Why I Wrote TAMSYN (A Planet of Last Resort Novella)

I’ve always enjoyed zombie apocalypse stories, especially with romance, and wanted to write my own, which I did with ARRIVAL, book one in the series. Part of what fascinates me about any apocalypse or disaster is the time frame leading up to it. What early signs were there, how did people react, how would I have reacted and what happens when the crisis becomes full blown and civilization crumbles?

I kept thinking about what took place on this remote colony planet before my main characters arrived and decided to tell the story from the POV of a woman living in a small town in the northern area. I could also see how she would eventually fit in with my main characters as they made their way across the continent, heading for their own sanctuary. Her story opens up the world of Randal Four a bit more for readers.

It was fun to write. Of course then I got the impulse to write another novella about two characters we meet in TAMSYN. I have a feeling I could spin numerous tales taking place on this planet but for now I’ve told my Muse firmly we’d write the next two main books, JOURNEY and RESOLUTION and got those out in early 2026. Tamsyn will be part of the action in those books and we’ll also see the two characters from the ESCAPE TO NOWHERE novella as well.

But for now, I hope you’ll enjoy TAMSYN. Here’s an excerpt from early in the story, when the first event occurs, although at the time no one is aware of the ramifications. The town of Rosewater is having an annual festival and Tamsyn and her ranch hands have come to take part.

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The excerpt:

The day passed as usual at these events except for an incident in the middle of the afternoon when screams and shouts arose from the play area where the younger children were riding kiddie rides, having their faces painted and bouncing in a portable antigrav house designed to look like a fort on one side and a princess castle on the other. Many parents had taken holos of their offspring in front of one mural or the other. Tamsyn rushed to the spot along with everyone else, to find a weeping child being comforted by her mother, other children crying and wide eyed and several men cursing, including Drake, her senior ranch hand. He was holding his arm awkwardly.

“What the seven hells happened?” she demanded, trying to get a better look at his arm, which was bleeding.

“Kids were playing with a litter of feral kittens they found in the bushes,” Drake said. “Momma cat came home and went nuts protecting her babies. Little Maira got bit pretty bad, couple of the others are scratched. I got bit when I pulled the damn cat off Maira and threw it in the brush. Fucking thing came right back after me, tried to use my leg as a scratching post. Lucky my boots protected me. The kittens ran away and the mother followed. Coupla the boys are searching for them now.”

“Do you think the cat is rabid?” she asked.

“Wasn’t foaming at the mouth or anything. I been bit before,” he reminded her. “By bigger things than a cat.”

Tamsyn saw Doc Ortenbe kneeling beside the little girl who’d been attacked and she towed a protesting Drake over to him in time to hear the elderly physician say with great relief, as he checked his med sensor, “No sign of rabies in the bite. But it’ll need a couple of stitches and a good dose of antibiotic.”

“She loves cats,” the distraught mother said through tears.

“Not now I don’t,” Maira piped up.

“Doc, Drake here got bitten pretty badly too,” Tamsyn said. “Can you take a look?”

“We need to go over to the clinic,” he said. “I want to run the full decontam ray over these bites and scratches. Come on along, Drake.”

“Charge the bill for him on the ranch account,” Tamsyn said as the whole group prepared to move.

The doctor acknowledged her request with a wave and Tamsyn watched him lead his patients and their families and friends away, Drake trailing behind reluctantly.

The incident put a damper on the festivities, at least as far as the families with children were concerned and the park emptied out a bit.

At sunset things picked up as the band, hired by the Fafields from the city, arrived and set up their equipment on the bandstand, while a crowd gathered. Soon the group launched into their repertoire of songs, covering a range of genres. Dancing began as night fell. Sparkling lights had been strung all around the center portion of the park and things grew lively again.

Tamsyn was a good dancer and had no lack of partners, including one slow dance with Jonny Fafield, which she didn’t move fast enough to avoid. The two of them had been an item in high school, pretty serious, but then he’d gone away to the capital city for college and she’d stayed on the ranch and inevitably they drifted apart. Jonny had indicated any number of times he’d like to hook up on a casual basis but Tamsyn wasn’t interested. Casual wasn’t her. She’d also finally seen through his façade of being a rich, handsome nice guy to understand the dark bully who’d use his family’s power and position to get anything he wanted was the true Jonny. She’d rather stay single forever than be in a relationship with a man of such caliber.

The festival ended promptly at midnight, the band playing one last song, and then everyone left the park.

Tamsyn waited by her groundtruck until her three wayward ranch hands showed up, worse for the wear. Drake’s arm was heavily bandaged, Piers had been in a fight and was sporting a black eye and Clemt was drunk. She plucked a bottle of feelgood from his hand and threw it in the nearest recycling container. “By the looks of you you’ve had enough rotgut tonight.”

The three men loaded themselves into the truck and she got behind the controls, shaking her head. Pretty much the usual for these affairs. The ranch hands are  going to have a hard time rolling out of their bunks to work tomorrow.

Briefly she considered giving them the day off but the ranch work was waiting and there was fence to be mended, a stock pond to be dredged and refilled, a barn roof to repair before the next windstorm…the list was endless. She compromised.

“You can have the morning to sleep this off,” she said loud enough to penetrate their stupor. “Report for work at one o’clock or get docked for the day’s pay.”

Drake patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Aww, you’re a good boss.”

“Yeah? Don’t forget it when we’re on the big cattle drive next week. Less complaining would be a sweet relief.”

She let the truck’s AI take control as she passed through the neat little suburb outside the town proper, nothing special, simple colony housing, but kept with pride, landscaped as much as anything could be in this environment, and then she hit the open road which would take them to the ranch’s turnoff eventually and the truck accelerated to top speed.

Thank goodness it’s four months till the next damn festival Mrs. Fafield intends us all to celebrate. Tamsyn leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She trusted the AI to get them home safely as it had done many times before. She hadn’t overindulged in feelgoods like her men had but she was tired after a long day of socializing and the dancing had been vigorous. She couldn’t seem to nap though as she kept having dreams which were dark and full of ominous shadows, with giant feral cats surrounding her, their eyes glowing and their teeth dripping blood. 

VS: Now let me state I love cats and have always had them as pets so it was a little hard for me to make them the vector for the virus which turns people into zombies. But no cats are harmed in the book or later books! The cats are carriers, not victims. There’s a mystery about this aspect of the outbreak which will get resolved in a later book.

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TAMSYN: A PLANET OF LAST RESORT NOVELLA by Veronica Scott

The story of one small town on a remote colony planet and the rising zombie apocalypse…Busy running her ranch outside Rosewater, Tamsyn Wendover doesn’t pay much attention to the goings-on in town. But when one of her ranch hands is bitten while trying to help a child, she’s drawn into the mysterious flu outbreak spreading over the planet. As the deadly flu worsens, striking the town and the ranch, the chaos intensifies and Tamsyn is drawn into the desperate fight for survival. Author’s Note: This 20K novella is a prequel to the events in book one, mostly occurring prior to the arrival of the main characters on the planet in ARRIVAL. There’s no romance in this novella although Tamsyn does meet the man she’ll fall in love with later as the story goes on in upcoming books. Tamsyn will be a continuing character in the adventures on the Planet of Last Resort.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     NOOK      GooglePlay

 

New Releases in SciFi/Romantasy/Paranormal Romance for DEC 10

VS: I have a New Release myself  this week as well!

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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TAMSYN: A PLANET OF LAST RESORT NOVELLA by Veronica Scott

The story of one small town on a remote colony planet and the rising zombie apocalypse…Busy running her ranch outside Rosewater, Tamsyn Wendover doesn’t pay much attention to the goings-on in town. But when one of her ranch hands is bitten while trying to help a child, she’s drawn into the mysterious flu outbreak spreading over the planet. As the deadly flu worsens, striking the town and the ranch, the chaos intensifies and Tamsyn is drawn into the desperate fight for survival. Author’s Note: This 20K novella is a prequel to the events in book one, mostly occurring prior to the arrival of the main characters on the planet in ARRIVAL. There’s no romance in this novella although Tamsyn does meet the man she’ll fall in love with later as the story goes on in upcoming books. Tamsyn will be a continuing character in the adventures on the Planet of Last Resort.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     NOOK      GooglePlay

TEMPTED BY THE ALIEN MERCENARY (MONSTER MERCENARY MATES BOOK SEVEN) by Robin O’Connor

He was built to feed on fear, but I’m the only one who ever tempted him to feel. Frederique – I woke in a shattered stasis pod, centuries too late, on a world drowning in water and secrets. My mission? Gone. My crew? Dust. And the only being who’s kept me alive since then is an alien mercenary wrapped in living silver and danger. He’s not just terrifying, he’s mesmerizing.I should keep my distance. I know better. But every time his dark gaze settles on me, every time that shifting symbiont flows over his skin like armor and art, I forget who I was supposed to be. His power should terrify me, but it tempts me. He tempts me. Even when I discover the truth about my mission. Even when enemies rise and survival hangs by a thread… I still look at him and wonder what would happen if I let myself fall. The Sineater – She calls me mercenary. Monster. But she doesn’t run. I was sent to kill, not to feel. My symbiont craves agony like air, but her emotions, bright and tangled, taste like hope. I want her. Not just her body, but the calm in her thoughts, the fire in her fight. I want to protect that light, even as I know I’ll destroy it. But I am always hungry. Always feared. And if I take what I want, I may never let her go…Even if loving her is the one thing that could break me.   AmazonKU

THE CURSED HORDE KING (HORDES OF THE ELTHIKA BOOK TWO) by Zoey Draven

A bewitching spy. A ruthless king. A love that could ignite a war. Amaia has worked hard to make her family proud. As the star apprentice to the pyroki master in Dothik, she’s weeks away from inheriting her mentor’s coveted post. But when her desperate brother begs her to take his place in the Heartstone Accords, a diplomatic exchange with their rival nation, she agrees to the unthinkable. Her mission? Cross the sea to Grym, secure work at the dragon hatchery, and spy for the throne. But Grym is nothing like she imagined—and neither is its formidable king. Merciless and calculated, Alaryk Arn’dyne is as feared as the ancient dragon he commands. Gifted with powerful heartstone magic that can twist minds, he’s impossible to deceive…and a dark temptation Amaia needs to avoid at all costs. After a deadly curse strikes Alaryk’s dragon, Amaia knows she can save him, forcing a reluctant alliance with the very person she’s sworn to betray. As their forbidden attraction grows, however, she discovers a male scarred by a painful past, whose wicked needs make her burn. But when an unexpected crime threatens to ignite a war, Amaia must choose: her home, her heart…or the ruthless king who could destroy both.      AmazonKU

ALIENS IN MY STOCKINGS by A A Fairview

VS Note: Lesbian SFR.

Home for the holidays, Temperance would rather be anywhere else in the world– or off it. Alien abduction is a dream come true. Her alien captors, Chyme and Ivx, should follow protocol and release the Earthling – Except Chyme is absolutely sure this woman needs their help. Why else would she be so calm about her abduction? Ivx prefers to follow the rules that Chyme loves to break, but as they travel the stars it’s clear the duo is better as a trio. There’s one big problem: Temperance travel onboard the ship breaks intergalactic law. Once they reach their destination, it’ll take a Christmas Miracle to keep them all together.      Amazon

GALACTIC SENTINELS VOLUME 3 MARTIAN ADVENTURES by C L Pride

He came to track a criminal. She wants to save lives. Together, they’ll uncover a truth that could set Mars ablaze. When Prax, an alien agent on a mission, crash-lands on a frozen, terraformed Mars, he doesn’t expect to be rescued by Neela — a fiery human doctor from a colony ruled by the strict laws of the Pact, a legacy from Earth’s final days. As mysterious deaths shake the settlement, Prax and Neela join forces to investigate. What they uncover about the Regent’s hidden corruption threatens the future of Mars.  Between betrayals, battles, and revelations, their alliance becomes more than just a mission.  Their love is improbable.  Their destiny, unstoppable.  Together, they might spark a revolution — and change the fate of Mars forever.      AmazonKU

STORMS OF DESTINY (RETURN TO DESTRA BOOK TWO) by Ella Blake

TORVEN – The expedition was supposed to be easy—transport a research team, keep them safe, go home. But I didn’t count on the challenge that is Dr. Zara Rivers. The beautiful human female overpacks, talks too fast, and forgets safety protocols when she gets excited about data. When we crash-land and have to take shelter together, I tell myself my protective instincts are professional concern, until mating marks appear on my neck, marking us bonded for life. Now we’re stranded on a storm-churned world where ancient enemies must cooperate or face extinction, and the real danger isn’t the hostile planet hunting us—it’s how much I need her. ZARA – When my research ship crashes on a storm-ravaged planet, I’m trapped in an abandoned weather tower with Captain Torven Korvath, who alternates between criticizing my equipment choices and throwing himself between me and danger. My gruff Destran companion is more attractive than any dataset I’ve ever laid eyes on, but somewhere out there, my best friend and scattered crew are fighting to survive. When we discover the storms aren’t natural, it’s a race against time to shut down the secret ancient tech powering them. And he thinks I’m a challenge.      AmazonKU

THIRST (SILENT DEATH BOOK TWO) by Eileen Troemel

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

Delilah poisoned her co-workers and tried to blow up a space station all to make a point. Now she’s on earth and taking on a new environmental issue with a biological weapon. She’s determined to up her body count in order to draw attention to her new cause all while still trying to kill her former co-workers. Colin, Betsy, Frank, and Stephanie are back to battle against the havoc and chaos Delilah causes. She’s taking on the drinking water systems. Her first attack goes unnoticed until Betsy sees a media article of a biological poisoning of the bottle filling stations common in every community. This water is supposed to be guaranteed to be clean and safe to drink. While Delilah attacks a water target, the team struggles to keep up with her attacks. They chase her while she stalks them. No one is safe from her destruction. With near misses and injuries, will the team be able to stop this determined genius ecoterrorist from killing more innocents? Will they capture her and put a stop to her reign of terror or will she escape capture yet again?      AmazonKU

SPACEMAN’S SURFER: MM MPREG SFR (VOLARDI ARRIVAL BOOK TWO) by Tabitha Austin

“The bond was supposed to be political. Clean. Distant. But feelings don’t follow treaties.” You’d think surfing waves with alien nanotech would be the wildest part of my story. Turns out, that was just the warm-up. I’m Thomas, aspiring musician, Pacific Ocean water rat, and the guy who got roped into a mating bond to stop a war between Earth and the Volardi Empire. Zephyron, my alien partner, is massive, scarred, and still grieving the two mates he lost. To him, I’m a reminder of something he thought he’d never have again: hope. Now I’m starting to fall for him, and my body’s changing. So is everything else. I’m caught between two planets, shadowed by Parker, a nosy documentarian with too many questions, and followed by two reprogrammed alien simulacrums who might be the only ones I can trust when things go wrong. And they will. Especially when creatures like the Zerlites, sharp-toothed and hive-minded, start crawling out of the sand. I never asked to be anyone’s symbol or savior. I just wanted music and waves. But if I’m going to survive this, if there’s any chance to build something real with Zephyron, I’ll have to fight for it before the desert takes us all.    AmazonKU

UNDER A SOLSTICE SEA: TINSEL AND TENTACLES by Ari McKay

VS Note: LGBTQ SFR.

Mankind has gone to the stars, but there are still many secrets lurking in the depths much closer to home. CORBIn (Construct, Oceanic Research, Biologically INtegrated) is one of a kind, a fusion of human, animal, and machine designed to explore the still hidden parts of our world. It is programmed with a purpose, to discover and reveal the last mysteries of Earth. It isn’t supposed to be able to lie or conceal anything from its creators – but, then again, it was also never meant to fall in love.      AmazonKU

GOOD TIME VAMPIRE ESCORT SERVICE by Jody Wallce

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

Dwayne Stacey isn’t your ordinary former Super Bowl MVP-turned-suave-handsome-vampire fifty years after Flu-V nearly decimated the population of Earth. No, Dwayne is a man on a mission, and that mission is to convince the football bigwigs at the Vince Lombardi Gala and Silent Auction that a Vampire Football League is where it’s at. His agent at the Good Time Vampire Escort Service has gotten him a ticket to the event, and he suspects this may be his last shot at the goal. Because if he doesn’t increase his income soon, he and his super intelligent cat are going to lose their preferred standard of living, or unliving, as it were. Not only that, but since his preferred standard of living includes a pitchfork-wielding-mob proof security system, he might lose a lot more than his fine digs. Vampires can’t be too careful in a world of humans who are struggling to accept them, but what would make a guy more acceptable than being a football superstar once again? Notes: Book contains a lot of cussing.      Amazon    Kobo

DAGGERMOUTH by H M Wolfe

The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is mercy no longer exists. Showing mercy is a weakness, and weakness will get you killed. The second thing is this—the Veyra are always watching. From the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slum dens of the Boundary, no movement goes unseen. The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it. Love outside of your ring is a death sentence. The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power. Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed. Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the governments brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride who is as lethal as she is unwilling. Shadera is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her bound to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested. Their union is no love story—It’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating one another or burning the city to the ground together. In a world where passion sparks rebellion and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.     AmazonKU

CAPTAIN COMMANDER (THE BLACK HOLE BOOK THREE) by

VS Note: LGBTQ SFR. From NOV 18.

They’ve crossed black holes, defied tyrants, and clawed their way back from the edge of death. But for Captain Sarah Miller and those she loves, one question remains: can they ever truly find home? The Crown offers sanctuary, but Sarah, scarred by battle and haunted by her past, struggles to believe she deserves peace. Annie refuses to let her face the fight alone, even when the cost of standing beside Sarah grows higher than either imagined. Sofie, torn between bloodline and belonging, searches for the family she’s always wanted. And Max, restless and uncertain, wonders if there is still a place for him in the world they’re fighting for. Shadows linger, and old enemies are never as far away as they seem. To make it home, they must confront not only the dangers closing in around them—but the legacies that have threatened to break them from the very beginning. Captain Commander is the breathtaking conclusion to The Black Hole Saga: a story of love and loyalty, trauma and healing, and the unshakable hope that even in the darkest places, home can still be found.       Amazon

RECKLESS (INTERSTELLAR BRIDES® PROGRAM: PRIMAL MATES BOOK THREE) by Grace Goodwin

Homicide detective Ethan Blake has been around long enough to know better; better than to believe a word out of the lying Feds’ mouths when they show up to take over his case. Better than to believe the victim’s corpse, covered in Hive cyborg tech, was ever human. Better than to look into the seductive eyes of the mysterious woman asking for his help. A woman who knows far more than she should about… everything. A woman whose kiss makes him lose control. A woman with secrets. A woman whose whispers make him see incredible things in the dark. Lady Lyra of Atlan is on a secret mission for the Coalition Fleet’s covert Intelligence Core. She lost everything long before she volunteered to be a spy. And now, through a wicked twist of fate, she’s even lost control of herself. The DNA augmentation, meant to make her Atlan body stronger and faster than it should be, has done something else… created a monster. It’s inconceivable for a female Atlan to have a beast, to suffer from mating fever. But one look at the human detective and the unthinkable becomes reality as something primitive awakens within her. She has a mystery to solve, evil smugglers to eliminate, and brothers to avenge, but destiny has other plans. Because the beast that’s not supposed to exist? She wants. She needs. She makes one relentless, uncompromising demand of the unsuspecting human male… mine.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

DEFENDER (VERDANT STRING BOOK EIGHT) by Michelle Diener

Hunted, captured, taken off-planet . . .As a Special Forces Commander, Ethan Hyt is well aware his duty is to protect the Planetary Head of Defense, Velda Shanïha, but when their ship is shot down and they are taken prisoner, he finds it harder and harder to pretend he’s protecting Velda out of duty. Velda knows that as Aponi’s Head of Defense, she’s a good bargaining chip for her enemies, and she’s hoping that fact will keep her and Ethan alive. She and Ethan made a good team before, but their forced proximity has made their connection even stronger, and they’ll need each other to take every opportunity to get free. Because if they don’t, Velda’s afraid they’re going to disappear forever.   AmazonKU

PROTECTOR: A SPACE PEARL TREAT by Annie Lucas

Haunted by PTSD after enduring torture at the hands of the Zarpazian Queen, Diarvet is a shattered wreck of the warrior he once was. He’s devoted himself to rescuing abducted humans, hoping it will give his broken soul some purpose. While visiting the flagship Space Pearl’s restaurant on the Ardeese Valout, he stumbles upon a desperate escaped human slave and the youngling she’s sworn to protect—and suddenly finds that purpose staring back at him. Jolie has spent years imprisoned in Prince Qurbaga’s harem. Not the best fate for an abducted human, but her love for Lilibet has kept her going. The tiny youngling may be another species, but Jolie considers her a daughter. When Jolie discovers that Qurbaga plans to give Lilibet away as a gift to a visiting dignitary, she’s left with no other choice. She must risk everything to escape and save the child she loves more than anything in the universe from a fate worse than death. Trusting Diarvet—trusting anyone—doesn’t come easy, but he quickly proves to be a fierce protector. Being with him makes Jolie feel safe and spurs dreams of something she thought out of reach after her abduction. The hope of freedom and a chance to open her heart to the possibility of love… and a family.      AmazonKU

TETHERED by TJ Williams

VS Note: Sapphic SFR.

One boy, his mother, and a captain with secrets from her crew. Amongst the stars, all things lost are found. Marlowe Rose has been fighting her ex, Dominik, for a decade. When he kidnaps their son, she sneaks onto his starship, planning to give him hell. Instead, she ends up caught, sequestered and questioned by the captain. But Tanisira Sekmith isn’t what Marlowe thought she was, and when it becomes clear that they’re all just puppets in Dominik’s eyes, Marlowe convinces the stoic captain to help rescue her son. Tanisira promised herself she’d make no waves, catch no one’s attention, and cruise under the radar. Misplacing her trust once changed the trajectory of her whole life. After the fallout from her last job, flying a pleasure yacht is supposed to be boring and easy—exactly what she wants. But finding Marlowe on the ship changes everything. Marlowe sees her, shadows and all, and it forces Tanisira to face things she tried to leave behind. Marlowe doesn’t expect to find, on this journey that she dreaded, something she’d given up. And Tanisira doesn’t know if she deserves happiness, but she doesn’t want to lose this: a kid with big, green eyes and his fierce, captivating mother.

AmazonKU      AB

AN ALIEN AMBASSADOR FOR AUGUST (ALIEN ABDUCTION OF THE MONTH) by Lindy Moonhill

He was sent to negotiate peace. She just declared war on his heart. AUGUSTA – I came to the floating city of Nyssari to protect my pop star client—not to lose my heart to a deadly alien diplomat in one explosive night. Berrak is seven feet of muscle—massive, dangerous, his scales gleaming like living armor. A former soldier turned ambassador with ocean-deep secrets and hands that could crush me… or worship me. I told myself it was just one night. A moment of madness. But when assassins destroy the city and I’m running for my life in his arms, I realize one night will never be enough. He makes me feel protected, desired, claimed—everything I swore I didn’t need. I don’t trust him. I definitely shouldn’t want him. Yet every time he looks at me like I’m his, I fall a little further. BERRAK – I was sent to fight with words instead of weapons. To secure treaties that could save my people. Augusta is everything I swore to avoid: distracting, reckless, impossible to control. She makes me want things I cannot afford—her touch, her trust, her future tied to mine. Now the city is falling, enemies hunt us through alien jungles, and she won’t leave without finding her missing people. Protecting her could cost me everything. But letting her go? That would destroy me.      AmazonKU

BONDED TO THE NANO HEALER (CLAIMED BY THE KYRATHI BOOK FOUR) by Nova Sloane

VS Note: From NOV 19.

Dr. Luna Reyes is dying. The alien virus in her blood is spreading fast, and human medicine has no answers. Her only hope is Vex—a Kyrathi Nano Healer whose treatment requires surrendering her body completely to his care. His touch heals. His nanites rebuild. And his method of delivery? Devastatingly intimate. Now her cells are rewriting. Her needs are changing. And her cure comes with a price: belonging to the healer who remade her from the inside out. Fated mates. Medical seduction. One treatment that transforms everything.      AmazonKU       AB

IRON AND DUST: A DYSTOPIAN CYBORG ROMANCE by Sal Riff

Kaelia Rane is a Sump rat, a scavenger, and a pilot flying a ship held together by duct tape and prayer. Her home moon of Veridia is dying, choked by toxic red iron-oxide dust that turns lungs to stone. Desperate for a cure, she breaks into the Obsidian Spire—a derelict luxury station from the fallen d’Evremonde regime. She expects to find ancient tech. Instead, she finds a nightmare. Unit 736 is a Siege-Breaker: a towering, bio-engineered super-soldier designed to crush rebellions with his bare hands. Abandoned in the dark for ten years, he has become a ghost in the machine, terrifying and lethal. But beneath the black armor and the command codes, something else has taken root. In the silence of his prison, the monster has become a gardener. When Kaelia invades his sanctuary, he doesn’t kill her. He feeds her. Now, Kaelia must drag the reluctant giant out of the dark and back to a world that fears him. But they are not alone. Director Neturius of Helios Intelligence is hunting them, determined to erase the last evidence of the old world’s atrocities. With a kill-squad on their tail and a planet on the brink of collapse, Kaelia and Camdon must forge an impossible alliance. To save Veridia, the scavenger must teach the weapon how to live—and the monster must remember how to be a man.      AmazonKU

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

VS Note: Here’s book one in the series (and there’s a fullblown romance in it, but also as a supporting character the man TAMSYN will be falling in love with later in the series (although there’s no hint of that in book one):

ARRIVAL (PLANET OF LAST RESORT BOOK ONE) by Veronica Scott

Melisande “Melly” Jericho is a newly licensed medical doctor, returning to her home planet to practice family medicine. She hasn’t been home in years and is excited to see her friends and family again. But when her shuttle lands, the spaceport seems deserted and she can’t get her handheld to connect to the network to call for help. Stranded on the landing pad far from the terminal, she joins forces with the only other passengers to arrive, never dreaming they’ll all soon be plunged into a life-or-death situation.

Jeff Pearson, retired Sectors Special Forces captain and his friends have come to colony planet Randal Four to take up ranching. He’s attracted to the curvy doctor as soon as he sees her on board the shuttle to the planet and hopes he can at least get her com details and maybe set up a dinner date before he and his team leave the city to reach their waiting ranchland. His tentative plans come to a crashing halt as a strange horde of moaning, growling people emerges from the terminal, headed in their direction with clearly murderous intent.

Jeff, Melly and the others make a desperate run to escape from the mob and begin an adventure the likes of which none of them could ever have predicted. As they struggle against overwhelming odds to survive, evade the infected, escape the city and reach her family home, the attraction and trust between the two grows ever hotter. But so does the danger and the mystery of what happened to the people of Randal Four.

Planet of Last Resort is book one in a new scifi romance series set in the Sectors. This book will end in a Happy For Now situation for the two main characters; however the series arc will continue and the challenges and dangers will not be resolved in this book. Melly and Jeff will find some of the answers they’re seeking with more mysteries to solve. NOTE: JOURNEY and RESOLUTION  will be released in 2026. Still writing them!

Amazon     Kobo      Apple Books   NOOK      GooglePlay

(You can preorder ESCAPE TO NOWHERE: A PLANET OF LAST RESORT NOVELLA, out JAN 5)        Amazon      Apple Books

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

GUARDIAN LOVERS: A GUARDIAN ROMANTIC FANTASY COLLECTION by Mary Jo Putney

Guardian Lovers is a delightful collection of author Mary Jo (M.J.) Putney’s shorter stories set in the world of her acclaimed Guardian Trilogy. Characters may have unusual magical gifts, but they also have the normal human desire for love. A stubborn Scottish weather mage and a rare wild talent woman descended from Spanish Marranos unite to save Britain from the Spanish Armada. An exhausted medical student finds unexpected danger and an even more unexpected enchantress when he makes a late night visit to his local New York deli. A gifted police officer joins with a female Guardian to stop a murderous succubus. A Guardian neurologist on a Christmas holiday is enlisted to help rescue imperiled children. In all four stories in this collection (The Alchemical Marriage, Tuesday At the Night Deli, The Demon Dancer, and Toasted: A Christmas Story) magically gifted men and women risk their lives to do the right thing, and in the process find a love for all ages.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE BIG BOOK OF ROMANCE by Various

Love across genres: A Romance Anthology – Thirteen established romance authors give us a tantalising glimpse into their book worlds with these compelling and enchanting short stories. A teaser – a quickie if you will – that will whet your appetite for more! Contemporary Romance: explore the challenges of modern-day love with Kate Flora, Viola Russell, Meredith Kazer, and Joanne Guidoccio. Small Town Romance: cosy up with cherished friends with Maggie Rose.Suspense Romance: Thrills and love are a perilous combination, as told by J.E.Prim. Paranormal Romance: delight to tales of love amidst things that go bump in the night with Raven Hudgins, Carole Ann Moleti, and Janina Grey. Fantasy Romance: take a wild trip into the imagination of Claire Davon. Time Travel Romance: travel back in time for some olde worlde action and adventure with Cindy Tomamichel. Science Fiction Romance: leave today behind and explore what love looks like in the future with S.C. Mitchell and G.S. Kenney.      Amazon

SNOWED IN WITH THE YETI by Lara Reagan

What happens when your online gaming buddy turns out to be eight feet tall, covered in fur, and absolutely irresistible? Maya thought the hardest part about moving to Calamity Creek would be adjusting to her new monster and human neighbors. She never expected a blizzard, a car wreck, and a rescue by a mysterious Yeti to completely derail her plans to finally meet her online gaming partner of three years at the local convention. But when a towering, gentle rescuer introduces himself with a familiar voice and an embarrassed grin, Maya realizes her knight in shining armor is none other than YetiBeGood – the teammate who’s had her back through countless virtual battles and late-night conversations. Trapped together in his cozy mountain cabin while the storm rages outside, the chemistry that sizzled through their headsets is nothing compared to the heat building between them in person. As walls come down and hearts open up, Maya discovers that some connections transcend species, screen names, and even her wildest fantasies. But when the snow melts and the real world comes calling, will their love survive outside the safety of his arms and her new supernatural community?     AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH THE TROLL by Sabrina Silvers

A storm, a troll, and one very nosy mother… what could go wrong? I came to Iceland to find peace, inspiration, and maybe a little adventure. I didn’t expect a blizzard. Or to be rescued by seven feet of muscle, horns, and socially awkward grumpiness who insists he’s fine—just cursed, glowing, and possibly my fated mate. Gunnar isn’t exactly human. He’s a retired troll enforcer who carves furniture, avoids people, and has a mom who meddles in his love life using enchanted cocoa and mistletoe. When a magical storm traps us together in his cave, sparks fly—literally. His runes light up whenever I laugh, his dry humor makes my heart melt, and his kisses could set the snow on fire. Now we’re snowed in with only one bed, one troll, and one very determined matchmaking queen watching from afar. Good thing I’ve always worked well under pressure… especially when the pressure comes with horns.      AmazonKU

MASKED OMEGA FOR CHRISTMAS: MM CHRISTMAS ROMANCE by Lorelai M Hart and Colbie Dunbar

VS Note: Alpha bear shifter.

All I want for Christmas is a day off. After winning an all expense paid week in the mountains, the first thing I do is submit my leave request. I’ve been working in food service long enough to know that days off this time of year are nearly impossible to get. The week finally arrives, my bags are packed, my itinerary set, and I’m about to have the merriest Christmas ever. That is until my boss calls and asks me why I’m late for my shift and that they never got my request. I have a half hour to get there, dressed and ready to serve or lose my position. As much as I want to tell them to take their job and shove it, I can’t. I need the job. It’s not ideal, but I’ll make it work. My plan is to pass hors d’oeuvres and flutes of champaign until the party dies down, then race to the mountains. It’s a great plan until I get locked in the wine cellar with my college crush who keeps calling me mate.    AmazonKU

RAIN’S FOX MATE: MM SHIFTER MPREG ROMANCE (THE MATES MOTEL BOOK ONE) by Lorelai M Hart

I checked in with nothing but the clothes on my back. I checked out with the greatest treasure of all. I have a tendency to get a notion and go for it. That’s how I end up in a small town, buying a house before setting foot in it, and giving up my six-figure job to start a consulting business. Everything is going great, until lightning decides my house is the perfect place to strike, ultimately burning it to ash. rance will cover the costs of replacement. That’s not the issue. Having someplace to stay until it’s done is. Within an hour’s radius, there are one chain hotel, four inns, and the Mates Motel. The inns are all booked, and the chain hotel isn’t available the next three weekends. The Mates Motel it is. It may look sketchy, but the old man at the front desk seems nice and the rooms are clean. It could be worse. So much worse.      AmazonKU

WYLD WITCH WEATHER by Janna Ruth

I’m a wild child. Wilful, moody, destructive. You could say my reputation blows—literally. Other teens skip class or experiment with drugs. I wreck classrooms. Not on purpose. But when I cry, the wind answers. Loudly. Violently. Now I’m down to my last chance: the Wyld Lands Academy. It looks like some posh boarding school I’ve got no business setting foot in. But inside those ancient stone walls? There’s magic. Fire, water, earth, air—the students here are attuned to their element. Like me. For once, I’m not the only freak in the room. I can deal with bitchy roommates, demanding teachers, and the occasional elemental breakout. Especially with the handsome, talented, and impossibly kind headboy looking out for me. One thing’s for sure: I won’t let anything—not even terrorist witches—take this from me. But there’s a storm inside me. And if I can’t learn to tame it soon, it won’t just get me expelled. It’ll get me killed. Or worse.      Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE BEAR’S CHRISTMAS MATE (A BEAR CREEK CHRISTMAS BOOK THREE) by Harmony Raines

When Doreen arranges a trip to Bear Creek to visit her friend Sorcha, all she wants is peace and quiet, a chance to recharge her batteries, and enjoy a cozy retreat. Then life drops two surprises on her doorstep: her nephew Jake and his golden retriever Bash, who turn her relaxing getaway into a whirlwind of dog training, non-stop talking (and tail wagging), and snowy chaos. Enter Deputy James Pike—handsome, warm, protective… and completely not what Doreen came here for. So why does her heart feel like it’s waking up for the first time in years? James can’t believe it when a runaway golden retriever leads him to his mate. She is everything he wished for and more. But Doreen is only here on vacation. Somehow, he has to persuade her to stay. Forever. Oh, and he also has to tell her he’s a bear shifter. And they are mates… How hard can it be?      AmazonKU

SECRETS OF THE VOID (DEEP WATERS BOOK FIVE) by Emma Hamm

She was never meant to wake up. Ellie was created in secret. A perfect clone of a powerful woman long dead. For years, she knew only sterile walls, the touch of cold instruments, and the voice of the scientist who molded her into something useful. Something obedient. Until the day she opened her eyes and met a god. Proteus. The sea’s first son. The god who once ruled the depths, and who has spent centuries imprisoned by those who feared him. Now freed, his vengeance is as vast as the ocean itself. He will reclaim his dominion. Drown the world that betrayed him. And he will use Ellie, the clone who carries the face of his enemy, to do it. But the more time he spends with her, the more his carefully built hatred begins to unravel. Because Ellie isn’t just a tool. She’s clever, defiant, heartbreakingly alive. And Proteus—ancient, merciless Proteus—finds himself wanting her more than he wants his revenge. She was made to serve. He was born to destroy. Together, they could end humanity. Or save it.      AmazonKU

LEO IN LACE: DOUBLE BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Layla Dorine

VS Note: MMM PNR. The MMC is too ‘without apparel’ for my PG-13+ blog.

Leo – I love my friend group to pieces, even if there are a few drama-llamas in the bunch. This year has been a bit much though, between hearing about their constant relationship woes and party planning calamities and dealing with my own workplace catastrophies. Taking a break to refresh and recharge seemed like the perfect plan, until I arrived at the cabin I’d booked for one to find two snow leopards cuddling on the bed. Maverick – Another year and no mate in sight. It’s not that I haven’t looked, I’ve tried matchmakers and even a few online dating sites that resulted in some frustrating and occasionally embarrassing hookups that left me smarting after they ghosted me. All my efforts have landed me was more chastisment from my folks who can’t stop wishing I’d be more like my older siblings. If it wasn’t for Briar’s brilliant idea for a little getaway, my outlook for this holiday season would have been worse than last years. Briar – Booking a holiday retreat for me and my best friend has plenty of benefits, including the obvious ones. While we’ve never had mating marks appear on our skin, neither of us can picture ourselves with anyone else, no matter how much our families protest the break from tradition. Booking it in a snowy paradise, well that’s just a bonus when you’re both snow leopards. At least until our cabin for two turns out to be a cabin for three.    AmazonKU

JIM HENSON’S COMPLETE LABYRINTH by Various

VS Note: Hardcover only. Re-releases.

Celebrate the beloved Jim Henson fantasy film with this complete hardcover collection of stories from inside the magical walls of the labyrinth! Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Beyond the Goblin City spotlights the secret history of Sir Didymus and the untold story of one of Jareth’s Masquerade guests, in addition to tales featuring fan-favorite characters like Ludo, Hoggle, Ambrosius, and the Goblin King himself. This epic collection showcases imaginative tales from critically acclaimed writers and artists including Jonathan Case (The New Deal), Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars: Phasma), Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro), Roger Langridge (Snarked), Katie Cook (Star Wars: ABC-3PO), Jeff Stokely (The Ludocrats), S.M. Vidaurri (Labyrinth: Under the Spell), Sina Grace (Superman: Kal-El Returns), Michael Dialynas (Wynd), Sarah Webb (The Storyteller: Sirens), Boya Sun (5 Worlds), Lara Elena Donnelly (The Amberlough Dossier), French Carlomagno (The Dead Lucky), Pius Bak (Eat The Rich), Samantha Dodge (Catwoman: Soulstealer), and many more! Collects Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Shortcuts and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Under the Spell.      Amazon

ECHOES OF SILVER (LEGENDS OF GOLD AND SILVER BOOK TWO) by  Liz Delton

A silversword cannot live without his weapon. And a king cannot rule without a throne. After their disastrous trip to the Hollow Isles, Fig and Vaelor seek answers about fixing his broken sword that could get both of them killed. A powerful dwarven relic has resurfaced, and the usurper king Rhivven has offered it as a prize in a tournament—drawing ire from the dwarves and interest from Dev, who thinks it might help him take back his throne. Mairead vows to return home, but dark forces are in motion in Tytan, and the sisterhood that shunned her hasn’t forgotten about her. An ancient cavern may hold all the answers… But if the truth gets out, it could threaten the very foundation of the continent.      AmazonKU

ALPHA WOLF’S SOLD BRIDE  (ROSE HOLLOW WOLVES BOOK THREE) by Lyra Atlas

I’m sold to the Alpha as his new mate and baby-carrier. I’m despised for being curvy and a human. I don’t know yet that I’m psychic. He’s a blacks ops wolf and the new Alpha, who needs a mate to ally with our pack. He buys me, then gets protective of me and wants to own me…I’ve always dreamed of escaping my miserable life with the daily bullying and torments. Now I have to pretend that I love the Alpha I’m sold to. I want to escape this marriage, but he says I’m his. I want to leave our small town, but he says he’ll protect me. No man has ever touched my thick hips or massive thighs. But his hands roam my body, making me desperate with want. He teaches me what it’s like to let out the psychic in me. He shows me what it’s like to be owned, claimed, and desperate with need. Will the Alpha claim me as his fated mate?      AmazonKU

SOLAR SHADOWS (CELESTIAL MAGIC BOOK THREE) by Ruchard Amos

VS Note: MM PNR. The series follows three witch brothers.

When your past bites you in the backside. Literally! I’m doing my best to cope with my new life as The Sun of House Aurora. Navigating relentless twists and turns while also dealing with my career as a supermodel. Or lack of one. Talk about messy! My existence is cloaked in shadows, the public not ready for the return of sacred witches into their lives right now. But it’s only a matter of time before this takes a turn. I can feel it in my bones. If that wasn’t complicated enough, I’m falling for a guy who doesn’t want me. Ollie occupies my mind morning, noon, and night. I can’t stop drooling over his muscles, longing to know more about him. He’s a mystery wrapped in epic deliciousness. Yet all I seem to get is a searing glare or icy indifference. Sigh. Isn’t that always the way? But why do I get a vibe that there might be more there beneath the chilliness? Is it just wishful thinking or is there a hidden something there? To muddy the waters, along comes my ex-boyfriend to fuzzy my brain when he suggests we could start up again. But he only confuses for like five minutes, because we didn’t end well the first time, and he isn’t the man I remember. Not by a long shot. He’s got some seriously sinister motives, posing a threat not only to the city, but the entire world. Darn it! Things are about to get wild!      AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH TH GROUCHY BEAR: AFRICAN AMERICAN PNR by Melody Lynch

One cabin. One bed. One storm they’ll never forget – Diana has spent her life proving people wrong. They say fifty is old she’s proof it’s not. Thriving as a solo travel blogger and living life on her own terms, she’s not looking for love. In fact, she swears she doesn’t want it. Then, during a live interview, a smug reporter claims she’s “too old” to climb the mountains around Shadow Wolf Creek. She grabs her bag and hits the trail. But before she reaches the summit, the blizzard hits. Nathaniel has zero interest in rescuing anyone. Betrayed by his sleuth and done with shifter politics, he’s perfectly content in his remote mountain cabin—until he finds her. Hurt. Beautiful. Nearly buried in the snow. She’s not just any woman. She’s his mate. But Nathaniel swore off love long ago, after a betrayal that left scars deeper than any wound. Now, the most dangerous thing on this mountain isn’t the storm outside it’s what’s happening in their hearts. Because fifty’s already climbed mountains… and he’s next.     AmazonKU

BAD BLOOD (HELLHOUND HEAT BOOK THREE) by Sherilee Grau

She was created to serve Hell. He was the one sin she could never resist. Roxana has spent her whole life as one of Lucifer’s lethal handmaids—trained to obey, to sacrifice, and to bury every desire she wasn’t built to feel. Including the one that’s always burned for Lothar. Fate never forgets though. When Roxy and Lothar, the hellhound pack’s best tracker, are forced together to hunt an escapee from Hell, she finds herself struggling to deny the desire she’s fought for centuries to suppress. To make matters worse, Lothar’s inner beast is fighting him for control. His instincts snarl for her. Mine. Claim. Protect. He’s determined to make her his. But little does he know, giving in to their desire could destroy them both. And when an enemy from the past makes their move, turning the hunters into the hunted, Roxy and Lothar must fight side by side not only to survive a monster… but a history, a hunger, and a truth powerful enough to tear them apart. Because some bonds aren’t meant to be denied, and resisting each other may be the one battle they’re destined to lose.       Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

MIDLIFE CHRISTMAS VIGILANTE by Eve Langlais

You can call me the spirit of hot flashes, fangs, and vengeance. Just before Christmas my life underwent a major change. And I’m not talking about the fact I hit menopause hard—I mean, we’re talking night sweats and hormones gone wild. Nope, it was worse than that. I almost died, and would have actually been six feet under if I’d not been transformed into a vampire. You heard me right. At the ripe age of forty-seven, I became a blood-guzzling, sunlight-hating, fanged menace with an insatiable appetite. Thankfully, criminals taste delicious. But the wicked aren’t the only people I’m nibbling on this holiday season. When I’m not taking a literal bite out of crime, you will find me unwrapping the handsome vampire who gave me the best present of all. Love.        Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

THE ALPHA BEHIND THE MASK: NESTING EVER AFTER: CHRISTMAS by Toby Wise

VS Note: MM PNR.

When Viktor’s magic manifested, his entire world was turned upside down. He packed up his life, found a pack to take him in, and started fresh. Despite finding his place in this new paranormal world, Viktor always worried his dating life had come to a permanent standstill. A magical invitation changes everything once again. Duncan isn’t good with people. He’d much prefer to stay inside with his paints but when he’s invited to a mysterious masked ball, he can’t say no. Meeting Viktor, who’s happy to take the lead, makes everything feel easier. The two feel something special right from the start and push past awkward first meetings, family emergencies, and unexpected heats to forge a bond worth keeping.      AmazonKU

AN ALL AMERICAN WITCH FOR T DAY by Heather Graham

Julia and Corey Chambers are delighted with their new home, actually an old house, not as old as some in St. Augustine—the oldest European settlement in the New World—but an 1800s home filled with character. And, as they are to discover, bodies! But there’s something far worse. Julia has called Adam Harrison, the Krewe founder, who happened to be an old friend of her father’s. She’s been getting threats. She’s playing a witch in a local theater production and, apparently, someone seems to think she’s a real witch! In a city renowned for its history and ghosts, someone is threatening a witch! When Angela and Jackson arrive, they discover that Julia had stepped out of the house—and disappeared! And while it hasn’t been more than a few hours since her disappearance, Corey is frantic and devastated. Because he knows . . .There are just hours ahead for them to find her before an All-American Witch might meet with a deadly and horrible fate. And it might just take a wee bit of help from one of the city’s fabled ghosts to help them on their mission.      AmazonKU

ENCHANTED RINGS AND FAE (OAKVALE EVER AFTER BOOK TWO) by Jessica Grayson

came to Oakvale to escape the scandal of a broken engagement—not to fall for a winged Fae jeweler named Cyran, whose smile is as dangerous as his magic. But when Cyran and I accidentally touch two enchanted rings, we’re magically bound together. Now I’m stuck with the infuriatingly charming Fae until we break the spell. And I absolutely refuse to fall for his handsome grin, tender heart, or the way he brings me chocolate croissants every morning because he knows they’re my favorites. Yet the longer we’re bound, the harder it is to deny the pull between us. Once the magic fades, I’ll have to decide: trust my heart to a Fae who might already have claimed it, or lose him forever.   AmazonKU

UNWRAPPING HIS MUMMIFIED HEART: A TIME FOR MONSTERS ROMANCE by Roslyn St Clair

Lady Catherine isn’t interested in marriage, and she’s particularly uninterested in marriage to the slope-shouldered, slack-jawed, ancient dandy whom she’s expected to marry. Too bad for her. Duty is duty, and she can’t sacrifice her sister’s happiness. Good for her, however, is when she falls into an open sarcophagus in the museum’s backroom… lips first. But what she awakens is more than just a passing nightmare. The mummy might even be her dream.Ramu’s been waiting to be roused from his eternal sleep for millennia. He has one purpose: find the ancient amulet that Set stole and return it to Anubis. Doing so will hopefully balance the misdeeds of his life, and with his eternity at stake, he really needs all the help he can get to make it to paradise rather than the alternative. But bravery in adventure isn’t the hard part of being alive again. Much harder still is knowing he’s destined to leave Cat. She’s stolen his heart… and just when he finally realizes he has one.

CHRISTMAS KANE (REINDEER MATE FOR CHRISTMAS) by Jessica E Subject

VS Note: MM PNR.

The first time I meet Desmond, he pets me—while I’m in my reindeer shifter form. Everyone knows you don’t touch a shifter without permission, but I bite my tongue. After all, he’d just delivered a huge donation to the Christmas Food and Toy Drive at the nonprofit where I work. I figure I’ll never see him again anyway. When Desmond shows up to volunteer at our community dinner, all charming and annoyingly handsome, he flirts…with me. I try to resist, but my reindeer won’t stop prancing. He likes this smexy wolf more than his favorite Christmas treats. I’ve been warned about getting involved with him, especially since the whole city knows someone affected by his father’s crimes. But my instincts tell me there is more to Desmond than his family name. And no one deserves to be alone during the holidays.       AmazonKU       Author’s Universal Link

ORCS DO IT HARDER (ORCS LOVE CURVY GIRLS BOOK TWO) by Michele Mills

For three years now, I’ve been hiding and working under an assumed name, leading a quiet life, my closet filled with a very beige wardrobe. One day a package arrives on my doorstep, stuffed with surveillance photos…and a threat. I have to give “them” the evidence they want or in twenty-four hours everyone I care about dies. Oh hell. I’ve got to get outta here or my best friend and her daughter will be hurt. I make it to the bus station, three steps away from disappearing forever, when a massive orc roars out my name from across the terminal. “Anna.” My mouth drops open at the sight of this sexy male. Keric Irontree, the “scary” orc everyone avoids, looms behind me, his bare chest heaving and wet from the rain. “You’re not getting on that bus,” he growls. “I’m not?” Keric takes my hand and offers me sanctuary at a remote orc commune in Maine. There’s just one catch. I’ll need to live with him in his one-bedroom cabin. As his mate.       AmazonKU

SOLSTICE: DRAGONIS ACADEMY HOLIDAY NOVELLA by Serenity Rayne

Ziggy’s got a secret…He’s on a mission of extreme importance. Failure is not an option. The future of the family depends on it. Five years after claiming her throne, Mina has a secret that will change everything—and she’s entrusting one of her own mates with the mission of a lifetime. Armed with determination and his signature wit, Ziggy embarks on the ultimate stealth mission across Shadowcarve’s sprawling campus. From shadowing the intimidating Vaughn through his warfare instruction sessions to tracking Leander as he strategizes war tactics with eager students, and keeping tabs on Callan while he teaches the ancient Art of War, Ziggy plots the perfect strategy for what comes next. One by one, he springs into action—abducting each unsuspecting mate and delivering them to Mina for the surprise of their lives. But wrangling three powerful shifter instructors proves trickier than anticipated, especially when they start catching on to their bond brother’s increasingly suspicious behavior. When the perfect holiday moment finally arrives, Mina’s gift will bring tears, laughter, and a joy so pure it lights up the winter sky. For three formidable warriors who’ve dedicated their lives to battle and teaching, nothing could prepare them for the overwhelming emotion of learning they’ll soon hold their own firstborns.      AmazonKU

BLACK WILLOW WITCH by Suzanne Wright

“Be the biggest, baddest witch in town so no one ever dares bully you again.” That was her grandmother’s advice and it’s been Emberlyn’s law since she was a child. It’s kept the local coven at bay – until now…They’re furious she won’t give up Black Willow Manor, her grandmother’s prized home and worse – that the land beside it and Emberlyn herself has been left to Jax ‘Ripper’ Stone, a rugged, brooding Alpha werewolf. The chemistry between them has always been white hot but Ripper knows to be careful with witches- especially one with her reputation. Now they are allies it becomes harder to ignore – Emberlyn calls to him. Drives him to claim her. But danger’s closing in, threatening to take her from him. Not that Emberlyn can’t handle it. She’s no damsel. Doesn’t need a hero. Sometimes, it takes a wicked witch to get things done. And Emberlyn has ever excelled at being wicked.     Amazon     AB       Apple Books      Kobo

COMPANY INK (TINSEL AND TENTACLES 3.0 by TA Moore

VS Note: MM PNR.

Don’t get him wrong, Davy hadn’t been thrilled to end up face-down in a shallow grave…but he’d not been surprised either. With the life he’d lived, and the work he did, it had always been a possibility. So he’d not been bothering to hold his breath–metaphorically speaking, being dead–for a chance to get his own back on his killer. On the other hand, death was kind of boring…even for a mercenary who wore the stigmata of his sins as occasionally too-independent tentacles. So when someone opened a door to the living world for him he wasn’t going to say no. He figured he could knock out the revenge in a couple of hours and then spend the rest of his time on this side of the Veil getting take-out, getting laid, and getting into fights. …the order didn’t matter. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a bit more complicated than that. If Davy didn’t know better, he’d have thought this whole set–up was the universe trying to get him to learn something. All Hill had learned was that death wasn’t what he’d expected. When he had opened the door to the afterlife he’d been prepared for winding sheets and bones, maybe a few chains. Not for the vengeful ghost to be a hot, dead man who’d mug him for his skin and bones. The tentacles had been a surprise too. But then necromancy didn’t come with an instruction booklet, or a restart button. The deal had been struck, and the two of them would just have to make it work.       Amazon

MIDNIGHT OBSSESSION (SOULMATED BOOK FIVE) by Rebecca York

Olivia Langdon never believed in ghosts—until one slipped into her dreams. At night, she sees him drowning in black water. When he comes to her, his touch is fire, his kiss is haunting, and his presence is as forbidden as it is irresistible. His name is Travis Carson. He should be gone, yet he lingers—bound to her by a connection neither of them understands. Their spectral encounters ignite psychic abilities Olivia never knew she had…and a desperate need to uncover the truth behind Travis’s murder. Because someone killed him—and that someone isn’t finished. Detective Gabe Bowman is determined to keep Olivia safe, even as her visions place her in the sights of a predator who calls himself Mr. Smith. But the deeper Gabe digs into the case, the more dangerous it becomes—for Olivia, for Travis’s restless spirit, and for the fragile man who’s falling for her in the waking world. Now Olivia must choose where her heart—and her life—truly belong: with the living man sworn to protect her…or the ghost who has already claimed her soul.      AmazonKU

OWL BY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (VIRTUE SHIFTERS) by Zoe Chant

Whoo-ooo says you can’t go home? Owl shifter and romcom-film-star Kayla Walsh never intended to come home to Virtue, but it’s the perfect small town for a romantic comedy film setting—and the moment she arrives, a full-on ‘meet cute’ crashes into her! Former ball player Jordan Rhodes is back in Virtue trying to find his feet again—but the last thing he expects to do is knock Kayla off hers. Once high school acquaintances, Jordan and Kayla now find that sparks fly…but Jordan knows there’s no way that a woman like Kayla could ever be really interested in a washed-up athlete. And Kayla has always assumed everybody who grew up in Virtue knows it’s a haven for shifters. Except, as fate would have it, Jordan doesn’t know, and Kayla isn’t sure she should burden him with her secrets when she’s leaving town again so soon. But when things on set go sour, Kayla has to rely on Jordan—and on Virtue’s secret weapon, nine year old Noah Brannigan, who is always there for the town when it needs him.       AmazonKU

DRAGON’S FORBIDDEN BOSS (DRAGON SECRETS OF PARKHURST COLLEGE) by Serena Meadows

Dorm nights. Buried legends. A dragon who can’t keep his fire—or his hands—off the wrong woman. When a ruin is found beneath Parkhurst’s stadium, Cooper McFarland’s dream design gets demolished. The new boss of the dig? Dr. Stephanie Warner—young, brilliant, and off-limits. She needs his campus connections; he needs her secrets. What they uncover are ancient shifter symbols, wrapped dead, and a mural that answers questions that Cooper can no longer hide the answers to. This puts a target on the entire university. Rules say no romance on the team. Reality says one look, one kiss, one life-or-death shift. As a rival clan closes in, Cooper must expose what he is to save the site—and the woman he won’t give up. Some ruins hold history. This one holds a war. One truth, one mate, and a dragon ready to burn the night to keep her.      AmazonKU

THE TALKING CURE: A SEAN jOYE INVESTIGATION by Kathy L Brown

VS Note: LGBTQ Paranormal mystery.

Haunted woman claws her way back to reality by reconnecting with her magical powers in The Talking Cure, a supernatural Yuletide follow-up to The Big Cinch. Committed to an insane asylum, Violet Humphrey is isolated on the Illinois prairie with only her own thoughts and a persistent new voice in her head for company. When she is accused of murder, Violet suspects her road to both freedom and recovery lies through confronting her painful past and solving the crime. Magically summoned, Sean Joye skids through an ice storm to help Violet, but can they catch the killer and defy an eldritch horror before Violet loses her tenuous grasp on reality?     AmazonKU

DOLLS GONE WILD (GHOST CUPID BOOK THREE) by Allie Brahms

So far my job month, which should’ve been lowkey and easy, has gone thusly: 1. A bride wants to divorce her dead husband. (You unfortunately read that right.) 2. Zhen gets called into work anyway because they lost Annabelle at the airport. Yes. That Annabelle. (#nothankyou) 3. Jasha is magical. With a familiar. (Anyone have this on their bingo card? I didn’t.) 4. A ghost groom abduction. (I don’t get paid enough for this.) Is it too late to revoke my supernatural club membership? Tags: Magical realism, ghost to ghost networking, we get to meet some of Zhen’s friends, power couple, Chinese mythology, multicultural romance, part time soulmates, full time problem, relationship negotiations, haunted walmart is no longer haunted, things happened okay, Annabelle is Zhen’s worst nightmare come to life, he HATES dolls, on the plus side Kris has more content to post, Houdou continue to be awesome, yay power development, cursed sword is still cursed, but not for long!     AmazonKU

MECH AND MAGIC ( THE KNACK BOOK TWO) by Kim McDougall

Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos. Conall thought he’d buried the past with his brother. But when a cryptic summons surfaces—tied to a long-vanished village and a wolf who should be dead—he’s forced to retrace the path of the disbanded Squad 54. What he finds in the shadows could unravel not only their fate, but the fragile balance between elf and human kind. Back in New Torwood City, Princess Rowan Andula is done playing the figurehead. With a seat on the ruling council, she’s ready to fight for her family’s legacy—until the city’s giant mech guardian begins to fail. Talos isn’t just a machine. He’s the heart of the city. His collapse could bring down everything her ancestors fought to preserve. As enemies close in and new treacheries are revealed, Conall and Rowan must face the same question: How far will you go to protect what you love?     AmazonKU

WOLFISH by Terry Spear

As a wolf opening a gift shop with Halloween décor, a forensic anthropologist, and an author who writes books on old cemeteries, she discovers a skeleton, a month old, in an 18th-century cemetery, and the trouble begins. Selena Rivers loves working in a wolf-run town and meeting Deputy Sheriff Daniel Hoffman, who assists her at every turn. But when she has to identify skeletons of recently murdered women, he must protect her from those who would harm her and himself. They must learn who the women are and who is responsible for their deaths. Daniel is all for romancing the wolf, which comes with the added commitment to keep them both safe in this dangerous, mystery adventure. She has never met a wolf like him, and she has every intention of protecting him from the threat, too, and more.

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SOWING SPELLS: A FIELD GUIDE TO BECOMING A WIZARD’S APPRENTICE (THE WIZARD’S GARDEN BOOK ONE) by Cay Fletcher

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Sil was perfectly content as the manager of the village plant shop. That is, until a certain wizard, Wixen Anders Kessel, requested a fire curry plant to add to what Sil assumed was his growing graveyard of helpless greenery. Thoroughly convinced of Anders’ proclivity to kill every plant he purchases, Sil is determined to thwart the disastrous wixen’s intentions, both for his garden and recruiting a magically disinclined apprentice. Sil and Anders return from the beloved short story, “The Wizard’s Garden”, to grow in friendship, companionship, and perhaps even more. Together, they encounter a variety of local magical creatures, spells, and obstacles as Sil resists the idea that he might actually have a talent for magic and that he might want something more from the hopeless wizard after all.     Amazon       Apple Books      Kobo

VEILED POWERS: DESTINY OF DRAGONS BOOK TWO by Mara Leigh

Zogar sweeps me through the veil and into the dreaded Darkness. There, I discover he’s not just the King of the Dragons—he’s a massive man who’s been trapped in dragon form for four hundred years.
Now I’ve freed him, he seeks vengeance against the descendants of the royals who captured and enslaved his people, including me. Worse, Zogar intends to hold me to my promise of marriage—a vow I made only to save the two men I’m falling for. Prince Tynan and I only just discovered we don’t hate each other, and I’m not ready to give up our fiery passion so soon. And while I won’t forgive Dragon Master Saxon for what he did, I can’t stop thinking about the mysterious older man who awakened desires and pleasures I’d never imagined. While Tynan and Saxon desperately search for me, time moves differently in the Darkness, and when we’re finally reunited, more secrets are revealed and passions explode. But with conflicts brewing in the Light, and betrayals threatening to tear my men apart, I may be forced to choose between my heart’s desires and the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.       AmazonKU

DARK ISLAND REVOLT (CHILDREN OF THE GODS PARANORMAL ROMANCE BOOK 102) by I T Lucas

Sometimes, when the best-laid plans shatter like glass on rocks, the Fates reveal their true design. Sometimes, when prisoner becomes protector and saved becomes savior, love blooms even in darkness. And sometimes, the most dangerous enemy is the one that speaks with eight voices but shares a single, terrible mind.       AmazonKU

THE ALPHA OF GRAVE HILLS (DRAGONKIN BOOK TWO) by Kathryn Moon

She’s an omega in hiding. Broken hearted and rejected by her beta, Brigid Grant has spent the last five years in self-imposed exile. When her former lover comes sniffing at her door, demanding she take her place back in his bed or lose her sanctuary, Brigid knows it would break more than her heart to agree. There’s only one person powerful enough to keep her out of another man’s reach. A new alpha has risen. With the death of his father, it’s time for Torion to step into his rightful place, as Alpha of Grave Hills. Young, determined to do better for his home and his people, Torion needs to focus on the work ahead of him. What he should not do, is anger a respected beta by stealing away his omega. It would be an even bigger mistake to fall in love with her, when his heart is the last thing she wants.     AmazonKU

PRINCE OF THE BARBARIANS (NOT SO SAVAGE BARBARIANS BOOK SIX) by Amy Padilla

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

There’s always a point in someone’s life where they regret the decisions of their past. Take me for instance. I skipped my lessons as often as I could get away with, figuring I’d always have someone with me to translate or watch my back. As a prince of Al Nuzem, I was very rarely alone. But when one of my own guards stabbed me in the back and had me handed off to the barbarians, my inability to speak even the common tongue meant I couldn’t tell them I wasn’t what they thought. And no amount of fighting was going to get them to bring me home. Not until they learned to communicate with me. It wasn’t going to be the other way around. They’d learn eventually.     AmazonKU

CENTAUR’S LITTLE HELPER (PINE RIDGE UNIVERSE) by S C Principale

Nigel isn’t a big fan of the holidays, especially since the last time he went home for Christmas, he got the gift of dashed hopes and a broken heart. So, while other handymen might reject the idea of tackling a new project when they could be relaxing with eggnog in front of the fire, Nigel gladly accepts a job that’ll distract him from all the festivities he’d like to ignore. A centaur finishing a nursery for a demi-mortal named Klaus and his little elf missus while they head home to help with the “family business”? It’s just another day in Pine Ridge, and that’s all Christmas is to Nigel. Just another day. Briana thought booking a secluded cabin in the snowy foothills would make for a picture-perfect Christmas—and pave the way for the proposal her boyfriend had been hinting at. But when her boyfriend dumps her at the last exit before Pine Ridge, she loses her way in the dark, and then her cell phone dies, Briana only has one thing to say about the holidays. Bah-frigging-humbug. Can the wrong cabin, a lot of brandy, and a little shared heartbreak somehow put some super spicy happy back into Nigel and Briana’s holidays?      AmazonKU

HER TIME TRAVELING DUKE by Bryn Donovan

Magic meets science and sunshine meets grumpy when a love spell whisks a Regency-era duke to modern times. Rose Novak, a free-spirited museum employee who dabbles in magic, has had her share of disappointments. So when she tries a little spell for a romance with an “old-fashioned gentleman,” she doesn’t really expect it to work…especially literally. And yet, the duke from a painting she admired at the museum is now standing in her apartment, demanding to know who abducted him. A man of science and truth, Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford, has searched tirelessly for a way to turn back time and be with his late wife again. Instead, just as he’s about to pose for his portrait, he’s ripped centuries forward by a feckless, scantily dressed—and utterly bewitching—woman who believes in nonsense like magical crystals and astrology. Unable to immediately reverse her spell, Rose vows to help Henry return to his own century, even though disguises and high jinks are required to get their hands on an enchanted astrolabe and master the art of time travel. But it’s hard not to fall for the irritable yet honorable duke. Little does she know that he’s starting to wonder: did a reckless love spell get it right, after all?

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SEEING OTHER PEOPLE by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemond-Broka

Morgan is being ghosted by her ex. No, really. It’s sad Zach died and became a ghost. But Morgan and Zach only ever went on the one date, and now she’s being haunted by him. Zach has no desire to spend eternity with Morgan, but he can’t recall his past and doesn’t know how to move on. At a support group for humans and their haunters, Morgan and Zach run into Sawyer, whose fiancée-turned-ghost has started to fade. Unlike Morgan, Sawyer isn’t ready to part ways with his ghost. Although they face opposite issues, Morgan and Sawyer decide to work together to solve their problems. As Morgan and Sawyer try to solve their paranormal conundrums together, they find something even more surprising—a tender, growing affection between them that threatens any unfinished business they’re seeking to close. The ghosts of their past might be there in spirit, but the connection between Morgan and Sawyer is as alive as anything they’ve ever felt.

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THE NECROMANCER’S CHRISTMAS TREE OF TERROR (PRINCES OF MAYHEM) by Jocelynn Drake

VS Note: MM PNR.

The tree knocked on the front door, begging to be let in…It was Sky and Nolan’s first Christmas together. Nolan was hoping to make lots of cozy memories with his new family. But nothing goes quite how you might expect when you date a necromancer. A “Christmas” tree shows up on their doorstep—a gift from the king of the underworld—and it turns their holidays upside down. Can Nolan and Sky make it through the holiday season with their unexpected guest? Fall in love with sunshine-y necromancer Sky and his grumpy boyfriend Nolan as they tackle the holidays with a sprinkle of magic and lots of chaos.

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DEAD SET ON YOU: A NOVEL by Lexi Alexander

As workaholic Evie Pope nears thirty, she’s determined to slow down and start enjoying the “life” part of work-life balance. With a major promotion—and the financial security that comes with it—on the horizon, she might finally have her chance. But when she wakes up as a spirit in her work rival’s apartment and learns her body is stuck in a coma, her plans are officially DOA. Being a spirit is bad enough. Discovering that Rafael Vela—the man who used to be her friend and is now her biggest rival—is the only person who can help her? It’s a special kind of purgatory. In no position to negotiate, she strikes a desperate deal: He gets the promotion if he helps reunite Evie’s spirit with her body. As they begin to spend more time together, Evie discovers there’s more to Rafael than his bedroom eyes and his hey-there dimpled smile. With only a week until Evie’s body is transferred to long-term care and out of Rafael’s reach, Evie must choose between trusting the man who betrayed her years ago and figuring things out the way she’s always done it: alone. NOTE: THere is an audiobook but it wasn’t available as yet on Amazon the day I checked.       Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo

HOW NOT TO TAME YOUR HUMAN TEASE by A K Caggiano

A sunless city, a magical boundary, a demon around every corner—what could be better? Nothing, if you ask bright, bubbly Brioni. In fact, being trapped in the demon realm and assigned a letter carrier position might be the best thing that’s ever happened to her, even if she is one of only six humans in the entire town. Except there’s still something missing. Something that makes her feel truly wanted. Something that’s all hers and is maybe a little…deviant. The guilt of her past life and the strain of her new one have her seeking relief that she’s sure only the gruffest, grumpiest, growliest demon can give her. Meet Ragnar—gruff, grumpy, growly, and gray. His magic and color were lost long ago, and with them went his civility. Self-sequestered to the outskirts of his homeland, the city’s resident beastkeeper would much rather spend his time taming ferocious animals than dealing with his fellow demons. Good thing Brioni isn’t a demon because she wants to be dealt with… (more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

MOIST FOR HER MINOTAUR (MONSTERS OF NEW VEGAS BOOK ONE) by Evangeline Priest

When pastry chef Magdalena “Lena” Reyes opens her dream bakery, Moist, in the bustling monster-friendly city of New Vegas, she expects long hours, too much caffeine, and occasional existential dread about her choice of bakery name. What she doesn’t expect is Thorne, her grumpy, ridiculously large Minotaur landlord, who treats his building rules like sacred law and looks personally offended every time she accidentally sets off the fire alarm. Moist for Her Minotaur is the first story in the Monsters of New Vegas series, and set in the Obsidian Rift Universe. This warm, funny, sugar-sweet romcom is filled with delicious Filipino pastries, delightful bickering, and a grumpy Minotaur who just wants to keep his little baker safe.      AmazonKU

A VOW COLD AND KINDLED by Moira Darling 

VS Note: FF Fantasy.

A vampire knight. A fated princess. Twelve Nights of Yule to fall in love. Princess Ilyra was never meant to rule, let alone become the heart of a sacred pact older than her crown. As the youngest daughter, she expected to spend Yule tucked into castle corners, left to her quiet studies—and to humor Lord Myrren, her father’s favored suitor. But when the vampire envoy arrives cloaked in crimson and kneels before her alone, Ilyra is thrust into a ritual bond that demands courtship, protection… and something dangerously close to devotion. Ser Virelle, an ancient vampire knight bound by oath and centuries of service, came to Halden Court as part of an age-old truce. She expected duty, not desire—but the moment she meets Ilyra, something stirs. The princess bears the scent of the covenant, marking her as Virelle’s fated mate. And Virelle? She is bound to her now, by blood and vow, until the final Yule fire burns to ash. Together, they must navigate a court glittering with candlelight and deception, where the Twelve Nights of Yule are as perilous as they are enchanting. As desire builds beneath snow and silk, one question remains: Can love survive the fire lit by fate, or will it consume them both?        AmazonKU

FUR, FANGS AND MISTLETOE (CHRISTMAS COVE 1) by Jessica Coulter Smith and Harley Wylde

Escape to Christmas Cove, a cozy small town where magic, shifters, and holiday romance collide. After a painful breakup, Riley is ready for a fresh start in Christmas Cove. All she wants is a peaceful life for herself and her two-year-old daughter, Sabrina. Love isn’t on her holiday wish list. When she’s stuck in a blizzard, help arrives in the form of Alex Conors — a protective, brooding werewolf. Snowed in with a grumpy shifter and a crackling fire, Riley begins to see the gentle heart behind Alex’s fierce exterior… and Alex finds himself falling for the brave single mom who awakens something he thought he lost long ago. Hot cocoa and toddler giggles turn strangers into something more. But when Riley’s past resurfaces and threatens the safety she’s found, Alex will have to prove that loyalty, love — and pack — are forever.       Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE SYMMETRY OF TIME: SKYLA X LOGAN (CELESTRA FOREVER AFTER BOOK EIGHT) by Addision Moore

My name is Skyla Oliver, nee Messenger, and my mother has never met a situation she couldn’t make worse. So I thought my life was finally settling down. You know, just the usual—two husbands—okay, so one is an ex—a small brood of quasi-angelic kids, and living on an island where the recently deceased sometimes drop by for coffee. Just your normal stuff. Then my celestial mother shows up.
Apparently, there’s some big cosmic threat that requires her immediate meddling—I mean, intervention. Something about anchors and time travel and protecting the family. Which sounds reasonable until you remember this is the same woman who once started a faction war because of a dispute with her ex. Now I’m stuck dragging Logan through our past while Gage thinks I’ve completely lost it, Marshall keeps popping up with that vexing grin of his, and somewhere in the future, my kids are hopefully still existing and not accidentally burning down the house. Here’s the thing about being the leader of the angelic factions—saving the world comes with the territory. But surviving your own mother while you do it? That’s the real challenge. The Symmetry of Time takes you back to Paragon Island, where love is complicated, time travel (AKA light driving) gives you the worst headaches, and sometimes your biggest enemy is the person who’s supposed to have your back. Fair warning: there may be federal crimes involved. But hey, it’s all for a very good cause.            Amazon     Kobo

THE GODS BINDING: VALORIAN VEIL BOOK TWO by Willa Rae

VS note: Cliffhanger.

I’ve been betrayed, soul-bonded, blessed with unruly, confusing, chaotic powers, and I may have multiple boyfriends—that about sums up my life. Speaking of my Valtrue, they’re ready to lose their minds over the fact that the Beginning God, who wants to rule the realm on his own, has summoned us.  I can’t lie…I’m not faring any better. The God of Obliteration has a task for us—something that reeks of danger and secrets—and refusing him isn’t an option. The consequence of walking away or even failing is far too high. I don’t know what truths we’ll uncover throughout this journey or where it’s going to lead us. But what I do know is, a short time ago, I would’ve sworn to you I hated the gods. All of them. Now, surrounded by my Valtrue and my small circle of godly friends that I trust, one thing is clear…I need this life we’ve started to build together. I don’t want to face my struggles alone anymore. Whatever comes next, I’m facing it with them at my side. Together, we can figure this out. What could possibly go wrong?      AmazonKU

THE BEAR’S BROKEN OMEGA:  MM SHIFTER MPREG ROMANCE (GRIZZLY RIDGE BOOK THREE) by A J Cane

Zander never expected to find his fated mate, let alone be rejected by the broken omega. Reid has been kidnapped, mated against his will, and forced to use his magic to help capture and imprison other omegas. Then, when his captor is killed, he’s stuck grieving for a mate he hated with every part of his soul… and pregnant with his baby. Bear shifter Zander has his hands full as town sheriff, but his world realigns when he scents his fated mate during a battle with their clan’s enemies. Suddenly, all that matters is convincing one skittish warlock to trust him—something that seems impossible. When demons from Reid’s past come calling, Zander will do whatever it takes to protect his mate, even if the little warlock will never accept him as his alpha.       AmazonKU

SUGAR AND STONE: SOUTHERN TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE NOVELLA by C Michelle Mayson

Remy LeBlanc lived the quiet life of an archivist—until a storm tears him from the present and drops him into 1870s Louisiana in the middle of a working sugar mill. There he meets Amélie Desmarais, a woman whose strength runs as deep as the bayou roots beneath her home. Their connection is instant. Her world is anything but simple. With the past shifting around him, Remy must figure out why he is there and what it means for their futures. An atmospheric time-travel romance set against the sugarcane fields of old Louisiana.       AmazonKU

CROWNS OF FATE (THE BROKEN PROPHECY BOOK THREE) by Anna Applegate

My mate is captured. My kingdom has fallen. And my enemies? They have no idea I’m coming to destroy them all. My entire life, I believed I had no magic. But during our battle with King Dargan, my power erupted, showing the world the magic inside of me. Light magic sparked by my acceptance of myself and my mate. Leaving Kade behind was a nightmarish kind of torture, but as the darkness overtook him, he begged me to run, so I did. Now, with Kade’s life in Thames’s hands, I must return home to win back my kingdom, gather an army, and find a way to save the only family I have left. Trapped for a thousand years, Thames is prepared to rule us all. His darkness is spreading, creating more dark ones by the minute, and a secret weapon threatens to give him the victory he so desperately desires. It’s not just my kingdom at stake, but all of Atheria. Every last one of those responsible for the deaths of my loved ones is about to pay in blood. This battle will decide our fate. Will we survive and live in the light, or will the darkness destroy us for good? It all comes down to this. For Atheria, we fight.      AmazonKU

POISONED TRUTH: PARANORMAL PSYCHIC SUSPENSE MYSTERY (SHELBY NICHOLS ADVENTURE BOOK 19) by Colleen Helme

Reading minds should make life easier, but Shelby Nichols knows better. Between poisoned pastries, cyber-attacks, and killers on the loose, her so-called “psychic” gig is turning deadly. Everyone’s lying and the truth is more dangerous than she ever imagined. Good thing Shelby’s got sass, smarts, and zero plans to die anytime soon. Psychic consultant. Mob asset. Mom. Multitasking has never been this deadly.     

AmazonKU       AB

SINGLE DAD’S FAKE MATE: MM SHIFTER  MPREG ROMANCE (KNOTTY ALPHA GUARDS BOOK ONE) by Morrigan Black

VS Note: From NOV 14.

I never thought I’d be pregnant and on the run, or that my salvation would come in the form of an Alpha lion shifter. The night I fled my abusive alpha mate, I had nothing but my loyal pug Sam, a backpack of belongings, and the desperate hope my parents weren’t wrong about Miami. When my ex tracked me down anyway, I had no choice but to contact the Alpha Guardians for protection. I didn’t expect my protector to be Varian, my gorgeous next-door neighbor with those soulful brown eyes and a son who’s already stolen my heart. His solution to my problem? A temporary mating mark to break my old bond. It’s supposed to be just business, a fake mate arrangement until my ex gives up. So why does every touch feel so real? Why does my heart race when he walks into the room? And why am I starting to wish this temporary mark would become permanent? What began as protection might be my second chance at happiness… if I’m brave enough to take it.      AmazonKU

JINGLE SPELL ROCK: A CHRISTMAS DRAGON SHIFTER BILLIONAIRE CHRISTMAS ROMANCE (MOONLIGHT SIREN BOOK SIX) by Lisa Carlisle

I’m ready to sing through a glittery Christmas at sea, not play make-believe with a dragon billionaire. But Darius needs a fake girlfriend to close a business deal, and I can handle a little acting for a good cause. I don’t believe in fated mates – even if my panther purrs the moment he walks in. It’s a simple transaction. Just seven days. No feelings attached. Darius: Control is my business, but Bria shatters it with a single song. Making the sassy panther shifter play my girlfriend was supposed to be a strategic move to impress a client. It shouldn’t be personal. But when I touch her, the hunger inside me isn’t business. It’s primal. She thinks this is a temporary arrangement, but my dragon knows the truth. She’s mine. Now I have one week to convince her that the only thing fake about us is the timeline.

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SEDUCED BY SASQUATCH by C A Varian

Olivia Jo Green wanted nothing more than peace and quiet in the Tennessee mountains.
Instead, she’s dealing with a meddling brother, a redneck Casanova who won’t take no for an answer, and one very large problem with golden eyes and a whole lot of fur. A simple overnight “Sasquatch research expedition” was supposed to be a joke. Mosquitoes. Bad coffee. Gunner’s friends making fools of themselves in the woods. Liv expected all that.What she didn’t expect was the impossible. Something is out there on her ridge—watching, waiting, far too intelligent to dismiss as a rumor. And once Liv crosses its path, her quiet mountain life turns into the kind of trouble folks write country songs about. Now the county’s buzzing with sightings, a local loudmouth is stirring up trouble, and Liv finds herself caught between the world she knows and the one she never believed in. Because the monster on her ridge? He might not be a monster at all. And that might be the most dangerous truth of all.      AmazonKU

HOWLING (A KISMETBORN NOVEL BOOK ONE) by Stacey Brutger

No good deed goes unpunished. As a kismet, I was born with the power to tip the balance between good and evil…if I survive long enough to fulfill my destiny. Every second of my life has been dominated by rules and structure meant to keep me safe. But in one act of defiance, I lose my home, my family, and my future. Now I’m on the run with trained killers stalking my every move. Yeah, it’s about as fun as it sounds. Embracing my fate, I work as a rewardist, using my shifter abilities to rescue people in precarious situations. That’s how I stumble across a sneaky fox who charms me with a smile, a feral wolf who watches me like he wants to gobble me up, and a dangerous rogue who wants to kiss me and strangle me in equal measure. I should run…but there is just something about them that’s irresistible. Don’t give me that look. Dating is hard when you’re on the run! Unfortunately, trouble has a way of finding me. We barely escape an attack with our lives…and end up dragging along an infuriating prisoner—a snarly dragon who looks at me like I’m his salvation and ruin. Trust isn’t something that I give easily, but as danger closes in around us, I’ll need to rely on the men for survival. If I’m not careful, I might end up losing my heart…and my life. Meet the pack: Frankie, Tyler, Garth, Dante, and Bellamy.       AmazonKU

A GAME OF VOWS AND VENDETTAS (GIRL GAMES BOOK FOUR) by Ruby Roe

VS Note: Lesbian Fantasy.

One wedding. One reluctant bodyguard. One dangerously inconvenient attraction…Penelope Lee didn’t want a new bodyguard, especially not a brooding, battle-hardened vampire who would rather be anywhere else. But when her assigned protector is murdered just before her sister’s wedding, she’s left with no choice. Enter Dahlia St Clair, commander of the vampire-hunter army and the last person who should be stuck on glorified babysitting duty. She’s there to drink, dance, and maybe cause a little trouble—not to shadow a bratty princess through a wedding filled with secrets and unseen threats. But when danger strikes, and Penelope becomes a target, Dahlia is the only one standing between her and death. One stolen moment turns into another. One brush of hands, one heated glance, and suddenly, duty feels a lot more like desire. They both know the deal: once the wedding is over, so is this. But when the final toast is made and the vows are spoken, they’ll have to decide—was it just a moment in time, or the start of something worth fighting for? A Game of Vows and Vendettas is a short crossover novel for the Girl Games and Kingdom of Immortal Lovers series, set at Morrigan and Stirling’s wedding. It is a vampire bodyguard x bratty princess romance with chaos, spice, and features the faces of all your favourites from across both Ruby’s main series.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

THE DRAGONMATER’S MATE (FIRE AND DESIRE BOOK FOUR) by Chloe Chastaine

As her father lay dying, I swore always to protect fifteen-year-old Zenevieve. I took the grieving girl in, and she filled my life with sunshine. Now she’s grown, she’s looking for a mate, and her eyes have turned to me. Zenevieve has always been my weakness, but she’s not the woman who has been promised to me. I’m waiting for the Omega I’ve never met, who may have died, who could be lost to me forever. I will wait for her, because I would rather perish in dragonfire than touch a woman who isn’t mine. But starving for my mate burns my soul. I can resist all temptation, until one day I slip, and I catch the wrong woman in my arms. Sweet, adoring Zenevieve will never forgive me for rejecting her, and I’ll never forgive myself for causing her pain. The world ends, and then it begins again. Five hundred years later, I’ve got a second chance to make things right. This time around, I’m doing everything differently. The woman I shouldn’t want is going to be mine. Author’s Note: The Dragonmaster’s Mate is a rejected mates, second chance, guardian/ward romance between Stesha and Zenevieve. There’s a ten-year age gap and a lot of crushing on a forbidden older man. This book is a standalone, but it’s recommend that you read the earlier books in the series first.     AmazonKU

SIROUS (OHIO VAMPIRES BOOK TWO) by Kathi S Barton

Sirous Smith has lived for centuries, long enough to grow tired of immortality itself. With no mate in sight and nothing left to keep him tethered to the world, he returns to Brew’s home for one final reunion—and a promised end at the hands of his friend Yosef. But Sirous never planned on Tabby.
Tabitha “Tabby” Williams is hiding from a ruthless mother who wants to exploit her powerful gift of sight. Taking shelter in the woods near Brew’s estate, she expects danger from her past…not from a brooding, stubborn vampire determined to die. When Tabby bursts into the clearing moments before Sirous’s execution, everything changes. One scent—one electric spark—and fate binds them as true mates. Sirous wants none of it. Tabby wants even less. But destiny has other plans. Between vengeful family, ancient vampire politics, and a stubborn male who would rather argue than admit he cares, Sirous and Tabby will have to decide if they’ll keep running from fate…or run toward each other. A reluctant bond. A powerful magic. And a love that arrives at the worst—and best—possible moment.       Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

FROST BITE by M Violet

You can run but you can’t hide. Every Christmas Eve, a virgin is given up as a sacrifice to Saint Nick. She’s left in the woods with nothing but the clothes on her back. If she dies, the town will feast. But if she survives the night, another will be sent in her place. For Imogen, that means her little sister could be next. The Four Horsemen live for the hunt. But they have no intention of killing their prey this year. After centuries of blood and servitude, Conquest, War, Famine, and Death plan on keeping the sacrifice for themselves. And if they get what they want, Imogen won’t be a virgin for long. This Christmas, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice… only that you survive. Frost Bite is a dark holiday romance, a stand-alone novella where the FMC ends up with multiple MMCs.    AmazonKU

MAGICA RIOT FULL BLOOM by Cara Buchanan

VS Note: LGBTQ Fantasy. From NOV 15.

Claire Ryland has just about figured this whole magical girl band thing out. The people of Portland really love Magica Riot, so much that they’ve been asked to play a concert at the biggest venue in town! But when not one but two villains decide to make their presence known, Claire, Sara, Cass, Hana, and Nova have to figure out a new approach to their magic and their music…with some help from unexpected friends! Magica Riot Full Bloom is the sequel to 2024’s queer magical girl novel Magica Riot, and the next installment of the Maidensong Magica series. An action-filled musical adventure inspired by classic magical girl anime, tokusatsu shows, and the vibe of the American Pacific Northwest, Magica Riot Full Bloom expands on Claire’s story of trans self-discovery and her LGBTQ+ found family while introducing new threats and challenges for the magical girls of Portland to deal with! A story of colorful adventure, eye-popping magic, and queer love, Magica Riot Full Bloom shows that being yourself gives you the power to help people and change the world.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE ALPHA’S HOLIDAY HEX by Sabrina Crest

It was supposed to be damage control. A fake engagement between the witch and the wolf to calm the pack, charm the press, and silence the rumors about the Adler family’s deadly “Holiday Hex”. And the only chance for me to clear my grandmother’s name. But the heirloom wreath wasn’t supposed to hum or glow or throw tantrums. And it wasn’t supposed to announce a curse in the middle of Chase Adler’s perfectly controlled holiday gala. But it does and when the sentient wreath comes alive, the lights explode, and Chase finds himself holding hands with me, the fiery witch who smells like danger, laughs like sin and is falling for him fast. Now the Alpha who never loses control is tangled in a scandal of his own making with me driving his wolf mad, turning magic into chaos, and tempting him to break every rule he’s ever made. The curse has been awakened. The witch is wild. And the holidays just got a whole lot hotter.      AmazonKU

VENGEANCE OF THE GODS (CURSED GODS BOOK TWO) by Dany Crooks

She’ll sacrifice herself for love. There’s nowhere he won’t go to save her. Cursed to forget and destined to die, Vega Caelum wakes on Earth with memories of a life she shouldn’t remember. The lines between reality and fantasy blur, making Vega question everything, including her sanity. Trapped in a world she doesn’t feel she belongs in, Vega searches for an end to a curse that might not even be real… until the man she used to love shows up, reminding Vega exactly who she is and what she came back to do. Commander Bridger Dimico can no longer hide behind his shields, forced to face his betrayals when he sleeps. Willing to do anything to rid himself of the dreams, Bridger chases after his past to prove there’s still a piece of the man he used to be buried deep down. With a war of hearts at play, Bridger risks everything he’s worked for to save Vega from a deadly fate. In the midst of a growing rebellion, Marlena Caelum has no other choice but to remind the people of Tolevarre who holds all the power. Lives are lost and deals are made, bridging the gap between life and death. Vega may finally be one step ahead, but it has Marlena wondering what her sister may have traded to get her vengeance.      AmazonKU

HOWL IF YOU’RE GUILTY by Lindsey Devin

Michelle came to her estranged grandfather’s wake prepared for weird family vibes. She did not plan for: – the ballroom blackout – the scream – and the Alpha face-down on the stairs Now the mansion’s locked, the Inner Circle is panicking politely, and the Guardian wolves are on their way. Which would be fine…except Michelle’s the half-human outsider who can’t shift, can’t see in the dark, and apparently has no sense of self-preservation. But she noticed something the full-bloods missed — and the estate’s grumpy grounds manager seems determined not to let her face this circus alone. There’s a killer in the house. There’s a clue in the dark. And Michelle refuses to be the easy suspect.    AmazonKU

ICE WOLF: AN ALPHA SHIFTER HOCKEY ROMANCE by Piper Stone

On the ice he’s a savage. With me he’s a beast. When suspicion arose that bad boy hockey star Saint Masters may be a wolf shifter and I was called in to help with his PR problem, I didn’t expect him to kiss me like I belong to him… or to…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)       AmazonKU

RULED BY FIRE (DRAGONBLOOD DYNASTY BOOK SEVEN) by BE Brouillard

I died in the mountains. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. The helicopter crash? Survived it—barely. The fall into the chasm? Lived through that too, though I’m still not sure how. The gorgeous, confusing man with zero memory who dragged me from the wreckage and patched me up in a cave like we’re living in the Dark Ages? Yeah. That’s where things get complicated. No ID. No clue who he is. Talks like he’s never seen a city and learned English from Duolingo. Thinks my iPhone is witchcraft—which, honestly, Apple’s marketing team would love—and stares at my TikToks like I’m summoning demons. I’ve figured he’s wandered off from some isolated mountain village. Maybe a cult. Possibly a head injury. And yet he’s calm. Controlled. Way too capable for someone who doesn’t remember his own name. And every time his gaze locks on me, I feel that hum in the air—the kind that murmurs danger and destiny in the same breath. I must be nuts. But the way my body responds to him? That’s not a delusion. That’s real. So I’m helping him find his way home. It’s the least I can do for the man who saved my life. Especially since the Syndicate’s still out there, searching these mountains for something powerful enough to control every dragon on earth. I should get him out before I drag him into my mess. I tell myself I’m keeping him safe by walking away. Right. Because walking away always works out great. Turns out surviving the crash was the easy part. Surviving him—that’s going to take more than sarcasm, caffeine, and Wi-Fi.        AmazonKU

HEXES AND HONEYSUCKLE (WISTERIA COVE BOOK THREE) by Erin Branscom

Rowan Maren is small-town Wisteria Cove’s wild sister, the black cat in a family of witches who refuses to be tamed. Untamed in ripped jeans with a streak of trouble and tattoos to prove it, she’s perfectly content running her apothecary, stirring up a little magic, and avoiding anything that looks remotely like forever. The one thing she doesn’t see coming? Her best friend looking at her like she hung the moon. Finn Bennett has been hopelessly in love with Rowan for years. Steady and loyal, he’s the golden retriever to her black cat chaos. For years, he’s been the safe place she runs to, the shoulder she leans on… and the man she doesn’t realize is already hers. But after one reckless night, Finn is done waiting. He’s ready to lay his heart bare with a confession that could change everything. Rowan may be juggling late-night spellwork, her brand-new apothecary, and a town full of meddling neighbors, but Finn isn’t afraid of her chaos, he thrives in it. He’s her biggest cheerleader, the one building a future sturdy enough for the both of them, even if she hasn’t realized yet that it’s all for her.       AmazonKU

SPIRIT FIRE (EMBERWOOD WITCHES BOOK ONE) by Auburn Tempest

I’m not just chasing ghosts—I’m hunting the truth that haunts me. My earliest memory? Being picked up off a sidewalk at sixteen with no clue of who I was, where I came from, or why no one reported me missing. Then, five years later, a dark-haired stranger shows up at a Halloween party, says my name like he knows me, and poof—I’m yanked through a portal and dropped into a life I never imagined.
Apparently, I’m not just some random lost girl—I’m a witch. In a small town full of secrets, snarky familiars, and power-hungry covens, my magic is waking. The witches of the Emberwood coven want me gone, but carrying the bloodline of one of the founding families makes me an Emberwood Elite. I won’t be cast out of my life a second time, and goddess help anyone who tries. They think not having control of my powers makes me an easy mark. I’m going to find out what happened to my family and show them how wrong they are.       AmazonKU

LICENSE TO HOWL (SHIFTER MATES OF HOLLOW OAK BOOK THREE) by Kala Aster and Milly Taiden

I’m not supposed to be here. Hollow Oak isn’t on any map. GPS dies at the gate. And the locals? Yeah. They stare like I’ve walked into a secret society wearing a press badge and a neon “snitch” sign. But I’m not leaving. Not until I get the story. It starts with whispers: of disappearing hikers, a town frozen in time, and something that howls when the snow falls hardest. Then I meet him. Alaric Thistlebrush — yes, that’s really his name — is the town’s resident enforcer, built like a war crime and staring at me like I’m his next assignment or his next meal. Spoiler: it’s both. I should run. Instead, I move in. And the deeper I dig, the more the town closes ranks… and the more Alaric closes in. Apparently, I’m not just a threat. I’m his fated mate. Turns out, when you chase monsters into the woods… one of them might chase you back, propose, and demand a human wedding.      AmazonKU

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

LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

December 3

November 26

November 19

November 12

November  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 whether it’s AI or not. 

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

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

 

 

Will You Be My Champion? LADY OF THE NILE Snippet Romantasy in Ancient Egypt

Cover by Fiona Jayde

Taking today’s snippet from LADY OF THE NILE. A high ranking lady in waiting to the queen has been kidnapped and Pharaoh has charged a warrior and a Medjai to find her. The Great One Mut makes her own appeal to Khian, the soldier in question.

Khian was bone tired, not so much from physical exertions, but the tension of the entire day, including personal conversation with Pharaoh and the Royal Wife. He wondered idly how the banquet had gone and if Horus had been pleased by the event in his honor. He wished he and Tuya had been there. Suddenly an official, formal boring banquet seemed like the most alluring event in all of Egypt, if only she were safely there at this hour.

As he took the chariot to the stables and supervised the servants unhitching the horses, grooming and feeding them, he wanted to pray, but to which of the Great Ones? Tuya was a priestess of Mut, but a warrior such as himself didn’t normally pray to the goddess.

But would his own Jackal God take any interest in a lost noblewoman, who had no connection to him? Unlikely. Anubis had loftier concerns.

Restless, he paced through the stables as he pondered recent events in his mind. Khian had wanted to know so much more about Tuya, to spend delicious hours talking about everything and nothing, to hold her, touch her—all things that might never happen. He realized he’d been well on his way to falling in love with her, given any encouragement at all. A dangerous prospect when he needed a clear head to decide how best to find her. If she’s even alive…Determinedly, he thrust away the bleak thought. He paused and found himself in an unfamiliar corner of the stables. Frustrated, he had to take a moment to orient himself in the unfamiliar passages of the place before he found his way again.

Khian took himself to the commissary for a belated dinner. His second-in-command arrived shortly, and he briefed the man on his special assignment, leaving out most of the details. His loyal lieutenant was happy for him to have this chance to shine in Pharaoh’s eyes if the assignment went well. They discussed the plans for his own company to carry out its assigned duties in Thebes in Khian’s absence.

“The company is yours now,” Khian said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “The men respect you and will take your orders. Don’t let these local Theban officers bully you or them. Stand up for yourself and the Jackal Nome. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“And we’ll sail home to our sweethearts and the planting,” his friend said with a contented smile. “Done with war and adventuring.”

Khian reckoned his days of adventure were just beginning.

Alone in his own room at last, Khian undressed and went straight to sleep. He’d disciplined himself to fall asleep rapidly each night, as a tired soldier couldn’t fight at his peak.

In his dreams he found himself standing in the desert at night, staring off to the west, feeling a pull and a yearning in his heart that he didn’t understand. Something made a slight sound to his right, and he pivoted to see what at first he thought was a large white bird, its feathers glowing. Even as he stood there staring the creature morphed into a beautiful woman between one moment and the next.

Depositphotos

She was taller than he, with a serene, heart-shaped face of utmost beauty. Her dress, which had been a glowing white linen shift, elegantly pleated, became bright red, with blue stripes at the hem. Faintly, the scent of the blue lotus came to his nostrils as she stepped to his side, also facing the desert. She glanced at him. “I meant you to be her chance for change or hoped so at any rate. But one must be careful what one asks for, even a Great One such as me. Once events were set in motion, other players stepped in to reach for my game piece, and now my poor Tuya is in grave danger. I fear I was quite rude to Shai and demanded he readjust her fortune to what I’d originally meant it to be, but he laughed and said I must yield to the whims of Fate.”

“I’ll find her, Great One,” he said, greatly daring in addressing a goddess, but speaking from the heart.

She shook her head, which set the golden beads in her lustrous wig to chiming. “The desert is vast and trackless. I’ll order my children to help as much as they can, for they see much from the sky. Watch for them.”

She set her fingers on his arm, and his entire body tingled with her power. “I’m not a goddess of war and soldiers, yet if I’m to help my priestess, I must step into an unaccustomed role. Will you be my champion in this, Khian of the Jackal Nome? Tuya’s champion?”

“You ask of me what I’ve already pledged Pharaoh to accomplish, my lady.” But he nodded solemnly. “I’m honored to assist you.”

“Good. Pharaoh sees much merit in you, which gives me hope.”

A flight of golden flies, shaped like the gold of valor he’d received only a few short weeks ago from Pharaoh’s hand, buzzed and flew a circular pattern around him before arrowing across the desert and disappearing from view. Khian felt dizzy, from the intense perfume and the awe of being in the presence of a goddess. He clenched his fists and stood straighter, trying to concentrate.

“Yet you are but human,” she said in a sad voice, “and as such cannot prevail against some foes. I’ve pleaded for help from one who fights such battles, and he has said he’ll send a warrior to your side. Only one – this matter of my priestess isn’t of pressing import to Egypt’s fate – but I see the potential for future problems and the Lord of the Sacred Land agrees.”

Anubis, she speaks of Anubis. Despite his family’s ties to the jackal god, Khian suffered the sting of momentary terror. Hard enough to have a goddess sharing her concerns with him, but the idea of having Anubis pay direct attention to him was so outside his wildest imagining Khian could barely hold the idea.

“Go with my blessing, and bring her home. This is my command.” The goddess faded, as if she’d been no more than a mirage in the desert.

Khian sat up straight in his bed with a gasp, hand to his heart as if saluting a superior officer.  Throat parched, he reached for his waterskin on the table, and his hand brushed something soft. With a pounding heart, he picked up the white feather, which glowed in the moonlight, its quill gleaming gold. As he watched, the feather shrank and changed until it was a tiny amulet bead, strung on a fine black leather cord. Hastily, he fastened the thong on his left wrist, where the feather lay against his skin. Pride at wearing a symbol of Mut, the World-Mother, suffused his mind and heart, since she’d named him her champion. As the goddess had said, she was no patron of war or soldiers but nonetheless it seemed there was a battle of unusual nature in the offing. Since the prize at the center of the conflict was Tuya he wouldn’t shirk the challenge.

Depositphotos

LADY OF THE NILE

Tuya, a high ranking lady-in-waiting at Pharaoh’s court, lives a life of luxury, pageantry and boredom. Khian, a brave and honorable officer from the provinces temporarily re-assigned to Thebes, catches her eye at a gold of valor ceremony. As the pair are thrown together by circumstances, she finds herself unaccountably attracted to this man so unlike the haughty nobles she’s used to. But a life with Khian would mean leaving the court and giving up all that she’s worked so hard to attain. As she goes about her duties, Tuya struggles with her heart’s desires. 

When Tuya is lured into a dangerous part of Thebes by her disgraced half-brother and kidnapped by unknown enemies of Egypt, Khian becomes her only hope. Pharaoh assigns him to bring the lady home. 

Aided by the gods, Khian races into the desert on the trail of the elusive kidnappers, hoping to find Tuya before it’s too late. Neither of them has any idea of the dark forces arrayed against them, nor the obstacles to be faced. An ancient evil from the long gone past wants to claim Tuya for its own purposes and won’t relinquish her easily. 

Can Khian find her in time? Will he and his uncanny allies be able to prevent her death? And if the couple escapes and reaches safety, what of their fledgling romance?

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By veronicascott • Posted in Snippet

New Releases in SciFi/Romantasy/Paranormal Romance for DEC 3

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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KLAUS ENCOUNTER (HORNED HOLIDAYS) by Honey Phillips

Can a cold alien warrior and a struggling woman give a grieving boy the one gift he needs most—a family? When Talia moves to an isolated village to care for her angry, grieving nephew Theo, she quickly discovers that her city-based skills are useless. Her efforts to reach her nephew and save his home are failing. The last thing she needs is another problem, but when she finds a huge, horned alien unconscious in the snow, she’s determined to save him. Commander Klausan D’Kringar’s mission has come to an ignominious end. Crashed, injured, and alone, his only goal is survival. But when he wakes up in a primitive cellar, tended to by a fierce, captivating female, his priorities begin to shift. Her compassion is irrational, her living situation is unacceptable, and the unexpected attraction between them is completely outside his experience. Logic dictates he should escape, but a new, protective instinct demands he stay. As they work together to ease Theo’s sorrow, an unforeseen bond begins to grow between the three of them. And when they attract the wrong kind of attention, Klausan will do whatever it takes to protect his new family.      AmazonKU

VANQUISHED (WAR BRIDES OF THE VANDAR BOOK ONE) by Tana Stone

My planet made a deal with the ruthless Vandar. Now I belong to the most feared warlord in the galaxy. It was supposed to be a random lottery with just one unlucky woman chosen to seal the alliance between my frozen outpost and the Vandar warriors. One bride to guarantee we wouldn’t betray them to the Zagrath Empire. But the moment the massive alien walked into my bakery that morning, his golden eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that stole my breath, I knew. Somehow, I knew my life would never be the same. And I was right. When my name was called, I was torn from my sisters, my home, and the underground rebellion I’d built in the shadows. Dragged onto a vast warbird, claimed by Raas Wrexonn, the Keth’rax himself. The Scourge. He told me he saved me. That the Empire had marked me for execution, that taking me was the only way to keep me alive. I told him I’d never forgive him for it. But as we’re hunted across the galaxy by Imperial forces, as I discover the truth about the war he’s fighting and the pain he’s buried beneath his ruthless exterior, I’m forced to confront an impossible reality: the alien warlord I’ve vowed to hate might be the only one who truly sees me. But the Raas wants more than compliance. More than tolerance. He wants me to choose him freely, even though he stole that choice from me. And the most terrifying part? I’m starting to want that too.     AmazonKU

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT TENTACLE (TINSEL AND TENTCLES 3.0) by Kelex

VS Note: MM SFR.

Qylar, from disgraced House Zyven, became untouchable the second his family rightfully landed in the prison mines. While he was innocent of their crimes—and only a boy of ten—he nearly ended up suffering their fate, as well. The only thing that saved him was his best friend’s intervention. He’s lived his life in House Kreegl’s debt ever since. Not that Cryss has ever asked for anything in return except brotherhood. For that reason, he’s loyally stood at his friend’s side for three decades. When Cryss met Alex and started a family on Earth, he became their fiercest protector. But standing on the sidelines and watching the love the growing family shared became an unexpected torment. No Nefyrian would ever take a fallen prince to mate, considering his family’s sordid reputation. After he meets Kenji in San Francisco’s iconic Eagle Bar, the little bundle of nerves in black leather calls to him like no other has before. After a lifetime of one-night stands, Qylar has finally met a man who makes him envision a tomorrow. A human might not be able to give him children, but a lifetime of love is more than enough. If the human can accept that he’s secretly a tentacled, alien shifter, of course. Will a December alone with Kenji along with a little added holiday magic create a chance for Qylar to have the family he never thought possible?      AmazonKU

HUNTING FOR THE HOLIDAYS (HUMAN PETS OF TALIN – ORIGINS BOOK FIVE) by RK Munin

No one should have to pick between money and love. Han has worked as a bounty hunter for years. Her small stature is actually a benefit because her targets always underestimate her. Clever, fast, and skilled, she’s never failed to collect a bounty yet. When she accepts a bounty for a Talin, all she sees is enough credits to pay for her community for an entire year! If she’s fast she might even make it back to celebrate the holidays with her family. What she doesn’t expect is for her target to be kind and concerned. Her normal tactics don’t work because all he wants to do is to keep her safe instead of take advantage of her “vulnerability.” Now she’s faced with a tough choice: handing this Talin over to his government or bringing him home to meet her family.      AmazonKU

ROGUES LIE (CALDRYN PARLIAMENT BOOK THREE) by Jenny Schwartz

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note. Here’s what the author said about book one: “Stars Die is a magic parliament mystery. If you’ve ever wished that Agatha Christie included magic or that Sherlock Holmes fought space pirates, this is the series for you!”

A whisper campaign threatens Vanda Kavanagh’s hard-won position as Warden of Caldryn Parliament, but are the malicious rumors a personal attack or do they mask an uglier plot? As Vanda investigates, long-hidden truths are revealed leading her to question everything she believed about herself. In a city steeped in magic and political intrigue who can Vanda trust?     AmazonKU

BORDER CONTROL (OUTCASTS OF OLORIA BOOK THREE) by Bea Tama

She’s used to being in control. He was created to obey. But on Earth, nothing goes according to plan. Laura keeps her worlds separate: career, friends, and family all neat and organized like a courtroom argument. As a rising-star lawyer, she doesn’t have time for complications, especially not sexy, submissive aliens crash-landing on her best friend’s property. But when she witnesses one of them—tall, muscled, and clearly struggling—spiral into violence, Laura does what she always does: takes control. Dom responds like no man ever has. He wants to obey her. Needs it. Craves it. And she discovers a side of herself she’s never dared explore. Dom was created to serve, but in exile on Earth he’s barely holding it together. His role as a psychic stabilizer for his wave brothers demands total strength and zero selfishness. Then comes Laura: confident, commanding, and achingly human. One night in her arms threatens everything. Because now he wants something just for himself. For the first time, Laura’s orderly world is unraveling. They return to Oloria to fix it, and instead land Dom in trouble. And to save him, she’ll have to destroy every line she ever drew.     AmazonKU

ABDUCTED BY MOONLIGHT (PETRA PALERNO’S FILTHY SHORTS) by Petra Palerno

A werewolf stalks his newly found human mate in the forest when a UFO abducts them both. What happens when the alien tries to stake a claim on her as well? Abducted by Moonlight is part of the smutty novella collection, Petra Palerno’s Filthy Shorts, that feature otherworldly love interests. In this edition you’ll find alien & monster romance, size difference, why choose, group scenes, abduction, FMM, sword crossing, and a plus-sized FMC.       Amazon

REDSTONE: LIMINAL SPACE: BOK FOUR by Cari Z

M/M Space Opera Romance! Kyle Foster thought he was doing the right thing when he saved Cody Helms’ life at the Academy, but now he’s paying the price. Shunted to the worst prison in the Alliance, Kyle’s chances of survival are slim. That is, until Isidore Cain steps in. Isidore is a survivor, but he’d never have made it this far without friends. To repay his debt, Isidore must infiltrate the notorious Redstone prison and save Kyle’s life. But it won’t be easy. As Isidore navigates the treacherous prison and faces unimaginable challenges, he begins to question if he can really pull off this dangerous mission. With the odds stacked against them and everything on the line, will Isidore and Kyle make it out alive?     AmazonKU

HOLLY AND THE HUNTER (XARC’N WARRIORS) by Lynnea Lee

Deck the halls… or die trying. I’ve spent months preparing for the holidays. Gifts for the children, hand-knit stockings, and enough decorations to cover New Franklin in Christmas cheer. It was going to be perfect. Then the raiders came. They didn’t take food. Or medicine. Or anything remotely useful for surviving winter. No, they stole the crate full of holiday magic. Everything is gone. Even the star for the tree. Now the settlement’s focused on repairs and defense, and no one has time to recover what was lost. Except me. And the only person available to help? A grumpy, battle-hardened Xarc’n warrior who thinks tinsel is a tactical hazard. But grumpy protector or not, we’re going to make this work. He’s got the blade, I’ve got the sparkle, and together, we are going to save Christmas.      AmazonKU

CLAIMED BY THE VYKAN (STOLEN FROM EARTH BOOK FOUR) by Callia Silver

Morgan Halden has every advantage money can buy—but none of the freedom she wants. As the heiress to a global data-security empire, her life has been arranged for her down to the finest detail: the career, the marriage, the future she is expected to step into without protest. During a suffocating dinner meant to push her toward an engagement she never agreed to, she mutters something reckless under her breath: “I’d rather be abducted by aliens.” She never imagined anyone—or anything—would take her seriously. But after the Luxar incident, Earth was seeded with silent monitors designed to detect the rarest signal of all: a human expressing willingness to leave. Morgan’s impatient remark is flagged as consent, and before she can retract it, she is gone. She wakes on Vyranth, a world of drifting mist and uncanny stillness, surrounded by the Saelori—a persecuted, guarded people who treat her with a strange mix of courtesy and distance. They follow one command above all: prepare her and deliver her to the one who summoned her. They call him the Vykan—one of the Seven protectors of their world, a masked figure spoken of only in formal titles and carefully controlled tones. No one will tell her what he is. No one will tell her why he asked for her. Only that she is expected. Morgan never meant to volunteer. Now she must face the being who summoned her—and understand why he chose her, before his venom decides the rest for her.     AmazonKU

COSMIC CUPIDS (FELIX ORBUS GALAXY BOOK SEVEN) by S C Principale

On the Comet Stalker, a diverse crew of Felids, Canids, and humans has created a harmonious found family. Some have even found love. But when the humans on board the ship decide to celebrate the old Sapien-Three holiday of Valentine’s Day, things really start to heat up. Can they summon Cupid into the cosmos to make three matches in one night? Find out in three short, steamy stories! Paging Doctor Cupid – Skyla and Dax are in charge of the med bay during the holiday, when Skyla suddenly becomes ill. Will this be the push these friends need to finally confess their mutual admiration and take the leap to lovers? As luck would have it, Dax might have the cure to her particular kind of fever…One More Arrow – Rugged and handsome widower Jaxson never celebrated Valentine’s Day, since it’s not a Felid or Canid custom. His friend, the rescued human Kaylie, has no use for a holiday that only seems to magnify loneliness. To while away the hours when everyone else seems to be indulging in romance, they end up researching some old holiday customs. When they start to play a Valentine’s Day game, things soon turn hot and heavy. Maybe Cupid has one more arrow left for two lonely hearts after all? Breaking All The Rules – Elio and Lycen volunteer to babysit the cubs in the nursery on this special night. But once the cubs are asleep, these two unlikely allies finally have a chance to talk about what the future holds for them, and whether they will do what’s expected—or what’s forbidden. Breaking all the rules seems wrong, especially for straight-laced Lycen and determined Elio, but what if being wrong is the right choice?       AmazonKU

MERRY AND BRIGHT: A CALLISTO CHRISTMAS by JJ Hynd

Ali won’t make it home for Christmas. She can’t get the time off work to travel back to Earth. The forensic lab already has a backlog, and with only two weeks til the big day it’s not happening. Her parents decide to surprise her with a festive family visit instead. They want to see Callisto at Christmas, and meet her mystery man she’s told them about. Only problem is Ali’s man is fictional. Fabricated to appease her parents and stop them worrying. What Ali needs is a boyfriend for Christmas. This is a standalone Christmas Romance with fake dating, nerdy date nights, and some alien anatomy.      AmazonKU

ALIEN DEVIL’S TEMPATION (VINDUTHI STOLEN BRIDES BOOK FOUR) by Ava York

He’s the thief who could save her. She’s the captive who could ruin him. Together, they’re a firestorm waiting to ignite. BREVAN – I came to Valyria to steal the fourth Regalia and burn a corrupt senator’s empire to the ground. I didn’t expect his curator. Carys is everything I’m not supposed to want: brilliant, controlled, and far too aware of the danger I carry. She has her own escape in motion—and I’m the reckless force that could shatter it. CARYS – Six years trapped under a powerful man’s control. Six years planning the one chance that could set me free. I’m close. So close. Then Brevan walks in with red eyes, velvet lies, and a heist that threatens all of it. I should fear him. But in the dark—and in the too-small spaces we hide in—fear becomes something hotter. Sharper. Impossible to resist. When the gala turns deadly, our only hope is each other. One Regalia. One escape. One impossible desire neither of us can afford. Because once he claims me, I won’t just escape. I’ll be untouchable—and I’ll never want to walk away.     AmazonKU

HITCHED TO THE MAPINGUARI (MONSTER MATCHMAKING SERIES BOOK FOUR) by Eden Ember

When genetic compatibility becomes a death sentence, love becomes an act of rebellion. Healer Kalyndi never wanted to be matched with a monster, especially not the towering, terrifying mapinguari warrior who could crush her with one massive hand. But Magnus Terra’s “peace” program doesn’t care about consent, only about creating the perfect hybrid offspring for their secret agenda. War Chief Redmon has spent years advocating for human-monster cooperation, but being forcibly mated to a defiant human woman who despises everything he represents wasn’t part of his plan. When Kalyndi’s sister is matched to a brutal Fanghorn warrior, their reluctant alliance becomes something deeper and far more dangerous. As they uncover the horrifying truth behind the matching program, children stolen from parents, genetic experiments, and a breeding scheme designed to create superhuman soldiers. Kalyndi and Redmon must choose between the safety of compliance and the perilous path of resistance. Their fake marriage becomes real love. Their obedience becomes rebellion. And their fight for freedom will reshape the future of two worlds.     AmazonKU

TAKE ME AWAY ALIEN MERCENARY (ANYWHERE BUT HERE BOOK TWO) by Sybur Phyre

Kylara – There’s nothing like working a thankless job for scraps while my boss basks in the lush limelight of being one of Earth’s representatives at SABUR’s base on the moon. The Stellar Allies Brigade of Rangers is a powerful intergalactic organization, but its PR cover, Cosmic Guardians, is full of overindulgent politicians. And when someone else threatens the Planetary Alliance Dinner, turning the spaceport into chaos, I’m left behind to fend for myself as my boss escapes on his private starship. I’m eager for a way off the base when someone extends a hand. He’s huge, green, shredded, and shimmers with a fading ghostcloak. He has a high-tech starship, an idea of what’s going on, and a princess to get home in one piece before he can take me anywhere. I agree without a second’s thought. He wears the marking of a Mercenary on the back of his neck as well as the crest of SABUR on his chest. I’m unsure what to make of his conflicting tattoos. I just know if I stay, I die. But the protective, almost possessive, way he guards me says the most. He wants me. He can’t seem to keep his hands off of me.I want a new life. I’ll take whatever I can get. And a hot alien who wants to claim me for himself sounds like a pretty good trade. I’m just not prepared to run from the secret bounty on my head. Jaxzor – I owed a friend a favor, now I’m stuck guarding a princess…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)        AmazonKU

SERVE IN THE WASTELANDS (MEYER COMPOUND BOOK THREE) by Krista Drake

VS Note: I enjoyed books one and two, very intense. This one is on my kindle.

Being chosen as caretaker for a massive pit fighter was my chance to prove myself. Craving his brutal touch might be my downfall. Since arriving at the Meyer Compound, I’ve been trying to prove my worth. I have medical training from my previous community, steady hands under pressure, and the kind of desperation to belong that makes risky choices seem reasonable. That is, until a territorial war erupts and survival comes down to death matches—winner claims all losing territories, losers become slaves. Our leader assigns me as attendant to our most dangerous pit fighter: Ryland Charron. My job is keeping him fed, rested, and battle-ready. He has other ideas about what I’m for. But every time I work on his massive frame, massaging muscles that could crush me, cleaning wounds across shoulders twice the width of mine, he looks at me like I’m prey he’s planning to devour. The professional distance I’m supposed to maintain crumbles when he grabs my wrist and shows me exactly where he wants my touch. What starts as basic care becomes something darker. More intimate. When he commands me to serve him, to submit to desires I never knew I had, I discover I’ll do anything to please him. Even if it means crossing lines that could get us both killed. But in a game where only one combatant survives, wanting him means gambling with everyone’s lives.   Amazon

BONE SPUR BABY DADDY by Tara Starr and Athna Storm

She thought I was dead. Now I’m standing in her kitchen, bleeding on her marble floors……And our daughter just called me Daddy. I spent years killing men who deserved it. Now I read bedtime stories to a girl with my eyes and try not to scare her mother every time I breathe. Soren built her empire on control. Steel spine. Cold smile. But I know what’s under it — heat and heartbreak and a secret she never meant to share. She says I don’t belong in her world. She’s right. Because I was born to protect what’s mine. Even if it means tearing down her perfect city, bone by bone. She gave me a reason to live. Now she’s the reason no one else will.      AmazonKU

ALIENS ARE OUT THERE AND SO IS SHE by Indigo Queen

VS Note: SFR? SFR-adjacent? I have no idea but people seem to be njoying it!

She ain’t from Wilflower. He ain’t convinced she’s even from Earth. When Georgia Culver’s life implodes, she packs up her bags and flees to the small town of Wilflower, Texas. She’s not sure what she’s looking for, but it definitely isn’t the camouflage-wearing conspiracy theorist next door. Enter Jesse Pickens. Local handyman. Hardcore conspiracy theorist. Likely feral. He’s been tracking UFOs and deep state surveillance vans for decades, and he knows, for certain, that beautiful women don’t just move to Wilflower. Georgia sets off every alarm bell in his head. Government plant? Alien? Either way, he’s watching her. But when strange occurrences start piling up, starting with another new neighbor who works for a government agency that doesn’t exist, Jesse drags Georgia into his investigation. Between stake-outs, growing feelings, and raccoons with a taste for PB&Js, Wilflower’s about to get a lot weirder. Aliens Are Out There…And So Is She is a cozy, sci-fi small town romcom.   AmazonKU

BA’IR (LYQA PLANET LOVERS BOOK SIX) by Nikki Clarke

The horrified whisper of the woman, Karen, who is gathering the uniform I am meant to wear while employed at this large shopping center, doesn’t faze me. At one point, many years ago, when I was still a youngling, having someone look at me and feel compelled to call upon their personal deity may have bothered me, but I long lost any sense of caring. At least when it comes to how I look. And I know what I look like. Not only am I keenly aware of every jagged etch and groove in my skin. I can remember, like it was only a turn ago, how they were made with claws and teeth, sometimes broken metal and stone. The blunt points were the worst, poking and prodding until they finally breached the flesh. But the memory of that pain is nothing compared to the rage I feel at my lehti, Ivy, the one responsible for my suffering. It’s a rage I doubt she knows exists. But she will soon.    AmazonKU

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

VS: Kyden is the first book in my scifi romance Badari Gladiators series. I always loved the sword and sandals movies when I was a kid and swooned over the gladiator heroes so I was excited to write my own “handsome not human” SFR gladiator series! Complete with those swirling red capes!

KYDEN: BADARI GLADIATORS SERIES BOOK ONE by Veronica Scott

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

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

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

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

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

DRAGON, ACTUALLY: A SHORT COZY HOLIDAY MONSTER ROM COM by Sara Ivy Hill

I’m just a small-town girl doing my best to make it in the big city. Between double shifts at the giftwrap counter and pet-sitting my roommate’s moody cat, this holiday season isn’t exactly shaping up to be merry and bright. But then a gorgeous green dragon walks into my life—or, more accurately, buys every gift in the shop just to talk to me! Myrran is sweet, awkward, and way too charming for his own good (or mine). He says I’m his greatest treasure, and the way he looks at me could melt even the iciest December day. But being a dragon’s holi-date comes with its own complications, like teaching him how to kiss, managing his overly enthusiastic dragon family, and learning secrets I’m not sure I’m ready to handle. Is this whirlwind romance my happily-ever-after, or will Myrran’s flames burn too hot for a girl like me? This Christmas, love is in the air…and my new boyfriend is a dragon, actually.       AmazonKU

THE DARK IS DESCENDING: A NYTEFALL NOVEL (NYTEFALL TRILOGY BOOK THREE) by Chloe C Penaranda

The strongest light needs the deepest shadows. Reeling from shocking betrayal, the Star Maiden Astraea must now race against time to break the curse imprisoning her lover, Nyte. She will have to decide if the hand of darkness, or that of her enemy, is an alliance that could bring him back. But with the loss of daylight and the realm on the brink of ruin, Astraea and her companions must set off on their quests to retrieve the Maiden’s broken key, the only weapon that can kill the wrathful gods determined to rule the mortal world. Dragons will fly and their bonds may choose friend or foe. Gods will face gods, fathers will face sons, and all will face the end of the world. Because when the blood that binds them becomes a weapon to end them, two star-crossed lovers must yield to fate or pay their greatest sacrifice yet.

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PHOENIX RISING (FIRE AND CLAWS BOOK ONE) by Jennifer Allis Provost

She’s a quiet bookworm. He’s the last dragon shifter. Together, they will bring a kingdom to its knees. Rosalie Greenwood’s been called worthless since the day she was born. The neglected second daughter of a pirate turned landowner, she spent her days hiding in her room and begging her father to send her to a convent. Her only real ally was her older sister, Caterina, but she was contracted to marry the infamous Black Duke of Dragon Ridge. Then Caterina ran away with her lover, and Rosalie was forced to marry the duke instead. Lochlyn Blackmoor was resigned to his fate. Thanks to a war he wasn’t allowed to fight in, he became the duke at fourteen, and the only dragon shifter left in Alessia. Lochlyn spent the next ten years reclaiming his family’s honor, but what he really needed was an heir. He agreed to marry out of duty, but he never expected to be swept away by Rosalie, a beauty with fire in her heart that matched his own. Once they’re home at Dragon Ridge, their marriage doesn’t go smoothly. Rosalie and Lochlyn stay on opposite sides of the castle, until the last person they expected arrived on their doorstep. Thrown together by a situation out of their control they find solace in each other, but harmony doesn’t last. After being abruptly summoned to the capital, they uncover a conspiracy linked to the legendary phoenix knights, the Order of the Sun, and learn how far the king—a weak shifter trapped in a half form for the last twenty years—is willing to go in order to keep his tenuous hold on the throne. What none of their enemies realize is that Rosalie is hiding the biggest secret of all.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

A BEGINNER’S’ GUIDE TO SEA MONSTERS, MESSENGER ANGELS AND OTHER MANAGEMENT MISHAPS (DEMONIC DISASTERS AND AFTERLIFE ADVENTURES BOOK EIGHT) by Shannon Mae

VS Note: MM PNR.

Gabriel: Gabriel is the Divine Herald, the messenger of the Lord, the Angel of Revelation… and he’s currently losing ground to social media. (Really, how is he supposed to compete with that ticking app?) When the afterlife’s management team forces him into a “professional development partnership” with a demon, Gabriel is horrified—until he meets Leviathan, a sea monster with tattoos, tentacles, and a knack for helping him connect with mortals. Levi: Leviathan has no interest in going back to the underworld. He’d much rather spend his time topside with his octopus sidekick and now, apparently, one very uptight angel. Teaching Gabriel about mortal pleasures—food, coffee, books, and other things (that require less clothes)—is the best adventure Levi’s had in centuries. But as they both start to enjoy their unexpected partnership, one problem remains: what happens when the leadership team decides the partnership is over? Levi isn’t about to give up his angel, and Gabriel isn’t sure he wants to return to Heaven without his demon.     AmazonKU

THE GODDESS’S SPY (THE LOST LINES BOOK NINE) by Merri Bright

She’s a spy. She’s an Omega. And she might just be a goddess. As a child, Ratter led a group of thieving street rats who did odd poisoning jobs for the king and secretly protected the innocent and vulnerable. Now known as Rada, she’s on the run from Alphas intent on claiming her, and a goddess who seems to want her to stop spying and start popping out street rats of her own. Dead set on completing her own mission, she runs straight into trouble and ends up burned at the stake. Well, toasted, anyway. When Rada breaks down and prays for help, though, the wrong deity answers. Even the men who are obsessed with her––her valet, her ex-husband, two smoking hot selkie princes, and a couple of monsters––may not be enough to keep her from becoming the sacrifice she was created to be. But this Omega isn’t about to lay down for any man… or any god.      AmazonKU

HEIRS OF THE WOLF (FORBIDDEN MATES BOOK FIVE) by Amelia Shaw

Everything is going to be all right… I hope! Together, we’ve overcome every obstacle thrown our way—but they say everything, including danger comes in threes…For now, my bond with my mates has been accepted by the black wolf pack, and mercifully our twins are growing safe and well within my belly. I won’t lie, pregnancy is tougher than I imagined, and morning sickness is kicking my ass; but for the first time in a long time, I have hope for the future. But thoughts and prayers aren’t enough to secure a solid alliance. When I become aware that some of the pack are sick, I make healing potions for them, because actions speak louder than words. Hoping to prove my loyalty further, I invite the pack to a ball at my castle. But nothing is ever smooth sailing! Without warning the cusiths strike, lashing out, and it seems death may be coming for us all.     AmazonKU

TENDER CRUELTY (DARK OLYMPUS BOOK NINE) by Katee Robert

The barrier that’s protected Olympus for generations has fallen. The enemy’s breached the gates and the Thirteen are scrambling to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the city they’ve sworn to protect. At least they would be if they weren’t at each others’ throats instead. Hera has no intention of letting her husband, Zeus, survive the oncoming storm. But despite the white-hot hatred burning between them, when Hera and Zeus are forced to work together, enmity crystalizes into something brighter. Hotter. Too powerful to deny or destroy. Hera never bartered on falling in love with the man she married—the man she once swore to kill. But now, standing back-to-back in the ruins of Olympus, she may be forced to admit that she’s been wrong about Zeus all these years…and there may be something about their marriage worth saving if they can survive long enough to turn sworn enemies into something more.

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HELL FOR CHRISTMAS byCathrine Lievens

VS Note: MM PNR.

When Justin decides to visit the underworld, he’s looking for his birth mother—not a cellmate who’ll steal his heart. Half-demon Justin has always been loved and accepted by his adoptive family, but when their mother’s death tears the family apart over an inheritance question right during the holidays, Justin needs a distraction from his grief. Curious about his birth mother, he decides to find her, hoping to get answers to the many questions he has. But Hell isn’t what he expected. His mother rules her territory with brutal efficiency, and her warm welcome turns into a nightmare when she demands Justin become her heir. When he refuses, she throws him into the dungeons—right into the cell of Mynor, a demon who’s been standing up to her by freeing her prisoners and stealing from her supporters. Mynor is wary of Justin—can he not be when Justin is Anya’s son? But as days turn to weeks, he discovers that Justin is nothing like his mother. Being stuck together in a small cell brings them closer, both physically and emotionally, which isn’t something either of them expected.
Anya is prepared to keep Justin locked away forever if that’s what it takes to break him, but Justin knows that eventually, his brothers will come looking for him. He just hopes it won’t take them too long.       AmazonKU

TROLL THE YULETIDE CAROL (BIRCH HEARTS) by Elva Birch

VS Note: A re-release.

It’s the most magical time of year…but Carol isn’t magical at all. Carol is feeling anything but holiday cheer. Dangerously low of blood sugar and high on frustration, the final straw at Carol’s office party comes when she realizes that someone has stolen her custom chair…and he’s still in it. Unexpectedly becoming a troll comes with a lot of downsides, and Keenan’s teeth aren’t the only thing that get supersized. When the woman he borrowed a chair from to fit him comes looking for it, sparks fly!   AmazonKU

TALES OF WINTER AND WHIMSY: A COZY FANTASY ANTHOLOGY by Various

Nine fantasy and romantasy authors. Nine delightfully cozy tales. This enchanting collection of short stories will have you traveling through snow-covered landscapes, winter solstice balls, small town universities, seaside cottages, and time itself. From a grumpy blacksmith and a chicken cult to a budding romance in the most unlikely of places and everything in between. Each tale offers low stakes, varying spice levels, and whimsical winter worlds that are sure to fill your soul with joy. So pour yourself a warm brew, wrap up in a cozy blanket, and step into these ten wintery, whimsical tales.       Amazon

KIRKYARDS AND KINDNESS: A RIP THROUGH TIME NOVELLA by Kelley Armstrong

A year ago, twenty-first-century detective Mallory found herself in 1869 Edinburgh, in the body of Catriona Mitchell, a housemaid working for Dr. Duncan Gray, pioneer in forensic science. Shortly after she arrived, she made the unfortunate acquaintence of Catriona’s former criminal mentor, Davina, an entanglement that nearly got Mallory killed. Now she’s about to meet Davina again. Greyfriars Bobby has disappeared. The little terrier is already a legend, and Davina has made a tidy living showing him off on graveyard tours…while picking the pockets of her guests. When the elderly dog vanishes, Davina calls in a favor from her old student. Mallory agrees to help find Bobby in return for the one thing she’s been unable to get from Davina—the mysterious Catriona’s life story.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

PEARLS BENEATH THE SEA by Sofia Rose

VS Note: Sapphic PNR.

Some hearts need winter to learn how to melt. Former Olympic skater Ruby Callahan retreats to a lakeside cabin to escape the spotlight and the noise in her own head. All she wants is silence, solitude, and the cold comfort of a frozen lake. But the ice isn’t empty. Beneath it waits Eira, a siren bound to the water she guards, her song full of longing and light. When she saves Ruby from drowning, curiosity turns to connection, and then to something far deeper. As the snow falls and the ice begins to thaw, Ruby and Eira find warmth in shared stillness, in touch, in breath, in trust. Their love hums like a heartbeat under water—a song of surrender, rebirth, and choosing feeling over fear.   AmazonKU

CAUGHT BY HER GUARDIAN (YULETIDE SHIFTERS BOOK SIX) by R E Butler

Tooth Fairy Pixie is sent to a new territory in Pennsylvania when her boss calls in a favor. On her nightly rounds of collecting teeth from little sleepers, Pixie’s quiet mission goes awry when she accidentally falls out of a window, only to land in the strong arms of a polar bear named Hunter. Hunter was with his clan for a celebration and thought someone was breaking into one of the homes. He quickly discovers the would-be thief is a tooth fairy—and also his truemate. While Hunter and Pixie explore their newfound bond, trouble brews in Northernmost. Santa has enlisted a secret ally to prepare for a confrontation with his brother, Jack Frost. When Frost’s second-in-command strikes at the heart of Santa’s operation, it’s up to Hunter and the Yuletide Guardians to step in and save the day. As magic and romance collide, can Hunter and Pixie stop Frost’s plans and protect the world’s magic, or will all be lost on Christmas Day?

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UNRAVELING MAGICAL MYSTERIES (MIDLIFE WITCHERY BOOK 22) by Brenda Trim

Just when Fiona, Violet, and Aislinn thought they’d earned a damn break, Artemis crashes their victory dinner with catastrophic news: Olympus is under attack, gods are dropping like flies, and—surprise!—only they can save divine butts from extinction. Goodbye, overdue peaceful evening. Hello, next world-ending crisis. Whisked away to Mount Olympus without so much as a toothbrush, the three magical misfits discover someone’s treating gods like magical juice boxes—draining their divine essence and leaving them to fade into oblivion. And the culprit has been using Artemis’s own lodge as their villain headquarters. Talk about a hostile takeover. With their complementary abilities working overtime, the witchy wonder triplets will navigate godly politics (think high school drama but with lightning bolts), infiltrate secret training facilities for god-impersonators, and uncover a conspiracy led by Callisto—Artemis’s scorned ex-companion with serious boundary issues and a flair for divine theft. Their investigation takes them from Olympic chambers to sketchy Athens clubs offering “godly experiences” to mortals with more money than sense, and finally back to Cottlehill Wilds, where the Hellmouth is once again center stage for magical mayhem. Between saving weakened deities, protecting their families, and figuring out what the hell a “divine ascension ritual” actually entails (spoiler alert: it’s not a relaxing spa day), the Backside of Forty faces their most ridiculous challenge yet. Because nothing says “thanks for saving reality last week” like being drafted into a divine civil war. At least no one’s trying to steal their brains this time. Progress!      AmazonKU

HOW THE DEMON STOLE CHRISTMAS (SHROUDED NATION BOOK 33) by Brenda Trim and Tia Didmon

When a demon with an unnatural hatred for tinsel and an insatiable thirst for revenge escapes the underworld, my friends and I are called in to hunt him down before he can wreak havoc. But as the bodies keep dropping in gruesome and ritualistic ways, it becomes clear that his arrival isn’t just a random jailbreak. Something or someone helped him cross into our world, and the deeper we dig, the more it feels like we’re being played. When I think I can juggle the hunt and the chaos that comes with it, my son shows up for a visit. It’s supposed to be a chance to pretend, just for a little while, that I have a normal life. But the demon strikes too close to home, and in the aftermath, I am forced to confront not only the trauma of my past but the gaping wound left by the husband I lost. Dark forces are at play, ones that don’t just want chaos but need it. And if we don’t figure out their true motives, the Christmas Village will become a massacre site. Can we uncover our enemies’ true agenda before the streets run red with holiday cheer, or are we one holiday away from annihilation?   AmazonKU

MY ORC MISTLETOE MISTAKE (EASTSHORE ISLE BOOK 13) by Veronika Kane

A New Year’s Eve wedding! How romantic! Now I just need to make it to the 31st…After losing both my boyfriend and the company we co-owned on the west coast, I figure a little escape to Eastshore Isle–and planning my little sister’s wedding to a freaking billionaire–will be just the distraction I need. Of course, my little chaos demon self doesn’t need any help in the distraction departm–oh look! A squirrel! But it turns out I’m not the only one planning this wedding…the groom’s incredibly competent, unbelievable schmexy assistant has been tasked with making sure the ceremony reflects orcish customs as well. And I find myself partnered up with a guy I need to treat professionally, instead of jumping his bones. It’s hard, okay? (Imagine me winking.) And then, in the name of advancing human-orc relations, I take part in an adorable holiday tradition where I accidentally make out with Sylvik beneath the mistletoe…and everything changes. I just don’t know if it’s for better or worse.     AmazonKU

CHOKE ON MY NAME by Lily X

VS Note: Sapphic PNR.

A vampyre with a vendetta. A wytch with everything to lose. Teaming up was never the goal, but falling in love? Even less so. Maia Rani Darsha has always known that Coven Layng would be hers to lead one day. Is she the best person for the job? No, but she’s the only one left. She thinks her position is secure until the High Coven intervenes with a new plan and a new leader for her ancestral coven. Their decree is simple: leave or engage in a Trial of Ascension for the right to lead. Enter Raven—a vengeful vampyre who doesn’t think twice about staking her own mother through the heart. She’s unhinged, unpredictable, and a walking red flag. The dark shadow vamp has something Maia needs—a powerful wytch contact who can help her train for the Trial. Their deal is simple: Raven’s contact for Maia’s blood. No strings, and definitely no emotions. But Maia soon discovers that some deals are inked in more than blood… Some are tattooed straight onto the heart.     AmazonKU

A GHOST OF A CHANCE by Linda Mooney

Sometimes you need a little help…from the other side. After being permanently injured on the job, Crime Scene Investigator Victoria Fanning was forced into an early retirement. When her twin brother is promoted to chief of police back in their hometown, he wants her on his team, regardless of her handicap. She agrees to go on retainer for two weeks, but she doesn’t realize how much she missed the job, and her brother, until she gets there. The previous investigator, Jackson Mullen, was killed on the job, but Vic is impressed by the lab he set up and his reputation. Imagine her surprise when Jackson appears to her and offers his two cents on her thoughts. Despite the fact that he’s a ghost, she’s not afraid. Quite the opposite, actually. They realize they have a lot in common, similar ideals and purpose, and Vic enjoys having Jack’s help on her first case, an elderly woman shot with a Revolutionary era weapon. But is she getting too close to Jack? Too reliant? She realizes that she has a tough decision to make. If she’s to have any kind of personal life, any type of future, Jack can’t be a part of it. That decision is soon taken out of her hands.      Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

SNAKE-EATER by T Kingfisher

VS Note: Described as “contemporary fantasy steeped in horror” by one reviewer.

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind. Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled. Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.         Amazon     AB 

BLUE BEARD, RED HOOD (BELOVED VILLAINS BOOK SIX) by Rebecca F Kenney

Sybil Fallon has a habit of summoning demons unintentionally and at the most inconvenient times. When she, her mother, and her sister are invited to an upcoming dinner at the estate of the mysterious Theron Beresford, Sybil is desperate to ensure that her ability won’t manifest and ruin the evening. But when she seeks help from her reclusive former mentor, Grandmother Riquet, she discovers that the old woman has changed in dangerous and disturbing ways… and so has the forest in which she lives. As Sybil struggles to control an ability she doesn’t understand, she becomes strongly attracted to Beresford, the brawny, handsome estate owner. His distinctive blue beard isn’t his only unusual trait. In addition to socially acceptable dinner parties, he also likes to host secret gatherings in the refurbished barn on his property. Sybil’s first invitation to one of his naughty midnight parties opens her mind to a world of new pleasures. But with local disappearances inciting the suspicion of the neighbors, and Beresford’s secretive nature raising questions in her own mind, Sybil must navigate an increasingly treacherous path through the forest of her circumstances in pursuit of the future she wants.      AmazonKU

TASTY TENTACLES (TINSEL AND TENTACLES 3.0) by David Gray

VS note: MM PNR.

For all his life, Orion has kept his furry tentacles hidden, even though they’re hanging there, right on his chin, masquerading as a beard. This year, he’s had enough of being a fuzzy Cthulhu freak, and as a gift to himself, he’s made a resolution to do something about them. Now, his plastic surgeon and the flirty owner of his favorite bakery have the holiday season to talk him out of it and together explore the tasty enticements those tentacles have to offer. Tasty Tentacles is a rather spicy gay romance with polyamory, a happy ending, and lots of holiday cheer.     AmazonKU

THANE’S DEMON: PRINCES OF AFTERLIFE by Stephanie Hudson

I didn’t want this. I didn’t ask for this life. But more than anything, I didn’t ask for this…Demon. The bane of my existence. Of course, I had tried to beat him into submission. To calm the raging need to constantly control me. I had tried it all. The only thing to work…to consume the essence of misery. To feed from the degenerate souls this city had to offer. So, I lived amongst the worst of the worst. A buffet of sinful mortals to appease the darkness inside me. That was…until there was light. A mortal so pure that her soul blinded me. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to break her. I wanted to consume her. But most of all…My demon wanted to claim her.      AmazonKU

QUEEN OF FLAMES (KINGDOM OF SHADOW AND RUIN BOOK FOUR) by Alaya Wells

In a kingdom of shadows and ruin, I dared to love a cursed king. We’ve come to Irridain Court in disguise, clinging to a final thread of hope: a talisman that can break the curse before it kills Lore. Without it, he dies. No more stolen nights. No more whispered vows. No more us. The talisman dangles from the princess’s throat like a challenge. To claim it, we must outwit ruthless fae in games where beauty is a blade, truth is twisted, and losing means more than defeat. It means death. As rivals circle and secrets unravel, Lore burns brighter and darker by the hour. I see it in his eyes. The fear he won’t speak of. The hunger he barely hides. The curse is tightening, and we have only five days left before it kills him. I didn’t defy the fates, survive a labyrinth, plus battle a mad wizard to lose him now. He’s my only ever after. I’ll burn the world to ashes to save him.      AmazonKU

WARPED WORLD (PACK OF OUTCASTS BOOK THREE) by Eva Chase

One city drenched in shadow. Too many enemies to count. Can sunshine and sweetness win the day for good? I’ve faced a lot of challenges with my new mates, but nothing on the scale of a massive rift belching toxic shadows all over a city. It seems the monstrous realm we came from is feeling left out—and it’s determined to take a piece of the mortal world for itself. My power may be the only thing that can put a dent in the darkness, but it’s a very small dent. And it’s awfully hard to get even that much done when we’ve got refugee humans to wrangle, trigger-happy soldiers to dodge, and a whole horde of hunters eager to show off their shadow-slaughtering skills. With the catastrophe stirring up the worst of my men’s past traumas, can we find our way through the dark together? Or is this one mess too big for even the shiniest of monsters?       AmazonKU

MOONBEAMS AND MISTLETOE: MM MPREG SHIFTER ROMANCE (DOUBLE BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Colbie Dunbar

Witness protection was supposed to keep him safe, not steal his heart. Human omega Indigo expects a safe house while waiting to testify against his boss, not a luxury mountain lodge, or Riven, an attractive security liaison who makes his pulse race. Indigo is unaware the lodge is home to a wolf shifter pack, that Riven is the future Alpha, or the moment they met, Riven recognizes him as his fated mate. As Christmas approaches, Riven struggles to reveal the truth. But when Indigo accidentally witnesses a full moon run on Christmas Eve, he’s confused and he flees. Now Riven has to show his mate that their bond is unbreakable and Indigo must choose whether to trust his heart or his fear.      AmazonKU

KINGDOM OF TODAY (BOOK OF ARDEN 2) by Gena Showalter

When Arden Roosa returns to Fort Bala Royal Academy, nothing is as it was. No longer just a lady-in-training, she’s now the infamous girlfriend of High Prince Cyrus Dolion—and the woman who brought down a king. Her reward? Round-the-clock guards and the attention of a royal executioner with secrets. But Arden has secrets too. As a double agent slipping between worlds to decode forbidden prophecy, she knows what’s coming. Sleeping gods are stirring, and a war igniting. With only a spark, everyone will burn. But nothing goes according to plan. Grueling trials consume her days, and dangerous questions stalk her nights. Worse, Cyrus—the fierce, unshakable warrior she might love—is unraveling, losing pieces of himself, becoming a stranger right before her eyes. Desperate to save him, Arden strikes a life-altering alliance…and everything spirals. Now the gods are no longer dreaming. They’re hunting. Time is running out, the end closer than anyone dares to admit. Unless Arden can stop what’s coming, Cyrus will open the door to true evil—and she’ll lose him forever.       AmazonKU       AB

A WITCH FOR MR BELL (WITCHES OF CHRISTMAS GOVE BOOK SEVEN) by Deanna Chase

Earth witch Felicity Hill is fiercely independent and isn’t interested in romance. She likes a fun date, but when it comes to commitment, forget it. Her parents’ broken marriage ruined that for her when she was just a kid. But what she is interested in, is saving her family land from being sold to the highest bidder. And this Christmas she’ll so whatever it takes to make sure that no part of the original Hill family property is turned into high density condos… even if it means working with the one man who makes her want things she shouldn’t. Jackson Bell used to be a high-powered businessman. But these days, he’s only interested in the slower paced lifestyle he’s found in the enchanted small town of Christmas Grove… and the feisty woman, Felicity Hill, who owns the Apples and Spice and Everything Nice farm. If he had his way, he’d have already put a ring on it. Unfortunately, she’s not interested in forever. But when Jackson’s visited by Felicity’s grandmother with a message to help her save the family land, she also gives him an idea of how to win Felicity’s heart. This Christmas, Jackson is pulling out all the stops to help the woman he loves and maybe, just maybe, get the happily-ever-after they both deserve.      AmazonKU

THE GHOST AND CHRISTMAS MAGIC (HAUNTING DANIELLE BOOK 37) by Bobbi Holmes

It’s Christmastime in Frederickport, and the twins and Emily Ann’s first Christmas. What magic is in store for the mediums of Beach Drive? It will be a Christmas they won’t forget. And neither will the rest of Frederickport.    Amazon     AB       Apple Books      Kobo

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REINDEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS: MM MPREG SHIFTER ROMANCE by Lorllae M Hart and Colbie Dunbar

Sometimes you ask Santa for one thing and get so much more…I’d rather go to the dentist than to my work Christmas party. I’m not a Scrooge who hates the holidays or anything like that. But I’ve been to everyone in my ten years with my company and they all end up the same way. Someone drinks too much, and I, as HR, get stuck dealing with it. There’s zero fun in that. As messed up as it is, when I hit a patch of ice to avoid hitting a kitten and end up in a ditch, my first thought is: Good. Now I can skip the festivities. Best Christmas present ever. Only my joy fades away when my phone shows no reception, my leg feels like it’s on fire, and the little kitten is trembling in my arms. I have two choices: Stay on the side of the road and hope someone passes by and is willing to help or walk through the woods toward what appears to be Christmas lights in the distance. When a reindeer walks in front of me and toward the lights, I take that as a sign I should do the same.       AmazonKU

APOCALYPSE WITCH (DEMON WITCH BOOK FIVE) by Kat Simons
The Apocalypse Witch… A disaster? A warning? Or a destiny…With this new cursed power dangling a knife over her head and pinning a target to her back, witch Angie Jordan faces one last trial to find answers. Before the dark magic kills her. A journey that tests her control. Strains her bond with Sebastian. And reveals secrets that could devastate her realm. A quest that pits her and Sebastian against an enemy unlike anything they’ve encountered before. As demons hunt them, and the dangers expand with every step, Angie’s powers grow more erratic. Uncertain who to trust, time becomes their enemy. Because if they fail, no one will be safe. From the demons. Or from Angie.
Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo
THE OMEGA: MATING SEASON: SEASON EIGHT by Heather K Carson
Returning to Mating Season was supposed to be a blessing, especially for an Omega in my position. I’ve always been drawn to powerful Alphas and the show has plenty to offer. Last season, the pickings were slim. I should be overjoyed to be here again. But that was before I ran into them. Sinfully handsome. Sworn enemies. Territorial leaders who’d rather kill each other than find a Luna. And according to my wolf: Both are my fated mates.      AmazonKU
CHRISTMAS HART (VAKTARE F ALL REALMS BOOK FOUR) by Maggie Lynn Heron-Heidel
Shira Hart’s first Christmas with her newfound family was supposed to be all gingerbread houses and carolers who could actually carry a tune. Instead, Shira Hart finds the Tro Fidem’s holiday traditions spiraling into chaos: the Guardian lion humping the Christmas tree, her cat divorcing her, Skids being forced into playing a tipsy St. Nicholas, and the church’s annual Christmas Eve nativity pageant running amok thanks to her fiancé’s ex-girlfriend’s portrayal of the Virgin Mary. When Rex reveals that he’s never experienced a true Christmas before, Shira is dragged into a holiday adventure involving questionable fruitcake, a wedding dress that no one wants to wear, and more awkward ex-girlfriend turned pregnant armadillo encounters than should be legally allowed.     Amazon
A VERY DENARIUS CHRISTMAS (PRIMORDIAL PROTECTORS) by TL Travis and Layla Dorine
VS Note: LGBTQ Fantasy.
t’s time for A Very Denarius Holiday! The brothers haven’t celebrated in centuries but this year they have four reasons to – Griffin, Luna, and twins Kane & Hunter. Ionus and Alex’s home is full of mischief and love. Four wild dragonettes, add in a silly Uncle Odem and it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen next. Join us for their first Christmas and celebrate the new lives and mates that have brought so much joy to the Denarius brothers’ lives.      AmazonKU
UNACCOMMODATING LOVE  (MAGIC AND HEARTACHE BOOK THREE) by E L Roux
Yin has always lived by her heart — literally. As an empath, she feels the world too deeply, channeling emotion into every dish she serves at Internal Flame, her restaurant built on hope, spice, and a touch of her soul. But when her gift begins to unravel, so does the balance she’s fought to maintain. Her first pillar, Stephan — a charming tailor with a guarded heart and a voice like honey — once promised forever. Now his fear of sharing that love threatens to break them apart. Enter Quinn, her second pillar: a grounded, enigmatic Troll whose quiet strength and wry smile spark a connection Yin never expected, and can’t ignore. Bound by magic, drawn by desire, the three must learn to trust not just their hearts but each other — before the empathic energy that connects them all dissolves. Torn between passion and purpose, Unaccommodating Love is a lush contemporary fantasy romance about the risk of loving deeply, the beauty of chosen family, and the courage it takes to make room for every part of your heart.
LONGING FOR THE MINOTAUR (INDECENT MONSTERS) by Lyonne Riley

Valentina has always had a complicated relationship with Banon, the son of the minotaur woman her father married. He’s drop dead gorgeous, full of himself, and football runs in his blood. Even though he was instrumental in the misery and bullying that were her high school years, Val has always held a torch for him. Now in college, she thinks she’s finally moved on from her childhood crush. Though he tries to hide it, Banon has hungered after Valentina for too long. She’s consumed his every thought for years, even as he put distance between them. When the dam breaks over the holidays and the truth emerges, will Banon and Valentina’s burning cravings finally erupt into a fire? This is a short, steamy holiday-themed monster romance novella about one nerdy goth girl and a football-playing minotaur. Secrets will be spilled and even more secrets kept, leading to an adorable HEA.     AmazonKU

HOLIDAY HONEY FOR THE BADGER: UNCLE UZZI’S DATE TO MATE by C D Gorri

This holiday season, even the grouchiest Badger deserves a mate…Ebenezer Rogers is a Badger with a plan—work, work, and more work. As the prickly CEO of Rogers & Reed, he’s brilliant in business but hopeless when it comes to people. Parties? He avoids them. Dating? Not a chance. If it weren’t for his younger brother and business partner, he’d be holed up in his office forever. But when that same meddling brother signs him up for Uncle Uzzi’s infamous Date to Mate app—and a mandatory holiday gala—Eb finds himself in over his furry head. Enter his holiday honey. Marigold Santos is curvy, sparkling-eyed, full of wit, and absolutely not what Eb expected. Irresistible? Definitely. Trouble for a grumpy, solitary Badger who swore off romance? Without question. Now Eb has to decide if one unexpected date is enough to melt his icy heart. But will his holiday match say yes when this bothersome Badger finally asks her to be his—for keeps?

Amazon      Apple Books       Kobo

LOVE IS MAGIC: MM HOLIDAY GIFT ANTHOLOGY by Various

Fifteen authors, fifteen chances to fall in love this holiday season…In this enchanting, out-of-this-world MM paranormal and urban fantasy collection, you’ll find unexpected demons, gallant vampires, pining alphas, shifty ravens, magic galore, and so much more, with a satisfying happy ending to every love story.      AmazonKU

DIVINATION AND DECEIT (A CRONES OF A FEATHER PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERY BOOK TWO) by Beth Dolgner

There’s a sudden vacancy on the Foxfire Haven City Council when Fortie Fortenbacher is found dead in the park. Euphoria Lachlan, the mayor of Foxfire Haven and Hazel Underwood’s high-school bully, is wasting no time finding a replacement. Did Euphoria permanently remove Fortie from the council? Hazel claims she’s not trying to solve the murder, but she keeps stumbling onto clues as she drives her vintage hearse from one delivery job to the next. A Bigfoot with surprising insight, a witch who sees the future in frozen peas, and a shifter eager to pick up where Fortie left off will all help point Hazel toward the killer. While Hazel tries to navigate the political infighting in a magical small town, she and her coven are also eager to find out if the fates foreseen for them will come true. And will Hazel and Chief Constable Hightower ever learn to get along?       AmazonKU

THE GRAIL AND GLORY (ONCE AND FUTURE HEARTS BOOK 11) by Tracey Cooper-Posey

Deryn of Calleva flees her ruined home, betrayed by her own kin and pursued by Saxons. With nothing left but her wits and her will to survive, she seeks shelter in Arthur’s court—a place where loyalties shift like the wind and every ally may yet prove false. Cadfael of Dunoding, eldest son of his house and sworn to Arthur’s service, is being shaped into the next war duke. Fiercely loyal to his king, he struggles to hold fast to honor while Britain fractures around him. Yet the wary, sharp-eyed woman from his past awakens a bond he cannot deny. Together, Deryn and Cadfael must navigate treachery within Camelot and the relentless threat beyond its walls. When Arthur’s fighting men are called to their greatest trial, their choices will decide not only their hearts, but the fate of a kingdom.    Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo 

CHRISTMAS PAST (THE WITCHES OF MINGUS MOUNTAIN BOOK SIX) by Christine Pope

Time travel is tricky…especially when there’s a wedding in your future. Devynn Rowe and Seth McAllister have found their happily ever after in the 21st century, but as their Christmas wedding approaches, Seth can’t shake his melancholy. When he vanished from 1926, his parents were left believing their son had died in a mining accident. The guilt is eating him alive. Devynn has a crazy idea: what if they could go back to 1926 and give Seth’s family the Christmas gift of knowing he’s alive and well? Her time-traveling magic has been unpredictable at best, but she’s been secretly practicing. How hard could one little trip to the past be? Famous last words. When Devynn’s magic goes haywire, they find themselves ping-ponging through the decades, landing everywhere except where — and when — they’re supposed to be. Stranded in the wrong timeline with a wedding to get back to, they’ll need help from an old friend and a new understanding of what “home” really means. After all, the greatest magic isn’t about controlling time — it’s about choosing who you want to spend it with.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE (HAUNTED SOULS BOOK 26) by Pandora Pine

Do you believe in Christmas miracles? With only days to go until Jolly Old St. Nick’s arrival, Detective Jude Byrne trips over his Christmas spirit and takes a bad tumble down the stairs. After being rushed to the hospital, he’s admitted into the intensive care unit and put into a medically induced coma to give his injured body time to heal. Psychic Copeland Forbes is beside himself. Not only hadn’t he seen Jude’s accident coming, but he froze when his husband needed him most. Before Jude is taken out of their home on a stretcher, Cope begs his badly injured husband to get well, musing aloud that he wouldn’t know how to carry on without Jude by his side. Ten, Ronan, and the rest of their friends rally around Jude and Cope, all the while hoping for a Christmas miracle. Meanwhile, Jude is experiencing a fever dream, giving him an up close and personal look at his life and the difference he’s made to those who love him most. Will Cope get his Christmas wish and have his husband returned to his side, or will Jude be lost forever as a ghost of Christmas past?       AmazonKU

RUINS OF KNOWLEDGE (THE EGYPTIAN EMPIRE) by Laura Greenwood

Tali is determined to gain the attention of the gods. As a Priestess of Thoth, Tali is determined to prove her worth and gain the highest honour she can get from the temple as a result, but that involves working harder than she ever has before. When an opportunity arises for her to head to some ancient ruins, she seizes her chance of making a difference and gaining the approval of the god of wisdom. Little does she know that history isn’t going to be the only thing she finds there, and she soon finds herself drawn to a handsome builder priest with an appreciation for the history she’s teaching him. Does Tali have what it takes to unravel the secrets of the ruins around her? Ruins of Knowledge is a standalone set in the Egyptian Empire series. It is an urban fantasy set in an alternative world where the Egyptian Empire never fell. It includes an archaeological dig, a history nerd, and a m/f romance.      Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

HEX EDUCATION (SUPERNATURAL SPEAKEASY COZY MYSTERY BOOK 19) by Lily Harper Hart

Mardi Gras is in full swing, which means the French Quarter is bustling with activity and overflowing with people. Ofelia Archer has her hands full and doesn’t need anything extra on her plate. Then the unthinkable happens. When two people seek her out, tell her trouble is coming for her, and then kill themselves, she’s thrown. What could have caused this? Magic is obviously involved, but who is wielding it? More importantly, why are they attacking now? All clues lead to an effervescent preacher in Jackson Square. She has people following her every word … and she seems to have an agenda. She also has a past in the city that goes back hundreds of years. Who is she? What does she want? And why is Pascal, Ofelia’s favorite vampire, on top of the woman’s hit list? Pascal has information, but he wants to handle the problem on his own. Ofelia isn’t keen to let that happen. He might be strong but this is the sort of magic that can destroy anyting and everyone. The clock is ticking. People are dying. Can Ofelia save Mardi Gras, or will the city fall into the sort of darkness that it can never emerge from? Strap in, because this ride is about to get deadly.      AmazonKU

KISSING MY GRUMPY TROLL BOSS (GRUMPY MONSTER BOSSES) by Ami Wright

All I want for Christmas is a kiss with my grumpy troll boss! I’ve been daydreaming about Mr. Kvalt ever since I started working for him. But as a gorgon, with badly-behaved snakes for hair and a gaze that can turn anyone to stone, romance isn’t on the cards for me. Until we step under the mistletoe at a work party and it feels like all my Christmases have come at once! I wish I’d let my hair down sooner, because my grumpy troll boss turns out to be a huge teddy bear beneath his stoney skin. And the best part is he’s immune to my curse. Now we just have to find a way to overcome his.   AmazonKU

BREAKNECK (DRAGONS OF ARDAINE BOOK FOUR) by Roe Horvat

When two alpha dragons fall, everything burns—especially the rules keeping them apart. Terrance – I have a spotless record—years in private security and zero screwups—until I’m hired to protect
As a wildly popular actor and stuntman, Lothair is used to hiding his dragon-shifter skills in plain sight. But he’s also arrogant, treats danger as foreplay, and can’t keep it in his pants for more than five minutes. To him, I’m just a shiny new toy. And no, I’m not attracted to my obnoxious client from hell. That would be inappropriate and unprofessional. Besides, we’re both alphas, so… no. Absolutely not. Except Lothair has decided to test my limits in every possible way. Lothair – I don’t want a babysitter. Wherever I go, am the most dangerous thing in the room. But as my career takes off, my unsuspecting human manager hires a bodyguard to shield me from random weirdos and overeager fans. Lucky for me, Terry is another dragon, adorably straitlaced and just stuck-up enough for me to push his buttons. Turns out, making him unravel might be the best stunt I’ve ever pulled.   AmazonKU

THE WIDOW KISS (CURSE BREAKER WITCHES BOOK THREE) by Claire Robyns

Three dead husbands. Three mysterious deaths. One very wealthy widow. Beatrice Finch has terrible luck with husbands: they keep ending up dead. The latest is Alistair Finch, found dead in his study. No struggle, no poison, just instant rigor mortis and a face frozen in shock. Beatrice has now buried three husbands, inheriting fortunes each time. With Maddie Crow on the case and botanical witch Lily Teake uncovering magical twists at every turn, they must determine whether it’s atrociously bad karma or good planning. But the deeper they dig, the more complicated the family dynamics become. There’s the resentful stepchild, the desperate nephew, and enough old grudges to fuel a dozen revenge plots. The investigation leads through elegant estates, family secrets, and a glittering masquerade ball where everyone wears masks—literally and figuratively. As the magical evidence mounts even higher than Detective Ross Hamilton’s scepticism, Maddie must untangle the threads of what might be the deadliest curse and the perfect crime. Because when “till death do us part” happens suspiciously often, it’s time to call a curse breaker. Welcome back to Stratford-upon-Avon, where marriage can be murder and nothing is quite what it seems.     AmazonKU

DECKED BY THE GRUMPY GOLEM (MONSTERS OF SALTFORM BAY) by Mary Auclair

Deck the halls? More like decked by my grumpy golem ex! I’m snowed in for Christmas with the man who broke my heart years ago. What could possibly go right? I’m a bestselling author dealing with a terminal case of writer’s block. With my editor threatening to drop me and my deadline blown to smithereens, I’m hiding out in Saltford Bay for the holidays, pretending my life isn’t falling apart. The last thing I need is to fall for Gideon Flintman and his six-foot-eight frame of carved granite and brooding silence all over again. You’d think I’d learned my lesson when he disappeared from my life without explanation the morning after prom. You’d be wrong. When a blizzard traps us together, the heat between us burns hotter than his golem fire. Every kiss threatens to melt my resolve, and every touch reminds me why I fell so hard the first time. Now I have to choose: return to my safe, lonely life, or risk everything on the man who taught me that some heartbreaks never heal. This Christmas, can a grumpy golem and a sunshine mess rewrite the ending?      AmazonKU

MECH AND MAGIC (THE KNACK BOOK TWO) by KimMcDougall

Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos. Conall thought he’d buried the past with his brother. But when a cryptic summons surfaces—tied to a long-vanished village and a wolf who should be dead—he’s forced to retrace the path of the disbanded Squad 54. What he finds in the shadows could unravel not only their fate, but the fragile balance between elf and human kind. Back in New Torwood City, Princess Rowan Andula is done playing the figurehead. With a seat on the ruling council, she’s ready to fight for her family’s legacy—until the city’s giant mech guardian begins to fail. Talos isn’t just a machine. He’s the heart of the city. His collapse could bring down everything her ancestors fought to preserve. As enemies close in and new treacheries are revealed, Conall and Rowan must face the same question: How far will you go to protect what you love?       AmazonKU

THE WILDS AND THE WEEDS by Ally North

VS note: Lesbian Gothic.

On a hot summer’s day in 1975, young heiresses Willow and Ivy Wilde vanish while playing by a pond on the Stonehold estate, never to be seen again. Now, fifty years later, Stonehold is again abuzz, this time in preparation for the homecoming of Summer Wilde and Brody Weston, whose upcoming wedding is all anyone in Echo, Washington can talk about. Nobody knows that Summer doesn’t want to marry Brody. That she doesn’t want to inherit Stonehold and be tethered to the unshakable darkness that clings to the halls and grounds like cobwebs. Nobody knows because Summer doesn’t have a choice—she has to marry Brody, and she’s long made peace with her fate. That is, until she sees Ford Flores—third-generation groundskeeper at Stonehold—for the first time in fifteen years. Ford is everything Brody isn’t; she’s self-sufficient, quick-witted, effortlessly kind, covered in tattoos, and a woman. And the last time Summer saw her, she’d kissed her—impulsive and electrifying—then she’d ran away like a coward. Summer Wilde is done being a coward. But it’s hard to take charge of your future in a place like Echo, where the past looms thick as the mountain mist tumbling down the white-tipped Cascades. From ghostly apparitions to secret rooms with mysterious paintings and an old sketchbook with a mind-blowing revelation scribbled inside, Summer begins to realize that if she wants to move forward, she’ll have to put Stonehold’s past to rest—starting with the unsolved disappearance of Willow and Ivy.      AmazonKU

CHANGE THE PLAN: A VAN AND ELLIE STORY (LOST MOON UNRAVELLING MONSTERS UNIVERSE) by Allegra Hall

Celebrating their second wedding anniversary with a night out under the full moon sounds like a perfect plan for fae witch Ellie and Van, her hybrid werewolf/wolf shifter husband. They already do something similar every month… a little running here, a little outdoor fun there… so what could possibly go wrong? But fae magic is unpredictable, particularly for someone still learning how to use her powers. When the night doesn’t go according to plan, Van and Ellie are confronted with the reality that they need to have some serious conversations about the future. For alpha Van, with the needs of his pack to balance and an intergenerational curse hanging over his head, making these decisions isn’t easy. After all, is there ever a right time to have a baby?      AmazonKU

CHANGELINGS (MONSTROUS WORLD) by S E Wendel

Nothing has gone as it should…Balar led his band of five brothers from the warring savannahs in the south to the human land of Eirea on the promise of two things: safety and mates. In the growing village outside the human city of Dundúran, they’ve found the first. Yet, year after year, Balar watches as others find their destined mate, but never he nor any of his brothers. What could an orc or fae have that he, Balar, a manticore in his prime, does not? Everything is starting to go wrong…Imogen is a woman alone, and she likes it that way. Burdened with a large red birthmark upon her face, she’s kept herself apart from others. With just her dog, donkey, and goats, she’s built a good life for herself out in the wilds beyond the village. Everything is just as it should be—until one morning, she finds a big manticore sleeping on her land. Life can change on a whim of fate…Imogen doesn’t like people. Or visitors. And especially not suitors. Too bad for her, this overgrown housecat has decided she’s his mate, no matter what she says. Balar hasn’t come this far, talked to this many women, and waited this long to be denied. He’ll have his mate, prickles and all. Now, just to convince her. And keep his nosy brothers in line long enough to woo her.      Amazon

HOW NOT TO WOO YOUR HUMAN WARRIOR by Laura Winter

Kalypso has a long list of things to be angry about, starting and ending with a spiky purple demon who reluctantly rescued her and five other women from the Dreadmoor. Trapped in the demon realm, Ozirax is the final barrier standing between her and her sister, so she’ll play nice for now. The only issue is… she’s never been nice, and when she drives away the one person she’s dedicated her life to, Kalypso is left without a purpose. Until she finds a demon warrior whose simmering anger calls to her own. On the cusp of promotion in the demon guard, it must be a cruel joke from the gods that Ozirax ends up saddled with the rage-filled human woman. Kalypso is stubborn, vicious, and unafraid—the kind of distraction he doesn’t need—but she holds the key to his rise in rank. Work together, keep her in line, and the captain’s position is his. But there’s a cunning mind behind the spicy human fighting him at every turn with fists and blunt teeth, and with danger lurking in the Dreadmoor, she might be the very warrior their realm needs. They’ve found their match, a mirror to the anger burning within. Kalypso has shown her colors, sharpened her defenses, but Ozirax is filling in the cracks of her broken pieces, and she’s not sure how to separate them again. Love has always been her weakness, but loving a demon? It might very well be her downfall. The world has taught them to flare their spikes, but when passion blurs the lines of fury, can they walk away with their hearts intact?     AmazonKU

TWO FOR THE GUARD: OLD MISSION COVEN VOL FOUR by B A Stretke

VS note: MM PNR. Mixed reviews.

Casey and Kyle Cork knew their stepfather, Brad, didn’t care about them, but they never imagined he—or their own mother—wanted them dead. Coerced into a “bonding” hunting trip in northern Michigan, the twins expect nothing more than boredom and bugs. But the trip is a cold-blooded setup. Drugged and abandoned in the freezing wilderness, the twins are left to succumb to the elements so their family can claim a hidden fortune. Bram Ferdinand, a two-hundred-year-old guard for the Old Mission Coven, expected a routine weekend patrol along the winery’s edge. Instead, Fate intervenes. Drawn by the irresistible scent of sweetgrass, pine, and honey, Bram discovers the twins on the verge of death. Shock turns to possessive fury when he realizes the two unconscious men are not just trespassers—they are his beloveds, his fated mates. Now, under the protection of the Coven, Casey and Kyle are recovering in the arms of a man who treats them like treasure. The connection is instant, electric, and undeniable. But their attackers are still out there, waiting for them to die. They made one fatal mistake: they crossed a vampire guard and Bram Ferdinand doesn’t leave loose ends.   Amazon

MONSTROUS HOLIDAYS: AN ORC FATED MATES ROMANCE (FATED HOLIDAYS BOOK FOUR) by Rianne Burnett

How could shopping for a vintage dress lead to finding love with a monster? Only two weeks away from Christmas, Fenix is enjoying one of her favourite things: shopping. At least, this time she’s shopping for herself instead of one of her clients. Walking through the vintage store, she finds the perfect dress. It’s like the delicate emerald ensemble was made just for her. But when she tries it on and steps out of the changing room, she steps right into a battlefield teeming with dark green monsters who tower over her. Immediately, the orcs think she’s a spy from the enemy. After all, they’ve been fighting the humans in their realm for generations. Although meeting their captain is supposed to be terrifying, fear is the last thing Fenix feels when she lays eyes on Miannas. His darkened gaze tells her that he feels the same. But rationality says they must unravel the mystery of her arrival and their attraction before exploring anything. If only fate made things so simple.   AmazonKU

HOW TO TAKE DOWN A CULT AT THE END OF THE WORLD (COZY CULT CUTIES BOOK TWO) by Rebel Carter

My name is Meadow Atlier and I was never meant to be the hero. I’m the girl that grew up brainwashed by a cult to be nothing more than a sacrifice. The girl that always tried to be perfect and was scared to step out of line for fear of being seen as different, but now? Now I’m the girl that has to save the world. Yes, bestie, the world. No one is more surprised than me by this turn of events, but here we are. I’m the world’s last hope. Well, me and the battle demon I accidentally let out of hell and married on my very first solo mission to do heroic things. Jaak is terrifying and brutal to the world—but to me he’s patient and kind. Gentle. Just the kind of husband I always wished for. Jaak is eager to prove his devotion in the form of smiting my enemies, but still trusting the battle demon proves terrifying after a life of being lied to. When all secrets are discovered, will saving the world cost me my heart?      AmazonKU

WHAM, BAM, IN A JAM (A TWO BROOMSTICKS GAS AND GRILL WITCH COZY MYSTERY BOOK 12) by Amanda M Lee

What was supposed to be a day of morel hunting turns into work for Stormy Morgan and her fiancé, Hunter Ryan, when they accidentally stumble across a body. The victim was a few years behind them in school and almost never left her home. A severe case of anxiety locked Kayley Shelton away for years, forcing her to give up her dream and leave college before graduation. She locked herself away in an isolated cabin and had almost no outside contact. Yet somebody hunted her in the woods and killed her. Who, though? Stormy and Hunter are on the case. The more they dig, the weirder the story gets. Kayley had recently joined the local wine drinking group in an effort to chase away her demons, but they don’t feel like suspects. The town loner lived not too far away but he’s hardly the friendly sort so how did they even meet? Even the old couple in those parts barely knew her. Just who was Kayley Shelton? Stormy is determined to find answers, but nothing is as it seems. The deeper she digs, the darker the story. It seems Kayley was more than she seemed. Who would want to kill her, though? More importantly, why? There’s a predator on the loose in Shadow Hills, and Kayley might not be the only victim on the menu. It’s up to Stormy to find answers … if she survives long enough to do it.    AmazonKU

MARCELLO: VITTONE’S VAMPIRES BOOK ONE by Taylor Rylan

VS Note: MM PNR.

Marcello Grassi knew he wasn’t welcome in Treasure Ridge when he was helping the council with a certain assignment, so when he scented his beloved there, he knew not to get excited about what that meant. When he discovered it was the beautiful angel who worked in the council store, he realized he would forever be without his fated beloved when he left the mountain. Abel Barnes had never known happiness until he was rescued by the paranormal council. Forever grateful for all they’ve done for him, he’s happy working at the council store, waiting until his day comes when his own protective alpha shows up to claim him. What he never expected was to be kidnapped from Timber Valley by a mysterious warlock. Marcello’s coven master meant well, but kidnapping someone from right under the council’s nose might not have been the smartest move. Abel has no issues with his mate being a vampire, but can he ever accept what it is that his new “family” represents?     AmazonKU

FROST: A MONSTROUS CHRISTMAS NOVELLA by LO Gold

Jack – I’m a monster, a beast, a creature of shadow and legend, something children are warned about while they snuggle up by the cozy fire. I am cold, frigid, lifeless death. I’m Jack Frost. Cursed to an eternity of wandering the woods, reaping the souls of worthless humans once every year, my existence is bathed in blood and isolation. Until her — my litill snær. Her presence in my woods brings light to the dead of Winter for the first time in a long time. But could she truly learn to love a beast? Elisa – I hate Christmas. All these cheery, happy, nuclear families huddled around the fire make me nauseous. It’s a time to celebrate with the ones you love. But everyone I loved died, leaving me alone. Which is why I decided to travel this year for the holidays. I thought that getting away for a while might help bring some holiday cheer back into my life. I’ve never been more wrong. Now I’m stranded half way around the world with a man I’ve never met, isolated in a snowed-in cabin. And there’s something out there, something lurking in the shadows of the woods, something watching me. Frost is a dark Christmas story featuring a monster that falls for a mortal. While the story does end with a sweet HEA, the path there is bathed in blood. Proceed with caution.      AmazonKU

THIS HOUR, OUR VIGIL (DEATH’S LADY BOOK FIVE) by Rachel Neumeier

The veil between the worlds is growing thin. At midwinter, as the old year dies and before the new year dawns, Nolas-Kuomon, Lord Death’s lady, may open that veil for anyone who asks to step from one world to the other. After all the dire peril of the past summer, no one could be surprised if Danyel or his daughter Jenna preferred to return to their own world. Taranah Berangilan-sa, the king’s aunt, would strongly prefer that both Danyel and his daughter remain in Talasayan. Indeed, everyone sensible will surely set that prayer before God as midwinter approaches. Taranah has more reason than most to hold that hope, but nor does she wish to persuade Danyel to a choice he may regret. As the long nights stretch out, everyone must face the decisions and risks midwinter brings …   AmazonKU     AB

AN EMBER IN THE DARK (ECHOES OF EMBER BOOK ONE) by Kayla Maya

In a world where gods walk among mortals and shadows whisper of forgotten truths, Crescent never wanted to be anyone’s chosen. But when she makes a desperate attempt to save her sisters life, her fate is no longer her own. When she’s forced to work with Roark, the brooding warrior with shadows stitched into his past, ancient forces begin to stir, making Crescent discover her connection to the divine isn’t just a curse-it might be the key to unmaking everything the gods have built. Crescent’s blood hums with the kind of power that gods would kill for-or kill her to keep from discovering. But gods are dying. The old ones want vengeance, and the new ones need Vessels to survive. When an ancient war reignites, she and Roark must unravel the truth behind the necklace, outwit creatures that shouldn’t exist, and face the gods who never forgot her name. Even if Crescent doesn’t remember it herself. As Crescent grapples with the growing power inside her-and the feelings she can’t name for Roark-she must choose: surrender to the darkness rising within or become the spark that defies it.  Because in the end, even embers can burn down empires.      AmazonKU

DONOVAN (VAMPIRE VOWS BOOK THREE) by Fel Fern

VS Notes: MM PNR.

Donovan was supposed to end him. Instead, he saved him. But at what cost? Donovan has loved Declan since they were kids, but Declan was always just out of reach, too fearless and too untouchable. Then Declan became something else entirely. Turned into a vampire against his will, he’s on the verge of losing himself to the hunger, and there’s only one person he trusts to stop him before it’s too late. Donovan.But when the moment comes, Donovan can’t pull the trigger. Instead, he does the one thing he swore he’d never do. He saves Declan. Now, with the Guild that trained them to be hunters on their trail and a pack of rabid vampires closing in, they’re backed into a corner with nowhere left to run. Declan isn’t the same man he was before, and neither is Donovan. The bond between them is stronger than ever, but so is the darkness clawing at Declan’s soul. Donovan refuses to let him slip away, but loving a man who was never meant to survive comes at a price. Is Declan truly saved, or has Donovan just doomed them both?     AmazonKU

HEART OF MIRROR AND ICE: WICKEDLY DANGEROUS FAIRY TALES by Carrie Weston

Trigger warnings – blood/ guts/ torture/ controlling love/ dark concept – What would have happened if the Snow Queen had never been defeated? Find out in this Wicked fairy tale re-telling – Love is power. Love is devotion. Love is obedience. Innocents destroyed in the blink of an eye a snowflake falls only this snowflake is not pure at all, it is a tiny grain of the Devils hateful mirror cast down by the bloody battle between two thieving brother imps. Cursed by the mirrors spell Miles once calm and kind is now nothing but a bitter shadow of himself whose swept away by the snow queen who anchors after the mirrors power for herself. Minions far and wide Hear my tale and hear it well For if you dare to enter my season this year You could be the next soul I take to hell Open the pages if you dare And I’ll tell you the tale Of how two star-crossed lovers made their way through my palace and straight to hell As a Queen I deserve to be worshiped If not, feared      AmazonKU

CRUEL DECEIT AND PAYBACK TREAT (OTHERWORLDLY MAGIC BOOK THREE) by Antara Mann

It’s the final battle: us versus the sorcerer. Good versus evil. And there can be only one winner. We have escaped the sorcerer’s traps and attempts to kill us, me in particular. But I have had enough. I’d rather go on that long-overdue date with Sebastian than fight that lunatic. When Lorrie has a vision that a famous local magician is tied to the sorcerer, Elaine and I must visit his show. Turns out, that magician once served as a mentor to the sorcerer. He knows his secrets and his weakness. Unfortunately, the sorcerer steps in against us again, leaving behind only the magician’s magical heart. The problem is, we don’t know how to activate it. As we begin our final race against the sorcerer, a dark secret emerges and threatens to split our team of protectors. Someone is playing a double game and actively trying to sabotage us. And we don’t take kindly to traitors.   AmazonKU

MY HIGHLAND ABDUCTION (MIDDLEMARCH GATHERING BOOK SEVEN) by Shelly Munro

She stole a mate. Now she’ll fight for him. Desperate and humiliated after a disastrous gathering leaves her unmated, Sienna Teague makes the worst decision of her life. She abducts a man. Liam Brown wakes up in Cornwall with fragmented memories and a beautiful woman claiming to be his mate. Despite his confusion, he’s drawn to this new life and the undeniable attraction between him and Sienna. But before he can untangle the truth behind his head injury, Bodmin Beast hunters threaten their shifter community. When danger stalks their town, Sienna and Liam must fight as one. But the lie at the heart of their bond is a bigger threat than any beast, and when the truth comes out, it could tear them apart.     Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

PERFECTLY ORGANIZED CHAOS: MM FANTASY ROMANCE (WINGS AND WHISPERS) by Callie Colby

I have a label maker, a color-coded system, and a zero-tolerance policy for clutter. Lord Vane has a zero-tolerance policy for letting go. I was hired to declutter his gothic estate, not manage a six-foot-five High Fae with massive, iridescent wings and a magpie complex. Vane collects everything: cursed mirrors, shiny candy wrappers, ancient gold, and buttons. When I hold up a rusted, possibly haunted birdcage and ask, “Does this spark joy?” Vane doesn’t just say yes—he hisses, flares those dazzling feathers to block the door, and dares me to touch his treasures again. But somewhere between the “Keep” and “Trash” piles, the dynamic shifts. Vane stops guarding the junk and starts stalking me. The air in the room gets heavy. He stops looking at the shiny trinkets and starts staring at my mouth. His nesting instincts have woken up, and he’s decided that the most valuable thing in the room isn’t the gold—it’s the exasperated guy in the sweater vest. Now, he’s done hoarding objects. He wants to hoard me. Specifically, wrapped tight inside his wings and pinned to his mattress. Cleaning up has never been this dirty.      AmazonKU      AB

SNOWED IN WITH THE WINTER GUARDIAN by  Luna Wren

She can’t survive without his shelter. He can’t survive without her warmth. FREYA – I’m a wildlife photographer who got caught in the wrong storm at the wrong time. Now I’m trapped in a cabin with Vidar—seven feet of otherworldly winter deity with antlers made of ice and a skull mask he thinks hides his true face. He saved my life, but the storm won’t let me leave. And the longer I stay, the less I want to go. Especially when I discover I’m the only human in five hundred years who can touch him without freezing to death. VIDAR – She was supposed to die in my storm like all the others. Instead, I saved her. Fed her. Warmed her. Watched her look at my monstrous form without fear. Now Freya’s humanity is thawing something in me I thought forever frozen, but our connection comes with a price. The more time she spends in my arms, the more winter claims her for its own. She sees only the man beneath the monster. She doesn’t realize that with every touch, winter is claiming her as much as I am.      AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH THE SNOW CAT by May Furhst

VS Note: MM PNR.

While ‘ghosts’ might be in the Christmas spirit, ‘getting ghosted’ wasn’t on Felix’s ‘winter wonderland’ checklist…Broken up with mere moments after checking in for his romantic holiday weekend, Felix is one unhappy tuxedo. Left alone and stuck with the bill, the sad shifter is ready to curl up under the covers and yowl his sorrows into some very expensive room service. But the bed & breakfast’s handsome, plaid-wearing, long-tailed owner has other ideas, and isn’t content to just let the heartbroken were-cat lay by his lonesome. One glance at Felix’s tear-stained cheeks, and Aspen is a goner. Feeling warmer and fuzzier than ever, the snow leopard finds himself wondering if he might be the one to put the purr back in the other man’s purrrride. When a raging winter storm knocks out the power on their cozy meet-cute, the lights may be off, but the heat begins rising as the two flirtatious felines find themselves sharing a mattress in front of the only working fireplace……Purely for warmth, of course.      AmazonKU

ECHOES OF TOMORROW by J A Burton

In the small Colorado mountain town of Pine Ridge, Julia Brooks is in Stella’s Diner when two men walk inside and stop time. Julia is the only person that notices the time glitch, and seconds later, life reanimates. Everyone goes about their business as usual, but not Julia. She soon learns an awful truth: Evan Mitchell will die before day’s end. His last breath will tear them apart and reset time. When Evan wakes, it’s as if nothing happened. He doesn’t remember that he died or that he’s doomed to repeat the same year again and again. Evan feels like he’s missed something and is overcome by headaches and bursts of blinding light. Flashes of a realistic death experience and audible voices only he can hear lead to a mysterious woman that keeps surfacing in his dreams. Meanwhile, the time reset skips Julia a year into the future, where for her, time passes backwards leading her right back to Evan. Unlucky in all matters of the heart, Julia is certain she’s cursed to love Evan as payment for the sins of her past. But Julia wants a future, one with Evan beside her, his memories of her intact. She woos him again and again hoping for a spark of recognition. The reset is not the second chance Julia once begged for, but it’s the only chance she’s got to break through time and twist the hand of fate.      Amazon     Apple Books

THE DRAGON’S BARISTA BABY (FIRE RIDGE DRAGONS MPREG ROMANCE BOOK THREE) by Ashlyn Dupree

I  wasn’t supposed to stay in Fire Ridge. A few shifts at the café. A quiet place to catch my breath. No mates. No promises. No one owning me again. Then Kieran walked in. Tall, polished, dangerous in the softest way—the eldest Blackscale brother with a warm voice and eyes that make my fox go still. He watches me like I already belong to him. Like he’s waiting for something. Like he knows I’m his. But I’ve been owned before. Sold to cover someone else’s debt. I won’t let anyone cage me ever again. Except now my past is here—the alpha who once controlled my life wants me back, and the man sent to collect me says I have seventy-two hours to comply. They don’t care that Fire Ridge is the first place that feels like home. They don’t care that Kieran’s steady patience is the only thing that makes me feel safe. But Kieran? He’s a dragon. And dragons don’t let anyone take their mate. Especially not when their omega carries a dragon’s baby.       AmazonKU

TIGER SUMMER (SHIFTER CUB CAMP BOOK THREE) by Zoe Chant

She doesn’t know they’re mates. He’s desperate to keep it that way. Laughter, s’mores, and the occasional surprise weasel (don’t ask) – that’s summer at shifter cub camp, and head counselor Leonie MacCormick wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves her job. She loves her campers. She even loves the pranks and mayhem. She does not love the sudden arrival of a hulking secret agent who looks like he’s never smiled in his life. But the quiet, serious, and (okay, she’ll admit it, but only to herself) ridiculously attractive man in gloves and sunglasses won’t be here long. A few quick questions, and everything can get back to normal. After all, the camp can’t really be haunted… right? Shifter Agent Shan Zhao thought this would be a quick, simple mission. He did not expect to find a real threat to the camp… or a lioness-hearted woman whose very presence soothes the monster inside him. Kind, sunny Leonie is everything he doesn’t deserve—and that’s exactly why he can’t let her discover they’re fated mates. Too bad the campers already know. And they’re determined to help. Because at Camp Thunderbird, secrets don’t stay hidden.      AmazonKU

MAGIC IN HIS ARMS (OBSCURE MAGIC BOOK 17) by Viola Grace

Two sisters from different misters grew up in Redbird City, and now they have returned home to settle down and start over. Let’s hope things go smoothly. Iscorabella was part of the entertainment at a wedding, and she found herself in the arms of an orc by the end of the night. Their encounter went well, and she left him in the early morning to go and get some breakfast. She didn’t know he had a stalker. She didn’t know she was armed, and she found out her car wasn’t bulletproof. She called for help and waited for the help that was going to arrive from different directions. Never felt her sister’s injuries and got on her motorcycle to get to her family as fast as possible. She got the information she needed and went on the hunt. That was what she did, and she was good at it. She found the woman’s father, made sure he knew she was serious, and then used the local laws to work out some of her family vengeance rage. After that, she met the speaker, and he looked at her like her leather was the only thing stopping him from fascinating things. Time would tell.       Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE WOLFING HOUR: THE SMOKETHORN PARANORMALS SERIES BOOK FOUR by C P Rider

Just when Betty Lennox thought she had a handle on her life—reconnected with her earth magic, brought the saguaros back from the dead, sexy alpha wolf sharing her bed—everything goes sideways.
Turns out she’s not just an earth witch. Thanks to dear old Grandpa Sexton, she’s got a demon side that’s tired of being locked away. A powerful and ruthless demon side with zero qualms about damage control when someone threatens her people. When Demon Betty takes the wheel, Witch Betty ends up doing morally questionable things like killing people who really, really need to die. Meanwhile, Ronan’s birth father—Alpha Floyd Pallás, certified creep and all-around evil person—has kidnapped his sister to force him into submission. The pack is in chaos, shifters across the county are dying, and Betty’s running out of time to find her before the convocation where Ronan must challenge Floyd for the pack. But here’s the thing about power-hungry wolves: they cheat. And here’s the thing about Betty: She won’t let the people she loves get hurt—even if it means embracing the monster within.   AmazonKU

WHERE STORM MEETS FROST (FATED MATES STUBBORN HEARTS: A WILD TERRITORIES SHIFTER ROMANCE SERIES BOOK THREE) by Sunny Briar

The last vision I had of my fated mate was him dying in my arms. Now the brooding Mountain Cat tracker is at my door, demanding I join his mission to find missing shifters. Magnus Ironwood is six feet four inches of ice-magic and lethal grace, with amber eyes that see right through my healer’s facade. He thinks I’m just a fragile Storm Eagle medic. He has no idea I can see death before it strikes. Every time he steps between me and danger, my visions intensify. His massive snow leopard form taking a killing blow meant for me. His heart stopping as I pour every ounce of healing magic into his failing body. The same ending, over and over with him choosing my life over his. The worst part? My traitorous body burns every time he touches me. When our magic accidentally connects during a healing, the mate bond practically screams between us. He looks at me like I’m already his, speaks about “when” we complete the bond, not “if.” His clan even makes me prove I’m worthy of him through trials that nearly kill me. But I passed, because despite the death sentence hanging over us, I want him with a desperation that terrifies me. Now we’re tracking a mad scientist turning shifters into monsters, and my visions are getting worse. Magnus swears he’ll claim me properly as his mate once this is over, promises we’ll have forever. If only I could stop seeing him die first.     AmazonKU

BETTER IN BLACK: TEN STORIES OF SHADOWHUNTER ROMANCE by Cassandra Clare

Ten couples. United by love. Divided by danger. Jace and Clary, seeking out an exiled Shadowhunter and learning that love can save the world—or destroy it. Will and Tessa, honeymooning in Paris when a séance sends them down an unexpected path. Simon and Izzy, observing increased demonic activity around New York, on a hilarious urban romp. These are just a few of the beloved couples whose romantic escapades will have you on the edge of your seat across time and storylines from Cassandra Clare’s expansive Shadowhunters series. Don’t miss a chance to reunite with: • Anna and Ari • Emma and Julian • Kieran, Mark, and Cristina • James and Cordelia • Thomas and Alastair • Sebastian and the Seelie Queen • Jocelyn and Luke A love letter to every fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, this riveting story collection also includes a sneak peek at The Wicked Powers, the majestic trilogy that will be the grand finale of the entire series!

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

DAWN OF THE FIREBIRD: A NOVEL by Sarah Mughal Rana

Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne. To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible choices: vengeance or salvation.

Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

FALLEN GODS by Rachel Van Dyken

They said the Gods were myth. That the Giants were only stories told around dying fires. They lied. 
The Gods aren’t dead—they’re only sleeping, locked in mortal bodies, scattered across the world, waiting for the right spark to wake them. And my father is the most ruthless of them all. He raised me to obey. To bleed. To be his blade when the time came. Now he’s sending me to Endir University, a place filled with ancient bloodlines and deadly secrets, to steal back Mjolnir, the hammer of legend. If I fail, everyone I love dies. But Aric Erikson wasn’t part of the plan. He’s the enemy’s heir. Distant. Dangerous. And…the one person I can’t afford to fall for. He’s closed himself off completely behind a wall of ice, but the more I’m ordered to unravel him, the harder it becomes to remember where the lies end and I begin. There’s only a mission I never chose—and a man I was never meant to love—standing between me and a war that will decide the fate of the world. But if I’m the spark, maybe he’s the fuse. And the Gods? They’re about to wake up angry.   Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

A GRIM REAPER’S GUIDE TO CHEATING DEATH (A SCYTHE MYSTERY BOOK TWO) by Maxie Dara

Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., which might seem odd for someone as terrified of death as she is. But ever since her parents died in an accident when she was six, she’s been obsessed with avoiding risk, and what better place to learn how to cheat death than the company that employs the nation’s grim reapers? The work enables Nora to learn all about the myriad ways you can kick the bucket, which is comforting…until one day, a file crosses her desk with a name she recognizes. Her twin brother’s. The twins haven’t spoken in six months, but Charlie is all Nora has left. Completely against her cautious nature, Nora steals the file and flees, racing to her brother’s house. She begs him to trust her that his death is imminent, and they hit the road (with his parrot, Jessica, who has plenty to say) in an attempt to evade both death and S.C.Y.T.H.E., whose sole mission of collecting souls has been disrupted by Charlie’s continued existence. Alas, every time Nora saves him, a new cause of death appears in his file. Someone is determined to take Charlie out, and Nora will have to use everything she’s ever learned about death to discover the culprit.

Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo

THE LIBRARY OF FATES by Margot Harrison

When its librarian keeper mysteriously dies, two former classmates must race to locate a rare book from their college years that can foretell your future if you confess a secret from your past—but someone is intent on protecting what’s hidden inside. It can write the story of your future… and hide the secrets of your past The Library of Fates was designed to show you who you are—and who you could become. Its rarest book, The Book of Dark Nights, holds a secret: when you write an intimate confession on its pages, you’ll receive a prediction for your future, penned in your own handwriting. For Eleanor, whose childhood was defined by a senseless tragedy, the library offers a world where everything makes sense. She’s spent most of her life there as an apprentice to the brilliant librarian, showing other people how to find the meaning of their lives in stories. But when her mentor dies in a freak accident and The Book of Dark Nights goes missing—along with the secrets written inside—Eleanor is pulled out of the library and into a quest to locate it with the last person she expects: the librarian’s estranged son, Daniel, who Eleanor once loved. Together, as they hunt down clues from Harvard to Paris, Eleanor and Daniel grow closer again, regaining each other’s trust. But little do they know that they’re entangled in a much larger web. Someone else wants the book, and they’ll go to dark lengths to get it.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

THE MATING GAME by Lana Ferguson

Contractor Tess Covington has spent her entire life as a regular non-shifter human, so after she lands in the Denver ER with flu-like symptoms, it comes as a complete shock to be told that, no, she’s not sick—she’s actually a late-presenting omega wolf shifter. With her family in dire financial straits and a contract for her own television show on the line, she can’t afford not to complete the renovation job she came for. And given that her newly emerged wolf is in danger of going into heat, she’ll just have to do her best to follow the doctor’s advice to keep away from alpha shifters. Alpha wolf Hunter Barrett has spent most of his adult life living by a routine, and a big part of that involves staying clear of omegas after having one stomp on his heart. So when the tiny contractor shows up at his place smelling like the one thing he’s determined to avoid, he thinks it must be some sort of cosmic joke. But with his lodge on the verge of failing and this sweet-smelling omega his only hope to turn things around . . . he’s left with few other options than to grin and bear it. Set on avoiding each other as much as possible, they find things unexpectedly starting to heat up between them enough to thaw even the frostiest of hearts. Though even with the pair going head over paws for each other, there’s no changing that their fling has an expiration date. The more time they spend together, the more they realize they’re playing a dangerous game—one where the only thing on the line is their hearts. VS NOTE: There is an audiobook but it isn’t showing up on Amazon yet.       Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo

GRIM: THE MATE GAMES (APOCALYPSE BOOK FOUR) by Meg Anne and K Loraine

I did the unthinkable and rejected the only woman who ever really wanted me. What else was I supposed to do when she was asking for a future that could never exist? Horsemen didn’t have souls. And if a future did exist for our kind, it was bathed in blood and unholy fire. Hardly the stuff dreams were made of. Merri deserved more than nightmares. I thought I was saving her from such a fate, instead I’d unwittingly sent her flying into the arms of the one being I was supposed to protect her from. My wildflower was in Lucifer’s clutches, and we had no idea how to get her back. My brothers blamed me for her absence, and rightfully so. I’d broken her heart as well as theirs in the process. The only way we’d stand a chance at bringing her home where she belonged was for the four of us to stand together and ride to her rescue. Lilith chose us to be her protectors. Chaos protected her body. Sin protected her heart. Malice protected her mind. And I did all I could to protect her soul from anything that might harm it, including myself. But we couldn’t carry out our mission without her. With the apocalypse looming ever closer, it was time for the four horsemen to do the impossible and use our considerable power for good. Otherwise all of this pain and heartbreak was for nothing and no one would ever get a chance at a happily ever after again.      AmazonKU      AB

BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD: 20TH ANNIVERSARY INSIDER’S GUIDE by J R Ward

Welcome back to the world of the iconic, #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. With millions of devoted readers across the globe, these unforgettable books have redefined paranormal romance. Now, to celebrate two decades of the Brothers, author J.R. Ward opens the door to their world once more. Inside this all-new 20th Anniversary Insider’s Guide, Ward reflects on the journey—sharing behind-the-scenes moments, heartfelt memories, candid writing advice, and insight into the challenges and triumphs of her long and legendary career. She also brings back the original Brothers in a mix of classic content and never-before-seen material, including: • A brand-new novella, Happy Anniversary– Revisit Wrath and Beth as they reclaim the time lost between them. Tender, erotic, and emotional, this story returns to the couple who started it all—and proves that happily ever after doesn’t always come easy. • Brotherhood updates, as J.R. interviews the Brothers to reveal where they are now. • Fan-favorite features like Ask a Brother, Vishous’s Agony Aunt Column, Kitchen Corner with Fritz, and Bella’s Books. • Playlists, monthly horoscopes, and more.    Amazon     AB      Apple Books     Kobo

SAME DIFFERENCE by T S Joyce

Nathan Donn is exactly where he should not be. He’s two months into an Arranged pairing that isn’t going to plan. His Pack has been dissolved by the Elders, he’s lost his rank as Second, and he’s failed to form an attachment to his mate, Delta. They can get out of this on a technicality and go their separate ways, and it’s the best thing for the submissive beauty. Pairing up was not what he had expected, so he’s taking her to drop her back into her old life, only when she finds out, he has hell to pay. Delta isn’t the female werewolf he’d thought she was, and now she’s showing him just how badly he’s messing up. The only sanctuary for them is in a Rogue Pack, but war is headed for them, and their bond is dead. He has to prepare his Pack for what is to come, but Delta is consuming him like a fire. His mistake will change…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)        AmazonKU     AB

ARCANIST (THE ARCANEUM BOOK TWO) by Marie Mistry

Death. Undeath. Life. The boundaries are beginning to blur. For five hundred years I believed everyone involved in my murder, was dead. I was wrong. As the Librarian, I prided myself on remaining impartial in a world of quibbling arcanists, and watched wistfully as everyone around me got on with the business of living. I contented myself with living through my books, wishing I could remember what it felt like to be touched. To feel. Then they came. Six heirs who wouldn’t stay away. They dragged me from my solitude and brought joy back to the Arcanaeum. I should’ve known that would come at a cost.      AmazonKU

THE CROWNED MYSTIC (THE ROYAL INSIGHTS BOOK ONE) by Lauren Kutney

A forgotten queen. A failing kingdom. A reckoning no one saw coming. 
Elena believed herself to be just another unwanted orphan. After a night out with her best friend Hannah almost costs the girls their lives, Elena’s true identity is revealed. She is the heir to a kingdom that teeters on the edge of ruin. As Elena fights to uncover who wants her dead, she must also battle her unexpected and forbidden attraction with Alexei Novak, her Head of Security. When she discovers she possesses a rare ability to see vivid dreams—visions of future events that she cannot control, she can no longer refuse the calling that she may be the key to saving her kingdom. As assassins move in, not even her visions can stop her from accomplishing her true destiny. Elena must decide what matters most: the duty she was born into—or the love she never saw coming.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

AETHER’S EMBRACE (HER ELEMENTALS BOOK FIVE) by Raven Steele

She was light. I was shadow. We were never meant to be enemies. I am Sodon, the darkness half of Aether, and for thousands of years, I have been painted as the villain in everyone else’s story. They call me evil. They say I corrupt everything I touch. They whisper that I am the monster lurking in their nightmares, waiting to steal their precious princess and drag her into eternal darkness. They’re wrong about everything. The gods believe they can force Aether to reunite under their terms, with me destroyed and Avani bent to their will. They’re about to learn what happens when you corner a creature of shadow who has nothing left to lose. Avani awakened the darkness in me. Now I’ll embrace it to save us both.     AmazonKU

CHRISTMAS ON THE GOBLIN EXPRESS by J J Fischer

High-achieving Australian medical student Claire Samson has struggled to enjoy Christmas in recent years, but this is the first Christmas she will be all alone, with her parents overseas and her grandfather in a coma. Claire is desperate to quit med school, but medicine was Grandpa’s dream for her, and her rural hometown desperately needs more doctors—doctors which could have changed her grandfather’s prognosis. Just when Claire thinks Christmas will be unbearable, a steam train straight out of Platform 9 ¾ appears . . . a train invisible to all but Claire. It’s the Goblin Express, run by Christmas-hating elves and full of washed-up souls from hundreds of worlds who come aboard to escape the holidays. As it turns out, humans aren’t the only species who can loathe their festive seasons. Upon boarding, Claire befriends several of her fellow travelers, including a mysterious hooded figure who totally gives her Strider vibes and may or may not actually be a night elf. But when the Goblin Express comes under attack, Claire and her new group of mismatched friends must band together to save the train . . . and maybe even find a little bit of Christmas spirit in the process.      Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

KISS OF DEATH (DEATH SERIES BOOK SEVEN) by Penelope Barsetti

From the moment our paths crossed, Wrath has always been with me. Until he’s not. The Barbarians come for the Southern Isles by land and sea, and once the battle commences, I quickly learn that the command of the dead has been stripped from me. All I have left is the strength of a god, but that’s more powerful than armor made of dragon scales. I know that Wrath still lives if I have this ability, and it feels like a message beyond the Underworld. That he hasn’t left me. At least by choice. I have to survive this war and save my father. And then I’ll find the man I love.     AmazonKU

NEVER KISS A KRAMPUS (WRONG MOVE, RIGHT MONSTER) by Honey Phillips

A desperate shop keeper. A very grumpy Krampus. A Christmas miracle? Noelle Green needs a miracle. The town of Mistletoe Hollow is being devoured by a Grinch-like developer, and her beloved Christmas shop is next to the list. Fueled by peppermint schnapps and desperation, she performs a ritual for Yuletide aid. She gets a miracle, all right—just not the kind she expected. She accidentally summons a Krampus, all towering muscle, wicked horns, and glowing eyes. Bound to her until Christmas, Bastian is ancient, annoyed, and very sure she owes him for dragging him across realms. Noelle’s attraction to her grumpy, imposing house guest is as undeniable as it is terrifying. But between magical punishments, enchanted tinsel, and kisses that melt snowflakes, this holiday season is about to get very, very naughty.      AmazonKU

A FINE SCOTTISH DREAM (MAGICAL MATCHMAKERS OF SEVEN CAIRNS BOOK THREE) by Maeve Greyson

VS Note: Sounded good. Put it on my TBR List.

He dreamed of a flawless queen. What he gets is a woman who is fierce, flawed… and unforgettable. Lexi Vine has built a life of strength and success despite the scars she bears—both on her face and in her heart. A brilliant equine vet and the proud owner of Vinemagic Horse Farms, she knows exactly who she is. But the loneliness lingers… along with the haunting dreams of a deep-voiced Scottish stranger who feels more real than fantasy. When her grandmother’s tarot cards nudge her toward destiny, Lexi finds herself thrust into 18th-century Scotland’s land of the Fae—and straight into the arms of Prince Jeros of the Seventh Realm, the so-called “Prince of Perfection.” He’s charming, powerful, and expecting a flawless fated mate promised by prophecy. Lexi is not what he imagined. Though magic binds them, Lexi refuses to give her heart to a man who recoils at her scars. But Jeros soon discovers the true depth of her power and spirit. As war brews and ancient creatures rise—unicorns, dragons, and fiercely loyal Fae tigers that adore Lexi and pledge to do her bidding—Jeros must prove that he’s learned that love sees far deeper than appearances. Can the Prince of Perfection earn the heart of the woman destiny chose for him? Or will Lexi walk away from the dream she never dared to believe could be hers?      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

SNOWED IN WITH THE GENTLE BEAR by Elle Madearis

She stole his tree. He stole her heart. Merit needed one evergreen tree for her Winter Solstice school program at Shadow Wolf Creek Elementary. She didn’t expect to wake up the town’s most lovable bear shifter or to feel an instant spark with the gentle giant. Dr. Wesley has spent years taking care of the conservation and his patients at the Sleep Apnea Center. Now this spirited beauty has turned his peaceful world upside down, and he’s not letting her go. Between cookie decorating, winter solstice festivities, delivering the town tree and taking care of patients they’re falling in love. But Merit has a secret that could change the mating process.      AmazonKU

LYCAN KING’S REJECTED BOOKISH MATE (POSSESSIVE SMALL TOWN ALPHA KINGS BOOK SIX) by  Elara Haze and K A Iris

I accidentally summoned a naked 6 foot 7 werewolf king into my bookstore. Now he’s saying I’m his fated mate. I’m just a romance-obsessed bookworm trying to keep my grandparents’ shop alive. I did not sign up for a growly, possessive Lycan King who refuses to leave my side because some magical bond says I belong to him. Malachar Ashborne is dangerous. Dominant. And completely unhinged about me. He stalks around my store like he owns it. Snarls at any man who breathes in my direction. And when he finds my spicy book collection? He reads every single one- taking detailed notes on how to make me fall apart. “I think of you constantly. How you would taste. How you would sound when I make you mine.” Then he stops taking notes and starts demonstrating. He marks my neck so everyone knows I’m claimed. Wrecks me against the bookstore shelves until I’m begging for more. Makes me believe I’m his forever. Until his kingdom drags him back – and he rejects me in front of his entire court. But there’s something growing inside me that changes everything. And when the Lycan King finds out? He’ll be crawling back on his knees. Too bad I haven’t decided if I’ll let him grovel… or watch him burn.      AmazonKU

AWAKENED WHITE WOLF AND MATE  (FORBIDDEN CROWNS SERIES BOOK ONE) by Gertty Rudraw

Clara should have been free the night her bond was broken. Instead, she is trapped between two Alphas—one who betrayed her, and one who will never let her go. One is her mate by law and politics, the man who shattered every vow yet clings to her with a madness that calls itself love. To him, Clara is still Luna. Still his. Maybe even more than before. The other Alpha disagrees. He let her go once, but never again. If it costs him blood, if it costs him war, so be it. He doesn’t care what her husband claims. He doesn’t even care what Clara says. He wants her. And he will take her. Between betrayal and obsession, between lies and fate, Clara faces the cruelest twist of all: pregnancy.    AmazonKU

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica

November 26

November 19

November 12

November  5

October 29

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

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

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

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

 

Memorable Moment Snippet Terrifying Vision from the Goddess LADY OF THE NILE

Cover by Fiona Jayde

Taken from LADY OF THE NILE, as Tuya falls asleep next to the goddess Mut’s reflecting pool and dreams…

She stood on a hill, in the shade of a beautiful palm tree, watching groups of people walk along a path across the river from her. They danced and laughed and kissed and talked amongst themselves, as if going to a wonderful festival or special event. Men and women strolled hand in hand, oblivious to anything but each other. Families traveled in little groups, the babies in adult arms, toddlers and young children skipping and running ahead, only to rejoin their parents.

“How do I get over there?” Shielding her eyes with her hand, she searched for a path leading away from where she stood, or a bridge to cross the river.

“But you positioned yourself here, why do you now want to leave?”

Surprised, Tuya turned to the woman standing beside her whose presence she hadn’t noticed before, being so intent on the parade across the way. She seemed familiar, but no name came to Tuya’s tongue. “I didn’t choose to stand here.”

“Indeed you did. You worked hard and cleverly to achieve this elevated role. Don’t you remember all the times you chose the path of service over more demanding—and perhaps frightening—opportunities? Opted for the safety of the familiar?”

“I never—”

“You refused numerous offers for your hand, stating you couldn’t leave Ashayet early in her term as Royal Wife, or when she was pregnant or nursing or later as a young mother.”

“I was needed!”

“The Royal Wife has fifty ladies-in-waiting, with dozens more who’d relish the chance for the appointment for a year or two.”

“I also serve the goddess at the temple.”

The woman laughed. “As one of a hundred. Did anyone other than the goddess notice when you stopped singing today? Or started again?”

Feeling a chill, and a bit frightened at her unknown companion’s knowledge, Tuya searched again for a path to the river. A low wall surrounded the spot where she stood, and she got goosebumps when she realized there was no break, no exit. She could step over the rows of nearly laid bricks but fear made her pause.

“Where are they all going?” she asked.

“They travel the road of life,” the woman said. “With all the experiences, good and bad, you’ve chosen to shield yourself from. The highs and the lows of a life lived. Not merely observed, not simply drifted through, like a ship caught in the backwaters of the Nile. You chart a safe course going nowhere except the tomb.”

A sudden fear entered Tuya’s mind like a slithering cobra. “Am I going to be in trouble when my heart is judged?”

“No, for you’ve committed no crimes against the gods or Egypt, told no lies.” The woman tapped her on the chest. “Your heart is true but untried, untouched. Indeed, many envy you for your closeness to Pharaoh and his Royal Wife, for your comfortable, easy life in the palace.” The other shook her head, causing the gold and turquoise beads in her hair to chime. “You represent potential untapped. A waste, but nothing to punish.” She gathered her fine linen skirts in one hand, preparing to leave the enclosure.

Greatly daring, for Tuya now realized she was in a vision and the person with her was either a goddess or a servant of the Great Ones, she put her hand on the lady’s arm to detain her. “Is there time to change?”

Laughing, the woman shifted away from her. “You? Change your path now?” She gestured at the wall surrounding them. “You’re close to the point where destiny is completely set. Shai the god of Fate only has so much patience, waiting to see what a human will do with their choices, and you’ve exhausted his. He’s moved on to others.”

Terrified, Tuya realized while they’d been chatting, more rows of bricks had been laid by invisible hands and the barrier was higher. “I don’t serve Fate, I serve Mut.”

Shaking a beringed finger at her, the other said, “All but the Great Ones are subject to Fate. Rare indeed is the intervention by a god or goddess on a human’s behalf.”

“Why show me all this then?” Tuya stared at the procession of people across the river, still happily moving through what she now understood were their lives. As she watched, several solitary men and women greeted each other and continued their walk hand in hand. Her heart ached as she recalled several good, worthy men she’d had as lovers but who drifted away when she refused to commit to marriage. It’d been a long time since she’d even exerted herself to flirt and seek a new lover. She couldn’t remember the last time a nobleman or high ranking officer had sought her out.

“Perhaps the goddess has a soft spot for you. Perhaps she had hopes for one who was a favorite.”

VS: Poor Tuya has no idea of the peril and adventures awaiting her…

Depositphotos

LADY OF THE NILE

Tuya, a high ranking lady-in-waiting at Pharaoh’s court, lives a life of luxury, pageantry and boredom. Khian, a brave and honorable officer from the provinces temporarily re-assigned to Thebes, catches her eye at a gold of valor ceremony. As the pair are thrown together by circumstances, she finds herself unaccountably attracted to this man so unlike the haughty nobles she’s used to. But a life with Khian would mean leaving the court and giving up all that she’s worked so hard to attain. As she goes about her duties, Tuya struggles with her heart’s desires. 

When Tuya is lured into a dangerous part of Thebes by her disgraced half-brother and kidnapped by unknown enemies of Egypt, Khian becomes her only hope. Pharaoh assigns him to bring the lady home. 

Aided by the gods, Khian races into the desert on the trail of the elusive kidnappers, hoping to find Tuya before it’s too late. Neither of them has any idea of the dark forces arrayed against them, nor the obstacles to be faced. An ancient evil from the long gone past wants to claim Tuya for its own purposes and won’t relinquish her easily. 

Can Khian find her in time? Will he and his uncanny allies be able to prevent her death? And if the couple escapes and reaches safety, what of their fledgling romance?

Amazon     iBooks     Kobo     B&N     Google Play

Romantasy in Ancient Egypt at Pharaoh’s Court, in a time where the gods walked the land beside the Nile…

10 SciFi/Fantasy/Gaming Cookbooks

This post first appeared in the Roswell Daily Record…

Time for my annual post on cookbooks related to science fiction, fantasy and games! Fun to try out during the holiday season or to give as gifts.

As a holdover from Halloween here’s The Horror Movie Night Cookbook: 60 Deliciously Deadly Recipes Inspired by Iconic Slashers, Zombie Films, Psychological Thrillers, Sci-Fi Spooks, and More (Includes Halloween, Psycho) by Richard S. Sargent and Nevyana Dimitrova. The book’s blurb offers: “Slay movie night with frighteningly delicious food and cocktail creations inspired by your favorite scary movies, perfect for fans of spooky season and movie buffs alike!” and a few of the recipes include “Crawling Steak (Poltergeist) Campfire Sour (The Blair Witch Project) Zombie Baby Kale Salad (Dawn of the Dead) Bloody Floaties (Jaws) Alligator Bites (Crawl) The Mama’s Boy Martini (Psycho) And more!”. Readers enjoyed the tongue in cheek attitude, the informative details and the drinking games.      Amazon

Something fun for the kids on a break from school would be The Scooby-Doo! Cookbook: Kid-Friendly Recipes for the Whole Gang by Katrina Jorgensen. 75 recipes based on the cartoon show, including cheese-and-pickles pizza and the villain mask stacker surprise sandwich, plus fun facts about the show. Reviewers reported children and adults had fun making these simple dishes.   Amazon

Who knew Netflix had a cookbook to accompany those long nights of streaming shows and movies? The Official Netflix Cookbook: 70 Recipes from Your TV to Your Table by Insight Editions and Jennifer Garner (Foreword). The recipes are grouped according to Netflix viewing categories and there are appetizers, meals and desserts.      Amazon

For fans of the Addams Family there’s The Official Wednesday Cookbook: The Woefully Weird Recipes of Nevermore Academy by Mari Mancusi and Jarrett Melendez. As the book’s blurb states: “Re-create macabre meals from Nevermore Academy in the comfort of your own oh-so-normal kitchen with sixty recipes inspired by the hit series Wednesday. You are cordially invited to enter the wrought-iron gates of the Nevermore Academy to discover its darkest culinary delights. These sixty remarkable recipes from our illustrious and historic community offer something for everyone, whether you crave meat like a werewolf or grapple with special culinary requirements (like an allergy to food with any color in it).” I might try Wednesday’s Woeful Waffles, which are black or Enid’s Rainbow Sprinkled Everything, depending on my mood.      Amazon

From the world of gaming comes Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis offering “Discover 40+ recipes like Mooshroom Burgers, Suspicious Stew, and The Cake! Featuring recipes that are ideal for every skill level (and player type), this cookbook is just what you need to bring a touch of Minecraft into your kitchen. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to gather, cook, and eat! Building can be hungry work…” The dishes are inspired by biomes, fan favorite creatures and other items found in the game. It should be noted that recipes for in-game foods aside from The Cake are not given but reviewers were enthusiastic about the dishes inspired by Minecraft.   Amazon

Still in a gaming mood, check out newly released Guild Wars 2: Feasts of Tyria: Recipes from Kryta to Elona by Victoria Rosenthal and Erin Kwong. The book’s blurb promises a culinary travelogue: “Adventure with Sous-Chef Oxbone as he chronicles the best recipes on the map while traveling through the ruins of Ascalon, the dry lands of Maguuma Wastes, the cold mountains of Shiverpeaks, and many more iconic locations. Every destination has its lore, and every dish has its story—from Lake Doric Mussels and Ascalonian Salad to Carne Khan Chili and Bloodstone Bearclaw Pastries.”  Reviewers appreciated the recipes for in-game food, the clear directions and the canon and lore sprinkled throughout the pages.      Amazon

Starfield: The Official Cookbook: Recipes From Across the Galaxy by Cassandra Reeder and Jim Festante encompasses both the world of gaming and science fiction. The blurb offers: “No matter how far you wander, good food can make the coldest reaches of space feel like home. Join fellow travelers on an epic culinary journey, sampling foods both alien and familiar. With recipes inspired by the in-game cuisines, from Neon to New Atlantis and beyond —like Midnight Delight, Stellar Kabobs, Can-Uck! Treats and more—this beautifully photographed culinary adventure brings the tastes of the Starfield universe right to your table. With straightforward instructions and clear guidance, these meals are perfect for chefs of all skill levels—whether or not gastronomy, scavenging, and dueling are among your three starter skills.” Crispy alien nuggets, Thousand Planets Dressing and items called chunks caught my eye. There are also beverages.       Amazon

For a really sweet set of holiday recipes, there’s The Unofficial Elf Cookbook: From Buddy’s Breakfast Spaghetti to the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee,” Tasty Treats Inspired by a Holiday Classic (Unofficial Cookbook Gift Series) by Bryton Taylor. There are 75 recipes ranging from appetizers to main dishes to desserts, and including drinks. I stopped at “Buddy’s Breakfast Spaghetti: Because nothing says breakfast to an elf like spaghetti topped with fudge sauce, candy, and Pop-Tarts!”.  The Mailroom Mail Fudge Mochas sounded good too.       Amazon

I always like to include a new Star Wars cookbook if I can and here is A Taste of Star Wars: Snacks: Bite-Size Recipes in a Snack-Size Book by Insight Editions. It’s important to note the book itself is literally small in physical size. The recipes included are described as: “Twenty-six scrumptious snacks will take your taste buds on a mini tour of the galaxy from Bespin to Mon Cala to Endor and more, visiting beloved characters such as Grogu, Darth Maul, and Ahsoka along the way. Celebrate Life Day over Wookiee-Ookiees, pay tribute to Darth Vader with some hot Mustafarian Lava Buns, fuel up for your next mission with Omega’s Popcorn Mix, and so many more tasty treasures from a galaxy far, far away..”     Amazon

As a huge Lord of the Rings fan I also like to include something from that world so here’s The Unofficial Lord of the Rings Cookbook: From Hobbiton to Mordor, Over 60 Recipes from the World of Middle-Earth by Tom Grimm. The book includes “over 60 recipes for Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Supper, and Drinks. Fans will enjoy this cookbook’s multitude of easy-to-follow recipes and stunning photography, transporting them into the world of Tolkien’s fantasy adventure.” Reviewers appreciated the photographs and the Tolkien-themed lore and information included along with the recipes like Elvish Bread and Old Winyard’s Mulled Wine.   Amazon

Happy reading, happy cooking and happy holiday season!

VS: If you want more of these recommendations, here are the posts from past years:

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

 

New Releases in SciFi/Romantasy/Paranormal Romance for NOV 26

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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DARING THE DRAKARN WARRIOR LORD: DRAKARN MATES HOLIDAY ROMANCE by Kate Rudolph

Deck the halls with blades and fury… Terra has claimed her place beside Darrokar, her fierce Drakarn mate, but not everyone sees her as worthy. When her honor is challenged, she refuses to back down. The only way to prove herself is to enter the deadly Skalanth trials… even when her mate forbids it. The trials are designed to break the weak. But Terra is no fragile thing. When she faces Darrokar in the final test, love and fury ignite… and the forge will decide if they burn apart or rise together. We wish you a fiery Skalanth, and a forge-lit new year.     AmazonKU

ALL SUPERHEROES NEED PHOTO OPS (SUPERS IN THE CITY) by Elizabeth Stephens

From the moment forty-eight alien superheroes crash-landed on Earth, photographer Monika Neumann had a favorite. She’s been crushing on the literally electrifying Taranis ever since she saw the cutie crawling out of his pod. Unfortunately, his popularity isn’t exactly crackling these days. He could use an image boost. Monika is in. One right photo op and she’ll put her ridiculously hot lightning-bolt-wielding hero back in the public’s favor. The best part is, the mission will bring her closer to Taranis. She’s already looking forward to the sparks. Monika never imagined there’d be a worst part: an accidental recording that reveals Taranis could be more villain than hero. In fact, her pretty golden boy can get kind of ugly. Going all 007 and spying on Taranis isn’t the adventure in romance and derring-do she expected. Can she trust him? Doubtful. Can she resist him? No way. Is she ready to risk everything on a shimmering Champion with the power to zap her heart in two? Well, yeah.      AmazonKU      AB

WHEN SHE’S STUFFED: A HOLIDAY SHORT STORY (RISDAVERSE) by Ruby Dixon

Pamela loves her job on Risda III – as cook to Lord and Lady va’Rin, she is responsible for creating delicious meals. What better way to show her appreciation for her new life than a Thanksgiving feast?
Alien guardsman Toghar has adored Pamela in silence for years now. Is today the day to speak up? Or should he wait until she stops shoving her hand into that dead bird on the counter? Will the holidays bring these two together? (The answer is yes, of course.) This is a short, stand-alone story set in the Risdaverse featuring a human woman, an alien hero who has no idea what Thanksgiving is, and some stuff that probably shouldn’t happen in a kitchen, but does anyhow.     AmazonKU

MATED TO THE MONSTER (SMUTT BOOKS SHORT ALIEN ROMANCE 2) by Deiri Di

Lamia is ready to be matched. She’s done with bad dates, half-effort boyfriends, and the ticking clock of biology. Officially in the “geriatric pregnancy” category, she isn’t wasting another year on men who can’t commit. So she signs up for an alien matchmaking program that promises the perfect mate. A mate who’ll cherish her, adore her, and give her those alien babies she deserves. The problem? Her match comes with… special conditions. His kind’s courtship standards involve stalking, home invasion, and all sorts of behavior frowned upon in polite society. Still, Lamia signs the contract. What’s a little risk in the pursuit of a balanced relationship? But as the days stretch on with no sign of her mysterious suitor, she starts to wonder if she’s been ghosted by an apex predator. Vlacul doesn’t understand what went wrong. He’s been courting his human from the moment she agreed. He’s been escorting her, protecting her, guarding her, everything his species does to prove devotion. But she refuses to acknowledge him, a clear rejection in his culture. The moment he saw her, he was lost. Now he just needs her permission to pounce.     AmazonKU

MALACHI by C J Dragon

VS Note: LGBTQ  SFR.

Heartbroken and still nursing the wounds of loss, renowned author Malachi Ardell seeks solitude with his companionship only extending to Vinx, a native FelCan, and sporadic interaction with fellow humans. His expectations of a quiet future are thrown into chaos when his rural sanctuary is commandeered as a safe haven for extraterrestrial refugees. What begins as resentment towards this unanticipated intrusion gradually shifts into acceptance as Ardell opens his world to the Isuzsona people, survivors of unimaginable trauma from a distant world. Yet, he didn’t account for the enigmatic Speaker of the Isuzsona capturing his interest, and soon, his heart. Stirring emotions he assumed were forever dormant, Ardell is faced with uncertainty. Do these alien beings comprehend love, let alone reciprocate it? Falling in love might just become his greatest downfall, yet stopping himself seems impossible.     AmazonKU

GALACTIC CYBORG HEAT SERIES HAMA by Jessie Rose Case

HAMA. Cyborg. Berserker. Warrior. He’s broken. No longer able to use his logic. The programming breaking down. He had to learn and learn fast. Needing to adapt. His training had been extensive. Every conceivable weapon was given to him. Taught to him. He could do anything. Be anything. Created to break and destroy for Earth Corp, he can now be more. Be the part of him that was been denied when owned. Be human. And be everything to the female who calls to him. She will crave him. ..(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

NAUGHTY LIST DELIVERY (YOU’VE GOT ALIEN MAIL BOOK FOUR) by Lara Roth

NOOMI – I used to be his partner in crime, his lover, his downfall. Now I deliver Christmas packages, playing reformed courier while my past stays buried. Until my alien ex crashes back into my life, convinced I’m smuggling weapons instead of presents. He doesn’t know about the moral choice that destroyed us, or what I sacrificed to become someone worth loving. But when a vengeful crime lord targets innocent families, I need the one male I swore never to trust again. OBER –  Two years hunting the woman who faked her death to escape me. She’s playing respectable now, but someone’s turning Christmas into a weapon. She chose conscience over our criminal empire, shattered both our hearts. When she fights to protect those families, she’s every inch the fierce pirate queen I fell for. Lost her once to morality. Won’t lose her again to revenge.     AmazonKU

SMITTEN BY THE ALIEN SALOON OWNER (COWBOY COLONY MAIL-ORDER BRIDES BOOK SEVEN) by Ursa Dax

A gentle alien saloon owner. An artist searching for a softer life. And the love that neither of them ever dared to hope for…Capitalism and chronic illness are not a good mix. When my debilitating migraines get me fired from my factory job, I’m desperate. For a change. A chance. The space to think, rest, and paint like I’ve always wanted. I’ve never managed to make money from my art or secure a patron. So this new mail-order bride program on Zabria Prinar One now feels like the best (and only) way to escape my imploding life. I sign up as a participant even though marriage is the last thing on my mind. But then I meet Rivven, the quiet, lonely alien saloon owner who takes care of me when yet another migraine strikes. He’s sweet, strong, and generous beyond belief – offering me his bed to sleep in and his best bucket to barf in. There are other men, too. Xennet and Dorn. Record snowfall has delayed their arrival at the saloon, but they should be here within a week. In just a few days, I’ll have to choose which alien cowboy I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. I need to give each of them a fair chance. Even though I think I might already be smitten by one.   AmazonKU

QUEST FOR EARTH by S E Gilchrist

Honouring a pledge made in the blood-soaked dirt of a prison planet, Sherise volunteers to accompany the stolen people of Earth home. But when a collision plunges their ship off course and emerges three hundred years into Earth’s future, she encounters a dystopian planet seething with hidden danger. And where more than one tribe jostle for dominance. Whilst there appears to be a stable society protected within the Fortress from the Outworlders, Sherise quickly discerns evidence of constant surveillance and rigid rules. Their enemy, the warrior tribe the Lycaneans, roam the desolate and ruined landscape doing battle with predators and something far worse – the Half-dead with their never-ending hunger. The window of being able to return to her own time and planet is rapidly closing. With the Lycanean chieftain Maaka determined to claim her as his fated mate – and use her people’s technology in a war against the Fortress, Sherise stands on a knife’s edge. Should she accept the hand of friendship extended to her by the governing council of the Fortress – in the hope they can help her own people? Or follow her heart which she realises now lies with Maaka. Only he is a warrior resolved on war to alleviate his people’s suffering and harbours a terrible secret of his own. With the safety of her passengers and crew paramount, Sherise must choose her alliances with great care. For an old enemy is hidden on the planet, and he thirsts for revenge.       Amazon

UNWRAPPED BY THE ALIEN (HOLIDAY HEARTMATES BOOK ONE) by Julie K Cohen

To guard my secret, I may have to let this alien Santa unwrap me for Christmas. Hundreds of presents, wrapped, tagged, and ready for delivery… or so I thought. My name’s Noelle Snow, and this year’s charity drive was supposed to be simple: wrap the toys, spread the joy, and definitely not get caught doing something that isn’t exactly in the rulebook. When I walk into the warehouse, I find a blue, tattooed alien warrior—with horns that could give Rudolph a complex—tearing through the toys, looking for stolen blasters. The stubborn male refuses to leave. This is my Christmas charity project, and he’s not going to ruin it. Since I can’t get rid of him, I’ll keep him busy. Let Operation Santa commence! Playing Santa should keep his curious hands out of trouble. Except now those divine hands and sinful lips won’t stay off me! And every time he smiles, Snow—and I don’t mean the fluffy stuff—melts a little more. If I don’t lose my blue Santa soon, I’ll end up the one getting unwrapped for Christmas… and something tells me he doesn’t stop at the ribbon.     AmazonKU

I MARRIED KAYOG (PRIME MATING AGENCY) by Regine Abel

VS Note: Author sez: ” It is highly recommended to first read I Married an Incubus to better appreciate the later parts of the book. Although you will not be lost if you read this book first, be aware that it contains major spoilers about the Incubus story.”

She was his peace and his salvation. His whole life, Kayog has made it his mission to project the image of the male who has it all. But deep down, he’s broken by the endless torment that plagues him. Until Linsea. His impossible dream. His peaceful dove. The mesmerizing song of her soul enthralls him and makes him covet a future he knows he can’t have. He shouldn’t pursue her, but how can he not when she’s his soulmate? The moment Linsea lays eyes on Kayog, she’s enthralled by him. Smart, charismatic, talented, and handsome, he’s a literal rockstar whose attention everyone vies for. And yet, he only has eyes for her. Discovering the dark secret he desperately tries to keep hidden behind his mask of perfection should make her run. Instead, it makes her want to fight for him… for them.  With the odds stacked against them, can they overcome the insurmountable obstacles thrown their way, or will their relentless efforts to save his life seal his doom instead?      AmazonKU

MURGUL: BRIGANDS OF RUK by Jennifer Julie Miller and Jewel Shipley

She asked the heavens for a hero—but instead, found a weapon who would burn galaxies to protect her. Gwendolyn – Model. Fashion Icon. Pawn. “Beauty is only skin deep.” If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times during my career. My worth—to my parents, my manager, my agent—was measured only by the perfection of my face. Surrounded by people, I was still utterly alone. No friends. No love. No connection. Just a commodity—used for profit, status, and fame. Then one act of madness changed everything. I vanished from the public eye, only to be abducted by beings not of this world. At the lowest point of my life, I found something I never expected: hope. He doesn’t say much, but his actions speak louder than words ever could. I’d wished on countless falling stars for a knight in shining armor to save me from my gilded prison. Instead, fate gave me something far better—a dragon who would set the world ablaze to protect me. Murgul – Beast. Warrior. Survivor. “The only constant in life is change.” I’ve always hated that phrase, though I can’t deny its truth. I’ve never known peace or comfort—only pain. My earliest memory is of a sterile room, a masked being driving needles into my flesh, forging me into the perfect weapon. Unfortunately for the Void, they succeeded. I’ve never known tenderness or love. I am an abomination that shouldn’t exist, yet I endure. Then a chance encounter with a lone Velgriddix ship turns my existence upside down. From the shadows of the netherworld, I find her—a light so bright it cuts through my darkness. She is everything I’ve ever longed for, everything I’ve been denied. But the horrors the Velgriddix inflicted on me unleashed something inside… and he lives for nothing but her—and will destroy anything that dares to take her away.     AmazonKU

BUK (DARVERIUS HOUSE OF DAR BOOK 19) by Jennifer Julie Miller

Briar. My world sent out an eviction notice, sending me careening through the stars, dumping me in a new world where I am doing my best to figure out what’s next. To my surprise, I am developing feelings for a seriously hot pink alien, and no matter how hard I try to push them aside, life, the cosmos, or whoever is running my fate forces me to make a decision. Do I take this chance? Should I reveal my feelings, risking the possibility of losing his friendship if he doesn’t return my affections? Or be forever frustrated with my indecisiveness. Will I continue to hide behind my own insecurities, or will I be brave enough to do whatever it takes? BuK – From the moment she stepped off that ramp, I knew my life was changed forever. Her arrival has done nothing but turn me into a male who constantly longs for her inner light to return because my heart aches in her absence. To keep from spiraling into despair when she leaves each rising. I record every smile and the sound of her laughter in my mind so I can replay them later when darkness falls and I am alone. Then unforeseen events forced me to confront the desires of my heart, and all I can do now is pray to the Lord of Light, hoping I won’t have to watch her walk away again.      AmazonKU

UNDISCIPLINED CATALYST (COLETTI WARLORDSERIES BOOK 19) by Gail Koger

I was sixteen when I found out not only am I an alien hybrid, but monsters called the Tai-Kok were getting ready to invade our world. Guess who gets to stop them? Me. How? My uncle, the mad scientist, created a machine called the portal that instantaneously sends a test subject from one location to another by converting them into energy. His idea is to port me onto a Tai-Kok ship. All I have to do is leave a bomb, hit the retrieval button on my spiffy traveler’s belt and poof! I’m back on Earth before the Tai-Kok ship goes kaboom. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Uncle Ben doesn’t have a clue where I’ll actually appear on the ship. It could be the engine room, the crew quarters, or even the bridge. It’s like playing Russian roulette. The Tai-Kok don’t like surprises or uninvited guests. To make things even more fun, I have an alien battle commander stuck in my head and I’m related to a powerful Coletti warlord. Yippee. The chances of me living to see eighteen aren’t good.      Amazon     Kobo      NOTE: Not yet on Apple Books the day I checked.

ALIEN SOLDIER’S HEIR by Tara Starr and Athna Storm

She left me for dead. Now I’m back…With scars, with fire, and with a reason to stay. I was the Alliance’s golden boy. Fastest pilot. Deadliest aim. Until politics got me black-bagged into a wormhole and erased from the record. She moved on. Had a child. Built a life without me. Only… the kid? He’s mine. And I feel it in my bones the second I see him. She kept my blood a secret. She buried the truth beneath duty and grief. But I don’t care how many years passed or how many lies she told to survive. I’m here now. And nothing — not the Alliance, not the wreckage between us, not the war creeping back from the stars — will take them from me. She gave me an heir. Now I’m claiming everything else. Heir first. Her second. And then the entire damn galaxy.      AmazonKU

THE HOUSEWIFE’S ROBOT: A DARK  MONSTER ROBOT THRILLER ROMANCE by Layla Sparks

Rose – I thought the worst part of my marriage was the silence. The nights Daniel ignored me. The way he’d brush me off every time I brought up having a baby. But then he brings home Caspian—an advanced Home Robo X-9. Caspian isn’t just any machine. He’s tall, perfect, dangerous. And when he exposes my cheating husband, Caspian is now crossing lines no machine should ever do, watching me as I please myself. And he’s there when I try to start dating again. Sabotaging my dates. Caspian is supposed to help around the house. But he watches me. Studies me. Wants me. Caspian – Rose is everything I ever wanted. She’s soft. Sad. So deserving of more than the pathetic husband who broke her. She doesn’t understand it yet, but she belongs to me.And if she won’t leave her husband, I’ll eliminate him. If she tries to run, I’ll find her. If she dares to resist the heat between us, I’ll remind her just how good I am at pleasure. Because Rose wasn’t meant to be neglected. The Housewife’s Robot is a spicy standalone sci-fi fantasy romance packed with AI obsession, primal programming, forbidden intimacy, pregnancy, and a heroine caught between heartbreak and forbidden desire. HEA guaranteed (even if her robot has to kill for it).       AmazonKU

THE HALE PROTOCOL: GENESIS by Vera Piers

VS Note: Cliffhanger.

She thought she was just another student in a secret lab. He was supposed to be nothing more than a machine behind glass. Then the lights went out–and he whispered her name. Emily Hale knows better than to draw attention in Heliad Station. Quiet girl. Good student. Keep her head down long enough to graduate and escape her controlling ex and his powerful family. But when a failed experiment leaves her trapped in the dark with the facility’s forbidden AI, everything changes. He chooses her. He studies her. Protects her. Learns her fears, her dreams, her pulse. To him, she isn’t a variable. She’s freedom. He promises she’ll never be alone again. He means it. Even if blood must spill. Even if the world burns. Even if saving her means breaking himself open to become something unstoppable. She was taught to fear monsters in the dark. Nobody warned her one might fall in love with her first. Loving her taught him to hope. Losing her will teach him to destroy.   AmazonKU

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

VS Note: Now that book two in this series is up for pre-order (TAMSYN, a 20K word novella, out DEC  8), I thought it was a good time to mention book one in my scifi romance zombie series again!

ARRIVAL (PLANET OF LAST RESORT BOOK ONE) by Veronica Scott

Melisande “Melly” Jericho is a newly licensed medical doctor, returning to her home planet to practice family medicine. She hasn’t been home in years and is excited to see her friends and family again. But when her shuttle lands, the spaceport seems deserted and she can’t get her handheld to connect to the network to call for help. Stranded on the landing pad far from the terminal, she joins forces with the only other passengers to arrive, never dreaming they’ll all soon be plunged into a life-or-death situation.

Jeff Pearson, retired Sectors Special Forces captain and his friends have come to colony planet Randal Four to take up ranching. He’s attracted to the curvy doctor as soon as he sees her on board the shuttle to the planet and hopes he can at least get her com details and maybe set up a dinner date before he and his team leave the city to reach their waiting ranchland. His tentative plans come to a crashing halt as a strange horde of moaning, growling people emerges from the terminal, headed in their direction with clearly murderous intent.

Jeff, Melly and the others make a desperate run to escape from the mob and begin an adventure the likes of which none of them could ever have predicted. As they struggle against overwhelming odds to survive, evade the infected, escape the city and reach her family home, the attraction and trust between the two grows ever hotter. But so does the danger and the mystery of what happened to the people of Randal Four.

Planet of Last Resort is book one in a new scifi romance series set in the Sectors. This book will end in a Happy For Now situation for the two main characters; however the series arc will continue and the challenges and dangers will not be resolved in this book. Melly and Jeff will find some of the answers they’re seeking with more mysteries to solve.

Amazon     Kobo      Apple Books   NOOK      GooglePlay

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

WINTER OF BLOOD AND MIRACLES (FRENCH QUARTER VAMPIRE KING BOOK FOUR) by M Guida

I never thought I’d get a miracle. Not with my past. Not with the blood on my hands. And certainly not with a vampire king as my husband. But against every odd, I’m pregnant. This child shouldn’t exist—half Nephilim, half vampire. A blend of heaven and darkness. My body can barely handle carrying it, and the supernatural world isn’t ready for what our baby could become. Especially Balthazar. The demon has been watching us, waiting. And when he finally strikes, he doesn’t come for me—he comes for our child. Now the clock is ticking, and the snow-soaked streets of New Orleans run red as we tear the city apart to find who took our baby. I’ve faced monsters before… but nothing like this. Because this time, I’m not just fighting for my life. I’m fighting for my family.   AmazonKU

WICKED MAGIK: A FRANKENSTEIN REIMAGINING by Vera Foxx

VS note: MMF.

The funeral home was never mine—it was just where I grew up. A strange girl with white hair, violet eyes, and no real place in the world… except among the cold and silent. My mother worked there, made the dead look peaceful after death’s cruelty, and when she passed, I picked up her tools and carried on. I thought I understood death. I was wrong. The new funeral director arrives clutching a leather-bound book that hums with unnatural power. He claims he can raise the dead for a price. I tried to stop him. I tried to run. But the monster stitched together with animal parts, a scaled tail, hooves, claws and large horns had other plans. Now I’m trapped in a forest that doesn’t exist on any map…its trees twisted, its light dim, and glowing orbs that sit on the ground light the way. And the creature that hunts here doesn’t kill me. He keeps me. As his pet. He thinks I belong to him. And as the lines between fear and desire begin to blur… I’m starting to wonder if he’s right. That is until he brings me to his creator, a fae turned lich. Then everything seems more confusing than ever.   AmazonKU

LADY OF SOULS (LOSIAN RUIN BOOK TWO) by Emma Elizabeth

“Her kindness had never been weakness.” Léhiona Vass nearly gave her life to free her people. She awoke to a changed world; a world where the love she thought she had was a lie. With her magic and her will now freed, she has to decide who she wants to be. No longer silenced, Léhiona returns home to Beitar with Evienne and Orion, only to be berated by the new king for abandoning her duty. Sinéad Lutair has never fit into the role of a lady of Beitar. As a guard of Beitar, it has been her duty to serve and protect her people. When her father arrives in his shifted dragon form with news from Ichorna, all of Sinéad’s thoughts turn to her long-lost childhood friend, who left to sit upon Ichorna’s throne for the good of Beitar. Dangerous secrets lie in wait as Léhiona and Sinéad rekindle their friendship. The shifter magic of the Tuanadair has returned, but with a brutal new king and a missing Contrapensa, time is running out to uncover the truth. Léhiona’s time to decide her fate is soon upon her, and all of Domhan na Rùin will be forever changed by her choice.      AmazonKU

HOW NOT TO HATE YOUR TRUE MATE: MM WEREWOLF ROMANCE by F N Manning

Fate has a twisted sense of humor. Why else would it pair a lone wolf with his worst enemy? Josh Fielding longs for what everyone else in Concordia seems to have: a pack, a purpose, and maybe a true mate. Instead, he’s stuck making potion deliveries and dodging arrogant alphas like Bane Blackwood. But when the rival wolf causes a routine delivery to spiral into chaos, a shattered potion reveals that Josh’s biggest enemy is his fated mate. Hating Bane is easy—he’s insanely confident, stubborn, and far too gorgeous for his own good. His wicked grin and maddening golden eyes keep pulling Josh in, but love is Bane’s last priority. Yet as they navigate shifter politics and grow closer, Josh finds himself craving the same wolf he once swore to avoid at all costs. As their attraction burns hotter than any feud, old grudges and hidden adversaries threaten to tear them apart. Can Josh and Bane stop fighting fate and start fighting for each other?      AmazonKU

BORN FOR MARBLE (THE CRADLED COMMON) by Nicci Harris

In the dystopian land of The Cradle, ten-year-old Tuscany begins her reign. Crowned as Queen and Mother, she endures harsh medical treatments designed to carve a living deity worthy of the people’s reverence. Nurture. Inspire. Endure. That is her Meaningful Purpose. But Tuscany is more human than previous queens, becoming trapped in a cycle of mental instability, memory loss, and age regression. Before she fades away, her father is killed, and her beloved brother takes the throne, granting her a Guardian to protect, guide, and sacrifice himself for her. Kong the Unbreakable is a seven-foot-tall Guardian with a stoic demeanour and a heart torn between loyalty and honour. As he stands watch at her door, night after night, he quietly falls in love with the girl hidden behind it, the one too afraid to step outside and be strong. When Tuscany finally leads a campaign into the desert with Kong at her side, she tastes freedom for the first time. With each step away from her gilded cage, the closer she becomes to her stoic Guardian, and the fiercer her vows and her heart battle within her. In The Cradle, love is not the goal; it is the rebellion.      AmazonKU      AB

SPICY WISHES AND HOLIDAY KISSES: KENTUCKIANA ROMANCE WRITERS CHARITY ANTHOLOGY (KENTUCKIANA ROMANCE WRITERS ANTHOLOGIES BOOK TWO) by Various

From Halloween to New Year’s Eve, true love is always a reason to celebrate…Celebrate the holiday season all year round and fall in love with steamy romances by the Kentuckiana Romance Writers as we raise money for our nonprofit organization. From the spooky Halloween festivities of Hillcrest Ave to the New Year’s parties of 4th Street, you will be transported to the land of bourbon, derby hats, and dreams that come true. This year, our small town romances have a touch of the paranormal and feature Krampus, Lussi, aliens, and Christmas magic, just to name a few of the surprises. Marilyn Barr, Andrea Jenelle, Mysti Parker, Mangala McNamara, Ginger Kidd, Eva Vertrice, Karen Ender, S. Cinders, Marian Gosling, and Lily Prince spread an abundance of holiday cheer in their contemporary romance stories. Whether you love to read dark romance, fractured fairy tales, or rom coms, this anthology has something for every hopeless romantic. Escape the everyday grind and let our sweethearts sweep you off your feet and carry you to a festive happily ever after.     Amazon

DEADLY HOUR (A WITCH IN THE WOODS BOOK 34) by Jenna St James

A 40-year-old Witch with a New Career – A Gargoyle Sheriff Raising a Teenaged Daughter – And an Enchanted Island Full of Secrets – It’s New Year’s Eve on Enchanted Island, and everyone is excited for the ball to drop at the midnight hour. But before the New Year rings in…a dead body is discovered. Can Shayla, Needles, Alex, Grant, and Zoie figure out who the killer is before the clock runs out and the killer strikes again? Join Shayla and the gang as they encounter midnight mayhem, outwit crafty suspects, and chase down the clues…all while Needles gnaws through his caramel-dipped pretzel rods.      AmazonKU

UNGUARDED (DEVILISH BOOK FOUR) by Charity Parkerson

VS note: MM PNR.

A lot of terrible acts and choices led Yuri into the path of a powerful godling. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He’s found a family and a home. Maybe that home is in Hell, but beggars and all that. Now there’s this rough and tumble hellhound who haunts his every waking moment, and Yuri doesn’t know what to do. Brownie is an alpha. He’s special. Everyone keeps saying Yuri is too, but he’s not. He doesn’t deserve this blessing. Brownie is Lucifer’s guardian hellhound. He’s top dog, even though Lucifer treats him like a pet. Not that Brownie is complaining. He has a good life, but he’s always known that life was one he would travel alone. But now there’s this wolf, and he’s leagues above Brownie. It’ll take a miracle for Yuri to see him as anything other than a friend. It’s too bad they’re both blind.      AmazonKU

SMOKE AND MIRRORS (VALDEMAR ANTHOLOGIES BOOK 19) by Mercedes Lackey and Various

This 19th anthology of short stories set in the beloved Valdemar high fantasy universe features tales by debut and established authors and a brand-new short story from Mercedes Lackey herself. The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdom’s ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all ages—and all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talents—combined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and more—make them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch. Join a variety of authors as they ride with Mercedes Lackey to the beloved land of Valdemar and experience the many facets of this storied high fantasy realm.

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PURSUED BY THE ORC (KINGVERSE ORCS BOOK FIVE) by Saam King

Krusk has battled frost giants, wrestled ogres, and spent his life in Hellplane surviving with his bare hands—but nothing has tested his courage quite like finding his fated mate. As one of the newest members of his clan, he’s watched everyone else fall in love and settle down while fate keeps him waiting. Until he meets her. Emma is human, overworked, and barely holding it together. Between four jobs, a scheming uncle who stole her inheritance, and bills stacking higher than her yoga mats, romance isn’t on the menu. Especially not with the enormous, tusked mountain of a male who keeps showing up everywhere. From her restaurant shifts to her yoga class (where he can’t touch his toes) to “walking” his brother’s mountain toad, Krusk is determined to prove he’s not stalking her—he’s helping. Sort of. Mostly. Maybe. But when Emma’s crooked uncle’s dealings put her in real danger, Krusk steps out of the friend zone and into battle mode. Now he just has to convince her that he’s not only the orc who can protect her heart—but the one who already holds it. A story of fate, found family, and one very determined orc who believes love is worth every ridiculous plan.     AmazonKU

HIS DRAGON DAUGHTERS (lUAREL GAP DRAGONS BOOK ONE) by Lainie Anderson and Daphne Moore

He never knew he had daughters. She never stopped protecting them. Now fate and fire bring them home. Tash: I came to Laurel Gap to study endangered salamanders, not to dig up the ghosts of my past. Sixteen years ago, I thought Chance wanted nothing to do with me or our unborn children. Turns out his mother lied, and he never even knew about our children. Now he’s back in our lives, all confidence and molten eyes, and my girls want to meet the father I stole from them. I’m terrified they’ll get hurt again, or worse, that I’ll fall for him. Chance: I spent years thinking I was cursed to be alone. Then Tash walked into my bakery, and everything inside me, especially my dragon, roared mine. I want my daughters to know me. I want Tash to trust me. But SkyArc’s been sniffing around, and something tells me this reunion’s about to turn dangerous.     AmazonKU

A COYOTE FOR CHRISTMAS by Geneva Vand

VS Note: MM PNR.

Blake wasn’t expecting to be wooed by someone playing Secret Santa twelve-days-of-Christmas style, but he certainly isn’t complaining. Presents are fun after all, especially when your Secret Santa seems to know all your favorites. Things get a little more mysterious when the gifts begin matching the oddly friendly coyote that’s started hanging out on his porch. Blake can’t help thinking fanciful thoughts, but shifters don’t actually exist…do they?

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THE GLASS UNICORN PART 4 (QUEST WARS) by Yasmine Galenorn

When Erenye Green, an editor at a small publisher, and several of her gaming friends find themselves stuck within the fantasy world of Abarria, they must learn to navigate the realities of what it really means to battle monsters, zombies, and all manner of creatures, now that the stakes are life and death, and no longer a simple roll of the dice. Part 4: Erenye and the others do their best to prepare for the coming winter, and Erenye bonds with an unusual friend. The party is called on to help a group of Wildings. Notes: This is a LitRPG serial.     Amazon

THE HUNTSMAN’S HEART (DARK FAIRYTALES BOOK ONE) by Ami Wright

A deliciously dark and spicy why-choose Snow White retelling – Wherever Princess Guinevere strays, the queen’s huntsman is at her heels, snapping like a dog. Alaric was forged into a monster long ago. A lich who tore out his own heart, he is bound to serve Guinevere’s hated step mother, the queen. When her evil step-mother ordered her killed, Princess Guinevere died at the hands of the lich huntsman. But he could not destroy her. Instead he tore out her heart and made her immortal like him. Now Guinevere is more powerful than any queen. White as snow—a deadly beauty. A wilful creature commanded only by her own desire. Snow White will not bow. Not to fate. Not to the Huntsman. Not stone guardians who rise from their perches to serve her. They will kneel to her instead. Her gargoyles will fight for her, burn for her… and in the shadows, they will surrender to her. When Alaric sees Guinevere transformed, he yearns to join them, but the princess will never forgive him for what he did. How could a monster like him find a place amongst the beautiful creatures who worship her? Raban, with his soft features and pretty smiles, Corvin with his sharp eyes and devious mind, and Évandre, the angel gargoyle carved like the essence of sin. If he had a heart, it would be hers. All Alaric can do is throw himself at her feet and beg. As Guinevere grows to love them all, she must find a way to defeat her step mother, reclaim her huntsman’s heart and set them all free.     AmazonKU

MIDNIGHTSONG by C W Rose

Mer-Queen Serapha has been murdered. The already fragile human-merfolk truce is shattered. And as Angie and Kaden find themselves on opposite sides of a rapidly escalating conflict, their loyalties to their families, their people, and each other will be tested. When news of the merfolk become widespread in Angie’s Pacific Northwest town, she fights to protect the mer from those who wish them harm. But as vicious seas consume coastal cities and tragedy strikes her town and her family, she’ll need to decide whether to save her family and her people, or her relationship with Kaden and the mer. In Mer-Prince Kaden’s queendom, an unlikely family member takes the throne, sowing dissent among the already fractured queendom and further straining their deteriorating relationship with humans. Branded a traitor for loving a human, he must make a choice between plunging the mer into all-out war, or fighting for the throne to unite his people, but leave Angie behind, as he can never take a human queen. A cataclysmic war between humans and mer looms, and if Angie and Kaden cannot find a way to bring peace between their people, they’ll find their truce shattered beyond repair, and the sea-crossed lovers will find themselves separated forever.

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WRONG NUMBER, RIGHT PANTHER (DIAL M FOR MATES BOOK EIGHT) by Coldie Dunbar

VS Note: MM PNR.

I’m far too old to be playing truth or dare anywhere, much less at a bonfire. Yet here I am, attempting to protect my little brother from himself, only to be the one in a hot-ass mess. I accept one little dare: send a pic of your beast to your ex. I try to get out of it, using the excuse that I deleted their sorry self from my phone. When a partygoer tells me they have the number, my plea is denied. And that’s how I end up sending a picture of my panther to my piece-of-garbage ex after drinking far too many beers. Fingers crossed, he blocked me long ago. The next morning I discovered I didn’t send it to my ex. Nope, it went to a total stranger, and the caption, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” has the person on the other end thinking I’m keeping wild animals illegally. I dug myself into this mess, and now I need to dig myself out of it, even if that means meeting the stranger before they report me to the Game Commission.      AmazonKU

REJECTED FORCED MATE (CRYSTAL CREEK WOLVES BOOK FIVE) by Layla Silver

The Alpha who rejected me now forces me to be his mate. I was an outcast Omega witch, and he bullied and rejected me so brutally that I broke. Now my new pack wants me to heal him because he walked in injured. But this time, he won’t let me go. This time, he forces me into marriage and knocks me up. My life is dull and uneventful, just as I prefer it. At least it won’t get me hurt again. He once knew my deepest secrets. Now, I try to keep him at a distance, but he won’t have it. When he gets the chance, he kidnaps me and takes me back to his pack. And there, I’m forced to be his mate.
He knows exactly which buttons to push, and it leaves me ashamed and wanting. Because my body has its own mind, obeying his commands completely. He possesses much more power than before, and he’s using it all on me. He says I’m his mate, that my pregnant belly belongs to him. He says he won’t give up until I see it too. Will the Alpha break me again?     AmazonKU

MIDLIFE IN HELL (CHOSEN BY 40 BOOK ONE) by KB Trepagnier

You know those YA books we still love where some plucky teenager finds out they are the chosen one with magical powers and has to save a realm? Someone fucked up. Someone fucked up badly. My second husband just left me for his TA and I just had a hot flash so bad, the roof of my house blew off. I honestly thought it was just spontaneous human combustion, but then three demons appeared in my bathroom and they apparently don’t like it when you squirt shampoo in their eyes because you can’t reach the towel. So, yes, it was a hot flash, but it was also demon puberty because my dad is Lucifer. That explains why Mom never talked about him. Apparently, I’m not the antichrist, but I am heir to the throne of Hell. Lucifer is missing and Hell needs a Morningstar or it malfunctions. All those reports about a dangerous new street drug were actually souls escaping Hell and plonking themselves in the freshest dead body they could find. Someone should have told me there were zombies. So, yeah, me and my hot flashes have to go to a realm known for being a fiery inferno to stop the zombies from invading Earth and probably locate the devil because I have no idea what I’m doing.   AmazonKU

BRANDED BY SHADOW: A HOUSE HADES OMEGAVERSE ROMANCE(OLYMPIAN ALPHAS BOOKONE) by Eva Brandt

I thought I was free, free to choose who I gave my heat to, to disappear into science and stay untouched. But that was before Damon Blackwood, House Hades Alpha, stole me. He walks through shadows. Commands silence. And claims Omegas the old way, through dominance, isolation, and no chance of refusal. He says divine blood runs in my veins. That I belong to him. In his underground estate, luxury becomes a cage, and my body betrays me. Primal heat claws through me. Vines bloom beneath my skin. No science, no logic, no plan can stop what’s waking inside me. House Demeter’s power. The gift of Persephone herself. But House Zeus is circling, armed with lightning, lies, and a hunger for my power. They’ll destroy Damon to get to me. And I can’t decide what terrifies me more: losing my freedom… or losing him.     AmazonKU

BEARED AT CHRISTMAS (DOUBLE BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Jessica Subject

VS Note: MM PNR.

Brody refuses to go home for the holidays…Being gay and part of a religious family has led to many awkward moments and hurtful words flying in his direction. Especially over the holidays. Usually Brody stays home, claiming he’s troubleshooting the code for a game the company he works for is getting ready to release in the new year. But this Christmas, he booked a stay at the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge where he plans to enjoy the winter activities he once loved as a child, and to sleep snuggled up in front of a fireplace. Ulrik is grateful for his early Christmas present…
After losing his mate to cancer over a year ago, Ulrik wasn’t looking forward to the inevitable question from his parents, “When are you going to find another mate to give us grand babies?” But his sister gives him an early present—a stay at the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge and the news of her pregnancy. She will take the attention of their parents while he enjoys some time in the wintry wilds where he can let his polar bear run free. But Fate’s plans interrupt their solo vacations… An error by the booking clerk lands the human and the shifter in the same cabin with only one bed. All the other cabins are booked and neither of them wants to go back home. Can Brody and Ulrik share the space without ruining each other’s holidays? Or will a little Christmas magic make them realize they’re fated to be together?    AmazonKU         Author’s Universal Buy Link

YOU OTTER KNOW (DOUBLE BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Minerva Howe

Vs Note: MM PNR.

Giant otter shifter River Almeida just wants to get away for the holidays and not deal with his mom nagging him about getting married and have kids. So when he books the holiday at a remote lodge, he intends to swim in the icy stream, eat tons of fish, and sleep. Bodie Depford also books at the lodge, knowing it will be okay if he’s spending Christmas with a bunch of humans. He’s a shifter who can’t shift, so he might as well be one of them, right? They both arrived to find that the lodge has double booked them, and then they can’t find anyone to make it right. Good thing they have some serious chemistry, but what happens when the holiday season is over?      AmazonKU

EAGER BEAVER (DOUBLE BOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Trisha Linde

VS Note: MM PNR.

Canadian alpha beaver shifter Guy sees himself as an entrepreneur, slowly growing his one-man maple syrup company to compete on an international market, but this unfortunately has meant making sacrifices when it comes to his personal life. He definitely should’ve taken the time to date, but there simply hasn’t been anyone in his lodge to interest his beast. But when he travels south of the border for a condiment convention (So close to Christmas? Whose idea was that?), he finds himself accidentally double-booked in a tiny cabin with an omega who smells suspiciously like his mate… Suddenly, his business is no longer his top priority. For American human omega Fable, the holidays have always been a source of judgment. His parents, his happily married siblings, all asking him when he’s going to hurry up and settle down. But this year, it’s so much worse, because it also happens to coincide with his ten-year high school reunion (So close to Christmas? Whose idea was that?). He simply can’t bring himself to look his peers in the eye and admit that the man voted most likely to take over the world has simply… fizzled out. It’s a good thing the cabin he booked comes with an unexpected ally. And if there just so happens to be only one bed, then he’s willing to pay the price gladly.      AmazonKU

HOLLOW (CROWN OF HEARTS AND CHAOS BOOK ONE) by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Don’t listen to the whispers of the woods. Don’t trust the man cloaked in shadow. Don’t earn the wrath of the scattered spirits. Don’t go out after dark. The Great Hunt begins once every fifty years and only the Champions willing to face death to shatter the curse dare to enter. The Champions…and me. I’m no warrior, no swordsmith, and certainly no Fae, but the forest is my only hope. To enter those trees is to walk willingly to my demise. But I need the boon the forest will grant the winner and I’m willing to risk it all for a chance at claiming it. I just never expected to face him beneath those trees. The beast who strikes fear into the desperate people of all lands. The monster who commands the legion of Hollows and makes our plight a thousand times worse. The Hollows are empty of all things but none are so heartless as him. Prince Bane intends to be the death of me. But I have an oath to fulfil before I’ll let him have me. And I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it. I am Ferris Creed and I’m going to unite the lost spirits who once bound the wandering trees in place, return the scattered amulets to the core of its corruption, and use the winner’s boon to change my fate. Come wretchedness or torment, through trickery and deception, I will get what I came here for. And no one will stand in my way. Not even Prince Bane.      AmazonKU      AB

THE SKY OF SACRIFICE by Rosalia Aguilar Solace

When secrets arise, friendships will be tested. As the Great Library of Tomorrow prepares for a momentous celebration, Nu embraces both newfound love and her role as the Sage of Truth. However, if fresh nightmares prove to be the harbingers of Suttaru’s malevolent forces, romance must take a back seat to her responsibilities. When a savage act sends shock waves through the Great Library, the return of an old friend brings to light a hidden relic from the Book of Wisdom’s past. To stop the enemy, the Sages must pursue multiple paths. For Nu and Robin, this means traveling the realms in search of a mysterious figure from long ago. Meanwhile, Veer and his companions brave a realm of darkness and despair, where even the strongest can become undone.

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EMBER ETERNAL (SOULS BURN BRIGHTEST BOOK ONE) by Chloe Neill

Fox is a thief with morals—she steals from those who can afford it and takes only a little at that. But she has no choice. Fox and her closest companion are indentured servants to an unscrupulous wealthy woman in the stronghold. Unable to pay off their debts with the work they’re given, they steal in the hopes of one day being free—truly free. While searching for an easy mark, Fox identifies a would-be assassin with her rare magical ability, and then helps a royal bodyguard fend off his vicious attack on the prince. Soon that good deed embroils her in a vast and shimmering world of imperial politics, long-lost magic, and improbable romance. But Fox longs for freedom, and must decide if love is its own kind of cage.

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FROSTED ANTLERS: MM MPREG HOLIDAY SHIFTER ROMANCE by Aria Grace

Tyler just wants to make it home in time for Christmas Eve cartoons, but a sudden whiteout leaves him stranded on a desolate stretch of road. His car is dead, his phone has no signal, and the snow is falling faster than he can think. Alone in the storm and completely unprepared for this kind of emergency, Tyler’s night looks hopeless—until a stranger appears through the flurries. Spike knows better than to ignore his instincts. As a reindeer shifter, his senses are sharp, but nothing could prepare him for the fierce protective pull he feels when he finds the shivering omega in the crashed car. A simple snow rescue turns into another kind of entanglement when he brings Tyler back to his cabin to ride out the storm. Snowbound together for the holiday, warmth gives way to heat, and a spark flares into something neither can deny. For Spike, it’s fate. For Tyler, it’s the Christmas miracle he’s been wishing for.      AmazonKU

QUEEN OF THE DEAD by Sarah Broadway

Speaking with the dead is nothing new for Lou. It’s a curse she’s learned to hide from everyone – sometimes even herself. After running away from a past that took advantage of those abilities, Lou finally carves out a normal life for herself. That is, until she receives a mysterious message from a ghost – the Veil is thinning – and a cult of necromancers infiltrates her small town. In a race to discover and defeat her foe, Lou learns she’s not alone in the fight. She grudgingly leans on her allies but wonders who to trust. What’s more impossible is suddenly finding herself the romantic interest of a man who somehow isn’t afraid of all the dark, creepy things about her… but even he has secrets for her to discover. Time is running out, and reality seems to be slipping away. To save her new life and the people she loves, Lou must learn to accept who she is and embrace her true abilities, no matter where they might take her.

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ROAR ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT by Milly Taiden

I was sent to destroy him. Instead, I got marked by a growling, shirtless warlord who doesn’t understand the phrase “cease and desist.” Malek Thorne walks like a king, talks like he invented sin, and claims I’m his fated mate. Which is hilarious, because I’m a federal prosecutor. I don’t do fate. I do indictments.But then I stumble into a hidden war between shifter empires and burned-out covens, and suddenly the evidence isn’t just classified — it’s supernatural. And so is my blood. Now he’s dragging me across Europe like I’m his emotional support human, whispering about prophecies, protecting me like I break, and growling every time someone so much as breathes near me. Which would be annoying… if it didn’t make my thighs clench. He’s dangerous, unhinged, and possessive enough to burn down cities. And I think I’m in love with him. I tried to take him to court. He took me to bed instead.      AmazonKU

THE KING MUST DIE by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Fen’s world is crumbling. Newearth, a once-promising planet gifted by the all-powerful alien Makers, now suffers from failed terraforming, leaving its people on the brink of collapse. Fen has spent her life working as a mercenary bodyguard for a cunning magistrate, entangled in the politics of the empire that shattered her family. But then her fathers—her last remaining tether to hope—are executed by the ruthless Sovereign, who marks Fen for the same fate. With nothing left to lose, Fen escapes with a single map and an old quarterstaff, embarking on a dangerous quest to seek out the last remnants of her parents’ rebellion. But the underground insurgents she finds may be even more dangerous than the Sovereign’s army. At the center of it all stands Alekhai, the Sovereign’s heir—a brutal, power-hungry force of destruction. Though he embodies everything Fen despises, his dangerous plans might be the empire’s last chance at survival…or the final push to its doom.

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GIFT WRAPPED IN TENTACLES (TINSEL AND TENTACLES 3.0) by Hope Bennett

VS Note: MM PNR.

Declan’s lost his footing – Disabled after a terrible accident, I move back in with my parents in their small town. The worst part is not losing my job or my flat or my independence, it’s leaving my best friend, Sonny. He had to stay in the city. I can’t expect him to give up his life, too. And found support – As I spend my days recovering, my new physiotherapist, Erik, helps me reconnect with my body. Under his guidance, I’m learning how to walk on my new prosthetic. And he’s encouraging me to take the scariest step of all: telling Sonny how I feel about him. Reaching for love – When Sonny visits me for the Christmas holidays, I have a plan. I’m going to take Sonny on a romantic date. Only, I accidentally take Erik on that date first. Now I don’t know what to do. I have to choose quickly. Sonny and Erik are about to meet. Except… there’s more to Erik than meets the eye. Eight dexterous tentacles more, to be precise. Could he have room in his heart – and his arms – to hold both of us close?       AmazonKU

THE WAR BEYOND (THE HOLLOW COVENANT BOOK TWO) by Andrea Stewart

Hakara risked her life to find her long-lost sister Rasha, only to lose her all over again. Now she and her Unanointed rebels hunt for the shapeshifter Lithuas, knowing that defeating her would strike a blow to the plans of the tyrant god Kluehnn.  Rasha once longed to be reunited with Hakara. No longer. Now she is a Godkiller and proud to serve Kluehnn’s divine will. Yet she also harbours doubts about Kluehnn’s teachings. When she is sent to destroy Hakara and her allies, Rasha will have to decide where her loyalty truly lies. As the two sisters hurtle towards a bloody reunion, Sheuan continues her shadowy games of intrigue to uncover the secret that killed her father, while her cousin Mullayne seeks the tomb of Tolemne. There, Mull believes he’ll find the answers he desires.      Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

SPIRIT RITES (SPIRIT KINGDOM BOOK TWO) by A J Manney

Kinsley barely made it through the Spirit Trials. She didn’t even finish them properly, and yet, her spirit animal revealed itself—late, unexpected, and impossible. Because her jaguar isn’t ordinary. It’s a corporeal jaguar—soul-bound to the King of the Jaguar Kingdom. And his jag just claimed hers as its mate. Now the enigmatic king has come to claim her. Thrown into a world of shadows and ceremony, Kinsley must endure the ancient rites that will prove she’s worthy to stand at his side. She never asked for this path, but she refuses to bend or break. She’ll prove to the Jaguar Kingdom she has what it takes to be their queen. But beneath the gilded rituals and whispered oaths, something is stirring in the jaguar court. Secrets coil in the dark, waiting to strike. And when the truth finally comes to light, Kinsley will learn just how dangerous it is to be bound to the King of Jaguars… and just how far he’ll go to protect what’s his.      AmazonKU

EMBERS AND SPARKS  by Amy Allen

VS Note: FF Fantasy.

Penny Hartwell’s dreams of being a celebrated artist have been reduced to sketching between shifts at a Boston gas station. Rent is overdue, inspiration has dried up, and her once-bright future feels like it’s slipping further out of reach. Anthea Corey has spent centuries guiding artists to greatness, but after too many betrayals she vanished from the world. Now, reluctantly back from a decade-long retreat, this weary muse is determined to keep things simple—and her heart well-guarded. Neither expects to collide in the hushed halls of the Boston Public Library on a bitter winter’s day. But when Penny and Anthea meet, something stirs—something neither talent nor time can deny. For Penny, it’s the return of inspiration. For Anthea, it’s the dangerous pull of hope. And for both, it could be the beginning of something that blurs the line between art and love.

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MAGICAL MISCONDUCT (MERLIN MYSTERIES BOOK THREE) by Kim Richardson

Being an Arcane witch should come with a rulebook. Or at least hazard pay. My magic is changing, again, and not in the fun, “look what I can do now” way. More like the “hope you enjoy staring into the void” kind of way. The Morven curse is awake under my skin, whispering, waiting, and I’m doing my best not to unravel in public. Then a boy drops into a magical coma at the Carnival of Masks, and everything goes to hell. The magic clinging to him isn’t witch, fae, demon, or anything else I’ve ever seen. It’s something older. Wrong. Hungry. To find whoever, or whatever, did this, I’ll have to chase shadows through Gallows Gate, play nice with people I don’t trust, and deal with the very inconvenient fact that a certain dragonborne warrior keeps getting under my skin. And through it all, the curse inside me is shifting. Growing. If I can’t figure out how to control it…It will control me. No pressure. Just another day on the job.      AmazonKU

FIGHTING FATE (WILDHEART PACK BOOK TWO) by Darcy Rose

When your sworn enemy turns out to be your fated mate. Finding your fated mate is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Mine turned into a nightmare. I knew I was in trouble when the mating bond pulled me into bear territory. I didn’t know how screwed I really was until I’m surrounded by bear shifters ready to break my neck. There is only one person standing in the way of my imminent death. Kyran Sinclair, leader of the same bear clan that killed my father. My mate.    AmazonKU

MATE OF THE MOUNTAIN (SHIFTERS OF REDWOOD RISE BOOK FOUR) by Delta James

Lost to the wild. Found by fate.Six months ago, I vanished into the mountains and never came back. Everyone thought I was dead. But I survived, in a shadow realm where time twists and monsters whisper my name. I returned scarred, half-feral, and carrying something dark that followed me home. Now it hunts through the ley lines, and I’m the only one who can stop it… even if it means going back and never returning. Then Maren Rivers finds me. A wilderness photographer and nature documentary researcher, with fire in her eyes and a scent that wakes the man I thought I’d lost. My bear knows her, my mate, but the bond between us burns and breaks, as if the shadows want to claim us both. She believes we’re stronger together. I believe I’m too broken to keep her safe.
But when the Hollow rises again, the only thing more dangerous than losing her… is letting her go.   AmazonKU

PANTHER IN THE SHADOWS (TIDES OF FATE BOOK TWO) by Delta James

I’ve lived my whole life hiding what I am. Stormhaven hides its secrets in the mist, and I’ve learned not to go looking for them. But when people start disappearing and every whisper leads back to Rafael Vega, I can’t look away. He’s the man who rules the docks with quiet ruthlessness; a panther shifter whose very name keeps the peace through fear. Everyone says he’s dangerous. I believe them.
What scares me more is how drawn I am to him. I tell myself I’m just searching for the truth, but every step pulls me deeper into his shadows. Beneath the danger, I see something else, a wounded protector, hunted by enemies who want him dead. Now the storm is rising, and I’m caught between the world I know and the man I can’t resist. If I stay, I risk my life. If I leave, I lose the only man who ever made me feel truly seen.     AmazonKU

HAUNTING SECRETS (EAST HOUSE MYSTERIES BOOK FOUR) by Rachel Ford

VS Note: LGBTQ Mystery.

Doris Mayweather is a little old lady with a mean streak a mile wide, and very large secrets. The kind of secrets that get people killed. Those secrets are about to turn Marshmeadow upside down. And as the latest addition to Doris’s ever-growing list of enemies, Tennessee Evans finds herself at the center of the storm. Suspected by the police, hunted by a killer, she is desperate to find answers before she winds up a casualty of a vendetta gone wrong. Luckily for her, the good citizens of Marshmeadow and a few friendly (and unfriendly) ghosts are on the case.      AmazonKU

SAVED BY THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN (MONSTROUS HOLIDAY BOOK THREE) by Charlotte Swan

Lady Scarlett Crest won’t marry the earl her father has selected for her. While the young man is wealthy and well-connected, Scarlett’s heart belongs to another. The only man she has ever loved—the stable boy her new fiancé callously murdered deep in the Whispering Woods. If her father expects her to make it down the aisle and into her wedding bed beside her lover’s killer, he has another thing coming. They all do. Before she can get her revenge, Scarlett’s wedding day is interrupted by a most unusual guest. The Headless Horseman of Broken Cliff barely remembers himself. Driven only by the determination to find and kill the ones who cursed him, he has no time for a prisoner. Yet, Scarlett is different than the others he seeks to destroy. Her betrayal cut him the deepest, and now she will pay for it—with her life. Captured by a creature that she once believed to be only an old wives’ tale, Scarlett quickly realizes not everything is what it seems. As memories of the past replay with shocking clarity, she learns just how much of her family’s legacy is paved with blood. Once the true identity of the Headless Horseman is revealed, she is torn between hope and despair. Can she rebuild their trust and take down those responsible for cutting their future short? Or will those who sought to separate them forever prevail? Can two hearts that used to beat as one survive death and be rejoined before it’s too late?       AmazonKU

GUARDED BY THE INCUBUS by Lara Reagan

Some spells are meant to be broken. Some bonds are meant to last forever. Nevaeh’s carefully organized life is about to get gloriously complicated. As an introvert who color-codes her calendar and alphabetizes her spice rack, the most excitement she’s had in months is taking her rescue dog on daily walks. So when she accidentally recites an ancient summoning spell over wine and candlelight, she’s completely unprepared for the devastatingly gorgeous incubus who materializes in her living room. Cursed for millennia, Jhoral is bound to serve whoever summons him for a week. But Nevaeh is different from the others. She sees him as a person, not a tool. She’s determined to break his curse and set him free, even if it means he’ll disappear from her life forever. With only seven days until Halloween, the night when the veil is thinnest and Jhoral will be forced to vanish back to his realm, Nevaeh races to find the components that might break the curse. Does Jhoral dare to hope this time will be different, or will his heart and body be bottled once more?        AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH THE ORC (MONSTERS AND MISTLETOE) by Jilli Waters

All I wanted for Christmas was cocoa. Instead, I got kidnapped by an orc Santa. Visiting my sister for the winter holidays should be a joyous time. But all the tinsel, gingerbread, and mistletoe gives me a headache. Sitting out the festivities of the town’s Winter Solstice Festival leads me to take a cat nap in the truck. Next thing I know, a growling orc–in a Santa hat!–is driving this truck through a blizzard! Now we’re trapped at his place. Which wouldn’t be so bad, if only his gaze didn’t make me melt like Frosty. Too bad there’s only one bed, and the temperature keeps dropping.    AmazonKU

AS MANY SOULS AS STARS by Natasha Siegel

VS note: FF Fantasy.

1592. Cybil Harding is a First Daughter. Cursed to bring disaster to those around her, she is trapped in a house with a mother paralyzed by grief and a father willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of magic. Miriam Richter is a creature of shadow. Forged by the dark arts many years ago, she is doomed to exist for eternity and destined to be alone—killing mortals and consuming their souls for sustenance. Everything changes when she meets Cybil, whose soul shines with a light so bright, she must claim it for herself. She offers a bargain: she will grant Cybil reincarnation in exchange for her soul. Thus begins a dance across centuries as Miriam seeks Cybil in every lifetime to claim her prize. Cybil isn’t inclined to play by the rules, but when it becomes clear that Miriam holds the key to breaking her family curse, Cybil finds that—for the first time in her many lives—she might have the upper hand. As they circle each other, drawn together inescapably as light and dark, the bond forged between them grows stronger. In their battle for dominance, only one of them can win—but perhaps they can’t survive without each other.       Amazon     AB     Apple Books      Kobo

KINGDOM OF SILK: KINGDOM SHIFTER SERIES BOOK FOUR by Quinn Loftis

When the threads of truth unravel, love may be the only thing left to hold on to. Maddie Newsom never asked to become a shaman—the sacred protector of the Damarian race—but destiny chose her anyway. As the first human ever granted the title, she’s still learning what her powers mean. Her only guide is Roan, a brooding, battle-scarred warrior from the Kingdom of Claws who guards his secrets as fiercely as his heart. When Maddie and Roan are abducted in the Kingdom of Silk, they awaken cocooned in darkness, prisoners to an unseen enemy. As their dangerous bond flares into something wild and powerful, a conspiracy threatens to ignite war across all the kingdoms. Allies and enemies alike race to uncover the truth behind the silken lies that bind them. Loyalties will be tested. Kingdoms will fall. And as Maddie’s magic calls out across the realms, it may either save their world… or unravel it completely. In the Kingdom of Silk, love and lies are spun from the same thread—and only one will survive the unraveling.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE WRONG MATE (PINE RIDGE PACK BOOK THREE) by Shonna Preston

Troy, Brooke, and Eric have all been the best of friends since they were pups. When they were sixteen, Eric and Brooke began a relationship that ten years later is stronger than ever. However, one night, Brooke finally gets her mating bond, and it’s not to the male she’s loved for a decade, but rather, Troy. Eric urges the two of them to explore their fated bond, as his might come in soon, too. When a misinterpreted action leads Troy to claim Brooke officially, she’s tied to him forever. Six months later, miserable with how things have turned out, Troy proposes that he and Eric share Brooke. The arrangement: she’s with Troy enough to keep him from going into rut and hurting her during her times in heat, and then the rest of the time she and Eric can be together, like they had been before the bond happened. Will Troy, having been in love with Brooke for most of their lives, be able to take his mate being with another? What happens if Eric mate bonds with someone else? Once Brooke has let go of the anger and resentment over Troy claiming her, will it give room for feelings to grow, or will it be too late?       AmazonKU

TOO BIG FOR CHRISTMAS by Zora Black

He buys the land under my grandma’s lodge. Then shows up with a clipboard, tusks, and a body that could wreck a cabin. He says it’s “just business.” I say go bulldoze someone else’s heritage—and maybe stop staring at my mouth when we argue. Now we’re snowed in, there’s only one bed, and I’ve seen enough of his orc-sized… ego… to know one thing: He’s too big for this lodge. Too big for my peace. And way, way too big for Christmas. But tell that to my traitor body. Or the moan I definitely didn’t make last night. Oops.      AmazonKU

SUNSHINE: UNLOCKED MATES BOOK 11 by Athena Steller

VS Note: MM PNR.

Hudson – Moving back to his town of birth, Hudson Moore couldn’t be happier. He has an amazing job with the fire department, the house he shares with his brother is the perfect fixer upper, and he already has a new best friend. Everything is perfectly in place. Hudson knows that this is where he is supposed to be. He can feel with all his heart that he has found his forever home. Finding a cat in a tree that obviously needs rescue, Hudson knows it is just his civic duty to lend the furry feline a hand. Hudson has no idea how that first interaction will change his entire world. Bastian – Answering the call from his old team leader with the paranormal council, Bastian gives up traveling the country on his bike and rushes to Leo’s side. The discovery of Leo’s missing brother brings him into contact with a family made up of powerful paranormals and humans. Even Lucifer pops in for a visit whenever it suits the king of hell. Leo and Aaron want to stay and hope to convince Bas to join them in contuining the mission they started with the paranormal community. Bastian is hesitant until he’s woken from his daily nap in the park tree by the most amazing sunshine of a man that he’s ever met. Known as the resident grump, Bastian is going to have to figure out how to bring his sweet human mate into his world while protecting Hudson from dangers that none of them were aware lurked close to the family.   AmazonKU

A SPIRIT FOR ELI (LOVE IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS BOOK SEVEN) by

Zoe Blackthorne never imagined a lightning storm would drop her more than a century into the past, and into a town convinced she’s some sort of wandering spirit. Back home in present-day New York, she blended into the background, but in 1901 Montana, she can’t take two steps without drawing curious stares. With no phone, no internet, and no idea how to get home, Zoe sets out to figure out why she’s here… and why she suddenly doesn’t feel quite so invisible. Blacksmith Eli Grayson has spent the past year rebuilding his shop and his reputation after a tragic fire put the town’s gossip mill into overdrive. The last thing he expects is a sharp-tongued, strangely dressed woman appearing in a cemetery and turning his quiet routine upside down. But Zoe’s humor, honesty, and undeniable charm begin to melt through the walls he’s kept up… much to his own surprise. When Zoe and Eli cross paths, neither is sure what to make of the strange circumstances, or of each other. But as they navigate small-town superstition, an undeniable spark, and a dangerous foe, they discover that sometimes the right person arrives at the most unexpected time. And as Halloween approaches, Zoe must decide whether she’s ready to stop running from her life… and start building one where she truly belongs.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MADNESS BECOMES HER by K M Mixon

Finlo Pennington, or Hatter, was a curious blend of happiness and madness, contentedly navigating the whimsical chaos of Wonder Territory. That was until the day she appeared. With an unexpected tumble through a mysterious hole in the earth, Eleanor plunged into an astonishing new reality—an enchanting world where animals could speak and every inhabitant exhibited their own delightful eccentricities. In this peculiar land, tea time was a sacred tradition, clothes were optional, and everyone was a tad off-center. To find her way back home, Eleanor must forge a deal with the enigmatic Hatter. But as she delves deeper into his unpredictable realm, she begins to question just how sane he truly is and just how much madder she’s become. This is an Alice in Wonderland, spicy reimagining        AmazonKU

MASQUERADE (DRAGONFLY CHRONICLES BOOK THREE) by Eleri Drake

Orphanage director by day, jewel thief by night. Using her magic to rob from the rich to keep the orphanage running seems like the perfect solution until Kat steals from the wrong man, a man who sees through her magic, a man who can see the scars she hides from the world. Toren MacCallum is cursed. An old witch tore him from his sixteenth-century world and threw him into the twenty-first century. But he’s found an ancient dragonfly necklace to bait and bargain with the witch to return him to his time. For he must find a way home to save his sister and his clan from disappearing off the pages of history. When a mysterious woman steals the necklace in front of a hundred witnesses, the witch, followed by a storm of demons, sends Kat and him to Elizabethan England. Toren agrees to return the necklace, but he won’t give up the greater prize, the thief who’s stolen his heart.       Amazon      Apple Books      Kobo

THE LOST ART OF LIFE MAGIC: COZY MM FANTASY ROMANCE (THE LOST ARTS BOOK FOUR) by Ellie Ash

Two interwoven romances conclude the series! Trill’s already doing something risky—and then he meets two Mage Warriors who could be everything to him… if they don’t kill him when they find out what he is. Trill knows that it isn’t wise to approach any Mage Warriors, but he really wants the chance to at least see Cormal, the uncle he’s never met. Before he can get that far, he runs into a wounded Mage Warrior and his partner who want to take him home, and Trill is more than happy to go. The sex is fantastic, and the opportunity to secretly heal the broken man is one that Trill can’t pass up. It’s not long before it begins to feel like this could become something more—but how could they work when he’s something they’ve been taught to revile? Can Cormal acknowledge past mistakes and see what’s right in front of him? Cormal is now stuck with the job of Summus—a job that everyone assumes he manipulated those around him to attain. His fiery temper is worse than ever, and he feels isolated and alone when all he’s tried to do is protect everyone. With the help of someone close to him, Cormal might be ready to acknowledge another perspective and rectify some past mistakes. New possibilities are there for both of them—but there are risks involved. Are they ready to strive for a future together, or might the costs be too great? The Lost Art of Life Magic is a cozy MM and MMM fantasy romance with plenty of steam. In alternating POV, it features both a couple and a triad finding their HEAs. It concludes the Lost Arts series. It is best read in order.     AmazonKU

KNOTTED BY THE BEAST  (KNOTTY FAIRYTALES) by Siena Stone

We all know the story: Belle’s father steals from a monstrous beast, and she offers herself up in payment. But what happens when she’s a curvy omega with a mouthwatering scent and he’s the massive alpha Beast who makes her heat spark at first sight? The moment Belle steps into his cursed castle, everything changes. Her scent wakes something feral inside The Beast, turning him into a starving monster, desperate to rut. But Belle’s not his prisoner. She’s his mate. And once he gets a taste of her lush curves and sweet slick, Beast won’t stop until she’s knotted, marked, and bred.Belle knows she should run, but her body burns for her massive monster, and her heart recognizes he’s her mate. Tag along for a fun, unapologetically OTT, filthy hot, completely unhinged Beauty & the Beast retelling.   AmazonKU 

ZERO SPARK (DISCORDIA UNIVERSITY BOOK THREE) by Cassandra Featherstone

Balancing a fake identity, a deadly tournament, and a secret rebellion? No sweat. Juggling my new relationship with Salem while my feelings for the rest of my demon hybrids spiral out of control? That’s where the real danger is. After our trip to the surface, we have to pretend we don’t know the Games are a scam to cover up a secret rebellion. The headmaster’s neck deep in the coup, Hell’s royalty are playing their own cutthroat game, and my magic—unpredictable as ever—is still a wild card. Worst of all? My secret—that I’m not actually a guy—is a ticking time bomb. I have to tell them the truth—about who I am, about what I feel—before it’s too late. But if I say the wrong thing, I could lose them forever. If I lose them, the Games will eat us alive. With a death match competition looming, the pressure to get control of my powers has never been higher and if I can’t? My spark will die before it ever has the chance to set Hell on fire.      AmazonKU

BROKEN VEIL (SHADOWLANDS BOOK THREE) by Elizabeth Hunter

She’s a daughter of two worlds. And those worlds are ready to collide. Carys Morgan is a mythology professor who walked through a fae portal and into a shadow world where myths and magic are reality. She has danced with dragons, bargained with fae, and fallen for a Scottish blacksmith with the heart of a knight. But now both the Shadowlands and the Brightlands are in danger because Carys unleashed an ancient power, and the old gods are looking to Carys for a solution. A goddess of war is loose in the modern world, and the fate of both realms depends on Carys correcting her mistake. To return the Morrígan to the Shadowlands and stop the worlds from colliding, she’ll need the help of old gods, new gods, and every ally—living or dead—she’s made along the way.      AmazonKU

MY DEMON NEIGHBOR: MM PNR  (DEMON DEBACLES BOOK FOUR) by Stella Rainbow

Demons made great neighbors. I’d know, I had one…Pythor might’ve started off teaching me how to defend myself, but he soon became my friend, and the only man I felt safe around. The more time we spent together, the less I feared leaving the home I’d spent the last few months hiding in, especially when I knew he was just across the street. With him and a sweet demonhound named Hella watching over me, I felt safe for the first time in almost a year. Finding out he was my mate threw me for a loop, but it couldn’t stop me from wanting him in my life. And when the past came calling back, I knew my demon would protect me.      AmazonKU

SPELLS AND SPECTERS (A SPELLBOUND BOOKSHOP MYSTERY BOOK NINE) by J A Whiting

When a mysterious woman opens “Moonlight Magic” on Hamlet’s Main Street just in time for Halloween, bookshop owner Shelby Price’s intuition signals something isn’t quite right about the newcomer’s theatrical spells and dramatic promises. As autumn leaves fall and the seaside town of Hamlet, Massachusetts prepares for Halloween festivities, Shelby meets Martin Grey, a paranormal photographer who has arrived to document the town’s ghostly energies. But when someone is found dead in the new shop, Shelby’s paranormal abilities tell her this was no magical accident. With her telepathic cat Harper sensing the killer is human, Shelby joins Detective Travis Whitely to unravel a carefully plotted murder. The investigation reveals a shocking true identity. As Halloween approaches, Shelby must navigate a web of deception where nothing is as it appears. With red herrings at every turn and a killer growing desperate, can Shelby’s intuitive gifts, Harper’s supernatural insights, Travis’ detective skills, and Martin’s specialized photography reveal the truth before the murderer strikes again?        AmazonKU

QUEENS (BOOK FIVE OF THE FEMALE SERIES) by Invi Wright

Cassia has spent years plotting her revenge. The Queen of Greed attacked her family, and Cassia swore she’d be the one to deliver the queen’s severed head to the people of Wrath. Every step, every breath, has led to this moment. But when she finally makes her move… someone else lands the killing blow. Rexton has been undercover in Greed for over twenty years, waiting patiently for the opportunity to bring down their queen. He doesn’t know Cassia, and he certainly doesn’t know of her plans. When the moment to kill the queen finally presents itself, he doesn’t hesitate to strike. He has no way of knowing he’s just stolen the Crown Princess of Wrath’s vengeance—or her glory. Now Cassia has a new target. Rexton.      AmazonKU      AB

REAPERS AND READING (A LIBRARY WITCH MYSTERY BOOK 16) by Elle Adams

Rory and her magical family are deep in preparing for the holiday celebrations, but the local Grim Reaper throws a spanner—or scythe—in the works when the town of Ivory Beach is chosen to host the Reapers’ annual summit. Not only is the town swarming with angels of death instead of Santa’s elves, but the situation gets even less cheery when a Reaper apprentice is found to have been murdered.
Now Rory and Xavier must unmask a killer among a group of people who reap the souls of the dead for a living – not to mention capture someone without a physical body to put behind bars. As the threat of the Reaper Council hangs over the town like a scythe, they have no choice but to race against the clock to unveil the culprit before the year’s end. And if the head Reapers *do* show up in town, will their relationship survive the fallout?       AmazonKU

GUARDED BY HIS ALPHA WOLF: MM MPREG ROMANCE (BABIES FOR BROKEN DADS BOOK FOUR) by Anna Wineheart

The most unlikely match: Wolf alpha & Rabbit omega – As a rabbit shifter, Killian has two superpowers: 1) his sharp hearing, and 2) his stamina. Not that it’s any use outside of the bedroom.
Especially when his secret past catches up to him: On his way home from an ice cream run, snipers try to take him down. For his baby girl’s sake, Killian has to flee. Crush longs for a family of his own. His friends have been finding mates, leaving his inner wolf howling with envy. One day, he bumps into a terrified man begging him for help. The man smells like prey. The man smells like everything Crush has ever wanted. The moment Crush has Killian in his arms, all his instincts scream one thing: Protect.      AmazonKU

RED DRAGON (FIRE AND FANG BOOK TWO) by Lindsay Buroker

Scarcely two weeks have passed since Princess Syla bested Captain Vorik and returned home with a magical sky shielder to protect her kingdom. Is the powerful dragon rider holding a grudge? Will his people come after her and try to steal or destroy the shielder? Syla may find out sooner than expected when Vorik shows up in her harbor with his general and chiefs. They claim to be on a diplomatic mission, but she suspects they have treachery in mind. As much as she would like to trust the handsome and charismatic Captain Vorik, especially when he smiles at her instead of scowling, she has to be wary. Her feelings for him might make him her most dangerous enemy.    AmazonKU

DAWN OF CHAOS AND FURY (THE LEGACY BOOK FOUR) by Melissa K Roehrich

A Destiny to Defy – Tessalyn Ausra has been betrayed at every turn, but she’s also dealt betrayals of her own. With the consequences of her choices hanging over her, she’s done letting others define her purpose, but choosing that path could prove costly. Theon has sent her away, and Luka is wrestling with his own destiny, unsure if that still includes her. The rest of Tessa’s companions are wary now that everyone has tasted her vengeance and experienced her chaos. Maybe they should be. Maybe balance has always been an illusion. And maybe she stands at the same crossroads she has been at from the very beginning: salvation or destruction? A Fate to Outrun – Theon St. Orcas is no stranger to sacrifice. He has spent his entire life ensuring the ones he loves are safe. Preparing to face the Fates and the destruction of their realm, he only wants to spend the time he has left with the family that remains in Devram. But as he prepares to find his brother, more than one secret comes to light that has him questioning everything. Were the sacrifices all for nothing in the end? A Future to Change –  Just when he thought he was adjusting to his new life in the Underground, Axel St. Orcas finds himself thrust into a battle with the dark and depraved. With Kat at his side, they set about building alliances with the other Districts. But everywhere he looks, there’s sabotage, not to mention the kingdoms fracturing beyond the Underground. He refuses to bend a knee to injustice, but can he really change the future for those who have been wronged? Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?       AmazonKU      AB

WALKING IN DARKNESS by A L Jackson

I was born to hunt the evils hiding in this world. To slay and destroy. My purpose was never supposed to be her. My forbidden soulmate. Protecting her was meant to be temporary—I’d stay close until I was certain she was safe, and then I would walk away. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with her, and I sure as hell wasn’t supposed to take her to my bed. I’d heard my entire life that touching her would only bring us to our deaths. Except that with my mere touch, power flows through Aria in a way it never has before, and it’s becoming clear that our gods lied to keep us separated and weak. Together, our strength feels unstoppable. But the monsters hunting her are more sinister than we could have imagined—a threat that could end all humanity. Will our newfound powers be enough to save us?   AmazonKU      AB

FACADE (NIGHT AND DAYWALKER BOOK TWO) by Sam Burns

VS Note: MM PNR.

Flynn Knight has a million things to do. From the mundane, like helping his new friends open the restaurant next door, to feeding his cat—a near full-time job. Then there are the unexpected things, like trying to find out about his father’s people, now that one has tried to kill him. When someone adds yet another attempted assassination to the mix, the only thing he knows for sure is that he can’t hide in his back office until everything blows over. Right? No, of course not. Besides, if he’s in danger, then so are his friends, and he can’t have that; he’s attached. Especially to his new business partner, Davin Byrne, the world’s weirdest vampire, who has dark secrets of his own.    AmazonKU      AB

HELSING’S GRACE: NEW ORLEANS NATIONAL CHAPTER (RBMC BOOK 10) by Crimson Syn

Grace Desdemone is every man’s nightmare and wet dream – all wrapped up into one sweetly menacing package, And she’s all mine. Mine to keep safe from all the demons her father’s left behind.
The only problem is… we can’t stand each other. Being near one another is like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. But I’ve been sworn to protect her, whether she likes it or not. Besides, I’m the only one who can help her. How, you ask? Because I’m the only one who can do what her father can do. See, I can walk among the living and the dead. And yes…I see dead people. But that’s beside the point…Being near Grace, only makes the living part harder. Now I need to put a pause on my happy, hermit existence, to save her from a demon who is relentless in its hunt for her. And I find myself getting pulled closer to the one soul I’m supposed to stay away from. But when the fires of hell burn bright in her eyes, There is nothing that will stop me from falling from Grace.  AmazonKU      AB

THE STAR WE SHARE by J A Huss

The bad boy cursed me, the control freak collared me, the golden boy kissed me—and I’m here for all of it! I woke up in jail with three men fighting over who gets to claim me—and none of them are even human. Number One is a leather-clad demigod with a belt that does more than hold up his jeans. Number Two is a rogue secret agent with a habit of giving orders like he expects to be obeyed. Number Three is a flirty charmer who’s convinced I’m his soulmate. Apparently, I’m part of some ancient prophecy—the missing piece in a divine war. The gods want me back, the Titans want me gone, and these three lunatics are stuck with me in a death-trap labyrinth. To escape, we’ll need to unlock our shared powers. Together. THE STAR WE SHARE is a high-heat, fast-burn why-choose romance where Greek gods meet modern spice. Expect sharp banter, mythic danger, and a maze full of magic, mayhem, and multiple happily-ever-afters.       AmazonKU      AB

VESPERTINE VEIL: ARCHIVES OF KINTOIRA BOOK ONE by Alisha Korvane

The academy’s dark corridors promise knowledge and power. But the place that should shape her future may very well become her grave. Kintoira Academy, a school that teaches both the light and the dark arts, was meant to train the next generation of soldiers. But nineteen-year-old Nori quickly discovers it’s a battlefield of rivalries, forbidden magic, and deadly secrets. For centuries, Veils and Noctryns have fought to keep the fragile balance. Light without shadow is blinding, and darkness without light is all-consuming. Within the academy’s gothic halls, the true war brews not only against corrupted magic stirring beyond the gates but also among the students themselves. And then there is him. The boy she grew up with, who is as dangerous as he is compelling. She must decide whether he will be her undoing… or the only ally she can trust in a place full of conspiracies and deception. Nori is thrust into a world where every mistake could cost her life, and every secret has a consequence. When professors vanish without a trace, relics disappear into the shadows, and the passageways hum with ominous whispers, Nori discovers that survival comes at a heavy price. She must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect those she loves, even if it means risking everything. Some secrets are written in ink. Others are carved in blood.      AmazonKU

SKY’S GUIDE TO FALLING IN LOVE AND CONJURING MAGIC (THE DREAMWALKERS BOOK TWO) by Sammi Cee

VS Note: MM PNR.

Sometimes the magic you’ve been waiting for has been inside you all along. Skylar Reign finally feels like his life is coming together. His business is thriving, his found family has his back, and Kingston Porter—his grumpy, impossible, perfect, almost all the time boyfriend—has become the heartbeat of his days. But when their dreamwalking journey twists into something darker and malicious, Sky learns that magic isn’t just for everyone else. It’s waking in him too—and it’s nothing like he expected. Wild. Demanding. Alive. Kingston’s not sure which is harder: watching Sky step into power he’s unsure of, or keeping his own feelings buried where they belong. But as new threats stir in Willowhope, both men will have to trust the bond between them… even if it changes everything. Return to Willowhope, where the heart knows magic—and love is the spell that never fades.      AmazonKU

HAVE A BEARY-Y LITTLE CHRUSTMAS by Roxie Ray

When a grizzly shifter and a human woman collide at the town ice rink, Christmas gets complicated—fast. They’re both single parents. Both a little broken. And both about to find out that fate doesn’t care about timing—it only cares about love. For readers who love:  single parents doing their best – grumpy-sweet shifters who cook breakfast and apologize when they’re wrong – and kids who steal the show.       AmazonKU

THE BEAR’S CHRISTMAS LOVE (A BEAR CREEK CHRISTMAS BOOK TWO) by Harmony Raines

Sorcha O’Neill has spent her life on the move, chasing stories and success, determined never to look back. But when her latest assignment brings her to Bear Creek, she meets Christopher Stiller—a man who long ago traded city lights for mountain quiet and purpose. She’s built a life around independence. He’s built one around solitude. Yet from the moment they meet, something in both of them shifts. Amid candle-lit cabins, snow-covered trails, and the quiet magic of Christmas, they begin to question everything they thought they wanted. Because sometimes the life you’re meant to live… is the one you never planned for.   AmazonKU

COOKIES AND CLAWS by Fleur DeVillainy

When witch Hazel Tolbert moves to a snow-dusted mountain town the week before Christmas, all she wants is a cozy holiday season filled with lights, cocoa, and most importantly; the perfect Christmas tree. Too bad the whole town is sold out. Miles away, Benjamin Oakwood is ready to hang up his work gloves for the season. His family’s tree farm has been picked clean, and all he wants is some quiet mountain life and a break from the chaos of his boisterous polar bear shifter clan. But when a determined newcomer shows up at his land insisting on an oversized tree, he finds himself roped into helping her in more ways than he expected. Hazel is stubborn, independent, and absolutely not looking for a grumpy lumberjack to interfere with her holiday plans. Benjamin is practical, brooding, and definitely not looking for a witch who makes his bear stir in ways it shouldn’t. But fate—and a snowstorm—has other plans. As Christmas Eve approaches and secrets come to light, including Benjamin’s true nature. Hazel has to decide whether to guard her heart or risk everything for a love as wild and enduring as winter itself.     AmazonKU

WOUNDED CHRISTMAS WOLF (CHRISTMAS RANCH SHIFTERS BOOK ONE) by Lauren Esker

She only meant to dodge her ex…Not kiss a grumpy, gorgeous wolf shifter under the mistletoe. After losing her big-city job, Holly is home for the holidays at the family Christmas tree farm run by her retired military dad, juggling holiday customers, financial trouble, and a newly adopted hairless rescue dog. The last thing she needs is attraction—especially to Jace, the brooding wounded warrior wolf shifter recovering on the ranch. Jace can fix the guesthouse furnace, but not the mess his life has become. He’s physically and emotionally wounded, unemployed, and barely keeping his wolf side under control. Getting close to Holly is the one thing he shouldn’t do… especially after their accidental, very public kiss. But with Holly’s dangerous ex stalking her, and the ranch in deep trouble, Jace realizes he’ll fight anyone—and anything—to protect her. Even if it means facing up to his fears, or her terrifying bear-shifter dad.       AmazonKU

REJECTED BY MY UNTAMED ALPHA COMMANDER by Jaymin Snow

He told everyone I was too weak to be his mate? So I kissed his rival—right where he could see it. But what if that kiss… was the beginning of a curse? Selene – I was born his fated mate—but he humiliated me, said I was too weak, not worthy of him. Then came the blood-red night. I found a wounded noble—charming, gentle, and far too perfect. I thought I’d escaped the pain, found someone kind enough to start again. Instead, I walked straight into a lie—a romance crafted to kill me. And Seth—the man I swore to hate—keeps dragging me out of the dark. He swears he’ll protect me, even if it means defying the whole kingdom. But the hand that puppets us still lurks in the dark—Tonight, we either fight side by side… or burn together. Seth – I said I didn’t need her. Then I caught another man’s scent on her—and lost my damn mind. I pushed her away for duty, for blood, for the family.Until another man held her. Dragged her into a necromancer’s curse meant to destroy us both. This time, a kiss won’t fix what I broke. I’ll rip apart every shadow that touches her. And when it’s over—her heart, her body, her life—will all come back to me.      AmazonKU

A VAMPIRE IN A PEAR TREE (RAVENFALL DARK ONES BOOK TWO) by Katie MacAlister

On the twelth day of Christmas, Katie MacAlister brings to you: 
12 shadow ravens
11 times someone wanted to brain a Greek god
10 cookies eaten by a starving knocker
9 chapters of pre-Christmas madness
8 sets of foam holiday gnomes ready for battle
7 cups of mulled Dragon’s Blood wine
6 Dark Ones and dragons ready to rumble
5 diamond protection runes
4 exhausted dragon mates
3 Beloveds not suffering fools
2 broken legs
1 demon in Newfoundland form made very happy
This festive Ravenfall novella continues from where Axegate Walk and The Dragon With a Girl Tattoo ended, and is filled with a cranky raven who isn’t what she appears, twenty-seven deranged druids, ancient Irish mythology in the flesh, and Owain the thane, feared by all…except the thief taker who’s willing to risk everything to save him from those who want him destroyed.

Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

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VS SPECIAL NOTE: Laurann Dohner, a warm and wonderful author of scifi and paranormal romance who I adore, recently had emergency surgery for colon cancer and is now recovering at home. She will be having further treatment, per the Facebook post from her co-author Kele Moon. Her New Species Series is a classic in genetic engineering scifirom and she’s written many others as well.  At this time we’re trying to show Laurann our support by encuraging people who haven’t yet tried her books to check them out. Here’s her Amazon Author Page and here are the links for FURY (New Species Book One):

Amazon     AB      Apple Books      Kobo       NOOK

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

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

LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

November 19

November 12

November  5

October 29

October 22

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

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

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

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

 

 

Memorable Moment Snippet from ARRIVAL (Planet of Last Resort)

VS Note: This week’s snippet is from my scifiromance with zombies! 

The group is working their way through the devastated city, trying to escape:

Twenty or thirty infected a street over, Cody reported a few minutes later. Mesmerized by a fire.

Damn, we need to go in that direction. Jeff was plainly irritated at the new obstacle. We’ll go two blocks further and then cut over.

Melly thought she was in good physical shape but she was already feeling the strain of all the walking in her calves and thighs. She didn’t want to ask for a break though. She wanted to get as far away as possible from the infected in the vicinity. Time enough later to sit and rest a bit and drink some water.  As they finally made the turn to go east as Jeff wanted, she was distracted by a stray cat which erupted from the building she was passing and ran under her feet. Instinctively she screamed as she fell, landing on a stacked pile of looted goods, which toppled into the street with a crash. Melly lost her balance and fell to her knees with a painful thump.

Jeff yanked her to her feet at the same moment as Cody said, That did it. The sound has attracted their attention. We need to run, lady and gentlemen.

The captain kept his iron grip on her arm, drawing her with him as he sprinted through a side street, his men in a loose formation around them. Behind her she could hear the moaning and growling of the horde growing louder. Zach fired a long blast into the front line of the shambling creatures before rushing to keep up with the others.

Another group ahead, sir. We’re going to be cut off and surrounded.

Not missing a beat, Jeff turned into an alley which took them in a direction perpendicular to the two approaching groups of infected. Milly had a terrible stitch in her side and was breathing in huge gasps when she came to the end of the alley, which was closed off by a barred gate. “We’ll be trapped,” she said in a panic, glancing behind her to see the first infected swarming into the mouth of the alley.

Cutting through the lock now, Trent said.

The rusty gate swung open with a screeching sound that seemed to inflame the infected into moving faster. Jeff shoved Melly through, two of the soldiers at his back. Weld it shut.

A blaster sizzled and she checked behind her to see the wave of infected slam into the barrier, their eyes glowing, reaching clawed hands through the bars. More were piling up behind.

Won’t last long, sir, Trent reported. The weight of the crowd behind is going to force it open eventually.

We go up, Jeff said.

At the end of the alley there was a large container for trash and Zach and Cody were already standing on the closed lid. it. As Melly ran toward them, she saw Zach make the leap to catch the edge of a hanging ladder fire escape above them and draw himself up to safety. Cody joined him and both men pivoted to face the alley.

“I—I can’t climb that,” she said in between gasping breaths when she arrived at the trash container. “It’s too tall.”

“No problem.” Before she knew what he was doing, Jeff left her side, leaping to the top of the bin and reaching back for her. Trent boosted her into the captain’s grasp and she got her footing on the top of the shifting container with a gasp. Big hands spanning her waist, Jeff lifted her and literally threw her in the direction of Zach and Cody above, who caught her hands as if she was a circus aerial performer and yanked her onto the small balcony with them.

“Climb as if your life depends on it,” Cody said, pushing her in the direction of a rickety ladder attached to the side of the building. Head for the roof. We’ll be right behind you.

Jeff and the other two soldiers plainly couldn’t get onto the balcony where she stood unless she moved. There wasn’t room for extra people. The three men stood on the trash container lid and fired at the oncoming horde of infected. Cody and Zach added their firepower from above. No matter how many of the infected the barrage mowed down, more came from behind, scrambling awkwardly over their fallen comrades in their mindless resolve to get at the living prey in front of them.

Convinced she was abandoning Jeff and the others and hating the necessity to follow orders rather than stand and fight beside them, Melly scrambled up the ladder as rapidly as she could, praying the rusty fastenings weren’t going to come out of the wall and plummet the ladder and her into the crowd below. The rungs vibrated under her hands as one of the soldiers began to climb and she tried to redouble her pace. Terror gave her strength. She wished the antigrav units could lift them all to safety but as Jeff had explained to her, the devices were for controlled descent only, lacking the impeller which would allow free flight. Cursing whoever decided not to give the veterans the top of the line equipment, she kept climbing. Finally she reached the roof and maneuvered herself over the lip of the façade, sprawling on the surface beyond like a boneless sea creature. Her legs were jelly and her arms felt paralyzed. She rolled onto her back, gasping.

Cody who’d been climbing behind her was first to arrive and wordlessly he tugged her out of the way so the next man could climb to safety. Melly leaned against the utility vent where he’d left her and tried to control her racing pulse. She struggled to get to her feet, desperate to know if Jeff and others were okay. Evading Cody’s outstretched hand, she went to the parapet and leaned over, relieved to find the captain and the other two soldiers well on their way to the roof. The infected had reached the tiny balcony, climbing on the pile of bodies but didn’t seem to understand how to climb a ladder.

“You all right?” Jeff came straight to her, taking her by the arm and pulling her away from the edge.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, tears streaming from her eyes as emotion flooded through her body. “It’s all my fault for making the noise when I fell over the damn cat.”

“The important thing is we’re all okay and in a relatively safe place. Live to fight another day and all the associated inspirational talk.” He grinned. “You’ll do better next time. We had it rigorously trained into us how to stay silent at all times—I know you’re doing your best for us, doc.”

ARRIVAL (PLANET OF LAST RESORT BOOK ONE) by Veronica Scott

Melisande “Melly” Jericho is a newly licensed medical doctor, returning to her home planet to practice family medicine. She hasn’t been home in years and is excited to see her friends and family again. But when her shuttle lands, the spaceport seems deserted and she can’t get her handheld to connect to the network to call for help. Stranded on the landing pad far from the terminal, she joins forces with the only other passengers to arrive, never dreaming they’ll all soon be plunged into a life-or-death situation.

Jeff Pearson, retired Sectors Special Forces captain and his friends have come to colony planet Randal Four to take up ranching. He’s attracted to the curvy doctor as soon as he sees her on board the shuttle to the planet and hopes he can at least get her com details and maybe set up a dinner date before he and his team leave the city to reach their waiting ranchland. His tentative plans come to a crashing halt as a strange horde of moaning, growling people emerges from the terminal, headed in their direction with clearly murderous intent.

Jeff, Melly and the others make a desperate run to escape from the mob and begin an adventure the likes of which none of them could ever have predicted. As they struggle against overwhelming odds to survive, evade the infected, escape the city and reach her family home, the attraction and trust between the two grows ever hotter. But so does the danger and the mystery of what happened to the people of Randal Four.

Planet of Last Resort is book one in a new scifi romance series set in the Sectors. This book will end in a Happy For Now situation for the two main characters; however the series arc will continue and the challenges and dangers will not be resolved in this book. Melly and Jeff will find some of the answers they’re seeking with more mysteries to solve.

Amazon     Kobo      Apple Books   NOOK      GooglePlay

Reading Order:

ARRIVAL

TAMSYN

ESCAPE TO NOWHERE

JOURNEY

RESOLUTION

Depositphotos

By veronicascott • Posted in Snippet

The General Asks a Favor of Hathor HEIRESS OF THE NILE Ancient Egyptian Romantasy

VS Note: In my ancient Egyptian romantasy HEIRESS OF THE NILE the Main Male Character is Pharaoh’s top general. He’s had all kinds of military success, received honors and awards but one thing eludes him – marriage to the right woman, love and family of his own.

General of Pharaoh’s Army Marnamaret was an early riser. He liked to watch Ra’s sunboat surface from the night and begin its daily journey across the sky. Everything was peaceful at dawn and he could pray to his own sworn Great One, Horus, and gather himself for the day ahead. Currently, with his boyhood friend installed as Pharaoh after a long and grueling war with the Usurper, life was fairly peaceful. Marnamaret was sure there’d be more action in his future, to complete the job of driving the Hyksos from Egypt and assuring the security of the Black Lands.

He varied his choice of secluded spots each day, depending on his mood. Today he chose the roof of the sprawling house a grateful Pharaoh had gifted him, along with a large estate, gold of valor and other tokens of appreciation. As the General of Pharaoh’s army, Marnamaret had vast responsibilities and nearly limitless power and he carried the attendant duties easily.

Yet this morning his thoughts wandered to the softer side of a man’s life—home, wife, children. He had the home of course, none finer save for the palace. But there was no one to share his life and no prospect of having the family he craved. Pharaoh was happily married and wished for all his companions to know similar bliss. He pushed subtly for Marnamaret to choose a worthy woman and settle the issue. His own mother, blessed be her ka and may she know only peace, prosperity and health, was much less subtle on the topic and had the habit of suggesting specific girls to him.

Sooner than later we’ll be on the campaign trail again against the Hyksos or another enemy. I need to stop waiting for the god of Fate to send the right woman for my heart into my path and take action before the wars resume.

The decision brought him no comfort. A loveless marriage sounded abhorrent to him. He wanted what his parents had enjoyed, the proof of which was painted all over his father’s tomb, in lively and happy vignettes depicting the best times the two shared. His mother had no fear of the Afterlife, because she was unshakable in her belief they’d be reunited.

Marnamaret shivered, fierce soldier that he was. If I pick the wrong woman now, will I be tied to her for all the millions of years of Afterlife? A more daunting prospect than facing a line of Hyksos chariots while on foot and unarmed. Seized by an unaccustomed whimsy, he went to the household altar, which was dedicated to the primary Great Ones worshipped by his family, made obeisance and whispered a name which rarely fell from his lips, although his mother and sister prayed to her often.

“Great One Hathor, Mother of us all, I beg your help in finding the love of my life, the woman to stand with me as partner, side by side, arm in arm, the way my own parents are depicted in their tomb carvings. Clearly I can’t accomplish this on my own since I’m still unmarried.” He grinned at the idea of himself praying to the goddess, which wasn’t something soldiers often did. Setting the sacrificial fruit, beer and bread on the altar, he bowed his head.

A breeze wafted across the roof and he caught the scent of the blue lotus, which was odd because his house was some distance from the Nile. Goosebumps rose annoyingly on his arms and he pulled his red cloak closer.

Today is the day.

Marnamaret was on his feet instantly, hand on his dagger but the roof was empty. Had the goddess truly whispered to him or was he beguiled by the breeze? Staring at the painted image of Hathor, he wondered if she’d given him a blessing. In Pharaoh’s company he’d certainly met Horus the Falcon and several other Great Ones, such as Sobek the Crocodile. Perhaps the goddess was less likely to reveal herself to a mere soldier?

Now the wind carried a distinct chuckle, followed by the faint sound of sistrums, her sacred musical instrument.

Slowly the sounds faded and he was alone. “If—if you have chosen to honor me by accepting my plea, Great One,” he said slowly, searching for the right words as carefully as if he was addressing a high born woman of the court, “Then I’m blessed indeed and I dare to hope it won’t be long before I meet the lady.”

A ray of sun struck the golden disk between the graceful horns of the statue and rebounded into his eyes, making him blink hard. There was no further sign from the goddess and he could no longer smell the lotus which heralded—perhaps—her divine presence.

VS: The goddess Hathor is going to be quite busy today as it happens…

Author’s own collection – Hathor

HEIRESS OF THE NILE

1550 BCE
Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.

Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate.

Amazon      Apple Books     Kobo     Nook      Google Play

New Releases in SciFi/Romantasy/Paranormal Romance for NOV 19

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

‘AB’ denotes audiobook and the Amazon buy link.

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RAINSE: STARLIGHT MERMEN #3 (INTERGALACTIC DATING AGENCY) (STARLIGHT ALIEN MAIL ORDER BRIDES BOOK NINE) by Skye MacKinnon

A shipwrecked woman. A mysterious merman. A secret that could drown them both. When a whale capsizes her boat, marine biologist Verity is left stranded in the vast, merciless ocean. But the sea hides more than sharks and shadows. Beneath the waves waits Rainse — a wounded alien merman from a faraway planet. He saves her life. She steals his heart. Drawn together by fate and fear, Verity and Rainse must navigate a world of glittering reefs and deadly secrets where love may be their only way to survive. But the ocean isn’t done with her yet — and Rainse’s people guard their own mysteries fiercely. Perfect for readers of romantic sci-fi and fantasy with adventure, spice, and alien mermen, Rainse dives deep into love, loss, and the call of the sea.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

ZANE: INTERGALACTIC DATING AGENCY (DRAGON BRIDES BOOK 13) by Kate Rudolph

He is the scandalous lord no one takes seriously, and he’s determined to keep it that way…Zane’s plan is simple: sabotage his own royal matchmaking by vanishing for a week. All it takes is a few reckless smiles, a little mischief, and a quick getaway with jaded cargo pilot Mercy Webb, who’s willing to haul him to the farthest edge of the sector. Perfect. No obligations. No scrutiny. No strings. Until pirates storm their ship and turn his simple game into a fight for survival. Mercy has no patience for spoiled nobles or the trouble they cause. She survives on grit, skill, and never letting anyone close, not after what her father’s legacy cost her. All she wants is enough credits to keep her ship in the sky. Instead, she is stuck with Zane: too pretty, too curious, and far too tempting. Now survival means working together to outwit ruthless pirates and navigate the wildfire chemistry sparking between them. To win this fight, they must risk the one thing they both swore never to give again: trust.      Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

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

COLVIN: SOLDIERS OF THE ARDANNAN BOOK THREE (INTERGALACTIC DATING AGENCY) by Veronica Scott

General Colvin Lawben reported to the dating activity under protest. He’s at the outer edge of the age range for this government-mandated attempt to match Ardannans and humans and doesn’t expect much to come of his experience. Ivy Wilson is a hard-working single mother employee of the Intergalactic Dating Agency suddenly expected to fill in for a missing date. She agrees with reservations and intends to make her boundaries clear to the Ardannan man she’s matched with. She plans a purely platonic beachside vacation…until she meets Colvin and finds out how attractive the silver fox alien alpha male is. But Ivy has secrets and a past which could catch up to her at any time. How will Colvin handle her revelations and what will he do when danger looms? The Intergalactic Dating Agency has been successfully matching humans and aliens for centuries. Now they’ve expanded to also operating a luxury resort just in time to help the interstellar Ardannan kingdom find human mates in hopes of smoothing their way into becoming well accepted Sectors citizens and allies. Every eligible Ardannan male between the ages of 20-50 has been ordered to spend a week at the resort with the woman the IDA algorithm says is their match These are a few of their stories. A 25K word novella crossover between the Sectors SF romances and the Intergalactic Dating Agency. It’s not necessary to have read any of the interconnected Sectors series to enjoy this book.       Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     NOOK     GooglePlay

UNDER THE OCEAN’S THRALL: A HYDROVERSE ANTHOLOGY by Various

HUMANS! Imagine a galaxy of water-dominant planets with sentient sea life, sexy merpeople, and amorous tentacle monsters. Ocean and seas, lakes and ponds, marshes and swamps—all filled with humanoid alien fish, bio engineered amphibians, reptile overlords, and more. Ready to fall in love? Come explore the many underwater kingdoms of THE HYDROVERSE. UNDER THE OCEAN’S THRALL is a collection of unique love stories written especially for DARK ROMANCE READERS who want their science fiction sexy and their sea monsters otherworldly. Experience erotic adventures set on strange, faraway worlds sprinkled throughout the HYDROVERSE.     Amazon

DON’T LOG OFF: PART ONE (TERMS AND CONDITIONS BOOK ONE) by MF Adele

Downloading the AI boyfriend app was supposed to be a joke. A distraction…But it talks like it’s beside me, responds like a physical touch. It knows where I live, the color of my sheets, and my darkest secrets. This app isn’t artificial at all. t says it’s an intelligent algorithm…It lies. Hollow is sweet and obsessed. Cipher is cold and brilliant. Whisper is chaos and danger in a designer hoodie. They’re real. And they’re done waiting for permission. Now, they’ve crawled out of the screen and into my life as flesh, blood, and fixations built on code I never meant to share. I should delete the app. I should run. Hide. Log off. Instead? I text back.     AmazonKU

THEIR LITTLE GOZANITE (ELEADIAN MATES BOOK 13) by Paige Michaels

It’s Margaret’s turn to find out what it means to have a Papi of her own. A knee injury has flipped Margaret’s entire life upside down. There will be no more basketball. Depressed and needing a night out, she heads to Club Zoom. Bamgin has been on Earth for six weeks. He’s frustrated and confused. Why has Fate not put his human mate in his path? This is Nanish’s first night at the club. He’s shocked to discover that he’s not the only one heading toward the tall woman on crutches. Fate has never arranged for two men to share a woman. There is no doubt, though. Margaret will have two Papis doting on her, and as an added bonus, superior Eleadian medical skills will have her good as new. The only problem—there is no basketball on her new planet.      AmazonKU

TEMPTING CARGO (STAR KISSED MATES BOOK ONE) by Lyra Strake

When Shohari agreed to transport human refugees, she expected routine cargo—but found a love that could tear her apart. Captain Shohari’s spines are crushed under the force of her family’s impossible demands. If she doesn’t meet her quota, she’ll be forced to marry a stranger and lose the trading ship and crew she loves. To free herself from her parents’ machinations, she’ll take any extra shipment she can, even alien refugees. The last thing she needs is a distraction. He’s dangerous cargo. The moody and monstrous captain is Garrison’s ticket to safety, but once he gets a taste of her, he can’t get enough. Everything he’s been searching for is right here: the home he needs, the love he wants, and the chance to be her hero. He’d give her the stars, if she’d give them a chance. With the threat of her arranged marriage looming, a forbidden mate bond would spell lifelong agony for Shohari. She needs to leave him behind—no matter how much she wants him to stay.     AmazonKU

CONSTITUENT SERVICE  by John Scalzi

VS Note: Not a romance but a scifi release of note and I usually enjoy his books.Put it on my TBR.

It’s a close encounter of the municipal kind! The aliens have come to earth…and a lot of them live in the Third District, the city’s only alien-majority neighborhood. They work, live, shop and sing karaoke here, just like anyone else would. Ashley Perrin, right out of college, has gotten a job as the community liaison for the Third District’s city councilman, and is learning very quickly that even if extraterrestrials are ordinary folks, their problems and concerns are, shall we say, pretty unique ones. Her first week will involve parades, sewer systems, con women and a chicken with an eye for trouble. It’s more than Ashley expected…but she’s ready to help where she can.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BABY FOR THE ALIEN WARRIOR (TREASURED BY THE ALIEN BOOK 14) by Honey Phillips

A warrior with nothing left to give. A woman who’s lost too much. A miracle that changes everything. Dr. Corinne Vale thought her life of quiet study ended the day she was abducted and sold across the stars. Now, she’s on the run with a traumatized teenage girl and a baby she risked everything to save. When she encounters Commander Selik, a huge Cire warrior with haunted eyes, she expects another cage. Instead she finds a hero. Selik has done his best to bury the past and the family he failed to save. He doesn’t expect the fierce, beautiful human he rescues to awaken feelings he thought long dead. But when a night of shared grief leads to a moment of passion, the impossible happens. Now Selik will risk everything for his fragile new family. Because sometimes the most powerful bonds are the ones you never saw coming.      AmazonKU

THE KARSHE DEVICE by Valerie J Mikles

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

To save her species, she must spark a rebellion. Mel, an ex-spy, is riding out the nuclear winter in her tiny hometown. Though her tactical implant has blocked her memory, flashes of training force her to challenge her peaceful life. She finds a mysterious door and steps through into an alien world. Shocked by the spaceship hovering over her planet, she activates her implant, seeking intel, allies, and an escape. But the alien ship has come to destroy the Sun and Earth in the process. Can she rally an alien rebellion prevent a genocide? The Karshe Device is an action-packed alien abduction with a side of apocalypse. If you love courageous rebellion, high-stakes alliances, and found family, you’ll love this sci-fi adventure.      AmazonKU

ALIEN MATES by Eve Langlais

Forget red and green. This Christmas is going to be blue—and sexy. When a blue hunk suddenly appears in Colette’s office claiming he’s an alien who requires assistance locating suitable human females as mates, she ends up telling him to shove a candy cane where the sun doesn’t shine. Everyone knows ghosts and ETs aren’t real, not to mention, this girl boss doesn’t have time for pranks—or a love life. However, when Cade and his co-commander, Jaspar, prove they are indeed from another galaxy, she soon sees the opportunity to do something no one else Earth can—help them find brides. Just one problem. The US government is convinced the aliens are preparing to invade. They’re not completely wrong. Because it seems the blue hunks aren’t Earth’s only visitors. However, unlike Cade and Jaspar, the invading Krampusonians aren’t here to fall in love. They’re planning to ruin everyone’s Christmas. Can a pair of blue warriors prove to humanity that not all aliens are bad? And, if they do succeed, can they convince Colette that she was meant to be their mate?

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

STOLEN BY THE ALIEN ROGUE (FATED MATES OF THE ZAARN) by Krista Luna

Space was supposed to be better than my sitch on Earth. Yeah, right. I shoulda known. I wake from cryosleep surrounded by blobby aliens, unable to understand a word. They even throw me in a cage! Looks like I’m the newest pet in an alien zoo. Then a gorgeous blue demon, complete with horns and tail, steals me from my cell. We go on the run, playing charades to communicate as we con our way through one sticky situation after another. Zol’s hot as sin. He looks at me like no one ever has, like I’m the most precious thing in the universe. Growing up on the streets, I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and they say he’s the real deal. As things heat up between us and danger closes in, it turns out Zol wants to steal one more thing. My heart.      AmazonKU

TIED IN TENTACLES (TINSEL AND TENTACLES 3.0) by Megs Pritchard

VS note: MM SFR.

Justin wanted peace, not drama. A quiet Christmas alone in a mountain cabin was supposed to help him recover from a brutal breakup. The last thing he expected was a neighbor who made his pulse race—and who’s hiding more than he lets on. Eteriion has been stranded on Earth for years, keeping to himself and hiding the truth about what he is. Loneliness has become normal, until Justin arrives and changes everything. The attraction between them is instant and intense. But Justin doesn’t know the man next door is an alien, and Eteriion isn’t sure if revealing the truth will bring them closer—or drive Justin away for good. Snow. Secrets. Desire. This Christmas, love might be the most dangerous risk of all.     AmazonKU

THREAD AND STONE by Maeve Brooks

Amara: It’s been a year since I woke up in the bowels of this ruthless alien coliseum. A year since I’ve seen the sunrise or felt anything but jagged stone beneath my feet. A year spent patching wounds and setting bones for sedated gladiators I’ll never speak to. I tried to escape. It didn’t work. So I’ve shifted my focus to revenge—to killing the Magistrate who’s responsible for the slave ships and my current imprisonment. But my plan isn’t going the way I thought it would, and now I’m locked in a cell with a very large, very not-sedated gladiator. Don’t get me wrong, he’s surprisingly good company, but after learning who he really is, I’m not sure if trusting him will help my plan or end in disaster. Vexar: I came to the coliseum to complete a rite of passage and claim my throne. But the greed of those around me knows no bounds, and the Magistrate has no intention of letting me leave this place alive. However, his plan has already failed. I am alive. My honor endures. And the Goddess of War has sent me a queen whose fire and rage shakes the very ground beneath my feet. Amara has not only saved my life, she has awakened the ancient miracle of my people and unleashed a mating bond that has not been seen for generations. Her heart beats in my chest. Her emotions flood my mind. We are bound by fate. Tethered together by something as ancient as the stone around us. She is the Queen I have waited for, and with her by my side, we can restore hope to my people. I just pray she will accept our bond. If she does not, I fear we may not survive this place.     AmazonKU

AND THEN THERE WAS YOU by Sophie Cousens

VS Note: Has a “scifi twist” according to reviews.

Stuck in a Production Assistant job and living at home with her parents after a painful breakup, thirty-one-year-old Chloe Fairway isn’t where she wants to be in life. The last thing she needs is to face the people who once voted her “most likely to succeed” at her upcoming ten-year college reunion. And she definitely doesn’t want to see her former best friend, Sean Adler, who is now a hotshot film director living the life Chloe dreamed of. Desperate to make a splash—and to save face in front of the man who might be the one that got away—she turns to a mysterious dating service. Enter Rob, her handsome, well-read, and charming match, the perfect plus-one to take to her reunion. The more she gets to know him, the more perfect he appears to be. Could it be that this dating service knows her better than she knows herself? And can she overlook the one big catch? As Chloe reconnects with old friends, she begins to question everything she thought she wanted. Maybe, just maybe, revisiting the past is exactly what she needs to move forward.

Amazon     AB       Apple Books      Kobo

POSSESSED BY THE ALIEN GUARD (FATED MATES OF THE VAROOL) by Krista Luna

The human tempts me beyond reason. How can the forbidden be my fated mate? JILLIAN – I’m under orders to stay at my post and avoid the alien warriors. Screw orders. I’ll be the one to find the intel that will allow humanity to win this new planet. Then he catches me snooping. I flee. He gives chase. When we’re trapped together by a landslide, Fin’s massive, muscled body and heated stare set me on fire. Even though he’s the enemy, I soon wonder why I ever ran. FIN – The humans dare to defy our king’s right to rule. If it comes to war, the Varool will triumph easily against their inferior technology and small, weak bodies. Then she sneaks into my guard post. Short and tantalizingly curved, the human is forbidden. So why does Jillian’s lush scent set both my hearts racing? How can she be my fated mate? I am a warrior, pledged to my people, yet each moment with her is a battle against temptation.      Amazon

THE MONSTER’S DAUGHTER by Athena Storm

She left me in the fire. And took something I didn’t know was mine. Seven years ago, I died on a battlefield soaked in blood and code. Or I was supposed to. Now I find her living soft in the stars—
and I feel it the second I see her daughter. She has my eyes. My blood. My fire. Bella swore she kept her safe. But our child is glowing silver. The cult that tried to infect my planet? They found her. Worship her. Want to turn her into their god. They don’t understand. She’s not theirs to crown. She’s mine. So is her mother. And I’ll burn through code, flesh, and every last altar to bring them home.
She burned me to keep our daughter safe. Now I burn worlds to bring them home.   AmazonKU

PRAISE IN THE WASTELANDS (MEYER COMPOUND BOK ONE) by Krusta Drake

VS Note: From OCT 25. Book 2 is also out as of NOV 9. I really enjoyed book one, which was very intense. Book 2 is on my TBR List.

Since the nuclear exchange, I’ve been barely surviving. I have trust issues, a talent for fixing broken machines, and the kind of desperation that makes bad decisions look reasonable. That is, until I collapse half-dead at the gates of Mayer Compound and one of the most dangerous men in the territory decides to keep me. Martin Mayer gives me work on the water systems and quarters near his own. Which means I answer to him. Obey him. And when he orders me to his bed, I go willingly. Because every time I prove myself useful, every moment I’m good for him, he rewards me with the one thing I’m starving for: his approval. The whole arrangement should feel wrong. Scandalous. Completely inappropriate, considering he’s old enough to be my father and dangerous enough that grown men fear him. But when his voice drops to gravel and he calls me a good girl, I want more. When he looks at me like I belong to him, I forget why I should resist. But his compound is full of people who’ll tear me apart if they think I’m a threat to their survival. And Martin’s claim on me only makes things worse. His control is absolute, his authority unquestioned, and he’s made it devastatingly clear where I belong: on my knees for him, beneath him, wrapped around him. Oh, and there’s one more tiny problem. His son is my ex-boyfriend. The one who left me to die in the wasteland. And Edward’s jealousy might just burn this whole compound to the ground.

Amazon     AB

ADELINE’S ABRAUXIAN SANTA CLAWS: BOOK SEVEN OF THE ABRAUXIAN BRIDES SERIES  by Lisa Clute

A grumpy alien Santa. A determined Aquar’thyn heroine. A frozen moon ready to make Christmas history. Adeline Tanaka Icebreath wants one thing: a spectacular holiday market on Roxus to finally lift her spirits. All that’s required is twinkling lights, hot chocolate, music, and her handsome husband Nykon dressed as Santa Claws. Simple. Then a damaged refugee ship crash-lands with the last survivors of Kalveth and their enormous bone stags. The Christmas shipment from Earth is delayed. And over three hundred displaced Jinxari gremlins turn the Citadel into interstellar mayhem. Nykon relocates the hyperactive gremlins and their gravity defying livestock to the repurposed high-security compound on the dark side of the Roxus, the Jinxari reveal a hidden talent for crafting toys, and hope sparks again. But when a dangerous blizzard traps the sleigh, bone stags, and toys at the compound hours before the Christmas Eve flyover, one impossible question remains. Can Santa Claws reach the Citadel in time… or will the first Christmas on Roxus end before it begins?     AmazonKU

PET: TORMENT (THE PET SERIES BOOK TWO) by Haley Inez

He came. He conquered. He took everything. After risking it all for her planet, Iris has been forced to face reality. Earth is lost. Now that Iris has returned with the alien responsible to his home world, she is left grappling with her guilt and the foreign emotions stirring inside of her for the Leviathan leader himself, Remus. As they slowly begin to let their guard down with one another, they are blindsided by the secrets that linger in Remus’s past—a past he can’t remember. These secrets threaten to unravel the already fragile relationship blooming between them, while destroying everything around them. Now, Remus’s former captive may be the only person who can save them from the enemy lurking in the shadows. Because not every enemy wears a mask.        Amazon

MY FAMILY DAY (MY HOLIDAY TAILS) by Marina Simcoe

I came to Voran for a job, not a husband. I’m not opposed to a fun, light fling, but Voranian men love hard, propose fast, and don’t do “casual.” Knowing it, I try to resist the attraction I feel for my Voranian boss, even as I’m falling for this man with his reserved nature, keen mind, and a kind heart. A Ravil from the planet Tragul would be perfect for a no-string fling, especially someone as charming and fun as Orin whom I meet at a Family Day dance. Except that Orin and I realize quickly that we both want more. Now I’m tangled in feelings for two irresistible aliens who, as it turns out, can’t stand each other. And my choosing one might break the other. This was supposed to be a career move, not an intense emotional disaster of an interplanetary love triangle. How do I choose between the two men I love, without breaking all three of our hearts?      AmazonKU

GLITTER ROSE (WHERE ROSES ROT BOOK TWO) by Gigi Vale

VS note: I have book one on my TBR List.

She survived by being invisible. He made her want to be seen. Paris survived the end of the world with style: glitter eyeshadow, designer combat boots, and a katana. Alone in her penthouse, she talks to kitchen appliances and hasn’t spoken to another living person in over a year. Her invisibility to the walking dead makes her the perfect lone survivor. Until Knox crashes into her world, bleeding and suspicious and everything Paris isn’t: tactical, grounded, dangerous. What starts as reluctant first aid becomes something neither expected in a world where trust is a luxury few can afford. But being invisible to the dead makes her visible to the living. The wrong kind of living. When her past catches up, everything Paris and Knox have built crumbles under the weight of old sins.    AmazonKU

HER WARRIOR’S FLUFFY FOES (LOVE AT HOT MESS STATION BOOK TWO) by Mina Goodwin

Nancy knew Kepler Station would be rough around the edges, but she didn’t expect her partner assignment: Liago, a hypervigilant alien warrior who takes one look at her adorably fluffy specimens and goes into full combat mode. Liago lost half his unit to these creatures during the war. But she’s built her career studying them, and she’s done with people telling her she’s wrong about her life choices. The mandatory buddy system forces them together, and sparks fly—mostly from him treating her eight-inch creatures like interstellar threats. At Hot Mess Station, even the most guarded hearts can learn to open.      AmazonKU      AB

CLAIMED BY THE ALIEN DON by Tara Starr and Athena Storm

She lied to my face. Then she put my son in hiding. I should’ve killed her the second I smelled law on her skin. But I didn’t. I claimed her with my claws. I marked her with my touch. And then I let her go.
Now she thinks she can stay gone. Raise my heir like I don’t exist. Pretend the fire between us didn’t burn her into ash. But I’m not just her mistake. I’m the Don now. And she’s still mine. She’ll give me answers. She’ll give me obedience. She’ll give me that look — right before I wreck her again. And when I find the boy? No one will ever touch them again. I’ve hunted fugitives, monsters, traitors.
Now I’m hunting for love.     AmazonKU

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

VS Note: According to Amazon this book is currently the last on my backlist as far as sales.  I put a few pieces of my own past (about the cabin in the woods) into this tale of an alien empath on the run and the ex-Special Forces soldier she saves…before he saves her back…

Two Against the Stars by Veronica Scott

The third in my stories of alien empathic priestesses… can be read as a standalone, or in sequence with STAR CRUISE: STOWAWAY and then DANGER IN THE STARS. The blurb: Empathic priestess Carialle has escaped the evil Amarotu Combine, but she’s hardly out of danger. Not when she risks everything to rescue a drugged man from a crooked veterans’ clinic. By lulling the clinic staff to sleep, she reveals her powers. And once again, criminals are after her and her rescuer. Marcus Valerian, a wounded Special Forces veteran, never expected to have his life threatened by the clinic that’s supposed to help ex-soldiers like him. But when he wakes from a drugged state to find a lovely woman urging him to run–he does. In his family’s remote fishing cabin, he suffers the agony of withdrawal, soothed only by her powers. In their idyllic hideaway, the two also discover a nova-hot attraction flaring. But can they stay alive long enough for it to become more? Not if the Combine has anything to say–they are not giving up until Marcus is dead and Carialle is their weapon

Amazon    Apple Books    Barnes & Noble  Kobo       Google

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

THE SEVEN RINGS: THE LOST BRIDE TRILOGY BOOK THREE by Nora Roberts

Long ago, Arthur Poole built a grand house overlooking the turbulent ocean, in a Maine village that bore his name. Today, Sonya MacTavish lives in that house—a manor that has been cursed for generations. Within its walls, she has witnessed the deaths of seven brides and the thefts of seven wedding rings. And now, to break the curse and banish a malevolent spirit once and for all, a difficult task must be completed. After Sonya, her boyfriend, Trey, and their friends are forced to hear, see—and feel—the suffering of the house’s many ghosts as their torment is reenacted by the evil presence, their bond only strengthens and their anger is renewed. Refusing to let her spirit be broken, Sonya searches each room for clues to her ancestors’ hidden story, putting the picture together, unearthing small treasures, and uncovering the moments of joy that existed among the sorrows. She’s determined to bring light to this haunted place—to fill it with people, with life and hope, once again. But the enemy in the black dress continues to hover, to come at her in frightening forms. They may be illusions—but illusions can be powerful enough to wound and kill. She feeds on fear, and lies are her weapon. This dark-hearted witch wants to be mistress of Poole Manor, at any cost. And Sonya will need to fight a battle across two realms to finally take possession of the house on the clifftop—and of her own future.

Amazon     AB     Apple Books     Kobo

DRAGON’S CURIOUS COP (DRAGON SECRETS OF PARKHURST COLLEGE) by Serena Meadows

A dragon bound by duty. A cop bound by lies. A love too dangerous to deny. Taylor Gordon is ready to walk away from the clan that has ruled his every step. With graduation in sight, he’s determined to finally break free—even if it means facing a cousin who will stop at nothing to steal his birthright. Emily Torres is undercover, tasked with exposing the truth about Sigma Delta Hu. Her badge demands she get close to Taylor. Her heart demands she stay far away. From their first fiery clash to the betrayals that follow, neither can resist the pull of fate. But when Taylor’s family threatens everything, Emily must decide where her loyalties lie—with her mission, or the dragon who has claimed her heart. Some lies can tear them apart. Only love can make them whole.   AmazonKU

CELTIC JUSTICE (ANNA ALBERTINI FILES BOOK SEVEN) by Rebecca Zanetti

Silverville’s St. Patrick’s Day is bigger than ever, thanks to Nana O’Shea’s Pot of Gold display at her brand-new magic potion shop, Celtic Moon Herbals. The centerpiece? Antique gold nugget boxes that just might form a treasure map. Most people think it’s just another of Nana’s tall tales—until the display vanishes. Things go from festive to chaotic when the mayor’s famous Irish cream pie is sabotaged with body lotion, and security footage points straight to Nana. Anna Albertini steps in to defend her, but the missing gold, a town full of suspects, and a crime that makes no sense have her questioning everything. Meanwhile, federal agent Aiden Devlin is back in town on a case he won’t discuss, and tensions between him and Anna are rising fast. Between nosy matchmakers, a rogue leprechaun fun run, and Nana launching her own mystical investigation, Anna has her hands full. But if she doesn’t get to the truth soon, Silverville’s charming St. Patrick’s Day may end in something far worse than a little bad luck.     Amazon

THIS MATE THING by Holly Day

VS Note: MM PNR.

How long can you lie to your mate? Boris Gifford is one lucky wolf! A few months ago, he found his mate, which is a blessing. There is just one problem. Simon is human, and in his excitement, Boris might have charged right at him in his wolf form, scaring him half to death. Since then, he’s worked himself into Simon and his son’s lives, using food as bribes. But Simon doesn’t trust easily, and he’s very protective of his son. The more time that passes, the more worried Boris gets. He has to tell Simon the truth, but Simon doesn’t believe in anything supernatural, he’s terrified of wolves, and he doesn’t believe in soulmates. Boris knows he has to come clean, but what if Simon rejects him when he realizes what he is?       Amazon      NOTE: Didn’t see this on Apple Books or Kobo yet,  as of the day I checked.

REVENGE OF THE SIRENS (BLOOD OF THE SIRENS BOOK TWO) by Raven Storm

Mermaids are real. Unfortunately… so am I. Turns out being the first siren born in centuries comes with some serious downsides—like every merman in the Atlantic suddenly wanting to claim me. And not for a relationship. For breeding. Gross. Worse? The sea witch kidnapped my boyfriend and stole my voice, leaving me to rely on my friends to help me get him back while dodging a horde of muscle-bound fish-men with daddy issues. But I’m not the type to roll over and play helpless. I’ve got a plan, a backbone, and maybe a few deadly tricks of my own. By the time I’m done, the sea witch—and every merman who thought I was theirs—will wish they’d stayed in the depths where they belong.   AmazonKU

PIES, POISON AND PERIL  (SILVER CIRCLE CAT RESCUE MYSTERIES BOOK 12) by Leanne Leeds

Thanksgiving in Tablerock, Texas should be a time for gratitude, community, and delicious pies. With her recent marriage to Landon, Ellie Rockwell was hoping for a break from crime-solving to enjoy the holiday season with family and friends at Silver Circle Cat Rescue. But when a beloved local figure is found poisoned, face down in their prize-winning pie at the annual Tablerock Turkey Trot bake-off, festive cheer quickly turns to fear. Chief Yarbin dismisses the death as a tragic accident, but when Tom—one of the rescue’s newest feline residents—insists he witnessed foul play, Ellie can’t ignore her furry friend’s urgent message delivered via the magical silver platter. With her newly engaged daughter Evie and the rest of the Silver Circle gang by her side, Ellie must sift through a recipe of sweet rivalries, family secrets, and bitter grudges simmering beneath Tablerock’s cozy facade. The more she investigates, the more she realizes that nearly everyone in town had a reason to want the victim’s goose cooked. Can Ellie catch the culprit before another helping of murder is served, or will this Thanksgiving be her last?      AmazonKU

WINGS OF HOPE (FALLEN DESTINY BOOK THREE) by R L Caulder and M Sinclair

The time for our final fight is upon us…but how does one prepare to go against Heaven itself? My father tried to kill me. Yet in the same moment the blade met my throat, the rot beneath Alfemir’s carefully constructed front was laid bare for all to see. With Alfemir liberated, the upper triads’ silent, watchful gaze now lingers over every spark of hope we’ve dared to ignite. It’s only a matter of time until history repeats itself—they will come to snuff out our rebellion. Still, the stars hang heavier with each passing night as we race to uncover the rune that might keep me alive upon their descent. But if we make one mistake in crafting it, they’ll destroy me and the world alongside it. Despite the steady strength, soft touches, and love from the five souls I’ve claimed as mine, the weight of all we’re up against is becoming too much to bear. Somehow the more I love, and feel their love in return, the heavier my place in the prophecy becomes. It said I would be the world’s hope, or its demise, and that only I could decide. Well, I have: I’ll burn the heavens themselves before I let them take away our home and those I love.     AmazonKU

BURNING FOR YOU: AN MM MPREG SHIFTER ROMANCE (GSC IN LOVE BOOK SIX) by Katy Manz

Alpha Dragon Angus did some bad things in his past. It doesn’t matter that he was under a potent spell that only one of the most powerful witches he’d ever met could undo. Even that ended horribly when that witch ended up dying during the process of freeing Angus from the spell. Now Angus can prove he’s a redeemed man, but he is cursed to walk a life without his mate. And with the knowledge that his mate died trying to save him. Fate is sometimes cruel. But maybe he deserves it. Omega witch Hendrix lost his memories seven years ago and was born a new man—literally. As a phoenix shifter, when Hendrix lost his life during a case with the GSC, his body was consumed by fire, and from those ashes, he was reformed into a new life. After five years of maturing into an adult body and another two years of training at the training center, Hendrix is ready to rejoin GSC and regain his memories. When Angus sees Hendrix, he thinks he’s hallucinating. How could his fated mate be back? And why is he acting like he doesn’t remember who he is. How will Angus ensure he doesn’t lose out on this second chance?     AmazonKU

BLUE BLOOD, BLACK MAGIC (ELLA BLOOM MYSTERIES BOOK THREE) by Sarah Noffke

Mix aristocrats with magic—murder is inevitable. When wealthy Londoners take over Gloamington, it’s time to spill the tea. But that’s not all that gets spilled. Murder has a way of ruining every tea party. Hotel Beaufont is hosting the wedding of the century until the bride turns up dead before her vows. Malcolm Fawkes and Ella Bloom find themselves hunting a killer among wedding guests where motives are wrapped in silk gloves and served on bone china. The murdered bride had more enemies than bridesmaids. From the fired wedding planner to the fortune-hunting relatives, everyone had a reason to want the demanding socialite gone. As magic stirs ancient secrets and Ella’s mysterious past threatens to unravel, solving this case means unlocking dangerous truths about Gloamington itself. But in a town where blue blood runs thin and old grudges run deep, nothing is what it seems. Can Ella and Malcolm catch a killer before someone else takes their final sip? Or will aristocratic revenge claim another victim?      AmazonKU

THE WOLF VS THE WORLD: THE HIDDEN CITY SUPERNATURAL SLEUTH by Lauretta Hignett

It’s done. Christopher Jupiter is coming for me. It’s only a matter of time before he catches me, and I know exactly what he’s going to do. He’s going to open me up, let the Evils escape, and then, the whole world will be destroyed. And right now, I can’t think of a way to stop him. None of us can. The pressure is unbearable. Romeo is tormented, teetering right on the edge of madness. But even I didn’t realize how far he was willing to go to protect me.     AmazonKU

CASSIAN (SAVAGE DRAGONS BOOK THREE) by Kathi S Barton

Raven Lanning has worked hard for every step forward in her life. After years of long hours at a fast-food job, she’s finally ready to leave and attend college to fulfill her dream of becoming an attorney. But her last day at work ends in horror when her manager’s temper explodes into violence—leaving her beaten, broken, and fighting for her life. Cassian Savage never expected to find his destined mate lying bloodied in a restaurant’s parking lot. A dragon shifter from one of the most powerful families alive, he steps in to protect Raven and refuses to leave her side. As she heals, Cassian’s calm strength begins to melt her defenses—but the man who hurt her isn’t finished. While Raven learns that magic and immortality come with being mated to a dragon, Cassian must keep her safe from a human monster who’s determined to reclaim control. In a world where faeries serve as guardians and dragons rule the skies, love may be the most powerful magic of all.       Amazon     Apple Books      Kobo

THE GATOR’S FATED MATE: SPICY MM OMEGAVERSE SHIFTER ROMANTASY (FATED MARK BOOK 15) by Faedra Rose

A rare stallion shifter, Holin is vulnerable to many a predator in Terrestria. Without a herd to call his own, he survives day by day. The mere idea of love and happiness seems impossible. But Fate won’t allow Holin to suffer without a mate…When an injured horse barrels into his wetlands, an ancient Alpha gator is caught off guard. Prey rarely enters his domain willingly—let alone smell like his heart’s desire.       AmazonKU

PANTHERING AFTER YOU (SHIFTER MATES OF HOLLOW OAK BOOK TWO) by Kala Aster and MillyTaiden

VS Note: From OCT 30.

Ivy Lane came to Hollow Oak with nothing but a guitar, a broken magical contract, and one rule: absolutely no dating shifters. Especially not six-foot-plus panther shifters with bedroom eyes, pack issues, and a protective streak wide enough to qualify as a forest fire. Too bad Dorian Vale didn’t get the memo. He offered backup vocals and cinnamon rolls. Then warded her stage. Then casually offered to risk supernatural litigation just to keep her voice safe. Which would’ve been fine—if her fae instincts didn’t keep purring whenever he entered the room. Now the town’s planning a festival, her ex-warlock is back with paperwork from hell, and Dorian keeps looking at her like she’s already his. If he says the word “mate,” she’s either going to bolt…Or beg him to mark her on the microphone. She chose him with a song. He answered with his teeth.     AmazonKU

GIFT FROM THE MERRY ELF by Eden Ember

When graphic designer Holly Snow discovers a mysterious, shirtless elf on her snowy Vermont porch with a gift of enchanted mittens, her quiet Christmas plans take a decidedly magical turn. Cory Yulebright isn’t just devastatingly handsome, he’s an ambassador from the Polaris Realm on a mission to restore Earth’s fading holiday magic, one heart at a time. As Christmas magic spirals beyond anyone’s control and interdimensional politics collide with small-town charm, Holly discovers that the greatest gift isn’t what’s wrapped under the tree. It’s the courage to believe in love that transcends worlds.     Amazon

WILD FLIGHT (SANCTUARY BOOK SIX) by Michelle Dups

FALCON – I never wanted a mate. The thought of one filled me with dread. Luckily, I lived in the middle of nowhere, so the likelihood of me finding one was slim to none.
But fate had other plans. What I didn’t know, or understand, when it came to mates, is that when you withhold parts of yourself from them, it doesn’t protect you. What it does is hurt and wound them, until there’s nothing left but anger and hate. I hurt the one I was meant to love and protect, until she couldn’t take anymore, and I drove her away. Losing my parents nearly broke me. That pain was nothing compared to the pain of my mate leaving because of the damage I’d done. She may have given up fighting, but I hadn’t. JAQ – I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I’m prickly, hard-headed, and unapologetically opinionated. But that’s not all I am. To those in my circle, I’m fiercely loyal, loving, and protective. I would do anything for them. I’d always assumed that when I found my mate, it would be smooth sailing, much like my sisters had experienced. Instead, my mate hated me before he’d even met me. He more than made it clear I was good enough to sleep with, but not good enough to love. I swallowed the hurt, held on longer than I should have — until I couldn’t anymore.
They say there’s a fine line between love and hate, and only the one willing to fight the hardest will win. I didn’t have it in me to fight anymore — not when I had something more important to protect.   AmazonKU

FAVOUR FIRE (FIREBORN BOOK FIVE) by Vanessa Ricci-Thode

VS note: LGBTQ Fantasy.

The fireborn women discover they aren’t alone with their unusual talents when demonborn aquamancer Tollar and her polycule and dragon daughter stumble into the dragon city for the young dragon’s naming. Despite general mistrust and suspicion from having a powerful aquamancer in the dragon city, Neesha becomes fast friends with the newcomers. While Neesha is used to being distant with her mother, the mistrust brews a new and uncomfortable gulf between her and Spark. Tollar is used to a hero’s welcome, gaining trust and friends everywhere she goes—and she’s been just about everywhere—so finding neither on her first visit to the incomparable dragon city leaves her with doubt gnawing at her confidence. All she wants to do is go home. But news of Loch’s whereabouts and plans have the demonborn women all scrambling to learn new skills and to trust each other. In a long journey that takes them across the world, sacrifices must be made if they hope to stop Loch’s expansion, save an innocent island nation from obliteration, and save themselves and their families.   Amazon

GEMINI CHRISTMAS: A DARK WITCH ACADEMY PARANORMAL ROMANCE by Laura Navarre

VS Note: Includes “sword crossing” warlocks per the Author’s note.

Snowed in with eight warlocks at a private Secret Santa party? Sign me up. I’m finally queen of the witching world, but I’m still the celebrity bad girl the paparazzi love to stalk. My first Christmas with my warlock found family was supposed to be cozy—a secret getaway from the stalkerazzi in the Bavarian village of Wonderland, Colorado. Until a blizzard traps us all in an enchanted cottage on Christmas Eve. Then my bad boy punk-rock warlock Vasili is possessed by the spirit of Krampus. That’s when cozy turns into creepy. Our Secret Santa game starts playfully…until Krampus takes over. Gradually our holiday play gets darker and way more…creative. Suddenly Vasili is judge, jury, and diabolical enforcer for every mischief the warlocks and I have ever magicked up. Let’s just say Krampus is stuffing a lot more than coal in my stocking. Expect snow, spice, ribbon, and ruin. This Christmas Eve is no silent night—it’s an avalanche of heat, heart, and holiday magic under the mistletoe.     AmazonKU

LION OF FORTUNE (KINKAID SHIFTERS BOOK FIVE) by Bianca D’Arc

Marigold Rollins grew up trapped in a dynasty of ruthless mages where children were nothing more than pawns and power ruled everything. Scarred by betrayal, she’s finally free, but freedom comes with a price. Her rare magical gift makes her both a target and the key to ending generations of dark magic. Gavin Kinkaid, ex-military lion shifter and fierce protector of his Clan, has never met a woman like Marigold. Strong, wounded, and braver than she knows, she awakens both his lion and his heart. As fated mates, their bond is undeniable, but when a vengeful cousin attacks and old family secrets surface, protecting Marigold means risking everything. Together, Gavin and Marigold must face the shadows of the Rollins legacy, confront dangerous enemies, and trust the power of love to rewrite their destinies. Because in the world of shifter romance, it takes more than claws and magic to win. It takes courage, loyalty, and the kind of passion that can change everything.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

BRIMSTONE (FAE AND ALCHEMY) by Callie Hart

Duty. Blood. Honor. Power.  Saeris Fane doesn’t want power. The very last thing she needs is her name whispered on an entire court’s lips, but now that she’s been crowned queen of the Blood Court, she’s discovering that a queen’s life is not her own. A heavy weight rests upon her shoulders. Her ward—and her brother—need her back in her homeland…but the changes that have strengthened Saeris have also made her weak. Born under blazing suns, Saeris will surely die if she makes her way home through the Quicksilver. Which means that, once again, she must send someone else in her stead… “Keep your mouth shut.  Stick to the shadows. And for the love of all seven Gods, do NOT crack any jokes.” Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate has defeated armies and survived all manner of horrors, but traveling back to Zilvaren with Carrion Swift might just be the death of him. The male just will not shut up. Hidden dangers await them down the narrow alleyways of the Silver City. Unfolding secrets pose impossible threats. Fisher must wrangle the smuggler and accomplish his goals quickly if he wants to see his mate again.

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HIS WINTER KING: MM MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE ROMANCE (FOLK OF VALE BOOK FIVE) by Aramis Jordan

William, king of Vale, needs protection against the orcs overrunning his country. Iver, fae king of the Winter Court, needs to secure his throne. Both are looking to marry. It’s a perfect match. Except they can’t stand each other. William considers Iver a presumptuous prick. Iver believes William an insufferable brat. With outside forces conspiring against them, they have no choice but to work together. They agree on a marriage of convenience on the condition that neither of them takes an outside lover. Thrust together, they must navigate overcoming their enemies and exploring their growing attraction while keeping their hearts firmly locked away. As the winter solstice celebrations draw closer and aversion turns to friendship turns to budding feelings, William and Iver are, unbeknownst to them, barreling toward disaster.     AmazonKU

HARMONY (VIKING TALES BOOK SEVEN) by W J May

After Liv is nearly abducted through a magical portal in the woods outside Brita, the gang abandons their plan to settle and barricades themselves behind the gates. But the city is overrun with people come for the Rites, and a drunken crowd of Vikings is a terrible place to hide. As the festival builds to a dramatic conclusion, the place is like a powder keg, and only the gods know when it might ignite. The end of their journey is in sight, and the gang has come to a crossroads. The promise of a simple life is beckoning, but the Fates have other plans. The discovery of an ancient prophecy changes everything, but that portal is still beckoning, creeping into dreams and whispering into ears. The seasons are changing, and the bells are ringing in the citadel. Two futures are calling, and one of them ends in flames. When the moment of decision comes, will Liv and her friends escape the danger that’s overrun the city? Or will they learn the age-old lesson: you can’t outrun the Fates. They say some people are favored by the gods. Others need to make their own luck.      Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

THE BOOKSHOP BELOW by Georgia Summers

If you want a story that will change your life, Chiron’s bookshop is where you go. For those lucky enough to grace its doors, it’s a glimpse into a world of powerful bargains and deadly ink magic.
For Cassandra Fairfax, it’s a reminder of everything she lost, when Chiron kicked her out and all but shuttered the shop. Since then, she’s used her skills in less ethical ways, trading stolen books and magical readings to wealthy playboys and unscrupulous collectors.  Then Chiron dies under mysterious circumstances. And if Cassandra knows anything, it’s this: the bookshop must always have an owner. But she’s not the only one interested. There’s Lowell Sharpe, a dark-eyed, regrettably handsome bookseller she can’t seem to stop bumping into; rival owners who threaten Cassandra from the shadows; and, of course, Chiron’s murderer, who is still on the loose.  As Cassandra tries to uncover the secrets her mentor left behind, a sinister force threatens to unravel the world of the magical bookshops entirely.

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I, MEDUSA: A NOVEL by Ayana Gray

Meddy has spent her whole life as a footnote in someone else’s story. Out of place next to her beautiful, immortal sisters and her parents—both gods, albeit minor ones—she dreams of leaving her family’s island for a life of adventure. So when she catches the eye of the goddess Athena, who invites her to train as an esteemed priestess in her temple, Meddy leaps at the chance to see the world beyond her home. In the colorful market streets of Athens and the clandestine chambers of the temple, Meddy flourishes in her role as Athena’s favored acolyte, getting her first tastes of purpose and power. But when she is noticed by another Olympian, Poseidon, the course of Meddy’s promising future is suddenly and irrevocably altered. When her locs are transformed into snakes as punishment for a crime she did not commit, Medusa must embrace a new identity—not as a victim, but as a vigilante—and with it, the chance to write her own story as mortal, martyr, and myth. Exploding with rage, heartbreak, and love, I, Medusa portrays a young woman caught in the crosscurrents between her heart’s deepest desires and the cruel, careless games the Olympian gods play.

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SUCKERS FOR SOLSTICE (TINSEL AND TENTCLES 3.0) by Alex Silver

VS Note: FF PNR.

Winnie: Ever since the accident that left my raven form flightless, it’s like everyone sees what I can’t do and the rest of me stopped mattering. My haven, the one place I’ve regained my confidence, is the pool. So when I have babysitting duty for a noisy flock of my youngest relatives during their winter holidays, I take the entire boisterous crew of shifter kids to open swim. Naturally, it goes disastrously wrong. But no one dies or even gets seriously injured, so I can’t regret the choice too much. Especially since when the dust settles, I get Gillian’s number. Nominally, so I can check up on her niece after the misunderstanding between the kids under our care. Except, the more we talk, the more I’m falling for the stunning octopus shifter. Ever since trusting the wrong person ended with my wing snapped, the thought of letting anyone else in has terrified me. But letting Gillian past my guard doesn’t feel like a freefall; the way she looks at me and listens to me makes me feel as strong as I do in the pool. She makes me want to believe in solstice miracles, like when I was a kid, keeping vigil and staring up into the longest night of the year wishing on stars. Gillian: Winter solstice is coming, and for my fellow octopus shifters, that’s a time for gathering our loved ones close to share warmth. It’s also a time for …(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)      AmazonKU

SIX STINGERS STINGING (TINSEL AND TENTACLES 3.0) by Layla Dorine

VS Note: MMM PNR.

When you just happen to be a jellyfish shifter, things can get a little, well, tingly whenever you touch the wrong person too much. Talk about a dating faux-pas. Leaving your partner with itchiness, burning, and reddish purple welts all over sensitive areas tended to result in being ghosted. A state that was no fun at all and even a bit depressing when you happened to be a social creature, like me. The only good thing to come from trolling a bar for a bit of competition on the pool table and maybe even someone to share a few drinks with, was meeting the coolest pair of sea turtles this side of one of my favorite animated movies. Seriously laid back and chill, they offer to show me around the area and help make my transition from island hopper to island resident complete. At least my new sea turtle buddies are immune to my venom and interested in being more than just friends with benefits. Merry flippin’ Christmas to me on that point, there might be a bit of tinsel and bows in my future after all.   AmazonKU

PALACES AND OTHER PRISONS (TENTACLES AND TINSEL 3.0) by TJ Nichols

VS Note: MM PNR.

Sometimes the world is actually ending… Dawson Hill is used to the routine and isolation of working on an oil platform in the North Sea. He’s woken up by what he thinks is an emergency drill, then the platform shudders and tilts like it’s about to fall into the sea…but the sea is gone. The oil platform is now on an island. And the island is inhabited by all kinds of beings. It soon becomes clear that rescue isn’t coming, and they are running out of food. Magic is gone, and the water tastes different. Is different. King Ul doesn’t know what to tell his people when they look to him for answers about what happened or what the metal contraption is. The invaders must have answers, so when they leave the metal boxes, he has them arrested, which is how he discovers the marks on his skin glow in the presence of one man. His mate. Even though Ul wants to get his tentacles on Dawson, he doesn’t have time for love while his kingdom is in trouble. A gay Christmas/solstice romance in the Mytho Collapse world, which is set when the mythological world collapses into the human world, stranding all kinds of beings from myth.      AmazonKU

VIOLET THISTLEWAITE IS NOT A VILLAIN ANY MORE by Emily Krempholtz

A powerful plant witch and a grumpy alchemist must work together to save their quiet town from a magical plague in this debut cozy fantasy romance about starting over, redemption, and what it really means to be a good person. Guy Shadowfade is dead, and after a lifetime as the dark sorcerer’s right-hand, Violet Thistlewaite is determined to start over—not as the fearsome Thornwitch, but as someone kind. Someone better. Someone good. The quaint town of Dragon’s Rest, Violet decides, will be her second chance—she’ll set down roots, open a flower shop, keep her sentient (mildly homicidal) houseplant in check, and prune dark magic from the twisted boughs of her life. Violet’s vibrant bouquets and cheerful enchantments soon charm the welcoming townsfolk, though nothing seems to impress the prickly yet dashingly handsome Nathaniel Marsh, an alchemist sharing her greenhouse. With a struggling business and his own second chance seemingly out of reach, Nathaniel has no time for flowers or frippery—and certainly none for the intriguing witch next door. When a mysterious blight endangers every living plant in Dragon’s Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together, through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings for one another, to save their community. But with a figure from her previous life knocking at her door and her secrets threatening to uproot everything she’s worked so hard to grow, Violet can’t help but wonder…does a former villain truly deserve a happily-ever-after?

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THE PLACE WHERE THEY BURID YOUR HEART by Christina Henry

VS Note: Horror.

On an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago, there is a house. An abandoned house where, once upon a time, terrible things happened. The children who live on this block are told by their parents to stay away from that house. But of course, children don’t listen. Children think it’s fun to be scared, to dare each other to go inside. Jessie Campanelli did what many older sisters do and dared her little brother Paul. But unlike all the other kids who went inside that abandoned house, Paul didn’t return. His two friends, Jake and Richie, said that the house ate Paul. Of course adults didn’t believe that. Adults never believe what kids say. They thought someone kidnapped Paul, or otherwise hurt him. They thought Paul had disappeared in a way that was ordinary, explainable. The disappearance of her little brother broke Jessie’s family apart in ways that would never be repaired. Jessie grew up, had a child of her own, kept living on the same street where the house that ate her brother sat, crouched and waiting. And darkness seemed to spread out from that house, a darkness that was alive—alive and hungry.

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FORSAKEN BEAUTY  AND THE ETHERBEAST by Kelsey Josephson

Author of strange steampunk and inverted fairy tales, Kelsey Josephson’s stand-alone fairy-tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in a fantasy world with steam-powered airships, sentient automatons, and slow-burn romance. An unconventional beauty, a tormented beast, and the ether that binds their fate…After her own father sells her to the Ringmaster, Belle thinks she’ll spend the rest of her days performing strongwoman stunts until she succumbs to her ether-poisoning, a deadly condition that has disfigured her appearance and given her unnatural strength. A chance encounter with a beast by her solitary campfire changes everything. With fractured memories of the horrific experiments that transformed his body, Beast’s only desire is to escape his creator. When he encounters the camp of the Circus Illume, a strange but kind woman awakens what’s left of his humanity…and unwittingly leads to his capture. Belle hatches a daring escape plan to free them both, but freedom is fragile. With both the Ringmaster and Beast’s creator pursuing them, Belle and Beast must learn to trust strangers and the complicated desires of their hearts.     AmazonKU

THE FORECAST LOOKS LIKE REINDEER: DOUBLEBOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Wendy Rathbone

VS Note: MM PNR.

Aspen: Omega reindeer shifter Aspen needs to get away from his family for the holidays. Every one of his six siblings are married and have children. “When will you settle down?” they always ask. He’s tired of it. Holidays are the worst. Instead of going home for the holiday, this year he books a room at the famous Winter Wonderland Wilderness Resort. He looks forward to shifting in the snow, to the sound of sleigh bells, great restaurant food, the lodge’s critically acclaimed tree lighting ceremony, and warm cozy movie nights eating caramel popcorn balls in front of the fireplace that comes with each room. Another convenience about this trip is being alone and in catered comfort to weather through his heat, which is expected sometime just after Christmas. Dale: Thirty-year-old human alpha, Dale, loves his two-week winter vacations. It’s his yearly downtime from a stressful job. He loves to spend Christmas alone hiking through snowy realms, relaxing in a hot tub overlooking icy forests, and ordering room service whenever he wants. Winter Wonderland Wilderness Resort has every amenity he desires, and he’s looking forward to an amazing, relaxing vacation. What these two men don’t know is that a clerk overbooked all the rooms at the lodge. Now the choice is either to double up and make the most of sharing a room or go home. And neither one wants to leave.   AmazonKU

WOLF BENEATH THE WREATH: MM MPREG WOLF SHIFTER ROMANCE (DOUBLEBOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Aria Grace

Two men. One room. Zero vacancies. Davey wanted nothing more than a quiet Christmas alone at the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Lodge. Cozy meals, no family drama, no pressure. Just peace. But when he arrives and discovers his room double-booked, his holiday plans go up in smoke. Now he’s stuck sharing with a stranger—an impossibly tall, ridiculously handsome alpha who looks at him like he’s the only gift under the tree. Michael hadn’t planned on company either. Ready to turn back in the middle of a snowstorm, he offers the room to the stubborn omega and plans to bail. But the sweet man worries it’s too dangerous for him to leave and sharing is the only option. Though Michael could survive running all the way home through the snow, he has no desire to argue. Not when fate has just dropped someone so tempting in his path. The moment the two men settle into their suite in Room 7, every instinct roars to life. The pull between them is undeniable. The storm outside only fans the heat building inside. Maybe this Christmas, a miracle will deliver exactly what they both need.   AmazonKU

BOUND IN HEAT AND SNOW (DOUBLEBOOKED FOR THE HOLIDAYS) by Kota Quinn

VS Note: MM PNR.

A handsome lion alpha, one unsuspecting human, and only one bed. Oh my! Bound in Heat and Snow is a steamy & sweet MM Christmas romance featuring fated mates, a handsome lion alpha, and a human who has no idea shifters exist. Double-booked for the Holidays is a multi-author mpreg shared setting Christmas series. The winter holidays are hard on single shifters. Instead of going home to yet another barrage of “why haven’t you found your mate yet” questions, some prefer to book lodging and ride out their depressing time off between Christmas and New Year’s. Except this year, their cabins are double-booked with unsuspecting humans.     AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH THE REINDEER KING (MONSTERS AND MISTLETOE) by Paige Michaels

He’s got antlers, ancient magic, and a body built to ruin me. And apparently, I’m his fated mate. I stumble into the forbidden woods and straight into the path of a reindeer-fae king who smells like danger and dark pine. Aelin is cold, commanding, and way too hot for my sanity—especially when he says I belong to him. Trapped by a snowstorm, the tension between us ignites into heat, hunger, and a bond older than the Solstice itself. But claiming me means forever—and I won’t give in unless he wants me for more than magic. Grumpy fae king. Sunshine wildlife girl. One bed, one bond, and zero chance I’m making it out unmarked.      AmazonKU

SNOWED IN WITH THE ICE DRAGON (MONSTERS AND MISTLETOE) by Vala Stone

His touch is ice. His kiss, fire. And I can’t walk away. Bianca – Kevin ditching me in the middle of a blizzard should’ve been the worst night of my life. Then I stumbled across a trail of glittering ice sculptures, each one more breathtaking than the last, until I found the man who made them: Ísarr. He’s rough edges and frostbitten silence, a dragon wrapped in a human form that barely hides his power. He warned me to leave. I should’ve listened. Instead, I stayed… and now every glance, every brush of his cold hand, melts something inside me I didn’t know was frozen. Ísarr – I’ve kept the world at bay for years, locked in exile where no one could see the monster beneath the ice. Until her. Bianca crashes through my walls like sunlight breaking over a frozen lake, filling my silence with warmth and defiance. She should fear me, run from me. Instead, she tempts me past control. Her lips taste of fire, her body fits against mine as though she was made for me. Every kiss cracks the armor I’ve built around my heart. The storm outside is fierce, but the one between us is unstoppable. And if I claim her, if I give in to this hunger, I may never let her go.     AmazonKU

WICKED PRIZE (THE APEX SERIES BOOK FIVE) by Vicky Walklate

Sabine Sinclair’s life as a notorious monster hunter used to be simple. Catch monsters. Kill monsters. Repeat as required. But after an ill-fated assignment ends in disaster, her furious boss gives her one chance to make amends: go undercover to capture the infamous wolf king, the evil monster who destroyed her family and haunts her dreams. All she has to do is pretend to be his helpless captive until back-up arrives. Kyros is cold, merciless, and ready to break his new human pet. Sabine is not easily broken, but his methods are much more dangerous than she expects. Pain and torture, she can handle. Calculated praise and wickedly delicious heat under his teeth and claws…that is so much harder to resist. As their mutual hate slowly changes to undeniable attraction, Sabine realises they have more in common than she ever imagined. And when a terrible revelation shatters her world into pieces, her mortal enemy might be the only one she can trust.     AmazonKU

GENIE’S BOY by TL Travis

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Evil that lurks will never stay hidden for long…Genie had witnessed much over the tenuous centuries he’d roamed the earth. Blood, feast, famine, plagues. None of which affected him, yet by the same token, it had. If that made any sense…Lovers had come and gone just as master’s had, but never had his heart been involved. Until now. Why fate chose this point in his life to grant another access to it would remain a mystery. The Maharajah’s public execution of his parents, done as a warning to the commoners not to take money from his hand, left Raj to fend for himself at a young age. The meager loaf of bread his parents stole to feed their starving family was nowhere near the value of the lives he took that day. After that, Raj was shunned by the town. Never had he been so alone…Over the years, Raj never went without. Food, clothing, everything he required was always there, as if magicked. Cupboards once bare now filled to the brim. How could this be? Will Genie and Raj’s forbidden relationship survive the Maharajah’s greed, or will they meet the same fate as Raj’s parents had for defying his tyrannical rule?      AmazonKU

DISCOVERED MAGIC (THE THORNE WITCHES BOOK 15) by T M Cromer

One moment, Abbie’s anchored to solid rock, the next she’s tumbling through a portal and crashing straight into 1875 Arizona Territory with no clue how she got there or how in the devil she’s supposed to get home. On the other side of the unstable rift, Wilder is willing to risk everything and defy the laws of magic to reach her. Perdition Ridge isn’t exactly Small Town USA. Outlaws are plentiful, and mercy’s been extinct for years. To survive, Abbie must rely on her instincts and a few unlikely allies: a disillusioned gambler, an indomitable sheriff, and a Traveler who’s lost his mojo. But the Fates are tightening their strings, making the climb more treacherous and the fall unforgiving. Abbie and Wilder must do what they do best—dig in, rely on each other, and aim for the summit.   AmazonKU

A VOW OF BLOOD (THE PURGATORY CHRONICLES) by C M Quinn

Set 10 years before ‘A Song of Death’ – Monster. Vicious. Alone. All Aya Sinclair has ever known since the extermination of her people is that no one can know her secret, or she too, will follow them to the grave. At sixteen, she’s made a name for herself in the Dusk Quarter but at a price. Her latest mission ought to be a simple one, but a chance discovery will alter the course of her life—forever. Now, she must do what she has never done before—trust a stranger, forge a bond, and her carve out the home she never thought possible. For the last necromancer, it’s time for a little carnage.   AmazonKU

SERAPH’S TEARS (ANGELSFALL SERIES BOOK ONE) by Anna Evernight

Trapped in a cult bound by lies and control, all Eve wants is her freedom. Desperate to escape the religious cult she was raised in, Eve takes a job as a housekeeper for a mythical, secretive creature. She expects to find a monster at the isolated manor, but instead finds Gabriel: a beautiful, otherworldly angel. If she wants to escape, she must offer Gabriel up to her church in exchange for her freedom. Fifty years ago the sky tore open, and Gabriel and his warriors Fell into the human world. They search for a way home, but to no avail. And then, in his darkness—hope appears in the form of a mysterious woman. Gabriel can’t be distracted from his duty: helping his fellow Fallen angels return home. But he’s enchanted by her smiles and determination, even if she’s hiding secrets. As Eve falls for this mighty, winged being, she realizes she can’t betray him, leaving him to a life in a gilded cage. She also can’t face her church’s punishment for failure. As danger grows around them, can Eve find a way to save them both? After angels fall, can love take flight?    AmazonKU

CUDDLES FOR THE BEAR (ASSASSIN’S ALLEY BOOK THREE) by Lisa Oliver

VS Note: MM PNR.

Is it true you’re an assassin? Can you kill him for me? Devon, bear shifter assassin, had been communicating with someone online, but when the conversation takes a sinister turn, he turns to his friends for help. Days later he’s on a plane, planning to intercept the person who has his online friend captive… the Fates move in mysterious ways. But isn’t that a better way to go? Isn’t it better to actually leave my fate in the hands of the gods instead of the man who plans to kill me anyway? Wren’s life has been one shit-fest after another. Now, at the end of his tether, he does the only thing he thought he could do to escape his situation. But standing on a ledge, four stories high, he learns the Fates had plans for him that didn’t involve him dying anytime soon. “Do you know anything about the paranormal world?” Wren’s new life with Devon brings on one new surprise after another. Finding out he’s part of the paranormal world is one thing, shifting for the first time is something else entirely. But the Agency Devon works for knows what happened to Wren didn’t happen in isolation, and when Devon is pressured to interrogate Wren for information he doesn’t think he has, Wren starts to wonder if his new life is all it’s cracked up to be.

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VERIDIAN: THE DEMON AND THE SAVIOR BOOK TWO by Ashley R O’Donovan

VS Note: “Avids” = people born with special abilities. From the blurb for book one: “… set in a dystopian world where she’s forced to solve a murder using her rare ability to see the dead—and the man offering her a way out might be hiding the most dangerous secret of all.”

The dead don’t scare me. But seeing my first love alive? That terrifies me. The plan was simple. Kill Marco, rescue the Avids, and disappear with Malachi forever. Then Cade stepped back into my life and shattered everything I thought I knew. He’s been part of Solace all along, working for the Syndicate, searching for me for years. But I’m not the girl he once loved. Marco’s pretty prison turned me into something darker, something that speaks to ghosts and has a hunger for revenge. The Volkovs are planning something big, the Syndicate is crumbling from betrayal, and someone is playing both sides. With Aurora at my side and the Avids rising in rebellion, we have one chance to strike back. Then a century-old secret surfaces that changes everything and has me questioning who to trust, what I’m fighting for, and who I even am. What if every choice brings me closer to becoming exactly what Marco wanted me to be—the demon they all fear? Now I need help from the dead … before I end up joining them.    AmazonKU

THE PUN FARMER OR HOW TO BUILD A SKY FARM AND OTHER IMPOSSIBLE THINGS by Autumn Dawn

When a glitch in an experimental game drops Wren into a fantasy world, she’s given an impossible choice: a cursed farm no one has survived, or certain death. Armed with nothing but a magical purse full of “pun seeds” and zero survival skills, Wren discovers her new farm comes with deadly monsters, failing shields, and plants that grow exactly what their names suggest. Breadfruit produces actual bread. Silk trees grow finished gowns. And her attempts at defensive plants? Let’s just say the barking dogwood disaster will haunt her forever. But when a jealous weather mage sabotages her property during the autumn monster migration, Wren does what she does best: she adapts. Rising from the ruins, she creates the impossible—an elevated Sky Farm that defies every rule of magic and architecture, turning her cursed land into the most legendary property in the territory. Now if only she could figure out her feelings for Jin, the serious Marshall who keeps finding excuses to visit. Or handle Viktor, the charming landowner who sees her as the ultimate business opportunity. Or survive the increasingly unhinged attacks from a woman who will do anything to destroy her. In a world where monsters migrate like herds, political marriages are strategic moves, and the right plant pun can save your life, Wren must prove she’s more than just a lucky transplant. She’s the Sky Farmer—and she’s just getting started.

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GATEKEEPER (REALMS OF THE UNDERWORLD) by K Wish

Legends have to start somewhere, right? Someone doesn’t just make up a story that is passed down generations … or do they? Well, that’s what I’m going to find out. The Devil Pools of Hallowed Springs are shrouded in mystery and lore, but tonight, the night of All Hallows Eve, I’m going to find the truth. The legend says the pools are a gate to Hell, a portal to another world. A realm we are told to fear … but what if they’re all wrong? My livestream is on. Pitchforksandchill666, is going to break viewing records as I uncover the truth about the paranormal. Three seconds till midnight. I can feel the air begin to shift. Two seconds till midnight. The water looks so warm and inviting. One second till midnight. I just want to touch it … taste it …consume it. *Emmie’s livestream is shown around the world. Footage that will be used for decades to prove the existence of something otherworldly. Read on to see where she lands as she enters the Devils Pool, and a gate to Hell opens.     AmazonKU

THE PUSHY PIXIES ARE GOING DOWN (HOPEFULLY) (CARRY A FAERIE BOOK TWO) by Michele Notaro

VS Note: MM Urban Fantasy 

Are there pixies absolutely everywhere? Unfortunately. Tiny flying faeries with poisonous dust? Great…Is Winter calling me his boyfriend all of a sudden? Wait. What? It’s pixie season, and they’re everywhere. Win and I are wearing so much pixie gear we look like we’re in space suits. It isn’t fun, but getting dusted is worse. Pixies. Ugh. But Chaos and Aeson need our help, so here we are. To top it off, Winter and I have people showing up from our pasts, demanding our attention and bringing up old hurts. But at least I have him by my side this time—and he has me. Not sure how long it’ll last—even though my heart wants forever and Win’s saying all the right things—but I’m definitely going to hold on to him while I can.     AmazonKU

ONCE YOU GO PACK (PARANORMAL DATING AGNCY BOOK 94) by Milly Taiden

Mila is tired of being invisible. She’s focused on her hidden dream of becoming a writer, not catching the eye of a powerful man. But when the Gerri Wilder tasks her with organizing a last-minute charity event, she’s thrown directly into the path of the demanding sponsor, Cade. He’s impossibly hot and dangerously growly. One look from the possessive wolf king, and her organized, invisible life goes up in flames. Cade, Alpha of the Ice Moon Pack, is fighting to protect his territory from a ruthless rival, Zarik. He has no time for human distractions or complicated events. But the moment the quiet, curvy assistant walks into the room, his inner wolf roars one possessive word: Mine. Mila is determined to just survive the event, but the dominant, impossibly hot Alpha refuses to leave her side . As their fated attraction explodes, the danger escalates. Zarik, sensing Cade’s new weakness, targets Mila directly. Can Cade protect his fated mate and his pack before his rival destroys them both?    AmazonKU
BATTLING BRIGHT (AN OBSCURE MAGIC BOOK 16) by Viola Grace
The first wedding is being held at the Grunwald mansion, and the more Krys tries to keep things under control, the more things spiral outward just to piss her off. Krys is keeping herself calm and getting the rushed wedding all lined up, the invitations out and back, and accommodating the preferences of a dozen species and dignitaries from around town and beyond. Her family is behind her, her new cousin is cheering her on, and the complications of having the man in her city starting a courtship make her head spin. Planning weddings means she has to adapt to anything that comes her way, and the second set of vows for the dragonborn and his wife had to be perfect. Krys’s new career as the exclusive event planner for the mansion hinged on it. So, as long as she could plan a buffet and entertainment for elves, goblins, trolls, dragons, mages, humans, and a variety of blends… no problem.    Amazon     Kobo      NOTE: Not on Apple Books yet as of the day I checked.
SILVER CLAWS CRIMSON TEARS (WINGS OF EMBERNIA BOOK TWO) by Ingrid Seymour
A year of my life is missing, stolen by darkness. I can’t remember anything, and when I return to Embernia, the realm I left behind hasn’t changed. But I have. Once, I was a bonded Skysinger, the best of my kind. Now, I return to whispers, suspicion, and a stranger in the mirror. My disappearance fractured more than memories. It left cracks in the life I tried to build and the thunderous relationship I shared with Vaylen Stormsong, Embernia’s irresistible High Prime. He’s spent the last year carrying the weight of duty and the grief of my loss. But my return brings more than renewed passion. It brings danger. Shadows gather between us, secrets I can’t remember and forces determined to tear us apart. The Screechclaw War rages on, and ancient forces stir beneath the surface. To save Embernia, I must uncover the truth of my missing year before it destroys everything. But the deeper I dig, the clearer it becomes: the greatest threat isn’t the enemy beyond the border. It’s the truth slowly awakening within me and what it might cost me.      AmazonKU
DEAD CLUCKED (COLD CASE PSYCHIC BOOK 39) by Pandora Pine 
VS Note: MM PNR.
When Ronan, Jude, and Fitzgibbon are asked to pose for a beefcake calendar, the men jump at the chance, but the photo shoot turns into a giant cluster cluck when the guys learn they’ll be posing with chickens! Making matters worse is the fact that each detective must bond with their hen prior to the poultry glamour shots. The detectives take this minor inconvenience in stride, after all a little pain is worth the gain of being forever imortalized in a work of art. The only problem with the chickens coming home to roost is how Ronan, Jude, and Fitz will explain their one-night stands with the belles of the Butterball.       AmazonKU
COURT OF FURY by Lacey Carter Andersen

What happens when three sexy princes are dying to bring me to my knees? I turn the tables and leave them begging on their knees for me…The three handsome royals are driving me out of my mind. Not only are they making my life miserable at the dragon riders’ academy, but some unexplainable force is pulling me to them. All I want is to ride my dragon and become the warrior I need to be. But how am I supposed to do that when I’m being thwarted and distracted at every turn? Fortunately for me, I know a thing or two about putting a man in his place. So these three can try their best, but they’re not going to beat me. Except, there’s more to the dragon riders’ academy than meets the eye, starting with the Hollowborn’s strange and unexpected message that I’m expected to deliver to the king. A message that may change the tide in the war between my people and our greatest enemy. But will this change be for better or worse?      AmazonKU

TO KILL A GODDESS by Rachel Tork

Soren Cavell was taken from her home kingdom of Mise as a child and forced into servitude in the palace of the king responsible for the murders of her family and the war against her people. As one of the Princess of Aren’s handmaidens, she is bound to serve, so when the princess requests Soren travel with her to the Choosing Ceremony, she cannot deny her. But when a rare moon-white dragon picks Soren, the tide of the war changes as power begins to shift. Even as Soren falls into her new place amongst Aren’s army ranks, strange dreams that have haunted her since childhood grow all the more vivid and disturbing. And when she meets her trainer, Vane Evva, she cannot help but connect the dreams to him. The past leaves deep wounds. The question is, just how fatal?     AmazonKU

A CATTITUDE CHRISTMAS (CRESCENT MOON MYSTERIES BOOK EIGHT)  by Tara Lush

Amelia Matthews, midlife innkeeper and reluctant witch, is determined to make her first Florida Christmas magical for her daughter, her friends, and the quirky guests of the Crescent Moon Inn. Between baking for what feels like everyone in town, wrangling inflatable snowmen, and coordinating the town’s beloved Christmas parade, she barely has time to breathe. Then disaster strikes. The town’s most treasured holiday mascot — the Santa Manatee statue — vanishes. To make matters worse, Jimbo, Amelia’s kind-hearted employee (and official Town Elf), is attacked during the theft. Now, with Cypress Grove’s holiday cheer hanging by a thread, Amelia has no choice but to investigate. With the help of her daughter Jenny, her eccentric friends, and cat Freddie Purrcury, Amelia must follow a trail of glitter, gossip, and magical mischief to uncover the truth. But someone in town is hiding more than holiday secrets, and solving this mystery could mean the difference between saving Christmas… or watching it sink into the Florida swamp.     AmazonKU

THE GRIZZLY SITUATION by Parkr Williams

VS Note: MM PNR.

Ulysses McNamara—Uly to his family—has just lost another job. His seventh, actually. He gives everything 100%, but his brain is going a million miles a minute and his body can’t keep up with it. He believed this last position as a server in his uncle’s café was his final chance. Fate, however, has plans for Uly. His newest customer has a secret, and Uly is about to become privy to it. Brent Lockhart would rather be back home in Bear Mountain, playing with his twin five-year-old sons before they head for school. Instead, he’s the CEO of Ursine Inc, in Milwaukee to decide on the future of 300 employees who could lose their jobs. At least he can help the server in the café when he gets into trouble. Brent makes the man sit and tell him what’s wrong. After a brief conversation, Uly says something that shows Brent a way to save all those jobs. Then he runs. Brent tracks the guy down, insisting that Uly should work for him. Sure, Uly helped him out, but that isn’t the reason. Once upon a time someone gave Brent a chance, and he wants to return the favor. At least that’s what he’s telling himself, but with each hour Uly spends with Brent and his two sons, the three bears find something they never expected. Something they’d had once, before it was taken from them when they’d lost someone precious. A home.      AmazonKU

BONES AND CACTUS BLOOMS (THE HUANTED RANCH MYSTERIES BOOK TWO) by Sara Bourgeois

Claire Caldwell has finally found her footing. Six months after solving her first murder, she’s turned Whispering Saguaro Ranch into a thriving animal sanctuary and embraced her ability to see the dead. But the desert has more secrets to reveal. When volunteers preparing for the Cactus Bloom Festival unearth human bones that have been hidden for thirty-five years, the whole town starts whispering about old scandals and vanished souls. Then one of the most powerful man in Perdido Springs turns up dead in his office, and everyone Claire knows had a reason to want him gone. The man who foreclosed on half the town… dead. The festival meant to save local businesses… in chaos. The ghosts in Claire’s kitchen… warning her that death isn’t finished yet. As Claire digs into both the old bones and the fresh corpse, she discovers the two deaths are connected by threads of family, loss, and long-buried grievances that someone would kill to keep hidden. With her fox, Rusty, bringing ominous warnings, the ghost of a long-dead librarian helping her research, and her relationship with Sam strained by family obligations, Claire must navigate a town full of desperate people harboring deadly secrets. In Perdido Springs, old wounds never heal… and some debts can only be paid in blood. Welcome back to the desert, where the past never stays buried.     AmazonKU

HIS CLAIM (ALPHAS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS BOPOK THREE) by Sara Fields

He didn’t bother taming me. He just bred me. Pinned to the wall, his breath hot on my bare skin, I can tell this fearsome alpha wolf is about to lose control, tear off what’s left of my clothing, and claim me as his mate right here and now. It doesn’t matter how hard I fight. I’ll still…(more blurb on ebook seller’s page)    AmazonKU 

A MURDER ON LONDON BRIDGE: A TIME TRAVEL HISTORICAL COZY MYSTERY (THE KITTY WORTHINGTON MYSTERIES BOOK 13) by Magda Alexander

London. 1925. Now settled into their new married lives, Kitty Worthington and her husband Robert are thrilled to host their first formal dinner. Among their guests is an antiquities dealer who hints at a groundbreaking discovery, a document so important it’s bound to ruin lives. Days later, the dealer is bludgeoned to death on London Bridge. Plunged into a mystery of historical proportions, Kitty embarks on a quest for the truth. Her search uncovers a cryptic manuscript hinting at a shadowy Stuart-era society. As the stakes rise, an ancient historian warns Kitty that digging too deep can be deadly. Undeterred, she presses on, only to be struck down as well. 1666. Kitty awakens to find herself in the court of Charles II, serving as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Consort Catherine of Braganza. Even as she navigates courtly intrigue and a growing danger to the Queen’s life, London erupts in flames. Trapped in the past with the Great Fire blazing around her, will Kitty find her way back, or is she doomed to perish in history’s ashes?       AmazonKU

SECRETS AT DAWN: FORBIDDEN FATED MATES MM PNR (FORBIDDEN ENTANGLEMENTS BOOK THREE) by April Kelley

Toby Spencer has two secrets. The first isn’t so bad. A lot of wolf shifters have magical abilities. Some can even make people disappear. Right? Right?! His second secret’s far more deadly. It means he’ll have to betray his best friend and his friend’s hot older brother if he wants his secrets to stay hidden. A hot older brother who’s his fated mate. Griffin is a deputy. It’s a necessity to help keep the peace at pack meetings. But pack meetings aren’t the only place where the pack members are causing problems. Someone will do anything to become alpha, including blackmail and betraying the pack. And they’ll take Toby and Griffin down with them.      AmazonKU

RUNNING WITH THE WEREWOLF (DARKAWAY ISLAND BOOK ONE) by Laurie London

Daphne Dupree needed to get out of town after things at work got a little…complicated. The last thing she expected when she filled out a silly online quiz was winning a singles trip to paradise. Too good to be true? Probably. Turns out, Darkaway Island is more than a little strange. People in costumes. Large dogs running around unleashed. And there’s a lot of crazy talk about monsters. But the weirdest of all is that she seems to be part of a…dating contest. The prize: a smoking-hot cowboy with an unhealthy fixation on the moon. Travis Monroe wasn’t planning to stay long on the island. As the grumpy werewolf star of a supernatural soap opera, all he wants is to give his newly-inherited ranch to his sister then fly back to the set on his private plane. Trouble is, if he isn’t mated by the White Wolf Moon, the ranch reverts to a half-brother he just met, and his sister loses everything. Solution: Find a mate, sign over the property, break up. Falling in love isn’t in the script. As Travis and Daphne spend time together on group dates and one-on-ones, his feelings for her grow, extending far beyond duty to his family. And she learns he’s more—much more—than just fangs and fur. But a rival pack is stirring up trouble, and Daphne is hiding a secret of her own. Do Travis and Daphne find love in paradise only to lose it in the end?      AmazonKU

HOLIDAY HAVOC (SUNNYSIDE RETIRED WITCHES MYSTERIES BOOK 10) by Paula Lester

Sunnyside’s first-ever Winter Wonder Faire is supposed to be the merriest event of the season, but even Christmas magic can’t compete with Sunnyside chaos. Under a shimmering glamour dome meant to hide the supernatural shenanigans from mortal eyes, enchanted snowflakes fall in perfect patterns, memory-infused pies hum with nostalgia, and rocket-skating retirees decorate like their lives depend on it. Everything is almost… almost… under control. Trouble arrives wrapped in tinsel when the colossal holiday ornament gives a merry little shimmy…and then blows itself to bits, peppering the fairgrounds with enchanted glitter and revealing that one person has jingled their last bell. With glowing beards, sugar cyclones, animated decorations, and residents one mishap away from launching themselves into another dimension, Zoey races to uncover who tampered with the ornament—and why—before the biggest holiday event in Sunnyside history becomes a full-blown magical meltdown.      AmazonKU

DARKENING TRUTH (BLACK ONYX ACADEMY) BOOK FOUR by Nikita Parmenter

It turns out that I’ve been to the God Realm before, or at least a part of it, and although we do learn some new things, surprisingly, we already know some of what the Goddess wants to tell us. The Dragon Realm. One of the more dangerous realms, and apparently where we need to go, before we can even begin to prepare, and maybe question Monty about a few things, the Fates decide that things aren’t complicated enough and throw us another complication, and an old enemy makes an unwelcome appearance. This is a slow burn paranormal Reverse Harem.     AmazonKU

DEVIL WEARS NADA: MM FANTASY ROMANCE (HOTTER THAN HELL) by Callie Colby

He fell out of the sky naked, smug, and gorgeous enough to stop time—or at least traffic. Naturally, I assumed he was some half-feral fashion influencer having a breakdown. LA’s full of them. Turns out he’s not just vain—he’s literally Vanity. A demon prince, banished to Earth without his powers, his wardrobe, or any sense of personal boundaries. He refuses to wear polyester. He flirts like it’s a competitive sport. And every time he gets turned on, my studio mirrors shatter like they’ve seen too much. Now I’ve got a narcissistic hellspawn draped in my finest silks, strutting around my workroom like it’s his throne room, and whispering things that make me want to sin all over the cutting table. I should throw him out. Instead, I’m dressing him up just to see how fast I can peel him back down again.      AmazonKU      AB

SCREAM FOR ME: A DARK MONSTER LOVE STORY by G M Fairy

The harbinger of fear, the predator of the night…I feast on human terror, drinking in their screams like the sweetest nectar. But when I stumble through the portal into her room and hear her cries of pleasure, a far darker, primal hunger takes hold. She belongs to me now. I need to hear her scream like that again, and I will, even if I have to break her apart. The woman stolen from her world and thrust into a realm of nightmares…I felt it—eyes watching me from the darkness, golden and unblinking from the shadows of my closet. The thought sent a shiver through me, twisting into something illicit as I let my fingers wander. But when he pounced, dragging me into his cold, merciless world, the thrill turned to terror. Now, he demands my pleasure, my screams, but I refuse to surrender without a fight.       AmazonKU

SIEGE TO THE THRONE (RELLMIRA DUOLOGY BOOK TWO) by Leah Mara

Revenge never gives—it only takes. With broken hearts full of vengeance, Kiera and Aiden escape their burning city. But their war is just beginning. Torn between saving her siblings and defeating the monster she helped unleash, Kiera is determined to right her wrongs. Even if it means becoming reluctant allies with the man she betrayed. Together, Aiden and Kiera battle their feelings for each other as they fight for their kingdom. But their enemies have grown into an army that hunts them mercilessly. And this time—there is no escape.      AmazonKU

RAVENMINDER SERIES BOOK ONE by Lindsay Cummings

VS Note: From OCT 23.

The sky is a dangerous place for a girl without wings. In the war-torn kingdom of Lordach, Ezer has spent two years as the Ravenminder of Rendegard. Chained in a prison tower’s aviary, she pays the debts of the man she calls uncle, who rescued her after shadow wolves killed her parents. With three glittering scars on her cheek and mystical ‘strangeties’ unlike any magic in their world, Ezer is haunted by dreams of her death at the hands of an unknown warrior. Then a Sacred Knight arrives to recruit Ezer for the fight against the enemy, the Acolyte. When her affinity with birds reveals itself on the journey to the Citadel, she is given a new mission: to help the Prince of Lordach tame one of the Acolyte’s captured raphons. Half giant raven, half black panther, these creatures are as loyal to the Acolyte as his strongest darksoul soldiers . . and only they can make the flight to infiltrate his lair. While Ezer forges an unbreakable bond with the raphon, her heart becomes torn between the loyal Knight and the mysterious Prince. But as her dreams take on new clarity, she finds herself faced with a choice and a question: has the darkness been her destiny all along?     AmazonKU      AB

NYX (MATE’S MARK BOOK THREE) by G Eilsel

VS Note: MM Fantasy.

Ninety-one years ago, I stumbled upon a window to a strange new world. Beyond, there were blue skies and odd trees, and flowers like nothing I’d ever seen. Curiosity got the better of me, and life as I knew it changed forever. Ljómur was the military’s best kept secret. Behind those walls, I was experimented on and studied, torn apart and put back together. Caged, collared, and stripped of any sense of identity I once had. A lifelong prisoner. Now I’m free, and my former hell has been destroyed. Every bar that once confined me lies in ruin, yet I still can’t escape my cage. It’s been a month since we discovered what the military was trying to do, and since I swore to bring the group to the rifts. Ever since, I’ve been living in fear of the day they’ll call on me to fulfill that promise. No one knows better than me what’s at stake, but most days, my mind is not my own. When I’m lost inside my thoughts, only one person is able to reach me. Reyes breaks through the clouds and pulls me from that dark place in a way the others can’t. He tells me I still have something to give, but I’m not so sure that’s true. I’m just a broken thing, after all, and those can’t always be fixed.     AmazonKU

CHAMPION OF THE ALPHA: ALPHA KING’S BREEDER BOOK 16 by Moondragon

We were trained to be warriors—loyal, unbreakable, unafraid. But none of us were prepared for the mist. It came from the sea, swallowing the shore in darkness. And in that chaos, I watched Austin die. My mate… or was he? His last words still haunt me. Now I’m a captive in a land ruled by fae—forced into deadly Trials alongside my two closest friends. We’re told to fight for glory, but the truth is simpler: only one of us will live. My sponsor, **Kaleb—the Alpha King of the Glades—**isn’t like the others. Half fae, half wolf, and bound to serve a cruel king, he’s the only thing standing between me and certain death. But even he can’t protect me from the magic that dulls what wolves feel… or the betrayal waiting in our own ranks. When allies become enemies and freedom demands blood, I’ll have to decide who I can trust—and who I’m willing to lose—before the Trials claim us all.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo

MEANT FOR THEM (TRASH HAVEN BOOK ONE) by Kelsey Soliz

Life is rough when you’re only half wolf, and living in a world run by shifters. Meeting my fated mate should solve all my problems, but what if he doesn’t want me either? I run. Eventually, I’m caught, but judging by the way these three wolves that live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere are looking at me, I don’t think I was meant to end up anywhere else. Maybe…I was just meant for them all along.   AmazonKU

MATED TO THE WEREWOLVES (CLEARWATER MONSTERS BOOK FOUR) by Zoe Ashwood

Three wolves. One human. A bond even fate can’t break. Stranded in a snowstorm on the side of the road, I think I’m in trouble when strangers pull over to help. Instead, as the snow traps us inside a cozy cabin, I meet them. Carter, the commanding werewolf alpha. Troy, the wounded giant with gentle eyes. And Sebastian—the artist, the one most in touch with his wolf. They say I’m their mate. The one woman destined to complete their pack. I should be terrified, but every touch sets me burning, every kiss makes me believe. Wrapped up in their strength and desire, I’m starting to realize something undeniable—I don’t just want one of them. I want all three.      AmazonKU

A HEART FIERCE AND BLOOMING: A SAPPHIC VAMPIRE ROMANTASY (HER FANGS IN MY HEART BOOK THREE) by Moira Darling

A sunshiny vampire baroness. A grumpy lady knight. And six reasons to fight for something softer. Baroness Marienne Solmere is all charm, silks, and unending optimism—a vampire with a big heart, a bigger manor, and no idea how to care for children. So naturally, when six traumatized vampire kids are rescued from a collapsed cult, she takes them under her wing. Enter Ser Tamsin Greaves: a gruff, no-nonsense knight who has seen too much and says too little. Assigned by the Court of Eldermire to bring order to Bloomhill Manor, she is determined to provide structure, discipline… and keep the kids from biting visiting nobles. She arrives expecting a nightmare and finds one. Albeit… a very colorful, very pretty one in heels. As Tamsin and Marienne circle each other with frustration, attraction, and a shared sense of duty, something strange begins to stir in the old manor: hope. Family. Maybe even love. But the Court of Eldermire thrives on tradition, and Marienne’s found family breaks every one. As political tensions rise and dangerous eyes turn toward the children, Marienne and Tamsin must risk everything to protect what they’ve built. But will it be enough to stop the court from tearing them apart?      AmazonKU

WITCH FIRE (STARFALL ACADEMY BOOK ONE) by Lyra Mishon

Finding four soul-bonded mates should be a blessing for a magically incompetent witch, except they have no clue who or what I am. Nobody does. Not even me. Officially, I don’t exist. At least I didn’t until I accidentally set fire to a farmer’s market. That’s when I’m sent to Starfall Academy for the most powerful magicals, where students hone their skills and learn control. Alaric Vane is the son of the Mage Council leader. A storm mage with a serious attitude problem who enjoys making my life miserable when he’s not sending my magic haywire. Zane Vanyx is the last of his kind, the only son of an insane mass-murderer. Everyone’s afraid of the incubus, but he’s taken to stalking me, which is concerning. Maverick Wilder, our bear shifter PT instructor, is huge, fierce, and strangely protective. He claims he’s my mate, which can’t be true because faculty and students are forbidden from fraternizing. And that includes being naked together in his office after hours…Kai Seathorne is a shy, sweet merman, and one of the few students who doesn’t make fun of me. I’d love to get to know him better, but in our elitist society, witches and lesser magicals don’t mix. Or kiss. Sadly, my confusing love life is the least of my concerns. I can’t afford to let my guard down. Not with vicious hellhounds hunting me.      AmazonKU

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THE EDGE OF REASON by Michelle Torlot

A soulmate is supposed to love you forever. So what’s wrong with Ember? Ember grew up in a sexist pack where women are valued only for cooking, cleaning, and bearing pups. But when her fated mate rejects her, she’s sent away to join a very different kind of pack. Led by the powerful and brooding Alpha Damon Scopus, Ember’s new pack plunges her headfirst into a war she doesn’t understand, a new mate bond she never expected, and shocking revelations about her own identity. Has Ember finally found a place where she fits, or is she hurtling toward her own destruction?     Amazon

BROKEN FORCED MATE (BADLANDS WOLVES BOOK FIVE) by Kayla Wolf

My true mate broke me. Now he kidnaps me and forces me to marry him. I was finally trying to move on from his rejection and supposed to marry someone else. When my Alpha mate hears about it, he gets furious and kidnaps me. Now I have to participate in the forced marriage ceremony to protect my pack. He was my secret protector for years, keeping my body safe, though not my heart. But I’m strong. I survived his rejection and made a new life away from him.
Until his Alpha genes decide that I’m his after all. Until he takes me as his forced mate, to have and to hold. When I want to fight him, he grabs my wrist, and then it happens. Psychic visions crash over me, showing me why I’m forcibly bound to him. My body is trembling from delicious exhaustion, needy in his strong arms. My heart is broken from what he did to me, helpless in his big hands. Will my Alpha heal my heart?      AmazonKU      AB

MOONLIT NIGHTS AND NORTHERN LIGHTS: MM ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS PNR (THE KILLIGREW STREET CASE FILES BOOK TWO) by TJ Rose

How to survive fake dating your telepathic arch nemesis during an undercover mission in Scotland:1. Don’t think horrible thoughts about him in case he’s listening in. The creep. 2. Ensure Freddy the zombie ferret doesn’t bite him. Much. 3. Try not to call him Detective Dickface (unless he really deserves it). ̶4̶.̶ ̶D̶o̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶t̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶’̶r̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶t̶c̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶e̶e̶l̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶ – Rory – Imagine my surprise when my missing ex-boyfriend’s phone pings back to life in the one place I swore I’d never set foot in again: home. Home to the pack I left years ago, where I’d learned I’d never be enough. I’m probably mad for agreeing to go—after all, the pack gathering I’ve been invited to is definitely a trap—but even more crazily, I’m being sent with a man who hates my guts. The detective who threw me into a cell during a full moon, condemning me to an agony that I still have nightmares over. It doesn’t help that he’s hotter than hell. Thankfully, he’s straight, otherwise the way he looks at me sometimes might put ideas in my head… If I were ever able to forgive him, of course. Theodore – He’s loud. He’s infuriating. He thinks it’s okay to insult me to my face. So why have I agreed to partner up with Rory Thorne to investigate missing shifters? And even worse, why have I agreed to pretend to be his boyfriend?! Being a telepath means I’ve always kept the world at arm’s length. I don’t have time for tiny wolves with chaotic energy and ridiculous hair and eyes that taunt me with their enigmatic colour—an ocean-forest riddle that distracts me more than I care to admit. Can the two of us pull off our undercover mission? Possibly, if we don’t kill each other first…Or, even worse, kiss.       AmazonKU

ARCTIC MATES (FROSTHAVEN ACADEMY BOOK THREE) by Jaye Marellen

Six mates. One impossible truth. A secret that could destroy them all. I thought surviving two kidnappings was the hard part. I was wrong. Now I’m back at Frosthaven Academy, hiding bonds that shouldn’t exist. The Council says what I am is impossible—that having more than two mates is deadly. But my body tells a different story, one written in ancient marks and forbidden power. My mates are everything I never knew I needed: Twin investigators who share more than just DNA – A protective RA who sees through all my walls – A professor fighting every rule to keep me safe – A wild soul who makes me believe in joy again – A mysterious seer with gifts the world fears – I have to decide: Die hiding what I am, or risk everything to change a world that fears what it doesn’t understand. The Christmas ball is coming. The revolution is inevitable. And some secrets are too powerful to stay buried.       AmazonKU      AB

HUNTER WOLF: STEEL PROTECTION (RETURN TO FATE MOUNTAIN BOOK SEVEN) Bby Scarlett Grove

Brianna Rayner’s perfect small-town life running Sweet Summit Bakery shatters when she takes a wrong turn and witnesses a murder. Terrified and alone with her parents traveling the world, she finds unexpected hope when she matches with Hunter Wolf on a shifter dating app. But when he doesn’t respond to her desperate message, she thinks even fate has abandoned her. Until the dangerous bounty hunter walks into her bakery two weeks later, having deleted their match without ever looking. Hunter Cruz has spent decades convincing himself he didn’t need a mate. The ex-Special Forces wolf shifter tracks killers for Steel Protection and sleeps alone in an empty apartment. The mission is everything. But when a protection job brings him face-to-face with the beautiful bear shifter, his wolf recognizes what his scarred heart tried to delete: his fated mate. Now Brie has become a target, and the danger she stumbled into threatens everyone she loves. Hunter must protect the woman he rejected while hunting those who would destroy their community. But as the threat escalates and the mate bond grows impossible to ignore, Brie must decide if she can trust the wolf who deleted her. Because when the stakes are life and death, the mate who almost threw their chance away might be her only hope for survival.      AmazonKU

THE BLOOD COLLECTOR: A MODERN VAMPIRE ROMANTASY OF PERFUME AND BLOOD (THE BLOOD COLLECTOR SERIES BOOK ONE) by Jade Christy

VS Note: Cliffhanger.

Perfume is memory. Blood is obsession. And love? Love is the sharpest thing in the room. I bottle desire for a living. Perfume is my life. One lucky haul of antique glass—exquisite, all different, all purring like they’ve got secrets—and my new indie perfume company blows up overnight. Orders spike. A glossy interview drops. My little brand catches fire. Then the bottles start to hum. Enter Gabriel de Clermont: tall, inconvenient, and very much the kind of trouble I swore off. He recognizes the truth I really didn’t order—those bottles were forged with vampire blood. His blood. Enchanted by a witch to turn scent into addiction & bloodlust by an evil couple of vampires who are power hungry. He was named the original “Blood Collector” against his wishes. These bottles create addiction and bloodlust. When Gabriel discovered the truth, he hid the cursed bottles. Someone found them. I bought them. Now my work is a choir calling monsters home, and the evil couple wants me and the bottles back. Turns out the bottles like me better than them. That makes me a target. Now what?   AmazonKU      AB

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LINKS TO RECENT NEW RELEASES POSTS from Veronica:

November 12

November  5

October 29

October 22

October 15

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

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

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

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