, the shifter who scorned me in front of my family and friends. He says he made a mistake, that we’re still fated. Do I dare trust my heart to him again? Rowan: When I revoked my matebond with Iva, I had a good reason. Bonding with her would endanger her life and everything I’ve worked to achieve. But things have changed, and I want her now more than ever. If she runs again, I won’t let her go. I’ll hunt her down and claim her.     Amazon KU

ATTICUS: PARANORMAL COUNCIL ENFORCERS BOOK TWO by Taylor Rylan

Hellhounds don’t have mates. But after a decade of denying his attraction to Brice, Atticus realizes the lion shifter is just that: his fated mate. Atticus was banished from the demon realm well over a century ago when he could no longer do his master’s bidding. He had been many places but truly felt at home when he found Honey Creek. His attraction to Brice was unexpected, and when it became too much for him to control his beast, he left, leaving the lion alpha behind. Brice wasn’t sure what the fates were doing when they gave him a human male for his mate, but he didn’t care. He just wanted Atticus and the life he knew they could have together. When Atticus left, never acknowledging their connection, Brice tried to make the best of what fate had gifted him. When trouble threatens Brice’s sister and family, he rushes to New Orleans to help. While there, he makes a life-changing discovery about his missing mate. Atticus isn’t a human, and he’s never truly been gone. He’s now a council enforcer, and the hellhound is hell-bent on claiming his mate. But will Brice give in easily?      Amazon KU

RED PANDA’S FAKE MATE (SHIFTERS OF RAWR COUNTY BOOK 7) by Sophie Stern

Jennifer lives alone. She works alone. She travels alone. Everything in her life is centered around that solitude. She doesn’t do well with crowds or groups of people, so she’s chosen a job where she can work by herself without being distracted. When her boss requests her presence on a company retreat that could lead to an incredible promotion, she realizes she needs to make herself seem as mature, well-rounded, and stable as possible. What better way than by bringing her mate along? The problem is that Jennifer doesn’t have a mate. Red pandas are notorious for living on their own or in very, very small groups, and she doesn’t exactly have a list of boyfriends on call. When a chance encounter leads to the perfect opportunity to claim a fake mate as her own, Jennifer doesn’t resist. After all, what’s the worst thing that could happen?       Amazon     Apple Books

OF EARTH AND BONE (THE HEIRS OF ELAERYS BOOK 2) by Shana Vernon

Calida, weakened by her shackles, does what she can to protect Kalamia and those she loves, but one wrong move could spell their deaths. Zari, determined to prove herself and help Lir and his crew until she learns a devastating secret that could tear her and Fen apart forever. Arianna, who escaped to a distant kingdom after a gut-wrenching betrayal, desperately tries to salvage the shattered remains of her heart while searching for allies. They must do things they never thought possible. Dark, dangerous things. But will it be enough to save Kalamia?      Amazon KU

HYBRID: A PARANORMAL WOMEN’S FICTION NOVEL (IMMORTAL WEST BOOK 2) by Kerry Adrienne and L A Boruff

Step through the Rift and into the wild and wicked world of the Immortal West. Hidden just beyond the fertile plains, where two great rivers converge, a portal between worlds awaits. Enter the Rift at your own peril… Determined to survive the rugged terrain filled with fantastical creatures and dangerous magic, forty year old Claire Lowell is mastering life on the other side of The Rift. Though nothing is quite what it seems, and the mystical, shadowy land constantly fills her with both fear and wonder, Claire and her handsome vampire escort Blake are on a mission to stop the evil Fae King from kidnapping more human women for his nefarious plans. Now the proprietor of the Dusty Bunny Saloon, Claire enlists her working girls as spies, encouraging them to gather as much information as they can from the loose-lipped patrons that frequent the bar to wet their whistles and have a good time. But when one of the girls is unexpectedly abducted, Claire, Blake, and Peggy the Pegasus must ride to the rescue before the Fae King claims her as his next victim.  As the search party pushes deeper into the The Rift, they encounter new and exciting creatures, dangers beyond Claire’s wildest dreams, and a witch-seer with unmatched powers and words of warning. Claire will not, and can not, succeed in defeating the Fae King until she accepts that she must trust Blake and the others and truly band together to stop evil and prevent the ultimate destruction of this wild, wonderful world.    Amazon KU

WHERE HOME LIES (REBEL MAGE BOOK 3) by Elizabeth Schechter

Once an exile, Matthias returns to lead his home Enclave and settles into a new life with his beloved Solomon. Struggling with his new role and responsibilities toward the new town of Sanctuary and the people who had once rejected him, he knows that the relative peace he’s found is temporary—the forces that destroyed Haven are still out there, and he knows that they’ll come looking for him. Until they do, there are alliances to make, mouths to feed, and people who look to him to protect them. Then tragedy strikes, sending Matthias, Solomon and Tam out once more, seeking answers in the forbidden north; answers that may lead to new beginnings, or to the end of everything they’ve ever known.       Amazon KU

DESIRE THE NIGHT by Amanda Ashley

Kay Alisano, wolf shifter and daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Alpha, is captured by the evil siren Verah as a captive blood donor for Gideon Marquet, imprisoned in Verah’s basement. Kay is just another victim brought to Gideon, who is trapped by silver chains and bled by Verah, to sustain him until her death at his fangs. But Kay is different and Gideon realizes she isn’t just another human. As a wolf shifter, every full moon she must give in to the call of the moon. Powerful in her own right, Kay must do what she can to free herself and Gideon from Verah’s control. Gideon’s love for Kay must stay strong to help this intriguing woman and himself.      Amazon      AB

PHOENIX HEART: SEASON 3 EPISODE 3: CREATURES OF SYDONON by Sarah K L Wilson

When your heart is so large, your strength is great. Fighting for their lives, their nations, and the fate of phoenixes everywhere, Sersha must open her heart to possibilities she never expected as she fights against enemies both numerous and powerful with no one but her beloved phoenix, her ghostly ropeworker, a friend and her headstrong cousin to help. Will it be enough when the fates of so many rest on their shoulders?     Amazon KU

THE FINAL BATTLE (MERCENARY QUEEN BOOK 4) by Elizabeth Knight

Attacked on the eve of her coronation by the Lost King’s crazed dragon, Cassarah is left reeling. Dealing with the destruction to the castle and having almost lost her life, along with Vasin, has her wondering if they will ever be able to defeat this mad man. Her guardians rally around her along with a few others, surprising Cassarah when she thought that door had been closed. Pressing forward, Cassarah is finally crowned the Dragon Queen ruler of Sheca and all its people. With the magic of the lands tied to the Dragon Throne fueling her Birthright to new levels, Cassarah becomes an even bigger threat to the Lost King. Battles begin in the shadows as Cassarah learns that the Lost King is hiding something important in Creisal. Thanks to the newly formed alliance with their king, Cassarah and her most trusted companions leave the safety of Sheca to face the war that is coming. Armed with determination, dragons, and the knowledge that she is the last defense to protect her world, Cassarah will do whatever it takes to end this once and for all. This will be the last battle, and to the winner goes the spoils.      Amazon KU

BLOODLINE OF THE ANCIENTS (CHANGING BODIES BOOK 2) by Roan Rosser

Sleepwalking may be the death of me… again. I thought things would get better now that I no longer had assassins after my head. Although it’s fun eating people who misgender me, I’m just so thirsty all the time. And until I improve, I’m barred from seeing Jack, my were-jackal boyfriend. My babysitter, I mean ‘vampire mentor,’ isn’t much help either. As if things weren’t bad enough, the amulet that started this mess is whispering to me. Calling me somewhere. I think it might be my mysterious maker. Judging by the trail of bodies they’re leaving across the globe, I don’t want to know what will happen if I can’t keep resisting.     Amazon     Kobo

THE SHADOW KING’S HEART (LEGACY OF FATE AND FURY BOOK 1) by Claire Marta

Join the immortal games and bring my father back from the dead. It should have been simple. The problem is I stole something that wasn’t mine. Zavon Sorrow wants it back. There’s no way to stop him no matter how far I run. He’s ruthless and devious, flinging me into a dangerous game steeped in legend and myth. I have to deny the seductive tug of war between us. Ignore the carnal desires he ignites when we touch. He’s my enemy and I shouldn’t be thinking about the dark promise of pleasure he whispers in my ear. He’ll do whatever it takes to break his curse. I soon learn that taking something from him comes at a hefty price. One that will cost me everything if I’m not careful.   Amazon KU

ENRICHED (KNIGHTS OF THE BRETHREN BOOK 4) by Jody Hedlund

Lady Karina lives in a convent and expects to become a nun someday. When her wealthy father asks her to help his textile business become more successful by marrying one of the popular Knights of Brethren, Karina complies, ever the dutiful daughter. During a royal quest to find the sacred chalice, Torvald is called home to save his family’s estate through an arranged marriage to a wealthy maiden. Although willing to do his duty, he’s vowed never to give his heart to anyone after watching his father suffer heartbreak over a woman. As Torvald weds the kind and lovely Karina, he resists the pull of attraction to his bride. Even though Karina feels the sting of Torvald’s rejection, she chooses to love him unconditionally. As he resumes his search for the chalice and puts his life in jeopardy, Karina makes the ultimate sacrifice for him. Will he have the chance to love her in return before it’s too late? The real story of the Holy Grail continues.     Amazon KU

HEAVEN’S OFFICIAL BLESSING VOL 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Gods should never meddle in the affairs of mortals, but Xie Lian is not one to follow the rules when lives are at risk. He spits in the face of heaven and its laws and descends in a fury to save his country from drought and civil war. Yet this golden child gets a harsh dose of reality when he discovers just how little one individual–even a god–can do to save a crumbling nation. As the people reject and betray him, one young soldier stands by Xie Lian–a boy with a face wrapped in bandages and a fierce loyalty in his heart. In this chaotic past, can an unshakable bond grow from the ashes of unimaginable destruction?       Amazon     Apple Books

DREAM WEAVER (MYSTIC BEACH FANTASY ROCKSTAR ROMANCES BOOK 2) by Aislinn Archer

Hunter – After years of touring, it’s time to go home. Not to NYC, but to my oceanside hometown. It’s a working vacation — rest, relaxation and recording. But the label has roped me into a reality dating show. My relationship with my best friend, Brighid, has been the definition of complicated, thanks to her “visions.” Putting her in the same room with my girlfriends is a recipe for disaster — one that just might need divine intervention for our relationship to survive. Brighid – It’s been years since Hunter has come home. While he’s been off living his rockstar life, I’ve been building a life without my best friend by my side. Now that he’s back, I just want some time together. But his reality dating show is making things more complicated than I can handle, especially when I’m the only curvy girl in a room full of models. This has disaster written all over it, and I’m not sure my visions and the goddess I serve will be enough to save us. Two best friends. Two soulmates. His rock-and-roll dream has come true, but his best friend has faded into the background. With Hunter and Brighid both in Mystic Beach for the summer, it’s a chance to reconnect, or for things to get even more complicated than they were. Will it mean the end of their lifelong friendship, or will it reawaken the connection that’s existed between them for much longer?      Amazon KU

WITCH’S MEMORY (PURPLE OASIS BOOK 4) by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape

Since the loss of her brother, Hayley has thrown herself into her work in the medical bay of Purple Oasis, using her skills as an empath witch to help those who have been hurt. But when her brother’s best friend shows up, her emotions are pulled to the surface, and it’s all she can do not to let them consume her. Brandon has been looking for his best friend ever since the world ended, only to find his sister instead. With his magic threatening to unleash havoc, he turns to the only person who can understand what he’s going through, forging a connection between them that he didn’t expect. Is grief the only thing that unites the two of them, or is there something deeper lying beneath it?      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BLOOD KINDNESS (THE HYBRID FESTIVAL BOOK 2) by Arizona Tape

Desperately thirsty and with her shop on the verge of ruin, the last thing Logan expects is to find help in the form of a human escaping from the rain. Ana knows to be wary of vampires, especially those who haven’t had enough to drink. But when the rain forces her to take shelter, she has to trust in the kindness of a stranger, even if they’re a vampire. A simple exchange of favours leads to an unlikely friendship and the potential for more. Is Logan brave enough to take a chance on the human she’s just met? Blood Kindness is a paranormal vampire romance featuring an f/f couple and a futuristic setting. It is set in the Hybrid Festival World.      Amazon     Kobo

THE SPLENDID CITY by Karen Heuler

n the state of Liberty, water is rationed at alarming prices, free speech is hardly without a cost, and Texas has just declared itself its own country. In this society, paranoia is well-suited because eyes and ears are all around, and they are judging. Always judging. This terrifying (and yet somehow vaguely familiar) terrain is explored via Eleanor – a young woman eagerly learning about the gifts of her magic through the support of her coven. But being a white witch is not as easy as they portray it in the books, and she’s already been placed under ‘house arrest’ with a letch named Stan, a co-worker who wronged her in the past and now exists in the form of a cat. A talking cat who loves craft beers, picket lines, and duping and ‘shooting’ people. Eleanor has no time for Stan and his shenanigans, because she finds herself helping another coven locate a missing witch which she thinks is mysteriously linked to the shortage of water in Liberty.    Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

MYTH OF DRAGONS: DRAGON TAILS by Aja James

Every lore of every clan, across time and space, dreamed of dragons. Did you ever wonder why? Erebu the Black Dragon must answer the Jade Emperor’s summons to repay the debt for his miraculous resurrection from a fatal battle. Accompanying him is his Phoenix Mate, Sorin. Their success is limited by seemingly arbitrary rules and an even more arbitrary sandglass of time. The only things they can count on is that: 1) each of their quests takes them to a time in the past, 2) they will witness (and perhaps even enable) True Love along the way, and 3) the Universal Balance hangs in…well, the balance. Their fourth task is to find and retrieve the Myth of the Pale Prince. Except, this time, there’s a sudden change of players. With Sorin battling unknown demons, and Ere refusing to leave his side, Ere’s biological son Benjamin, a dragonling in training, volunteers to take up the quest in Ere’s stead. By his side is Annie, his best friend and blossoming fire witch. Two barely legal teenagers shouldering the fate of the world…What could go wrong? (…more blurb on ebook page…)   Amazon KU

KID WOLF AND KRAKEN BOY by Sam J Miller

“Kid” Wolffe is an up-and-coming boxer in 1920s New York. An honest fighter’s got little chance at success on the mob-controlled circuit—until ambitious lieutenant “Hinky” Friedman starts making moves to take over her boss’s business, and sees a use for the kid. Teitelstam is a struggling tattoo artist, whose natural talent for ink magic won’t amount to much without formal training. So he’s got no idea why Hinky would offer him ten times what he’s worth to come work for her. But Hinky has a vision for a better world, and her high-stakes plan to make it reality requires both Wolffe’s fists and Teitelstam’s magic. What neither Wolffe nor Teitelstam expects is to fall in love; and in this world, love might be more dangerous than deadly magic or an underworld turf war.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

ALPHA RISING (SECRETS OF THE NORTHLAND SHIFTERS BOOK 2) by A S Green

Resistance is futile. After Sarah McAvoy’s heroic efforts to save Reese Fitzpatrick’s family business—the Evergreen Resort & Retreat Center—the mountain lion that prowls beneath Reese’s skin rises to dominance. It prizes loyalty above all else, and it demands Reese claim Sarah for his own. But Reese had a front row seat to the heartache that comes from choosing a human mate, and he refuses to repeat his father’s mistake. No matter how brave Sarah proves herself to be. Unfortunately, the more Reese resists his nature, the more volatile the lion becomes. And when another man’s threats against the resort devolve into threats against the woman Reese has come to love, the mountain lion rises to make its ultimate move. It’s the age-old game of “predator and prey,” and only one alpha can survive.    Amazon KU

WAKE THE BONES by Elizabeth Kilcoyne

The sleepy little farm that Laurel Early grew up on has awakened. The woods are shifting, the soil is dead under her hands, and her bone pile just stood up and walked away. After dropping out of college, all she wanted was to resume her life as a tobacco hand and taxidermist and try not to think about the boy she can’t help but love. Instead, a devil from her past has returned to court her, as he did her late mother years earlier. Now, Laurel must unravel her mother’s terrifying legacy and tap into her own innate magic before her future and the fate of everyone she loves is doomed.    Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

HOOKED: NEVERLAND WILL NEVER LET GO by A C Wise

Once invited, always welcome. Once invited, never free. Captain James Hook, the immortal pirate of Neverland, has died a thousand times. Drowned, stabbed by Peter Pan’s sword, eaten by the beast swimming below the depths, yet James was resurrected every time by one boy’s dark imagination. Until he found a door in the sky, an escape. And he took the chance no matter the cost.  Now in London twenty-two years later, Peter Pan’s monster has found Captain Hook again, intent on revenge. But a chance encounter leads James to another survivor of Neverland. Wendy Darling, now a grown woman, is the only one who knows how dark a shadow Neverland casts, no matter how far you run. To vanquish Pan’s monster once and for all, Hook must play the villain one last time.      Amazon     Kobo

EMERALD SKIES: PRIMORDIAL GODS BOOK 2 by P S Nail

After being abducted by the Demon King, Erebus, and rescued by the King’s Guard, Cinder Lavaris has moved to the country of Ashbern, to Castleva Manor. Being the only person living in the manor that isn’t a member of the King’s Guard, she has nothing to spend her free time on except for the Angel, Cashmere Voland, who has completely captivated her. Unfortunately, Cash seems distant recently and her sister is busy enjoying her mated life and going on missions, leaving her mostly alone. She now spends her free time hanging out with the servants and baking with another male Angel—one that is giving her the attention she needs. What she doesn’t know is that the King’s Guard is having secret meetings with the rulers of the lands. Erebus is still out there, and the Demons are still attacking, while everyone is keeping it secret from her on her sister’s orders. Will she forgive her sister when more than one secret comes out?      Amazon KU

WHERE YOU LINGER by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam

VS Note: Magical realism stories.

Bones of extinct species wander a campground, stalking a group of friends in love with the same woman. The object of their affection seeks solace with a couple in a world with rain that kills. A woman moves away from her repressed home town, only to transform into a man-eating monster when she returns. A robot assassin avenges women ruined by capitalism. Journey to the liminal space with acclaimed author Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam where interconnected stories span from past to future among the dead and the living.      Amazon

THEY DROWN OUR DAUGHTERS by Katrina Monroe

If you can hear the call of the water, It’s already far too late. They say Cape Disappointment is haunted. That’s why tourists used to flock there in droves. They’d visit the rocky shoreline under the old lighthouse’s watchful eye and fish shells from the water as they pretended to spot dark shapes in the surf. Now the tourists are long gone, and when Meredith Strand and her young daughter return to Meredith’s childhood home after an acrimonious split from her wife, the Cape seems more haunted by regret than any malevolent force. But her mother, suffering from early stages of Alzheimer’s, is convinced the ghost stories are real. Not only is there something in the water, but it’s watching them. Waiting for them. Reaching out to Meredith’s daughter the way it has to every woman in their line for generations—and if Meredith isn’t careful, all three women, bound by blood and heartbreak, will be lost one by one to the ocean’s mournful call. Part queer modern gothic, part ghost story, They Drown Our Daughters explores the depths of motherhood, identity, and the lengths a woman will go to hold on to both.      Amazon      AB      Apple Books     Kobo

THE NIGHT SHIFT: A NOVEL by Natalka Burian

Hidden behind back doors of bars and restaurants and theaters and shops all over New York City are shortcuts—secret passageways that allow you to jump through time and space to emerge in different parts of the city. No one knows where they came from, but there are rules—you can only travel through them one way and only at night. When Jean’s work friend Iggy introduces her to the shortcuts, it’s to help shorten her commute between her night shifts bartending and her work at an upscale bakery. Jean is intrigued but has a hard time shaking the side effects—the shortcuts make her more talkative, more open to discussing her past and recalling memories she’s tried hard to forget. When Iggy goes missing, Jean believes it’s related to the shortcuts and his growing obsession with them. But as she starts digging into their origins, she comes to find a strange connection between herself and the shortcuts. A shimmering, propulsive novel set in New York City during the early aughts and across time, The Night Shift shows that by confronting the past can we reshape our future.      Amazon      AB     Kobo

MERMAID OF BLACK CONCH: A NOVEL by Monique Roffey

VS Note: A re-release.

In 1976, David is fishing off the island of Black Conch when he comes upon a creature he doesn’t expect: a mermaid by the name of Aycayia. Once a beautiful young woman, she was cursed by jealous wives to live in this form for the rest of her days. But after the mermaid is caught by American tourists, David rescues and hides her away in his home, finding that, once out of the water, she begins to transform back into a woman. Now David must work to win Aycayia’s trust while she relearns what it is to be human, navigating not only her new body but also her relationship with others on the island—a difficult task after centuries of loneliness. As David and Aycayia grow to love each other, they juggle both the joys and the dangers of life on shore. But a lingering question remains: Will the former mermaid be able to escape her curse? Taking on many points of view, this mythical adventure tells the story of one woman’s return to land, her healing, and her survival.      Amazon      AB     Apple Books     Kobo

APPARITION (FIRST BORN DESCENDANTS BOOK 1) by Zahlia Amin

There might be a devastating power awakening inside Aleena, but that won’t stop her from protecting the hot couple living in the woods. She might also be a ghost sporting a massive crush on them, but that won’t stop her either. Frankly, with a mouthwateringly gorgeous werewolf and stunning smart-mouth healer going at it like rabbits, who can really blame her? Figures they’d end up being prophesied to save the world. Phantoms just can’t have nice things. When a sinfully flirty mage joins them as their fellow saviour, the puzzle pieces finally start to fall in place as they embark on their quest. There’s just one problem. Aleena doesn’t know where she fits. Only one thing is for certain. The magic exploding inside her? It’s out for blood. Aleena is all too willing to oblige. Anything for them.      Amazon KU

NIGHT IVY (ALYSSIA) by E D E Bell

Xelle is sure in her passion for magic, but struggles to find her place within the constructs that enable its study. Night Ivy offers the first verse of a wandering bard’s tale of fancy and fantasy, amidst the spires and shadows of the seven towers of Alyssia. The first book in the fantasy world of Alyssia, featuring plant magic, friendship, and dragons.      Amazon     Kobo

FLIGHT 444 (THE SYD BRIXTON TIMEBLONK SERIES BOOK 2) by MJ Mumford

Syd Brixton can timeblink. So when she and her sister are trapped on a crashing plane, Syd doesn’t hesitate to use the power to transport them both back in time five years. But things get complicated when they arrive in 2019 and discover three strangers have inadvertently hitched a ride, one of them with a dark and deadly past. It wouldn’t be a problem if Syd could timeblink everyone back to the present, back to anywhere but a looming air disaster. Unfortunately, timeblinking doesn’t work like that. It comes with its own set of rules–and those rules make the group’s return to their present just as dangerous as if they had stayed on the doomed plane. Syd has not chosen this date randomly, though. Her son’ father, Morley, is still alive in 2019 and the only person on the planet who can help get her back to where their little boy is waiting. But when two of the passengers go missing–one a known murderer–the entire group’s return to the present is threatened. And now, even Morley may not be able to prevent them from being stuck in the past . . . separated from their loved ones forever.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

JUST A NIBBLE (MISFIT BAY BOOK 2) by Milly Taiden

A confirmed bachelorette, Annie, has vowed to never have a boyfriend or be in a relationship that requires more than just sexy times. She’s just not made that way. When she sees a man-eating alligator at her feet, she zaps him with her magic to find it shifts into the only man she’s been unable to forget since the one night they had together before she moved to Misfit Bay. It can’t be. Why would he be there now that she’s trying to stick to being single? Now, her world is in a tizzy when a crazy scheme to turn her into an alligator goes all wrong. She’s gonna die from abstinence if the spell isn’t fixed soon. Only one man, or gator, can keep her sane, and he wants more from Annie than she’s willing to give. Will true love finally tear down her walls? Or will wayward witchcraft cause her to be killed by a rival faction?     Amazon KU

FATED WITH FIRELIGHT (DRAGON FIREFIGHTERS BOOK 6) by Ashe Moon

As the shrine priest, omega Enry’s matehood is prized and sought after by the less-than-eligible alphas of his secluded human village. It’s the night of the claiming competition, and just when it seems like Enry’s fate is decided, a winged figure appears in the moonlit sky. It’s been decades since one of these revered beings visited Silver Mountain—have Enry’s prayers to be swept off his feet by an alpha dragon finally been answered? A vacation to a mountain hot springs, they said. It would be fun, they said. Crashing a sacred ceremony and ending up mated to an overly adoring, dragon-obsessed omega was not how the commitment-phobic alpha fire drake Layne expected to spend a trip with his flight brothers. Charged with a week to test their arranged marriage, Layne is more than reluctant about Enry’s crazy insistence they’re fated mates bound by the spirits of the mountain. But when a mysterious power leaves him intoxicated by this strange human, Layne finds his defenses on the backburner—no matter how badly he wants to resist.      Amazon KU

TREMORS THROUGH TIME by Anastasia Abboud

She’s made mistakes and paid the price, but Deidre Chisolm is no quitter. She’ll never again be a fool for a man, not even her gorgeous new neighbor with his haunted eyes and strange accent. She’ll be friendly, but nothing more. Lachlann has to go back to fourteenth-century Scotland. He can’t forsake his family, his son. But when a beautiful, kind, funny lady buys the house next door, he’s never been so drawn to anyone in his life. Would she believe his story? After years of struggling through nightmares and flashbacks, headaches and illiteracy, dare he ask her to help him return?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DEATH AND MIRRORS (ALL THINGS DARK AND DEADLY BOOK 1) by SF Benson

Evaline Wainwright is the daughter of acclaimed occult archaeologists. The necromancer stumbles upon a mystery when a stranger dressed in black comes to the Wainwright home seeking help. Determined to discover the truth behind the visit, Evaline follows the woman. Chasing the bizarre female lands Evaline and her beau in a mirror world without rhyme or reason. The sun never shines, the fog never lifts, and it’s always damp. Life doesn’t thrive in Londinium because of a heinous criminal known as Doctor Death. The beast can be stopped, but they need the mythical Firestone to do the job. Can Evaline unearth the artifact and prevent the creature from killing anyone else?

Amazon

LAST CAR TO ANNWN STATION by Michael Merrian

Child Protective Services Attorney Maeve Malveaux is sure that Chrysandra Arneson needs to be rescued from her rich, powerful and abusive family. But how? Her boss won’t listen to her and neither will the judge. But after she gets taken off the case and sent on involuntary leave to get her out of the way, she’s determined to find out what’s going on. She’s not counting on joining forces with Jill, the gorgeous law librarian from work, and a mismatched collection of fairy folk. Or getting the ghostly assistance of the long-defunct Minneapolis streetcar system. And, perhaps, even a hand from Death himself. Mae and Jill are about to be caught up in a supernatural power struggle that will take them on an adventure from the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis into faery realms and beyond. All they need is a dime for the streetcar fare and a little help from their new allies to be on their way. But will it be enough to save a little girl and get them where they need to go? They’ve only got a week to find out.      AmazonKU      AB

HEXED OUT (FORTY’S THE NEW FOREVER BOOK 5) by Sara Bourgeois

Family means the world to Selene, so when one of her twins ends up caught up in the latest murder in town simply by being at the wrong place at the wrong time, she steps up to make sure the true killer is caught before further turmoil erupts in her family. She has enough on her plate with Niles trying to call her during the worst times, something that Cullen has certainly noticed. The cunning bachelor wants Selene all to himself without any pesky sheriffs or annoying ex-husbands getting in the way. Presto also reveals that he has memories of a long-distant place that he doesn’t know how to return to. He feels stuck in Hale Hall, but while Selene wants to help him, she’s not sure what he means whenever he mumbles something about the Twilight Manor and talking trees. What could the kitty be talking about? In trying to save her daughter’s reputation, Selene uncovers three potential suspects who were all close to the victim. She knows her daughter had nothing to do with the situation. However, with Sheriff Andrew peeved that she clearly prefers Cullen’s company over his own, he might just push a narrative that is nothing close to the truth. Selene hopes to put a stop to things before any more of her loved ones are caught in the crossfire.      Amazon KU

BEE AND HARP (CELTIC MAGIC ONE) by Siondalin O’Craig

Dublin Museum Curator Bee McBride’s research tour is interrupted by a shady stranger with a broken harp — and a broken heart. When Bee, the stranger, and the harp are kidnapped by art thieves, Bee discovers the dusty instrument is the legendary magic harp of the ancient Celtic god Dagda. Can her buzzing fervor find a way to unlock the harp’s music and the stranger’s ardor before Midsummer Night?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE ENFORCER AND HIS HEART (KINCAID PACK BOOK 5) by Kiki Clark

The mysterious Keegan has been haunting Nico’s dreams. Ever since the night he stormed through the pack’s protections like they were nothing, Nico hasn’t been able to forget the powerful young witch. Not his scarred face, his loyalty, or his fierce but sad eyes. Nico just wished he’d caught Keegan’s scent. He ached to know if his fated mate is a witch stuck on the other side of the country. No one will stop him from finding out. The Kincaid Pack is trouble. Everyone knew that, and Keegan’s coven forbid contact with them.  But Keegan broke the rules, and now he can’t stop dreaming about a shifter he barely caught a glimpse of the night he’d helped the pack. The teasing smile he sees every time he shuts his eyes is becoming a near obsession. One he isn’t sure he wants to stop.      Amazon KU

AUDREY (CASTLE OMEGA BOOK 1) by Elle Lincoln

An omega’s guide to surviving… That’s all. Just Survival. First, if you want a midnight snack because you just can’t sleep, then try a sleep aid. Or, if you are like me and driven by your stomach, then go for a walk and see what happens. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though, because you might witness the murder of a bonded omega. Second, don’t panic. Whatever you do, do not panic and run for your life, but if you freak out, then remain quiet and do not race into a potted plant, giving away your location. Third, if you literally fall into a delta’s arms during your escape, and he smells like sweaty nights and a potential mate, then listen when said mate tells you to run, because that is the only way you will survive. Run. I mean it. Act like you are a track star and take off into the night, and whatever you do, don’t look back. Fourth, if you are an unbonded omega like me, don’t be naïve. The council will hunt you down and find you, regardless of how much time has passed. Don’t get complacent, take precautions, and again, do not panic. The biggest lesson of all? Mates don’t let their omegas go that easily. When he finds me, he’s not alone.       Amazon KU

HEART OF THE WOLF (THE WILD HUNT LEGACY BOOK 6) by Cherise Sinclair

ll she wanted was a family. It wasn’t to be. Ripped apart at the loss of her unborn babies and the uncaring lovers who’d rejected her, Heather locks away her heart. Her dreams never come true. She has nothing left to lose. She will warn the God that the appointed guardian of Rainier territory is destroying the clan. If she dies during the ritual, so be it. Far away, three brothers are content with their lives. A Canadian Mountie, André is a take-charge protector of innocents. A computer hacker, Niall was called by the god to fight for his people. A chef, Madoc is so heart-wounded, he’ll cross the street to avoid a female. Their circle is closed. No mate need apply. When Niall goes missing, André and Madoc find their injured brother in a mountain town. And there, in one devastating moment, the Mountie loses his life as he knew it—and so do his loyal brothers. Andre’s life of avoiding entanglements disappears as he begins to care for his new clan…and a smart, generous female with the biggest heart in all the land. Maybe he can get his brothers for fall for her. But his plan is crushed when danger threatens all he holds dear.     Amazon     Kobo

MATING MADDOX by D J Heart

Maddox  – On his first day of kindergarten, Maddox shared his crayons with a young werewolf and gained a best friend for life. Fiercely loyal, kind, and always up for a good time, Vidarr is a cinnamon bun and Maddox would do anything to protect him.  Vidarr’s older brother, Thor, on the other hand, Maddox would gladly push into a sinkhole. Where Vidarr is happy, good-natured, and kind, Thor is a brutish bully who’s hated Maddox since the day they lay eyes on each other.  The feeling is almost mutual.  Thor, with his big muscles, leather jackets, and thighs that could crush boulders, is the worst person Maddox knows, and Maddox would rather eat sand than admit that the highlight of his week is when they inevitably get into a fight and Thor puts him in a headlock. It’s purely physical, Maddox tries to convince himself. Thor is the pinnacle of a werewolf alpha–with his chiseled features, dominant attitude, and tendency to manhandle people into submission–and anyone with eyes would be attracted to him. Right? It’s not like Maddox has a crush or anything.  Thor – Sometimes, Thor looks at the person the universe chose to be his mate and wonders ..(more blurb on ebook seller page…)      Amazon KU 

FADED LUCK (TWISTED LUCK BOOK 6) by Mel Todd

For Cori Munroe, carrying a surrogate baby shouldn’t be any big deal. She’s got magic on her side, right? Wrong. Pregnancy is fritzing her magic, while she has to deal with a variety of work issues, up to and very much including a huge medal ceremony involving the United States and China for saving D.C. and China’s reputation. Then the Council of Lords wants her to represent Earth’s mages. All while trying to deal with magical issues without her usual power levels. Bombs, terrorist attacks, and work pressures are hard for anyone to deal with, let alone a pregnant woman. But when her family’s safety is threatened, Cori’s going to find a way to protect them…or die trying. With her twisted luck, anything can happen.      Amazon KU

BLOOD AND VOWS (TWISTED LEGENDS COLLECTION BOOK 1) by K Easton

Never make a deal with the devil–especially if that deal entails holy matrimony. There’s only one rule my mother passed down to me before she died: Never venture into the east side of Edinburgh. I never questioned it. There are creatures in this world that could hurt us, she’d said. So, I stay away—until my life hits rock bottom, and I find myself curious about the forbidden side of the ancient city.
It doesn’t seem all that different here–bars, clubs, restaurants. Just like the human side. One too many drinks later, he finds me. A silly poem and a whispered wish are all it takes for him to rip through the mirror between realms and pin me against a wall. Cruel, inhuman, cunning. A demon—an actual prince from hell. With horns. What could he possibly want from me? Marriage, apparently. Because as it turns out, Bloody Marius is dead serious about upholding his end of the deal.     AmazonKU

OMEGA’S FIGHT (STORMSHIELD BOOK 3) by Claire Cullen

The courtship festival has finally come to Stormshield. With his kingdom under threat, marriage is the last thing on Prince Rex’s mind. The solution? Fake a courtship to an omega prince. Brennan, the forgotten prince of his kingdom, was banished as a child to the icy prison he calls home. When he’s offered the chance to earn his freedom, he grabs it with both hands. His task? Join the marriage circuit and destroy the kingdom of Stormshield. When fate conspires to throw Brennan into the path of Prince Rex, he’s happy to use their fake courtship to cover his real purpose—to find and sabotage the kingdom’s magical shield. But there’s a reason why he was banished and why he’s the omega chosen for such a difficult task—he’s cursed. The more time Rex spends with Brennan, the more he’s drawn to the omega. Brennan is the only bright spark in a month of pointless pomposity. But it’s hard to focus on matchmaking when Stormshield is in danger from persons unknown. As Brennan’s plans come to fruition, he finds it’s not as easy as he believed to destroy those people he’s come to care for. With his freedom at stake, Stormshield’s very survival on the line, and his growing love for Prince Rex, he’s torn. Does he choose his freedom or his heart? And if he gives up his secret—his curse—his freedom isn’t the only thing at stake.      Amazon KU

TESTED BY THE ALPHA (MATE HUNT 5) by Lola Glass

All it took was one dang food delivery order…Because when the guy answered the door to tip me, my wolf took over. And now I’m hunting him. I thought my first mate was bad enough. My wolf rejected him after he hit me, and I was more glad than I can ever say. Especially when I found out a few weeks later that I was pregnant. But things are more complicated this time. Now, my toddler is involved… and being taken-care-of by the guy my wolf is hunting, who clearly doesn’t know what to do with a little boy. But he’s trying, and he’s kind, which is a lot more than I can say about the jerk who got me pregnant. The last thing I wanted was to do this mating thing all over again… but now that I’m here, I’m starting to wonder if maybe fate doesn’t get everything wrong.       Amazon KU

GRAY WITCH (BLACK HAT BUREAU BOOK 5) by Hailey Edwards

Famous monsters are resurrecting across Mississippi, each one recreating their own gruesome deaths through new victims. Every time Rue pins down one horror legend, another appears with its own bloodthirsty agenda. The summoners raising these vengeful spirits save their best for last, a cruel gift that shatters Rue. But she’s not the only one whose heart gets broken. Once her father realizes what the summoners have done, who they’ve awakened, there is nowhere they can hide where he can’t find them. After this final betrayal, there are no limits on how far he’s willing to go to bring down Black Hat, the director, and anyone else who gets in his way. Including his own daughter.     AmazonKU

PHASE OF HATE (PHASE MOUNTAIN PACK BOOK 2) by Coralee June

I was a prodigy. A grieving sister. A girl falling for him. I died, and now I’m reborn. Stronger. Deadlier. Angrier. I’m determined to punish those that turned me into a monster. The curse kept me alive, but at what cost? I’m at war with my nature. I refuse to ever accept my fate. Once a prodigy, now a curse. Once love, now hate.      Amazon KU

DECEIVING D’VAIRE (D’VAIRE BOOK 30) by Jessamyn Kingley

Greyson Variusdraconis is a newly shifted dragon searching for purpose. Growing up in the Consilium Veneficus, his tutors taught him not to trust Fate. Raised by his elder brother who serves their king directly, Greyson still lives under his sibling’s roof. King Varius recently signed a treaty, so Greyson’s job is guarding wizards. Greyson finds it boring, and he worries his brother will never accept his desire to avoid a political arranged marriage. As a child, Morgen Bassett struggled to find his footing. Two centuries later, the wizard works in a tiny library, lacks family, and has a rented room barely large enough for its furniture. Although Morgen’s early education included mentions of matebonds, the split between the Council of Sorcery and Shifters and the Consilium changed everything. With no promise of his other half or anything else, Morgen is doing little more than surviving. On an otherwise normal trip to the supermarket, Greyson and Morgen meet, and neither man is prepared for the force of their connection. Not long after the sparks fly between them, Greyson accepts a mission to infiltrate the Draconis High Court of D’Vaire. The pair will have to find a way to stay together. Should they be successful in gaining entry, they’ll also need to learn how to unearth all the D’Vaire secrets. However, Greyson and Morgen will soon find that nothing about their lives is what it seems.      Amazon KU

KINGDOMS OF SHADOW AND ASH by H R Moore

Legend states that when a ruler worthy of the name reunites the Five Kingdoms, the dragons will return. Fyia has done just that, and she wants her dragons. But the dragon eggs are missing, her five war-ravaged kingdoms are unhappy bedfellows, and calls for her to marry grow ever louder. Fyia hasn’t fought so hard to hand her spoils to another, and her quest to find the missing eggs leads her to the powerful, reclusive King of the Black Hoods. A formidable man whose magical abilities match her own, as does his stubbornness. When he refuses to help, she must find a way to make him, even if that means risking the frozen wilds with the infuriating King … even if it means risking the one thing she swore she never would: her heart.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE MOONS OF OCANA (THE WORLD OF OCANA BOOK 2) by Jessica Kemery

Bryn faces her biggest challenge yet and is forced to take on a role she never expected to have to tackle so soon. After a disaster in the mines, grief and despair threaten to destroy both her kingdom and her relationship with her mother, who is just now finding her place. Torn between leading her kingdom and caring for the one she loves she must make the hardest choices of her life. Determined to blaze a new path, Bryn sets off in her airship, to face down the forces that threaten the very fabric of the kingdom. With her young son now showing alarming magic above and beyond Bryn’s understanding, she must again reach out to her daemon relatives for help. But she finds that not all of her family wants to take her into their warm embrace, in fact, they would wish she didn’t exist at all. Can Bryn trust her magic, her mother, and the rest of the family to deliver her from evil, or will her plans doom them all?      Amazon KU

AGAIN: FOX HOLLOW ZODIAC NOVEL 2 by Morgan Brice

Lynx shifter Noah Wilson narrowly escaped being captured by the Huntsman. While recuperating in Fox Hollow, he meets his fated mate, wolf shifter Drew Lowe. Noah has to return to Canada to finish filming his TV projects, so he and Drew visit when they can and come up with creative solutions to their long-distance relationship. Noah and Drew are sure they’re meant for each other and start making plans. Drew’s dreams make him wonder if he and Noah are more than fated mates—could they be a true pairing, destined to find each other lifetime after lifetime? Then Noah accidentally records a murder, and the killer is on his trail. Can he elude a master tracker and reach the safety of Fox Hollow, or will he and Drew have to wait to find happiness in another life?     Amazon KU

HOMESPUN FATE (MARMALADE AND MAGIC BOOK 3) by Michael Anderle

You can bury the past, but some ghosts refuse to stay dead forever. Jemma Nox has learned that she is not the only witch in the family, but it’s far from a prestigious pedigree. And she’s not the only one whose past is coming to call. Mama B has been many things, guardian and mentor being foremost, but perfect isn’t one of them. Since her tutelage began, Jemma has learned that Mama B’s history is streaked like a polecat with tragedy, but things are about to get quite a bit more interesting. The sins of the father may be visited upon the 3rd and 4th generation, but what about the sins of the mother? Jemma’s going to find out one way or another. She’s just going to have to hope she can hold on.      Amazon KU

DREAM OF MY SOUL (DREAM SERIES BOOK 1) by Debra Jess

Vincenzia, the world’s only surviving vampire, discovers her fiancé and first victim has returned from the dead, giving her one chance for forgiveness. But, if the demon that hunts her didn’t resurrect the man she loves, who did? All Marc remembers from his Renaissance wedding to Vincenzia is her teeth in his neck. He’s really not in the mood to find his former bride, much less protect her from the demon he’s chased through hell for five hundred years, even if the orders come from an angel. Maybe time really does heal all wounds, but when Vincenzia and Marc reunite, they realize the rekindling of their love won’t stop the demon from stealing her immortality and using her hybrid blood to bring hell to Earth. Only a sacrifice will, but which one of them will have to die again so the world might live?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MONSTER GIRL INN by Misty Vixen

Victor Wolfe has roamed his country for twelve years now. Ever since leaving his tiny village to escape to a life that felt worthwhile, he has been traveling the lands, fighting battles, plundering old tombs, and bedding fierce adventuresses. It’s been quite the life. But that all changes when he has an intimate encounter with a monster girl, a dryad who opens his eyes to the possibilities of pleasure that only monster girls can provide. Now he is headed north, towards the famed Hinterlands. An immense forest of wild adventure, ancient ruins, and, in his particular case, intense pleasure. Once he gets there, however, what began as a simple jaunt of fun turns into something more serious when he meets Fiona the snake-like viper woman, who has dreams of running her own inn.    Amazon KU

MERCURY ON FIRE (WINGSPAN BOOK 5) by  April Kelley

Mercury is content with life. He loves being sheriff. He loves his clan. And he loves his sleepy, small town. When Wingspan turns into a refuge for a group of trafficked vampires, Mercury has mixed feelings about whether they should become permanent residents, and he’s not the only one. Several folks want the vampires out of their town, but some want to do it by any means necessary, even if that means resorting to violence. And then one day he gets called out to break up a fight between a vampire and two dragon shifters. Discovering the vampire is his fated mate, he has to make a choice: Fight for Wingspan or fight for his mate.     Amazon KU

LIGHTNING DRAGON’S MATE (HIDEAWAY COVER BOOK 3) by Zoe Chant

Lightning dragon Apollo has always known he’s broken – On the surface, Apollo’s life is perfect: Great friends, great job, and a great life in Hideaway Cove, the secret town where shifters are safe to live as their true selves. Inside, Apollo lacks the one thing that matters the most: a mate, and the hoard he needs in order to claim her. When human Felicity comes to town, he knows she’s the one. But without a hoard, he can’t protect her from the evil magic attacking the town. Felicity didn’t know dragons existed until one saved her life. Golden-eyed Apollo is everything Felicity never knew she wanted—except she can’t have him. Felicity isn’t in Hideaway Cove by chance. She’s a spy, sent to uncover the town’s secrets. And what could be a bigger secret than the existence of dragons? Felicity can’t endanger Apollo—or the adorable baby dragon seeking sanctuary in Hideaway. But if her boss finds out she’s switched allegiances, he’ll turn her life into a living nightmare. Hideaway Cove has been a safe haven for generations of shifters. When that haven is betrayed, it will take a magic no one has ever seen before to save them.      Amazon KU

A CURSE OF BLOOD AND STONE (FATE AND FLAME BOOK 2) by K A Tucker

From jewelry thief to interloper to queen-in-waiting, Romeria flees Cirilea a traitor to all. But the yawning distance between her and Zander troubles her more than any king’s bounty on her head. While Zander may have escaped by her side, he seeks to regain his throne, and no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor’s queen. She fears it won’t be long before Zander abandons her as everyone else she’s ever loved has. Zander sacrificed his crown to save Romeria’s life, yet he dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. As Ybaris’s plan to destroy Islor unfurls, a more insidious threat, orchestrated by rival fates, lurks beneath the surface. He can offer his allies no honest explanation for why he protects the Ybarisan princess and takes counsel from Queen Neilina’s caster, leading those closest to doubt his wisdom—and his allegiance. As their company aims for the Venhorn Mountains, steered by prophecy, Romeria is desperate to wield her newfound abilities to undo Princess Romeria’s treachery before the kingdom tears itself apart. But with the mortal rebellion swelling, bolstered by the gift of Ybaris’s poison, it may already be too late.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

GILDED FAE (ROYAL FAE OF ROSE BRIAR WOODS BOOK 2) by Shari L Tapscott

All her life, Sabine has been intrigued by the humans—the tales of their bustling cities, busy streets, and especially their grand theaters. But as a Fae princess of West Faerie, and the kingdom’s future queen, Sabine is forbidden from crossing the bridge that leads into human territory. When Sabine’s mother falls ill, she realizes this might be her last chance to experience all the things she’s only heard of in stories. She sneaks out of Faerie and travels to Davon, the capital of Valsta, and discovers the human world has a magic that’s all its own. But the beauty of the city is a mirage. Dark people lurk in shadowed corners, waiting to take advantage of a young Fae woman who’s wandered somewhere she doesn’t belong. Soon, Sabine finds herself trapped in an opulent prison, caught up in a web of crime and betrayal that extends all the way into her own kingdom. Her only hope of escape is in the hands of a human—one of her captors. Sabine is determined to win Alexander over no matter the cost, but when their battle of wills becomes a battle of hearts, neither is prepared for the consequences.     Amazon KU

DRAGON GUARD CRUSADER: DSRAGON GUARD OF THE NORTHERN ISLES BOOK 6 by Alicia Montgomery

A dragon nearing the end of his quest – After three long years, Water Dragon Thoralf is coming home. His quest to bring back his king’s lost dragon has taken him all over the world, and now he may finally have the solution. But to fulfill his crusade, he must once again face the beautiful, but broken Lady Willa. He hasn’t forgotten her all these years–nor what she’s been through. Still, after all this time, he can’t ignore the attraction and connection to her, but he knows her grief and pain is still deep, so he must tread carefully. A lady determined to overcome her past – Three years ago, Lady Willa lost everything–her family, her home, and her dragon. But now, she’s content with life without her dragon–or so she tells herself. But when the handsome former captain of the Dragon Guard comes back after a long absence to tell her that there may be a way to restore her lost dragon, she doesn’t dare hope. But Thoralf convinces her to help him, and together they work on solving the final clue. They grow closer and the attraction between them quickly grows into passion, but is that enough? Will they find a way to bring back her lost dragon or is it lost forever? Can they overcome their enemies and find their own happy ever after?      Amazon KU

PRIMAL WOLF KING (WOLVES OF THE NIGHT BOOK 2) by Lindsey Devin

Reyna married the ruthless Wolf King for the sake of her father’s kingdom, but she still refuses to give him her heart. Despite this, she can’t resist the opportunity to travel with Elias when he requests that she accompany him to the kingdom of dragons on royal business. Unfortunately, Reyna realizes too late that the journey feels too much like a honeymoon, and it will take all her strength not to give in to their powerful attraction. What’s more, as the Wolf Queen, Reyna is now considered valuable property. With their kingdom’s peace hanging in the balance, Reyna must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice for her new husband. But even her best intentions could go horribly wrong because their enemy is hiding sinister secrets.      Amazon KU

DOUBLE EXPOSURE (PONEKE SHADOWS BOOK 1) by Anne Barwell

Vampires and werewolves live long lives. The Sleepless City saga might have ended but the story continues… Someone is hunting supernaturals. Vampire Simon Hawthorne and his human partner Ben Leyton’s plans for a peaceful holiday with family are hijacked by the New Zealand Supernatural Council. Tensions are on the rise in Wellington. Supernatural councillors are disappearing. Werewolves are suspicious of anyone human or vampire. If they don’t work together, their enemy has already won. And no one with a connection to the supernatural world is safe.      Amazon KU

PROTECTOR’S PROMISE (HEAT HAVEN OMEGAVERSE BOOK 3) by Sarah Blue

Smith didn’t know what to expect when he started working for music icon Deja Fox (also known as Cami Jenson). He thought he was going to be protecting a needy, manipulative Omega. It winds up being far from the truth. Cami is beautiful and complex. He finds himself not wanting to be curt and short with her but actually wanting to get to know the real her, not her celebrity façade. She’s been used by others and doesn’t have many people in her life who she can trust. Smith makes it his mission to be that person for her. He can’t offer her what he believes she wants, like a pack or financial security. So he sticks to what he does best and puts keeping her safe above all else. But when Cami signs up for Heat Haven and Smith needs to be present for her protection, will he be able to keep his feelings and his hands to himself?      Amazon KU

POSSESSION (THE MATE GAMES BOOK 3) by Meg Anne and K Loraine

He saved me from a vengeful wolf but became a monster to do it. And now I’ve lost him. My Viking. My Alek. Locked away in Novasgard, he’s beyond reach. I have no way to find him. No way to tell him about my secret. About the two words that changed everything. To make matters worse, Noah and Caleb want nothing to do with me now that they know. Two little words, and I’m on the verge of losing them. My confessor. My berserker. My prince. My Alpha…the only one remaining by my side. A couple months ago, my biggest worry was finding my wolf. Now we’re dealing with demons, and fending off attacks from the fae. For every enemy we defeat, more lurk in the shadows. The one thing they all have in common? They’re after me. We’re not safe anywhere, and there’s something dark and powerful inside me. Something only Alek can help me control. I have to get him back, to fix what’s broken between all of us. Because if I’ve learned anything since coming to Ravenscroft, it’s that I’m not going to survive this without my mates. All four of them.      Amazon KU        AB

A DRAGON’S DESIRE (THE PRETERN WARS BOOK 2) by Shiloh Walker

SORIN: He is Zmeu, one of the great dragons of myth. As a young dragon, he was told an important truth: Dragons do not fall in love. They definitely did not fall in love with mortal women. It’s a lesson Sorin takes to heart. He might have had a mortal mother, but mortals had also killed her, leaving him alone. A dragon grown, he dwells in an impenetrable castle, living a dragon’s best life. He dances with fae swan maidens, steals baubles from unknowing kings, scoffs at mortals stumbling through life wasting time on war, hate…love. Then love finds him. In the village of his birth, a woman teaches him a truth his dragon family hadn’t—it’s rather easy for a dragon to love. Ever seeking solace, ever seeking home  – Easy to love, yes. But understanding her? Not so easy. Sorin’s arrogance led to her death…and a curse. Hundreds of years later, living in the New World as the world prepare for war, he is almost numb to the curse that haunts him still.  You will wander, you will roam, they’d said. He did. But seeking solace, seeking home? Home and solace were lost to him, every bit as much as his love. As penance, he guards the mortals in his territory, as she had protected those under her care. He’ll hold off the coming war as long as possible. When the time comes to take up a sword—or breathe fire—he will. It’s little comfort, but his lost love would expect him to protect. So he does. One night, a sudden awareness yanks him from deepest sleep. Chasing the faint magical trail, he finds a woman battling for her life. Just before a killing strike, he sees her eyes…eyes of haunting green.  The eyes of the woman he’d loved, the eyes of the woman he’d killed.

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SEDUCED BY A BEAR EMT (HEROES OF NEW YORK) by Lisa Daniels

One hot night with a gorgeous stranger, And I’ve been making horrible decisions ever since. With each passing day, I’m sure that he was my fate, And I chose someone else. Years later, and I’m full of regrets. I hate PR, but I’m one of the best in the city And it was worth it to keep my staff employed. But even that is no longer enough. Especially since some people now want to see me dead. I’m a survivor though, so I’m only mildly concerned. It’s the EMT that I keep encountering who’s my immediate problem. I can get past those seductive eyes and the way they trace over my body, but my heart didn’t seem to have gotten the memo. He’s infuriating but impossibly enticing. I never wanted to be that woman who fell into an enemy to lovers’ romance. But that’s exactly where I’m heading. If I don’t get killed first.       Amazon KU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

July 6

June 29

June 22

June 15

June 8

“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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Someone I Have to Find 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, continuing on with his attempt to break into the arena to rescue Jaine:

“How do I open this?” he said in response, redoubling his efforts. His highly sensitive Badari nose picked up the scent of fresh, hot blood from the other side now and he knew his time for protecting Jaine was running out.“I have to get to her before it’s too late—”

“Oh, to hell with this,” said a female medic. “Beastman wants in there so damn bad, I say we let him go. Make a betting pool, people, quick.”

Rennyr paused in his private war against the door as the woman sidled closer. He tried not to snarl as he said, “Please, help me. I won’t hurt you, I swear. There’s someone I have to find.”

“Your girlfriend?” she asked breathlessly, eyes wide.

He nodded.

“I wish my man was so dedicated,” the medic answered. She took three steps to the small control panel, flashed her ID at it and there was a click. The portal began to open slowly.

“I owe you,” he said but then all his attention was on forcing himself through the opening, not willing to wait even a few seconds for the door to open properly.

Angry shouts to halt announced the belated arrival of the guards. Stun rays made thudding impacts on the wall as he squeezed through unscathed, going a few feet onto the sand from his momentum. The door closed behind him.

VS: So is he in time? What do you think? We’ll see next week…

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.

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Why I Wrote JAMOKAN – Badari Warriors Alpha Finds His Fated Mate

From the Archive in honor of the fact Jamokan has just been released on Amazon as a paperback!

VS Note: This post first appeared on Pauline Baird Jones’s blog…

2020 was a challenge as far as writing. With all that was going on with the pandemic, lockdowns, social distancing, not seeing the grandkids, political stuff – wow, the Muse didn’t want to write. I thought I’d just do a short novella about Jamokan, the third Badari Alpha, and at least put out something.

Turned out Jamokan is a much more complex guy than I anticipated and the book ended up being 85K words and taking two extra months to write!

I’ve kind of been ignoring him since the series started – he’s been getting shunted aside fairly often, to be in charge of the sanctuary valley while Aydarr and the others go off on missions. I wondered how he’d be feeling about that – not very happy, I’m sure. So that was one taking-off point for the story and another was the question of who exactly Jamokan was as a person. I decided he was a fairly happy- go-lucky guy, not much given to deep thinking or strategy, although he was a good pack leader, an excellent soldier and of course an Alpha. When the book begins, he’s not happy about being third in line behind Aydarr and now Daegan, the South Seas Alpha and he’s decided what he needs is a mate to help him advance. And of course he assumes the woman will be a tough soldier like Jill or Flo, the mates of Aydarr and Daegan respectively.

So then I pondered who would be the most unexpected mate for a man like Jamokan, who could help him transition to being someone who thought more about the future needs of his pack. As the Badari goddess points out with considerable annoyance early in the book, after Jamokan and his men have a night raucously celebrating the three full moons, if he continues on the same heedless path he and his men risk becoming hermits and allowing the canid DNA pack to go extinct. He has to set the example and work on building a future.

All of which leaves Jamokan annoyed and puzzled as to how to proceed.

Enter Rosemari Parcher, human in dire need of rescuing from a grim Khagrish lab. I decided the most opposite person to what Jamokan thinks he needs is a somewhat dreamy artist.

But to keep her alive, he has to break a major Badari commandment, so there’s fallout from his choice.

And Rosemari has a mind of her own about becoming an Alpha’s mate and all that the position entails.

Plus the sneaky, devious Khagrish aren’t done with Rosemari or the Badari…

I really enjoy writing in the Badari world, and work hard to deliver a fresh story each time, not simply repeating the basic plot elements. I hope you’ll think I succeeded.

The blurb:

Badari Alpha Jamokan and his pack are growing discontented in the sanctuary valley, tired of coming in second place to the pushy new South Seas pack when it comes to assignments and everything else. On top of the discord within his pack, Jamokan is distracted by the search for the right woman to be a proper Alpha’s mate to partner with him in combat and in everyday life. Even the Badari goddess is warning him in visions that he and his pack are on the wrong path for a happy future. In desperation, he receives permission to take his entire pack north to the mountains for a two week hunting expedition, where he hopes to use the time and rugged surroundings to settle the soldiers down and restore order and discipline.

And figure out his own future.

When his men unexpectedly locate a hidden Khagrish lab, he goes to investigate and see if there are humans to be rescued. Little does he suspect he’ll be called upon to break one of the highest commandments of the Badari packs and bring a new disaster to those who look to him for leadership.
Before she became a Khagrish prisoner,

Rosemari Parcher was a hydroponics technician on a gritty colony world, who unexpectedly won a planetwide contest. Tapped to receive her heart’s desire and move to a totally different life in the luxurious Inner Sectors, her life had become a happy dream. Kidnapped in space by enemy aliens and given to the Khagrish, she and other humans are the unwilling subjects of a bizarre medical experiment where a quick death seems to be her only hope. Rescued by Jamokan and his pack, she finds herself deeply attracted to the Alpha but the devious Khagrish aren’t through with Rosemari or the experiment.

This is the fifteenth book in the Badari Warriors world (and the thirteenth book in the numbered series) and each novel or novella has a satisfying Happy for Now ending for the hero and heroine, not a cliffhanger. Genetically engineered soldiers of the far future, the Badari were created by alien enemies to fight humans. But then the scientists kidnapped an entire human colony from the Sectors to use as subjects in twisted experiments…the Badari and the humans made common cause, rebelled and escaped the labs. Now they live side by side in a sanctuary valley protected by a powerful Artificial Intelligence, and wage unceasing war on the aliens. Some overarching issues do remain unresolved in each book since this is an ongoing series but romance always wins the day in my novels!

Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo      GooglePlay      Nook 

Excerpt (edited a bit from published version):

When had he and Aydarr stopped being equals? When had he slipped down the dominance rank?

The day Aydarr’s human mate set Jamokan and his pack free in return for his allegiance to her and Aydarr. He’d had no choice but to agree—he had to save the lives of his men and cubs so he knelt to Jill and gave his word.

But perhaps Aydarr and I were never actually equal, no matter how it galls me to consider the idea.

Jamokan, acknowledged Alpha of the canid-descent pack of Badari Warriors, watched the man at the head of the table as he ran the meeting, not even making any particular effort to project his dominance, although the effects were felt by every Badari in the room. No one could ever forget who the unquestionable Supreme Alpha was. Even the humans sensed Aydarr’s power, or so it was said.

Jamokan had had this same debate with himself more than once since his kind gained their freedom and fled the deadly Khagrish labs, to shelter in this sanctuary valley and wage war on their old nemesis like true insurgents. No one questioned Jamokan’s status as a powerful Alpha, leader of fearsome warriors. Aydarr acknowledged him and his contributions but…he was undeniably second.

No, third. Jamokan’s attention shifted to Daegan, the newly arrived Alpha of the South Seas pack. The islander was only slightly less dominant than Aydarr. To be honest with himself, Jamokan thought the outcome would be uncertain if the two of them ever faced off.  He was older, more experienced at defending his position. Daegan possessed a high degree of power and was a cunning opponent, however.  Of course such an event was completely unlikely. Aydarr ran a well-disciplined operation and all three packs were blood allies. Blood sworn to him. Woven tightly into a structure suitable for battling the enemy. He’d never allow matters to become so heated between two of his Alphas that combat was the only answer.

He drummed his fingers on the table, talons slightly extended, until Aydarr frowned at him and he stopped, annoyed with himself for allowing his mood to show even so slightly. As the meeting continued, he reverted to his internal musing and his original topic.

Do I want to be at the top of the hierarchy? All the responsibility on my shoulders?

Again, to be honest with himself, Jamokan really didn’t. What he wanted was to run his own pack as he saw fit and not have to worry so damn much about all these other Badari, not to mention the hundreds of humans now dwelling in the valley. He allowed himself to daydream a bit about taking possession of a huge swath of the northern territory, with its unparalleled hunting and fishing opportunities, the mountains, the crisp air and other enticements which called to the wolfish predator whose alien DNA was combined with his. To run there in a pack or to go off on solo expeditions would be a gift from the goddess.

Let Aydarr rule the entire planet, as he fully intended to, should they ever manage to win this war. Let Daegan have the southern hemisphere he craved.

Give me the highlands and the mountains.

Of course he and his men would show up for combat. He’d never shirk the responsibility to fight the Khagrish but right now the confines of the valley and the life he was living chafed at him.

Free of the labs, yes, but yoked with responsibilities and protocol.

With a firmly repressed sigh of longing, Jamokan tuned back into the external discussion underway. Long meetings were not his favorite occupation. He craved the action and adrenaline of the combat missions, destroying their enemies.

Jill, Aydarr’s mate, was speaking, arguing for a continuation of the efforts to take down labs where large groups of humans were being held, despite the fact the valley was hard pressed to absorb them right now.  The Badari were all sworn to rescue humans where and when they could but in Jamokan’s opinion, the focus had become a distraction to the real mission of ending the Khagrish. He’d make the point again when it was his turn to weigh in. In this case, Daegan was on his side, he knew, and Aydarr willing to listen.

Jill…

Jamokan studied her as she made her points efficiently and in crisp, pithy arguments. He had no doubts about her capabilities, her bravery or her devotion to Aydarr and the Badari-human future.

The moment Aydarr began to evolve into the supreme Alpha had come when he mated this fierce human woman, who was a former soldier herself. She completed him  in ways no Badari could ever have dreamt of but obviously the Great Mother wished to have happen. The couple were a team outside anything the Badari pack had ever known.

And Daegan had Flo, another tough human soldier, as his mate.

Even Darik in his own pack, mated to Nicolle, who basically ran the human administrative side of the valley for the Badari, was showing signs of increased dominance and power. Jamokan grinned inside, while maintaining his stern Alpha visage. Darik had been the ultimate carefree soldier, happy to carry out his missions and then to kick back, play cards and take it easy. Then he met Nicolle and now he was damn near enforcer level.

Aside from Darik, his pack wasn’t doing too well at this mating business. Clearly the Alpha had to set the tone, as Aydarr and Daegan had.

He, Jamokan, had to get serious about this topic of mates, find the woman meant to be his and claim her. The change in his personal status would boost his pack dominance apparently, as well as helping his men find partners and put him on a more equal footing with Aydarr and Daegan.