New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for AUG 30

VS: I have a new Sectors story out this week in a spooky scifi romance anthology!

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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SUPRA VELUM: A SPOOKY SCIFI ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY by Various

VS Note: I have a story in this anthology entitled “Breaking the Alien Love Curse,” which is set in the Sectors, although not directly related to any of the other books. My first male main character with a tail! It’s a really great group of authors!

Misty, spooky love and trouble; Tails, horns, and frightful cuddles. We spin our threads, we authors many, Of horror, sweets, ghosts, and frenzy, So you may sup on alien peen, To quench your thirst this Halloween. Wander beyond the veil into a spooky season of scifi romance tales written by some of the genre’s most influential authors and rising stars. From cute and sweet to horrific and death-defying, these tales span the breadth of autumn and Halloween vibes with everything from autumn foliage and chilly breezes to zombies and haunted trails.

AmazonKU

WRECKED (A NEW WORLD BOOK ONE) by Eileen Troemel

This is a reverse harem older female scifi romance. For seven years, Major Kae Blint waited for a bonded pair to ask her to be their bond as was the Alurian tradition. But Captain Jent Hans and Lieutenant Tamr Loga didn’t ask. On a routine flight for requalification, Kae, Jent, and Tamr are sucked into a wormhole which spits them out in unknown space. With a ship leaking oxygen, they must land on a planet and find a way to survive until rescue comes for them. Jent and Tamr are a bonded pair of males looking for their female. They met her when she visited their pilot training. She’s older and one of the best pilots in Alurian Spaceforce but they wanted to be her bonded pair. Stranded on an ice planet, the three of them must learn to work together to survive. Will they last until they’re rescued? Or will familiarity breed contempt?     AmazonKU

FURI: GALACTIC CYBORG HEAT SERIES by Jessie Rose Case

FURI. A Cyborg created for war. On a mission for the Cyborg Empire. A female in jeopardy….. But he was no hero. If she was looking for help, she was looking in the wrong place.     AmazonKU

MINE (A BATAARI NEW WORLD NOVEL PART ONE) by Jessie Rose Case

VS note:  There all four books in this series, all released on the same day so here’s the blurb for book one.

He was hot, deadly and in need of a female. He would take what’s his. have her accept him. His body demanded the release it needed. There would be no objections, no more denials. He’d waited millennia to find her. Never expecting this new world to hold such possibilities. Or the promise of so much….Two very different people from two very different worlds colliding. Literally. Drawn to each other inexplicably. Their lives unexpectedly entangle. Both determined. Both driven. Brought together by forces they cannot control or understand. A driving force of desperation and need. And the outcome, could never have been foreseen…. or maybe it was…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)   AmazonKU

RA INTERGALACTIC GODS: GUARDIANS OF THE SEEDS OF LIFE by Jessie Rose Case

Was it that simple? Was she loosing it? Had she stumbled onto an ancient phone call system many millennia old that somehow, reached out into the stars? Did the ancients actually believe, they could call the ‘Gods’? And what? Get a response? That would be ………. crazy right?…..Lori had spent her best years looking for answers to the mysteries of the ancient world. All those texts in a multitude of languages from around the world on varying Gods over so many hundreds of years. With so many similarities. With descriptions of ‘Gods’ saving the people Strong muscular, unbelievably virile tall beings. Beautiful and Godly. Bringing gifts, with magical powers. Co-incidence? She didn’t think so. They might be decades or hundreds of years apart but they were all saying the same thing over and over again. No matter the continent or time frame, the story was curiously the same…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)   AmazonKU

BOUND TO THE TROLL (PLANET OF MONSTERS BOOK TWO) by Eden Ember

The monster breaks into my pod after crashing. I shrink back, hoping he’ll just leave. But instead, he starts sniffing and finds me. I was a nurse on the Magellan until it exploded. Now, I’m the only human that I know of on this planet of monsters. And this huge monster has taken a liking to me. Alone, scared, and ready to run anywhere for help, I find myself learning how to live among these new creatures. And oddly, I’m attracted to the one who found me first. Can a human and an troll have a relationship? Will I even survive the brutal life on this uncharted planet full of scary monsters?   AmazonKU

RULING SIKTHAND: THE CLECANIAN SERIES BOOK SEVEN by Victoria Avelline

Sophia never thought she was unlucky until she was kidnapped by aliens. Twice…
Sophia had simple expectations for her planetary tour. She assumed she’d see the sights, meet new people, and fend off her boredom. She never thought she’d end the trip as an alien captive. But here she is, the guest of a grumpy, sexy, warrior king who looks at her like he’s not sure if he wants to kill her, or claim her as his own…Sikthand hadn’t planned to take the stubborn little human hostage. But with political tensions at an all-time high, he had no choice. He would unflinchingly use her as a bargaining chip to secure better relations with the new Tremantian ruler. He would not, however, fall prey to her charms. No matter how tempting she might be…When Sophia and Sikthand realize how far their enemies are willing to go to grab galactic power, they’re forced into an unlikely alliance—and possibly a marriage of convenience—to protect their people. It’s a good plan, too…if they don’t do anything irrational along the way. Like falling in love.   AmazonKU

RESCUED: BRIDES OF THE KINDRED BOOK 30 by Evangeline Anderson

**Rescued is the story of two different couples with two separate love stories whose lives entwine at the end of the book. Don’t ask me why my Muse made me do this.** Davrik is a Kindred warrior who lost his beloved wife in a shuttle crash five years ago. Unwilling to accept her loss, he embarks on a mission to find her doppelganger in alternate universes. Sonya, trapped in a world devoid of love, becomes the center of his desperate rescue mission. Captured by the Scourge and sold to an alien brothel, Sonya’s life has taken a dark turn. When Davrik arrives, offering salvation, she is overjoyed at first. But that’s before she discovers a secret that shatters her heart and changes everything she thought she knew.  Lan’ara, an Empath Kindred, senses the emotions of others. Guided by her connection with Nate, a captured ex-Navy Seal, she races against time to save him from the brink of destruction. But Nate is suffering from severe PTSD, which makes him a danger to everyone around him. Can Lan’ara’s unique abilities can offer him a chance at healing? As both couples navigate their separate paths towards redemption, they converge in a final confrontation. Facing the malevolent AllFather’s tyranny, they must join forces to overcome the darkness that threatens to consume them all.   AmazonKU

THE BLUE, BEAUTIFUL WORLD: A NOVEL by Karen Lord

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

The world is changing, and humanity must change with it. Rising seas and soaring temperatures have radically transformed the face of Earth. Meanwhile, Earth is being observed from afar by other civilizations . . . and now they are ready to make contact. Vying to prepare humanity for first contact are a group of dreamers and changemakers, including Peter Hendrix, the genius inventor behind the most advanced VR tech; Charyssa, a beloved celebrity icon with a passion for humanitarian work; and Kanoa, a member of a global council of young people drafted to reimagine the relationship between humankind and alien societies. And they may have an unexpected secret weapon: Owen, a pop megastar whose ability to connect with his adoring fans is more than charisma. His hidden talent could be the key to uniting Earth as it looks toward the stars. But Owen’s abilities are so unique that no one can control him and so seductive that he cannot help but use them. Can he transcend his human limitations and find the freedom he has always dreamed of? Or is he doomed to become the dictator of his nightmares?

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

LURING THE ALIEN (REELING IN THE ALIEN BOOK TWO) by Alina Riley

Vikul, the sinfully delicious alien who tries to steal my vacation and claim my heart. When a hulky purple alien sweeps me off the beach, my vacation is over and I don’t have to worry whether others are looking at my chubbier body anymore. He tells me I’m destined to be his mate, a claim so unexpected it leaves me breathless. Except he has never asked me about any of that. Every inch of my body is electric with anticipation as he gazes at me with eyes full of passion and with his strong arms around me, telling me I’m perfect with my curves. Does he truly desire me, or is this just some otherworldly game?     AmazonKU

THE LAST HUNT: STANDALONE SCIFI BOUNTY HUNTER ROMANCE (THE GUILD OF TWO ROSES BOOK ONE) by Abby Grayson

MAEVE BLADESBEARER has been immersed in the criminal world for fifteen years as a bounty hunter for the Guild of Two Roses. Murder, kidnapping, thievery – Maeve has seen it all, and made a name for herself in the process. But all she really wants is to buy a plot of land on a remote planet and peacefully retire. When a bounty worth six million credits pops up, Maeve knows this is what she’s been waiting for. The only problem is, she’ll have to beat every other hunter out there – including irritating, charming, Aethon Trell – a man she’s been unable to get out of her head since they spent one desperate night together four years ago. AETHON TRELL is in a bit of trouble. Though he’s one of the Guild of Two Roses’ best hunters, he’s hit a dry spell and his debts are racking up. A six million credit bounty would solve all of his problems – but Maeve Bladesbearer won’t get out of his way. Aethon needs this bounty if he wants to stay in the Guild of Two Roses, but he’s going to have to screw over the woman who haunts his dreams in order to get it. When Maeve and Aethon are forced together, sparks fly as they face danger, contend with two sassy AIs, confront their pasts, and try not to fall for each other all while hunting down what might be the last bounty of their lives.     Amazon

WHERE PEACE IS LOST: A NOVEL by Valerie Valdes

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

Where peace is lost, may we find it. Five years ago, Kelana Gardavros lost everything in the war against the Pale empire. Now Kel Garda is just another refugee living on the edge of an isolated star system. No one knows she was once a member of an Order whose military arm was disbanded and scattered across the galaxy. And no one knows that if her enemies found her, they might destroy the entire world to get rid of her. Where peace is broken, may we mend it. Kel’s past intrudes in the form of a long-dormant Pale war machine, suddenly reactivated. If the massive automaton isn’t stopped, at best it will carve a swath of devastation that displaces thousands of people. At worst, it will kill every sentient creature on the planet. Where we go, may peace follow. When two strangers offer to deactivate the machine for a price, Kel and a young friend agree to serve as their guides. The journey through swamps infested with predators and bandits is bad enough, but can they survive more nefarious dangers along the way? And will Kel’s fear of revealing her secrets doom the very people she’s trying to protect? Where we fall, may peace rise.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

BOUND BY THE VORI: THE MATE INDEX: VORA by S J Sanders

When Kim Harris decides to volunteer for the Mate Index, it’s all about going big or go home. As a statuesque woman with a full figure, she wants a massive male—or better yet, males—who are capable of making all her dreams come true. With no immediate career prospects on the horizon and a savings rapidly dwindling, it seems like that the perfect time to take the jump—straight into the arms of two giant Vori, elite palace guards who will bind her to them with more than an “I do.” When she gets a position as an instructor for the Matriarch’s offspring, it seems as if all of her dreams are finally about to come true. She has obtained a respected position and is discovering love with her mates, who are among the first among the elite guards to be granted access to the program. It is like a dream but one that becomes slowly tainted as she begins to notice that there is something awry at the palace. Is it just youthful hijinks or something more sinister? And when danger threatens can it be that someone desperately wants her out of the way? If so, they will have to through Rykaal and Sijhord first! Larger than most male Vori, they have been permitted to have what always seemed untenable—a mate of their own—and they will shake the foundations of the palace itself before they allow her to come to harm. Nothing less can be accepted when, in all ways, they are bound.     AmazonKU

NAGA HUNTER’S LOST MATE (SERPENTS OF SERANT) by Robin O’Connor

I am caught by a beast but the longer he has me, the more I lose the desire to escape. Charlie – Everything is terrifying and strange on this alien planet I’ve crashlanded on. Especially the purple-scaled snakeman that ‘rescued’ me. When I run, he just follows me and I realize that maybe I don’t want to escape. How crazy is that? When his Clan threatens me, we’re hunted, and there’s only one option. We run and surrender to the sizzling desire between us. Mox – The scaleless female ignites my mating sigils. I catch her, never to let her go. She is curvy and tempting and when danger lurks I will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means giving up all that I knew, even if it means abandoning my Clan. For a chance at happiness in her arms? I would risk it all. This is a standalone novella, prequel to the Serpents of Serant Series.   Amazon

DEVIL’S GUN (THE DISCO SPACE OPERA BOOK TWO) by Cat Rambo

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

Life’s hard when you’re on the run from a vengeful pirate-king…When Niko and her crew find that the intergalactic Gate they’re planning on escaping through is out of commission, they make the most of things, creating a pop-up restaurant to serve the dozens of other stranded ships. But when an archaeologist shows up claiming to be able to fix the problem, Niko smells something suspicious cooking. Nonetheless, they allow Farren to take them to an ancient site where they may be able to find the weapon that could stop Tubal Last before he can take his revenge. There, in one of the most dangerous places in the Known Universe, each of them will face ghosts from their past: Thorn attempts something desperate and highly illegal to regain his lost twin, Atlanta will have to cast aside her old role and find her new one, Dabry must confront memories of his lost daughter, and Niko is forced to find Petalia again, despite a promise not to seek them out. Meanwhile, You Sexy Thing continues to figure out what it wants from life—which may not be the same desire as Niko and the rest of the crew.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

OWNED (EXCHANGED POWER BOOK THREE) by Ivy Barrett

It will take two to tame her. Since Raina Hays was taken from Earth, she has not merely been told she will be shared by two aliens, she also gets so intensely, helplessly aroused she can barely sleep at night. But when she’s captured by a Torretian mercenary and brought aboard his vessel, her situation grows desperate…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)     AmazonKU

HIS HUMAN TO CHERISH (UNITA12 BOOK TWO) by Morgan Robinson

A12-02 – I have exactly one goal: hide somewhere the aliens can’t find me and hope that they send a different human in my place. Last month, they sent a single human woman to live on another planet, and she apparently wasn’t murdered as soon as she got there, so now they’re sending me. My plan to hide backfires completely. Now I’m stuck on an unknown planet with a giant demon lizard man calling me a good girl and taking care of me because I can’t take care of myself. I should hate it, but the only thing I hate is that I’m so willing to find happiness in this place. Almaac – The goddess blesses us each month by sending a new human to our tribe. I hope that one of these females will want to be my mate, but I try not to get my hopes up in case the females want my brothers and not me. When the newest female comes to our world, she is badly broken and beaten. She needs help in everything she does because she is in so much pain. I’ve been tasked with helping the small human, and I will make sure that she is protected and feels safe. The world has been cruel to this female, and I promise I will only cherish her.     AmazonKU

ZAYPAUL (RSS STAR RUNNER BOOK TWO) by Leona Windwalker

ZayPaul yearns to be free. Free to go go where he wants without it having to be related to family business. Free to eat what he wants, dress how he likes on his own time, free to pursue the career path he wants, and most of all, free to be who he truly is deep inside. Not Paul, the dutiful worker bee to his father the Senator, but Zay, who loves to cook, enjoys pretty things, and can’t live without his beloved stuffie, Binky Dog. Banjan burgers were not the only item on the lunch menu. Lijack wasn’t expecting to meet his mate on his way to the ship’s mess hall. He definitely wasn’t expecting him to be the man who was currently the crew’s biggest pain in the exhaust tubes- Rue’s older brother who was intent on dragging him back for some political marriage. That’s off the table, but can he convince Paul to stay and give their mating a chance?     Amazon     Kobo

THE CLEARING (OUTSIDE BOOK TWO) by Shalini Boland

The clearing has begun. Children across the country are disappearing. And I’m the only one who can stop it…There was a time when our world was open and free. Those days seem like something out of a dream. Now, I live in a walled community, protected by guards from the wilderness beyond. Everything felt safe, until the last few years. That’s when the rumours started. And then I saw with my own eyes they were true…Children are being taken all over the country. Snatched from their homes, never to be seen again. As I look up at the stormy sky beyond the Perimeter wall, I realise I have to do something. I may only be seventeen, but I know where all those children are. James Grey and his terrifying followers are hiding the missing ones in an old fortress. They’ve been training them to fight, creating an army that’s growing stronger day by day. My best friend Luc is by my side. Everything seems strange between us, since the night we kissed, but he’s pledged to help me in my quest to stop this madness. Although fighting to end the clearing means returning to the last place on earth I ever want to go. It means allowing the chilling hooded figures to take us too. Luc and I are willing to sacrifice our own freedom in order to save so many others… but will we succeed?     AmazonKU

MY BIG HOT RED ALIEN by Nina Siren

My alien mate is going to be the death of me. The second I laid eyes on Zephyr, the connection was cosmic. And bless his heart, he’s so hot. But he’s also a hot mess. He wants to protect me. But he keeps putting me in danger! His rescues include breaking everything in sight. Wanton destruction follows him everywhere he goes. How is he going to figure out who keeps trying to threaten my life and stop them if I’m already dead? After all the chaos, will I still end up as his mate? Or will my heart (and life) be part of the collateral damage?     AmazonKU

TAKEN BY THE MONSTER (THE ARAGNOKAN MATES BOOK THREE) by M L Smith

Alejandra has volunteered to become a human breeder for the Aragnokan species in order to save her little sister’s life. There is just one thing getting in the way of Alex fulfilling her obligation and mating with a high ranking Aragnokan of her choice; the brooding warrior that sets her soul on fire. Klyok has never believed himself capable of having a mate, human or otherwise. Everything about his body is poisonous, from the blood in his veins to the saliva in his mouth. It only takes one wrong move by the right woman to make him realize just what he’s been missing his entire life.   AmazonKU

SCATTERED by Katherine Benfante

In 1906, Elie Rutherford dreams of joining the physics lab her father, the great Ernest Rutherford, heads at McGill University. Elie is thwarted from pursuing her passion in an era when women are confined to female-only college classes. Fueled by her burning desire for knowledge and purpose, she rebels against societal expectations, refusing to accept a marriage proposal that would threaten to shackle her dreams. Fast forward to 2006, where William Hertz, a brilliant graduate physics student at McGill, lives an introverted life, immersing himself in the world of astrophysics. Wounded by past experiences, he shields his heart from love, finding solace among his fellow misfit physicist friends. Little does he know that his life is about to take an extraordinary turn when a mysterious stranger appears, lost in time. Disoriented, Elie concludes a lab mishap brought her forward a century. Trying to blend in with modern students, she hides her identity until she meets William and risks everything by revealing who she really is. Elie and William’s shared passion for physics sparks a bond as they attempt to recreate the experiment that can return Elie home. Torn between her past and a 21st-century future with William, Elie faces a heart-wrenching choice. Will she find her way back to 1906 or embrace a new destiny?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

RUST AND STEAM (AN ELEMENTAL STEAMPUNK CHRONICLE) by Anne Renwick

VS Note: A short read.

Lady Alice Hemsworth wasn’t supposed to fall in love. It was her duty not to. Alas, she’d failed miserably. Mr. Benjamin Leighton—despite being turned away by her steam butler—can’t stop thinking about her. Alone, both are miserable—until a deadly encounter throws them together on the night train to London.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE PROPOSAL FOR UNITY (DARANII ALLIANCE BOOK ONE) by C J Dragon

There was peace at last between Earth and Daran, despite the mixed feelings on both planets. At least Jon and Talin could visit now as allies, instead of former enemies, not to mention the trade opportunities waiting to grow. Jon should have known his joy would be short-lived. A call from his father informed him of a plague overtaking Earth, killing whomever it touches. Warned away by his parents, Jon is determined to do whatever he needs to aid them. Daran answers Earth’s call for help, but now it is a race against time. Leaving for Earth, neither Jon nor Talin know if they will survive, or if they will ever be able to return to Daran. Will they be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure Earth’s survival? Or will a cure be the biggest threat to Jon and Talin’s lives while another enemy lurks in the shadows?

Amazon    Apple Books     Kobo

THE CAPTAIN by Elaine Waters

It’s hard enough being the only human on this alien planet with no memory of how I got here. I have no business being imprisoned by a military Captain. But here I am, handcuffed for weeks to a brooding, powerful warrior that’s convinced I’m a spy. I’ve been a servant at the Captain’s camp for months—cooking, cleaning, and living peacefully. When his tent catches fire, and I’m accused of spying, I’m taken as his prisoner. I don’t know how I’ll survive eating, bathing, and sharing a bed with the intense man for weeks. If the war raging across the planet doesn’t kill me, the building tension between the Captain and me will do the trick.     AmazonKU

REPRESENTING THE ALIEN BRIDE LOTTERY (KHANAVAI WARRIOR BRIDE GAMES BOOK 14) by Margo Bond Collins

When the annual holiday ball at the Khanavai Embassy on Earth goes horribly awry, Khanavai warrior and cultural attache Aarek Difaelis joins with human attorney Vivian Alexander to try to save the night–and maybe even find love in the process.   AmazonKU

BOUGHT BY THE RHAN (BONDED BRIDES OF THE RHAN BOOK ONE) by Ariel Ryan

She. Is. Mine. No frail human can match him…Kallan – My father has ordered me to breed a human female. Not that I expect a human to be strong enough to withstand the might of a Rhanian coupling. So I buy myself a human. But something’s not right. She makes every atom in my scaled body sing out. The fates have spoken. I don’t just want to mate this female. I want to bond her.No alien clan lord can claim her…Belle – I didn’t plan on washing up on a backwater planet shared with an alien race. But I’ve made the best of it, setting up my own bakery and making a life here. Until one of those aliens walks into my shop and literally carries me away. But something’s not right. I’m kidnapped and alone with a giant snake-man. I should be scared, but I’m not. Far from it. I want to tame this alien beast.   AmazonKU

A TOUCH OF UNITY (TOWERS OF THE EARTH BOOK SEVEN) by Nita Round

The echoes of the betrayal continue to rumble throughout Veritas. Weeding out the rot is no simple task. Not when the roots of secrets and lies run so deep that they infect every part of the organisation. There are other matters of greater need, and time is running out. Covenants of tower and clan must be met. Lucinda must raise her last tower to complete her ascension pact to the great Mother. That is if the trinity can survive long enough to find it. Powerful, dark forces conspire against them to thwart their plans. They must face their deadliest foe yet. If the Trinity fails, it will plunge the world and all existence, into eternal darkness.     AmazonKU

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

VS: If you’d like a few more of my Sectors short works, I’m highlighting STAR CRUISE STOWAWAY:

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STAR CRUISE A NOVELLA: STOWAWAY with Star Cruise Rescue and Golden Token Short Stories. 

In this volume I’ve gathered three stories set in the Sectors which have previously only been available in anthologies (which are no longer on sale), plus a bonus Sectors short holiday story that I originally wrote for my blog.

Star Cruise: Stowaway: A novella of 22K words, previously in the first Pets in Space™ anthology.

Cargo Master Owen Embersson is shocked when the Nebula Zephyr’s ship’s cat and her alien sidekick, Midorri, alert him to the presence of a stowaway. He has no idea of the dangerous complications to come nor does he anticipate falling hard for the woman whose life he now holds in his hands. Life aboard the Nebula Zephyr has just become more interesting – and deadly.

Star Cruise: Rescue: A short story of 9K words, previously in the ‘Romancing the Stars’ anthology.

When a shore leave excursion goes terribly wrong for Mira Gage, a member of the Nebula Zephyr’s crew, Security Officer Clint Miltan races the clock to find her before the ship leaves orbit and abandons Mira to her fate. Clint’s got more than a professional interest in Mira, but will he be able to save her from the aliens holding her prisoner?

The Golden Token: A short story of 13K words, previously in the limited edition ‘Dealer’s Choice’ paperback anthology handed out at the 2016 RT Booklovers Convention Interstellar Bar & Grille event. Sectors Special Forces operator Charlie McBrire had a few days to kill on a layover at Space Station 47. He never expected to find himself in the middle of a miners’ rebellion, fighting to save the life of a casino dancer he just met but can’t imagine living without.

BONUS: Star Cruise: Thanksgiving: A short short story of 3K words, originally published on my blog. The crew of the Nebula Zephyr arranges a holiday feast for one of their members.

Amazon     Apple Books     Nook     Kobo     Google

******************************OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT  (because my own books pay my bills) AND ONWARD WE GO!**************************************************

GARGOYLE’S DELIGHT (MONSTER’S DUET BOOK ONE) by Naomi Lucas

For centuries I have suffered. Solidified and silenced, all because I failed to destroy what I was created for. Except now, after so long… There is a female. One who always seems to be by my side. Day after day. Night after night. She talks to me. Touches me. Tells me things. She shares stories of a world I no longer know. She is a reprieve from my punishment. A sweet delight. She liberates me from my solitude. But when I rise, my adversary seizes his opportunity, and she’s caught between us. He only wants her to get to me. She isn’t his. And I’ll do anything to protect what’s MINE.     AmazonKU

SUMMER SOLSTICE (POPPY’S POTIONS) (HAVEN HOLLOW BOOK 31) by J R Rain and H P Mallory

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity…Or, at least, that’s what Albert Einstein said. But I’m not sure I believe it because it seems everything in my life has gone to heck, but I have yet to find an opportunity in any of it. Things are going so bad, in fact, that I’m wondering if I’ve been cursed. Of course, I don’t really have any enemies, so who in the world would want to curse me? Not only that, but Wanda insists I’m not cursed so maybe this bad luck is just exactly that… bad luck? Well, one thing I do know is that life would be a whole heck of a lot easier if I didn’t have this constant guilt gnawing away at me regarding my breakup with Marty. Sure said breakup was eight months ago, but things between us aren’t good—as in, he won’t really speak to me and that’s something that bothers me more than I can say. And as to Andre, the incredibly handsome and charming British magician who moved to Haven Hollow in order to instruct Finn in magic? Well, I’ve sort of, kind of, put things on hold between the two of us. Why? Because I can’t stomach the idea that Marty might think I’ve moved on so quickly. As things in my personal life continue to blow up (not even exaggerating), I start to wonder if whatever is going on is supernaturally motivated…Meanwhile, I’m trying to talk myself out of the fear that meets me every time I think of starting something romantic with Andre. Yes, worries and guilt about Marty are part of the reason I’ve been holding back, but the other part? Well, that’s all on me and my fear that this could turn out to be just another failed relationship in a string of failed relationships.     AmazonKU

NIGHT OF SECRETS: COURT OF MIDSUMMER MAYHEM BOOK TWO by Tara Grayce

Love is a distraction when the Library is on the line. Despite being humans living in the Fae Realm, Viola, along with her brother Sebastian, have achieved their dream to become librarians and establish their own outpost library in the Court of Islands. When an attack on their way to the outpost separates them, Viola arrives alone, not knowing if Sebastian is alive or dead. To preserve their dream and investigate what went wrong, Viola uses a fae glamour to be both herself and her brother. She didn’t count on falling for the island’s handsome fae ruler, Lord Orsino. But he’s in love with Olivia—the same fae lady who Sebastian had been courting. Too bad everything only gets more complicated from there. Can Viola navigate this tangled web of love to save the outpost library and find her brother? Or will an old enemy threaten not just Viola and the outpost but also the Great Library itself?      AmazonKU

PARKER’S FORBIDDEN MATE (OMBRA PACK CHRONICLES BOOK ONE) by Blake R Wolfe

AIDEN – Just when I thought things were looking up, my entire life falls apart, thanks to some guy. Now I’ve sworn off men forever since I can’t trust myself to pick the right one. And that’s the moment I met him, the tall, dark, and handsome man with golden eyes. But I can’t have him.My life is crumbling around my ears, and the last thing I need is to complicate it with a man in the picture. Now if I could just get him to leave me alone…PARKER – Begrudgingly I came home for the summer to blow off some steam after another failed relationship, intent on spending the summer alone to recover. But when a storm threatens a man out on the lighthouse pier, I run to save him. The moment my hand touches his skin, I hear a single word. Mate. But he’s human, and I’m a werewolf. If I pursue him I’ll be kicked out of the pack. And if I don’t I’ll be miserable for the rest of my life. All I know is that I can’t resist him. But can a werewolf and a human really find happiness together? I’m willing to sacrifice my place in the pack for him. Maybe I’ll just create my own pack so we can be together.

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SINS OF THE SARCOPHAGUS (A PERFECTLY PROPER PARANORMAL MUSEUM MYSTERY BOOK NINE) by Kirsten Weiss

Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt…Maddie Kosloski is about to unveil her new, expanded museum. But when the corpse of a local building inspector is discovered inside her prized Egyptian sarcophagus, Maddie’s plans are thrown into disarray. A modern mummy isn’t all she’s got on her hands. Running a non-profit paranormal museum is no get-rich-quick pyramid scheme. Maddie has stakeholders, more employees, and now donors to placate. Can she balance their demands and an off-the-books murder investigation? Maddie must race against the clock to unearth a criminal more cunning than the Sphynx. But will the cost of unveiling this killer be more than she’s willing to pay?

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SAVAGE IS MY KINGDOM: WICKED REALMS BOOK ONE by L A McGinnis

Two ruthless kings at war. A princess with a terrible power. Four broken warriors sworn to protect her. When I was dragged from my home by the Fae King’s vicious enforcer, I left my old life as a slave behind to become a pawn in an ancient game between two powerful brothers, the bearer of a stolen magic that could break kingdoms. Or forge a new one. But I have a secret. I can make this power mine, by sacrificing my most precious possession. My innocence. While ruthless males go to war over this terrible magic I never asked for, there is only one future for me. Claim the power, take the throne, become a queen. The closer I grow to my beautiful warriors, I discover I have more to lose than ever before. Some say love conquers all, but our dark bond could be the spark that leaves this wicked world in ruin.   AmazonKU

HIDDEN IN DECEPTION: DANGEROUS LOVERS by M Bonnet

Everyone is counting on me to change the world, but I can barely handle the changes within myself. Just as I think things are getting better, they nosedive and fall through the sky like a sack of bricks. And I can’t help but think they’re going to get way worse… I just have this feeling I can’t shake. Millions of lives are in my hands. My life is, too. This destiny isn’t one I chose, and I’m so close, I can taste it…or is that the sour flavor of deceit? I’m not even sure I want this life, let alone will be able to survive it. Or the intense love I find myself drowning in.     AmazonKU

ANUBIS’S STAR (VALLEYWOOD BOOK 22) by Giovanna Reaves

Doubt has never been part of Anubis’ vocabulary – he’s confident, driven, and knows exactly what he desires. He’d given up on finding his forever one. Yet, upon seeing Star, everything changes – from his immediate attraction and desire to his mysterious background. Despite his misgivings, fate keeps pushing them closer to one another, and neither Anubis nor Star can deny their affection for one another. Thrust into the world of magic, young, up-and-coming actor Star Rueng was hesitant to get entangled in love again. After being hurt by trusting the wrong man with his heart and career, he decides he doesn’t need the heartache. But the moment he set eyes on Anubis Ahket, he was enthralled to the point of obsession. As Star struggles to comprehend his newfound world, he soon realizes he cannot help but fall for a man he believes is too good for him. Fate never gets it wrong, even when it’s an instant spark of attraction.   AmazonKU

VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE by Isabel Canas

Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western from the author of The Hacienda. As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead. Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago. Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind. When the United States invades Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion—and Nena’s rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago—is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh. And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.

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MOON QUEEN (CRESCENT FIVE BOOK 3) by J R Thorn

My enemy isn’t who I thought it was. My Alphas have groveled, begged, and fallen to their knees to beg for my forgiveness. I’m still not sure I’m ready, but I’ll need to find a way if I want to face what’s coming next. The Hunters and the packs are stuck in a stalemate while some invisible force plucks us off one-by-one. The Storms have gone out of control and destroy the forest, the leaves, and any life it touches. And when I go home, even my own family turns their backs on me. I’m an Outcast and I know what Kane has felt for the first time. I need to find a way to forgive my alphas. Because if I can’t… how can I expect my family to find a way to forgive me?   AmazonKU

THE SOUL IN THE SWORD (A THRONE OF PEARLS AND BONES BOOK ONE) by Katherine McDonald

When the storm stopped, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay beneath that tiny roof and listen to the boy with the nice words forever. Six years. Six years, and I’ve never quite shaken him from me, each word he utters in my direction as thunderous as that moment beneath the rolling clouds. For hundreds of years, the kingdom of Albion has worked to exterminate the fey, but when the Blight, an infection that turns ordinary people into monsters rears its head again, Princess Brianna ends up taking on the mantle of Celeste, an ancient fey warrior of legend. Teaming up with an infamous thief known as the Red Wolf, Celeste begins a quest to rid her land of the Blight… all the while hiding her true identity from her father, who hates the fey and will stop at nothing to irradicate them. Alliances will be made and broken, friendships tested and lost, and Brianna will find herself torn between two very different men—her sweet childhood crush, Prince Aidan, and her partner, the dashing Red Wolf. Who may or may not be the same person. Sworn to secrecy by a prediction that heralds death will come if they ever reveal their true identities, Brianna and Aidan seemed destined for heartbreak—And the world doomed to destruction.     AmazonKU

MIDNIGHT IN THE RENAISSANCE ELEVATOR: A CHARITY ANTHOLOGY by Various

Do you like mechanical devices with personality? Sure, who doesn’t? How about when they hold your life in the palm of their hands? Hmm…less sure now, yes? Don’t worry, you’re gonna love this. At an LGBTQ literary retreat in October of 2022, a group of authors met a particularly cantankerous elevator. Doors slamming open or closed for no apparent reason? Check. Scary noises, also for no apparent reason? Also, check. Were we concerned for our lives? Okay, listen…This cranky elevator figured heavily into conversations for the next few days, many of which included expletives in a dozen languages, but eventually, it became a (somewhat) beloved mascot. Some people actually chose it over the other elevators! The resulting mayhem is over twenty-five different author takes on the underlying story behind the elevator’s peculiar behavior. Possession? Poltergeists? Personified mechanical objects? Vampires? All these unique stories come together in one volume: Midnight in the Renaissance Elevator. Join us as we attempt to explain the unexplainable, rationalize the unrationalizable, and give imagination free rein. Proceeds for the sale of this book benefit The Trevor Project, which provides crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. More information can be found about this worthy cause at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

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A GRAND MIDLIFE (WITCHING AFTER FORTY BOOK 17) by Lia Davis and L A Boruff

Ava Walker: Mom, Bonus Mom, almost-mother-in-law, and soon-to-be grandmother! The entire Howe-Harper-Walker clan is through the roof excited for Michelle and Wallie’s baby. Nobody more so than Lucy-Fur. In the midst of all the last-minute baby preparations, Zoey faces immense familial challenges of her own. After receiving a mysterious message from her cousin, Zoey goes on a journey to learn about her family and pride. Ava is at her side every step of the way. Not all of the news is good. Ava and Drew are determined to help Zoey and Larry find out what happened to Zoey’s parents. Zoey’s uncle, a gigantic man with an easy smile, doesn’t quite seem to be who he says he is. Could he be hiding some big clue that will help solve the mystery of Zoey’s parents’ deaths? Only time will tell. Sam and his new psychic powers would be very helpful in digging to the bottom of this if only they could pull him away from his own family research…With Olivia spending so much time dealing with her family, Ava’s support system is rather scattered at the moment. Oh, well, Ava can always call on her friends to help if push comes to shove. After all, what’s the point of knowing the ruler of hell, ruler of the vampires, ruler of the hunters, and being the most powerful necromancer in the world if Ava doesn’t use those connections?

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THE SHADOW AND THE SCREAM (THE NOWHERE CHRONICLES BOOK ONE) by Rebecca L Fearnley

A woman with a deadly past. A child, begging for help. Can she catch a monster without becoming one, herself? Terrified of unleashing her dark power on others, Annie has been a fugitive for five years. Hiding in the strange haven called Nowhere, a world between worlds, she struggles to stop her terrible magic from controlling her. But Annie’s quiet sanctuary shatters when someone else stumbles through the portal into her world.
Covered in blood, her clothes in shreds, the newcomer claims she saw a monster kill a man and begs for Annie’s help before the beast slaughters again. When Annie is pulled through the portal to hunt the rampaging creature, she expects blood and mayhem. What she doesn’t expect is her growing feelings for the town’s dark-eyed priest. But Annie has monsters of her own to battle and the truths she uncovers in this new world may bring far more brutal creatures out of the shadows. Can Annie hold off her own darkness long enough to uncover the truth about the monster, or will she become something far worse than the terror she’s fighting?     AmazonKU

REBEL VAMPIRE (REBEL OF THE OTHERWORLD BOOK TWO) by Brogan Thomas

They warned her to be more careful. If she’d listened, she wouldn’t be staring down the ultimate betrayal. Tru Dennison won’t be burned again. Still reeling from her angel mentor breaking her heart, the half-vampire, half-unicorn shifter greets everyone with suspicion. So when she’s attacked by a witch dead-set on taking her out, the clever woman is stunned when a human saves her by flattening the assailant with a frying pan. Befriending her rescuer, Tru allows herself to trust again. But her world turns upside-down when she’s issued an execution order for a disturbing target. Uncertain of the truth and torn between friendship and duty, can this supernatural assassin make the right choice?     AmazonKU

ROUSTABOUT: CARNIVAL OF MYSTERIES by Morgan Brice

Bartlett Gibson is a necromancer and an agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Supernatural Investigation. He’s hot on the trail of RJ Tucker, a psychic con man who has eluded him at every turn and led him on a merry chase. Pursuit leads to grudging respect in their game of cat and mouse, which becomes a high-stakes game of seduction. Bart chases RJ to the Carnival of Mysteries and realizes that nothing is as it seems. A dark witch’s curse ups the ante, creating a deadline for revenge and redemption, and the clock is ticking. Falling in love breaks all the rules. Can Bart and RJ stop the witch, break the curse, and find a way around RJ’s spot on the “most wanted” list before time runs out?   AmazonKU

TAMED BY THE LYCANTHROPE (FATED MATES OPF THE RIFTWOLVES BOOK SIX) by Chloe Parker

As a female alpha, I don’t play well with others. So what am I supposed to do when I find out my fated mate is not an omega, but a fellow alpha? And that he’s feral…just like me. The post-apocalypse landscape is a complex fabric of alliances and rivalries, and we have one last enemy to face: the Gulf Pack, and their angelic allies who turned us all into monsters. War is on the horizon, which makes it suspicious when a man who was supposed to be dead stumbles into our den. A man whose scent drives me wild. Ezekiel Pike is a ghost—presumed dead for years and highly skilled in covert ops. He introduces himself as a friend, but I know he’s got other intentions in mind. He’s our foe…and a deadly one, at that. When Zeke worms his way into our pack, I know he’s up to something, but I can’t prove it—not yet. I’ll have to get under his skin to learn his secrets, when all he seems interested in is getting into my bed. What he doesn’t know is that I’m the only one who can best him…and that he’s never seen anything like me. I’ll tame him or he’ll tame me. Fate will decide who ends up on top.     AmazonKU

MONSTERS ABOVE (THE CREATURES WE CRAVE BOOK THREE) by R L Caulder

The fight for our lives is upon us. Running to a new realm that could hold vital information is our only chance. With that comes closing the distance between me and the godly powers that wish to use me for their own gain. What we need is time to uncover secrets and unlock the powers that reside within me, but that’s a commodity we aren’t granted. When the time comes to make our final stand, will I finally be able to let go of the doubt that’s been festering my entire life? Will hope be able to cast out the shadows lurking around my mind and soul? I have to believe that it will.   AmazonKU

WHO LET THE DEMON OUT? (MONSTERVILLE BOOK 10) by Ava Ross

Do gruff, growly demons deserve second chances? Four years ago, I fell in love with a demon. Then he bailed on me, leaving me with a broken heart and a big secret. When I see a news article about Monsterville’s new demon sheriff, I recognize Venom. My heart may have healed, but our past isn’t over. I present him with our daughter, and he’s stunned and overjoyed. He’s still the gruff, growly demon I fell for with a soft, squishy inside he hides from the world. He has a good excuse for leaving me. He’s putting on the heat, making me fall for him all over again. And he wants a second chance. Do I dare trust my heart to the demon who hurt me?     AmazonKU

NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS: 13 TALES OF TERROR AND DELIGHT by Various

Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology that explores a night when anything is possible, exclusively featuring queer authors of color putting fresh spins on classic horror tropes and tales. No matter its name or occasion, Halloween is more than a Hallmark holiday, it’s a symbol of transformation. NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS is a YA horror anthology that explores how Halloween can be more than just candies and frights, but a night where anything is possible. Each short story is told through the lens of a different BIPOC teen and the Halloween night that changes their lives forever. Creative, creepy, and queer, this collection brings fresh terror, heart, and humor to young adult literature.

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RAIN OF SHADOWS AND ENDINGS (THE LEGACY SERIES BOOK ONE) by Melissa K Roehrich

A world the gods forgot.Of all the worlds and life they created, the gods favored their children the most. But with that favor came the fear that their Legacy would one day become too powerful and overthrow them. Devram was created. A realm hidden amongst the stars. The gods gave their Legacy the best of all the worlds, and then they left, a sworn agreement to never return and to never interfere.A historical event.Forced to a life of servitude, the Fae are required to provide for the Legacy in more ways than one. Every five years, the eligible Fae are gathered for the Selection and assigned to serve in one of the six Kingdoms. To be chosen as the personal Source for a Kingdom Heir is the greatest honor, and for the first time in a millennia, all six Kingdoms have heirs choosing a Source. But their selections could tip the power balance a little too far. A chosen that was never meant to be.Tessalyn Asura was as forgotten as the realm. But when she finds herself the personal Source to the Heir of Endings, she winds up serving in the darkest Kingdom of them all . The secrets within the Arius Kingdom are meant to be learned and kept, but this was never the life she wanted. Fighting not only the fate thrust upon her, but the temptation to lose herself to desire, Tessa will do anything to escape her new destiny. Until she starts to realize maybe their world wasn’t as forgotten as they thought, and maybe she’s the reason why.     AmazonKU

WHEN MONSTERS LOVE (THE MONSTERS AMONG US BOOK THREE) by Debbie Cassidy

Sometimes the path to the truth is littered with lies. If someone had told me that I’d find a haven among monsters, I’d have laughed in their face. But I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Now, with the world’s fate hanging in the balance, it’s time to take a leap of faith. Faith in myself. It means leaving Shem, the watchers, and Bastian behind. It means walking into Michael’s arms and trusting that he’ll keep me alive long enough for me to complete my mission. Because the third relic piece is hidden in the enemy camp, and I’m the only one who can get to it. The Golden City awaits. It’s time to put my acting skills to the test. It’s time to lie.     AmazonKU

DAWN’S DISCOVERY: DRAGONKYND (CREATURES OF MYTH BOOK 14) by Ravyn Wilde

Dawn Draconia is a Dragon Witch with a battered heart. The Dragon Lord placed in her care, Fazil Draco, believes death would be less painful than trying to heal his fractured soul. At some point, they’ll need to rely on each other for even a small chance to survive the clutches of an ancient and extremely hostile enemy from Fazil’s past.   AmazonKU

THE ALPHA’S SCIENTIST (WINGSPAN BOOK EIGHT) by April Kelley

Easton Piernos has escape on his mind. Forced to experiment on unwilling victims, he needs to find the only person he can trust—his brother. His search leads him to a small town filled with very large, green-eyed monsters. The biggest one of them calls Easton the enemy…and his mate. The alpha has a lot to prove. When Gavin Drolac meets Easton for the first time, he pegs him as an enemy, but Gavin has an instinct to protect the little human. Who will Gavin have to fight this time? The clan or some sort of external force? For Easton, the enemy of his enemy might just be the only one who can free him from his captors for good. To do that, he has to win the trust of the alpha.     AmazonKU

MY SALVATION (BEWITCHED AND BOTHERED BOOK 14) by Alanea Alder

Priest Vi’Aerdan wants nothing more than for his mate to be safe, but nightmares plague him with images of her being torn to shreds. Despite consulting Meryn, his anxiety persists. He remembers the helplessness associated with his failure to help his unit brothers when they were trapped in the caves of Noctem Falls. As ice forms on the palace walls, Priest needs his animal more than ever, even if it means asking for help from the people who turned their backs on him. Cassandra Vi’Illiya has been living amongst humans since she came of age, and her parents began to fade from their world. Having lost so much at a young age, she strives to help those crippled by grief. After returning to Éire Danu and seeing the devastating effects of losing so many of their people at once, she knows she is exactly where she belongs. As the city sinks into mourning, will they find enough of their own light and happiness to keep their loved ones safe?

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GLITTER (THE GOLDEN WOLF BOOK TWO) by Shannon Mayer

I thought that my biggest problem was a curse that turned me into a golden retriever instead of a wolf. Then I accidentally took on a second curse that bound my fate to that of the world’s. If I die, everyone else goes down in flames too. Ragnarök is now in my hands. Great. Talk about pressure I don’t need. Did I mention everyone trying to kill me? My mate. My brothers. My mother. What a clusterfluck. Add in Loki, Freya, and a host of the Norse pantheon to the mix, each one trying to manipulate me to follow their own plans, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. What’s a girl to do? Find a new path that no one expects, and run straight into the arms of disaster. Or as some might call it….straight into the arms of Havoc.     AmazonKU

HAVING THE BEAR’S BABY (SHIFTER SURROGATE PROGRAM BOOK TWO) by Milly Taiden

Emma Monroe’s heart beats for a single purpose: motherhood. Her longing drives her to take a bold step and sign up for the enigmatic Shifter Surrogacy Program. Destiny has plans for her. This decision will plunge her into a reality she never thought possible. Her actions will throw her into the warm embrace of a man she couldn’t have imagined existed…even in her wildest dreams. Liam, the Alpha bear of the Boren Clan, carries an unspoken wish deep within … the yearning for a family to call his own. When his sister nudges him toward the very same agency, fate begins to weave intricate threads that will forever entwine his life with Emma’s. His need for Emma runs deeper than just wanting a family. He wants herWhen mysterious figures emerge demanding Emma’s distance from Liam, an unsettling suspicion creeps into Liam’s mind …a traitor lurks within the very clan he calls family. As the threats to his mate escalate, their unborn child becomes a target. Will Emma decide to stay and accept Liam is her fated mate, or will she leave to protect her baby?     AmazonKU

FATED MATES: AN MM ROMANCE CHARITY ANTHOLOGY by Various

It features new, exclusive stories from Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, Kelex, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle. All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.

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SOUL OF A PHOENIX (BROTHERS OF SCRIM HALL BOOK SIX) by Andie Fenichel

Noah – I’m close to my regeneration, but I hold on a few extra days so I can attend my brother’s wedding. I’m sure I look like hell, but the only one who seems to notice is the gorgeous friend of the bride. She’s been on my mind since we first met and if I wasn’t close to doing what a Phoenix is best known for, I’d be all in for a mutual seduction. When I tell her I’ll be better in a few days, her eyes fill with sympathy. Once I’m reborn out of the ashes, there’ll be a lot of explaining to do.  Nina – He was sick the weekend of the wedding. Even so, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. So beautiful and elegant. I’m a little ashamed, but during the rehearsal dinner, I follow Noah into the woods. I don’t know what I hoped for, but he bursts into flames and a minute later he’s in front of me—perfect, naked—and I’m about to lose my mind. He’s weak, and I run to him. A moment later, total chaos erupts around us and we’re attacked by a team in hazmat gear and whisked away in the night.     AmazonKU

KINGDOM OF FLAMES AND FLOWERS (CURSE OF THE DRAGONS BOOK ONE) by Raven Storm

I’ve lived in the mud quarter my entire life, watching as the fireguards came every five years to select the prettiest girls to go to the Seat to start new lives and get it all: husbands, houses without a speck of dirt, and enough food that hunger wasn’t a constant pain in your belly. This year it’s my turn. And the dragon that forces our kingdom to cower under our magnificent dome and hide behind stone walls hasn’t shown any signs of leaving. And he’s taken an odd liking to me.

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FALL OF AN EMPIRE (BLADE OF ICE BOOK TWO) by Jessica Wayne

A warrior princess. A man infected with giant blood. A shadow hunting them both. 
I won the trial…now it’s time for war. As the first daughter born to a Navalis in centuries, it was my duty to marry a king and secure an alliance for my kingdom. But that all changed when my empire crumbled beneath the steel of our enemy. It was the man I’ve been secretly in love with for years who saved my life, and he who still stands at my side, a blade ready to strike down any who come against me. But not all enemies can be seen. Not all enemies can bleed. Ever since I touched the Blade of Ice, I’ve been haunted by visions of a shadowy figure. He promises me passion should I succumb and death to all I hold dear if I refuse. Passion. Death. As we fight our way toward a once-ally in hopes of gaining his favor in this fight, I am yet again faced with a choice: love or duty?

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WOUNDED WOLF’S OMEGAS (MAIL ORDER MATES BOOK 12) by Lorelai M Hart

Holt – When my brother challenged me for the position of pack alpha, I wanted to submit and let him have it. Pack politics weren’t for me. But, once a challenge is given, a challenge must be fought. I didn’t make the rules, I just got stuck following them. I did everything I could to avoid hurting my brother—he did not afford me the same. Now I’m lame, excommunicated, and, with the exception of Kayson, all alone in the world. It’s time for a new start someplace where no one knows my name. Kayson – The day that Holt came into the bar I worked at, he broke my heart. Homeless, rogue, and broken, he had nothing but the duffle bag in his hand and a wad of cash. I invited him to stay with me, got him a job, and the two of us became besties. Only I want more. I want him to be my mate. Too bad fate’s a little B like that. At least I have him in my life, and I will do everything to give him the existence he deserves, including moving to the middle of nowhere to start our new life. Vance – My life had been planned out for me from before my birth. I was to go to school and get good grades, which would get me into the best universities and eventually lead to becoming a lawyer and joining my romp’s firm. I complied. It’s what good otters do. But …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)   AmazonKU

VIRIDESCENT: A BILLIONAIRE ORC ROMANCE by Cara Wylde

He is powerful, wealthy, he owns half of New York. He has politicians in his pocket, builds schools in faraway places, and donates to charity. His name is on everyone’s lips. Zeno Voland. No one has ever seen his face. Who is he? When I’m hired as Mr. Voland’s executive assistant, I realize the real question is…What is he? I’ve worked for many monsters before, but it didn’t prepare me for this one. Oh, and the job? It turns out to be something else entirely.     AmazonKU

LADY OF DRAGONS (PART ONE) by Shelby Elizabeth

You will be bound, dragon and human. Finlay McDonough wants nothing more than to be a Dragon Knight: a warrior bound with a dragon partner, intent on ridding the kingdom of its dragon-killing monarchy. Well, she might want one thing just a bit more … Evander, her childhood friend, now keeper of the dragon sanctuary. Scouting with Evander one day, Finlay’s attempt to save a dragon goes horribly wrong, and she inadvertently ties her fate to the dragon’s—their souls bind, lending Finlay powers like those of the Mages the Knights are sworn to destroy. After passing the trial to train as a Knight, Finlay discovers a devastating truth about a beloved dragon. To save them, she’ll need to risk her dream of becoming a true Knight, her chance at a happily-ever-after with Evander . . . and maybe her very identity.     AmazonKU

ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

ASSISTANT WANTEDNotorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie. But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out. Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay. After all, a good job is hard to find.

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A SPRINKLE OF GREED (THE FORKED TAIL BOOK FIVE) by Arizona Tape

Greed has never tasted so good. The next round in DemonChef almost knocks Lana out of the competition and progress in Demi and Lana’s relationship changes the dynamic at the Forked Tail. Can they figure out how to move forward without ruining everything they’ve build together? A Sprinkle Of Greed is book four in the Forked Tail, a light-hearted urban fantasy with demons, cooking, and a friends-with-benefits to lovers f/f romantic subplot.

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HER RADIANT CURSE by Elizabeth Lim

One sister must fall for the other to rise. Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts. Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point. Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

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HOUSE OF MARIONNE by J Elle

BURY YOUR SECRET OR DIE FOR IT. 17 year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city, in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins.  Until someone discovers her dark secret. To hide from the assassin hunting her, and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever.  If caught, she will be killed. But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training. When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love. Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.

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THE LIGHTSTRUCK (THE DARKENING DUOLOGY BOOK TWO) by Sunya Mara

Vesper Vale sacrificed everything to save her city from the cursed storm. After becoming a vessel of The Great Queen, Vesper awakes from a slumber three years after her life altering choice. What she finds isn’t a home freed from the terror of the storm, but one where its citizens are besieged by the even more sinister force of The Great King and his growing army of the lightstruck—once regular citizens who are now controlled by the ominous light encroaching on the city. And the people are all looking to Vesper, now revered as a goddess after her sacrifice, as their city’s only hope. To save the rings from the Great King, Vesper must contend with the obligations of being a deity to her people and the growing chasm between her and Dalca, the prince she swore never to love. Haunted by the guilt of their past choices and faced with the pressures of a city near ruin, Vesper and Dalca find themselves torn between the growing factions within the city and the royal court. But in order to save her city from the light, Vesper must face the power most outside of her control—the goddess within.

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THE DRAGON KING’S THIEF: AN MM FANTASY ROMANCE (THE DRAGONS OF SERAI BOOK TEN) by Amy Sumida

 

There isn’t anything I can’t steal. So when a soldier in the Dragon King’s army comes looking for a thief on behalf of the King, I volunteer. The danger of the mission didn’t bother me. I knew I could steal anything the Dragon King desired. But the job was the just the beginning. I’ve been drawn into a deadly world of Dragon intrigue, politics, and assassination. The King asked me for help, and I agreed. I should have just walked away, but I couldn’t. Not after speaking with the Dragon King. He’s more than I expected. A good king, but an even better man. I can’t leave him to face liars, schemers, and murderers alone. Those are my people. I know how to best deal with them. Besides, I’ve got my sights on set on a new target—the Dragon King’s heart. This will be the greatest theft of my life.     AmazonKU

MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE by Jenna Levine

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price. Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean… Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

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THE PHOENIX KING (THE RAVENCE TRILOGY BOOK ONE) by Aparna Verma

The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire. Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something. As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world.

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NEVER A HERO (ONLY A MONSTER BOOK TWO) by Vanessa Len

Despite all of the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick. But her success has come at a terrible cost. She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that a greater and more dangerous enemy is still out there. When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in. Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.

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THE DEMON’S GUIDE TO THE APOCALYPSE by Karen Frost

Revoking unruly demons back to Hell is a rough job, but for Theodora, Annabeth, and Harriet, the three half-human women who do it on behalf of the Daemonium, it pays the bills. Plus, demons are jerks, so they’re kind of doing everyone a favor. But when an angel appears with the shocking news that someone has started opening the seven seals of the Apocalypse, setting in motion the end of the world, they find themselves facing a seemingly impossible problem: how do you find and stop someone who scares even angels…and you work for demons? It’s a dangerous mission with terrible odds. Already, Pestilence—the first Horseman of the Apocalypse—has been released, and the longer it takes them to find the culprit, the more Horsemen will be freed. As the women crisscross the city, desperately trying to piece together the clues that could help them save humanity, they discover that a secret kept from them since birth holds the key to stopping the Apocalypse…or completing it.     Amazon

TARQUIN (WERE ZOO BOOK 16) by R E Butler

When the game hunters come for her, albino doe Lucy’s only thought is for her younger sister’s safety. But when her daring escape leads her to bear shifter Tarquin, she discovers that their connection is much deeper than she could have ever imagined.
Lucy and Tarquin’s journey takes them to the Amazing Adventures Safari Park, a secret home to shifters hidden from the human world. But even in this magical place, they are not safe. As they find themselves in more and more danger, will Tarquin and Lucy’s love be enough to save them?

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BEYOND THE SHATTERED VEIL: THE BROTHERHOOD OF RUIN by Callie Rhodes

In this world, he is power…Thrust into the role of chieftain, Tyr will do anything bring the bear clan back to their former glory. But battling insurgents is only part of the problem. What he needs is a mate to cement his place and bring hope to his people…and he refuses to wait any longer. She’s determined to get back home…Meredith never wanted to follow her eccentric family around the country as they hunt Bigfoot for their popular video channel. She doesn’t even believe in cryptids. But sometimes life doesn’t go to plan—a fact that becomes painfully clear when a giant, hulking beast crashes into their camp, abducting Meredith, and disappearing into the woods. Now Meredith finds herself in an alien world, one where her survival depends on becoming the mate of a barbarian beast. A court of beasts…magic…and legends…Their worlds were once united, until a forsaken queen cursed Evergreen and the veil between worlds was sealed. The three clans have been torn apart, the blood of their warriors spilled in vain, and now only the love of a human can save them.     AmazonKU

MONSTER’S GOOD GIRL by Anne Hale and Celeste King

She ran from devils…Into the arms of a monster. She was a forced sin servant praying for death. Until the day she decided to run. Right into my arms. One touch and I know she’s mine. One taste and I know she belongs to me. My good little human will only truly be free when she’s on my tight leash. Her time as her own person ends now…Her life as my property is just beginning.     AmazonKU

HILLS OF ESTRELLA ROJA by Ashley Robin Franklin

In this delightfully creepy and unapologetically queer horror romp of a graphic novel, sometimes dreams do come true. Nightmares are technically dreams, after all….When college freshman Kat Fields receives a mysterious email urging her to visit a relatively unknown Texas town with a history of witchcraft, strange sightings, and “devil lights”—glowing red stars that appear above the town’s hills every night—she ditches her plans for spring break and takes a solo road trip to Estrella Roja to investigate for her podcast, Paranormal Texas, catchphrase: “Y’all stay spooky!” Meanwhile, Marisol “Mari” Castillo, is also headed for Estrella Roja to attend the funeral for her abuela whom she hasn’t seen since childhood, when her mom cut ties with the family and left town. Feeling lost and bored, she decides to help Kat after a chance meeting at the local diner—and, okay, it doesn’t hurt that Kat is super cute. As the two girls grow closer not only to each other, but to uncovering the dark legacy that the town was built on, they discover that something hungry lurks beneath the strange stars and that in the hills of Estrella Roja, some secrets should stay buried.

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WITHIN THESE WALLS by Holly Hill Mangin

Set behind the heavy wrought-iron fence surrounding it, Hillfield Manor has sat empty for decades. Rumors of ghostly sightings and sudden disappearances plague the manor, and those who have dared step foot inside have sworn never to do so again. But Hillfield is opening its doors once more, and when Emma Beckett is invited to copy type the family journals, she’s eager to live and work at the haunted manor, a place she has longed to explore, especially after her sister’s recent death. Emma isn’t prepared for Alexander Eason, though, or the way he makes her feel—even if he’s been dead for three hundred years. Upon reading a journal entry stating a secret room exists where she and Alexander can appear to one another as more than mere shadows, Emma has to find it. But will the room—and Alexander—be all that they claim, or will Emma find that some things are better left buried in the past?

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COURT OF VICE AND DEATH (BLOOD AND SALT BOOK TWO) by Alexis Calder

The stories about the fae court were true and I’m not sure if any of us will survive. Everything in the fae court wants me dead. The monsters who live here, the royal family, even the other tributes. I’m surrounded by enemies but I won’t forget the cause of all this suffering: The Fae King. If I’m going down, I’m going to take him with me. But nothing is easy in Konos. And the only way through is to face the most dangerous monster who ever lived. With surprising allies and newfound skills, I might have a chance. But you can’t trust anything in Konos. Not even your own heart.     AmazonKU

HAVING THE WOLF’S BABY (SHIFTER SURROGATE PROGRAM BOOK ONE) by Milly Taiden

Sara yearns for a future filled with children. With a past peppered with the scars of disastrous dates and failed relationships she’s disillusioned by love. Then a chance presents itself to be a surrogate for a shifter. If this is her only way to get her baby, she’s going for it. What she didn’t expect for the baby’s father to give her the dream of a happily-ever-after. Xavier, a leader bound by responsibility, must produce a legacy that only an heir can secure. He’s yet to meet his mate, so the next best option is to get an offspring in an unconventional way. He signs up with a surrogate agency, but ends up with more than he ever bargained for. A mate and familyfall right into his lap. Now he only needs to convince Sara she’s the only curvy goddess he wants. As their bond deepens, a prodigal sibling’s return and a chilling threat cast shadows over their shared future. When someone threatens the lives of Sara and their baby, Xavier will do everything in his power to hunt the people responsible. Together, they must cross a treacherous path to protect their newfound happiness, their child and uncovering secrets that test the limits of love’s resilience.     AmazonKU

BEAUTY AND BAD BLOOD (HUNTERS HOLLOW BOOK TWO) by Aiden Steele

When a young woman turns up dead on the banks of the river with half her blood missing, vampires are the obvious suspects. Rogue Masters, however, doesn’t think the case is all that open and shut. As a special agent for the MOA Intelligence Division, it’s his job to find the truth. To do that, the last thing he needs is distractions. So, of course, the most tempting distraction he’s ever seen strolls through the door of the local bakery, not just flipping the script, but rewriting it completely. Stuck in a rut and drowning in his own insignificance, Dylan Murray needs a change. For starters, he needs to make a clean break from his selfish and demanding mother. It’s also probably a good time to swear off men, at least until he can get his life back on track. Spending some time in Hunters Hollow with his best friend is exactly what he needs to turn things around. The small town is quiet, a little boring, and completely free of the drama that plagued him in the city. Now, if he can just stop thinking about a certain sexy vampire with penetrating eyes and a devilish smile, everything would be perfect. Navigating the ups and downs of any new relationship is challenging. Doing so while searching for a killer will test more than just their commitment. When the worst happens, and Dylan joins the list of humans to mysteriously vanish from the French Quarter, Rogue will do whatever it takes to get his new mate back safely. Even if that means becoming the very monster he’s meant to be hunting.     AmazonKU

THE WISH by Lena Gibson

Three men. Two timelines. One wish. Haunted by her choices, including marrying an abusive con man, thirty-five-year-old Elizabeth has been unable to speak for two years. She is further devastated when she learns an old boyfriend has died. Nothing in her life is right. That night, Elizabeth wishes for a mulligan. When she wakes, to her surprise, it is no longer 2022, but 2017. Though thrilled to have a chance to fix mistakes, the past is not perfect. She has a stalker and is still voiceless. Just like before, her boyfriend slips into a mysterious coma, so she enlists his brother Christopher’s aid to determine the cause. In their investigation, he becomes her staunchest ally and her unexpected soulmate. Elizabeth’s stalker threatens her happiness, as do those who wish secrets to remain buried. If she can’t reclaim her voice, her former boyfriend will fade away in a coma and her stalker may claim her life.     AmazonKU

ODDS AND ENDS (SOPHIE FEEGLE BOOK FIVE) by Gwen DeMarco

A cryptic message from the Great Mother sends Sophie on a mission to uncover her own dark past. This quest will lead her on a journey to Queen Maeve’s former stronghold on Earth. Sophie soon discovers the shocking truth about her erased history and the destiny that awaits her. With the help of her loyal friends and newfound allies, she must journey to other realms to gather an army and confront the darkness that threatens to consume everything she holds dear. As Maeve’s hybrid soldiers prepare to launch a full-scale attack on San Francisco, Sophie and her companions must prepare for the ultimate battle. With the fate of their world on the line, can Sophie finally come to terms with her true identity and embrace her destiny? Or will Sophie lose herself to her dark magic and darker past? Sophie must face her own fears and embrace her newfound abilities.   AmazonKU

FOR FUR’S SAKE: MM PARANORMAL ROMANCE WITH BIGFOOT (DELANEY’S BIGFOOT BOOK TWO) by Delaney Raine

After seeing something he can’t explain in the nature reserve where he works, Park Ranger Vaughn Jones discovers that Bigfoot is real. And, well, Vaughn has also realized that he has a thing for this particular tall, muscular, and hairy beast who likes him back. A lot. A whole lot. But then the media get wind of what’s been going on in the reserve and a paranormal investigation show’s crew invades with personnel and cameras. They want to find Bigfoot, too, and share him with the world. What’s a reserve full of Bigfoot lovers to do? Sacrifices will have to be made if Vaughn and the rest of the townsfolk are going to keep their Bigfoots safe, but in the end, it’ll all be worth it.     AmazonKU

A TRYST IN PARIS (THE CAROUSEL TIME TRAVELER BOOK ONE) by Anne Armistead

When Mirabelle Montgomery visits the Luxembourg Carousel in Paris, a mysterious time shifter sweeps her into the Carousel’s time travel vortex and transports her to 1900 Paris. Her return will be allowed once she completes her mission to restore a man’s fate gone wrong. But whose? Upon meeting dangerously sexy Jacques Thibaut, Mirabelle believes she has found her man. His life’s purpose as a stellar police detective has been derailed by accusations of his plotting with anarchists to overthrow the French government. If she proves Jacques to be innocent, his life will be reset to its rightful providence. He will win back his job and those who once believed in him, including the woman he planned to marry. Mirabelle’s determination to complete her mission kindles passion between them. But their falling in love will jeopardize everything, for his true destiny does not include her. Besides, even if her heart desires, she cannot remain in 1900 Paris . . . can she?     AmazonKU

A DRAINING MURDER: A PSYCHIC CLEANER COZY MYSTERY by S E Babin

Imprisoned under shady circumstances, Kate’s next case takes her into an all-new, even stranger magical mystery…Ryan is gone. Kate is trapped. Her friends are nowhere to be found. What’s a girl to do when the only thing she has left is her wits? In Kate’s case, solving a murder, of course! When Kate stumbles over a body, the only suspects are Roman, the enigmatic leader of The Magical Bureau of Affairs, an odd assortment of ghostly characters, and, as always, herself. Since Kate knows she didn’t do it, she has to find out who did before the culprit ensures Kate is trapped in her own afterlife…forever.   AmazonKU

RESISTING THE WOLF LORD (LUNAR BRIDE BOOK TWO) by Skye Wilson

My love for her eclipses everything. Even her everlasting hatred…My beautiful Celeste has every reason to hate me. I took my fated mate against her will because I need to claim her to unlock my dangerous curse. She’s only just beginning to understand that nothing about her old life is as it seems, and that to survive in my world, she must learn to harness her supernatural side. To gain her trust, I agree to help her uncover more about her past, and I sense her feelings for me shifting. But I could never anticipate the dark secrets awaiting her, nor the determination of my enemies, who are attempting to destroy us. With even my closest allies in question, Celeste is in real danger. I will do anything to protect her. Anything except opening up to her about my brutal past and risking her eternal loathing.    AmazonKU

PRETTY ORC MAN: MONSTER MM ROMANTIC COMEDY by Zora Black

My billionaire boss is more than just an a-hole. He’s an ORC-hole! The only thing bigger than his ego is his biceps. And maybe his…nah. But man, talk about intense. Korth expects perfection and has zero room for mistakes. Meanwhile, here I am ogling his massive pecs every time he moves. As if things weren’t bad enough, now we’re on a business trip to Green Haven. Our plane is grounded, leaving us sharing one hotel room…and one bed. How much temptation can one man take? Is this big orc eyeing me? The tension is thick. Things are about to…blow.     AmazonKU

ENCHANTED COOKIES (COOKIE CORNER PARANORMAL COZY MYATERIES BOOK SEVEN) by Cindy Stark

With her magical abilities intensifying, Evie St. Claire is thrust deeper into the realm of mystery and danger in the quaint town of Honeysuckle Springs. As a mysterious energy swirls in the air, Evie embarks on a romantic moonlit boat cruise with her boyfriend, Police Chief Caden Bexley. Little does she know that this idyllic evening will turn into a haunting nightmare. When a heated confrontation ensues between renowned author Felix Crane and grieving parents, who blame him for their daughter’s tragic demise, the atmosphere grows increasingly sinister. Suddenly, Felix vanishes from the boat, only to be discovered lifeless shortly after. Convinced that sinister forces are at play, Evie must summon her powers and rely on the aid of her mischievous kitten familiar, her eccentric Aunt Birdie, and her cantankerous neighbor Gertie. As Evie delves deeper into the perplexing case, she realizes that unraveling the truth will require her to navigate treacherous waters as she seeks to unmask the true nature of the culprit and discover if it’s a malevolent spirit or a dark-hearted human. Only by harnessing her magic and forming unexpected alliances can Evie hope to solve the chilling murder mystery.   AmazonKU

NOW AND FPOREVER QUEEN (CONSTELLINA BOOK TWO) by C M Hano

Unfated Mates…He didn’t come for me, again. He let them take me, again. He didn’t fight for me, again. He doesn’t deserve me. The Shifter Prince never was, nor will he ever be my Fated Mate.  Fated Ones…I know what our future brings. Our destiny set forth by the gods of Constellina. They tried to break us. But now that our power is awakened, Nothing and no one will stand in our way.   AmazonKU

ALPHA’S TOUCH (CLAIMED BOOK TWO) by Shannon West

Darcy Vandergriff is an omega, whose aunt raised him to believe he can be more than just an Alpha’s plaything. When he comes into heat for the first time, she takes him to a frightening, infamous dark witch, who gives him a potion to suppress it forever by taking just a few drops every day. She warns him, though, to “beware of the one they call the beast, for he will kill you if he can. Only the noble warrior has the power to save you, but he will bring about your fate.” Craving adventure, Darcy joins the King’s army, posing as a beta soldier, but that’s when the trouble truly starts. One of his trainers is a strong, handsome Alpha named Wyatt, cousin and packmate of two powerful kings. Darcy’s immediate, overwhelming attraction to him threatens to expose his omega nature. When danger threatens in the form of a mysterious enemy, Darcy remembers the deadly part of the witch’s warning. Finding his happy ever after will take unbridled courage, a daring rescue and a dazzling realization that sometimes you find the thing you were wishing for so desperately was the wrong thing all along.     AmazonKU

MY BIG FAT CURSED WEDDING (LUCY MCGUFFIN PSYCHIC AMATEUR DETECTIVE BOOK NINE) by Maggie March

Lucy is a human lie detector. Her little rescue dog Paco is a ghost whisperer. Together, they solve crime in this laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series! Plans for Lucy McGuffin’s big day are circling the drain. Her mother has turned into a momzilla, her wedding dress is two sizes too small, and the rival baker in town is scheming to upstage Lucy with her own wedding cake. But things quickly go from bad to worse when Lucy discovers her wedding planner stabbed to death and her fiance Travis is the prime suspect. With just a few days left before the wedding, Lucy and her little rescue dog Paco must race against the clock to catch the killer. Can Lucy solve the murder in time to say “I do” or will her wedding day turn out to be a big fat cursed disaster?   AmazonKU

CONVINCING THE BETA (BETAS IN WAITING BOOK 16) by Viola Grace

Libby has hidden her nature for a decade, but one incident at a family gathering and her wings are out for all to see. Her suitors are all impressed and supportive of the angel in their midst. Libby is a sore point for her family. She’s the only child whose mother died having her, and her oma is upset about that thirty years later. Libby goes to the birthday party for Lady Olyna and blinks when she sees the alpha who has slowly been courting her for three months and is then introduced to two that her grandmother has chosen.
She’s managing to talk her way out of a pack-style courtship when a child in distress wrecks a decade of hiding her alternate nature. Her friend and companion throws her, and her wings emerge mid-air as she rescues a young horse enthusiast from her unwilling steed. Now that her family knows she is one of the freaky betas, her grandmother is more insistent that she choose a mate from the ones she had brought. Libby sighs and looks at the guys who turn to her as one. They have reached an agreement, and now they just have to convince her they are the ones for her. They are up to seduce an angel, and she is agreeable to that challenge. It’s Friday night after all.

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EXPECTING IN OCEANS (DRAGON FIREFIGHTERS BOOK TEN) by Ashe Moon

A raucous sea dragon festival, one too many drinks, and a roaring beach bonfire are ingredients for trouble, just like misunderstandings and dueling personalities can lead to an unplanned, flash-in-the-pan affair—especially when dragon magic is involved. When omega Istil gets too close to the flames, he’s swept off his feet by Ari, the frustratingly handsome alpha healer with whom he always seems to clash. Their accidental tryst should have marked the start and finish of their intimate relationship, but when a medical crisis puts Istil back under Ari’s watch, the alpha dragon’s keen senses detect a surprise neither of them is ready for: Istil is expecting, and there’s only one possible daddy.     AmazonKU

THE DRAGON PRINCE’S REJECTED MATE (FATED MATES AND SHIFTING ROYALTIES BOOK ONE) by Amelia Wilson

BROOKE – “It’s his eyes that capture me, though. Gray and piercing, they seem to stare through my soul, and the calm self-assurance in his gaze contributes to the general air of command he exhibits. He’s handsome. He’s breathtaking. He’s perfect. And he’s heading my way.” I have hit the jackpot. Straight out of law school, I get to work for one of the wealthiest men on the planet. To celebrate my success, I look for a one-night stand. I meet the perfect man for my night of fun. Then I meet him again in his private jet. The man I sleep with is my boss, Aiden Vipera. What follows is an unplanned but very fulfilling affair. Then I learn that there’s much more to him than I initially think. He’s a dragon! Not only a dragon, the heir to the throne! He’s promised to another, and the fate of his people depend on it. But how can I let him go now that I have him?   AmazonKU

END OF THE ROAD: TERRITORY WALK BOOK SEVEN by Kelsey Soliz

I’ve finally finished up my Territory Walk, just in time to be sucked into a different realm. Now Donny is convinced Bennett is an alien, there are babies absolutely everywhere, and I’m wondering if things will ever calm down. I wasn’t sure where we would end up once my walk is over, but apparently the guys have been planning and it’s a non-issue. Now I’m home for the last time before we start our forever, where we get to meet our daughter and wrap up our loose ends. It’s crazy how much about my life has changed in such a short time, and it feels like us walking into our forever home is going to be the biggest adjustment of all.     AmazonKU

BITE THE TERROR THAT FEEDS: A DARK FANTASY ROMANCE (DIRTY BLOOD BOOK TWO) by Penelope Barsetti

He gave me his word—and he broke it. Kingsnake promised me he would let me go once he found the cure, but he’s known this entire time and never once shared it with me. And now that I know the truth, that there is no cure, he still won’t let me go. Now I’m his prisoner once again. He asks to feed from me several times, but I refuse all his advances. If he wants my blood, he’ll have to force it from me. He comes to my bedchambers to speak with me, but I pretend he doesn’t exist. Once his hunger intensifies and the weakness sets in, he’s forced to feed—and it won’t be from me. Viper escorts me from my chambers to the brothel where his prey awaits, and I’m forced to look at a gorgeous and naked woman waiting for him. His betrayal has iced my heart and closed off my feelings, but my jealousy can’t be controlled. I may be angry with him, but I don’t want him to have anyone else but me. So I submit to the vampire king—again.     AmazonKU

TAKEN BY HIS DEMON (INNER DEMONS BOOK SIX) by Lilo Quie

Abaddon isn’t ready for a mate. His touch alone gives partners immense pain, and his heart has yet to melt for another. But when he solves the puzzle of an ancient box and finds his prize inside, he’s delighted to find someone that can handle him for all he is, pain and all. Just in time, too, for danger is coming and Xander’s rise to power is imminent. Arwyn is an oracle, mind stuck bearing the weight of the past, present, and future. He has fallen in love with Abaddon in so many ways, and has known him since his birth and until his death. Can Arwyn keep his mind in the present long enough to truly love his mate for who he is?     AmazonKU

THE ALPHA’S RESURRECTION (THE AFTEREND OMEGAVERSE BOOK THREE) by Marlowe Roy

One chance to choose her Alpha. Zorah’s on a high-stakes mission: choose one of the Morris Hill Alphas to bond before summer ends. If she fails, she’ll return home and accept whomever her controlling parents pick, including her oily cousin. With a dozen handsome Alphas vying for her attention, her future is under control. Until fate blinds her to all but one. Anti-social, reclusive, with a violent history, he’s lowest in the pack.
And he’s her mate. His fresh start came with a price. Desperate for a new life, Jake joins the Morris Hill Pack with a promise to never speak to an Omega. A high price he gladly paid for a shot at redemption. But when his new village includes an irresistible Omega, he fears his resolve will crumble. Too young, too sweet, and too good for an Alpha trainwreck like him, he vows to stay away. Forbidden to have and impossible to ignore, her nature calls to his; a destined collision he can’t avoid. Giving in risks his redemption, his place in the pack, and his very life. But giving her up will tear them both apart.   AmazonKU

CATS, LIES AND ALIBIS (CATS WALKING DOGS AND SOLVING MYSTERIES BOOK FOUR) by Corrine Winters

Novice witch Katie Houseman can talk to animals – but solving murder? That’s a spell she hasn’t mastered yet. To clear vet Tom Walker’s name, she’s going to need all the help she can get. That includes her familiar, Biscuit, and finally learning how to control her magic. She’s juggling mastering spells – and trying not to break coffee mugs in the process – and trying to solve a case where everyone seems to be a killer. On top of it all, Katie’s also still trying to find her missing great aunt and unravel the clues of her own past. With everything that stands in her way, will Katie be able to prove Tom’s innocence? Or uncover another secret and prove he’s guilty?   AmazonKU

ENEMY WOLF (HOWLING DEATH MC BOOK TWO) by Sophie Ash

The icy werewolf is the only one who can help me. But my fated mate? Not a chance. 
I’m a witch with a business to run. The last thing I need is Orson, head of security for the Howling Death pack, arrogantly striding into my bar like he owns the place. This werewolf gets me hot and bothered, but not like that. It doesn’t matter how low his growl is, or how arresting his eyes are. He’s a prick and I just deal with him because his pack is in charge. But when a dragon shifter corners me into making a dangerous potion, the prickly wolf might be the only one who can help me save our small community. When the plan blows up in our faces, all hell breaks loose. I thought Orson’s wolf was protective of me before, but now he’s running headfirst into a fight with a fire-breathing monster. It’s pure insanity. No wolf would risk his life like that…unless it was for his fated mate.   AmazonKU

WARRIOR KING – WARRIORS BOOK ONE by Eden Winters

One man is the son of a traitor. The other is the son of a tyrannical emperor. Together, they discover the fine line between duty and justice. Commander Draylon Aravaid doesn’t hide his lineage as the emperor’s son but doesn’t advertise his origins either. Loyal to a fault, he relies on his hard-won reputation rather than his family name, which his duplicitous father uses to full advantage. Prince Yarif DiRici trained his entire life to become a consort in a political marriage–all while secretly yearning for love. The death of his father and older brother suddenly thrusts an unwanted crown upon his head, and Yarif into a whirlwind of dangerous plans within plans as he and Draylon are forced into marriage. The political game is set, and Yarif is kidnapped. It’s up to Draylon to mount a daring rescue to prevent all-out war. The two men must get past each other’s mistrust, find common ground, and defeat an enemy neither knew they had…and may not survive!     AmazonKU

WAR QUEEN (CROWNS BOOK THREE) by Nicola Tyche

A Fight for the Crown …Betrayed and exiled from the Mercian throne, Norah Andell has survived against those who wish to kill her. Now, she’ll do whatever it takes to reclaim her crown and take back everything she’s lost. But as her love for Mikael, the Shadow King, grows stronger, and with the risk of losing him to the seers’ prophecies ever greater, fate tests the limits she’s willing to go and what she’s willing to sacrifice. Even More to Lose …When allies become enemies, the future of Kharav hangs in the balance. Intent on reclaiming Mercia for Norah, Mikael pushes for a risky war and faces the wrath of his disapproving Kharavian nobles, who are willing to do almost anything to rid themselves of the North Queen, including crowning a new king. What’s more, with his lord commander gone, Mikael stands alone as he fights to keep his hold on the crown. A Fight Against Fate …Rael’s King Cyrus grows more powerful by the day…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)     AmazonKU

A KINGDOM OF SHADOWS (A CITY OF FLAMES BOOK TWO) by Rina Vasquez

Nara set out to kill dragons—now one dragon might be her only hope…Wanted by the queen and her army, Nara and Darius embark on a dangerous quest. The Screaming Forests aren’t a place for the faint of heart; monsters, evil, and danger lurks in every shadow. They must reach the Isle of Elements, or forfeit everything they hold dear. But the Elven King who controls these lands has other ideas. The couple must undertake puzzles, caverns, and wicked beings to fetch elemental stones hidden away. Tempers flare, tensions between the duo rise, and the stress and pressure threatens to tear them apart for good… or push them together in ways neither ever imagined. First, they must survive everything this adventure throws at them.     AmazonKU

BONDED TO PANTHER LIFEGUARD (PANTHER HEROES OF MIAMI) by Lisa Daniels

Leaving New York as a failure, the last thing I was expecting was the meddling of two handsome strangers. They bought my plane ticket to Miami. Then they started competing for my attention. One is a lifeguard with a body to remind me that some people are blessed with the best. With those startling green eyes and that easy smile, I know that he can’t possibly be interested in me. Then they turn my world upside down, like a sweet curse that will tear me apart. As lost as I feel, they seem like they will ruin me. Abandoned at birth, there is far more about my past than I knew. And now this handsome stranger is using that to work his way into my heart.     AmazonKU

POTIONS AND PINTS (ILLYRIAN TALES) by S R Meadows

Tan was only looking for a one-night hideout from a grumpy Prince. But then he met a handsome orc. Over late-night card games, Tan’s undeniable chemistry with Vir draws them both in. He finds himself longing for more than a life on the road. When the Prince’s men track him down, Tan knows he can’t stay. But Vir insists on coming along for the ride – even if it means facing royalty again. Together Tan and Vir set off on an adventure laced with humor and heart. Side by side, they learn the true meaning of home. Outlaws make their own rules, after all. And this mismatched pair may have found a cozy hideaway to finally call home.     AmazonKU

THE GOLDEN KEY by Cass Geller

Three cursed brothers. A golden haired saviour. The key to unlock the curse. Once upon a time, there were three brothers of magic, who lived together in a house of their own, in a wood. Upon first glance, one would assume the brothers were ordinary but they were, in fact, from another land most extraordinary. For you see, a curse was brought upon these brothers, removing their magic and exiling them in the human realm, in a house of their own, in a wood. Decades went by with no hope of finding a key to end the curse. Until one day, when a golden-haired woman stumbled upon their house, in a wood, with the power to change their fate.     AmazonKU

POKE THE BEAR (URSA SHIFTERS) by Sam Hall

I’ve always been invisible. People just look at me and then away. Or worse, their eyes glaze over. Everyone but him. Adam Farrelly is the top football player in the state. Every girl in the club is dying to catch his eye. But all he seems to see is me. He offers me everything I’ve ever wanted and for just one night, I’m going to say yes. After I can go back to my boring life. But apparently that is more than Adam can bear.   AmazonKU

CASTIEL: PARANORMAL COUNCIL EMFORCERS BOOK TEN by Taylor Rylan

Dr. Castiel Bennett has been alone a very long time. The oldest son of one of an original eight, he’s seen a lot in his long life. As a gargoyle, he doesn’t mind living a solitary life, but he knows it would be so much better with his fated mate by his side. He’s given up finding them and has focused on helping others with the paranormal council. But when he’s told the new doctor to help with the rescued paranormals has arrived, he gets quite a surprise from the dragon omega. Dr. Garin Braun was asked by his uncle if he’d be willing to relocate to Montana and work for the paranormal council. With a possessive ex that still badgers him every so often, he is more than willing to return to the mountains he often visited when he was younger. Expecting life to continue on as it had in France, he’s surprised to discover that his new partner at the clinic is much more than just a fellow doctor. Garin has had a controlling ex before, and that’s the last thing he wants in a fated mate. But Castiel has warned that he can’t help but be a bit possessive where his fated mate is concerned. Can they accept each other for how they are while trying to balance life and work?     AmazonKU

TAINTED HEARTS (ANGELIC ACADEMY BOOK THREE) by Alisha Williams

So everything the pure bloods have been taught all these years was a lie? Does God really know what his right hand men are doing in his name? And how the hell do I tell three of my mates that their fathers are lying, deceiving sorry excuses of Archangels? My life got turned upside down the moment I stepped onto this island and it never seems to stop. I went from two mates to five. The man who caused me pain was masking his own. And now we have a serious problem to deal with. But leave it to dear old dad to send me some back up in the form of a fiery red headed Vampire guard. I guess I could use another girl around to deal with all this testosterone. Or maybe to keep me from going crazy.   AmazonKU

BLOODY QUEEN (THE FURY OF A VAMPIRE WITCH BOOK ONE) by Theophilus Monroe

Hell hath no fury like a witch-turned-vampire scorned…My long-dead vampire brother has returned from hell. He’s challenged my right to the vampire throne. He brought a hellhound with him. Every time hellbeast kills, the bastard gets stronger. He’s unstoppable. Stronger and faster than any vampire I’ve ever encountered. Have I finally met my match? On top of that, my ex-vampire lover is on a tear. I need to rally every vampire I can find. I’ve teamed up with Prince Ladinas and the Vampire Underground. These vampires aren’t much for the democratic processes of the Vampire Council. They need a bloody queen—and I’m just the bitch for the job. Go up and click ‘Buy Now’ or “Read for Free’ to find out if Mercy Brown has what it takes to rally the underground vampires, stop the hellbeast, and save her former lover.   AmazonKU

BIG D WOLF (BIG WOLF ON CAMPUS BOOK FIVE) by Aidy Award and Piper Fox

Madison: Transferring to Bay State University is my escape from the bullies at my old school, who think just because I’m plus-size, I shouldn’t play sports. Since my dad is the coach of the football team, I can move in with him and make my plans for my own training center for women like me. I don’t have time for much more than school and work… and crushing on the biggest defensive player on the Dire Wolves team. Luka: I’m the defense football star the guys want to be, and the girls want to be with. Only a few know that I’m also a wolf shifter, including Coach. The day he introduces us to his daughter, I know she’s my fated mate. But he’s declared her off limits, forbidden. There’s no denying the pull, and when danger threatens her, I have to reveal my true nature to keep her safe. I’ll fight for what fate has given me, even if it gets me kicked off the team. But with my place on the team and in the university at risk, Madison’s fear of confrontation could threaten everything before we’ve even truly begun.   AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

August 23

August 16

August 9

August 2

July 26

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

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover. I won’t feature a cover in my weekly promo for this post if I believe or suspect it was done with AI.

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.

First Meeting: TRAPPED ON TALONQUE Weekend Snippet #SciFi Romance

I’ve decided to change up these weekly snippets and go through my backlist, sharing the first meeting between the two main characters in each book. I’m going roughly in the order of first publication. It’s always fun for me to revisit the books and I hope it will be for you too! Or if you’ve never happened to read a certain book, maybe I can entice you into giving it a try.

TRAPPED ON TALONQUE is another of my earliest published scifi romances and contains an alien sleeping beauty plot, as well as one of my favorite scenes ever when the female main character, who has been ‘sleeping’ in a healing chamber for thousands of years gets a chance to receive a few answers from her past as to why she was abandoned in that way.

The main male character is a human Special Marines officer crashlanded on the planet and taken prisoner along with his two surviving teammates.

I’m sure this is another one where I had enough plot to make it a duology but in those earlier days I just let it all out onto the page.

The barbarian ruler holding them captive takes them to the chamber of the Sleeping Goddess, hoping for a prophecy from her. He thinks Nate and his men are her people and that he can force them to provide him with the miracle weapons and powers her people were said to have possessed.

The snippet: Nate gasped at the sight before him.

He stood on the edge of a high-tech chamber out of place on a primitive world such as this one. Ringing the room were strange displays, blinking lights, roving green beams, unknown instruments. The sophistication of the technology was well beyond anything the Sectors had achieved, let alone the dwellers of this planet. Nate spared only a second to glance at these wonders. His attention was caught and held by what occupied the center of a large alcove directly across the room.

The cubicle was lined in shiny metallic material and from the floor rose a graceful pedestal of the same material, topped with a thin platform at waist level. Neatly arranged on a layer of dark purple padding lay a woman, apparently asleep. She certainly wasn’t from this planet, nor any world known to Nate. This mysterious female had ivory skin with the palest of lavender undertones in her cheeks.

“I’ll be moon-damned.” Thom’s attention was riveted on the sleeper as well. “An Ancient Observer?”

“Can’t be—no one’s ever found actual remains,” Haranda said from the other side. “Although this room certainly suggests a high level of technology, it’s not AO. Another sophisticated, highly advanced forerunner civilization. The galaxy is a big place after all.” Roused from his state of funk, he studied the walls, apparently more interested in the devices and displays than in the woman. “I minored in AO studies at the Academy.”

“I don’t think she’s a well-preserved corpse.” Nate couldn’t take his gaze from her, not even to watch what their captors were doing now. He took himself sharply to task for the lapse. What if we’ve been brought here as a sacrifice? He had to be mentally prepared to fight, not gawk at a pretty girl. But the next moment he found himself studying her again, unable to keep himself from indulging in another view.

The woman was tall, probably his equal in height, definitely humanoid. She lay pillowed on her own hair, a thick, sweeping fall of glorious blue mixed with amethyst purple, set here and there with twinkling jewels. From his location across the room, he couldn’t see whether she was breathing, yet he had a definite sense of a living presence.

Her clothing was a simple, silvery white and lavender sheath, like finely woven metallic thread had been spun to make the dress. Thin jeweled straps held the garment at her shoulders. The finely pleated fabric clung to her curves sensuously. She lay on her back, arms stretched out a little on each side, her graceful, six-fingered hands spread open on the cushion. She wore no jewelry save for an elaborate bracelet on her left wrist, studded with colorful stones whose facets caught and amplified the lights in the main room.

Grimacing, the woman arched her spine as if in pain, moving her head on the pillow restlessly.

“What the—” Nate swiveled his head and saw [their captor] flipping small jeweled medallions set into one of the wall panels.

Apparently remaining unconscious, the woman struggled to raise her hands from the bedding, her face contorted. A harsh chiming emanated from the walls, as if warning against whatever procedure he’d initiated. Undeterred despite a second sirenlike sound joining the cacophony, the noble finished his task with a satisfied grunt. The black-clad priestesses seemed to want him to stop, one going so far as to touch his sleeve before being impatiently shaken off.

Nate’s head suddenly filled with fire, and then icy cold replaced the heat, a piercing pain shooting through his entire nervous system from the top of his brain, along his spine and out to peripheral nerve endings. He fell to his knees, dragging the other three prisoners with him, exclaiming curses in their surprise. Barely hanging on to consciousness, Nate fought the alternating hot and cold waves and the associated pain in his head. Dazzling streaks and multicolored pinwheels obscured his vision, staying even though he screwed his eyes tightly shut.

“Sicondame sliquon…” came a deep, female voice from all around them.

Nate raised his head, eyes tearing, staring at the woman on the table. Is that her voice? How can she sound so calm under apparent torture?

The alarms and klaxons abruptly shut off. Nate’s ears rang with the aftereffects of the discordant noises.

Hands on his hips, the noble nodded and made a declaration to the priestesses in a tone conveying satisfaction.

Nate shook his head again as the guards impatiently yanked him to his feet. The soldiers tugged at him and the other three prisoners, indicating their time in the chamber of the sleeping lady was at an end. He twisted to catch one last glimpse of her in the gradually fading light.

She opened her eyes, looked directly at him, and in his head he heard two words.

I’m sorry.

VS: And the adventures and romance go from there.

TRAPPED ON TALONQUE
Will an alien sleeping beauty awaken to save him, or to destroy everyone around her?

Space Marine Nate Reilly and his Special Forces team are in deep trouble. Prisoners on a backward alien planet, they’re brought before an alien ‘goddess’, sleeping in her high tech seclusion. Nate is astonished when she awakes and establishes a psychic link with him. But her news is not good–he and his men must win a brutal challenge set by their captors, or they will die. She’ll give her aid, but in the end their courage and strength must win the contest.

Bithia sleeps in her chamber, as she has for thousands of years, since her own people unaccountably left her there. Viewed as a goddess by her captors, she must hide her ancient secrets to survive. But only the bravest of men may free her. Can she use her psychic powers to keep Nate and his men alive long enough to help her escape, or will her only hope of freedom die with them?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook       GooglePlay

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for AUG 23

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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PRINCE by Tana Stone

The alien prince is on the hunt for revenge. And buying me is part of his master plan. I was safe hiding on the outskirts of the galaxy and singing in a dingy nightclub. Until the menacing alien prince with the platinum hair and claiming gaze bought my debt. Now I’m traveling on his ship as his guide while he searches for vengeance. Despite the prince’s promise to protect me, he has no idea what he’s set in motion by plucking me from obscurity. As we get closer to him exacting his revenge, I’m in danger of being taken by someone even more deadly.     AmazonKU

RUNNING UP THAT MOUNTAIN PART ONE (THE ALPHA GOD BOOK EIGHT) by Lexa Luthor

VS Note: Listed in Lesbian Romance, scifi. Cliffhanger.

With the Sworne now at their backdoor, Charlie and Kal face a larger threat than they thought before. Omnis-sar demands Kal to kneel and welcome her to Kander or be devoured. However, Kal will never bend a knee to any being, especially to a corrupt god. War is imminent. The Sworne’s invasion is Charlie’s childhood nightmare repeating itself. But this time, Charlie will protect her loved ones — especially her true mate. She soon learns that Kander holds powerful secrets that may help them defeat the Sworne, or destroy everyone. Charlie and Kal only need to put the pieces together and stay a step ahead of the Sworne. Kander’s fate will demand blood, death, and sacrifices! Running Up That Mountain, Part 1 is Book 8 in The Alpha God series. It includes F/F Omegaverse*, Sci-fi Romance, Erotic Romance, G!P*, and a cliffhanger.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ELIJA (ELYON’S WARRIORS BOOK THREE) by Eve Langlais

Here’s to hoping I get to Heaven at least once before Hell literally comes to Earth. It’s the find of the century – alien angels and the spaceships they arrived in. Cindy-lu should have been in biology research heaven; instead, she’s part of a team preparing for the apocalypse. Hell has entered the solar system, a behemoth that will decimate the planet – and its inhabitants. But there is hope for humanity if they can get enough people off-planet to start over. However, sabotage puts a dent in those plans. Cindy-lu is tasked with finding a way to help repair their only means of evacuation, and to ensure she can get the job done, they’ve assigned her a guardian angel. Elija is a warrior who is happiest hunting demons and the imps infesting planet Earth. He chafes when he’s reassigned to protect a bubbly human from coming to harm. What he doesn’t expect is to start wanting something more than a chance to fight. Hope for the future is on the line, and it will take him pushing back against the scriptures he’s followed so rigorously for him to prevail—and save the woman he loves.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

FIRST STRIKE BOOK ONE by Odette C Bell

VS Note: All six books in the series were released on JULY 30. Here’s the information for book one.

When Laksha wakes up as a middling recruit on an Academy training ship, she knows something has gone critically wrong. A Barbarian spy, for the past five years, she’s been infiltrating the soft-bellied Coalition in the hopes of striking a blow that counts. For too long, the Coalition has lorded over the Milky Way. That’s meant to change with her. But someone else gets there first. Dale Simpson is a state-of-the-art cybernetic. Half-man, half-machine, it’s taken him a long time to come to terms with the accident that almost killed him and the science experiment that saved his life instead. An ex-pilot, he’s now a top-level Coalition spy with skills no one else can match. He can seamlessly integrate with nearly all technology he faces – and, when necessary, punch right through it. For the past five years, he’s been after a Barbarian psychic known only as First Strike, and finally he finds her in the heart of the Academy High Command. But when a glitch occurs in his program, he ends up throwing her mind into another body. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse like no other. As Laksha learns the ability to jump into people’s minds, Simpson must find her before she strikes. Falling for her along the way shouldn’t be on the cards. But he’ll soon find out no matter how much he melds with machines, he’ll always have a heart. First Strike follows a Barbarian psychic weapon and the cybernetic soldier sent to stop her fighting to save the galaxy from a powerful empire.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SECRET BABY FOR THE ALIEN DAD (KALEIDIAN WARRIOR DADS) by Athena Storm

To save my son, I’ll do anything…Even fall back in love with his father. I ran from Jax because I wanted to raise Nova without worry…Well, I’m worried now. Because Nova is missing. Someone has taken him and there’s only one alien warrior in the galaxy brutal and dangerous enough to help me. But…how do I even approach him? Will he even listen to what I’m about to tell him? Maybe he’ll believe me when I tell him I never stopped loving him. But what will he do when…I tell him we had a son?   AmazonKU

OUTSIDE by Shalini Boland

VS Note: Books 1-3 are being published on AUG 22. This is a re-release.

A quest for the truth. A fight for survival. A love like no other. I’ve lived all my life in the high-security compound built by my father. He’s made sure my sister and I are protected. I’ve never set foot past the perimeter wall and my only knowledge of what exists beyond are rumours of wild landscapes and violent people. When someone from the outside finds a way in, my little sister is killed. I’m shocked and devastated. Skye was just fourteen, and she had her whole life ahead of her. I’m only a teenager myself, but I am my father’s child – headstrong and determined. I vow to find the person responsible. My best friend, daring and smart Luc, promises to help me and together we set off into the pitch-black night. As we follow the dirt track road into the wilderness, we realise surviving in the harsh outside world is going to be a lot harder than we thought.
With only each other to rely on, sparks begin to fly between us. As we navigate our way through dense forests and twisting hills, my feelings for Luc grow stronger. But then we’re captured. I can’t bear the thought of losing Luc and I’m desperate to get home to my family. But will this new danger finally lead me to my sister’s killer? Or will the answers change everything I thought I knew about my world?

Amazon     AB

MELINDA’S CHOICE by M M Wakeford

Two very different men, and yet I want them both. I can’t have my cake and eat it though. I have to make a choice. Melinda Garcia, recently appointed Earth Federation’s ambassador to the planet Krovatia, is a career woman going places… and leaving behind a broken marriage to the man she still loves. For the last two decades, there has only been one woman in Wyatt’s life. Yet his inability to get on a spaceship and leave Earth has cost him. Is there any way to win Melinda back? Kirimor, a powerful male with five lovely drashas—concubines that service his needs as the most senior priest of Krovatia—has fallen for the lovely Earth female, but will she accept him as he is? Two different men who love her. One difficult choice to make.     AmazonKU

SUSUREX (SUSIX BOOK TWO) by Amelia Rademaker

Cece Levine is stranded with a crew of snake aliens. Luckily, these ones like her. The last ones she met tried to kill her. The crew and I have a few things to work through now that we can communicate. Like why was I pretending to be a pet? What are we going to do now? And why are all of these aliens trying to kill us? Before we do anything, we need to get our ship fixed. With no better options, we fly to the closest planet to find the least reputable mechanic we can. When an ambush turns into a city wide brawl, we’re suddenly in a race against time to save one of our own. Unfortunately, the entire universe knows who we are and they all want a piece of us. There’s no hiding this time. We’ve got to face it all head on. In order to survive, we need to work together. How can we do that when our goals are on opposite sides of the universe? Follow Cece and the Nest as they fly across space dodging assassination attempts left and right. Author’s Note: This is still a slow-burn romance. This book has some spice, but don’t expect it to overpower all of the crazy fight scenes. We will end up with a happily ever after, so be patient *wink*     AmazonKU

HEAD ABOVE WATER by J Evermore

No memories. No rescue. Just one determined alien. When I wake up bloody and bruised beneath the lurid glow of emergency lighting, I know I’m in trouble, and that’s before I realize I don’t even remember my name. I only have a minute to catch my breath before I learn the worst part…I’m not alone. The monster that overtakes me from the shadows of my crashed spaceship is the stuff of nightmares, and he’s decided he’s going to help me whether I want him to or not. We’ll need to work together to survive—and hopefully, return home, wherever that may be for both of us. With no common language outside of hand gestures and sketches in the dirt, communicating is a challenge, but the attraction that binds us ignites faster than a forest fire. I may not find my memory in this alien jungle, but I just might discover my heart. Head Above Water is a slow burn standalone MM (male/male) romance.     AmazonKU

RONAN: SVESTI FATED MATES BOOK FOUR by Wavy Martin

Thirty years ago, the Zuvgran released a virus that killed most Svesti females and rendered the remainder infertile. The Svesti initiate first contact with Earth when their scientists discover that humans and Svesti can interbreed. Humans may be able to save the warrior species that has been protecting Earth’s region of space for a century. Natasha is a Russian doctor who is fascinated with all the new medical technology and techniques she’s learning from the Svesti, as well as alien biology. Ronan is a hybrid with a huge secret and needs a healer to help. So he kidnaps Natasha.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DRAGON’S SECRET BABY (RED PLANET DRAGONS OF TAJZZ BOOK 27) by Miranda Martin

You’re broken, just like me…Tamara – The voice of my mother echoes in my thoughts.
The nausea, the mood swings, all of it has to be a mistake. A joke. And not a funny one at that. I cannot *possibly* be pregnant. What am I going to do? How do I tell my enormous, over-protective, alien baby-daddy that I’m unfit to ever be a mom?   AmazonKU

MATED TO THE BEAST by Grace Goodwin

After two of her brothers are killed in battle with the relentless alien menace that threatens the entire Interstellar Coalition, Sarah Mills volunteers to join the fight in an effort to bring home her last surviving brother. When she is mistakenly processed as a bride rather than a soldier, however, she rejects the match. But her mate has other ideas….Dax is an Atlan warlord, and like all the men of his race, a primal beast lurks within him, ready to emerge in the fury of battle or the heat of the mating fever. When he learns that his bride has chosen to fight on the front lines rather than share his bed, he sets out to track her down and take what the beast demands. Sarah is none too pleased when a massive brute claiming to be her mate arrives suddenly in the midst of a battle, and her displeasure turns to fury when Dax’s presence disrupts her mission and leads to the capture of her brother. But after her commanding officer refuses to authorize a rescue mission, Sarah’s best hope of saving the only family she has left is to accept Dax’s offer to help, even if that means giving herself to him in return. Though he is thrilled to have located his wayward bride, Dax quickly discovers that Sarah is nothing like the meek, submissive women of his world. If he wants her, he will have to tame her, with a firm hand applied to her bare bottom if necessary. But Dax doesn’t just want Sarah, he needs her. Can she satisfy the fearsome beast within him before he loses control completely.

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ADONIS by L Sherleen

Accused of a hate crime and expelled from school in his final year, Connor returns home to his seaside town to let everything blow over. There, not only does he have to learn to deal with the addition of two new stepbrothers and a new stepdad, but he also has to grapple with a world set against him. It’s not all bad though. Within his dad’s underwater lab, he discovers something in the deep. Something exciting. Something that calls to him. Something that doesn’t shy away from the ugly in him as the world does. And Connor could use the distraction…even if it endangers his life. Adonis is an 18+ standalone m/m merman mystery adventure.     AmazonKU

REAVER’S RETURN (THAXIAN WARRIOR MATES BOOK SEVEN) by Elin Wyn

I’ve been trapped for longer than I can remember. And then suddenly, there was her.
Now I have someone to protect, someone to live for. But can I truly free us from this place, or will the secrets of Thaxios keep us apart?     AmazonKU

BARTENDER MATE (INTERSTELLAR DRAGON MATES OF DRAKONIS BOOK ONE) by Miri Stone and K O Newman

Growing up in Valhalla’s Pass wasn’t easy but it made you tough. When her uncle died suddenly, Tess took over the family legacy–Last Chance Bar–in a heartbeat. She didn’t count on the gambling debts. However, when a new group of scary looking cos-play bikers turn up offering her protection, she’s convinced her quirky bestie is pranking her. Little does Tess know that the Stellar Misfits Motorcycle Club are dead set on winning her over as their fated mate. They’ll start with defending Last Chance Bar from their age-old rivals, the Drakon Hunters MC. Will Tess be able to put aside her natural skepticism and embrace the idea that the stars might be smiling on her after all? Or will she turn her back on her fated mates, risking their lives in the process, and never let her heart soar?   AmazonKU

STARBORN (LIGHTNING STRIKE) by Catherine Asaro

VS Note: A re-release.

Following her heart, she left Earth behind—and now only she can save it . . . Tina Santis Pulivok never thought anyone would make sense of the strange way her mind could become saturated with other people’s moods. But then she met Althor, an empathic starfighter pilot from hundreds of years in the future. As their love grows, she leaves her Earth to join his universe where she has no ties except to Althor and their vulnerable marriage. Althor comes from a race of rare psions whose abilities are vital to the survival of humanity, making him coveted by three interstellar civilizations. His enemies sabotaged his starfighter and never expected him to return. Now he faces betrayals from every side. He and Tina become the targets of a merciless enemy who thrives on pain—and who will do anything to destroy the budding alliance between Althor’s people and Tina’s Earth.

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STAR’S JOURNEY by Elise H Ford

Star – Have you ever had to work your way back to yourself? Waking up in the arms of a handsome six-foot-tall alien on a foreign planet with all of my memories wiped away wasn’t exactly what I had planned for my life, or at least I think… I can’t even remember my name, let alone the reason I’m in this unfamiliar terrain. Developing a wicked sickness, if I don’t get the cure soon, I’ll die…Zero – Have you ever felt like you were in the right place at the right time? Out hunting for my clan in the frozen wasteland, I spot a flash in the sky and watch as a ship crashes down on Icruna. Racing over to the crash site, I see a lone occupant… A beautiful glowing woman. She stays in the cold for much too long for her kind and gets the Coldness, only a special potion made by my enemy clan can save her…Ember – Do you believe in fate? Withering away in a dungeon, I feel like all hope is lost until a member of my enemy clan breaks me free. Only so that I can use my magic to make a particular substance for his gorgeous companion. She’s got the Coldness; the only thing that can help her is my magic. I’ve been locked away for so long that I’ve lost my powers… The only way I can gain them back is to return home and soak in the lava pools for a while. But crossing into Veet territory will be dangerous for my enemy turned new friend…Prince Fortune – Do you believe in second chances? A precious artifact has been stolen from our royal treasure room. Pulling up the security footage, we can see the culprit; a known space thief that lights up my eyes. She’s the most magnificent woman I’ve ever seen. The gall she has to steal from us, The Aurum; only makes me want her all the more. I will do everything in my power to find her and then make her mine…This Spicy Why Choose Quadruple Point of View story follows Star as she builds her harem of mates and finds herself along the way.      AmazonKU

DANGEROUS OBSSESSION (SPACEPORT 13) by Marteeka Karland and Shelby Morgen

When famed negotiator Mikhail Dreslin and his crew head to ‘Port Adana for a little R & R, the last thing he expects is to have an exotic runaway drop into his arms. Joiandra is neither as harmless nor as innocent as she appears, though she plays the role well. Who and what she is is a mystery Mikhail will have to solve if he wants to keep her, and the longer he holds her the less he wants to ever let her go, but who’s playing whom in this dangerous game?

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THE ALIEN’S WOMAN (VIRGIN WARRIORS OF KAR’KAL BOOK SIX) by Gemma Voss

It was meant to be one night, a price for my escape… So why am I leaving with an alien husband? Juana has been stranded in space for too long, working off a debt to an alien crime-lord who won’t let her forget he saved her from a worse fate. When warriors arrive to hold a secret meeting, she will do anything to catch a ride off the backwater, even if it means selling her body for a night. Kiri’s life as an ambassador was put on hold when his planet’s population was wiped out in a heartbeat. Tired of feeling useless, he jumps at the chance to head a mission to parlay with the king of warriors he once knew as enemies. But when the mating call strikes him, he fears his new mate’s baggage will derail the budding alliance.     AmazonKU

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

VS: This week I’m featuring MISSION TO MAHJUNDAR from my backlist. This was loosely inspired in part by THE FAR PAVILIONS by M M Kaye, and the poignant situation of a man escorting the woman he loves to her arranged marriage, as well as by one of my best friends in college, who was blind. I learned so much from her about what’s possible in life! She was a great influence.  There was also an evocative photo of a sandswept, abandoned temple in the desert and an ad for a perfume (I no longer remember the name) with a mysterious woman…In my early scifi romances I crammed a LOT of plot into each book – this probably should have been divided into a duology, based on the events I covered.

MISSION TO MAHJUNDAR

An attempted assassination left Princess Shalira blind as a child and, now that she’s of marriageable age, her prospects are not good because of her disability. She’s resigned herself to an arranged marriage rather than face life under the thumb of her cold stepmother. But then she meets Mike Varone, a Sectors Special Forces officer sent to Mahjundar by the intergalactic government to retrieve a ship lost in her planet’s mountains. After Mike saves Shalira from another assassination attempt, she arranges for him to escort her across the planet to her future husband. She’s already falling hard for the deadly offworlder and knows she should deny herself the temptation he represents, but taking Mike along to protect her is the only way she’ll live long enough to escape her ruthless stepmother.

Mike, for his part, resists his growing attraction to the princess; he has a mission on this planet and rescuing the vulnerable but brave princess isn’t it. No matter how much he wishes it could be.

But what should have been an easy trek through Mahjundar’s peaceful lands swiftly turns into an ambush with danger around every turn. Shalira’s marriage begins to seem less like an arranged union and more like yet another planned assassination. The more they work together to survive, the harder it becomes to stop themselves from falling in love. Caught in a race against time, can they escape the hostile forces hunting them and make it off the planet?

MISSION TO MAHJUNDAR is part of the SECTORS SF ROMANCE SERIES. Each story in this series takes place in the same world of hunky space soldiers and the competent ladies who love them. You can read the books in this series back to back, or as individual, stand-alone books.

Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google Play

Audiobook:     Amazon      Apple Books

******************************OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT  (because my own books pay my bills) AND ONWARD WE GO!**************************************************

GRAVES (VLG SERIES BOOK 12) by Laurann Dohner

Graves is a judge, jury and executioner for the Werewolf packs. Not everyone is suited for the job, but a tragedy in his youth changed him into the man he is today, feared by…well…everyone. So when he completes a job for a nearby pack, and the alpha gifts him with a servant, Graves is shocked. No one in their right mind would make him responsible for another person, especially not an alpha’s adopted human daughter. But it’s a gift he literally can’t refuse. Her father’s alpha position has been challenged, and Brandon, the man who’ll likely soon take over the pack, hates no one more than Joni. She has no choice but to seek protection, and to that end, she and her parents have done their research carefully. While Graves might be terrifying, he’s also a man of honor. He’ll protect her from the new alpha even if it’s the last thing he wants to do. What begins as a rocky partnership soon turns into something more personal. But Brandon has evil plans for Joni, and he’ll do whatever it takes—including use people close to Graves—to get her back.

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SHADOW DANCE (A SHADOW RIDERS NOVEL BOOK EIGHT) by Christine Feehan

As the head of the New York City Shadow Riders and his branch of the Ferraro family, Geno bears the weight of dual responsibilities on his broad shoulders. There’s nothing more important to Geno than protecting his territory and his famiglia. So when his own parents become the latest victims in a string of vicious murders, Geno is ready to go scorched earth. He thinks he has the assassin in his sights, but he’s unprepared for the firestorm their connection ignites….Amaranthe Aubert’s lithe dancer’s body conceals a spine of steel. Even held captive and faced with the threat of lethal interrogation, she’s not about to cave under pressure. She had nothing to do with the murders, no matter what the ruthless man in front of her believes. But before Amara knows what’s happening, Geno connects to her in the shadows, stripping her bare of all artifice. Now, she has no way to hide her true reason for being in New York—and nowhere to run from the man who’s very presence steals the very breath from her lungs.

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THE CURSED (COVEN OF BONES BOOK TWO) by Harper L Woods

Not all men can be heroes.     AmazonKU

CURSED AT DAWN: A NOVEL (THE BLACKBIRD TRILOGY BOOK THREE) by Heather Graham

Dracula lives—and he’s hunting for his bride. Vampires may not walk among us, but FBI agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter know real monsters exist. They’ve witnessed firsthand the worst humankind has to offer. They’re still catching their breaths after the apprehension of two such monstrous killers when they’re met with horrific news: Stephan Dante, the self-proclaimed king of the vampires, has escaped from prison, followed only by a trail of blood. All too familiar with Dante’s cruelty, Della and Mason know the clock is ticking. But as Dante claims more victims, a chilling message arrives. The vampire killer seeks his eternal bride—Della herself. Playing into Dante’s desires might be the only way to stop the carnage once and for all, assuming they can outwit him. Della is confident the agents have the upper hand, but Mason knows every gamble runs the risk of not paying off, and this time, the consequences could be deadly.

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MAGIC, DEMONS AND THE HUNTER: ENCHANTED INC PARANORMAL MMMROMANCE by JP Sayle

Three men, destined to be together. Two believe their third is dead. The third doesn’t even know his mates exist. Mondo suffers from a five-year-old hole in his memory and recurrent dreams of two men. On a mission to Salem to determine if demons are murdering humans, his life becomes complicated when the two men are no longer in his head but a reality. Pierre is struggling. A shocking discovery forces him to make a decision that will bring him face to face with his past – and confront his own guilt.
Eli blames himself for not saving their mate. When he learns the ancestral crystal used in the traumatic events of five years ago is missing a piece, he goes in search of answers, only to find himself back in the same situation. Except this time he could lose everything.

AmazonKU

A KINGDOM THIS CURSED AND EMPTY  (KINGDOM OF LIES BOOK TWO) by Stacia Stark

Risk everything for your kingdom…Or be destroyed by it. In a world darkened by deceit, the truth is a light that won’t be dimmed. Even when it illuminates Lorian’s betrayals more starkly than I could ever want to see. They call him the Bloodthirsty Prince. His reign of terror has left a trail of blood across this continent. A trail that intertwines with my own past–not even my parents were spared from his merciless slaughter. To save my brother’s life, I agreed to another bargain with the fae prince. Now, I’m forced to work with him. Forced to travel to the fae lands. Forced to spend my every waking moment with the man who betrayed me. All because King Sabium has woven a deadly tapestry of manipulation, using those we least suspect for his wicked schemes. There are no lines I won’t cross to protect the people I love. So I’ll work with former enemies. I’ll manipulate, blackmail, and deceive potential allies. I’ll swallow my pride, bury my shattered heart, and cooperate with the fae to prepare for the coming war. Because there are creatures far more monstrous than the fae. And some of them masquerade as men.   AmazonKU

LOKI (HEART OF ICE SERIES) by Demelza Carlton

When graduate Aussie archaeologist Jorunn flies halfway around the world to work in the Arctic, she figures she’s leaving her troubled past behind. Until artefacts start going missing, and she gets the blame. The only person who believes she’s innocent is a mysterious backpacker who says his name is Loki. The last thing Loki remembers is vowing vengeance, before waking up in the ice after a thousand years in an enchanted sleep. When even Thor doesn’t trust him, he’s forced to enlist the help of a girl he barely knows…yet can’t seem to resist. Can Jorunn find the real culprit and clear her name, or will the trickster god only land her in more trouble?    Amazon

MIDLIFE FORGOTTEN MATE (BEAR MATES OVER 40 BOOK FIVE) by Aline Ash

Taylee – A horrific accident erased Taylee’s memories, leaving her in a terrifying situation. Not remembering who you are is particularly distressing when you have a dependent newborn, an adopted daughter who needs your love, and a shifter mate who now feels like a stranger. Well, at least he’s drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Taylee’s belief that Kier deserves someone better, he adamantly refuses to accept rejection. As Taylee endeavors to reclaim her old life, find inner peace with her bear, and navigate the challenges of motherhood and partnership, a threat from her past emerges. Regrettably, she cannot recall ever knowing the man who now poses a threat. To make matters worse, he seeks not only her but her entire clan. Kier – Kier’s greatest fear is losing Taylee, even more than her amnesia. Determined to reignite her love for him, he patiently awaits her choice as her mate. Therefore, when her past jeopardizes everything they hold dear, Kier is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect Taylee, their daughters, and the secrets of their shifter clan. Will they reclaim what was lost and discover true happiness and peace?   AmazonKU

THERE’S A PLACE DOWNTOWN by Charity Parkerson

VS Note: Listed in gay erotica.

You know what they say. There’s a place downtown where all your kinks can be found.
There’s a Place Downtown is a collection of short, erotic, monster loving escapades. Starting with…Stuck on you: Scott has a fetish. Crue has what he needs. No joke, he REALLY has what he needs. Something Wild: It was a typical Friday night for Dusk. He only wanted to dance. Now his life will never be the same. A Little Evil Wicked:
The world is ripe with food for an incubus these days. Oddly, Damon only wants one man.     Amazon

SIR HEREWARD AND MISTER FITZ: STORIES OF THE WITCH KNIGHT AND THE PUPPET SORCEROR by Garth Nix

VS Note: Re-released stories, one new.

Sir Hereward: the only male child of an ancient society of witches. Knight, artillerist, swordsman. Mercenary for hire. Ill-starred lover. Mister Fitz: puppet, sorcerer, loremaster. Practitioner of arcane arts and wielder of sorcerous needles. Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: godslayers. Agents of the Council of the Treaty for the Safety of the World, charged with the location and removal of listed extra-dimensional entities, more commonly known as gods. Together, they are relentless travelers in a treacherous world of magic, gunpowder, and adventure. Compiled for the first time ever, these eight magical stories—plus an all-new tale, “The Field of Fallen Foe”—featuring fabulous, quintessential Garth Nix protagonists Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz comprise a must-have adult fantasy collection for fans and those about to discover the witch knight and his puppet sorcerer for the first time.

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ETHEREAL AS A SWAN (KEEPERS OF ENCHANTMENT BOOK TWO) by Kendra Moreno

Odette hates most things in this world. She hates the black spreading like a stain in her hair. She hates her curse. But most of all, she hates anyone trying to tell her how to live her life. Specifically, the group of religious zealots currently holding her hostage. Full of lunatics and doomsday prophets, the Followers of the Crimson Merge are spreading their beliefs through the Enchanted Forest like a plague. Throw in the werewolf who suddenly shows up to stir trouble within their ranks and Odette is ready to throw herself into the lake. Even if said werewolf stirs something inside her she hasn’t felt in centuries, something dangerous. Her swan song may be powerful, but the worlds will soon learn why Odette was cursed to begin with. That past is coming back to haunt her, and she’s not sure if she’s ready to face such terrible nightmares. After all, things buried so deep should stay that way.

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NOW AND FOREVER QUEEN (CONSTELLINA BOOK TWO) by C M Hano

Unfated Mates…He didn’t come for me, again. He let them take me, again. He didn’t fight for me, again. He doesn’t deserve me. The Shifter Prince never was, nor will he ever be my Fated Mate. Fated Ones…I know what our future brings. Our destiny set forth by the gods of Constellina. They tried to break us. But now that our power is awakened, Nothing and no one will stand in our way.     AmazonKU

THE WATER OUTLAWS by S L Huang

In the jianghu, you break the law to make it your own. Lin Chong is an expert arms instructor, training the Emperor’s soldiers in sword and truncheon, battle axe and spear, lance and crossbow. Unlike bolder friends who flirt with challenging the unequal hierarchies and values of Imperial society, she believes in keeping her head down and doing her job. Until a powerful man with a vendetta rips that carefully-built life away. Disgraced, tattooed as a criminal, and on the run from an Imperial Marshall who will stop at nothing to see her dead, Lin Chong is recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan. Mountain outlaws on the margins of society, the Liangshan Bandits proclaim a belief in justice—for women, for the downtrodden, for progressive thinkers a corrupt Empire would imprison or destroy. They’re also murderers, thieves, smugglers, and cutthroats. Apart, they love like demons and fight like tigers. Together, they could bring down an empire.

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DRYAD’S BLOSSOM: A PURPLE OASIS STORY by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape

When dryad Lila comes face-to-face with a cherry blossom tree for the first time in years, she finally feels as if she might have found the place she can call home and reconnect with her magic. Tea witch Grey has been waiting for the sakuras to bloom for years, and now that he’s met a gorgeous dryad beneath the tree, he thinks there might be a chance. Will the arrival of spring bring more than just flowers for Lila and Grey?

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TIE ME KNOT (GHOST CUPID BOOK ONE) by Allie Brahms and Kati Griffin

So far, while working at a ghost matchmaking agency, the past week has gone thusly: 1) a murdered ghost bride who is very very pissed off (don’t blame her, I’d be pissed off too) 2) adopted by Chinese hellhounds (I THOUGHT THEY WERE DOGS, OKAY) 3) wake up magically soul-bonded to the sexy demon slayer Zhen (While I agree he’s -expansive hand waving- HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!) I do not need a fourth incident to make my life more interesting, please and thank you. Spoiler alert: I get one anyway.

Amazon

MOON PROMISED: BOOK THREE OF THE GEMINI WOLVES TRILOGY by Sara Snow

Our brilliant strategy…it wasn’t quite so brilliant after all. I am not merely a captive, but a prized pawn in a sinister game. They wanted Gunner and me to… breed. It’s not that I haven’t fantasized about being with Gunner… but under my own terms, not theirs. I’m trapped in a living nightmare from which there seems to be no waking. As a Gemini Twin, I’m not just a player; I’m the queen on their twisted chessboard, the vital piece in the Lunar Shadow Society’s grand plan for a formidable army. But I won’t play along. I refuse to be the catalyst for their dark ambition. Time is running out, and the stakes have never been higher. Can I escape this vile stronghold, dismantle the LSS, and do it all before my window of opportunity snaps shut?     

Amazon

ONCE A ROGUE (ROARING 20’S MAGIC BOOK TWO) by Allie Therin

Two reformed scoundrels have renounced the battlefields and scandals for one another, but their troubled pasts could destroy everything they hold dear…New York, 1925 – 
Cranky and jaded Lord Fine—Wesley, now, to the kindhearted lover he cynically doubts life will let him keep—arrives in Manhattan with one goal: find the American paranormals and get their help with the relic burdening Sebastian. His plans are upended when the other paranormals seem to have vanished, and a mysterious letter warns Wesley that he’s in danger. Sebastian has no doubts when it comes to his feelings for Wesley, but he’s still haunted by the time he spent enthralled by blood magic right here in New York. And now, his magic is unstable, bolstered by a relic that seems to drain energy from his very blood. But there is a threat to Wesley, and Sebastian needs control of his magic to protect him—even if former Great War captain Wesley wants Sebastian to rely on him for a change.  Chasing a trail that leads from Fifth Avenue’s bootleggers to a Halloween masquerade at a Tarrytown mansion, they must race to find their friends before devastation is unleashed on New York—and on magic everywhere.

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MIDNIGHT DESCENT (KISSED BY BRIMSTONE BOOK TWO) by Leigh Kelsey

I have four soulmates, but we’re a match made in Hell…I found my fated mates, but they’re mindless beasts who don’t remember me at all. On a good day, they ignore me. On a bad day, they eye me with suspicion and fear. Every blank look fractures my soul more, until I’m ready to break. I’ll need a miracle to restore my mates’ memories, let alone undo the curses inked on my body. But with my psycho mate Wynvail hunting me, determined to claim me at all costs, I’ll be lucky to survive to the end of the month—when I’m cursed to kill Harvey, Emlyn, and Kai. And the final nail in my coffin? There’s a black pit in my memory. Every time I try to remember what I’ve forgotten, pain explodes through my skull. Being crazy, violent, and ruthless might not save me this time.   AmazonKU

PEACEMAKER – TIME WALKER’S JURNALS: A TRELLISVERSE NOVEL (PEACEKEEPER’S HARMONY BOOK FOUR) by Maggie M Lily

I am the Time Walker of legend, and I have a story to tell. But I’m terrible at telling stories. This is going to be interesting…Dive back into Trellisverse with a story told from Sam’s perspective. The timeline overlaps directly with the events in the Peacekeeper’s Harmony series, but it reaches far beyond what Luke knows.   AmazonKU

TROUBLE FOR MY TROLL (FAIRHAVEN FALLS) by Honey Ohillips

Her troll mechanic is determined to get her engine revving! Alison is looking forward to finally settling down in Fairhaven Falls. Surely a town full of monsters will make it easier to guard her vulnerable heart. When she runs into a truck driven by a massive troll with a charming smile, she realizes it might not be so easy after all. Despite her attempts to avoid him, he keeps coming to her rescue. Will isn’t happy about returning to his small hometown to take over the family business. The sooner he can escape a job he doesn’t want in a place he doesn’t want to be, the better. The curvy little female who collides with him can’t be more than a distraction – so why does his inner troll want to carry her off to his den and keep her forever? He doesn’t even have a den! Can a male who doesn’t want to stay and a woman who doesn’t want to leave find happiness together?   AmazonKU

TEMPER THE FLAME: AN MM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST RETELLING (BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARES BOOK FOUR) by Anna Fury and Amy Pennza

You don’t tempt a dragon unless you’re willing to pay the price. Powerful, merciless creatures, they revel in their dominance over us mortals. I’ve heard whispers that Fuoco, leader of the Fire Syndicate’s dragon clan, is the most brutal of them all. Arrogant and ruthless, he has no qualms about reducing lawbreakers to ashes. I never wanted to break the law, but when my father grows ill, I risk everything by sneaking into Lord Fuoco’s enchanted apple orchard. The last thing I expect is to come face to face with the dragon lord himself. I brace myself to be incinerated. But Fuoco’s glittering gaze burns with possession. It turns out dragons dream of their fated mates—and Fuoco thinks I’m his. And once a dragon decides to claim you, they won’t be dissuaded. Anxious to return to my father, I do what any desperate man would do—I get on my knees and beg for the dragon’s mercy. But on my knees is exactly where Fuoco wants me. The dragon lord makes me a deal: if I live in his castle and warm his bed, he’ll make sure my father survives. With my father’s life hanging in the balance, I don’t have much choice. Yet as I get to know Fuoco, I realize there’s more to him than his harsh exterior. Maybe there’s a chance I can thaw his icy heart and save my father in the process. Or maybe I’m playing with fire.     AmazonKU

THE ELVEN STAR (BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD – WILDWOOD BOOK FOUR) by Bianca D’Arc

The Daughters of the Dryad have been found and are about to attempt their greatest magic yet. Cameron is a fey prince who has chosen to live in the mortal realm, sworn to fight evil wherever he finds it. Sir Cameron le Fey is on a mission to track down the final dryad granddaughter. He has to get to her before the enemy does, but when he finds her, she surprises him. She’s not really like the others. Kaleen is an unexpected power with knowledge far beyond her years. Kaleen Fairchild doesn’t think she’s in any danger when Cameron shows up in her back yard, but she begins to believe when she’s attacked in her own garden by a mage up to no good. Together they will find a rare and special love, rediscover forgotten magic, and do their best to free the trapped dryad. They will face danger together and bond over shared magic. He’s never met anyone like her and she finds herself attracted to him in ways she’s never felt before. Together they will join with the others to perform the Elven Star spell to try to help Leonora. After that, only Fate can tell where they wind up. Each has a legacy of magic and duty, but they will have to choose where that legacy leads them — to their family duty in the fey realm, or to battle evil in the mortal one? Together or apart, they need to decide where and when, and if their feelings can last through all their immortal days.

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HUNTING WITH MAGIC (LONDON’S EDGE CHRONICLES BOOK TWO) by Celine Jeanjean

I’m chilling at home with my new vampire and ghost roommates when a disgraced witch shows up at our door. Turns out she’s been booted out of her coven for, well, sucking at witching (look at my cross magical species pun!) I’m never one to turn away someone in need of help, and I don’t agree with casting people out simply because they have challenges. But before I can do anything to help the witch, my beloved hyena, Penelope, gets kidnapped by the Hair — my nemesis — in order to force me to use my anti-magic to help him hunt down and kill magical creatures. The magical equivalent of law enforcement doesn’t give a fig about hyena kidnappings, which means that I’m on my own — well, me and my little ragtag team of magical misfits, now featuring an inept witch. We’ve got to use every trick in the book (including some that aren’t in the book) to rescue Penelope, and make sure I don’t end up being the Hair’s magical hunting dog.

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SHADOWS RISING (REQUIEM OF THE FALLEN BOOK TWO) by Elizabeth Blackthorne

In a world of darkness and desire, the heist of the century is just the beginning. Cole sets my soul ablaze with his warmth and passion. But it’s Alastor, his dark and irresistible ex-lover, who awakens a forbidden longing within me. Alastor wants me too, and his relentless pursuit ignites a dangerous flame that I can’t resist. I despise him, and yet, with every stolen touch, my resolve weakens, and the line between hate and desire blurs. I fear the depths of my own desires, afraid of the path they might lead me down. More complications arise when Theo enters the picture. Alastor’s right-hand man, a wolf shifter and brilliant hacker, he stirs something within me. His easygoing manner and sweet humour only add to the already tangled web of emotions. As the lines blur between friendship and something more, I find myself torn between the familiar comfort of Cole and the dangerous allure of Alastor and Theo. Amidst this emotional turmoil, we embark…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)     AmazonKU  

MISSED CONEGGTIONS (LOVE AT FIRST SHIFT BOOK FOUR) by Lorelai N Hart and Colbie Dunbar

Living as a human is fine… that is until you find yourself shifting on a hike…in front of your natural enemy, only to have your snake declare them your mate. Alpha dragon shifter Laden was down on his luck, when a distant relative took him in and gave him a new start. Now he has his own company and a flight he feels at peace among. If only he wasn’t so lonely. Seeing his brother find his true mate has Laden longing to find his own. It’d be nice if fate hooked him up already. Snake omega Nath grew up loving to cook. In his ideal world he’d go to a fancy culinary school and travel to Paris to learn from the best. Only problem is he grew up in a snake pit and went to the snake version of school. He learned a ton but didn’t have the paperwork to show for it and certainly didn’t have the degree to get into the schools he wanted. After years of jobs in restaurants, he wanted more than to be a line cook. He wanted his dream. When Nath sees the ad for a candy maker apprenticeship, he applies without a second thought. Everyone likes candy, right? Nath loves his new boss and job. This is where he needs to be. Even his snake agrees, insisting they hike every chance they get. Seems harmless enough… until he finds himself face to face with a dragon…a sexy dragon at that.     AmazonKU

HOPPING TO HIS OMEGA by Lorelai M Hart

Hunter – I found Oliver Creek by accident. I was looking at real estate in the next town over, just passing through after I moved here from Australia. On the outskirts, just past the vineyard, I spotted a property with a huge barn and a nice big lot. A more perfect place didn’t exist for my type of work. But my art keeps me in solitude and, when I do make it to town, it’s only for necessities and to get some food since I don’t cook anything more complicated than scrambled eggs. When I’m checking my mail at the post office, I overhear one of the workers talking about the new diner owner, from Australia. Two Aussies in one small town. Coincidence? Fate had never shown her face too much before, but maybe this was my chance.     AmazonKU

FOXGLOVE (BELLADONNA BOOK TWO) by Adalyn Grace

A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous palace nearby. He’s hell-bent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago…and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.
Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from wrongful imprisonment if the girls will entertain Fate’s presence. But the more time they spend with him, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide whom they can trust as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.

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HE WHO DROWNED THE WORLD: A NOVEL (THE RADIANT EMPEROR DUOLOGY BOOK TWO) by Shelley Parker-Chan

How much would you give to win the world? Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor. But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbor in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband—and she’s strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old enemy: the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father’s killer, the Great Khan. Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history—and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him. All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes to win. But when desire is the size of the world, the price could be too much for even the most ruthless heart to bear,

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HOUSE OF ODYSSEUS (SONGS OF PENELOPE BOOK TWO) by Claire North

On the isle of Ithaca, queen Penelope maintains a delicate balance of power. Many years ago, her husband Odysseus sailed to war with Troy and never came home. In his absence, Penelope uses all her cunning to keep the peace—a peace that is shattered by the return of Orestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra. Orestes’ hands are stained with his mother’s blood. Not so long ago, the son of Agamemnon took Queen Clytemnestra’s life on Ithaca’s sands. Now, wracked with guilt, he is slowly losing his mind. But a king cannot be seen to be weak, and Elektra has brought him to Ithaca to keep him safe from the ambitious men of Mycenae. Penelope knows destruction will follow in his wake as surely as the furies circle him. His uncle Menelaus, the battle-hungry king of Sparta, longs for Orestes’ throne—and if he can seize it, no one will be safe from his violent whims. Trapped between two mad kings, Penelope fights to keep her home from being crushed by a war that stretches from Mycenae and Sparta to the summit of Mount Olympus itself. Her only allies are Elektra, desperate to protect her brother, and Helen of Troy, Menelaus’ wife. And watching over them all is the goddess Aphrodite, who has plans of her own. Each woman has a secret. And their secrets will shape the world.

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DIRE STRAITS (NO MAN’S LAND BOOK ONE) by Megan Derr

More than twenty years ago, Bannick fled the place called No Man’s Land with no intention of returning. Now, though, he is a powerful red-collared Crown priest, his duty to fight the many dangerous creatures that plague the country, and exorcise the demons all too frequently summoned by the unwise. Ordered out to contend with a likely dire, an undead monster difficult to stop, he instead finds himself facing off against the worst abomination of them all: a dire demon, which he can’t hope to defeat himself. Only a necromancer can stop a dire demon, but the nearest necromancer might not arrive in time.

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THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM (THE DARK GODS BOOK TWO) by Tara Sim

A cataclysmic battle to save the city of Nexus has left the four noble heirs scattered across the four realms. Taesia, the shadow-wielding rebel of House Lastrider, and Nikolas, the solider son of House Cyr, have been cast into Noctus, the realm of night. But they are not alone. The dangerous and unpredictable god of light has traveled with them, and he will do anything in his power to destroy Noctus once and for all. Risha, the peace-loving necromancer of House Vakara, has finally found her way to Mortri, the realm of death. But she still cannot help the wayward spirits trapped in Vaega, nor does she have any idea how to get herself and her friend Jas home. All she knows is that no mortal can survive for long in Mortri. And the creatures that walk the realm of death don’t take kindly to the living. Angelica, the stubborn elementalist of House Mardova, finds herself alone in Vaega. With the other three heirs vanished, it is up to her help keep the city of Nexus from unraveling. But Angelica secretly suffers from a sickness that her goddess left in her veins. And when she is sent on a delicate diplomatic mission, she knows that any sign of weakness will have disastrous repercussions for her family, her city, and her dreams of the throne. All will encounter old friends and new enemies as they attempt to restore the balance of the world. But as the gods grow stronger, they’ll need more than their powers and their wits to survive.

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VIRUS WITHIN (VAMPIRE VIXEN SERIES BOOK TWO) by Colleen Tews

Veronica spent the last ten years trapped in Origin without Lucian. That was how long she lasted without feeding on human blood. Driven to the point of madness from starvation, she literally dropped out of the sky and into a Cabal Ministry State meeting. Why didn’t Primus Grump have Veronica beheaded for treason during Lucian’s revolt? One word: Bait. The Cabal came to the conclusion that Lucian was behind a mysterious illness infecting the vampires of the state. This caused them to age and die. The older they were the faster the aging process took. Grump planned to use Veronica to draw his badass out of hiding, but they underestimated Veronica. To add insult to injury, fae have gone missing and no one outside the Seelie Court cared. Are these two events connected? Veronica is determined to find out. She will have to use her wit and drive to discover a cure, save the man she loves, and save the fae folk. If that is even possible? If not, her life is forfeit.     AmazonKU

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON (THE CROWN’S WOLVES) by Zoe Forward

If he doesn’t break the curse tying him and his brothers to the Crown of England as paranormal terrorist hunters, they’ll be forced to execute him. An accidental demon possession erodes Shane Lanzo’s sanity. Sometimes he’s in control. Sometimes not. His only hope is the witch who cast the curse, which is a problem. The last two times he approached her, the feisty enchantress somehow tamed the demon inside him, but rendered him useless against his desire for her. Madeline Edney sucks at being a witch. Her casting the curse on the lycan brothers was a fluke, and it destroyed her life. She’s been hunted by the Crown ever since to make sure she doesn’t try to undo the curse. She never expected Shane to find her so easily. He’s a temptation that promises zinger chemistry, her absolute weakness. One taste was gratifying. Two was foolish. Three has become an addiction. Lifting the curse requires she forfeit her life, but if the hunters kill her, it leaves Shane at the mercy of the Crown. Either way she dies. Shane has a choice: freedom for his family, risking Madeline in the process or a chance at happiness with the witch who fated his brothers as prisoners for eternity.

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HOW THE NECROMANCER IN THE GOLD VEST SAVED MY LIFE: DISASTER #4 by Jocelynn Drake

Something has escaped from the underworld! Sky would like to point out that this is NOT his fault. But, yes, something has escaped, and it has all the dead crawling out of their graves. Naturally, the humans are freaking out. Except for the sexy one living across the street. Nolan is ready to jump into the fray and help Sky round up the underworld fugitive. Sky’s going to need all the help he can get–not just from his coven but all the witches he can get his hands on. How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This is the final book and contains witches, demons, underworld minions, more sandwiches, stolen smexy time, an angry Grammy, and something scary running wild in Connecticut.   AmazonKU

PROBABLE FEAR (WESTIN FORCE DELTA BOOK THREE) by Julie Trettel

Sometimes the path to destiny really sucks ass. I should have died on our last big mission and it’s messing with my head. I know I need to get over it, but I just can’t. There’s a lead on a new Collector and Delta’s getting called in to assist. Paralyzed by irrational fears and guilt, I don’t know if I can do this again. But if I don’t, I’ll never meet her.   AmazonKU

A POTION FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ((UN) LUCKY VALLEY BOOK THREE) by Michelle M Pillow

VS note: A re-release.

Where the magic of love meets the power of the paranormal, the spell is unbreakable. Jesse Goode has spent the last two years avoiding going to Lucky Valley, Colorado, to claim an inheritance she doesn’t want. But when supernatural dangers threaten the only thing she cares about, she has no choice. Welcome to Lucky Valley where nothing is quite what it seems.

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FEATHERS SO VICIOUS (COURT OF RAVENS BOOK ONE) by Liv Zander

Perched between branches and shadows, We watch, we scheme, Fighting for a kingdom forgotten and forlorn. Until we rip her away with our claws, Our prisoner, our pawn, our plaything. She’s innocent and pure, Fragile and helpless…but oh so guilty by blood. She calls us beasts, Wicked and evil, Vicious and cruel. We are all that and worse. One of us offers her shelter beneath his wings, Whispering promises of pleasure, Seeking redemption. The other longs to shatter her into a million pieces, Whispering promises of pain, Seeking revenge. Caught between our feathers, She endures our deranged desires, Our secrets, our lies, Our twisted plans. Will she surrender to our darkness, or fight for a destiny growing ever elusive? Welcome to the Court of Ravens, little white dove. Feathers so Vicious is a full-length dark fantasy romance novel, and book one in the Court of Ravens duet. The two-part story features two morally gray raven shifters, a young woman at the mercy of their shadows, and a HEA. This world contains dark elements, violence, and themes some may find disturbing.  AmazonKU

IN CHARM’S WAY (THE WITCHES OF THISTLE GROVE BOOK FOUR) by Lana Harper

Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities. While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah’s soul. Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town’s hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah’s entire life.

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SUSPICIOUS WIZARDS (BELLAROSE CAT CAFE BOOK TWO) by L A Boruff, Lia Davis and Lacey Carter

Heather Bellarose is happier than she has been in a long time. Returning to Cave River, Arizona, and reconnecting with her sisters has filled a void she hasn’t realized she’s been missing. However, nothing is ever perfect. Her sixteen-year-old daughter doesn’t like her for moving them away from Seattle. Then Brady, Heather’s ex, moves to Cave River, stirring up all kinds of mixed emotions. Their relationship is complicated at best. Heather isn’t sure she can trust him not to leave her again. Nothing can be simple, especially when the boarding house burns down, and Brady has to stay at the Bellarose mansion. Heather puts him in the farthest room from hers, of course. The evil warlock who is set on buying up the whole town is causing chaos. Cate is cursed, and Heather and Rae work to break it all the while running the cat cafe and fulfilling their duties outlined in their grandfather’s will. Losing her heart to her ex-husband for the second time isn’t the only thing Heather has to worry about. She and her sisters must save the entire town.

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VEIL OF MONSTERS (THE WYVERN CLAN SERIES BOOK FOUR) by G Bailey

King Emerson Eveningstar was my enemy. Now he is my mate, my king, and I will make him remember. The Wyerns I love the most have forgotten me after the events in the sea. Emerson might not remember me, but he is protective and possessive, even when he believes I am his enemy. Posy holds the key to getting their memories back, but we are both locked away in the Wyern’s great cities. It won’t be easy to escape, with the war outside the mountains burning through the world. The Rift holds more secrets than I ever knew, and as time passes, it’s clear the war is going to destroy our entire world unless I stop Louie. Two worlds. Two kings. But only one world can win. The Rift or Wyvcelm?     AmazonKU

MANIC WITCHY DREAM GIRL (A BROOMSTICKS AND BOOKS COZY MYSTERY BOOK SEVEN) by Sara Bourgeois

When Daphne and her friends accidentally fall through a portal into an alternate reality, their lives are turned upside down. Now they must navigate a strange new world that mirrors their own, solve a mysterious murder, and find a way back home. With danger around every corner, help from unexpected allies, and a dash of romance, Daphne and her crew take you on an exhilarating cross-dimensional ride you won’t soon forget. Can they harness their own magic, outwit a deranged killer, and reunite with the people they love?      AmazonKU

CURIOUSITY KILLS: MYSTERIES OF MERI (FAMILIAR KITTEN MYSTERIES BOOK 23) by Sara Bourgeois

In the mystical town of Coventry, where secrets lurk and magic thrives, Kinsley Skeenbauer’s life as a witch is anything but ordinary. When a mysterious tattoo leads to the disappearance of a man, Kinsley must unravel a web of deceit, betrayal, and dark magic. With the help of Meri, her family, and her coven of powerful witches, she embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth. But as she delves deeper into the mystery, she discovers a connection to her own past. A manifestation of her deepest regrets takes form, and Kinsley must confront the choices she’s made and the life she left behind.   AmazonKU

LOVE AND OTHER WICKED THINGS by Philline Harms

Nineteen-year-old Rhia Greenbrook has lived in the sleepy town of Oakriver in a house with three generations of witches her entire life. Rhia draws her magic from the earth and likes to spend her time amongst plants and nature. Her practice is gentle, sacred, and—per her family’s tradition—secret. New-to-town witch Valerie Morgan is looking for answers about her mother’s disappearance from Oakriver seventeen years ago. Without her mother’s guidance, Valerie has cultivated her fire magic on her own and she makes no effort to keep her powers hidden. Although Rhia is immediately annoyed by Valerie’s blatant use of magic, she can’t deny the instant magnetism between them. But amidst their magical connection, a dark presence looms over Oakriver. Unsettling visions from Rhia’s grandmother and dangerous sleepwalking episodes throw into question Valerie’s past and what role her presence plays in the strange happenings. And as Valerie gets tangled up further into the darkness, it’s up to Rhia to tap into the full potential of her power in order to save the town she loves and the girl she’s fallen for.

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NICE AND SPLICY (HYBRID HEARTS BOOK THREE) by Alana Khan

Love unbridled. Can a centaur and his boss’s daughter find their happily-ever-after in the computer lab, or will the strict military regulations short-circuit their attraction? Jo – Agreeing to my stepfather’s offer to work on this top-secret human-hybrid project seemed better than the alternative—an all-expense-paid trip to jail. I never expected to meet a captivating centaur who would make my heart race. Because our relationship is strictly forbidden, our passion may be a code that’s too tough to crack. Chance – Lucky to be rescued from the evil scientists’ genetics lab, I certainly never expected to fall head over hooves for my boss’s daughter. Can we program a workaround, or will her father be the glitch that causes our love to crash?     AmazonKU

GUARDIAN by Sara Fields

A beast must claim his mate. After watching over this world for millennia, a woman wandering in the woods should have been of no interest to me. But the moment I saw her bathing in a stream, only raw instinct mattered. I was able to keep my lust at bay for a little while… until the scent of her helpless arousal as I reddened her bare bottom for putting herself in danger told me she was ready to be claimed. But even if she’d been less reckless it would have made no difference in the end. Sooner or later, she was always going to be mine.     AmazonKU

IN THE ROSES OF PIERIA (THE BLOOD FILES BOOK ONE) by Anna Burke

When Clara Eden is offered a job as an archivist working for eccentric estate owner Agatha Montague, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Soon, she finds herself sucked into the world of her research, captivated by a romantic correspondence thousands of years old. But as her feelings for her employer’s assistant, Fiadh, deepen, so too does her suspicion that something about Agatha Montague isn’t quite right. Unfortunately for Clara, by the time her suspicions are confirmed, it is far too late to run.

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DARK AND BEASTLY FAE (FORBIDDEN MATES) by Lola Glass

After nine years in a tower, I was finally rescued… by a deadly fae king who wants to make me his mate. He’s harsh, beautiful, and being hunted by an ancient magical monster. If he wants to stay hidden, he needs to keep my magic close. To do so, he ignites a forbidden mate bond between us that connects our minds and prevents me from leaving his side. Though he insists it means nothing, the longer we’re connected, the more our desire for each other rages beyond our control. We have to fight it, because in his land, love is a weakness. And having a mate? It’s a death sentence. Our lives are hanging in the balance… and yet we can’t stop fate’s pull on our hearts.     AmazonKU

TO CHARM A DARK PRINCE (THE IRON CRYSTAL BOOK ONE) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

To save a kingdom, she must charm a monster. Transported to the magical realm of Avalon, Gwen finds herself in the hands of its dark and beautiful ruler—Mordred, the Prince in Iron. The prince holds total power in Avalon, trapping his rivals in an enchanted crystal prison. But he shows a strange gentleness to Gwen. Seeing no other way to escape, Gwen strikes a deal with Mordred’s enemy. If she can break the crystal, she will be free to go home. Gwen joins Mordred’s court with a plan to steal his heart and destroy his prize. Desire sparks between them at once. But Mordred is a dangerous host. As they draw closer, his passion and anger burn brighter. Gwen would be foolish to trust him. And even more foolish to betray his trust.     AmazonKU

HAL’S SILENCE (ARROWTOWN BOOK EIGHT) by Lisa Oliver

Determined to do more than hide out in Arrowtown, Lion shifter Hal Lamont decides to head out on a road trip. Armed with his speech app, enough pens and papers to sink a battleship, and a deep desire to find his long lost confidence, he sets out, planning a short stay in Jackson before seeing where the open road will take him. But a random night out in the predominantly human town changes his world in a way he doesn’t imagine – and not necessarily for the better. Blade Morgan was a shark shifter, but he didn’t see why it should stop him making a success of the casino he had been operating in Jackson. Unfortunately, the local council see things differently. One night, while doing his best to keep patrons happy, he sees the haunted yet amused eyes of a shifter as the man was heading out the door. Blade was compelled to give chase – and got more than he bargained for. Surprisingly communication was one of the easiest hurdles in Hal’s and Blade’s new mating. But between the local council, a woman hellbent on revenge, and a shooter who missed his target, the start to their new life together wasn’t easy. Keep an eye out for a Jaws-fixated waiter, a Fae who finds Hal’s phone at just the right time, and some grumpiness from Doc among others.

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A KINGDOM OF FIRE AND FATE (STARS AND SHADOWS BOOK FOUR) by Holly Renee

Passion ignites, torn between desire and duty. Love and loyalty collide in the aftermath of war, where Sorin consumes my every thought. Haunted by nightmares, the intensity of our connection blazes brighter than ever. In the dead of night, he visits, whispering promises of a future that weakens my resolve. The fear of losing him becomes an inferno, overshadowing all else. But destiny takes a wicked twist. When news arrives that the human king, now allied with Evren’s father, has invited Starblessed contenders to compete for his hand in marriage, I embark on a perilous journey into enemy territory. My goal: to uncover the enigmatic ruler’s hidden secrets. Yet, Sorin, fierce and unwavering, refuses to let me face this danger alone. He risks everything to protect me. Together, we navigate a treacherous realm of secrets and deception, shrouding my true identity as we unravel the twisted web spun by the human king. As our desires intensify, so does the peril that surrounds us. Loyalties blur, and the line between friend and foe fades amidst an imminent threat. In a world where trust is fragile and danger lurks at every step, we confront choices that shall shape our destiny. Will we betray our hearts in the name of duty, or plunge into the flames of an all-consuming love that could set realms ablaze?     AmazonKU

BAD MOON RISING (SOME KIND OF MONSTER BOOK ONE) by Katie May and Steffanie Holmes

VS Note: A re-release.

I’m Lily Dean, and all I want is a normal life. Prom night is approaching, and I’m trying to build up the courage to ask my two best friends—Jackson and Orion, the dark and mysterious Bellua twins. We grew up next door to each other, and even though the rest of the town thinks they’re freaks because their parents were killed during some spooky occult ritual, I love hanging out with them.  But when their older brother Brooks shows up in town with his leather jacket, old Mustang, grumpy attitude, and a trunk full of monster-hunting supplies, my life goes from normal to terrifying in ten seconds flat. It turns out, monsters are real. And they’re coming for me. Prom night is about to get bloody.     AmazonKU

THREE JEWELS by Alexander Verlangen

Every year each king finds the most beautiful man in his kingdom and crowns him their kingdom’s jewel. Jewels then must live with a rival king as a gift. An orphan sent to the most ruthless king, Keir has no power and little protection. Keir is used to doing what it takes to survive. Cord is not happy to be a jewel but is delighted he met Keir. Cord knows they are destined to be together if they can end the reign of their kings. He has to confront a world he has never been exposed to, one where he has little power and everything is corrupt. Adin is the most prepared for this adventure, or so he thinks. He was born to topple a king, and it’s his dream to do so. He thinks he’s better than everyone. Now he’s confronted by the fact his worldview is wrong. Everything he thought he knew about the other kingdoms is a lie. It isn’t helpful that the king he lives with maddens and delights Adin, as he should be trying to topple him. Can the three jewels change their world and end the tradition that binds them to their kinds while falling in love?

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SONG OF SCENT AND MAGIC (COURT OF BLOOD AND BINDING BOOK ONE) by Maggie Alabaster

I was a Silent Maiden, hidden away in a gilded cage. Rebellious, but kept on a tight leash by those in power. When three handsome Fae warriors, and a man who wants to be more than friends, save me from violent attackers, I have no choice but to go with them. The world I find myself in is beautiful and dangerous, but I soon come to learn the greatest danger to me is myself. I’m not the person I always believed I was. I’m so much more. And that is f**king terrifying. **This is a reverse harem, omegaverse, epic fantasy romance, with adult content and abs for days.**     AmazonKU

FAIREST ONE (CURSED KINGDOM CHRONICLES BOOK THREE) by Kayla Eshbaugh

Princess Scarlet of Torren is the fairest one in all the land–only she doesn’t want to be. While some may believe a curse for being beautiful isn’t much of a curse at all, Scarlet knows differently. It’s more sinister than anyone realizes. Scarlet grows up hiding from nobles at court to prevent them from falling victim to her curse. Defying as many royal rules as possible, Scarlet is known not only for her beauty but as a messy and odd princess. When she meets an aspiring knight, she makes him vow to never fall in love with her beauty. With his friendship, she feels like she has everything she needs–that is, until she loses it all. Sir Ronin Dallard doesn’t know when it happened, but he is in love with Princess Scarlet of Torren. His vow he made as a child to never fall in love with her beauty–he can rest assured knowing it isn’t her beauty he is in love with. As the bridal tournament is called, Princess Scarlet must choose a knight to wear her token. Ronin wants to be the one to win the tournament for her. He is determined to convince Scarlet that his love is for her, not the curse. When outside forces pull them apart, and the kingdom is under attack from the inside, will Ronin and Scarlet find a way to save Torren from a false queen? A false queen who will do all in her power to use Scarlet’s curse to take over not only her kingdom but all the kingdoms in the land. Can beauty save a kingdom? Or will it destroy them all?     AmazonKU

CORIN AND THE COURTIER (BEAUTIFUL BEASTS BOOK ONE) by Eliot Grayson

Aster didn’t put much thought into his escape. All he knew when he ran up that mountain—straight into the lair of a grumpy dragon knight with a huge grudge against his family—was that he couldn’t submit to an arranged marriage. It never occurred to him that a snowstorm would strand him there. Or that he’d give in to years of longing and beg for the monster’s forbidden touch. But it happened. All of it…Corin wasn’t trying to be a hero—especially not Aster’s hero. He couldn’t very well let him die, though. So he protected him. Which might have been considered noble…if he hadn’t also fallen into bed with him. Over and over again. But the cost of keeping Aster is far more than Corin’s willing to pay. Corin will eventually be forced to let him go—even if it destroys him. When Aster’s problems follow him up the mountain—literally—he realizes running is no longer an option. The only question now is whether Corin will fight for him, or burn their potential happily ever after to the ground.     AmazonKU

STORM OF STARS DESCENSION by Briana Michaels

Entering the Wasteland is a death sentence. The rules? 1. Your first step into the Wasteland is your last. 2. Don’t die. 3. Leave no teammate behind. Nyx has been a prisoner in the Wasteland for as long as she can remember, her cellmates the only family she’s ever known. Favored by the warden, she and her crew hunt the realm’s most dangerous monsters for the chance to shorten their sentences. Everything in this realm is lethal, including the air they breathe and the targets they chase. But what terrifies Nyx most is being separated from her team, which is exactly what will happen if they aren’t careful. Survival is a game of risk, and Nyx’s crew takes the biggest one of all when they enlist a stranger to aid in their most dangerous hunt to date. He’s crafty, sexy, skilled, and definitely lying about his intentions. Yet Nyx can’t resist him, no matter how hard she tries, and her team doesn’t like it. A bargain is struck, a mission goes wrong, and in an act of rebellion, Nyx dives head-first into a prophecy that will destroy the entire world if it isn’t stopped. It’s not just her life on the line anymore, but every creature who draws breath in this universe. When it comes to saving what she loves most, no sacrifice is too great. Or is it? This dark fantasy is a why choose romance with found family, high tension, spice, and angst.     AmazonKU

WEDDED TO THE WANTON WITCH (FAE TRICKSTERS BOOK THREE) by S L Prater

VS Note: From JULY 28.

The Bargainer …Just like the fae of legend, Jonas Moen makes advantageous deals no desperate soul can turn away. A talented trickster, he’s amassed such great wealth he’s rumored to have more gold than the king himself. But there’s one thing he’s yet to acquire: a fae lord’s title. Born a commoner, he continues to be denied entry to the best the Lunar Court has to offer. If he can secure the hand of a titled woman, he’ll finally have it all. But first, he’ll need to find a lady desperate enough to ignore his humble parentage and his wicked character. The Wanton Witch …Years ago, Lady Frances Aaberg sacrificed her reputation for a man she thought she loved, only to lose it all, including a piece of her soul. Now a desperate witch, she’ll do what’s needed to save her family from financial ruin, even if that means entertaining the offer of a marriage of convenience from the wicked Bargainer himself. Jonas Moen is distractingly handsome and his penchant for dry sarcasm is admittedly amusing, but Frances makes it clear that anything more than a business arrangement between partners is not an option. She entertains his offer of matrimony but resists when a mate bond begins to blossom between them. The last time a man promised her the world, she lost everything. Only a fool would trust the wicked Bargainer with their heart.     AmazonKU

LEAVES OF GOLD by C J Primer

A young girl, promised to a prince. A dangerous warrior with a dark secret. The collapse of a dynasty and a grab for power. When nineteen-year-old Fairen receives a proposal from the king to wed his only son, she can hardly believe her good fortune. Whisked away to join her new fiancé at the palace and settle into her new life at court, she quickly discovers that her husband-to-be isn’t what she expected, and there are other players involved that threaten to turn her picture-perfect future upside-down. When Fairen catches the eye of Evander Montlock, the king’s general and an infamous warrior known for his superior strength and brutal battle tactics, she assumes he’s been tasked with watching over her. But she quickly learns that there’s much more to the general than his intimidating stare, and the tales of old magic she heard growing up may be more than folklore. Fairen soon finds herself tangled up in a dangerous power struggle, used as a pawn in a game amongst men who seek to overthrow the rule of the kingdom and claim it for themselves. Through it all, she must grapple with the ever-changing landscape of her future and find her place in her treacherous new world in order to survive.   AmazonKU

DEAD TIRED (COLD CASE PSYCHIC BOOK 23) by Pandora Pine

After a late night slip and fall in his kitchen, Detective Ronan O’Mara awakens to find his mother, Erin, who’s been dead for the last decade, at his side comforting him. Thanks to the blow to the head, he’s able to see and speak with spirits. Is this new found gift a side effect of his concussion, or is it here to stay? Still reeling over his sudden mediumship abilities, Ronan and the cold case team begin working a new investigation involving a nurse who was found murdered after a blind date. Complicating matters further, Ronan can see the young woman’s spirit, while Tennyson cannot, leaving the psychic to grapple with this blow to his confidence. The hunt is on for Amber Thomas’s killer. Ronan is pulling double duty working the case and speaking with demanding spirits who won’t give him a moment’s peace. As the investigation deepens, the list of potential suspects grows. From Amber’s best friend, to her high school sweetheart, nursing school professors, and that fateful blind date, no one’s as innocent as they seem. Who murdered the young nurse? Why? More importantly, will Ronan’s new ability lead him to Amber’s killer?     AmazonKU

HER PACK RESTORED (STERLING BAY SHIFTERS BOOK THREE) by Lexie Scott

The monster that destroyed my life has resurfaced and wants me back. I was supposed to be safe here. They swore they could protect me, but they failed once. How can I trust the men fate selected as my mates when they abandoned me when I needed them most? With enemies threatening from all sides, we only have one choice and it’s become a matter of life and death. We must come together and complete our bond no matter how many obstacles stand in our way.     AmazonKU

THE NAGA NEXT DOOR (POSSESSIVE MONSTERS BOOK THREE) by Maggie Mayhem

The naga next door has perfect pecs, washboard abs, and the world’s sharpest jawline, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the hook for disturbing the peace. But this time, when I stomp over to give the my noisy neighbor a piece of my mind, I find Zayn’s front door ajar and his groceries scattered on the ground. What the—The sexy serpent has been hiding a curse. On a whim, I offer to help him break it. The more time we spend together, the more I realize he’s a lot more than a pretty face. Our chemistry is off the charts, he can cook, and more importantly, he loves my familiars. Very soon, breaking the curse isn’t about him anymore; it’s about us. But Zayn’s not the only one with something to hide, and I’m beginning to suspect someone out there knows my secret. And if that gets out, I’ll be in big trouble.     AmazonKU

SUMMONING CHAOS: MM DEMON HUMAN PARANORMAL ROMANCE by Stella Rainbow

Summoning a demon in my bedroom hadn’t been one of my finer ideas…In my defense, I hadn’t expected it to actually work. But it had. And now I had an 8ft tall obsidian demon with red eyes and chopped off horns sitting on my bed who apparently hadn’t heard the word ‘shower’ before. Striking a deal with the demon named Azazel, I promised to show him the wonders of the human world—ha! What a joke—in return for one year of his servitude. I’d been living the life of an outcast loner for a while now, and I thought Azazel would be just another complication, but he might turn out to be the best thing that happened to me. Pity he’s only mine for a year.     AmazonKU

THE ALPHA’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE (ALPHA WOLF ISLAND BOOK FOUR) by Kayla Wolf

I accidentally became the Alpha’s mail order bride. But when I show up, he cruelly rejects me. I’m a struggling writer of shifter romance, but I had no idea shifters existed. Little did I know that I would get married to one. Little did I know that his next step is to imprison me in his house. He says he’s never heard of me, that someone faked his dating profile. But now that I’ve seen his secret Alpha Island, he can’t let me go. He says he has to lock me up with him, protect me against the demons. So now I’m stuck in a house with a delicious Alpha wolf. Life could be worse. He’s the rudest guy I’ve ever met, yet I keep having these embarrassing dreams. Dreams of his tongue in my mouth, taking my words without asking. Dreams of his big hands on my curves, teasing me until I can’t hold. And slowly I want those things for real. Will the rude Alpha give me what I really want? Or will he make me beg for it?     AmazonKU

BIG BAD ALPHAS by Skye Alder

When my grandma passed away a few months ago, she left me all alone and with one last wish. She wanted me to open up the bakery that we had always dreamed of. So that’s what I did. I thought that I would be happier once it was open, that it would fill the hole that her passing left. Instead, it just made me realize how alone I am. I want what everyone else in North Star seems to have. I want someone to love me. Then Patrick, Ezra, and Wade come knocking at my front door. They say that I’m their fated mate. It should be a dream come true. The only problem? They refuse to share me and I refuse to choose just one of them. Now we’re at an impasse and I’m scared to find out what happens next. Will I get my happily ever after? Or will I go back to being all alone?   AmazonKU

TISAK (KINGDOMS OF PELAS BOOK TWO) by Michelle Frost and Michelle Notaro

The mage magic that saved them could also be their undoing. Theon and his men escaped House Natas, only to face suspicion and unrest from the Shifter Resistance. Shifters don’t trust mages, even ones who freed an entire House from their bonds. As tensions rise, Theon’s tenuous control on his magic slips further, until one outburst leads to an amount of damage Theon can’t bear. He must learn to control his magic before someone else he loves is harmed or the fire growing inside him burns him alive. Luckily, Florin knows where to go. Unfortunately, going to learn control means leaving some of his men behind. They may survive the battle of Tisak, but can their love survive mage fire and the difficult choices in their path? The horrors of House Natas may be behind them, but the fight of their lives still lies ahead.     AmazonKU

PHANTOM FIRE (WINGED WARRIORS BOOK ONE) by Delta James

Kessily Campbell, a rising star environmental lawyer, was not looking for a relationship when she met the mysterious Falkor at a conference. The attraction was instantaneous and powerful. She didn’t have time for commitment in her life so, she invited him to her room for a fun evening. When Kessily discovers she is pregnant, she must face the realities that come with this new life. Falkor, dragon and alpha of the Phantom Fire, would lose too much if he committed to a woman. Tradition stated when a member of the Phantom Fire found their eternal flame they were to give up their position and immortality. In addition, they had to pledge their first-born son to the Winged Warriors when he reached age. There are not many human women who are willing to accept those terms. As the head lawyer on an important case involving the Wind River Mountains, Kessily is very busy. Walking into a meeting with her boss to meet a new co-plaintiff, she is shocked to realize that Falkor will be joining her legal team. Now she has to figure out how to tell him he’s going to be a father in the next seven months. As the trial heats up so does their relationship. Their relationship is tested as they fight to find a path forward. Will they be able to reach a compromise that will benefit everyone? Find out in this passionate and suspenseful tale of love and responsibility.

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SPEAK NO EVIL (DEMON LORDS OF BLACKWOOD BOOK THREE) by Jewel Killian

My worst nightmare awaits—one portal away – Blackwood is under siege – And it’s all my fault – My conscience won’t let me rest until I’ve made sure the outcasts living here are safe. No harm will come to them because of my actions. And, since the Lords are out of commission—also my fault—they can’t stop me. But it also means they can’t bail me out. I have to figure this out on my own, or I’ll never find closure on Em’s murder. So I’ll step through that portal – I’ll face my fears and desires alike. Because Blackwood is in danger. And no one messes with my city.     AmazonKU

BULLY ALPHA WOLF (SILVER WOLVES BLACK OPS BOOK ONE) by Ruby Knoxx

He bullied me horribly and gave me a forbidden, secret baby girl. Now he’s back, in our small town, and my pack forces me to negotiate with him. I’m an outcast, used to insults, and I have no choice but to follow orders. I want to forget how he rejected and tormented me. But I’m not allowed. My pack needs his protection. He’s the alpha of the black ops after all. I have to put my pack above my feelings. So why can’t I? I should be ashamed of myself, of the way he still makes me tingle. I should stay away from his mansion, but all it does is make me want my baby’s daddy more. They say that whatever you deny yourself becomes your new prison. I can only confirm. I’m a prisoner of the way he hurt me with his ice cold tongue. I’m a prisoner of the way he heals me with his cruel raw touch. Do I want him to stop using me for his own purposes? Or do I want the alpha to expose my everything?     AmazonKU

DRAGON’S DAWN (TO KILL A KING BOOK ONE) by Sam Burns and W M Fawkes

Trapped in an arranged marriage with a beast of a prince, Genya has nothing but his beauty and wits to help him survive. For nineteen years, I have carved myself into a dutiful son, a courtier of unimpeachable wit, and a genuine delight at a tea party. Now that my success in society has planted me in the path of Mikhail Vasiliev, it’s clear I’d have been better off keeping my head down. Prince Mikhail is the second son of a traitor. Third in line to the throne, he has a reputation for violence, debauchery, and being a thorn in the side of his cousin, King Dmitri. That is, until the king decides to get him out of the way—by marrying him off.  To me. Suddenly prince of a brutal, frozen land, I have no choice but to spy on my father’s behalf. From the morning of our wedding, my beastly husband and I have been at odds, but if I cannot win him over, I’ll find myself in the jaws of his colossal red dragon. By the time I realize there is more between us than hostility and mistrust, it is too late. The die has been cast, the knife thrust, and our private battle is set to topple the whole kingdom.     AmazonKU

WITCH’S BELLS AND MISTLETOE (THE DURMONT WITCHES BOOK TWO) by S J Sanders

VS Note: From JULY 25, don’t know how I missed this!

Katherine – A holiday away is exactly what I need—or at least that’s what my daughter, Fran, says. I shouldn’t have waited so long to get tickets for a Caribbean Cruise because now I’m stuck at this Ski Resort for the holidays with the one dragon I’ve been trying to avoid. I’ve long ago given up any hope for a happy ever after of my own when my duty to the coven always calls. I have to be careful with whom I choose to spend my life with, and Adeon is bad for me in every way when I can’t abandon them for a dragon—and a dragon won’t stay. But kicking off my heels and having a little holiday fun won’t hurt anyone so long I remember that I can’t fall in love. Adeon – I arrived two years ago at the Durmont Coven house to find my clan’s stolen mating jewel and found there the most unexpected treasure—a witch I want to call my own. But I have my duty to uphold to my clan which has brought me to this resort to meet with my cousin when I would rather be curled around my female at home. Discovering that she is here must be fate, but it will be the greatest of gifts if I can claim her as mine. I will use everything in my arsenal to woo her even if I want to scoop her up and hide her away when the hotel is endangered by angry fairies.     AmazonKU

LAYLA’S CHOICE (DISASTER OF THE OTHERWORLD BOOK TWO) by Sam Crescent

Layla is a human. In the Northern Forest Pack, humans are tolerated, but not exactly … loved. After her best friend is mated to the alpha, Layla doesn’t know where her place is anymore. She is aware the pack is in a lot of danger, certainly her best friend. Disaster of the Otherworld is a cult intent on destroying everyone and everything for power. She does have one little secret. Every night, she goes out to find him. Alexander knows he shouldn’t be tempted by the little human. He is a very old vampire and he doesn’t know what it is about the young woman, but he can’t seem to get enough of her. He has extended his stay at the pack to help protect it. The cult is a danger to them all, and he is willing to offer his services to help destroy them. Disaster of the Otherworld is after something important. The moment they harvest it, they can finally take complete power. There is only one problem—they don’t know who holds the power. In the Northern Forest Pack there is a secret. One that has been kept for over twenty-one years. Layla is not all what she seems. Her true parents made the ultimate sacrifice to keep her safe. She is special. Will it be too late to save her?

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THE BEAR’S BRAVE OMEGA by A J Cane

Bear shifter Everett has found his fated mate, but he’ll have to defeat another alpha to keep him. When Milo’s date sprouts fangs and tries to bite him, he flees into the nearby forest and ends up lost. The gorgeous man who rescues him seems too good to be true… until Milo discovers his secret. Everett knows the human omega is his fated mate, but the last thing Milo needs is another alpha shifter trying to claim him so soon after his traumatic experience. Unfortunately, Milo’s date from hell is determined to mate with him—willing or not—and Everett will have to fight tooth and claw to protect their love.   AmazonKU

ENDLESS NIGHT (PROTECT AND SERVE BOOK SEVEN) by Mikala Ash

Love is the most dangerous shape shifter of all. My name is Ciara Callaghan. I’m a cop. These things I believed to be true: 1) I loved my partner, Detective Malcolm Blake. Three years ago he was incinerated. Was it my fault? Everyone thinks so, and so do I. 2) Everyone has secrets. Mine? I’m a shapeshifter.3) Everyone lies — especially those who say they love me. 4) Demons exist — and they can be found where you least expect them. Those things I believed to be true, but believing something doesn’t necessarily make it fact, especially where love is involved. Welcome to my endless night.

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BLOOD: BECOMING THE VAMPIRE QUEEN by BE Brouillard

What is that old saying? “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” I think I took it too far. I got intimately close to the vampire king and then lied to him. I betrayed him in the worst of ways. Now I have to work closely with the one person who hates me most of all in order to help save his people. But he forgets that he lied too, and all’s fair in love and war. Passion, betrayal, dishonor, love…I am harboring a dangerous secret from a man who could end me…or melt my heart. He might end up doing both before long. With our kingdom crumbling under the weight of an insatiable scourge, the Fae High Court thrusts me into the shadows on a treacherous mission. My target? Bartholomew Bellingham, the enigmatic – and irresistible – overlord of the vampires. He’s keeping something from us. And I’m going to get it out of him, even if it’s the last thing I do. Except I never expected to be drawn to him like a moth to a raging flame. It sets ablaze a forbidden passion amidst a web of deceit. Can my Fae light outshine the darkness that lingers within Bartholomew’s heart? Will forgiveness triumph as our worlds teeter on the edge of oblivion? Or will he shut me out forever? Quite frankly, I don’t know which I prefer. The only thing I know is that I have an objective to achieve, and I don’t need the vampire king in order to do it. In fact, it would be better if he stayed out of my way.     AmazonKU

WASHED UP (WITH A KRAKEN) (TRAPPED WITH A MONSTER) by L E Eldridge

Culinary student Quinn is excited to finally move up in her culinary career when she lands an internship of a lifetime on Coastal Cruises. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and an adventure that will take her across the sea. The only downside? It means spending the summer with her lazy rival, who’s only there because his father is a famous chef. And he isn’t afraid to play dirty…even if that means throwing her overboard. Jorah isn’t like other krakens. While most prefer silence and independence, Jorah thrives on a hidden island, bustling with other paranormals. Yet, something is still missing from their life—until the ocean guides them to a human. Drawn to her determination and charm, Jorah has no intention of letting go. Quinn wants to leave, but Jorah insists that she owes them a life debt…but that’s no foundation for a relationship. Will they work through their differences and find a way to be together? Or has this relationship–and Quinn’s career–been washed up from the start?     AmazonKU

DEAD RECKONING (GWEN’S GHOSTS BOOK FIVE) by J R Rain and H P Mallory

Not wanting to pay any attention to my messy love life (I’ve got not one man vying for my attentions, but two!), I’m happy to put all my focus into my newest case…Hugo Williams, one of Morley-on-Avon’s residents and an employee at the antique shop, has gone missing. Or has he simply gone on vacation? By the fact that he packed a bag before he disappeared, it’s a little unclear. Yet his girlfriend, Fiona, swears there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark… Or England, as the case may be. After doing a little snooping (with the help of my ghostly friend, Petra), I’m starting to agree with her. And that’s the absolute last thing Inspector Lean wants to hear—seeing as how I’ve already been involved in every mystery in Morley since I arrived here. To make a sticky situation even stickier? I have a feeling the culprit might be none other than Fiona’s father.   AmazonKU

DEATH UNWINDING by Sarah Bailey

It started when I died. Not many people can say they woke up dead. Even fewer people wake up as ghosts. Guess I’m the unlucky one since no one can see or hear me, and I have no recollection of how I ended up like this. I thought I’d spent the afterlife alone… until him. The solitary man who stumbled across me during my restless wandering of the Scottish Highlands. He doesn’t want me around. I can’t seem to stay away. It turns out Ciaran has a dark secret. And I’m determined to discover exactly what he’s hiding even if it might mean the death of me all over again. A standalone dark paranormal romance novella with a very unconventional HEA. This is a DARK romance and therefore comes with a content warning. Please see authors website for full details.    AmazonKU

BROKEN DESTINY, HIDDEN LIBRARIES BOOK ONE by Sirena Lindahl

VS Note: A re-release.

Enter a world in which a sentient library is guarded by the very last sphinx – an orphan who has been permanently disabled by villains intent on stealing her power. Will she be able to survive the politics and danger of the supernatural community when she knows nothing about it or her true nature? Can she convince her unlikely guardians – a blind vampire, a dyslexic alpha shifter, a ghost, and a dangerously powerful but absent-minded mage and prophet – to assist her? Having spent the last seven years in an orphanage, Zosia is shocked when someone tells her she’s a sphinx and the last guardian of the sentient library of Supernaturals. The elite academy which houses the powerful library rejects her because she isn’t perfect, but she knows instantly that the library is where she belongs. She ignores the academy’s decree and gathers others around her – four guardians who are just as perfectly imperfect as she is. But her powers, ability to shift, and strength are blocked by the memories she fears accessing – memories of torture and horrible acts which caused permanent damage to her body. When the library is all that stands between two ignorant factions trying to cause a war, it’s up to her and her guardians to prevent it. First, she must overcome her greatest fear. She must believe in herself.     AmazonKU

HELLHOUNDS NEVER LIE (WILLOW LAKE SUPERNATURALS BOOK ONE) by Lori Ames

Ash is technically a fire mage, but he can’t do much. Turning his bedroom lights on and off without having to get out of bed isn’t exactly awe inspiring, not when anyone with the right gadget could clap and do the same thing. Worse, sometimes he senses something bigger and brighter lurking under his skin, and it feels so familiar he knows it has to be his magic, but then he burps or sneezes, and the feeling passes. So it’s probably just allergies… or gas. Yeah… Not exactly brimming with magical oomph. Not anymore. It sucks. But things start to change when he finds Dillon, a hellhound, being chased through the woods by an angry wolf pack. He is instantly smitten and it’s like something inside him unlocks. What’s even crazier is Dillon seems to think Ash still has magic… and now Ash isn’t sure what to believe. What he does know is he’ll do what needs to be done to protect his friends and the little supernatural town of Willow Lake from the dirtbag wolves in the hills. Even with his magic on the fritz he can help, right? And, with Dillon at his side, what could possibly go wrong?     AmazonKU

DEAD TO RIGHTS (MOUNTAIN SHADOW MYSTERIES BOOK TWO) by Tarah Brenner

Welcome to the sleepy town of Mountain Shadow, where there’s a medium to maintain your haunted elevator and a cozy coffee shop just around the corner…Caroline McCrithers is ready for a fresh start. After losing her fiancé and her job back in Chicago, she’s determined to fulfill her ghostly aunt’s dying wish and restore the historic Mountain Shadow Grand. The trouble is, it’s the most haunted hotel in Colorado, and Caroline is flat broke. A gang of hard-to-impress old ladies stands between her and a hefty grant to restore the hotel. Caroline is determined to win them over — even if it means volunteering for “piddle patrol” at the town’s annual dog show. But when Caroline stumbles upon the dead body of her most outspoken detractor, she becomes the lead suspect in the case. It’s only the affection of Mountain Shadow PD’s finest — Officer Handsome — that keeps Caroline out of handcuffs, but the clock is ticking for her to identify the real killer and clear her name. Can she solve the case and secure the funds to restore her beloved hotel, or is her new life in Mountain Shadow destined to end in disaster?     AmazonKU

HER CRIES IN VAIN (STRANGE ROCKSTARS BOOK TWO) by Alexis Pierce and Natalie Berry

I was supposed to kill Owen James, not fall for him. In my defense, it had been a stressful day. My best friend almost died, so when our arms touched briefly and I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, I didn’t think anything of it. Nor did I think that we were doing anything more than a casual hookup. Because everyone casually hooks up with the werewolf they’re supposed to kill, right? Now he’s saying I’m his mate, and every time I reject him, he looks like a sad puppy. And every time I’m with him, it feels like my body is on fire, and everything is right for the first time in my life. I’m a werewolf hunter, though, and he should be my next target.     AmazonKU

HERE KITTY KITTY: MIDNIGHT RODEO BOOK 16 by BA Tortuga

Brax has been with the Midnight Rodeo for a long time, taking care of the kitty food court and so many of his fellow traveling misfits. The problem is he’s a little lonely now that most of his friends have started to pair of and mate. Brax would never ask for help in that arena, but luckily, someone intervenes on his behalf, and when someone else tries to hurt one of the kits in his pride, a protector arrives to help Brax. And to love him. Liger shifter Orion has been away from the world for a long while, but when he’s sent to the rodeo, he remembers that he’s meant to be a guard, that he’s supposed to help those who are weaker than he is. While he’s happy to help save the kits of the rodeo from the forces who are trying to harm them, he’s really not sure Brax has ever been weak. But he also knows he was made to love this amazing mountain lion with all his heart. Can they defeat the demons that are trying to take it all away from them?    AmazonKU

DOUBLE TROUBLE ROYAL TROUBLE (MAGICAL RENAISSANCE FAIRE MYSTERIES BOOK NINE) by Trixie Silvertale

Coriander the Conjurer is queen of the fairy realm, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to her… even if she’s technically trapped within the kingdom’s walls. Now this fairy fortune teller hopes to tackle the confining curse that’s suspended Elbion in time for centuries. Unfortunately, her magical mission derails when someone burns a gingerbread house to the ground…Finding herself in a cauldron of trouble, Coriander must summon the help of a wily vampire, a brilliant blacksmith, and her meddling toad familiar to uncover the hidden killer. But she’s running into more alibis than allies, as suspicions threaten to bubble over. Can Coriander crack the curse and corner the killer, or will the faire become her final resting place?     AmazonKU

FALLEN FOR THE TWO HEADED DRAGON (FREEDOM, LOVE, MONSTERS BOOK TWO) by Delilah Dare

VS Note: From JULY 29.

Dana is done shrinking herself into boxes…What better way to shatter her good-girl identity than banging a dragon? Dana’s 3-year relationship ends on a high note when she’s sent careening down the mountainside, straight into a junk-riddled bear cave. Rathym, a stringent 500-year-old dragon, begrudgingly quells his impulse to pursue the enrapturing new treasure that is rightfully his. As a high-ranking official in his homeland, he must attend to a pressing matter that requires him to venture home after centuries of isolation. When Dana, a recovering good girl, is inevitably captured by the fearsome beast, she’s forced to reckon with her innermost self. Wounded, broken, and buried under her grumpy companion’s lavish gifts, she has a choice: stay in her safe glass box, or start choosing herself. Unable to deny his visceral attraction, Rathym finds himself in a perplexing position. If his homeland has embraced interspecies mating, why is he so terrified to open his heart?     AmazonKU

WITCH (WITCH’S CIRCLE BOOK THREE) by Mell Eight

Kana spent his life hiding from those who might take advantage of his power. Now that he’s living with his lover, werewolf Alpha Ember, hiding is impossible. However, living in the open means accepting the inherent risks. Kana hopes he and Ember together are strong enough to survive whatever might come. Then a new witch moves to town. Dealing with the witch should be the most important thing for Kana, the pack, and their allies, but something else is lurking in the shadows—something dark, and evil, whose only goal is to destroy everything Kana holds dear.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ANOTHER GIRL MEETS GARGOYLE (JUST ANOTHER GIRL MEETS…BOOK THREE) by Jailaa West

Sia’s just another hard-working girl…Good with numbers, Not so good with men. When her horrible blind date shows up outside her job unexpectedly, the gargoyle on top of the stately financial institution is the last person she expected to come to her rescue. He’s been watching her for longer than knows, a shadowy figure determined to stay in the background. Until the jerk from her last date put his hands on her. Forcing him out of the shadows and in to her life…but once he’s in it. He’s not going anywhere.   AmazonKU

THE WOLF’S SOLD MATE (ROSE VALLEY WOLVES BOOK FOUR) by Electra Cage

A billionaire wolf once rejected me. Now he buys me at an auction and impregnates me.
It’s been years since I saw him. Years of guilt and trauma. I never wanted to be someone’s slave again, until he buys me. He vows to protect me. But instead he gets me pregnant. I came to this small town to find peace, only to land at this humiliating stage. It’s a twisted display of power and ownership. He says he purchased me to protect me at all costs. He says he’ll fight anyone who comes even close. I’m still haunted by his rejection of my fae nature. But slowly, he destroys my old memories and replaces them with new ones. He breaks down my trembling walls until I have no defense left. He heals my fragile insides until I’m too exhausted to resist. Can I give myself to my baby’s daddy?   AmazonKU

DEVOTION OF A BEAR (SHAW CLAN BOOK TWO) by Jennifer Snyder

His bear yearns for a mate, while she seeks solace from a tragic past. Can his adoration overcome her feelings of unworthiness and ignite an unexpected love? Jax Shaw has never given much thought to matters of the heart, until his older brother found his Fated Mate. Now, an unrelenting desire to find his own consumes both him and his bear. When he spots the new brunette working at Classy Cuts Salon, he questions if fate has finally intervened or if he’s reading too much into it. Could she be the one his bear has been searching for all along? Wren Mercer, haunted by a past mistake, took a chance and moved to Crescent Creek after inheriting her late aunt’s cottage. She thought the move might help her release her past and turn around her rotten luck. What she didn’t anticipate was crossing paths with a handsome stranger who stirs feelings she thought were forever lost and makes her feel alive again. But when an old nemesis resurfaces, Jax decides it’s best to stay away from Wren to keep her safe. However, trouble finds her anyway, and he’s forced to reveal his bear to ensure their safety. But will Wren still care for Jax after seeing what he truly is?     AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

August 16

August 9

August 2

July 26

July 19

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

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover. I won’t feature a cover in my weekly promo for this post if I believe or suspect it was done with AI.

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.

 

 

First Meeting: ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE Weekend Snippet #SciFi Romance

I’ve decided to change up these weekly snippets and go through my backlist, sharing the first meeting between the two main characters in each book. I’m going roughly in the order of first publication. It’s always fun for me to revisit the books and I hope it will be for you too! Or if you’ve never happened to read a certain book, maybe I can entice you into giving it a try.

ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE was my second published scifi romance. I’d always wanted to tell the story of a woman caught behind enemy lines when a war suddenly broke out and how she’d get to safety with her valuable knowledge about the enemies.

One of the supporting characters was inspired by a Clint Black song and when the book was released and I mentioned that fact in a USA Today post, the singer actually sent me a very lovely tweet. This book got one of my favorite reviews ever, wherein the Kirkus reviewer took issue with my “romance-novel conventions” LOL because the book was such “fine” science fiction otherwise. It’s a standalone story set in the larger Sectors universe.

Andi and the Special Forces captain sent to extract her from the danger can’t stand each other at first. She’s been staying at a remote country estate and sees no reason to leave. Of all my female main characters, readers don’t always warm to Andi but she does go through quite a lot of character growth during the book and there is an HEA of course.

Here they are in that moment (before the war breaks out). Edited to make the selection a little shorter for this post but I haven’t deleted any of their dialog.:

The captain’s whole attitude suggested a man poised for decisive action at a moment’s notice, reinforced by the way he wheeled at the sound of the door opening.

Finally.” His glance at the military chrono on his tanned wrist was an unconscious gesture of annoyance at time forever lost.

Green eyes in a tanned, ruggedly handsome face. Andi’s knees went a little wobbly for a moment. My particular weakness in a man. Classic square jaw, straight nose, high forehead with a small scar on his cheek.

His eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Miss Markriss?”

“Why are you here?” Andi snapped out of her fascination with his features, feeling her cheeks grow hot. Wow, was I blatantly staring or what? “Has something happened to Dave Flintmay? The Loxton planetary agent?”

Flashing very white teeth in that tanned face, he smiled at her, but the too-easy grin didn’t reach his tired eyes. “Don’t you people get the news out here? Comlinks broken?”

She blinked, trying to follow this unexpected conversation starter. “What?”

Lady Tonkiln received a stack of messages each morning, from either her husband or friends in the capital. Lysanda also had many messages, filled with inconsequential social gossip. Nothing for Andi, but then, everyone knew she was on an extended vacation from the office. The Loxton operation was on its summer hiatus along with most of Zulaire. “Of course we get news. What does that have to do with anything? Captain, what are you doing here?”

He gestured toward the overstuffed chairs grouped in front of the fireplace. “Would you like to sit?”

“No, thank you, I want to know what’s going on.” She took a deep breath, trying to calm her frayed nerves. Is all this mystery necessary?

“Captain Tom Deverane, Sectors Special Forces.” He walked to the chairs himself. To be polite,  she joined him, shaking his proffered hand before seating herself. “Excuse my dust,” he said. “But I’ve been in the Western Plains and the Abujan mountain range for quite some time now.”

“Why don’t you try telling me something relevant about why you’re here?” Many a slow-moving clerk at the Loxton offices had jumped at that peremptory tone from her.

“I forget you’ve been out of the loop.” Sitting down, Deverane leaned forward, putting his hands on his knees and taking a deep breath. “Two days ago I got urgent orders, relayed from Sector Command, diverting me from my primary mission. The new priority was to come five hundred miles out of our way to extract you for a safe return to the capital city.” From the dry tone in his voice, Andi guessed how little he’d appreciated the change. “Now, if you could get your things together, I’d like to be on our way before dark.”

She blinked. Today? He wants me to leave now? Andi shifted back into the chair’s embrace, crossing her legs. “Get my things—what are you talking about? I’m the guest of Lord Tonkiln’s family, and I’m expected to present a significant gift from Loxton at the reception tonight with due ceremony. I can’t ride off with you on literally a moment’s notice without some compelling reason. Why is your Command issuing orders concerning me anyway?”

The captain got up in one smooth motion, like a great cat uncurling, paced to the fireplace and back, then half sat on the edge of a sturdy table. I bet he’s a person in constant motion—discussing anything in patient detail doesn’t appear to be his style. Well, I’m not one of his soldiers and I don’t take orders from him, so he’d better explain himself.

“Miss Markriss—”

“Call me Andi.” And let’s get this discussion on a less military, more personal level so you stop trying to give me orders.

The quick, meaningless smile crossed his handsome face again, never reaching his eyes. “Andi. In case you haven’t heard, this entire planet is about to be embroiled in a devastating Clan war.”

Andi didn’t hesitate. “Ridiculous. The Obati and the Shenti have been at peace for four hundred years. Everyone has been satisfied with the status quo for four centuries. How long did you say you’ve been on Zulaire, Captain?” She raised her eyebrows, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. “You’ve been here—what? Two weeks?”

ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE

Blurb:
Andi Markriss hasn’t exactly enjoyed being the houseguest of the planetary high-lord, but her company sent her to represent them at a political wedding. When hotshot Sectors Special Forces Captain Tom Deverane barges in on the night of the biggest social event of the summer, Andi isn’t about to offend her high-ranking host on Deverane’s say-so—no matter how sexy he is, or how much he believes they need to leave now.

Deverane was thinking about how to spend his retirement bonus when HQ assigned him one last mission: rescue a civilian woman stranded on a planet on the verge of civil war. Someone has pulled some serious strings to get her plucked out of the hot zone. Deverane’s never met anyone so hard-headed—or so appealing. Suddenly his mission to protect this one woman has become more than just mere orders.

That mission proves more dangerous than he expected when rebel fighters attack the village and raze it to the ground. Deverane escapes with Andi, and on their hazardous journey through the wilderness, Andi finds herself fighting her uncomfortable attraction to the gallant and courageous captain. But Deverane’s not the type to settle down, and running for one’s life doesn’t leave much time to explore a romance.

Then Andi is captured by the rebel fighters, but Deverane has discovered that Zulaire’s so-called civil war is part of a terrifying alien race’s attempt to subjugate the entire Sector. If he pushes on to the capitol Andi will die. Deverane must decide whether to save the woman he loves, or sacrifice her to save Zulaire.

 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Winner

 Buy Links:  AMAZON     Apple Books    Nook  Kobo   Google Play

Audiobook: Amazon  itunes

By veronicascott Posted in Snippet

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for AUG 16

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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CLAIMED BY THE ALIEN SKYLORD (CRASHLAND CONTACT ROMANCES BOOK THREE) by Leslie Chase and Starr Huntress

He’s the enemy. He’s irresistible. And I’m screwed.I’m supposed to spy on him, but it’s hard to look for his secrets when I can’t keep my eyes off his abs. It’s a problem. Jadrok is heir to the mighty House Vragos, the alien nobles who own Crashland. Dark, brooding, and as hot as molten steel, he’s a mystery calling out for me to unwrap. Unfortunately, my mission is more important than my need to touch his golden skin or taste his kisses. It’s my job to find out who’s at the heart of the alien plot to wipe out all the humans of Crashland. I can’t afford to get distracted by an alien lord, especially when he might be among the conspirators. No matter how attractive he is. No matter how much he wants me.     AmazonKU

CLAIMED BY HER ALIEN PRINCE (THE ALIEN [RINCES OF TARTARUS BOOK ONE) by Bella Blair

Tonight, I will feast on her body… and her swanlike neck. Lilith: Redeyes and sharp fangs have haunted me in my dreams for as long as I can remember, but lately the dreams have become more intense, and where the man in it used to frighten me, he suddenly arises sensations in my body I never experienced before. And I mean never.
Not for lack of trying, but no other person has ever risen the desire in me to take things to the next level. That all changes with the sudden appearance of aliens. When six other women and I are taken to the alien spaceship, we are each supposed to become a bride to one of the Princes of Darkness. However, when my eyes fall on one prince and I recognize him, the man from my dreams, everything changes. SETH: I never asked to be part of this quest, and I most certainly will not contribute to its continuance. Or so I swore. However, when my eyes fall on the female I have been dreaming about all my life, I rethink my stance quickly, because under no circumstances will I allow her to be hurt. When my older brother Nergal claims her as his bride, I have no choice but to start our quest early and challenge Nergal to a fight of life and death. The winner will get to have her—Lilith.

Amazon

DANCE WITH THE ALIEN DEVIL (BRIDES OF THE VINDUTHI BOOK FOUR) by Ava York

In a world where danger lurks at every turn, I never expected to find love in the arms of a Vinduthi hitman. In the moment I meet Makar, I know he’s trouble. A dangerous Vinduthi mafia member who buys my contract on a whim, he seems cold and emotionless. But beneath his hardened exterior, I see a hidden kindness within him.
The more time we spend together, the more I feel a magnetic pull towards this alien assassin. Makar’s gentleness and protective nature awaken feelings I never expect, challenging the walls I keep up to shield my heart. Yet our loving moments are fleeting, torn apart by Makar’s dangerous work and his mysterious family ties. When Makar’s enemies target me to get to him, I realize I must transform into something new if I’m to stand by his side—no longer just a dancer, but a fighter, ready to face any threat. Makar’s passion for me ignites a fire within, showing me a future I once thought impossible—to belong at his side, loved for all that I am. But our journey to build a life together means fighting for our love at every turn, facing those who would tear us apart.   AmazonKU

ALIEN INCOGNITO (FORBIDDEN BONDS BOOK TWO) by Cara Bristol

He betrayed her once, but he’s her only hope. Being saved from a slave ship and given life-saving medical attention by a tall, muscular furry alien with large curling horns is enough for Giselle Cartier to think she’s found a hero. Having him deliver her back into the clutches of the same traffickers shatters her trust and the belief that anything she’d felt was real. But just as she’s rescued by the League of Planets and is about to be repatriated to New Terra, Joule reappears with the devastating news that Giselle’s sister has been taken. What’s even more shocking is his promise to find her. He’s already betrayed her once; what’s to stop him from doing it again? How can she trust anything he says? Regardless of the risks, she has to go with him. He’s her only hope for finding and saving her sister. This time, she won’t let her guard down. She also won’t make the mistake of falling in love with him again. Long ago, Joule hardened his heart to the cruelty, misery, and death he’d witnessed in the alien species trafficking trade. As an agent with the League of Planets working deep undercover to combat the trafficking of sentient beings in the galaxy, he can’t afford empathy. To benefit the greater good, he’s often forced to make difficult, even reprehensible decisions. But something about the vulnerable, critically ill Giselle Cartier pierces through the protective wall surrounding his heart. Choosing to save her life is startlingly easy—too easy. He should have known better than to let himself get attached. Because circumstances force his hand, leaving him no choice but to take her back to the slavers. He couldn’t risk blowing his cover for a single human woman—even if he had fallen in love with her. Now he’s involved all over again. When he learns Giselle’s sister has also been abducted, he can’t hold back from offering his assistance. Unable to reveal his real role, he must continue to let her believe he’s a trafficker—one who’s already betrayed her. Giselle will never trust him again…which is smart. Because she still can’t.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Author’s Universal Link

DARK SPACE SECRETS by M Garnet

A stalker is ruining the life of the best female pilot of the space passenger liners in her company, but she wonders if she might be able to turn the table and trap him. Having served a brief term in the military gave Kina the start for her training as a better-than-average pilot of large spaceships. Using that training to give her a jump in her career, she lands a job in one of the system’s best passenger and freight companies. It doesn’t take her long to move up to one of the supreme spots as captain of the best passenger liners going from the busy civilized worlds. Kina and her crew thought she had it made until a stalker began to show up wherever her ship was docked. Because that put her crew and passengers in danger, the company moved her over to a different division hauling freight. But nothing could catch or halt the large mysterious figure who was ruining her life. What was worse, he began to put thoughts in her mind that there might be a better life for her out in dark space—one where her life wasn’t run by the rules of a corporation but where she might be free on her ship. What was the secret this stalker knew that she needed to discover?     Amazon

LIFE-DEBT by RJ Blain

VS Note: Appears to be a re-release (from the reviews). Not listed as a romance.

When scavenger and hybrid fox Viva comes across a derelict in empty space, what she and her furry partner, Pandora, discover puts them on a collision course for adventure, fame and wealth—assuming she survives the experience. Teaming up with the derelict’s living cargo isn’t wise, but the handsome stranger might hold the key to the ship and its many secrets. Add in some pirates out to profit from Viva’s living head, and she’s in for a wild ride. Delivering the cargo to its rightful owner is the right thing to do, but getting the job done will test her skills, her sanity, and her limits.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

CHIEFTAIN: THE OUTLANDER BOOK CLUB IN SPACE by Annie Lucas

One would assume that turning sixty would protect a woman from certain things; cat calls, being propositioned every time you sat at a bar by yourself, the monthly menace, being kidnapped by aliens, the office letch, and a plethora of other annoyances weathered in her youth. Did I mention being kidnapped by aliens? Yeah, I was wrong about that one. The girls of the Tuesday Night Outlander Book Club were enjoying a mountain hike that ended with the proverbial bright light and now I’m trapped on an alien space ship. The best part of this whole fiasco, the aliens have a nifty little machine that “resets” you—so now I have my twenty-something body back. The worst part? I’m marked to be sold as a sex slave to some perverted alien royalty. Until him. At first I thought Khaion was an angel. But he’s something better. He’s a member of a warrior race bred to protect and defend those in need. Khaion vows to stay at my side while his crew search the stars for my friends. And staying by Khaion’s side… that’s something my reawakened hormones greatly appreciate!     AmazonKU

AIRLOCK (ORCA SOUNDINGS) bt Tash Macadam

VS Note: An LGBTQ+ scifi release of note. Romantic elements maybe?

Brick, a young thief, is terrified of outer space. But they’re forced to escape Earth when a warrant goes out for their arrest. There’s nothing left for them on the dusty, barren wasteland of Earth anyway. Brick stows away on a cargo ship headed for the moon. They reluctantly allow a local teenage enforcer named Amar to tag along. But the ship ends up containing unusual cargo and the crew members may not be who they appear to be. Suddenly the spaceship is taken over by pirates, who imprison the crew in the airlock. Brick and Amar come up with a plan to rescue the crew. The only problem is that, in order to succeed, Brick must venture out into the deep darkness of space.

HEART OF A SATYR (MONSTER HEARTS) by Cara Wylde

It was a normal day at the farm, feeding the animals as the kids played, the cats and dogs in tow. Until I heard a commotion in the barn and went to investigate. I didn’t know it then, but the one waiting for me inside, hurt and bleeding, would change my life. His name is Thyas and he comes from another planet. He’s an alien with horns, goat legs, a tail, and hooves instead of feet. He looks like a satyr from mythology, but he calls himself a Sileni. There’s something about him, and I want to help… I throw the alien hunters off his trail, take him in, and patch him up. What he offers me in return is… bliss.   AmazonKU

NAGA’S OVA (NAGA LORDS OF PROTHEKA) by Celeste King

He’s my enemy…but also my secret desire. I’m his possession…but also his tempting fruit. Imagine being the wedding present to the naga prince. Given to Prince Zalith as a token toy by his betrothed. She never expected the prince to stare so long at me as I kneeled before him. Now she craves my death. I only live because Zalith is intrigued by his new toy. He wants to use me? And leave me full with his eggs? I’ll let him do it all. As long as he chooses which of us he wants. The woman he was arranged to marry…
Or the one he owns heart and soul?     AmazonKU

ORIGIN (ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND GALACTIC WAR) by Lori Lind

Elzaria stands at the cusp of destiny or devastation. On the eve of her coronation, ominous visions of irreversible doom torment the distraught Empyrean princess. Uncertain of her abilities to lead her people, she contemplates the unthinkable—refusing her reign. Yet, destiny isn’t something easily evaded, as she soon learns. Fate has other plans when her attempt to run is foiled by an honor-bound knight… and his impulsive kiss. When secrets are the currency of survival, Elzaria forges a fake identity, diving headfirst into the testosterone-fueled domain of the Empyrean Knights. Unprotected, unaided, and unrecognized, she faces the same brutal challenges as every other recruit. Her goal? To prove she’s more than just entitled.     AmazonKU

WHAT MAKES AN ALIEN A DAD? (MY HOLIDAY TAILS) by Marina Simcoe

As per the marriage agreement between Earth and Neron, Voranian aliens can marry human women, but our species can’t reproduce. Historically, Voranian women have served as surrogates to carry children of the single dads in Voran. The renowned Voranian Professor Thormus is working on a method that would allow the human women married to Voranian men to carry their husbands’ children. Of all the women on Earth, the professor selects me as the subject for his extensive study project. My traveling to Neron puts a strain on the relationship with my boyfriend back home. Which in turn causes Professor Thormus to worry about the effects of nervous breakdown on my system. While I think I’m mending my long-distance relationship with my boyfriend, I find myself inconveniently attracted to the highly intelligent yet socially awkward professor. If only I knew what an idiotic solution my brilliant professor would come up with to help me deal with the stress of heartache!      AmazonKU

CONSTELLATION ONE: A COMPILATION OF SHORT STORIES FROM THE KORDOLIAN UNIVERSE (DARKSTAR MERCENARIES) by Anna Carven

VS Note: Or you can get the stories separately.

This is a compilation of three “slice of life” short stories set in the Kordolian Universe. They feature characters from previous books and are for existing readers of the series.
The stories are also individually published. If you would like just one or two of them, find them in my Author profile on Amazon. Stories included: 1. Duality – Abbey & Tarak. 7600 words. A little conversation and spice. 2. The Little Things – Riana & Kail. 11300 words. Shopping and hijinks, and of course, some heat. 3. Lucid Harmony – Ash & Noa. 14000 words. Ash trying to observe human customs. Sweetness and a little steam.     Amazon

ALIEN PIRATE’S BOOTY (KIPHIAN PIRATES BOOK ONE) by Athena Storm

Freedom was within my grasp…until the day that fate took it away…Xanthus has shattered my life and swept me away. At first, I am nothing but a prize to him – an object to sell. And then he stares into my eyes and I see desire take hold of him. I’m afraid. Yes, a part of me was thrilled when he sent me back to my room. But this alien pirate is a brute. A beast. My whole body is trembling when he opens the door to my room. I pray for rescue as he steps inside. Will it come in time?     AmazonKU

BABY FOR THE TARK COMMANDER (ALIEN BABY PACT BOOK SIX) by Aurelia Skye and Juno Wells

Rana reluctantly accepts her duty as a proxy but is drawn to her mate. As their love develops, a growing rebellion threatens to tear them apart. Like every other Earth woman in compliance, Rana registers for the proxy draft, praying she won’t be matched with a Faction alien. Instead, she’s quickly paired with Tark Commander Sarko D’sano. With handsome features and glossy white feathers, she’s instantly drawn to him. He soon proves himself to be a gentle mate who wants a mate, not just offspring. As she surrenders to the pull between them, planning to build a future with her alien mate, a rebellion stirs. Some are fed up with the draft and see it as slavery. They’re getting more desperate and bolder, and they think they’re rescuing women mated to the aliens. When they try to “save” Rana from Sarko, they have no idea what they’ve unleashed, or how far each of them will go to return to the other. Seven years ago, the Faction agreed to save Earth from the vorathan invasion in exchange for Earth women giving them one year of proxy rights to act as a surrogate, since the aliens of the Faction faced a dwindling population. With the vorathans feared throughout the galaxy as bloodthirsty, vicious marauders, the Earth’s government agreed. That doesn’t mean the women did.   AmazonKU

THESE SILENT STARS: DARK MM SCIFI ENEMIES TO LOVERS COLLEGE ROMANCE by Chani Lynn Feener

Rin Varun’s got something to hide. That’s a lie. He’s got several things. Traveling to a different galaxy was meant to make his life less complicated, but a year in on this new planet and he’s still fighting off his demons. There’s no better place to learn how to keep skeletons buried than the Academy, where they teach their cadets how to uncover them, and Rin is determined to graduate in order to ensure those demons stay hidden. He doesn’t want to stand out, doesn’t want accolades, or high marks. He just wants to coast by unnoticed, and he’s doing a decent job until he draws the attention of the Devil Prince. Kelevra Diar doesn’t do disguises. Who would bother with a mask when they have a face as tantalizing as his? As the Imperial Prince Third in line for the throne, Kel’s used to getting anything and everything he wants …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)

AmazonKU

PROXIMA B: CONQUEST by Kaitlyn O’Connor

VS Note: Listed in Erotica.  From JULY 20.

When colonist Noely crashes on the alien world named Proxima B by humans and earmarked for colonization, it is to discover a war already in progress to conquer the alien world and its people. Cut off from everyone and everything she has ever known, taken captive by natives of the world, Roque and Terran, Noely realizes very quickly that they are her best hope for survival. It might have been less unnerving for her if she’d realized right off that the two of them had already decided to take her as their hearth woman and mate. Then again, that might have been a lot more unnerving.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DRACO (FATED MATES OF THE SARKARNII BOOK ONE) by Hattie Jacks

He’s the alien dragon shifter with the soul as black as night, and he’s claimed me as his fated mate. ‘You did the right thing, submitting to me…’ I was escaping from my stalker ex when they took me from Earth. Dropped into a hellish alien maze where all I am is potential food. Until I run headlong into a huge, smoking hot alien dragon, covered in golden scales and with an ego which could light up a planet. Draco rules the prison maze they call the Kirakos and he says I belong to him. Do I get any choice? No. Do I have any other options? Also no. Am I going to let him win? Hell no. I didn’t escape from one nightmare, just to replace him with another. If this alien wants me, he’s going to have to fight for my heart. Only the more I get to know Draco, the more I realize I’m not the only one here with a past. He has everything to lose in the Kirakos, and now he’s at risk of losing me too. And if a Sarkarnii male loses his fated mate it will be the only thing to break this powerful, dominant dragon shifter warrior. Even after everything I’ve been through, I’m not sure I’m ready to break him. Not yet.     AmazonKU

BEAST (ROSE RISING BOOK THREE) by Thea Masen

VS Note: From JULY 25.

Nomi – I thought switching roommates was a good idea until I found out my new roommate was J’bel. He’s the First Officer on The Rose and the most frightening species in the galaxy. With horns, fur, and claws, he’s every monster from my childhood nightmares. But once he moves in, I realize he’s so much more than that. He’s sweet. Passionate. Sensual. Thrilling, in the most forbidden way. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt with anyone else. And I crave more. J’bel – Women want me for only one thing. To get themselves off with the wild beast they fear. They like the adrenaline. I’m their dirty, explicit sex dream. A roller coaster they want to ride. Nothing more. When my adorable, doll-faced roommate asks me to teach her about her body, how can I refuse? I wish this could be more than physical, but I’m not the guy who gets the girl. I’m the guy who gets the girl off.     AmazonKU

THE PILOT’S RUIN (THE TRADER’S MENAGERIE BOOK TWO) by L A Corbeau

A defunct battleship stands in the way of Xena keeping her promise to take Mata home. Among the nuts and bolts lurks a shadowy figure who claims that Amos has something they want. The only way for them to be on their way is for him to hand it over — a term of surrender the pilot refuses to budge on. Separated from her men, Xena is tasked with playing peace-maker to three peculiar siblings in order to get the coordinates to Mata’s planet. The ship’s emissaries, a pair of men who speak in riddles, are more than happy to entangle Xena and her men in their schemes. She doesn’t like games, but her attraction has her playing along. When their handsome faces and charming words start to break down her guard, things get complicated. Xena needs to protect her men, but perhaps not as much as she needs to protect her own heart.     AmazonKU

EARTHBORN (LIGHTNING STRIKE) by Catherine Asaro

VS Note: A re-release.

Not much surprises waitress Tina Santis Pulivok on the streets of East LA—until the night when, on her way home from her waitressing job, she meets a man working on a strange, glowing box. Still, she thinks he must be one of those Caltech students who’s into role-playing games. Until his mind reaches out to hers . . .Althor is definitively in the wrong place at the wrong time. An Imperial Space Command pilot, he was headed to a reception in Washington DC and somehow ended up here, though he’s not quite sure where here is. As Tina helps Althor get his bearings, they realize he’s in more trouble than he thought. He left his home base in 2328—and now it’s 1987. At least he still has his starfighter, shrouded and in orbit above the Earth. But when the military gets their hands on the ship, he and Tina must race to reclaim it before it detonates itself—taking a huge chunk of California along with it.

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COMPULSORY by Martha Wells

VS Note: Not a romance but OMG a new Murderbot story! This is a re-release, expanded story. One clicked it, read it – this is VERY short. I enjoyed it but didn’t realize how quickly it’d be done.

While trying to watch episode 44 of The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot is—again, what is it with humans?—distracted by something that is technically outside its purview. A miner is suddenly in danger following a pointless (to Murderbot’s way of thinking) argument, and the choice is to risk discovery and leap into action, which would require hitting the pause button during a very exciting part of SanctuaryMoon, or to follow orders and stay still. This is a tougher choice than it seems. But then, when has Murderbot ever been faced with an easy choice? A shorter version of this story originally appeared in Wired magazine.

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MINDBOUND: A STARSTRUCK NOVEL by Brenda Hiatt

Young Sovereign Emileia is increasingly overwhelmed by mounting pressures and responsibilities both on Earth and Mars. On her 17th birthday, she gets a double dose of bad news. Her Regent on Mars has suffered an unexpected complication during what should have been a routine procedure. Then, before she can even blow out her birthday candles, she learns that Faxon, the murderous ex-dictator who killed her family, has escaped from a Martian prison and has yet to be found. Coincidence? Almost certainly not! Though she’s currently millions of miles away on Earth, the Sovereign, known to her friends as M, is determined to do something to help her people on Mars…especially when Faxon starts making threats and wreaking havoc. She comes up with a plan to stop him and feels obligated to carry it through despite dire warnings from her soulmate Rigel and her best friends.

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

VS: This week I’m featuring ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE, from my backlist. It was an early scifi romance of mine and I worked really hard on it. One of the supporting characters was inspired by a Clint Black song and when the book was released and I mentioned that fact in a USA Today post, the singer actually sent me a very lovely tweet. This book got one of my favorite reviews ever, wherein the Kirkus reviewer took issue with my “romance-novel conventions” LOL because the book was such “fine” science fiction otherwise. It’s a standalone story set in the larger Sectors universe.

ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE

Blurb:
Andi Markriss hasn’t exactly enjoyed being the houseguest of the planetary high-lord, but her company sent her to represent them at a political wedding. When hotshot Sectors Special Forces Captain Tom Deverane barges in on the night of the biggest social event of the summer, Andi isn’t about to offend her high-ranking host on Deverane’s say-so—no matter how sexy he is, or how much he believes they need to leave now.

Deverane was thinking about how to spend his retirement bonus when HQ assigned him one last mission: rescue a civilian woman stranded on a planet on the verge of civil war. Someone has pulled some serious strings to get her plucked out of the hot zone. Deverane’s never met anyone so hard-headed—or so appealing. Suddenly his mission to protect this one woman has become more than just mere orders.

That mission proves more dangerous than he expected when rebel fighters attack the village and raze it to the ground. Deverane escapes with Andi, and on their hazardous journey through the wilderness, Andi finds herself fighting her uncomfortable attraction to the gallant and courageous captain. But Deverane’s not the type to settle down, and running for one’s life doesn’t leave much time to explore a romance.

Then Andi is captured by the rebel fighters, but Deverane has discovered that Zulaire’s so-called civil war is part of a terrifying alien race’s attempt to subjugate the entire Sector. If he pushes on to the capitol Andi will die. Deverane must decide whether to save the woman he loves, or sacrifice her to save Zulaire.

 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Winner

 Buy Links:  AMAZON     Apple Books    Nook  Kobo   Google Play

Audiobook: Amazon  itunes

******************************OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT  (because my own books pay my bills) AND ONWARD WE GO!**************************************************

A DUET WITH THE SIREN DUKE by Elise Kova

She sold her soul to a siren and now he’s come to collect. Victoria risks everything to leave a dangerous marriage and gain a second chance at life. But when her escape goes awry, she finds herself caught in the strong embrace of a mysterious siren, forced to choose: temporary salvation or immediate death. And so, a cursed deal is struck. Five years later, Victoria is alive—and the world’s finest ship captain. But her debt to the siren looms while her conniving ex has demanded a king’s ransom as the final price of her freedom. Victoria refuses to cause her family to suffer any more on her behalf, and is determined to make things right before her time is up. But that time is cut short. The siren comes for her. Six months early. Taken to the magical and deadly Eversea, home of the sirens, Victoria discovers she’s the sacrifice upon which all sirens pin their hopes…(more blurn on ebook seller’s page…)    AmazonKU

IGNITE THE MAGIC: DRAGON KINGS STANDALONE SEQUEL by Donna Grant

Passion’s magic ignites a fire too hot to touch—and too wicked to die…The stars have always called to Ailis, beckoning her to see what other realms were out there. She’s told its impossible, but that doesn’t stop her need to explore beyond what others believe. Ailis never expected to change history by creating the first doorway to another realm. She certainly never imagined opening that door to find a commanding dragon who shifts into a man. She’s irresistibly drawn to Lennox, powerless against the yearning of her body and the longing of her heart. Magic might have chosen Lennox as King of Dragon Kings, but it’s a position he’s never wanted. Until the day a new being arrives—and irrevocably changes his life. The closer he gets to the fearless, ravishing woman, the more he fights the passion that flares between them. He lives only for his duty, but one fiery kiss unleashes a firestorm of desire that will ripple across eons and realms. Fate might have brought them together, but will it also tear them apart? The origins of the Dark Kings/Dragon Kings and the entire Dark Universe is finally revealed.

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SAVAGE SKIES (THE FOURTH EMPIRE BOOK ONE) by Kat Ross

When someone dies in Aveline, they don’t always stay that way. Castelio learned this hard lesson when he was a boy.Now he roams from village to village as a Quietus, banishing restless spirits and keeping the Ducissa Orlaith’s peace—until the day her only son is kidnapped. Blame falls on the land across the Boundary, where necromancers practice their black arts in eternal darkness. To get the child back, Castelio recruits the aid of a young stranger named Delilah, along with her peculiar (and possibly demonic) cat Thistle. The pair has a habit of attracting violent thunderstorms, but their wind ship can cross the high mist-cloaked passes of the Boundary. As the trail leads deeper into the wilds of midnight, Castelio and Delilah discover there are worse things than the risen dead. Yet nothing is quite as it seems in the Moon Courts. Despite the dangers all around, they find allies in unexpected places. And choosing a side in the brewing war between light and dark magic might be harder than they imagined.

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SCHOLAR OF BEAUTY (THE GREAT BALANCE WORLD) by Jen Lynning

Ketira is done waiting for her best friend’s brother, Makev, to see her as a woman. Crafting Balanced spell-prayers for inventors won’t pay for her siblings’ educations. She needs to marry a rich man and save her family. She snares the interest of a wealthy lord, but he’s not the only one looking her way. Not all attention is positive. Makev Poinar falls in love with a new woman every month. He competes for the favor of noted court beauties, but they never hold his attention for long. He needs a woman with something more than a pretty face. A woman as intriguing as his friend, Ketira. Ketira can’t trust herself around Makev now that he is set on winning her heart. There is no guarantee his promises will last longer than a flower’s bloom. But avoiding a broken heart is the least of her worries once the religious zealots come calling.     AmazonKU

MAKE HER: A DARK BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ROMANCE by Cassie Alexander

Rhaim produced a key from somewhere upon his person. “The collar has a lock.” He tossed it out onto the table. “If I cannot solve the Deathless, I will become your loyal servant, until the end of my time.” I was suddenly in danger of fainting. Rhaim had just as much as admitted he didn’t have an answer yet, and the price he would pay for failure was too great for me to bear. I knew what it was like to be trapped in a cage. I would never, ever, send anybody else—much less the man I loved—into one. “Father, you cannot agree to his terms,” I told him. I rose up on my tiptoes, leaning over Helkin’s shoulder to shout, “I still hate you, beast!” willing Rhaim to change his mind. Rhaim gave me a wicked smile, and spoke in the growl that bypassed my ears and went straight to my core. “As well you should, princess. And know, too, that if I am given you, I will never show you kindness again . . . and the things I will do to you will make the unicorns weep.”

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THE SPY’S FAMILIAR (FAMILIAR MATES BOOK 11) by TJ Nichols

Captured by a witch as a teen and rescued by the Coven, Orion ‘Tooth’ Templeton vowed he’d make the witch pay. As a Coven agent, he works to ensure no other shifter suffers the way he did. Now he’s been given the most important mission of his life. Not only will he have the chance to bring down the Shadow Board, but he’ll also exact his revenge. The job is anything but easy, and it’s only complicated further when he’s paired with two other agents—both of whom are witches. How can he work with the man who is supposed to be his fated mate—and who also happens to be straight and doesn’t want him—and a prince who is keeping secrets and tempts Orion in ways he finds impossible to resist? Mistakes get made. When the secrets are spilled and the danger increases, Orion will have to choose who he wants to be…and, more importantly, who he wants to be with… His fated mate, who doesn’t want to let him walk away, or the prince who can only offer him a place in the shadows, not by his side.     AmazonKU

THE SHADOWS RISE: PHOENIX DEMONS TRILOGY BOOK TWO by Josephine Chappell

VS Note: Author advises you must read book one first.

The shadow demons have fallen – Leaving a broken hearted and rage-filled Avalon –  A bloodthirsty and revenge seeking Ashby – Their birthrights have been stripped from them. Their kingdom taken over by a dark witch and her evil son. Heartbroken and devastated the twins travel to the only family they have left, their uncle in hopes he can help them. Vows will be made and others broken. While hearts can heal, they can also turn black and bleed. Which one will it be? On the run they will search for allies, love, and a faerie worth saving. The twins will find themselves in dire situations, but Avalon refuses to give up, no longer bending or bowing to anyone. Her heart split and broken, her rage drives her daily. Ashby tries to remain calm, a leader and devoted brother, but the fire for revenge burns brightly within him.  They refuse to go down without a fight. The shadows will rise. All will join the shadow demon twins or suffer the consequences. AmazonKU

GAELIC MAGIC by Fiona McGier

VS note: From JULY 23.

When romance author Delu Morris is troubled with unexplained panic attacks, she seeks help from a doctor who’s researching dream-therapy. He explains that he’ll accompany her into her dreams to revisit her memories and to try to uncover if an event from her past is causing her trouble now. His grad assistant is a handsome Scotsman who wears a kilt the first time he meets her. She’s intrigued, but they remain at arms’ distance while he’s a part of her therapy team. When she discovers that only he can make the machine work, he confesses that he’s the 7th son of a 7th son, and the Unseelie are using him for some unknown reason. When he touches the controls, he pushes a wee bit o’ magic into the machine to make it work. Will they discover together what her long-lost memory is? Or will the guilty person manage to keep her from that discovery—for good?

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THE WOLF’S SECRET TWINS (BEAUFORT CREEK SHIFTERS BOOK 10) by Layla Silver

He’s the daddy of my secret twins. And my forbidden mate. His family rejected mine, making us outcasts. We were never supposed to be together, not now nor in the past. But one night led to my pregnant belly. And now we meet again. I changed my name and appearance, but some things can’t be changed. Like how I’m attracted to bad boys, even though they only break hearts. Like how he looks at my curves as though I’m his possession. Like how my body responds to him, but it’s not allowed. He watches over my house while I sleep. He protects my twins, but doesn’t know they’re his. I should resist him, but my body is like a moth to a flame. I should hate him, but he bites my shoulder and leaves forbidden marks on my skin. What will he do when he finds out my twins are his?     AmazonKU

THE BUNNY, THE WOLF AND THEIR KANGAROO OMEGA (OMEGAS OF ANIMALS SAN DIEGO BOOK EIGHT) by Lorelai M Hart and Wendy Rathbone

Love doesn’t come just hopping by…or does it? Alpha bunny shifter Archie was born second in line to be his fluffle’s alpha. He’s fine with that, having no interest in fluffle politics whatsoever. If only it were that easy and there weren’t murmurs of political unrest all leading to him leapfrogging into the position. He quickly discovers the only way out of politics is to leave the fluffy. When a job in San Diego opens up, he hops at the opportunity. Alpha wolf shifter Ren misses his pack. But when the alpha tells you to skedaddle, you skedaddle. Unsure what to do next, he calls his cousin who offers him a place to stay and a job at the club his mate runs. Not what Ren sees for his long-term future, but it offers a chance to regroup, and he happily agrees. Omega kangaroo shifter Skip loves his new job at Animals. The people are super nice, and it gives him a place to shift. When he’s asked to help coordinate a special fundraising event, he’s over-the-moon excited. Little does he know that the event will bring in more than just money for the animal shelter…it will bring him his mates.     AmazonKU

ELOISE AND THE WEREWOLVES by Jove Chambers

A cerberus with three heads also has three tongues. And when they are in wolf form, those three tongues are very flexible, as Eloise discovers one night when she’s wandering in the woods in werewolf territory on a full moon. (Don’t ask. It’s her brother’s fault. Chasing her accident-waiting-to-happen brother is responsible for half of the unpleasantness in her life.) One might think three tongues would be enough for a girl to, you know, get there. See the stars burst in her head. Fall apart. Experience the little death. Come. But, well, Eloise doesn’t do that, at least not in front of anyone else, at least she never has. No makes Eloise come but her. Not that she’s really been giving anyone else the chance to try recently, of course. She and her best friend Astrid had a pact to avoid meaningless sex and to wait for the right guy to come along. The cerberus? Not even close to the right guy. But when the three-headed, muscular, deep-voiced, gorgeous triplets propose a mutually beneficial arrangement—just physical, no feelings—she can’t resist those tongues. Or the chance to finally hit the big O with someone other than, you know, her battery-operated-boyfriend. Arrangements like that? They always work out fine, of course. No one ever catches feelings. No one ever gets hurt. No one ever regrets them.     AmazonKU

FROST AND FURY: OLYMPUS GAMES by Lizzy Prince

Twelve gods. Twelve champions. Twelve challenges. Let the games begin! Every two years, the gods hold the Olympus Games. A brutal competition that most champions don’t walk away from. Haunted by her mother’s death in the games, Wren Torres never wanted to be part of the bloodshed. Her very survival depends on her ability to fly under the radar. To hide her true nature as a Fury. When fate thrusts her into the spectacle of the games, Wren discovers unlikely allies in her fellow champions. But in this world of cutthroat competition, no one can be trusted. Not even Atlas, who pokes holes in all her defenses. Twelve challengers represent the twelve gods of Olympus. Wren might have grit and determination, but this is a world where power and money rule all. By playing the gods’ twisted game, Wren risks losing everything. If she wants to stay alive, she has to keep her Fury in check. That might be the hardest trial of all.     AmazonKU

MY NAME ON YOUR LIPS (PINE RIDGE UNIVERSE) by S C Principale

Jan Stilz has a curse on his family. It’s preventing him from hearing the sweetest sound in the world… his name on the lips of the woman he loves. Jan has given up on love. It’s hard when a family curse identifies your one true love—and then won’t let you introduce yourself. Diana needs a place to hide, and cozy Pine Ridge seems perfect. Not only can she restart her life in safety, but she might even have a chance at a real future with a wonderful man who appreciates her. When Diana learns that magic and mayhem lurk under the surface of this sleepy little town, will she turn her back on her mysterious suitor, or will she be brave enough to risk everything for love? Enjoy this contemporary retelling of Rumplestilskin, complete with a twist of spice and a happily ever after!   AmazonKU

HER OVERLOOKED DRAGON MATE (CRESCENT LAKE SHIFTERS BOOK FOUR) by Arizona Tape

Dragon shifter and helpless romantic Danni is constantly on the lookout for her fated mate, bravely and foolishly putting her heart on the line, much to the frustration of her best friend, Isabella who prefers strings of flirtations and dates that never go anywhere. The two women couldn’t be more different in their approach to love and it isn’t until Isabella meets someone with real potential that Danni starts to look at her best friend differently and wonder if she’s overlooked something during all their years of friendship.

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THE REBIRTH (VAMPIRE NAVY SEAL: SAM & LAYLA BOOK SEVEN) by S B Alexander

In my wildest dreams, I never foresaw the incredible journey my life would embark upon. Bound to the mesmerizing vampire, Sam Mason, his mere presence anchors me in vulnerability and ignites a flicker of hope as we confront an uncertain future. Our journey is not solitary; we are graced with four precious children who depend on us for their safety, forming the bedrock of our existence. Yet amidst the joy, a looming shadow threatens to shatter our existence. The merciless genetic engineering war jeopardizes humanity itself. I refuse to be passive as the world crumbles. My children deserve a life of normalcy and security, and I desperately crave a fairy tale ending with Sam by my side. However, destiny weaves a treacherous twist when I commit a fatal mistake. Now, my very essence teeters on the brink, endangering my beloved daughter’s life. The stakes are impossibly high. It’s a battle for survival, a test of strength where our fate hangs perilously by a thread.

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FALLEN (FALLING FROM HELL SERIES) by Susan Person

The Devil’s Daughter – Raised to rule Hell. When you’re Lucifer and Lilith’s daughter, your twenty-first birthday is decision time. Would I choose to rule Hell like my father, or would I take my mother’s place as head of the night children? Daughter of the Original Vampire – Raised to rule the Night Children. Her parents promised a year for Morena to live among humans before she had to make her decision. But she didn’t count on her former friend Jax coming with her as her personal guard. Certain he has sworn an oath of allegiance to her parents, her hopes of him returning the feelings she’s had for him for years are crushed. A deadly angelic artifact – Jax swore to Morena’s parents to protect her at all costs, but he didn’t know he would be facing off against archangels and their stolen angelic artifacts. When one artifact corrupts powerful angels and demons alike, Morena is the only one who can stop it from bringing Hell to Earth and Jax can’t do the one thing he promised… keep her safe. The future Queen of Hell’s divine path can lead her somewhere unexpected, or she might burn the world down instead. After all, she was meant to do both.

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ORC BOUND (THE IMMORTAL SORTING BOOK TWO) by Emma Alisyn Fae

If her love is my end, then I’m taking her enemies down with me. TLEIA – Despite clawing my way up from rags to riches, I’m broken, my bruises soul deep, and the only love language I understand is the heads of my enemies at my feet. But the Orc warrior who loved and guarded me, I betrayed to survive. When I leave prison, I don’t know if we’ll be enemies, or finally, lovers. I don’t know if he’ll be dark enough to forgive me, or if he’ll call in the debt I owe and extract payment in blood and flesh. The fate of our secret baby hangs in the balance of our love and hate, but my Orc isn’t the only enemy I’ve offended, and without Gethen’s protection my son and I won’t make it out of the City alive. GETHEN – I knew the moment I met Tleia she would end me, but I love her anyway. Honor, clan, my clean hands, all obliterated in the quest to keep her safe. Anyone who touches her now will die—the days I play by the rules are over. Hands drenched in blood hold my young son, the secret she kept from me in prison. The dishonor, the broken oaths—my new family is worth it, and it’s time I made my mistakes right. I don’t regret sacrificing my soul to my dark side to claim and protect the woman and son I love, and with Seanna City’s crime lords on our trail, I’ll prove what I couldn’t before. That the greatest honor is to fight at her side.     AmazonKU

GLASS WITCHLING (CHILD OF THREE HALVES SAGA BOOK ONE) by Harlowe Frost

In 1983, witches aren’t allowed in college. Casey believes she can hide her heritage and get an education. Though she understands college, does she know how to navigat the rest of the challenges around her? While it isn’t illegal to be a witch in the 1980s, prejudice still runs strong in the community. Casey just wants to go to college without being kicked out for her ability to cast spells. Hiding her powers is easy, until a job working at a fancy dinner club lands her in a room full of sensual vampires. Though vampires live under the same laws as the witches, she soon discovers a world of wealth, prestige and power she never fathomed. Undiscovered and needing the money, Casey decides to risk exposure to work for the dangerous vampires. She’s confident no one can tell she’s a witch. But what happens when she starts craving blood?     AmazonKU

OF OWL THE NERVE (THE OWL STAR WITCH MYSTERIES BOOK 13) by Leanne Leeds

As Emma’s big day approaches, Astra is caught in a whirlwind of wedding shenanigans—which she isn’t exactly thrilled about. But when an intoxicated guest dies chokes to death at the rehearsal dinner, Astra’s excitement quickly turns to suspicion. Increasingly mistrustful of the guests and their dubious motives, annoyed that best man Lothian is there every time she turns around, and frustrated that Archie—Astra’s mischievous familiar owl—keeps helping himself to the catered snacks instead of helping her solve the case, can Astra uncover the truth behind this mysterious mishap and save the wedding from disaster?     AmazonKU

BAAL (SPEED DATING WITH THE DENIZENS OF THE UNDERWORLD BOOK 28) by Laura Greenwood

A storm god, a witch, and a photo shoot full of naked gods…Chelsea’s boring retail job has one perk, the charming and enigmatic customer she has a crush on. But he couldn’t possibly have any interest in her, could he? After Baal is asked to photograph a naked calendar, he jumps at the opportunity, especially when it means that he’ll be able to ask Chelsea for her help, and get to spend some time together in the process. Will the two of them give in to the tension building between them?

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STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE AND WHAT’S AT STAKE (CAULDRON COFFEE SHOP BOOK 10) by Laura Greenwood

Strawberry Milkshake And What’s At Stake is book ten of the Cauldron Coffee Shop Series, a cozy urban fantasy featuring a coffee shop-owning witch, an ancient warlock cursed to live in a teapot, and a cheeky cat. It includes an m/f romantic subplot. If you love cozy urban fantasy, coffee shop settings, low-stakes adventures, cat familiars, and a warm and fuzzy feeling vibe, start the Cauldron Coffee Shops series with Pumpkin Spice And All Things Nice.

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SHADOW AND SILK (DEMON HEART BOOK ONE): MM URBAN FANTASY by Richard Amos

Assassin. Spy. Witch. I serve the Witch Queen of the United Kingdom, fulfilling her will within the shadows. Exterminating enemies quietly, gathering intelligence while blending in with the scenery. And I serve Her Majesty well. There are rules to my service, clear lines that must never be crossed: Never break my cover. Don’t get tangled up in messy love affairs. Keep my life clean. Stay away from demons in these strange new days.
But one night, while working another mission, a demon crosses my path. Instantly, he takes my breath away. Beautiful, strange, dripping with seductive energy. He needs help, shelter, desperate to escape a group of mysterious hunters. Against my better judgement, I take him home. I’m a fool. I could lose my head for breaking the rules like this. I’m playing with fire. And he could kill me at any moment. He’s stronger, deadlier, built for violence as well as seduction. But the longer he stays with me, the more he intrigues me. I want to know everything about him. Him. The demon who makes my heart race. Him. The one fracturing my sense of duty. Him. The creature igniting my every desire. What have I gotten myself into?     AmazonKU

PACK ALPHA’S REDEMPTION (BLOOD MOON WOLVES BOOK FOUR) by Milly Taiden

Wolf alpha Wilder Wolverton is known for two things – being CEO of Blood Moon Agency and his grumpiness. He runs the pack and the protection agency with an iron fist, but his hardened exterior hides a secret. Five years ago, Wilder met his mate but she couldn’t be his. At least, until she walks back into his life. Amelia Sunderland didn’t choose her husband. She only agreed to the union to save her family. But after five years of hell, running away from her criminal husband won’t be easy. If the Blood Moon Agency doesn’t help her, she will die. Wilder has always made her crave him in all the wrong ways. Now if only he can help keep her alive. When Wilder’s mate begs him for help and protection from her husband, Wilder has to help. Intent on protecting her, he tries to keep his heart on lockdown. He can’t ask her to love him, but maybe she could fall for the wolf alpha. It’s his one chance to finally get the woman he’s been desperate to call…Mine!     AmazonKU

RENEW: BLACK RIVER SHIFTERS BOOK THREE by Angelica Grymm

Zac Jones is broken. He’ll never find the love his brothers have. Until one freezing night she shows up, desperate…Jenni Santos is the first to admit her life has been easy – the golden child of the grandmother who raised her, top of her college class, great internship – life is full of promise. Until she overhears her grandmother selling her off to a total stranger as breeding stock. Cheetah shifter Zac Jones is broken. With his irreparably damaged shoulder, he’ll never be strong enough to protect a mate. He’s resigned to having a lonely life living and working at Circus Mirage. Then Jenni buys a ticket and makes him wish for something more. When Zac discovers stowaway Jenni, half-frozen, hiding onboard one of the circus barges, he promises to help her, even if it means betraying his family. She is his mate, he’s sure of it. But when the barges’ engines are tampered with, trapping them in an isolated part of Black River, all evidence points to Jenni. Zac will have to break his promise, even if it means shattering his heart.   AmazonKU

TEMPORARY MATE (BRIDES FOR BEASTS: BEARS BOOK FIVE) by Candace Ayers and Kym Dillon

Welcome to Mystic Hollow where wildest dreams (trust me, they do get wild) come true. I prefer books to people. For the others, the BfB program is a roaring success (pun intended). The only woman who captured my heart…chose my friend instead! Yeah, I’ll stick with books. But when I receive a proposal, the logic is evident. No love involved. She’ll gain stability and security. I’ll gain a wife and possibly cubs. Win-win, correct? Incorrect. It turns out to be the biggest miscalculation of my life. Because, in a plot twist, my betrothed’s sister is my fated mate.     AmazonKU

UNKNOWN (RATH AND RUNE BOOK THREE) by Jordan L Hawk

Librarian Sebastian Rath and his lover Vesper Rune continue their search for the evil Books of the Bound. But in the meantime, the young men in Sebastian’s social circle start dying. Though the deaths look like self-administered poisonings, Sebastian soon comes to realize a killer is at work. And not just any murderer, but one wielding the dark power of the Book of Bone. To stop a madman, Sebastian must choose whether or not to embrace the unsettling powers gifted to him by the previous Books. Because if he fails to stop the killer, Ves could be the next target.

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HOLD ME CLOSER, FIERY PHOENIX (MONSTERVILLE,USA BOOK NINE) by Ava Ross

If I don’t find my true love soon, I’ll die. The dating scene can be tough for a phoenix, especially when I burn to cinders at the most inconvenient times. It’s gotten to the point where no one will even go out with me. Worse, my spontaneous combustions are accelerating. I’ve been cursed with a rare phoenix abnormality and my time’s ticking away. Soon, my pile of ashes will be swept up in the wind, and I’ll no longer rejuvenate as a phoenix. Unless I can find my fated mate and convince her to love me. When the town’s dating service, Monster Mingle, offers me a mail-order bride, I agree out of desperation. I’m married at first sight to Brooke, a woman I haven’t seen since we were sixteen, back when her older brother caught us making out and stole her away. We pick up where we left off, and with the help of my monster friends, I set out to show her I’m the phoenix of her dreams. Can I convince her to love me before it’s too late?     AmazonKU

REAP YOUR SOULS (SHADOW VALE WITCHES BOOK TWO) by Claire Robyns

Kristen is on a magical treasure hunt to find her ex-husband’s body. She needs to put both the man and his ghost to rest. When she stumbles across a husk beneath the burned out ruins of the Jelly Roger, she thinks the dead witch may hold all the clues. And he does, just not necessarily the clues she’s looking for. Before she can say boo, Kristen finds herself drawn into a different kind of treasure hunt involving the ramshackle inn’s notorious history. But does ‘X’ mark the spot of Captain Half Tooth’s secrets or an unsolved modern day crime?     AmazonKU

THE SOLITARY ROSE by Anne Collins

Henry Dawson, sorcerer and apothecary assistant, works to support his mother and younger siblings after his father’s investments and consequent death leave them penniless. Invited to woo a reclusive heiress with magical empathy, he reluctantly accepts, despite a preference for earning his own way. Emma Ainsworth fears smallpox scars and her hypersensitivity to others’ thoughts make her ineligible for marriage. Sheltered by her aunt and uncle, she has withdrawn from most social life and wears a veil whenever she must go out. When a serious injury confines Henry to Emma’s estate for the summer, a verbal duel ensues—Emma wants to test her empathy in a sexual relationship, not marry him. What neither admits is their fear that passion might burn them both.

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WITCH FINDER by Sheri Lewis Wohl

Hereditary witch Tamsin Chaney didn’t ask to be the Keeper. But you don’t mess with centuries of tradition. Even though she’ll do everything in her power to keep the Witch Finders of the Dark Faction from gaining possession of the Book of Darkness, she’s just fine tucked away on her farm dispensing white magic to keep her community safe and healthy. Morrigan James, a Witch Finder of the White Faction, will stop at nothing to guard the Keeper and the sacred grimoire that holds the secrets to unleashing unstoppable evil into the world. The Dark Faction grows stronger and bolder, and time is growing short. Tamsin is in terrible danger, and Morrigan must protect her and the secrets she guards even if it costs Morrigan her life. As they grow ever closer, only Tamsin and Morrigan can stop the Dark Faction and fulfill the prophesy that will keep the world safe forever.

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DARK WINE AT CHRISTMAS (A HILL VAMPIRE NOVEL BOOK 10) by Jenna Barwin

As Cerissa and her vampire fiancé celebrate their first Christmas together…secrets abound! The surprise Cerissa prepares for Christmas Eve will be everything Henry wants, but the gift he gives her on Christmas night will turn their household upside down with happy chaos. And while Henry promises to start working with Cerissa on their wedding plans once the holiday is over, something seems to be holding him back. When Anne-Louise calls with her own unreasonable demands, his maker may very well rip the holiday happiness right from Henry and Cerissa’s hands.     AmazonKU

BRIDE OF CHANCE (BRIDES OF THE HUNT BOOK FOUR) by Jeanette Lynn

The tube sock had it coming. That’s Joanie’s story and she’s sticking to it. He can say what he likes, try and deny what’s between them all he wants, but those lips don’t lie. It all started with a lost cousin. Rosa went missing, just, poof, vanished. No one knows anything or is willing to be of any real help about it, and Joanie is just plain sick of being left in the dark. Armed with the last few bucks to her name and enough caffeine and chocolate to send her rocketing to the moon, she drags her unhappy buns all the way up that ice pop of a mountain her cousin just had to go vacay at, all alone, in a cabin in the woods, without her favoritest cousin and best friend by her side, ahem, and now Joanie is doing the same, if on a less than fabulous budget, under less than stellar circumstances. Cue Rek, the Abominably dressed hot mess she stumbles across in her snooping… (more blurb on ebooks seller’s page)      AmazonKU

TALES OF ENCHANTMENT: STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF ENCHANTED, INC. by Shanna Swendson

Once Upon a Time …The Enchanted, Inc. series told the story of a young woman who was so ordinary that she was extraordinary, and she became the secret weapon of the magical world. Now return to that world in this collection of stories related to the Enchanted, Inc. series. See how events mentioned in the series actually happened and get a look at what happened next after the end of the series. New stories in this collection include: Spelling Test – During Rod and Owen’s college days, Rod’s eagerness to get into a magical secret society gets him in trouble when he borrows a spell Owen developed. In Case of Emergency . . . – Owen gets sent on a mysterious business trip to the London office of Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., then gets whisked away to a remote location, where he finds himself face-to-face with a legend—and responsible for bringing the legend back to life and up to speed. Power Struggle – Strange creatures come to Katie’s hometown, draining the town of both magical power and electricity and threatening the hometown blessing ceremony and reception following Katie and Owen’s wedding. But Katie’s Granny is on the case. This collection also includes essays from the author about the inspiration and development of the Enchanted, Inc. series, as well as two previously published stories, “Paint the Town Red” and “Criminal Enchantment.” All stories include brand-new notes from the author.

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HEART OF STONE by Sam Ledel

Maeve’s quiet life of isolation has kept her from the outside world—as a gorgon, she has to protect herself and others. Princess Keeva Glantor is proud to be a member of Uterni’s royal family. But her mother’s health is failing quickly, and Keeva’s life of ease is turned upside down. On a hunt for the key to keeping Uterni’s queen on the throne, Keeva meets Maeve. The princess is intrigued by the lone woman in the fen, but she has her own mission to complete and no time for anything, or anyone. Maeve yearns to believe she has a chance at a regular life and is curious enough to push the boundaries of what she’s always known, revealing a deception that has kept her a pariah in a world she fears as much as it fears her. Both must unravel lies and come face-to-face with the truth to create a future they can call their own, perhaps even one that includes each other.

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WILD OLYMPIAN (WILD MARS PACK BOOK FOUR) by Deiri Di

This is not a stand alone story. Please read from the first book, Wild Pack, before diving into this HEA ending. I don’t know if I can handle four men at once. I don’t have to, yet. Right now, I’m alone with the one who got away. Eric has come with me to find my sister and help her through her transformation. It is time away from the city and the chaos of the last few weeks – time to settle in to figuring out what it means to be an Omega, figuring out what it means to be me before I take on all four of Alphas all to myself. Except, I don’t have four Alphas, I have three. The last time I tried to kiss Eric, he rejected me. Yet he is still here with me, beside me, helping me… but why? Is he the kind of man who wants to go slow? Or is he a Beast like the rest of them? All I know is that he is here for me, every step of the way, and I can’t wait to see what makes this muscular monster burn for me. He might want to go slow, but I don’t know how long I can wait. I am a Beast of Mars after all.     AmazonKU

BRIDE OF THE TORNADO: A NOVEL by James Kennedy

VS Note: I already have tornado-phobia but I’m still tempted to read this.

In a small town tucked away in the midwestern corn fields, the adults whisper about Tornado Day. Our narrator, a high school sophomore, has never heard this phrase but she soon discovers its terrible meaning: a plague of sentient tornadoes is coming to destroy them. The only thing that stands between the town and total annihilation is a teen boy known as the tornado killer. Drawn to this enigmatic boy, our narrator senses an unnatural connection between them. But the adults are hiding a secret about the origins of the tornadoes and the true nature of the tornado killer—and our narrator must escape before the primeval power that binds them all comes to claim her.

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FACE THE NIGHT by Lani Forbes

Once, Catriona Macgregor led a charmed life. Daughter of a wealthy rancher, pretty and educated, she looked forward to all the world had to offer—until fate took a turn. Now family, home, and even her name have been stripped away. As “Black Cat Whitfield,” adopted daughter of an outlaw, she’s wanted by the authorities. It certainly wasn’t the destiny she imagined—especially as one of the Blessed. The Blessed, rare people like Cat, are supposed to use their gifts to carry out missions for the Patron Saints, but she can only imagine that Saint Prudentia made a terrible mistake in choosing her. Still, her gift has never deserted her. Whenever danger threatens, Cat receives a vision—just in time to save her life. And when she meets a renegade priest, Father Ignatius, he helps her understand how her ability may be part of a much bigger picture. A picture that involves facing up to the monstrous Baron Caldwell—the one who ordered her parents killed—and his son, Adrian, who betrayed them all. Cat is torn between guilt over her parents’ death, a longing for vengeance against their killers, and a dismaying new interest in Adrian. It would be easiest to flee the whole situation and never look back. But as someone once told her, you can’t outrun the darkness on your heels. There’s only one way to break through to sunrise—by turning to face the night.

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TYRANNY OF THE FEY by Terry Bartley

Tyranny of the Fey is a collection of short stories set in Galevyn, an original fantasy universe. A famed Elven researcher is worried about her home. When she discovers a new realm with massive magic potential, she believes she has found the answer. Will the Seasonal Fey Courts allow her to continue her research without interference, or do they have more nefarious plans? An Elven princess runs away from her arranged marriage to a parallel world. Will she be able to find the adventure she seeks? While she is in search of battles with dragons and quests to obtain sacred artifacts, she finds that what she was looking for may have been a true connection with someone that understands her. Two childhood friends, an orc and a goblin, have long dreamed of adventure. When a magic school dropout stumbles into their lives, they jump at the chance to realize their ambitions. This found family realizes the world of Galevyn is a much bigger place than the jungle they grew up in.

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FRACTURING FATE by Sasha Alsberg

History tore them apart. Can they survive their future? While consumed in a devastating battle with the demigod Llaw, Klara is mysteriously catapulted five hundred years into the past, suddenly alone and distraught that she and her fated love Callum killed the demigod at the expense of Callum’s own life. As the last Pillar of Time, an anchor point in the timeline of the world, Klara must navigate dangerous magic, confusing visions, and powerful adversaries to determine the fate of the world and avenge the life of her love. But with all the treacherous enemies—magical and human alike—chasing Klara in 1500s Scotland, she has no idea what, and whom, she actually left behind on the battlefield in 2022. In a battle across history and the present, life and death, Klara must fight to choose her own fate.

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THE INVISIBLE HOUR: A NOVEL by Alice Hoffman

One brilliant June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her. The Scarlet Letter was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life inside the Community—an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden, and books are considered evil. But how could this be? How could Nathaniel Hawthorne have so perfectly captured the pain and loss that Mia carries inside her? Through a journey of heartbreak, love, and time, Mia must abandon the rules she was raised with at the Community. As she does, she realizes that reading can transport you to other worlds or bring them to you, and that readers and writers affect one another in mysterious ways. She learns that time is more fluid than she can imagine, and that love is stronger than any chains that bind you. As a girl Mia fell in love with a book. Now as a young woman she falls in love with a brilliant writer as she makes her way back in time. But what if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote The Scarlet Letter? And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die? Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: “A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” This is the story of one woman’s dream. For a little while it came true.

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LABYRINTH’S HEART (ROOK AND ROSE BOOK THREE) by M A Carrick

May you see the face and not the mask. Ren came to Nadežra with a plan. She would pose as the long-lost daughter of the noble house Traementis. She would secure a fortune for herself and her sister. And she would vanish without a backward glance. She ought to have known that in the city of dreams, nothing is ever so simple. Now, she is Ren, con-artist and thief. But she is also Renata, the celebrated Traementis heir. She is Arenza, the mysterious pattern-reader and political rebel. And she is the Black Rose, a vigilante who fights alongside the legendary Rook. Even with the help of Grey Serrado and Derossi Vargo, it is too many masks for one person to wear. And as the dark magic the three of them helped unleash builds to storm that could tear the very fabric of the city apart, it’s only a matter of time before one of the masks slips—and everything comes crashing down around them.

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VOID by Neen Cohen

A dark tale of self-discovery that will sweep you into a world of swords, secrets, snark, and sapphic love. Kiera never fit in. Not on her aunt’s farm, not at her boring job, not with her ex-girlfriends. But she hasn’t given up hope of finding that elusive place to belong. A freak storm leaves her stranded, alone in the office. When something flashes past the upstairs window, the sarcastic voice in her head, Jiminy, insists it’s a figment of her imagination. But Kiera knows she didn’t imagine the flying pirate ship. Or the dragon. If she jumps on board—into a hidden world above the clouds—there’ll be no coming back. Is she ready for the quest of a lifetime, and the dark secrets beginning to unfurl? Void is the first book in a dark steampunk fantasy series that skillfully blends thrilling adventure, snarky humour, and a sapphic slow-burn romance.  Amazon

THORNHEDGE by T Kingfisher

There’s a princess trapped in a tower. This isn’t her story. Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right? But nothing with fairies is ever simple. Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He’s heard there’s a curse here that needs breaking, but it’s a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold.

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INFLUENCE (BEGINNING’S END SERIES BOOK NINE) by W J May

When the friends were shipwrecked along a frozen tundra, they didn’t know whether they would make it home again. When they were attacked by savage beasts, they had no plan to survive. When Kiera threw up her hands to defend them, they had no idea what might happen. But in that moment, the gift of the dragon sparked to life. Only a few weeks they’ve been gone, but the tides are already changing. A raven carrying their fateful news soars into the distance, and they wait desperately for a reply. They had believed their quest to be almost finished, but discover that a new chapter of their journey is only beginning. The fates do not bestow gifts lightly, and great power must be handled with great care. But Kiera was not the only mortal chosen for such greatness. Her stone has a twin. A twin that has fallen into dangerous hands…Be careful who you trust. Even the devil was once an angel.

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PERFECT MATCH: MY WEREWOLF ROMEO by I T Lucas

The father of my star student is a hot-shot screenwriter who thinks he can dictate what production I should put on. He’s also the biggest patron of the drama department, and the principal makes it very clear that I need to cooperate with the opinionated asshat or walk away from my dream job at the exclusive private high school. It doesn’t help matters that the guy is single, hot, charming, creative, and seems to like me despite my thinly-veiled hostility. When he invites me to a custom-tailored Perfect Match virtual adventure to convince me that his screenplay is the best choice for my production, I accept, intending to have fun while proving that messing with the classics is a foolish idea. I don’t expect to be wowed by his werewolf adaptation of Red Riding Hood mesh-up with Romeo and Juliet, and I certainly don’t expect to fall in love with the virtual fantasy’s leading man.     AmazonKU

NATURAL OUTLAWS AND FRACTURED SOVEREIGNITY by S M Pearce

VS Note: Author describes this as “new-adult, queerplatonic, dark fantasy.”

Caught robbing the Governor’s mansion, Blythe is given a choice: steal the crown jewel of Ostrait’s greatest enemy, or her papa and friends all die. Forced undercover as a candidate in the Fletch King’s marital competition, she must survive the cut-throat court under the watchful eye of the Governor’s pet assassin. But how much of herself will this mission cost her? Kalen got her into this mess. And now they must keep their head down in the servants’ quarters, enduring their new superior’s brutality and confronted with the terrors of their past. It’s no longer as simple as crafting bombs and letting the fire do the work—there’s nowhere left to run, and his real talent seems to lie in screwing everything up. Can a martyr learn what it means to live? Can a coward learn what it means to fight?
They’re only a pair of outcasts. Failures. Will the cruelties of court tear their friendship apart? Or can they salvage a future together in a world that doesn’t want them?

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DANCE FOR THE ORC  (STRIPPERS AND THE MONSTERS WHO LOVE THEM BOOK FIVE) by Melody Lynch

In a neighborhood plagued by nosy neighbors, divorcee Tamela’s world is turned upside down when Grom, a handsome, misunderstood orc, becomes her new neighbor. Struggling to adapt, Grom finds little support from his human neighbors. However, Tamela, with her bubbly and welcoming nature, makes it her mission to ensure he feels welcome. As their passionate connection deepens, Grom’s troubled past emerges, endangering Tamela’s safety. Can Grom shield her from the shadows of his past? Will their love endure the explosive truth? Prepare for a short paranormal romance story that ignites both the heart and the senses.     AmazonKU

MATED TO THE YETI  (YETIS IN LOVE BOOK TWO) by Brigid Finn

VS Note: Listed in Erotica.

You were a bad boy, then. But I saw your heart. And I knew you wanted to be a good boy. So I made you into my good boy. And aren’t you so much happier this way? The monster apocalypse is a drag. Especially when you’re stuck with your useless ex-boyfriend. After everything Kaylee’s done for him, he still leaves her behind to save his own skin when the snow caves in. When all hope is lost, a seven-foot-tall snow monster comes to her rescue. He’s rough and impulsive, but Kaylee sees the good inside of him. He just needs to be brought to heel, is all.     AmazonKU

ECHOES ON A CORNISH RIVER by Kate Ryder

VS Note: Timeslip romance.

Ellinor lived for adventure, always travelling from one place to the next – until tragedy struck and turned her world upside down. Needing to escape, she accepts an invitation to stay with relatives at their remote Cornish farmhouse. As Ellinor settles on the outskirts of Calstock, it’s not long before the land and its history have her itching to explore once more. Her search takes her far and wide when an unexpected encounter with an enigmatic, handsome stranger stops her in her tracks. From the moment they meet, Ellinor knows deep in her soul they share a connection like no other. It’s as if they’ve known each other forever. But no one else has heard of William… Is he all that he claims to be? Could their love story be written in the stars? Or will past secrets threaten to alter the very future Ellinor has begun to let herself hope for?     AmazonKU

GIMMICKS AND GLAMOUR by Lauren Melissa Ellzey

Ashly Harris has a secret she’s been keeping all her life. To everyone else, she’s just a seventeen-year-old party girl and problem senior at Hackley High School. She has always felt alone, and not just because she’s biracial and openly bisexual. Ashly sees faeries all around her, all the time. She has learned to hide her Sight, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is constantly taking the blame for the havoc that the faeries wreak. The only person who knows about Ashly’s ability is her eccentric, yet level-headed best friend, Caris, who might be playing along while also playing with Ashly’s feelings. As Ashly speeds toward graduation with few future prospects on the horizon, she must protect the classmates she claims to hate from an evil that no one else sees.

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WOLF’S KEEP (THE WOLVES OF LANGEAIS) by K E Turner

VS Note: From JULY 25.

Archaeologist Erin Richardson loves her job, but the dig in France is something else. A crumbling keep, a dungeon and the search for legendary chevalier Gaharet d’ Louncrais… Her imagination is running overtime. Thank God he’ s long dead and only comes to life in her dreams. Until a mysterious amulet sends her back to the tenth century. Now her fantasy has become her reality. Gaharet d’ Louncrais needs a wife. Powerful and handsome, he constantly has women vying for his attention. But if they knew his secret, they’ d run for their lives. Forget love. Forget finding his true mate. He’ d forsake it all to save his wolf pack from extinction. But when Erin appears, with her strange clothes and her even stranger tale, she stirs his inner beast. He wants nothing more than to claim her as his own. Erin knows a player when she sees one. Arrogant and charming, he’ s everything she’ s guarded her heart against. The Dark Ages are no fairy-tale, and she will need to fight to survive, but the most dangerous thing of all is the way Gaharet makes her feel. She needs to find a way home. Gaharet needs her to stay. And now he’ s found her, he plans on never letting her go.     AmazonKU

KILTS AND CROWNS (MIDNIGHT MAGNOLIAS BOOK NINE) by P Mattern and L Gauthier

Having worn out their welcome in Paris, the “City of Lights”, by fanging far too many French aristocrats, the Teechams and their entourage accept an unexpected invitation to visit one of the lesser-known Stuart Clans at their Highland Castle. But the Scottish Lords have a hidden agenda, one they feel will be mutually advantageous for themselves AND the Southern Vampires from Virginia. The Teechams are royally welcomed upon their arrival- But some of them will never see home again!     AmazonKU

MORT by Loki Renard

Self destructive. Self loathing. Self harming. Tristan is at the end of his rope. Ready to meet his end. But the reaper who comes for him does not take his soul. He saves his life.
Gifted. Precious. Beautiful. The moment Mort lays his empty eyes on Tristan, the reaper of souls knows he must save this one. Tristan is a hot mess. Mort is a cool, calm dominant. Tristan can see demons…Wait. Tristan can see demons? Tristan is the only mortal Mort has ever met with such a gift, and Mort soon becomes fascinated with this uncontrollably reckless, sensitive, wonderful, awful mortal man. Tristan is shocked to have met someone who can stand being around him for more than five minutes, someone who seems to find him not only interesting, but actually lovable. Not to mention, someone who can take him in hand and tame him down when he needs it. There’s just one problem. Besides Tristan’s many, many problems. Tristan is marked.
You could say cursed. He bears the seal of a secret god. To possess his mortal mate, Mort must eliminate that claim before he can fully take Tristan as his own. No amount of supernatural interference will be enough to stop a very grim reaper willing to do anything to possess his chosen mate. Mort has taken millions of lives. The next one will belong to a god.

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SEMESTER 6 (URBAN ACADEMY BOOK SIX) by Mazzy J March

Valentina We won the battle, but the war is not over. My mates and I have met the enemy, learned my heritage, and discovered why I was the focus of evil for so long. I have an evil uncle and cousins. One was sent to kill me but now she’s one of my best friends. This time when they come for me, we’ll be ready. Cousin Onyx and I are practicing our powers, discovering more and more about them each time. Fox, Bishop, and Storm are trying to make me live a little, but that’s hard when you’re always looking over your shoulder. I wish he would come already. Come and get me so we can end this once and for all. While we’re practicing and learning, I’ve seen something between Onyx and Raven…and maybe one other male wolf. Maybe Fate will smile down on them like she did for me.     AmazonKU

DEMON REBORN (DEMONS OF MORNINGSTAR BOOK SIX) by Debbie Cassidy

Sacrifices are acceptable when you’re not the one making them. With Arty’s life hanging in the balance, nothing else matters. Until it does. The rift in the abyss is opening. The world as we know it is about to end, and it turns out, I’m only one who can stop it. It’s time to face the ultimate truth. It’s finally time to face Fate head on.   AmazonKU

WIZARD OF MENACE (MAGICAL RENAISSANCE FAIRE MYSTERIES BOOK EIGHT) by Erin Johnson

Novice witch, Adelaide “Laidey” Ryan is up to her pointy hat in trouble. A hex lingers over the Renaissance Faire she now calls home, and an ancient prophesy hints that time is almost out for everyone inside the walls. But things go from bad to worse, when her black cat familiar Mort pulls a certain famous sword from the stone…The same sword that’s used in a murder not a day later. Now Laidey must use her magic to prove Mort’s innocence before she can crack the curse. But when her unfolding powers go awry, she jeopardizes the entire faire’s future. Will Laidey conjure a cure for the curse, or will this spell the end for the faire and everyone inside?     AmazonKU

ASSASSIN BY ACCIDENT: CARNIVAL OF MYSTERIES by E J Russell

If a megalomaniacal earth mage kidnaps your little sister, do you: A) Kill him B) Kill him C) Kill him D) Magically indenture yourself to him to ensure her safe return – Welsh water horse Nevan Quirke would have happily opted for A, B, or C, but had no idea where his sister was hidden—so, option D it is. He’s not a fool, though. He made sure to limit his obligation to a single task. Unfortunately, he neglected to nail down a few tiny details before the geas brand was seared into his skin, and now: A) He can’t shift B) He can’t swim C) He can’t drink D) If he fails, he’ll be bound to the mage for eternity – Oh, and that task? Assist in an assassination. If only he weren’t so thirsty. And if only his partner for the heinous job weren’t the most appealing man Nevan has seen in his entire two-thousand-year life.     AmazonKU

SHIFTERS IN PLAID by Kenna McKay and Jessica Coulter Smith

Ranald’s Mate: Ranald has resigned himself to an arranged mating with a lass he can barely tolerate. He never counted on her turning into a feisty beauty! But if there’s one thing Ranald knows how to do, it’s woo a lass. His mate doesn’t stand a chance. Highland Shifter’s Baby: One sniff and Camdan knows Lily’s his destined mate. Too bad she’s off-limits — or is she? When the temptation becomes too great, Cam knows that he’ll do whatever it takes to claim Lily and make her his. Mad, Bad Bear: Tavish MacBride insists Jessalyn Delaney is his destined mate, and he’s determined to claim her and her cubs even though she’s human. Dealing with her violent ex is easy enough — Tavish isn’t afraid of shedding a little blood. But first, he has a mate to claim… and what a claiming it will be!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

LONELY ALPHA: A WHY CHOOSE OMEGAVERSE by Olivia Lewin

An omega is the last thing I need. Especially one who’s demanding, obsessive, and violent. But when Kiara shows up in my apartment, I’m forced to keep her close. It doesn’t matter that I know nothing about her except how pretty she looks in that dress and how desperately she wants a dark bond. I’m stuck with her. I need backup, and there’s only one pack I trust. But the Loranger pack are a problem all on their own. No one can know we’re spending time together, because they’re not just any pack. They’re my brother’s scent matches. The ones he rejected years ago. With Kiara’s secrets piling onto mine, none of us can clearly see what’s coming. However, one thing’s for sure. Our enemies are closing in, and I’m going to have to make an impossible choice. Because there might only be one way to save Kiara…Lonely Alpha is a standalone polyam/why choose MMFFM omegaverse with both MM and FF relationships. There is a female alpha and a female omega, along with three male alphas. This story is set in the PoisonVerse and does contain dark themes—more details are provided in the content warnings.    AmazonKU

A FATED LOVE (ROGUE BOOK TWO) by Domina Alexandra

Starting over is never easy, however, Karissa wouldn’t have it any other way if it meant being with her fated mate, Danni, a lone wolf whose own journey has been met with a lot of curves, starting with Hansel, the witch wolf, who turned her at fifteen and habitually shows up uninvited. Living as rogues, all they wanted was time to figure out their future, but when young rogue shifters start to go missing it will be up to Karissa and Danni to find them. To make matters more sinister, a very old vampire might be the reason for the young shifters being snatched. It will take more than Karissa and Danni to unravel the truth and find the shifters before it’s too late. Karissa and Danni might not have things figured out yet, but it will only push them closer to becoming a strong pair and adversary to any who gets in their way, and so much more than fated mates.    Amazon

WHAT TREACHERY IS THIS? (MATURE MAGIC BOOK SIX) by Sam Cheever

The last person anybody ever expected to get into trouble was the crone. I’d believed she was pretty much bomb proof. I mean, who in their right mind would go after a two-thousand-year-old witch who was also a magical historian? The problem was, I didn’t know what took her down. But something did. Whatever it was, it left her hovering on the razor edge of death. If I don’t kick it into gear and go after her attacker, the old witch’s present condition could become permanent. And then I’d have a grieving teen to deal with. As well as an extremely irritated magical horse.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MIDSUMMER BRIDE (THE DEAD LANDS BOOK FOUR) by Kati Wilde

A Barbarian Who Must Lie – When a prideful queen comes to his prison cell with an unbelievable proposal of marriage, Warrick of the Dead Lands is quick to accept, but not merely to secure his freedom. Because he recognizes the powerful jewels the queen wears — jewels pilfered from the temple of a goddess, who unleashed her wrath upon a kingdom. His plan? Pretend to go along with Queen Elina until he can steal the jewels back, then use them to lift the goddess’s curse. Except the queen isn’t who Warrick assumes she is at first glance, and his deception might cost him everything… A Queen Who Must Die – Betrayed by everyone she’s ever loved, trusting no one, Elina has spent years searching for the warrior prophesied to overthrow the sorcerer who stole her throne … and Warrick is the one warrior she’s found whose description matches the prophecy. She doesn’t want to marry a barbarian, but she’s running out of time — the sickness ravaging her body means she’ll be dead long before she sees home. Only the enchanted jewels she wears give her the strength to continue on … and her new husband’s touch offers the only pleasure she’s ever known. But after a life spent running from those who betrayed her, Elina doesn’t know whether to trust Warrick with her kingdom … or her heart.     AmazonKU

HER CATALOG HERO by Arlene Foster

VS Note: From JULY 19.

Allyson Williams inherits a family cottage that comes with a unusual curse, or blessing depending on however she sees it on any given day. The curse involves generations of catalogs, and enables her to point at any item listed, say, “I want that,” and it appears. After six months the fascination wears off, her daily life is feeling very blah. Over the last several years she has built up a successful crafting career, selling crocheted and knitted items on her web site, Allyson’s Classic Vintage Clothes and Household Accessories. She selects the Wards 1922 catalog, hoping to get inspiration for her next sales project. Suddenly she spots a drawing of a man in the men’s coat section. He holds her attention in a way no real man ever has. Didn’t the curse say she could have anything in the catalogs? She points and says, “I want the real man.” In seconds he appears. Now what does she do?     AmazonKU

DRAGON’S STAND (IRRESISTIBLE DRAGONS BOOK FIVE) by Nora Phoenix

Fallon never wanted a fated mate. Now he has two. Dragon omega Fallon is recovering from the abuse he endured in his previous clan, and he’s grateful for the friendship he’s building with his roommates, beta Duer and pregnant omega Yitro. When Duer announces he thinks they’re fated mates, Fallon is furious. He doesn’t want fated mates. He wants to be able to make his own choices. It’s hard for him to deny the truth, however, and slowly but surely, the three of them develop a close bond. But Yitro is about to give birth, Duer is troubled by his past, and Fallon is getting impatient. And then their enemies show up, and it’s time to take a stand.     AmazonKU

THE HEART  MAGE (THE IMMORTAL CROWN SAGA BOOK THREE) by Kenya Wright

The craving was maddening. Uncontrollable. I inhaled her. My fangs ached. And every time I looked into her eyes, the dagger of desire was thrust ever further into my broken soul. I—the Quiet King—who held dominion over countless beings, found myself absolutely enslaved by this enchanting blood mage. But would she ever submit to me?
Or would I have to take what I desire?     AmazonKU

WITH THESE LAST BREATHS (AISLING SEA BOOK THREE) by Vanessa Rasanen

Every journey must end… one way or another. And in Declan’s experience, that usually means death. Death of his enemies. Death of his friends. Their one hope of surviving is in the hands of a man he wants to see suffer… even if it means letting the darkness within take over. But even if he retrieves the dagger, he could still lose everything. He could still lose her. He may not be good enough—he may not deserve her—but he’s not about to let her go. Not without a fight.   AmazonKU

PERFECTLY PERFECT PIXIE: PEACHES’ STORY (PERFECT PIXIE SERIES BOOK TWO) by MJ May

Peaches is a nature pixie. Fully bonded to his orchard, he can only leave his land for a finite time. Plants, soil, daylight, and every living thing Mother Nature has on tap flows like liquid sunshine through Peaches’s lively veins. Lucroy Moony was born into his vampiric second life over six hundred years ago. King of the Southeastern nest in the United States, Lucroy is responsible for more than his bar, Dusk. Lucroy only comes alive when the sun goes down. The moon and stars are his backdrop—the sun the quickest path to a pile of ash. Death and darkness fill Lucroy’s body with borrowed blood. Pixies and vampires couldn’t be more different, and yet, Lucroy and Peaches find themselves drawn together time and again. But vampire myth cautions that pixie blood is deadly, and Lucroy’s willing to put that tale to the test. Nothing that smells as temptingly delicious as Peaches’s blood can be toxic. Right? Lucroy wants nothing more than to court fate with his pixie, but someone’s been whispering in the vampire council’s ears, and they aren’t pleased to learn Lucroy killed a werewolf to save a pixie. If the council decides Lucroy was in the wrong, his life is forfeit, and the nest he’s tried so hard to protect could be left in sadistic hands. Lucroy needs to convince the council pixies aren’t toxic but precious creatures. And, more importantly, one pixie, in particular, is his beloved—his Perfectly Perfect Pixie, Peaches.     AmazonKU

MIDNIGHT DREAMER (DAUGHTERS OF MIDNIGHT BOOK SEVEN) by Ellen Dugan

Welcome back to Ames Crossing! The spooky riverside village that boasts paranormal phenomena, curses, ghosts, and a family of wise-women who work to keep the balance of good and evil in check. Twelve years ago, Arianna Beaumont fled Ames Crossing. Determined to start over, she built a whole new life for herself. Now as an archeologist, Arianna is happiest when she’s digging into the mysteries of the past. A few weeks off to spend time with her family has turned into a surprising opportunity to dig deeper into the local legend of an infamous river pirate from the 1800s. Rafe Tremaine is thoroughly annoyed that his young daughter, Caroline, has found valuable antique coins in their backyard. To his dismay, word of her discovery has slipped out, and now there are amateur treasure hunters, and pirate enthusiasts sneaking into his yard. Worse, Caroline insists that a ghost is haunting her because she’s discovered his hoard. Rafe reluctantly agrees to allow Arianna to dig a test pit on his property. He certainly doesn’t believe in ghosts, and he’s suspicious of any beautiful woman. Arianna is only interested in the excavation, and not some surly auto mechanic who runs hot one moment and cold the next. No matter how attractive he might be…As Arianna begins her work and unearths gold coins and other valuables, it soon becomes clear that the Reaver is not merely a legend. Her precognitive dreams have shown her that the Reaver is a malevolent spirit consumed with attacking anyone who disturbs his cache. Despite the danger and the odds, Arianna and Rafe are about to discover that a chance at finding true love is infinitely more precious than any pirate’s treasure.

Amazon     The rest of the series is in AmazonKU.

THE RAVEN’S BURDEN (ARSYN MORGAN BOOK THREE) by J A Stowe

What would you do to change the course of fate? A few weeks after the siege, Qaanir is rebuilding and the other rulers are starting to arrive for the summit. The first one in a thousand years. I’ve been training hard with our growing army, and it’s definitely not because I’m hiding from my feelings. I need to get stronger. I need to learn every discipline of magic if I want to stand a chance against Sebastian. But Felix’s haunting visions are getting darker. They show a dire future, and the answer seems to lie in the alliance. Which means the fate of the worlds is in the hands of a gaggle of pompous Daevasi kings and queens. Oh, gods … We’re doomed. As usual, Quillon has a plan, and as usual, I don’t like it. Draqaar must be united under one leader. A herald of the alliance. And Quillon wants to nominate me. There’s only one catch: the herald must be a ruler of Draqaar. But Quillon has a plan for that too …The Raven’s Burden is a slow burn reverse harem. It’s book 3 of 6 in the Arsyn Morgan series.    AmazonKU

THE MONSTER’S WIFE by Jillian West

The picturesque town of Haven may offer sanctuary for all, but the irony is getting harder to miss: monsters are vanishing. Aline knows better than to meddle. The runaway Princess of Faere learned the hard way what happens when others see what her magic can do. No, it’s far better to focus on her own problems like running The Monster’s Den and staying off the paranormal council’s radar. Tragedy strikes Haven as things are finally starting to come together for the lonely fae, and Aline has no choice but to intervene. The blows keep coming when the paranormal council initiates a full-scale inquiry into why monsters vanish from Haven. It seems her house of cards is about to tumble. Can she trust the ghosts of her past and the unhinged monsters desperate to be a part of her future to help keep her safe? Will they even want to when they see what she’s capable of?     AmazonKU

KISS ME BETTER (NEW HEMLOCK WOLF PACK SAGA BOOK SEVEN) by Maggie Hemlock

Alpha dragon, Cade Moonscale, is on a mini-vacation to help his best friend settle into Heartville. Dorian and his mate, Sergei, have been through hell together and are finally ready for their happily-ever-after and Cade is ready to help them make that happen. Only he never bargains for the scent of his true-mate whacking him upside the head before he even exits the truck. Omega Wolf, Eston, has almost everything he wants in life. He has his family, his friends, and his garden. He’s about to embark on a career that will enable Heartville to rely upon themselves for the bulk of their crops. He’s blossomed as his knowledge of the land and the food it can grow has expanded. There’s only one thing he’s missing and both of his triplet brothers already have it: His true-mate. Neither Cade nor Eston planned to meet their true-mates on the day of the groundbreaking ceremony for Bad Wolf Cakes 2.0 but very few shifters can plan for the event. What should be an instant happily-ever-after is overshadowed by both the past and the uncertainty of the future. With his home city of London on the edge of war, will Cade have to leave his newly found true-mate to fight the war his father has declared against Mundanes Before Magic? Neither Cade nor Eston, want to lose their budding bond, but is love stronger than the call to battle?     AmazonKU

WITCHING UP THE WRONG TREE (PAWS AND POLTERGEISTS BOOK ONE) by Mara Webb

When an innocent woman is sentenced to community service for a crime she didn’t commit, she expects to spend a few hours picking up trash or cleaning up graffiti… instead, she is put into the back of a police car and driven to the town of Silverwood to deal with a community only she can see, the dead kind. A recent death has the rumor mill churning, and it quickly becomes clear that there is something sinister going on. Her childhood dog, Fluke, has somehow reappeared to help her sniff out clues and when a brick is thrown through the window telling her to back off it is obvious that she needs all the help she can get. In a dog-eat-dog world there are people willing to do extreme things to get ahead, so when ghosts are hounding her for answers, she’ll have to teach herself, and Fluke, some new tricks to catch the killer. Magic, murder, and a mighty mutt… it’s all waiting in Silverwood.     AmazonKU

CLAIM ME (IMMORTAL VICES AND VIRTUES: HER MONSTROUS MATES) by Lexi C Foss

I’m a prisoner. A pet. A being of supreme power on a leash. Why? Because my arranged mate “borrowed” my power and nearly killed the House of Gold and Garnet’s King.
Oh, he knew I was innocent. Just like his successor—King Kaspian—does as well. But that hasn’t lessened my sentence; it’s simply made my prison cell a little more comfortable. Because instead of bars, I’m stuck in one of the new king’s bedrooms. And he’s tasked three immensely handsome mercenaries to guard me. Nox, Bane, and Nolan.
Too bad all I want to do is escape—otherwise, I might be tempted by the buffet of sexy goodness spread out before me. Alas, when King Kaspian gives me a task I can’t refuse, I suddenly find myself incapable of thinking about anything or anyone other than the four captors controlling my life. Because it turns out that breaking a magically forced mate bond can fracture the soul and cause new bonds to form. Four, to be exact. With a king and his three mercenary guards. If any of them reject me, I’ll die. But if they accept me, my death magic might consume us all.     AmazonKU

FORBIDDEN MATCH by MM Farmer

The Perfect Match Agency’s company policy is clear: No dating in the workplace! Looks like Renn and Topher didn’t get the memo…Topher – Working in IT for the Perfect Match Agency has been my dream job. Not just because I get to work with the software that helps people find their mate, but because it allows me to work from home. And with my anxiety issues, working from home is a must. Don’t get me wrong, I have my work friends who I talk to through email and texts every day, especially Renn. We’ve never met, but Renn has become my best friend. When the system sends both of us emails congratulating us on finding a 99.1% perfect match, not even my anxiety can stop me from heading to the office to solve the problem…and to meet Renn in person for the very first time. Renn – Having the Perfect Match system send me an email telling me it’s found a 99.1% compatible match for me was not the wildest thing that happened to me that day. Meeting my best friend in person for the first time and having him instantly go into heat and me into rut definitely was. That supply closet will never be the same. Neither will me and Topher, unfortunately. There’s nothing like coming into work on a Monday after a wild heat weekend only to be fired to start a relationship out on the wrong foot. But are Topher and I victims of nature and destined to go down in flames, or is the perfection of our match exactly what the company needs to study to take the whole matchmaking system to the next level? Perfect Match Agency is a multi-author gay romance series.     AmazonKU

BELLEVUE MEDICAL (THE BLACKWOOD FIVE BOOK THREE) by Jesi Donovan

The baby is in distress and he’s taking all of us with him. Trapped behind the walls of Bellevue Medical, all we can do is worry about what The Council will do when I give birth. Will they let us keep the child? Or will they take him away forever? Outside of the hospital, a rebellion is brewing. Word has gotten out about what The Council will do to our half-demon, half-witch child. My five baby daddies are on medical rotation trying to keep me and our baby alive, but when they aren’t by my side, they’re stirring up the crowd. The Council started this fight a century ago, but we’re going to be the ones to finish it.     AmazonKU

PREGNANT WOLF’S MATE (SILVERDALE WOLVES BOOK EOGHT) by Mia Wolfe

I hate how he ridicules me. Yet he’s the only one who can make my wolf come out.
I failed to shift at the full moon ritual. I’m the laughing stock of the pack.
Now the much older wolf who always makes fun of me is coming to my rescue.
I want to push him away, but my wolf wants to give him her innocence. He’s stoic and grumpy and he mockingly calls me a little princess. But I’m not little anymore. I’ve grown out my curves and am ready for the world. Except that I can’t shift. I have no choice but to accept his help. And so he takes me into the woods and teaches me how to run wild. After the shifting our pelts melt back into skin, and I see him for who he is. I want to run my fingers over the burn marks that the demons gave him. I want to hush his condescending words with my mouth. I want him to take what I’ve never given to a man before. Is he ready for my pregnant belly?     AmazonKU

DON’T COUNT YOUR DEMONS BEFORE THEY HATCH (SUPERNATURAL MIDLIFE BOUNTY HUNTER) (SHROUDED NATION BOOK NINE) by Brenda Trim and Tia Didmon

A dark witch. A fatal chase. An undead demon. When a witch connected to the council is kidnapped, and Lucinda is breathing down my neck for her return, my grandfather thinks he has discovered the spell a demon is using to raise a king of hell. But we choose the wrong location and I arrive too late and face my newest foe. While running through Ravenholde to catch the demon lieutenant who summoned the undead to rise, I meet a murderous witch with malicious intentions. Tricked by her dark magic, she allows my bounty to escape and I am left holding the fate of the mundanes in my hands. Do I enact my revenge for killing in my community or allow her to flee and allow hundreds of innocents to die?     AmazonKU

UNMASKED by Mia Monroe

High school was hell. My peers spent their waking hours tormenting me. My accent, my weight, my lack of social skills, and looks only a mother could love, made me a perpetual target. Years later, fed up with being the underdog, I took matters into my own hands. My transformation was epic, dare I say, supernatural, and I returned to that town armed with perfect looks, a fat bank account, and enough charm to steal world secrets, but my heart hadn’t changed at all, and it was hungry for revenge. I craved the destruction of my enemies more than the blood I now needed to survive. And then Eli returned. My first crush, despite the fact he was straight. Eli was the one person who stood up for me in high school. He was a true friend, but I loved him with the ardent focus of a teenager, and once I saw his face again, I knew that love hadn’t died out at all. Suddenly revenge took a backseat to wooing Eli. Now I could be the man he deserved on his arm, but Eli saw past the new me to the person I still was deep inside. Could he want me if he knew what I had become? Would he love me if he saw me Unmasked? Unmasked is an MM friends to lovers, spicy tale of revenge, involving a man willing to sell his soul to get what he wants, an awakening that leads another man back home, bullies getting what they finally deserve, and a vampire doing very vampire-y things.    AmazonKU

BAD LUCK CHARM by Julie Johnson

GWENDOLYN GOODE LIVES A CHARMED LIFE. As owner of an occult shop in downtown Salem, Massachusetts she’s accustomed to all things odd and otherworldly. But when a bloody animal sacrifice is left as a warning outside her place of business, the police seem to think Gwen might be the target of some truly evil-doers. Suddenly, her sunny existence is riddled with danger in the form of crazed pagans, rogue employees, and nefarious henchmen. And there’s only one man who can protect her until the storm passes…GRAHAM GRAVES HAS NO TIME FOR WITCHY NONSENSE. Not in his love life, and definitely not in his line of work. Despite the ever-present oddities of his hometown, the private investigator and acclaimed police consultant prides himself on staying objective in every case that comes across his desk. That all changes when Gwendolyn — a woman who gets under his skin like no other — finds herself in the crosshairs of dangerous criminals. Graham is determined to make her safe, even if her presence tests his steely resolve. But as their mutual dislike sizzles into unexpected attraction… he becomes even more determined to make her something else: HIS.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

WOLF DEVOTED (ENSNARED BY THE PACK BOOK SIX) by Tessa Cole

I found a strength I hadn’t known I possessed… now it’ll be tested beyond measure. After a grueling trip to the healing pools, we returned to another grimalkin attack. The horror and hurt of the assault ignites the awakening wildness inside me. I might not be an alpha — despite what people are calling me — but I’ll protect this pack to my dying breath. My very soul demands it. Of course, my soul also demands that Cyrus is my mate. We’ve crashed together, our passion overwhelming us, but duty inevitably pulls him away. That leaves my soul achingly incomplete, despite the loving attention of my fated mates, Bishop and Knox. But I have no time to figure things out. The assassin who almost killed Bishop is still on the loose, Sterling is haunting my dreams again, and a darkness is growing inside me…a darkness that could save us all or destroy me and the men I love.     AmazonKU

THE ALPHA’S PRIZE (ASPEN RIDGE PACK: THE ALPHAS BOOK TWO) by Luna Wilder

He’s won her, but not her heart. Isla: When the Alpha shows up at my doorstep one night and tells me that he’s won me in a poker game, I wonder if this is some kind of bad dream. It’s not. My dad actually bet me and lost me. Now I’m living with the Alpha of the North Pack of Aspen Ridge, and I’m not sure where to go from here. When I turn eighteen and learn that I’m fated to be Bishop’s mate, I’m even more confused. Now I need to figure out what I want. Bishop: Playing poker was supposed to be a way to bond as a pack and have some fun. Then one of my members bets his daughter as collateral… and I win her. When I collect my prize, I’m not sure what to do with her. Not until the mating moon. Now I might have messed everything up between us before we even started. I need to figure out a way to make things right between us. I just hope that it’s not too late.     AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

August 9

August 2

July 26

July 19

July 12

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

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover. I won’t feature a cover in my weekly promo for this post if I believe or suspect it was done with AI.

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

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

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

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

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First Meeting: PRIESTESS OF THE NILE Weekend Snippet PNR Romance

I’ve decided to change up these weekly snippets and go through my backlist, sharing the first meeting between the two main characters in each book. I’m going roughly in the order of first publication. It’s always fun for me to revisit the books and I hope it will be for you too! Or if you’ve never happened to read a certain book, maybe I can entice you into giving it a try.

PRIESTESS OF THE NILE was my first ever published book, in 2012. Even better, I sent it to Carina Press in response to an open call and was later told they typically only acquired about 3% of the manuscripts that came in over the transom (versus through an agent). Three years later, after self publishing a number of books, I was able to leave the day job and become a full time author! No, not from sales of this little paranormal romance but it was the start…

The excerpt, on the shores of the Nile, near an abandoned temple, 1550 BCE. Sobek the Crocodile God has been drawn to the sound of a beautiful song and has taken his human form.:

“Don’t be frightened, please. I mean you no harm.” He held his hands up, palms out, and smiled. “I heard your singing and it drew me here. I only wanted to give my thanks for the concert.”

She laid one hand on her graceful throat, toying with an amulet on a thong. “You startled me.” Poised to bolt, the girl appeared wary, probably planning an attempt to run past him.

“I apologize.” He kicked off his sandals and waded into the water at an angle from her. The net drifted lazily in a whirlpool; he reached out and caught it, lifting the tangled strands from the river.

“Oh, don’t! You’ll ruin your fine kilt, sir.” She came to him hastily and took the net from his hands. “The river runs muddy at this time of the year. Your servants will labor in vain to get the stains out.”

He glanced at his waist. Oh yes, I did choose to wear the pleated white kilt of a nobleman. He followed her to the shore as she splashed through tiny waves with her net. “Fortunately, I have no servants to worry with such things.”

While putting his sandals on, Bek frowned at the Nile crocodiles lying deceptively immobile on the opposite bank, then glanced at her. “You take great risks, walking into the river with those beasts nearby.” One of the animals twitched. Bek glared at it. The creature met his eyes for a second, then settled onto the sand.

“Oh, I’m not afraid. I’m protected.” She was busy folding the net and packing it into a compartment in the lid of her fish creel. She didn’t even spare a moment to consider the predators across the water.

He coughed to cover his instinctive laugh. “Protected? And exactly how are you warded against attack?”

She stood briskly, raised her chin and tugged an amulet free of her dress to show him. It was a small green stone crocodile hanging on a frayed black leather thong. “My great-grandmother was the last priestess of the temple on the bluff above.”

He indicated the amulet. “May I see it?”

The girl unlooped the cord from her neck and handed the necklace over. “Great-Grandmother told me the amulet was blessed by the Crocodile God himself and would protect me from his creatures.”

Bek chuckled, holding the tiny figurine in his large meaty hand. “Mighty protection indeed.” He momentarily closed the pendant in his fist, then tossed it to her with a slight bow. “Nonetheless, you shouldn’t take such chances. Crocodiles are crafty and fierce.”

Cover by Fiona Jayde

PRIESTESS OF THE NILE (GODS OF EGYPT)

Drawn to his abandoned temple on the banks of the Nile by an enchanting song, Sobek the Crocodile god is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he learns she is Merys, a descendant of his last priestess. Though filled with lust, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. But the rules that govern the Egyptian pantheon forbid anything beyond a physical joining of a Great One and a human.

Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love.

Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve to leave her untouched. And when he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But can a love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the gods?

Buy LinksAmazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     Google

HQN does retain the rights to the audiobook.

Audiobook: Amazon or iTunes 

And my most recent release set in ancient Egypt:

9 Minotaur Romances in #SciFi and #Fantasy

NOTE: This post first appeared in the Roswell Daily Record…

When I read the myth of the minotaur as a kid in school, I really didn’t think much about the half bull/half man at the center of the story and the labyrinth. He was bad, he ate people, heroic Theseus did him in and the world moved on. I certainly didn’t think of him as a romantic hero. But in this era today of the monster romance genre, many authors have chosen minotaurs as their main male character and written stories featuring these creatures. Readers seem to enjoy them and want more.

Regine Abel’s I Married a Minotaur comes to my mind first. Here the hero is an albino alien, half minotaur and half orc. He needs a queen. The human, innocent of the crime for which she’s been sentenced, is about to be sent to a brutal prison planet and at the last second is offered a choice, marry the minotaur or go to jail. Of course we know which one she picks. She helps the minotaur’s people avoid a war and come to a new understanding of themselves and of course a Happy Ever After ending ensues.

S. J. Sanders anchors her minotaur tale, Blooded Labyrinth, in the fantasy genre, with the labyrinth existing in its own reality, only occasionally touching the ‘real world’ of humans. The minotaur sleeps for literally ages, awakening when the labyrinth attaches to the real world. He’s a prisoner of the labyrinth and when a human woman wanders in and is trapped, he tries to protect her. Friendship blossoms as they fight the labyrinth and its evil plans for the woman and of course love follows. Together they fight for their freedom and for the HEA ending.

Mary and the Minotaur (Alien Abduction Book 13) by Honey Phillips starts with the human being abducted by aliens. She’s a very positive person, always trying to see the best in any situation and many readers lauded her inner strength. She doesn’t give up easily. On the run from the kidnappers and their nefarious plans, she meets the minotaur, an alien undercover agent trying to take down the slavers. He’s at a very low point when he meets her and she’s just what he needs, with her optimism. Of course he’s drawn to Mary and determined to protect her and together the two work to defeat the bad guys, not just to save Mary but also to get rid of the evil organization. Well deserved HEA achieved!

Minotaur: Blooded (The Bestial Tribe Book One) by Naomi Lucas is a dark romance. In this book the minotaurs and other monsters roam the labyrinth, fighting each other for the chance to eat the human tributes. The female main character is a farmer’s daughter who wanders too close to the labyrinth and gets into a conversation with one particular minotaur. They are enchanted by each other’s voices but she’s caught by the local human authorities and designated to become a human sacrifice to the labyrinth. Of course he’s determined to rescue her and save her from all the other monsters. According to reviews the steamy scenes are quite hot.

There’s also book two in the series, Minotaur: Prayer, which follows the story of a swamp witch living inside the labyrinth, who helps the couple in book one, but is now at risk herself as the new book starts. She casts a spell summoning a minotaur to be her champion against all the other monsters. (Apparently centaurs are a particular problem. Who knew?) The book tells the story of the new couple.

The Minotaur’s Mate by Delaney Rain asks: Can a bull-headed man and a marshmallow-hearted bull unite to prevent a war and save a people? This M/M romance  offers “… an enemies-to-lovers, virgin hero, size difference story with sci-fi elements, a bull-headed human and a marshmallow-hearted bull, spying on your neighbors…one heck of a history lesson, monster-sized anatomy, megalomaniacs fighting to stay in control, and a little stabbing, but there’s a wedding and a HEA ending.” The author packs a lot of elements into a novella.

Grab the Bull By the Horns: A Monster Street Romance by Sam Hall is a why choose book offering not one but three hunky minotaurs for the heroine, who is sucked through a rift into their world. Luckily she learns the minotaurs there aren’t the fearsome people-eating monsters of earthly legends, although they are forced to fight many so-called ‘heroes’ who want the glory of killing a minotaur. The female main character is a major history buff and thrilled to be in a magical version of ancient Crete. She’s torn between wanting to stay with her three minotaurs and going home. They’ll do anything for her including trying to help her get to her place of origin. All in all a very different but satisfying minotaur romance read.

Moving on to the monster ‘cozy’ romance category, a new release is Minotaurs and Mantras (Leviathan Fitness Book Three) by Ashley Bennett. In this later-in-life romance, the female main character is a widow with two grown sons and the main male minotaur character is a divorced entrepreneur with one grown daughter.  They ‘meet’ on a dating app and since he happens to be in town, they go out and of course attraction blooms between the couple. Their big challenge is living far away from each other and taking the risk of starting a real relationship instead of a one time fling.

The Minoan Bride (Cambric Creek Bite-Sized Reads Book 1) by C. M. Nascosta provides a time travelling minotaur couple who return to ancient Crete to find the origins of the minotaur myths.

So many other authors have good minotaur books out there, of all types from cozy to dark to scifi romance but hopefully this post gives you a few places to start if you’re curious about this flavor of monster romance.

Happy reading!

 

 

Profiles in SciFi Romance: Nancey Cummings Talks Mail Order Brides and More

NOTE: This post first appeared on the AMAZING STORIES MAGAZINE blog…

Veronica Scott for AMAZING STORIES: Welcome to my periodic series of author profiles. Today I’ve chosen Nancey Cummings, a prolific author of science fiction romance, including the terrific Tail and Claw Series.

VS for ASM.: What was the first scifi romance book you ever read and what did you like about it?

NC: Oh, that was so long ago. It was either Johanna Lindsey’s Warrior’s Woman or Anne McCaffrey’s Restoree.  I read them both around the same time way back in high school in the 90s.

ASM.: I still have my original, battered copy of Restoree – I always wished there had been sequels. What was the first scifi romance book you wrote, when, give us the 2-3 sentence logline.

Claimed by the Alien Prince was my first foray into SFR. It’s super short and was meant to test the waters, to see if I enjoyed writing about aliens. I published it in 2016.

Prince Aster believed fated mates were the stuff of legend, until chance delivered the human woman, Evie, to him. Now he’ll risk an interstellar scandal to claim his mate.

ASM.: Obviously the SFR waters were fine for your style of romance! Which of your SFR books is the bestselling?

NC: Snowed in with the Alien Warlord (Warlord Bride Index #1, published 2017).

Caught in the middle of an alien invasion, Penny has to work with a big red alien to survive a blizzard. One problem, she doesn’t trust aliens and this one thinks she’s his mate.

ASM.: How do you go about world building? Do you do elaborate planning, keep a big file, use post its, wing it – what method works for you?

I wish I had an orderly system. Right now it’s a combination of winging it and taking notes so I don’t forget stuff. I use a couple of different tools to help me remember details. The story bible has character info, place names, and world details. I keep a notebook to jot down ideas, things to check during edits, and keep track of my daily word count. When I start a new project in a series, I need to reread the most recent books and make notes. My poor books are filled with highlights and sticky notes.

ASM.: Which character in your books is either most like you or who you’d like to be and why?

This is a tough one to answer. All my characters are reflections of me in some way. Certainly my sarcastic humor comes through in a lot of my books. Carrie, the heroine from Vox, I wrote to have her mind work the way mine does. Carrie gets hyper-focused on things she finds interesting and is forgetful to the point of being flakey about everything else.

What’s interesting is I get a lot of emails from readers about Carrie, more than any other character. All the readers tell me how thankful they were to find a heroine with ADHD like them and the way I portrayed it felt real. At first I was confused, because I didn’t intend Carrie to have ADHD, she was supposed to be like me… and that’s how I learned something about myself.

ASM.: What was your most recent book and what was the story spark or inspiration for that story?

My most recent book was Tail Me No Lies, book 5 of my series Tail and Claw. It plays with the mail order bride trope (one of my favorites) but has a mail order husband on a frontier planet. The initial idea struck me when I was reading V.K. Ludwig’s Sign Here for Horns. I liked the idea of a mail order husband. The trope always goes the other way, so that seemed like a fun flip. Then I mashed it together with the movie The Magnificent Seven, added a mistaken identity, some frontier/old west vibes, and that’s how I got Nox and Ruth’s story.

ASM.: What a great set of influences! Which book was the most fun to write and why? The most challenging and why?

NC: Havik is both my most fun and most challenging book. It features a classic grumpy and sunshine pairing. The heroine, Thalia, was such a delight to write. She’s an Artful Dodger type: charming, chaotic, and not afraid to bend rules. Havik, in contrast, is so straight laced it’s painful. It was an utter delight to have Thalia win Havik over little by little. He even developed a sense of humor!

Havik was also my most challenging because the hero, Havik, was the bad guy from a previous book, Jaxar. He needed a redemption arc and he had to work for it. It was a difficult balance. Havik had to be sympathetic but he also needed to take responsibility for his past mistakes,  realize his flaws and actively decide to be a better person.

I’m very happy with the way Havik turned out. Havik and Thalia made each other better people.

ASM.: Which of your characters do your readers love to hate? Why?

Quil, the brother from Pulled by the Tail. It’s a mail order bride book and Quil pulls a switcheroo on the heroine, Georgia. Lots of readers told me they wanted to punch him. It’s okay! He has a very punchable face. Basically, Quil impulsively signs up with a matcher making service, gets bored waiting, finds another mate, and dumps poor Georgia on his brother. Don’t worry. It works out for the best.

ASM.: Your own favorite tropes? Least favorite tropes?

NC: Can you tell I love mail-order brides and arranged marriage tropes? I also dig enemies-to-lovers, age gap, fake relationships, and grumpy/sunshine. I use those tropes a lot.

My least favorites are age gap when the younger person is barely an adult (not for me), secret baby, miscommunication, bully, and keeping secrets.

Do you have a ‘writing buddy’ pet? Care to share a photo?

NC: I do. Pennypack is my writing buddy. She’s three years old and has finally entered the lazy adult cat phase of her life. I couldn’t keep up with her kitten energy.

ASM.: What’s next for you?

NC: My next book is Blackthorn, a vampire romance coming in October. After that, I’ll be working on the sequel to Splintered Shadow. A lot of people felt I was too hard on the king and he deserved a HEA. I agree. Baris needs his Happily Ever After.

ASM.: What’s on your To Be Read List?

So many books! Recently I started Guarded Treasure by Mae Lovette, which has very strong 1999 The Mummy vibes. Otherwise, autumn will be here soon, which always puts me in a mood for a spooky haunted house or a charming ghost story.

ASM.: Okay Now I’m running off to find the Lovette book! Give us your short author bio and where you can be found on social media.

Nancey is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes fast-paced, low-angst books about kissing aliens, because that’s how she rolls.

She once had an argument with her husband about being married in space. He claimed that marriage was a legal contract and ended when a person left orbit. Nancey said the vows were “till death do us part” not “until the spaceship departs.”

She has written twenty books about being married in space just to prove him wrong.

I hang out in a few places online.

Website: https://nanceycummings.com/

My facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NanceyCummingsReadersGroup

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nanceycummingsauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NanceyCumms

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.nancey.cummings/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@author.nancey.cummings

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LINKS TO OTHER PROFILES IN SFR INTERVIEWS (listed alphabetically by authors’ first names):

Anna Hackett

Cara Bristol

C J Dragon

Cynthia Sax

E G Manetti

Honey Phillips

Jennifer Estep

Kayelle Allen

Linnea Sinclair

Mel Teshco

Michelle Diener

Nalini Singh

Pauline Baird Jones

Regine Abel

Ruby Dixon

S E Smith

Tana Stone

Tasha Black

Tiffany Roberts

Tracy Cooper-Posey

New Releases in #SciFi #Fantasy and Paranormal Romance for AUG 9

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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

SARA AND THE SPYMASTER (ALIENABDUCTION BOOK 19) by Honey Phillips

Can a passionate woman awaken a frozen warrior? Sara’s life is turned upside down when she is kidnapped by brutal aliens. Even after she’s rescued by an Imperial ship, she can’t return to Earth. The only person who seems concerned about her future is the icy alien warrior who interrogates her. He’s rigid, arrogant, and frighteningly intelligent, but she discovers a hidden layer of passion beneath that frozen exterior – one she longs to explore. As Senior Advisor to the Kaisarian Emperor, it’s Tanaca’s job to know everything about everyone – evaluating their goals and motives with cool, untainted logic. But the vibrant human female they rescue from an illegal slave ring defies his usual approach – she’s smart, hot-tempered, and passionate enough to awaken feelings he has long since put aside. The logical solution is to retrieve any useful information from her, and then send her somewhere where she’ll be safe, but for the first time in his life, logic fails him. He wants her to stay with him. Forever. But can he allow himself to be driven by something as untrustworthy as emotion?     AmazonKU

TIN SOLDIER (SILVER CYBORG BOOK THREE) by Ava Cuvay

The Army shuffled Staff Sergeant Gage Austin off to a menial desk job at the Pentagon as hush money… as if he’d admit to anyone he’s a cyborg. Society abhors cyborgs, so Gage keeps to himself and suffers the daily humiliation of an extensive security scan with stoic fortitude. He’s a soldier down to his core processor and would willingly give his all—red blood and blue lubricant—for the land he loves. As such, he accepts the task to locate and safely retrieve missing Pentagon assistant Audra Muir. Yet as sparks sizzle between them, Gage questions whether he’s delivering her to salvation… or doom. Audra Muir has spent years pilfering secrets about corrupt government oversight of the cybernetics industry under the guise of her job at the Pentagon. As she leaves for breast cancer treatment, she happens upon earth-shattering intel. Determined to hand this information over to the people who will wage that particular war, she battles her own personal recovery and rages against a society that can make a cyborg, but can’t save women from breast cancer. Yet when Gage Austin kisses her, that anger dissipates, replaced by a passion that just might deliver her flagging faith in humanity… and herself. Gage and Audra find peace from their own inner demons within the heat of each other’s arms. But defeating the evil that is ruining the cybernetics industry is a far bigger enemy, and requires the force of a secret band of rebels and their hidden cyborg army.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

JASYN AND THE ASTRONAUTS: UNDER THE ICE SKIES by Gwenhyver

On a planet infected by ice, the power to create more is the last thing anyone needs…
JASYN is an explorer with a talent for reaching for the stars and upending weather systems with her emotions. She spends her days dreaming of adventure, hiding her power of ice, and definitely not thinking about what it’d feel like to be the snow on her best friend’s cheek. ATALANTA is an archer and a recluse with a skill for making Jasyn’s heart glow as bright as a filament-fruit. They’ve lived in each other’s orbit most of their lives, but she’s just as magical and mysterious to Jasyn as all the galaxies under the Seven Suns. When their world is forcibly upturned, a journey of discovery begins. Venturing across their ice and blight-infested home-world, they discover the solution to their out of balance world lies in the skies. Of course, with a tyrant Ice King intent on closed sky-borders and Jasyn’s demise, they have to survive long enough to get there, first. Under The Ice Skies is the first leg of the journey in the Jasyn and The Astronauts series — a sapphic, swords & sorcery in space reimagining of Jason and the Golden Fleece — an adventure fuelled by wonder and good intentions, while navigating weather fronts formed of feelings along the way.     AmazonKU

HIS AMETHYST (RAVENSTAR BOOK TWO) by Eden Ember

I’m drawn to the refugee, an alien drifter from a system far away. He’s thick with muscles, handsome for an alien, and for whatever reason, I’m drawn to him. He’s not the type Mother would approve of. But somehow, I don’t care. While I do my job on the space station, I seek time with him, hoping to figure out this magnetic draw we have.
There’s always a hitch and this one is a doozy. Am I able to cut through the bureaucracy and discover the truth behind this drifter’s past? Will he be my one despite it all?   AmazonKU

ON THE PLEASURE PLANET: A MM SCIFI ANTHOLOGY by Various

Kateria has been the most popular vacation planet in the galaxy since it was first founded over 25 years ago. In this collection, get a taste of the attractions, the aliens, and most importantly, the romance. This anthology features exclusive m/m couples, men finding connections in unexpected places, and many unique alien races, all on the Pleasure Planet. Enjoy your stay.     Amazon

AN INTRIGUE OF PHARAOHS (THE ADVENTURES OF SMITH AND JONES BOOK THREE) by Marie Andreas

Long lost Egyptian gods and goddess. Killer curses. Nettie, Caden, Gaston, and the rest of her friends from the Society for the Exploration of the Unexplainable have survived deadly aliens from the skies, murderous mermaids, and far more. When the Society begins to question some heritage left behind by Nettie’s vampire mother, and demands to bring Nettie in for study, Gaston realizes that the Society can’t be trusted. Then a rogue Runner, one of the alien beings who work for the Society, is discovered within Gaston’s mansion with murderous intent. And the Society claims that none of their Runners are missing. An attack by creatures and deities out of Egypt’s past, and no support from the Society’s headquarters, leaves the group in London on their own.
Now they face their biggest threat ever on their own–deadly creatures, powerful Egyptian deities, and the spirits of pharaohs coming back to claim what they left thousands of years ago. And, they don’t only want Egypt this time.

AmazonKU

FIGHTING FOR THE ALIEN BRIDE LOTTERY (KHANAVAI WARRIOR BRIDE GAMES BOOK 12) by Margo Bond Collins

I thought the Bride Games were my way out. But now I’m afraid they may simply be another cage. With new rules in place, The Alien Bride Lottery is drawn from willing participants only. But the Khanavai are beginning to figure out that means only the most desperate human women enter. Including me. I’ll do anything to get away from my overbearing Mafia family and their Machiavellian plans for me. At least, that’s what I believe, right up until the moment the Games Administrator and host, Vos Klavoii, tells me he wants to claim me as his mate. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire—I’ve been watching the Bride Games all my life, and Vos Klavoii’s machinations are legendary. I’m beginning to figure out that no matter what I do, I’m going to have to fight to be in charge of my own destiny.     AmazonKU 

EVADING THE ALIEN BRIDE LOTTERY (KHANAVAI WARRIOR BRIDE GAMES BOOK 13) by Margo Bond Collins

NOTE: The events in this book occur before the events in Fighting for the Alien Bride Lottery, Book 12 of the Khanavai Bride Games series. I meant for him to steal me away. I never intended to allow him to steal my heart. When the Alien Bride Lottery revised its rules to allow human women who wanted to marry aliens, it was supposed to change everything—no more unwilling brides, only eager participants. That was the theory, anyway. But when my best work frenemy signs me up for the Lottery without my knowledge and my name is actually drawn, no one cares that it wasn’t my choice—not Earth officials, and certainly not Vos Klavoii, the Games Director who’s determined to make sure his people survive. Besides, Klavoii believes a surprise contestant now and then will improve his show’s ratings, and that’s what he truly cares about. So I do the only thing I can think of: bribe a hot Khanavai pilot to sneak me off Station 21. Now I’m in a race for my freedom—but I’m beginning to think that gorgeous alien might be the biggest threat to my independence yet.     AmazonKU

SPACE FOR LOVE by Emily Antoinette

A human starting over light years from home….Accepting a job on Spire Station sounded great in theory. Now that I’m on an enormous alien space station with no humans in sight, I’m questioning the sanity of that choice. But it’s not all bad. When my best friend Mezli tricks me into using a pleasure sim, I find an unexpected connection with Breks, the intriguing alien running the sim. He’s everything I’d want in a partner—charming, empathetic, and so damn sexy. The only problem? He hides behind a holo and refuses to let me see his true form. For all I know, he could be a sentient ooze, but I’m too far gone to care. I want him no matter what he looks like. Now I just have to find a way to prove it. An alien desperate to forget his heartbreak…When I took a job at SimTech Suites, I’d planned to use pleasure sims to escape any thoughts of my ex. However, a far more enticing source of distraction shows up—a purple-haired human named Fina with the body of a goddess and shy, delightful wit to match. Too bad I’m nothing like the attractive holo I use for my job. I’m a seladin with sharp teeth, brutal claws, and menacing features that terrify most aliens. Her uneasy reaction after our chance meeting out on the station only confirms that I can never show her my true form. No matter how desperate I am to make her mine.     AmazonKU

VICIOUS BEAST by Nina Siren

I was saved from being food. I’m not sure being a toy is much better. The Gren have taken over our planet, and I am one of the lucky few protected from being hunted by them. In exchange, I’ve been taken Tribute. It would be better to just label me what I am.
A body to break. But as I am dumped before the aliens intent on using me, there is only one I see. And with the way he’s staring at me, it can only mean one thing…I’m about to be his.     AmazonKU

THE ALIEN WARLORD’S MISSION (ALIEN WARLORD BRIDES BOOK FIVE) by Cass Carlton

VS Note: Very mixed ratings at the moment.

In the merciless void of space, trust is as scarce as air. Elena, a seasoned artifact hunter, is betrayed and left for dead by her treacherous crew, only to be rescued by Zaxx, an enigmatic alien with a desperate mission of his own. Bound by a common goal, they form a tenuous alliance, but with the shadow of betrayal looming over them, trust is a luxury they cannot afford. Pursued by relentless pirates and hounded by their own pasts, Elena and Zaxx embark on a perilous quest to locate the lost artifact that holds the key to saving Zaxx’s dying planet. As enemies close in and time runs out, they must navigate a treacherous web of danger, deceit, and unexpected discoveries.   AmazonKU

ALIEN ABDUCTION (THE ALIEN SERIES BOOK TEN) by Tracy Lauren

Gabrielle…I was abducted by aliens with super advanced technology…yet they tell me there’s no way home. And by wild coincidence, all the human abductees happen to be falling in love with our supposed alien heroes. I’m not buying it. There is a conspiracy going on and I’m not sticking around to drink the Kool-Aid. No matter what it takes, the last thing I’m ever going to do is fall in love with an alien. Jarvian…I must be the happiest Osturan in all the galaxy! Before my stint on that alien prison ship I was nothing more than a wanderer, without home or family. Thankfully, my luck is unerring. We were brought to a beautiful planet—my planet. Suddenly, I have it all. Yet I can’t seem to ignore one angry and confused little human who struggles to see the beauty of this land. Perhaps, for her sake, I will go on one last adventure before I settle down.   AmazonKU

DIESEL (HAUNTED RELICS BOOK THREE) by Sybur Phyre

Relic CyberTitans have risked everything to save the human females they could and join forces in the safety of a deep, underground bunker. With Solcrue hunting them from the skies, the Titans are running out of time. Rhee – I’ve hated cyborgs my entire life, that is until Redline rescued my friends and me after our crash landing on their planet. Our recent escape from the Solcrue ship in orbit above nearly failed when we were captured. But freedom isn’t free, and I’ve found myself in another bunker, this time in the depths of the rocky planet. I’m surrounded by damaged CyberTitans from a battle I didn’t see. It is utter cybernetic chaos. When I try to help, I’m shoved aside by a massive unit that strains to bring light back to darkened Titans. I think he’s like an AED—a power unit that charges cyborgs. He’s rude and brash as he pushes us out of his way. But in his eyes is desperation every time a CyberTitan refuses to wake. His anger flares when he fails, and he must be dragged away by others to attempt a jumpstart on a different unit. His humanity crushes my hatred and draws out new emotions I never thought I’d associate with a cyborg. Rebel, the Titans’ medic, wants me to clean the monster when he’s done all he can do. I scrubbed and repaired engines for the Solcrue and regret saying so when I offered to assist. But Diesel has secrets only I can uncover. Beneath his brutish frame, bossy attitude, and physically controlling mannerisms, he has a need he refuses to address. All it takes is the right touch, and everything about him changes. Diesel isn’t like the others. He needs me. Diesel – I have lost many brothers in this war…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)     AmazonKU

ALIEN LOGIC (SPACE MARINE HOSPITAL BOOK ONE) by Harlyn Moxie

The endless stream of wounded warriors flowing through my ward has taken all the fun out of dating soldiers — until Xinnick ignored all the rules, muscled his way into my life, and changed everything. He says I’m his, and the more time I spend with him, the more I know he’s right. Despite my reluctance to fall for his reassuring certainty and his bizarrely charming logic, I’m losing the battle — and that’s a big problem. Dating our alien allies is against regulations, but to make things even more complicated, Xinnick has sworn to terminate the very patient I’m trying to keep alive! I shouldn’t have to be the voice of reason when he’s programmed to comply with regulations, but the alien cyborg has a solid plan and a level of determination that rivals my own. If I can’t figure out how to make him see sense…There’s a chance nobody around here will be getting a happy ending.     AmazonKU

COVETED BY THE HUNTER (XARC’N  WARRIORS BOOK TEN) by Lynnea Lee

HEATHER – When I offered to help the scary alien hunter rescue his friend, I had no idea the seven feet tall brute planned on abducting me. Now I’m stuck in a shuttle with my growly, purple captor, speeding away from everything I ever knew. Nov’k is sinfully handsome, covered in muscles, and claims he wants to wake up every day with me in his arms. He makes me feel beautiful for once in my life. Too bad he’s also the bossiest warrior on this side of the galaxy. He may be bigger and badder than I am, but if he thinks he can kidnap me and order me around, he’s in for a big surprise. NOV’K – I always thought I’d find my mate among the Earth females at the new hunter’s base, but the one who catches my attention is already mated. To distract myself from the disappointment, I take on a mission to rescue an unknown hunter from a group of hostiles. That’s when I meet Heather. She doesn’t just smell mine; she’s smart, brave, and willing to help me despite the obvious dangers. My plans change immediately because nothing can ever make me leave her behind. And once she’s in my shuttle, I’m never letting her go.     AmazonKU

BAITING THE ALIEN (REELING IN THE ALIEN BOOK ONE) by Alina Riley

My vacation on a nice beach is put on hold when someone steals my cooler with my beer. Little do I know that chasing after this thief will lead me straight into the clutches of hulky green aliens with pointy ears. Aliens don’t exist…or do they? Iechon, their leader, claims that I’m his mate and I must stay with him. Such stupidity. His delicious muscles and smoldering stare make him hard to resist, but I’m not supposed to feel anything for him. Will I succumb to his seductive ways or find a way back to Earth before it’s too late?   AmazonKU

XEDA (VRISHA WARRIORS BOOK FOUR) by Olivia Riley

He craves freedom, and she holds the key. Xeda was once a lethal warrior of the Blood Guard. Now he is a prisoner. A captive to a world without alliances, where the powerful elite seeks to twist him into a deadly fighter for their sinister games. Refusing to be tamed, Xeda instills terror in the hearts of all those around him. All…except one. A human female who watches him through the bars of his cell, with eyes that see beyond his scars and his vicious exterior. Ophilia is desperate for her own kind of freedom. She believes she can save them both if he trusts her. He shouldn’t trust her or allow her to get close, but he does. Through her sacrifice and her unexpected tenderness, he lets her in. He lets her break past the barrier that is his hate, revealing the humanity he thought long lost, igniting a heat in him that defies reason, an impossible fire in his blood that calls to this small but brave female. As the games he’s forced to play draw them closer, their bond defies all odds. But with victory comes the looming threat of destruction, forcing Xeda to confront not just the enemies that surround him, but also the darkness that threatens to consume him. Can Xeda become what Ophilia truly sees in him? Not a monster, but a male worthy of redemption?     AmazonKU

HARBINGER OF DESTINY (TIME QUEST BOOK TWO) by Tina Folsom

In 2085, humankind is at the brink of extinction. The only hope for survival is to send young men back in time to find fertile women and bring them back to the future. Unceremoniously dumped by his beautiful and high-maintenance girlfriend in 2085, Joshua Fletcher signs up for the time-travel program. He hopes for an escape, thinking that things were easier in the good old days. But 2025 is no walk in the park, at least not for Amy Brooks. After aging-out of the foster care system, she’s on her own. Making friends doesn’t come easy. She’s doing her best to keep afloat by working in a coffee shop, while attending community college. But secretly, she dreams of a better life and of finding love, yet knows that all she’ll ever receive is pity. When she meets Joshua, who defends her in a precarious situation, she doesn’t know whether to trust him. He’s just too good to be true.     Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ALIEN BILLIONAIRE’S NANNY (ALIEN BILLIONAIRES BOOK THREE) by Ami Wright

Dinah’s not looking for a boyfriend, she’s just looking for a job. She still needs to pay back her sister after she helped Dinah leave the slums of Fortuna and make a new life at Nova Space Station. Only no one will hire her. So when the ice cold polar bear alien billionaire asks her to be his nanny, she jumps at the opportunity. Dinah tries to keep her mind on the job. It shouldn’t be hard. Even if her new boss, Lord Tyse, is heartbreakingly gorgeous, a sophisticated older man like him would never go for inexperienced space-junk like her. So it makes no difference she’s burning for him before he even sends her into heat. Tyse’s life is complicated. As a Ximian oligarch and a single dad, there are never enough hours in the day. It’s made even more complicated when the new human nanny he hires turns out to be his perfect temptation. He just can’t afford the distraction. It doesn’t matter how entranced he is by her sweetness. She’s too young and she’s his employee! He should be doing everything he can to keep her safe from his dark desires. Yet the more he sees, the more he longs to teach her exactly what a Ximian knot can do. In fact, that’s not the only thing he’d like to teach her. But if he’s found fooling around with his human staff, he could lose the very deal he’s in Edgespace to broker. Worse, revealing his most twisted secret to her could have them both tied up in knots.   AmazonKU

MY DRAGONFLY MATE: ALIEN INSECT MATES by Harper Moon

Left for dead. After barely surviving an attack from my psychotic ex (and commanding officer), I find myself stranded on an alien jungle planet with a ferocious storm coming my way. I’m left for dead with no equipment and no weapons to defend myself from the terrifying giant insects that inhabit this tropical world. If I don’t find a way out of here, I will surely die within a matter of days. Then — the dragonfly. Vespera rescues me from a grisly death, but I don’t know what he wants with me. His form is an unholy mix of human and dragonfly. We don’t speak the same language, but we can communicate through touch. He scares me, but I slowly start to trust that he doesn’t want to hurt me. It becomes clear he wants me as his mate, and as I warm to him, I can’t resist his bulging muscles and amazing powers. He keeps me safe, provides for me, and seems to truly care for me. I know I need to do my duty and get back home, but my head is saying one thing and my heart another. Surely I can’t stay here with this possessive alien insect…Can I?     AmazonKU

WARLORDS OF THE STARS (THE SPACE MERCHANTS BOOK 10) by Wendie Nordgren

VS note: From JULY 26.

The Alux, a brutal alien race that feeds upon the non-telepathic races of the galaxies, threaten to destroy everything in their path. The soul-devouring species leaves nothing but emptiness and death in its wake. The Cosmos Coalition formed to protect against such threats. As one of its leaders, Princess Teagan of House Probus is a primary target. When the Alux attack Parvac once again, Teagan and her crew are hurled into a dire fight for survival. Far from home and with only their own strengths upon which to rely, they race to find a means of defeating the deadly threat to the inhabitants of the known galaxies.Thrown off course into distant space, new allies are made, but not all of them can be trusted. There are those who help and those who betray. Teagan, her team, and the fates of those who are in the path of the Alux threat depend upon the cooperation of one male, a master thief from a distant sector of space. However, Colwyn Winks Taylor isn’t known for playing by the rules or for possessing a predictable nature. What results is anyone’s guess.

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I MARRIED WONJIN (PRIME MATING AGENCY) by Regine Abel

After decades of violence, the war pitting the human colony on Cibbos against the Yurus tribe has finally ended. Lara never expected that peace between their species would lead to a romantic entanglement with one of their former enemies. Resembling a cross between an orc and a minotaur, Wonjin looks nothing like how Lara had imagined a potential mate. And yet, she cannot deny the attraction she feels. When he finally makes his move, how can she refuse this grumpy, cuddly pile of muscles, with the fluffiest fur and cutest ears? NOTE: By popular demand, I wrote this novella to detail the romance between Wonjin and Lara, both secondary characters in the book I Married A Minotaur. It is recommended the read book first before this novella for better context.

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

VS: For my backlist spotlight today, one of my more unusual novels, LADY OF THE STAR WIND. It starts in the Sectors but then there’s a portal…some time travel…legends….and romance of course. It was inspired by a 2000 year old Egyptian mirror I once saw…but it took me years to nail down the plot.

Are they merely luckless lovers … or a legend come back to life?

Mark Denaltieri, ex-Sector Special Forces, has been hired by the Outlier Empress to rescue her granddaughter, Princess Alessandra, from kidnappers. Since the Empress once had him tortured and banished, she’s the last person Mark wants to work for. But he takes the job. He’ll save Alessandra, his first love, and discover why she didn’t speak for him when he desperately needed her. Then he’ll be on his way, finally free of his past.

Alessandra would rather her rescuer was anyone but Mark–after all, he let her believe he was dead all this time. But when the couple are forced to flee her captors by Traveling via a strange crystal globe, they find themselves in a lovely Oasis on a desert planet, the old attraction sizzling between them again.

They soon discover they are far from alone. The Oasis holds the entrance to another world, one in which the inhabitants are convinced Sandy and Mark are the Lady of the Star Wind and her Warrior, come to free them from an evil queen.

Mark and Sandy must work together to unearth an ancient mirror, and crown the true king of this land. Can they fulfill the prophecy of the Lady and her Warrior…and this time, will their love survive the test?

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******************************OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT  (because my own books pay my bills) AND ONWARD WE GO!**************************************************

CRUEL SEDUCTION (DARK OLYMPUS BOOK FIVE) by Katee Robert

Aphrodite has never flinched at getting her perfectly manicured hands dirty, and she’s not about to start now—even if that means marrying Olympus’s enemy number one, the new Hephaestus. She has a wicked plan to keep her deadly new husband off-balance, seducing the one person he seems to care about most in this world: Pandora, a woman as beautiful as she is sweet. Two can play the seduction game, however, and Hephaestus is all too happy to put his new wife in her place. Her ex, Adonis, seems like he’ll do the trick. It doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous in the way of fallen angels, either. The only problem with using seduction as a weapon? Hearts are all too quick to get involved. With Hephaestus and Aphrodite trading venomous strikes that feel a whole lot like foreplay, lines become blurred and emotions entangled. But a broken heart may be the least of their worries. With unrest in Olympus reaching new heights, these bedroom games may have deadly consequences for themselves, their city, and everyone they’ve come to love.

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A TASTE OF MAGIC (MAGIC OF THE DAMNED BOOK THREE) by McKenzie Hunter

For a fleeting moment, I had magic. Powerful magic. But the Dark Prince’s enemy stole it from me, making them the most powerful being in the world. Their primary goal is to destroy everything close to the Dark Prince, and that includes me. With the threat of a magicless world, the prince’s life in danger, my loved ones at risk, and the impending destruction of the underworld, we’re in for a hell of a fight. This time, however, my goals don’t align with the prince’s and he isn’t my strongest ally. It turns out we’re each other’s greatest weakness.     AmazonKU

DENYING DESTINY: CAT SHIFTERS BOOK SEVEN by Severine Wolfe

Denying the obvious is not easy, but Mab Owen is determined. She runs long and hard to avoid Dmitri. She’s not buying it. Dmitri has been quietly waiting for his mate to show herself. He’s close to giving up and just accepting that she wasn’t out there. When he finds her during a rescue mission, she hits him in the head with a shovel. He’s got a tough row to hoe and makes things very hard for Mab, until her refusal to accept the bond cuts all of her ties with the nice life she’d been leading because of who she was related to. The whole world is exploding around them turning everyone upside down and showing a lot of cracks in the Shifter foundations.

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TAILS AND TENTACLES (MIRACLE SALVATION ISLE BOOK FIVE) by Shea Balik

Channing Mercer had wanted to get out of his small town and see the world. His parents had warned him about people taking advantage of him, but he didn’t listen. Four years later—thanks in part to his being a seahorse shifter—he was pregnant and alone. Even his parents slammed the door in his face for getting into this situation. But to add icing to his already fucked up life, human soldiers rolled into town, kidnapping the shifters who lived there. Could things get any worse? For thirteen months Baz Landry had been searching for his injured, possibly dead, mate after scenting him on another man. His frustration was at an all-time high as he swam the oceans for any sign of the little seahorse shifter. Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack. Yet nothing would stop him from combing every inch of the world to find him.If only finding each other was all it took to find their happily ever after. Considering all they’d been through, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that it would not be easy. Then again, with the danger that surrounded them as the human hunters continued to come after them, nothing seemed to go smoothly. Now that they’d found each other, even claimed each other, was it possible to walk away from each other? Did either of them even want to? But fear can make anyone irrational. Then again, so can love.

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BLADED KISS (WITCHES OF PROTHEKA BOOK ONE) by Celeste King

My body is a weapon forged to kill. And my first target is my own heart. Denve Thuvrol destroyed my family. He ripped my sister from my arms and let her be sold and sullied by countless elves. I’ve planned killing his entire family a thousand times. But when it’s time…He has me pressed against a wall. And it’s not his death I’m imagining. I’ve hungered for revenge for six long years, but when those stormy violet eyes meet mine, another hunger awakens. It’s shameful and wrong. But it makes my blood burn. I can kill him. Or I can love him. Either way, I’m not going to survive this.     AmazonKU

TRIALS AND VIALS (AMYTHYST’S WAND SHOP MYSTERIES BOOK NINE) by Laura Greenwood and Arizona Tape

When Amy runs into someone from her past, the last thing she expects is for them to ask for her help proving that her client is innocent, especially when her client is on trial for murder. Amy and Ambrose soon find themselves going over an old case and discovering that there might be more to it than anyone originally thought. Trials and Vials is is book nine of Amethyst’s Wand Shop Mysteries, an urban fantasy murder mystery series featuring a quirky witch, a serious detective, a slow burn m/f romantic subplot and a standalone crime.

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PARTY HATS FOR SWEET MINOTAURS: AN OBSCURE ACADEMY STORY by Laura Greenwood

True feelings come to light when a minotaur plans a birthday party. When Sage’s birthday plans fall through, she’s disappointed, but at least the handsome minotaur who lives in her flat is willing to lend her a supportive ear. If only she could stop thinking about if they could be more. Castor’s feelings for Sage have been growing with every passing moment, so when he has the chance to throw the witch a birthday party, he throws himself into it. Can the two of them come together over cake and party hats?

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PANTHER’S LUCK by Holly Day

Humans off the paved road are nothing but shifter food. Romeo Gallo has to flee town. The problem is that the only place he can think of going is an old ranch he’s inherited from his uncle, and it’s off the paved road. Humans are fair game if they’re off the paved road, and being eaten by shifters has never been on the list of things Romeo wants to experience. Ciar Moonlight is a panther shifter, perfectly happy living a laidback life on the ranch. He wants nothing to do with humans. But one night, one moves into the house, and Ciar finds it hard to stay away. Romeo soon learns he isn’t the only one living on the ranch. Shifters and vampires keep popping up, and since no one has eaten him yet, he’d go as far as to call a few of them his friends. And there is a panther reluctant to leave his bedroom, so maybe one is even more than a friend. Ciar might not have wanted to get to know a human, but now when Romeo is living in his territory, he’s Ciar’s to keep, right? So if someone tries to get rid of Romeo, it’s Ciar’s right to defend him. Right?

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CAULDRONS AND CATS (FAMILIAR SPIRITS BOOK TWO) by Christine Pope

Ex marks the murder scene…or does it? New relationships can be fraught with emotional missteps. Charity Hughes’s awkward encounter with Shelby Howard, Noah Jenkins’s ex, at his front door certainly qualifies, but as they’re clearing up that sort-of-minor misunderstanding, a new challenge enters Charity’s shop. A witch’s cat familiar pining for the impossible — kittens of her own. The kitty conundrum takes a back seat when a frantic Shelby calls with a rather pointed problem. An ex-fiancé dead on her living room floor, run through with an antique sword. Now the prime suspect, Shelby begs Charity for help to prove her innocence. There’s just one problem. Using magic to solve the case risks outing her as a witch to the public…including Noah. But Charity brings all her somewhat-inconsistent abilities to bear in the investigation, even calling on Milo, the spaniel familiar, to nose around. But it’s the Tarot that cuts through the static toward a culprit who’s definitely not an ex-anything. It’s someone who opens a whole new kit and caboodle of lies.

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SPOONING MY CHUCHUNYA (SNUGGLING UNDER SNOWDRIFTS BOOK TWO) by Marilyn Barr

I found the most elusive spot to hide from my parent’s cult but in claiming my cave, I accidentally allowed a snow monster to claim me…Dr. Sydney Decker – Six months ago, Dr. Vera Thompson disappeared into the wilderness to settle with a mysterious “survivalist colony” without a known location. She may have bought their lies, but I was born into an isolated group of religious fanatics and can’t believe Vera would fall into the same trap. Her weak “find my phone app” signal is the lifeline between us, and I won’t stop searching the frigid tundra for her. My best friend helped me escape but now, it’s my turn to save her. Sergei – Loneliness threatens my sanity with each rejection at the annual mating chase. Females fear my hot temper and need for control, instead of appreciating that I am the biggest and fiercest male chuchunya. I had lost hope I would discover my dushevnayasvyaz or soulmate, but then she found us. This season I find myself breaking the ancient rules and deliberately damaging the rituals I hold dear…at her request. I meant what I said when I promised to rearrange the world to make my dushevnayasvyaz happy, but when will I be pushed too far? Caught between the regimented conditioning of the clan and the willful spirit of his dushevnayasvyaz, Sergei must choose the order which keeps him stable or his chance at fated love. Will they escape punishment for their deeds or face shunning in a desolate place where community means survival? Will Sydney recognize he’s betraying his kin to win her heart or ignore their bond in fear of losing her independence?     AmazonKU

ROYAL STREET ROMP (TWISTED SISTERS MIDLIFE MAELSTROM BOOK EIGHT) by Brenda Trim

Luckily for New Orleans, the Six Twisted Sisters have gone from magical newbies to fearless paranormal investigators who will stop at nothing to protect their home from destruction…When strange things start happening on Royal Street, the sisters spring into action to keep the city’s magical realm hidden from the mundies. Searching for answers raises many more questions while simultaneously revealing a sinister force that causes supernaturals to act out in dangerous ways. Lives are now on the line. As the clock ticks down to discovery or something even more disastrous, the sisters follow a trail of clues to a shocking revelation: an evil spirit has been unleashed upon the city with a murderous agenda spelling doom for all. The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been, but the sisters will rise to the challenge. In the face of an impossible choice, will they save their own loved ones, or protect the supernatural world from exposure? Neither, if the vile force running rampant among the supernatural community has anything to say about it.     AmazonKU

THE PRINCE’S DEAREST GUARDS by Beau Van Dalen

On the day of his twenty-first birthday, Crown Prince Hal is introduced to two faithful guards, Elwood and Kaiser, who have been appointed to serve Prince Hal once his Highness becomes King. As per his kingdom’s coming-of-age traditions, Prince Hal and his new guards must set out on a journey together to slay a mythical creature lost in a faraway land—however, there’s just one problem: nobody warned Prince Hal that his guards would be so hot. And although Hal’s guards are more than competent in battle, Hal wonders if he and his poor timid heart will survive travelling alone, alongside two of the most handsome men he’s ever seen. A steamy fantasy romance novella, featuring a trans man protagonist, who longs for amorous adventures with his dearest guards.

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THE DEVIL’S DUE (THE DEVIL’S LUCK) by Jayce Carter

Sleeping with four men is heaven— living with them is hell. The only way for a person like me to get to heaven is breaking in. The Lords and I survived the Path, but, as it turns out, the Plains aren’ t the paradise they say. Darkness and danger hide beneath the glittery exterior, and the closer we get to the palace, to where Hubis is, the more I realize just how broken the system really is. My relationships with the Lords are strained as we face our own pasts, as we learn to trust one another before the Plains can tear us apart. I might love them, but I’ m not stupid enough to think that means a happily-ever-after. Absolute power has twisted and corrupted every other person who has wielded it, so can anyone be trusted with it? Even if we succeed, if we can overcome Hubis, if we get everything we want, will that power end up destroying me? If I’ m going to make one last mistake, I might as well make it one to remember.

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DEMON REBORN (DEMONS OF MORNINGSTAR REBORN BOOK SIX) by Debbie Cassidy

Sacrifices are acceptable when you’re not the one making them. With Arty’s life hanging in the balance, nothing else matters. Until it does. The rift in the abyss is opening. The world as we know it is about to end, and it turns out, I’m only one who can stop it. It’s time to face the ultimate truth. It’s finally time to face Fate head on.    AmazonKU

HIS FIRST SHIFTER WOLF LOVE (THE CLAN OF HOGAN FALLS) by Serena Meadows

She called the sheriff on me when we first met. I saw the hatred in her eyes when she found me digging up a tree, looking for a beetle thought to be extinct. Penny is a force to be reckoned with, but also a wall flower among her friends that she runs a bed and breakfast with. My attraction to her was undeniable before I even knew she was like me. A wolf shifter. She rescued me when I needed her, and in that instant, I vowed to protect her forever. That promise I made to myself would soon be tested when a tough choice would threaten to tear us apart. It wasn’t an enemy that came between us – but my own family. Saving her was my only priority, but would be she able to keep herself alive until then?     AmazonKU

A CORRUPTION OF SOULS by Taylor Hubbard

Deklyn Delonir, Captain of the Order of the Redemptor and Knight of the Hawkeron Kingdom, has spent his entire life serving his goddess and realm to earn redemption for his past sins. Everything he does is in service to his King and the people under his protection and leadership. For his entire life, Deklyn pushed away the deepest desires of his heart, burying them and praying that they never come to the surface. When his King calls on him for the most important job of his career, one that would put an end to a war against an unknown enemy simply called The Corrupted, Deklyn doesn’t think twice before readily accepting it. Once the job is completed, the war will end and the people Deklyn swore an oath to serve will be safe and the bloodshed will end. Crown Prince Kai of Hawkeron has never known what freedom feels like. Everything has been lain before him before he was born. Swayed by the whims of a fate outside of his control and duty that is inescapable, Kai doesn’t know who he is. Kai is a political entity, used for his father’s gain. When his father calls on him to fulfill his duty as the Crown Prince…(more blurb ob ebook seller’s page)

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EARTH WITCH (WITCHES OF WESTWOOD ACADEMY BOOK FOUR) by Gina Kincade and C D Gorri

Emotions run amok at Westwood Academy when a healer and an earth witch crash together. Jade Montrose was just an average earth witch living her average life until she arrived at Westwood Academy. Everything changes when she and her roommates discover a magical conspiracy involving The Council of Covens. Now it’s up to Jade and her friends to figure out a way to stop it. Time for this easygoing earth witch to grow something besides plants—like a spine. After an injury sends her to the infirmary, Jade finds herself irresistibly drawn to student healer, Arlo Glenn. But why would the smoldering blond wizard be attracted to a curvy earth witch? What she needs is a healthy dose of self-esteem to change her outlook. Is Arlo willing to help with that?

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THE HYBRID ASSASSIN: LEAGUE OF SUPERNATURAL ASSASSINS by C D Gorri

Hybrid Shifter. Assassin. Outcast. This assignment might change her future…Like others in the League, I was designed to be a hollow killing machine. Taught to have no feelings, no desires, no dreams of my own. That part was easy when you were a loner. I did not need friends. I just wanted to survive. Unlike the rest, I was classified as a mistake. Created in the Lab by a foolish scientist who’d been killed for his failure on the day I first Shifted into the hybrid monster he’d given me, I was a living, breathing error. The Director and Avalonia never failed to remind me of my shortcomings, as did everyone else in the Assassin compound in the realm of Icarus. ERR394N was my designation. I had no name. Nothing personal to humanize me to my handlers. I was a weapon, and I was good at my job, obeying orders, and taking lives. I learned early to hone my skills. Hacking difficult systems, burning through firewalls, and uncovering secrets were only parts of my talents. I was an expert marksman, too. What could I say? For a Shifter, I liked guns. But even my prowess could not save me from drawing the jobs no one else wanted. My latest assignment was supposed to be easy. Go to Earth. End the target. Only everything went sideways the moment I saw him. He was the one person who was not supposed to exist—my fated mate. Both our lives were now in danger. Unless I could stop it. *This is a prequel to the Witch Shifter Clan books.

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BOUND BY HONEY by Jamie Dalton

A magical library, an incurable curse, and a woman who loves her coffee. Sage thought working in a magical library was already the stuff of fairytales. When a gargoyle named Freddy is your coworker, you know your job is anything but ordinary. But even Sage couldn’t have predicted the chaos that ensues when The Charming Four come knocking. With their leader, Prince Finn, cursed and Sage in need of a place to stay, she can’t help but get involved in his quest for a cure. When his brother, the Crown Prince, is up to no good and secrets are being kept, will Sage step up to the challenge or keep her cozy life cozy?     AmazonKU

SPARKS FLY by Birdie Lynn

Arthur Pham didn’t expect to spend his final year at the Stonebury Conservatory for Young Mages dating his archnemesis—fake dating, that is. Arthur’s particular brew of perfectionism and anxiety has served him well, landing him at the top of his class. Almost. The number one spot belongs to Stonebury’s most popular student, Mika Rivera—Arthur’s sworn rival with a mirthful glint in his eye and an ever-present grin. But when Arthur’s tuition check bounces, he must win the fellowship money granted to the top student in his class, or his future will come to a grinding halt. When a spell reveals that the only obstacle in Arthur’s way—Mika—is his soulmate, they enter into a fake dating ploy to stop their classmates’ ridicule. On their rollercoaster of falsified romance, Arthur finds himself shoved into more compromising situations with his rival than he ever imagined, and he’s horrified to find that he even enjoys some of them. The real Mika—wickedly charismatic and earnest in equal parts—refuses to fit into the checkboxes on Arthur’s meticulous to-do lists. Can Arthur put aside his pride to secure the future he has so desperately dreamed of? Or will his obsession with hating Mika cost him everything?

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MARKED WITCH (BLOOD LEGACY BOOK TWO) by Amber Ella Monroe

My personal vendetta with the most dangerous monster of all has just escalated…Turns out I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I’ve been demoted by the Headmaster himself following recent criminal developments, which puts me in a terrible situation. With no protection from the League and monsters trying to take my head every time I turn a corner, I’ve had to take drastic measures to stay alive. Now that I must fight to clear my name, saving my soul takes a backburner. My problems are mounting and the feelings I have for a villainous hellhound shifter won’t seem to fade. Declan Guerra is a dangerous fugitive and if I have to seduce him to put a stop to his savage games, I will. Even if it’s the last thing I do. But if I can’t resist his touch long enough to bury a dagger in his heart, he’s going to be the end of me–not the other way around. I never thought any of this would be easy. What I didn’t expect was the unveiling of a legacy of lies and secrets. I could end it all…with bloodflame. But then I’d be back where I started—as a marked witch.     AmazonKU

WOLF HUNTER’S MOON (BLOOD MOON WOLVES BOOK THREE) by Milly Taiden

Caroline Knight, proud podcaster and mystery-solver, is on the strangest case of her career. Two ancient vases were stolen, and their owners were brutally murdered. When her life is threatened, she knows she is on to something. Meeting a man so hot he makes her knees buckle is definitely not what she expected while crime-solving. The last thing wolf shifter Ryland Wolverton wants is a complication. His life is busy enough running the International Crime Unit of his family’s company, Blood Moon Agency. He doesn’t need a mate to be satisfied. Especially not a beautiful, sassy and strong-minded podcaster who gets herself into trouble. The second Caroline flies into his life everything changes. Ryland doesn’t want a mate, but he doesn’t want to lose Caroline either. Falling in love while hunting down a murderer wasn’t part of the plan. The wolf and the podcaster might be together forever … unless their love is cut short by unknown enemies.   AmazonKU

SOUL OF A DEMON (BROTHERS OF SCRIM HALL BOOK FIVE) by Andie Fenichel

Griffin – Demons are not that rare. You’d be surprised how many of us are living right under your nose. A living demon has to make trips to hell from time to time in order to recharge. This time when I push back into the world of man, I miscalculate and land in a public park. Luckily the only one present is one woman. Her level of shock is so severe, I can’t leave her. The beast inside me softens with her in my arms. Julia – I was meditating in the same spot I do every day when the weather is good. The gates of hell opened up and a sexy-as-F man gapes at me. The next thing I know, I wake up and he’s holding me. His pale eyes hold none of the black I first saw jump from a fiery pit. He presses his lips to my forehead and tells me everything is going to be okay. For the first time in my totally messed up life, I believe it.     AmazonKU

TOUCH OF THE BONE by Baxter Clare Trautman

Following the death of “Sal” Saladino, a recluse and mentor with uncanny healing abilities Frank is busy sloughing off her old identity as a cop and reluctantly growing into the new skin of a healer. She doesn’t understand her newfound abilities, but the patients she sees believe in them. When a ranch hand brings her an old journal of Sal’s, Frank’s world begins to shift uncomfortably. The pages of the journal describe an injustice Sal was too cowardly to confront. And as Frank begins to work her way through the pages, her cop instincts kick in—but she’s done with that phase of her life and isn’t willing to go back. However, when one of her new patients comes to her with mysterious neck pain, she begins to suspect the ailment might be related to the murder Sal has alluded to. As Frank slowly learns to trust her newfound abilities—and her new lover—she begins to unravel the murder in the journal. When she suspects who the murderer is, Frank must choose whether she will confront them and the injustice in her old role as a cop or let bygones be bygones and continue on her new path as a healer.

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QUEEN OF THE BANDITS (THIEVES OF PROPHECY BOOK FOUR)  by Emma Dean

Are you ready for the spider-pocalypse? The only way Emily and her raccoons might be able to fix a world-ending mistake is to beg the chaos of foxes for forgiveness – to ask for their help in tricking a trickster. Between Kenzie and her foxes, Eisheth, and a few raven colleagues, Emily might actually be able to outsmart two trickster gods. But only if they can keep their plan a secret from all the spiders watching their every move, waiting for them to mess up again. Jace, Ben, Aiden, and Chance refuse to fail again – they refuse to let the Enclave assassinate their mate, or let two tricksters get the best of them again. They’re going to win this time, even if it kills them.     AmazonKU

DIRTY LYING DRAGONS (THE ENCHANTED FATES SERIES BOOK TWO) by Sabrina Blackburry

Dani has never been able to use her magic. She feels like half a witch. Without the protection of a coven, she’s lost, and is being hunted by a pack of very aggressive werewolves intent on claiming her for a powerful vampire’s “collection.” When the pack finds her one night, Dani races to the top of her apartment building and chalks a circle on the roof, but her spell mistakenly lands her in the hot spring of a centuries old dragon, Ryker. As this odd pair grows closer, the shapeshifter Ryker soon discovers the secret Dani harbors, and it turns his world upside down. When she’s captured, it’s up to Ryker to come to her aid—and their relationship will rock the supernatural world in ways neither expected, because when the truth about Dani comes out, everything changes.

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FORGED BY BLOOD: A NOVEL  (THE TAINED BLOOD DUOLOGY BOOK ONE) by Ehigbor Okosun

In the midst of a tyrannical regime and political invasion, Dèmi just wants to survive: to avoid the suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland of Ife; to escape the King’s brutal genocide of her people—the darker skinned, magic wielding Oluso; and to live peacefully with her secretive mother while learning to control the terrifying blood magic that is her birthright. But when Dèmi’s misplaced trust costs her mother’s life, survival gives way to vengeance. She bides her time until the devious Lord Ekwensi grants her the perfect opportunity—kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining Oluso. With the help of her reckless childhood friend Colin, Dèmi succeeds, but discovers that she and Jonas share more than deadly secrets; every moment tangles them further into a forbidden, unmistakable attraction, much to Colin’s—and Dèmi’s—distress. The kidnapping is now a joint mission: to return to the King, help get Lord Ekwensi on the council, and bolster the voice of the Oluso in a system designed to silence them. But the way is dangerous, Dèmi’s magic is growing yet uncertain, and it’s not clear if she can trust the two men at her side.

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THE NARROW by Kate Alice Marshall

Everyone has heard the story of the Narrow. The river that runs behind the Atwood School is only a few feet across and seemingly placid, but beneath the surface, the waters are deep and vicious. It’s said that no one who has fallen in has ever survived. den White knows that isn’t true. Six years ago, she saw Delphine Fournier fall into the Narrow—and live. Delphine now lives in careful isolation, sealed off from the world. Even a single drop of unpurified water could be deadly to her, and no one but Eden has any idea why. Eden has never told anyone what she saw or spoken to Delphine since, but now, unable to cover her tuition, she has to make a deal: her expenses will be paid in return for serving as a live-in companion to Delphine. Eden finds herself drawn to the strange and mysterious girl, and the two of them begin to unravel each other’s secrets. Then Eden discovers what happened to the last girl who lived with Delphine: she was found half-drowned on dry land. Suddenly Eden is waking up to wet footprints tracking to the end of her bed, the sound of rain on the windows when the skies are clear, and a ghostly silhouette in her doorway. Something is haunting Delphine—and now it’s coming for Eden, too.

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MEDUSA’S SISTERS by Lauren A J Bear

The end of the story is only the beginning…Even before they were transformed into Gorgons, Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale were unique among their immortal family. Curious about mortals and their lives, Medusa and her sisters entered the human world in search of a place to belong, yet quickly found themselves at the perilous center of a dangerous Olympian rivalry and learned—too late—that a god’s love is a violent one.  Forgotten by history and diminished by poets, the other two Gorgons have never been more than horrifying hags, damned and doomed. But they were sisters first, and their journey from lowly sea-born origins to the outskirts of the pantheon is a journey that rests, hidden, underneath their scales.  Monsters, but not monstrous, Stheno and Euryale will step into the light for the first time to tell the story of how all three sisters lived and were changed by each other, as they struggle against the inherent conflict between sisterhood and individuality, myth and truth, vengeance and peace.

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MISTER MAGIC: A NOVEL by Kiersten White

VS Note: Sounded good so I pre-ordered this one.

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.  But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has. Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since. After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap? Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. 

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THE SALT-BLACK TREE: BOOK TWO OF THE DEAD GOD’S HEART DUOLOGY by Lilith Saintcrow

Nat Drozdova has crossed half the continent in search of the stolen Dead God’s Heart, the only thing powerful enough to trade for her beautiful, voracious, dying mother’s life. Yet now she knows the secret of her own birth—and that she’s been lied to all her young life. The road to the Heart ends at the Salt-Black Tree, but to find it Nat must pay a deadly price. Pursued by mouthless shadows hungry for the blood of new divinity as well as the razor-wielding god of thieves, Nat is on her own. Her journey leads through a wilderness of gods old and new, across a country as restless as its mortal inhabitants, and it’s too late to back out now. Blood may not always prevail. Magic might not always work. And the young Drozdova is faced with an impossible choice: Save her mother’s very existence…or accept the consequences of her own.

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DAMNED IF YOU DO by Alex Brown 

Seven years ago, Cordelia Scott’s abusive father left without a word, and life has been normal ever since. The seventeen-year-old spends her days stage managing the school play (which is going great, if anyone asks), pining over her best friend, Veronica, and failing one too many pop quizzes. She’s never been sad that her father left, but she knows something is…missing. When her school guidance counselor, Fred, reveals during a session that he’s actually a demon, she learns that something is indeed missing: a piece of her actual soul. Why? She unwittingly made a deal with him to make her father disappear – then bargained to have the memory erased. To make matters worse, Fred is here to make another bargain: Help him with a “little” demonic problem, or she’s doomed to spend eternity in Hell with her father. The deal? Help Fred neutralize a rival demon, who means to do more harm in her hometown than your average demon deal.

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COURTING THE KING OF THE CLIFFS (KINGS OF DISASTER BOOK FIVE) by Lola Glass

I ran away to live with the earth fae for a few days, and ended up sleeping in Granite’s bed. It’s not as kinky as it sounds. At least, not at first. But then I learn why he’s been avoiding me. And why he smells so good. Now, I have to decide… do I really want to go back home, or have I found the place I truly belong?     AmazonKU

THE DEMON WHISPERER by Linda Mooney

Boothe lives life on the road, traveling wherever he’s needed to cleanse the area, never knowing where that may be. He’s an exorciser, blessed by the church and trained to remove demons who have possessed humans. He didn’t know taking a break in a small-town bar would change his life forever. Lady Parr, a bartender at Brewski’s, has seen her fair share of belligerent customers. When one is particularly difficult, a tattooed, bearded stranger steps in to help. She’s intrigued by Boothe, and although it’s more forward that she’s ever been, she doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to get to know him better. But what she learns while in his hotel room changes everything she thought she knew about the world she lives in. Now that Lady knows what Boothe does for a living, he realizes she’s the first woman who hasn’t run screaming. There’s just something about her. She’s special, but he can’t bring her into his life. It’s not safe…although it doesn’t take long to discover she’s not safe without him. The demons are targeting her now, but why? She’s like a magnet, drawing them to her. The same way they’re drawn to him. Could it be…?

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JAKE MONROE AND THE CASE OF THE HAUNTED INFLUENCER by Arthur Griffin 

In a world where the public knows about the existence of supernatural creatures, hardened human private eye Jake Monroe makes a living cracking cases with a paranormal element. A resident of LA’s gayest neighborhood, Jake fills his days with work, drink, and men. When famous social media influencer Ashton Kane is haunted by an incubus, Jake takes the case, enlisting his trusty assistant Val and ex-boyfriend Nico to help him. Jake soon finds himself the target of several supernatural assassins while debating if he should get back together with Nico, with whom he always had incredible sex but also terrible fights. Eventually Jake comes face to face with the incubus in a climactic showdown. Will he find the inner strength needed to face his demons, both literal and figurative?

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BURNED BONES (BLOOD AND MAGIC SERIES BOOK FIVE) by Lauretta Hignett

I’ve been burned. One of my secrets is out in the open, and it couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The people of the city need a hero right now, and it can’t be me. It’s too risky. I could lose everything. While everything falls to chaos, I’ve got some hard decisions to make. There’s a fine line between hero and tyrant. I need to figure out how to dance down that line so I can be the leader they need, without turning into the monster they fear.     AmazonKU

A MAGICAL COURT: FIVE STORIES OF SUPERNATURAL VENGEANCE (MAGIC AND MISCHIEF BOOK FOUR) by N R Hairston

A Royal Slaughter – Rye is called to the royal court of Yezn. What should have been a routine investigation ends up being a fight for her life. A Royal Betrayal – They call her the Destroyer. She tries to keep that part of herself at bay. But when the royal court of Julo plots against her, she releases her fury on them. How will she answer for this slaughter? A Royal Rebellion – Leah inadvertently offends the crown princess of Gango. The crown princess calls for her head. Will Leah and her crew be able to fight their way out of this one? A Royal Deception – Kerry and her team are tasked with finding the kidnapped Crown Princess of Halgo. They discover a sinister plot that has them fighting to survive. A Royal Succubus – Kia’s grandmother is the empress of all magical creatures. Kia’s team is sent to investigate when her grandmother and all the kings and queens under her go missing. What Kia finds is a deadly plot that has them all fighting to stay alive.

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HAUNTED BY THE PAST by Pelaam

Finding a house that suits him, Jared makes the move to reclaim his independence. However, he doesn’t expect to find himself both attracted to and concerned for the almost-reclusive gardener, Evander. Jared believes Evander is hiding an eating disorder. But the appearance of old photographs and love letters in the house cause him to wonder about the stoic man. As their friendship becomes more, he wants to help and uncover the secrets he knows Evander is hiding. Each of them is haunted by something, and it’s not the house. When a ghost from Jared’s past appears, they must fight for their own happiness, even if it means exposing themselves and the truth.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

AUSTEN TEA PARTY: A HISTORICAL ROMANCE COLLECTION FOR CHARITY INSPIRED BY JANE AUSTEN (ROMANCE CAFE COLLECTION BOOK 23) by Various

VS Note: NOT fantasy or PNR but for a good cause. My mother and her twin both died of breast cancer so it’s a cause close to my heart. Plus I love Regency Romance.

Take care not to spill the tea (literally) while we share the latest on-dit (aka dish the dirt) about the Ton, who is courting, and who has been compromised in this collection of Austen-inspired romance stories. Join us for a turn around the room in stories from USA Today best-selling and award-winning romance authors curated by the New Romance Café featuring cameos from some of Jane’s most memorable characters (and some we’d like to forget). ALL proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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ALL THE FAIRE’S A STAGE (MAGICAL RENAISSANCE FAIRE MYSTERIES BOOK SEVEN) by Nova Nelson

While the heavenly knight Olivia Swift puts on quite the show in the jousting arena, she’s never harbored thespian aspirations. But when one of Elbion’s favorite theatrical attractions ends in murder, this angel has no choice but to enter stage left to set things right. With help from her criminally minded dove familiar, Olivia suspects that all the faire might be the stage for this crime, and all the magical beings merely players…With no clear suspect in sight, Olivia searches for the truth at the heart of the murder. When the investigation takes an unexpected turn, this angel wonders if anything at the Renaissance Faire is as it seems. Can Olivia find the fiend before the curtain falls on another life?     AmazonKU

HOW THE NECROMANCER IN THE GOLD VEST SAVED MY LIFE: DISASTER #3 by  Jocelynn Drake

It’s date night! Life has settled down and Nolan has agreed to go on a date with Sky. There’s just one catch: Sky has to promise that it’s a totally normal, non-magical date. I bet you can already see where this is going…It would have been a totally normal, non-magical date if it weren’t for the purple fungus, a completely minor nonlethal mostly harmless but useful poisoning, and the pig. Sigh…Will Nolan give him a second chance after this mess? How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This is book three of four and contains vampires, werewolves, witches, spells gone bad, good friends who should never call during a date, and a pig. Really. This will make your worst date look amazing. And did I mention it’s a full moon?     AmazonKU

THE CRYSTAL BALL CONUNDRUM (A BRUSH WITH MAGIC COZY MYSTERY BOOK ONE) by Tyler Rhodes

When Lucas Moran agreed to paint his Aunty Clem’s house, he had no idea he was about to embark on a job like no other. Forget morning tea and biscuits, because before he could even lift a brush, his aunty took a tumble—or did she?—down the stairs, the attic exploded, and a member of her supposed coven turned up dead in the garden. When his apprentice, gangly Young Dave, bursts in cradling a comatose red squirrel like it’s the final pack of biscuits in existence, he assumes things couldn’t possibly get any weirder. Wrong. Very, very wrong. Lucas always dismissed Aunty Clem’s coven as a bunch of kooky misfits indulging in paranormal make-believe, but when the police brush off the chaos as freak accidents, it’s up to Lucas, his wife Charlie, and Young Dave to uncover the truth. And guess who’s joined their squad? …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)   AmazonKU

TAKEN BY THE GORGON (TAKEN FOUR) by Megan Slayer

Trudi wasn’t looking for a romantic partner when she stumbled on Nick in the park, but the sweet man sure seems out of place in Eerie. He also seems drawn to her. He might be the death of her, but he could also be her soulmate if she’s willing to open her heart. There’s just the tiny matter of her deathly stare. Nick knows the moment he meets Trudi that he’s met his match. The beautiful gorgon haunts his dreams and he can’t get enough of her kiss. When she agrees to help him research his past and unravel his family tree, he knows he can’t let her go. As long as she doesn’t kill him.

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A BUNNY FOR BRUCE (OMEGAS FOR ANIMALS BOOK NINE) by Lorelai M Hart

It all started with a pink slip…Omega bunny shifter Wayne was living the corporate dream. That was until his company decided to close his entire division. Living near his fluffle has always been top priority for Wayne, but when the best job he can find locally doesn’t even pay his rent, he has no choice but to widen his search area. He doesn’t expect to have his best and only job offer to be halfway across the country in the middle of the desert. It all started with Pants on Fire going up in flames…Alpha lion shifter Bruce travels for his job doing lights and sound for Pants on Fire, the all-dragon band. When three of the bandmates find their fated mates during a gig at Animals, they break up to live their happily ever after. His severance is great, but he needs to find a new gig, one that includes being surrounded by strong shifters and helping keep his lion at bay. Until he finds one, he’s offered a temporary position at Animals, a job that comes complete with an apartment. One night at work, his lion pushes hard, Bruce only getting outside seconds before he shifts. Bruce is afraid he’s finally lost all control of his beast, and maybe he has, but then an adorable bunny hops over to him, and his entire world changes.     AmazonKU

DON’T NEED A HERO (PROTECT AND SERVE BOOK FIVE) by Lena Austin

When cat shifter Petra (aka Pete) becomes the victim of “friendly fire” during the apprehension of a bank robber, panther shifter cop Apollo Jones feels obligated to make sure she’s okay. Pete’s positive she doesn’t need another hero in her life, and Apollo’s out to prove her wrong.

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KENNA’S DRAGON (MONSTER RELATIONS BUREAU BOOK TWO) by Leigh Miller

All I wanted was a fresh start, not to be caught in some surly dragon’s crosshairs. When I took a job at the Monster Relations Bureau, the last thing I wanted was to stand out. There’s just one problem — a grumpy, unapproachable dragon shifter who can’t keep his golden eyes off me. Getting involved with Ewan Blair is the definition of a bad idea. Not only is he completely off-limits as the Bureau’s Director, but the way he looks at me — like he’d devour me one moment, and wishes he never met me the next — should be enough warning to stay far away. But I’ve always had a reckless streak, and with each forbidden touch, each wickedly provoking argument, and each time we set it all aside and give in to the flames between us, I’m more and more of a goner. With my job and my heart on the line, I’ll have to decide just how much I’m willing to risk on him, and hope I don’t get burned in the process.   AmazonKU

 

THE SUSPICIOUS MATE: CINCINNATI SHIFTERS VOL 6 by B A Stretke

Kallan Temple was new in Cincinnati and looking for a fresh start. His cousin Mac convinced him that this was the place to start again. Having spent his entire life in Dickinson, North Dakota, Kallan was ready for something new. Mac mentioned a friend Kallan would hit it off with, but after a particularly ill-timed snub, Kallan was fairly sure Noa was the last person in Cincinnati he ever wanted to date. Little does he know that Fate has other plans, and the man he considers ill-mannered and mean will become his protector and forever love. Noa Benson is a bear shifter and runs the door at Club Zephyr. He considers himself a man of taste, and he knows the type of clientele the club needs to be successful. He knows the type of man he likes, and he makes no apologies for it. He’s not a man used to making apologies of any kind. When he finally meets Kallan Temple, he is stuck by the dazzling beauty of the man and struggles with how to climb out of the hole he dug for himself. Lucky for Noa, fate is never wrong, and always finds a way to convince a suspicious mate.      Amazon

ANYTHING GHOST (A REAPER WITCH MYSTERY BOOK EIGHT) by Elle Adams

VS Note: From JULY 18.

Halloween is on the way, but Maura has other things on her mind than celebrations when the coven leader unexpectedly hires her to find a missing book that’s been stolen by one of her old enemies. Before long, Maura is navigating her way between coven members concealing ugly secrets, police officers who’ve had enough of Reapers interfering in their business, and an unexpected phone call from a family member who Maura hasn’t spoken to in years. Soon it becomes clear that the secret she’s helped the local Reaper keep from the outside world is under threat of exposure – along with Hawkwood Hollow itself. Maura has no intention of betraying all the ghosts she’s befriended to the Reaper Council, but with her enemies multiplying and her loved ones under threat, she finds herself struggling to fight the battle alone. Can Maura get the book back into the right hands before Hawkwood Hollow’s tragic history repeats itself?   AmazonKU

BEARHEART REBEL by Harmony Raines

Welcome to Bearheart Ridge, where fate, love, and loyalty converge. When the Sarah moves to Bear Creek with dreams of opening her very own craft store, ‘Crafty Corner,’ her path crosses with Cormac, Bearheart Ridge’s resident mechanic and motorcycle enthusiast. As a member of the Bearheart Guardians, a group of bear shifters sworn to protect their town, Cormac is a rebel at heart, always testing the boundaries.
When the local bank threatens to pull the plug on Sarah’s dreams, Cormac steps in with an unexpected offer of a loan. But, that’s not the only surprise he has for her. In a leap of faith, he reveals his bear shifter nature and the undeniable bond between them – they are fated mates. But their newfound happiness is short-lived when Cormac senses the mysterious creature that only appears when a Guardian or their mate is in danger. They arrive back in town to find Sarah’s store has been ransacked. Cormac’s instincts point him toward a local motorbike gang. But when he seeks revenge, it threatens to tear the Bear Creek Guardians apart. Can Cormac balance his desire for revenge with his duty to the Guardians? Can Sarah navigate this world of shifters, danger, and destiny she’s been thrust into? And can their love withstand the trials that come with fulfilling dreams, facing a mysterious threat, and honoring a bond that runs deeper than either of them could have ever imagined?     AmazonKU

ONLY SKIN DEEP by Kelex

Welcome to the world of Enchanted Ink! For a price, master tattooists can place a beautiful spell directly onto your skin. Want to be wealthy? Beautiful? Loved? You’ve come to the right place. Just make sure the price you’ll pay is worth it as the cost isn’t always in gold. ****Luca Galioto can tattoo just about any spell, but he specializes in healing tattoos. He’ll need to create his masterpiece after his mate, and Salem PD detective, Ash Montgomery brings in a human suffering a curse to end all curses. Luca uses every ounce of strength to save the man—because they both sense he’s their third. Colby Kennedy doesn’t believe in witches, demons, fated mates, and the things that go bump in the night. Yet he struggles to ignore the deep-seated lust he feels every time he looks at Luca and Ash. No matter his need, he has his brother to care for and a business to run. He doesn’t have time for nonsense. The demons don’t stop coming, putting everything he holds dear in jeopardy. Luca and Ash, and the coven at Enchanted Ink, are the only things keeping him and his brother from losing everything. But can he accept their world and his place in it before it’s too late?     AmazonKU

HEAT WAVE FIRE UNEARTHED by Tamrin Banks

Rita: Why didn’t I see this coming? As a psychic, I know about the future of other people. Just not myself, apparently. What else could explain ending up at a shifter resort right in the middle of a massive heatwave? And by that, I mean shifter heat. It seems like everyone at this resort is hot for their mate. Except for my mate. The male dragon hates psychics, witches and lots of other humans with paranormal powers. When he finds out I’m his mate? No way does he want me! I don’t want to want the judgemental dragon with the muscular chest and sizzling glare either. Is it possible to fight fate? Gabriel LaRoche: Seriously? A psychic? I don’t know what I did in this life for fate to treat me so cruelly! I don’t like humans. So naturally my mate is a human psychic. Could anything be worse? It turns out that it can. I can’t resist the fiery little woman. She makes my teeth hurt from clenching my jaw. Her smile has my heart racing, my dragon itching and fighting me at every turn, wanting our mate. Has anyone ever fought fate and won with hunger riding them, driving them crazy? I’m not sure but when Rita vanishes, I know that she needs me. I feel her. Feel her fear. I will find my mate. Even if it kills me.   AmazonKU

TO BREAK A DEMON CURSE (KING AND COVEN BOOK TWO) by Madeleine Eliot

Elara has been thoroughly taken in by the Demon King’s trickery, and she is determined not to let him back into her heart after all the lies. But with the promise of his help rescuing her mother, Elara finds herself agreeing to a blood bargain to stay with him, learn to use her mysterious demon magic, and pretend to be his betrothed. When the Daemon Lords issue their ultimatum for Elara to prove her loyalty, Elara will have to tread carefully between love, duty, desire, and vengeance to uphold her vow to leave the Demon King at the end of their bargain.     AmazonKU

OUTFOXED (BETAS IN WAITING BOOK 15) by Viola Grace

Ula is volunteering at a day camp when one of her co-volunteers notices that she is having difficulty. He helps to get in touch with a healer to help her through a past issue, and it starts her in a tumble down a rabbit hole with alphas her only option to land on.
Ula’s best friend, Merry, supports her in her introduction to the fox alphas that match Ula’s bunny. With a deep sigh, Merry leaves Ula to introduce herself to her final alpha and settles down in the club to wait. Merry feels a tingle on her skin and studiously avoids looking to her right where her own alphas are enjoying their evening. Of course, they didn’t know they were hers, but she did. Her beast had taken her out and tattooed their beasts on her back. It was hard not to know when the marks were staring at her in the mirror when she dressed in the morning. Their attention is caught, and they focus on her and the tattoos visible in her cocktail dress. Understanding dawns quickly, and when she opens her wings to get away, it sets a series of events in motion that have her in their arms before the evening is out. As best friends, they have always done things together, but Ula and Merry have to draw the line at sharing mates. They each have more than enough to keep them busy.     Amazon

SHADOWY ILLUSIONS (D’VAIRE BOOK 38) by Jessamyn Kingsley

For two thousand years, the sentinels were imprisoned. They lived in a world of grayness and loneliness. But those days are far behind Shadow Lord Gerard Treily’s people. Today, the sentinels are revered and distinguished members of society. And Gerard’s purpose is clear. He decides punishments and guides his brethren through the finer points of the law. That, along with being a member of a devoted task force, gives him purpose. But Gerard wants his mate. Ardusian Valzadari has also distanced himself from his past. Once a sullen elf who pilfered small treasures, Ardusian is now a success and a friend to his chieftain. As an important executive in the renowned company Elven D’Vaire, Ardusian works long hours to avoid the loneliness eating at him. What he wants is the other half of his soul… (more blurb on ebook seller’s page)     AmazonKU

BOHEMIAN TRAGEDY (BEWITCHING MIDLIFE CRISIS MYSTERIES BOOK TWO) by Dakota Cassidy

Hello again! It’s me, Evanora Dark, Buttermilk Bay’s newest sage of house staging and recently discovered unalived whisperer (that’s ghost-talker to you lay folk). Business is booming, a certain silver-fox contractor named Cary Mann is hot in pursuit (wink-wink), and me and my bestie Fab are as tight as ever. Life is good—newly inherited boggart-in-a-crystal ball aside (don’t ask; he’s a handful. And libidinous. And it’s more of a snow globe than a crystal ball…) Good, that is, until the next ghost shows up with an untimely demise to solve. Turns out, she’s a blast from my past…a painful one at that, one I could have gone the rest of my life without ever seeing again. My loved ones—both living and dead—all have my back though, ready to throw down with this particularly pesky poltergeist. But my gift for helping the unalived comes with certain responsibilities. I’ll help this ghost solve the mystery behind her death and see her to the light. Even if, years ago, I would’ve liked to have bumped her off myself. After all…isn’t that how most of us feel toward the person who helped blow up their marriage? Yep. I’m tasked with helping the very woman who ruined my marriage. But the more I get to know her ghost, the more I realize things are never as cut-and-dried as they seem. Not life, not love, not relationships… And certainly not murder!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SCARCROSSED (CASTLES OF THE EYRIE BOOK  THREE) by Evie Marceau

Wolves have haunted Bryn since she was a child. Now, as Bryn and Rangar return to the Baersladen, they’re met with danger as a savage and cursed wolf pack terrorizes villages throughout the Eyrie. As Rangar fights to vindicate himself from those who seek to hurt him, Bryn embarks on a mage apprenticeship, utilizing her newfound skills to investigate the malevolent wolves–and which of their enemies created them to sow discord throughout the kingdoms. Will danger and politics stand in the way of the wedding that will finally bind Bryn and Rangar forever?     AmazonKU

FINDING HIS FOX (FOX HAVEN BOOK TWO) by Fel Fern and Kara Kitt

In the small town of Fox Haven, an unlikely bond ignites between a grumpy fox shifter and the human who saved him long ago. Years ago, a terrifying monster murdered Cal Yates’ childhood friend. Cal only survived that encounter thanks to his unlikely human savior. Little did Cal know that his and Nate’s paths would cross again. Now a powerful enforcer for his pack, Cal chooses to live a solitary existence. He believes he’s better off alone, but fate has a way of bringing two lost souls together. Nate Chambers returns to Fox Haven to attend his best friend’s wedding. Nate has no love for his hometown as it holds too many terrible memories for him—memories Nate has chosen to forget. When Nate’s path converges with a brooding fox shifter, he has a sneaking suspicion that he’s met Cal before. As Nate and Cal spend more time together, Nate’s guarded walls slowly crumble, and the truth finally emerges. When the terrifying creature from their past resurfaces, Cal and Nate must confront their deepest fears while discovering that unexpected bonds sometimes heal the deepest wounds.     AmazonKU

VEILED FATE (SHARDS OF FATE BOOK TWO) by Riley Storm

Everything I know about my family, has turned out to be a lie. I want to hate Kiel for the truth’s he’s revealing. I want to leave, and run away. After how I trusted him with my life and my body, this is how he repays me? It’s not fair. I can’t run though, because the Fate Stone I shattered has left its mark on me. If I don’t figure out what it means, it will destroy me. Literally. So I’m forced back into the arms of the man who has been both my ruin and my salvation since this all started. But will that bring us closer together, or drive us apart for forever after his biggest secret comes out?     AmazonKU

THE PRINCE OF DEMONS (AETHER UNIVERSITY SERIES BOOK ONE) by Hana Hahm

Rule #1 of Aether University: Don’t make deals with the devil. Luna attends Aether University with one goal in mind: to slay demons. But only if they don’t slay her first.
Vengeful spirits pounce on any sign of weakness: attraction included. Yet when a new, ungodly handsome demon arrives, Luna finds herself trapped between duty and desire. Heir to a deadly throne, striking as sin, and restless to make a bargain, an otherworldly prince threatens everything Luna came to destroy. Demons are possessive. Protective. Dangerous. And the Prince of Demons just found a human he can’t resist. Never show weakness. Especially not in your heart.     AmazonKU

SAVAGE MATES (CLUB SAVAGE BOOK ONE) by Jane Knight

After dealing with the strangest break up, Tillie Mason heads out to a local club with her best friend. After all, what better way is there to get over being rejected than spending the night drinking and dancing? While at Savage, she catches the eye of the Alpha, his beta, and the handsome drummer playing in the band. Tillie agrees to a one-night stand with the three men. She’s left with more than she bargained for when she learns she’s been mated and claimed. Reality comes crashing down around Tillie when she gets thrust into a world she didn’t know existed. She learns that you can’t sleep with shifters and sneak away the next morning. At least, not unless you want them to hunt you.

Amazon

HEALING THE DRAGON’S HEART (VALLEYWOOD BOOK 21) by Minerva Howe

Dragon shifter and Valleywood talent agent James “Jack” Lane doesn’t have a lot of time in his schedule for nonsense. So when someone from his past shows up in his office, James has every intention of sending the guy away. Even if he was once James’s betrothed, an arrangement made when they were just children. Dexter Erega doesn’t have a lot of time left. In dragon society, once a mate is cast aside, his heartstone is broken, and he’s locked away until he dies. Dex has managed to get away from that life, but he needs James to officially sign the papers releasing him from their marriage arrangement. James had no idea his family would follow through on such a barbaric act, and now he feels like he needs to make things up to Dex. That starts them on a journey deep into the Colorado mountains to a Seer who can help, and who might be the key to Dex getting his life back. Can James convince Dex it’s a life he wants to share as his mate?     AmazonKU

GOODY WITCH SHOES (THE WITCHES OF HOLIDAY HILLS COZY MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 12) by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

VS Note: From JULY 18

Hey, it’s me, Abby Odell – a resident witch of the quaint, magical town of Holiday Hills. My town has it all – vampires, shifters, fairies, werewolves, and even some humans who, by the way, have no clue about the magic happening right under their noses. But when Matilda Star, a wicked witch who’s been blamed for multiple nasty spells turns up dead, I knew it wasn’t going to be an ordinary day in our cozy little town. Then when I found a note she’d sent to me pointing the finger at Miss Goody Witch Shoes as her killer, I had a double challenge on my hands. First, figure out who Miss Goody Witch Shoes is, and second, prove she’s the killer. But it didn’t take long to realize Matilda wasn’t Miss Goody Witch Shoes only victim. When another witch ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, the town panics.  With the help of Cooper, my trusty familiar and a talking Burmese cat, and my sexy chief of police boyfriend, I work piece by piece to put together the puzzle, questioning suspects, and fitting together clues. But the killer is catching on, and as the clock ticks I must work to identify the killer and knock her right out of those Goody Witch Shoes before she gets to me first. In a town where anything can happen and magic is all around, the stakes are higher than ever. But with my wits, my powers, my sexy boyfriend, and Cooper by my side, I’m determined to crack the case and protect my town from the not-so-goody Miss Goody Witch Shoes.   AmazonKU

DRAGON FLAMES: NOVELLA by Stacy Brutger

They say finding a mate is the most magical moment in our lives. What they don’t tell us is what happens to girls who aren’t perfect. My life was derailed when I was sent to prison for murdering a man I don’t remember killing. Which is a shame, because if I’m doing the time, I most assuredly deserve to be able to relive the moment when my tormentor screamed his last. Shifters aren’t meant to be locked up. As a shifter that can’t shift, it’s a death sentence, and I resigned myself to dying in prison. When an unexpected opportunity to escape presents itself, I take it…even if it means going on the auction block and being sold to men who are so desperate for a mate, they’ll settle for even me. Three beautiful, domineering men lay claim to me, and for the first time in my life I have a chance at a bright future. The only problem is the man whose son I killed. He wants vengeance, and he’s willing to do anything to get it. If I want to come out of this alive and save my potential mates, I need to figure out how to shift or we’re all dead. Meet the Pack: Felicia, Preston, Darius, and Elias.     AmazonKU

WAKESPIRE (THE WEIRKEY CHRONICLES BOOK SEVEN) by Sarah Lin

Betrayed. Murdered. Reborn. One last chance, to make it right. Theo’s adventure ended with his mentor’s hands around his neck. The betrayal cost him his friends, allies and everything he had built… but not his life. Though broken and powerless, Theo has one last chance to enter the Nine Worlds, wielding the knowledge and expertise of his first life. This time, he needs more than just power, he needs to unravel the deception that killed him once… and is coming for him again. With Fithe behind him, the only thing standing between Theo and Authority is the soulcrafting itself. This will be the most important ascension of his life, so he draws on old knowledge and travels to Noven. There, he will find the perfect opportunity to fuel his rise… except it lies within a tower filled with challenges. And the dangers of the Wakespire may pale in comparison to the politics in the city around it.     AmazonKU

TOURNER: A PARANORMAL ACADEMY REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE (IRONSIDE ACADEMY BOOK TWO) by Jane Washington

Isobel Carter is making headlines. Some of them good, some of them bad, and some of them … astounding. She started at the bottom and now she’s near the top with everything she never wanted, but the Ironside Show doesn’t care, because she’s just become one of the most interesting students at the academy, and everyone seems to have big plans for her. The only thing the Ironside fans can’t decide on is which Alpha she looks best with, because of course it all goes back to them. The precious, cherished, formidable Alphas of Ironside. The ten reasons why she’s in this mess to begin with. And what a beautiful, brutal mess it is. Beware the pretty liars, because this social media game just went from dangerous to deadly.     AmazonKU

HOT VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR: SEASON FOUR (MIDNIGHT HARBOR BOOK FOUR) by Nikki St Crowe

I finally know who I am…and it terrifies me. Worse, I think it also terrifies my hot vampire boyfriend, Bran Duval. Can we get past the latest revelations about my origins and newfound power? Will Bran ever look at me the same way again? We have to figure things out if we’re to defeat the enemy that’s coming…Because they’re closer than we think. NOTE: Hot Vampire Next Door is a Kindle Vella serial. This version is a boxset of season four and contains episodes 54-70. The story is considered ongoing and does not have a scheduled end date. You can expect high heat, lots of twists, and a vampire who realizes he might be a little more protective of his little mouse than he first realized.   AmazonKU

WHERE THE SKY MEETS THE SEA by Kit Barrie

Sometimes the truth changes everything. Sky Diver First-Class Eron Marcel makes his living hunting whalls, giant sea creatures valued for their oil and hide. But when a hunt goes disastrously wrong, Eron is saved by a creature he did not know even existed: half-human and half-fish. Working with his rescuer, a young mer named Ket, Eron learns that the mer rely on the whalls for protection from the sea’s dangers, and both species are facing potential extinction. But conservation means nothing compared to profit to the rich oil barons. The mer and their relationship with the whalls might be the key to gaining even more power over the sea and its spoils, and Ket is the perfect bargaining chip. Eron is faced with the decision of what is more important: saving the mer, or saving Ket? Where the Sky Meets the Sea is an M/M adventure-romance set in a steampunk-style world. It is a standalone novel with a HEA and no cliffhanger.     AmazonKU

SOLDIER WOLF AND ALPHA WOLF’S SISTER (ALASKA WOLF SHIFTER CLAN) by Alicia Banks

Justice was never supposed to have Allie. She was the Alpha’s younger sister and off limits. He was nothing. He was just a soldier and Ben didn’t even know his name. Neither did Allie, until she was caught where she shouldn’t have been. He should have ignored her suggestive eyes and the smile that crossed her face. Justice couldn’t turn her away, he had to help her. Justice wasn’t the only one that felt too much, Allie started to wonder what it would be like to pick her own mate, fall in love? Why did she have to listen to fate? ALLIE – I just wanted freedom. It wasn’t like I was going to run off, I just wanted to live life like a normal human, not Alpha’s over-protected sister. One of his soldiers found me instead but didn’t drag me back for a pat on the back from my brother.
I kind of liked him and I loved the tingling his attention gave me down my spine.
When we kissed, just once, it changed everything for me…. (more blurb on ebook seller’s page…)     AmazonKU

WITCH LIKE A DREAM (A BROOMSTICKS AND BOOKS COZY MYSTERY BOOK SIX) by Sara Bourgeois

In the quaint town of Shadow Woods, danger lurks beneath the peaceful surface. When a mysterious death rocks the community, amateur detective and witch-in-training Daphne Alcott takes it upon herself to solve the case. Along with her talking cat familiar Dolly and loyal best friend Lizzy, Daphne dives headfirst into a thrilling investigation full of secrets, intrigue, and a dash of magic. After uncovering shocking evidence that points to the town’s powerful mayor, Daphne and her friends find themselves caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. As she races to connect the dots and unravel a tangled web of lies, Daphne discovers that she and those she loves are directly in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer. With her emerging powers, razor-sharp intuition, and steadfast allies, Daphne is determined to expose the truth and bring a murderer to justice. But when tensions reach a breaking point and long-held secrets threaten to destroy Shadow Woods, she realizes that this case is much bigger than anyone imagined. Can Daphne stay one step ahead and prevent catastrophe before it’s too late?   AmazonKU

ALPHA DRAGON’S EAGLE (THE DRAGONFATE GAMES BOOK TWO) by Hawke Oakley

After a controversy ten years ago, Matteo was done in the spotlight. He dropped his stage name and celebrity status to live out a humble life as a golden eagle omega. A second chance at the Dragonfate Games fuels Matteo’s desire for his fated mate… and threatens to unearth a past he abandoned long ago. As an alpha dragon who hoards music, Thystle was devastated when his favorite band broke up ten years ago—especially since he crushed hard on the lead vocalist. But could being the “prize” of a reality TV dating show lure his celebrity crush out of hiding? When the men lock eyes, hearts flutter and sparks fly. And when Thystle realizes Matteo is the omega he’s been obsessed with for a decade, the possessive dragon will do anything to make Matteo his.     AmazonKU

WAY OF THE WITCH (WITCHES OF NEW YORK BOOK SIX) by Kim Richardson

They don’t want Shay. They want you. Okay, so these were not the words I was expecting, coming from my angel father Matiel’s mouth. But here they were. The Assassins’ Guild of Angels wants me dead. Fantastic. I mean, what’s a witch gotta do to catch a break these days? I can’t even go for a leisurely stroll without someone trying to off me. Worse, I have no idea why they’re hunting me. But you know what they say: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And I’ve got a whole lot of lemons to work with. I may not be an angel like my father, but I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve too. Especially when it comes to saving my own skin. Do I run and hide from these angel assassins? Nope. I’m going to face them head-on and fight.     AmazonKU

DELIVERED TO MY KOALAS (MAIL ORDER MATINGS BOOK FOUR) by Mazzy J March

The problem with being half wolf shifter? No one wants to be my mate. Humans stay away from me. Some say I’m weird, and others keep their distance for unknown reasons. Shifters don’t like me because I’m half human and haven’t shifted. Hell, I might never shift. I’m stuck. My sister found her mate through Mail-Order Matin,g and I’m curious about it. But it wasn’t until another date went sour, one with a shifter, that I decided to try it. He didn’t want to have anything to do with a female who couldn’t shift and who stank like a human. I don’t stink, for the record. Nicole, my sister, said there’s all kinds of shifters on there, wanting all kinds of relationships. Maybe there’s a niche for someone like me.     AmazonKU

BEAR GUARDIAN (A ROGUE SHIFTERS AND HUNTERS BOOK ONE) by Brittany White

Seeking adventure, I met the man who would turn my world upside down. I have always been interested in the paranormal. Every summer, I went on a small adventure looking for evidence that the paranormal existed, whether it was ghosts, psychics, or witches. This year, my goal is to find out whether shifters are real or just a myth. I ended up at the Forest Resort in Ivy Springs, Colorado. The resort was run by billionaires who hated shifters and wanted them all destroyed because of an ancient legend. Not truly believing that shifters existed, I ended up under the protection and in the arms of a bear shifter. Noah Williams was a bear shifter dedicated to protecting the shifters from the hunters that roamed the area. His life was busy between protecting the shifters and the large ranch that he owned outside of the mountain town. He wasn’t pleased when I entered the scene and turned his life upside down. Determined to protect me from myself, a rogue shifter, and hunters, Noah appointed himself my guardian. I didn’t know that this man I was quickly falling for had a secret – a secret that would change my life.   AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

August 2

July 26

July 19

July 12

July 5

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

NOTE: I’m doing my best to avoid listing anything generated from use of AI but it’s sometimes tricky to detect from the resources I have available. As far as covers go, I list the Amazon cover. I won’t feature a cover in my weekly promo for this post if I believe or suspect it was done with AI.

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

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

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

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

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First Meeting: Wreck of the Nebula Dream Weekend Snippet

I’ve decided to change up these weekly snippets and go through my backlist, sharing the first meeting between the two main characters in each book. It’s always fun for me to revisit the books and I hope it will be for you too! Or if you’ve never happened to read a certain book, maybe I can entice you into giving it a try.

WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM was my first published scifi romance and the only one with no bedroom scenes. It’s a “Titanic in space” adventure and if you’re on a dying ship, there’s no time to spare! But Nick and Mara do fall in the love over the course of their ordeal…Many people have told me this was the first book of mine they ever read.

The excerpt, set in the casino aboard the Nebula Dream luxury spaceliner:

The businesswoman from the shuttle was playing one of the machines and appeared to be having quite a bit of luck, judging by the pile of golden credits in the tray. Nick walked over to the machine next to hers and began playing.

“That one’s cold, Captain,” she said, not breaking her concen­tration on the whirling holograms.

“I beg your pardon?” Not expecting her to make the first move, he’d been racking his brain what to say. Ballsy, takes the initiative all right – I like it.

Tilting her head, she gave him the radiant smile that had caught his attention on the shuttle, when she was playing with the children. “I said, it’s cold. Wasted most of my free credits there first, before I moved over one machine.” A slight frown creased her high forehead as he remained silent. Eyes narrowed, she studied him more closely. “You are the man from the shuttle yesterday after­noon, aren’t you? The one who saved that poor woman’s life?”

“Yes, I’m Nick Jameson, Special Forces.” Nick swore at himself. Something about this woman reduced him to tongue-tied stammering. Taking a calming breath, he referred to her comments about the events on the shuttle. “I don’t know about saving the lady’s life, though.” He rejected any claim to heroism, with his customary modest honesty. “Her dagger wasn’t exactly a serious weapon. I was more concerned she’d get the hatch door open somehow. You’re –”

“Well, I thought you were incredibly brave,” she answered with a smile. Tossing her beautiful hair, which tonight was a luxurious cascade of curls held off the perfect oval of her face by a blue band matching her evening gown, she extended a shapely hand. “I’m Mara Lyrae.”

They shook hands, Nick taking note that she wore no rings, although in this day and age, that didn’t necessarily mean any­thing about a person’s availability. It was encouraging, considering she’d remembered him from the shuttle. She had a firm, no-nonsense handshake.

The next minute he realized with a pang of dismay she was opening her embroidered evening purse.

Please don’t let her hand me a business card, brush me off.

But instead Mara was gathering up her credits, sweeping them into the elaborate purse, obviously preparing to leave. “Here, you can take over this machine, if you’d like,” was her only offer. She slid off her stool, smoothing the folds of her closely fitted evening gown. It was low cut but elegant, leaving her glowingly tanned shoulders bare.

Neither the dress nor the woman needs any further embellish­ment.

“Well, I’m not actually much of a gambler,” Nick said, glancing briefly, with no pretense of interest, at the slot machine she was vacating. “I was thinking it might be nice to go grab a bite to eat, some dinner? Would you care to –?”

“Oh, I am sorry,” she said, so sweetly he almost be­lieved she was actually regretful, rather than merely polite. “I already have an engagement for the evening, Captain. Some other time?”

“Yeah, well, whatever. I’ll – I’ll call you.”

“Please do. I might be free in a few days,” she invited over her shoulder, with one last smile, as she stepped off into the crowd. “Good evening and good luck! It’s a hot machine, I promise – or at least it has been for the last hour.”

“Oh, well, thank you.” Nick wasn’t a fan of losing credits to holo slots, but he didn’t want to offend her. He inserted one of his casino tokens in the slot, opened his mouth to say something further to her, but she’d already gone, hidden by the crowd. Her perfume lingered subtly behind, crisp, like her – faintly spicy and with a hint of some sultry floral tone. More memorable than any other woman I’ve ever met. The machine went cold with her departure, taking all he’d won at roulette and then more.

WRECK OF THE NEBULA DREAM

Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets.

All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. Aided by Mara, Nick must find a way off the doomed ship for himself and several other innocent people before deadly enemy forces reach them or the ship’s malfunctioning engines finish ticking down to self destruction.

But can Nick conquer the demons from his past that tell him he’ll fail these innocent people just as he failed to save his Special Forces team? Will he outpace his own doubts to win this vital race against time?

VS: I wrote two sequels to the novel, following what happened to various survivors after the wreck. I did a lot of research on survivors of the actual Titanic disaster and how their lives went on.