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2023 May Giveaways
2023 April Giveaways
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Bonnie Traymore talks about her new thriller novel
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
I lived in Silicon Valley for eight years, and my husband worked in venture capital-funded biotech firms. I thought it would be interesting to set the book there. Although it’s predominately a domestic suspense thriller, there are side plots about both the husband and the wife’s workplaces that reflect the region and its high-tech, fast-paced culture. The issue of the pros and cons of technological advancement is embedded in the main plot, but I can’t say much more without giving it away. A fun fact is I started writing the book before Chat GPT came out, and I was sort of reacting to it in real time because I’d created a fictitious company for Laura, the protagonist, and the product was made obsolete when Chat GPT was released, so I wrote that into the storyline.
Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes:
A fun fact, or perhaps a cautionary tale, is that the part about random vandals cutting people’s brake hoses is true! I found out when I was researching the idea of how hard or easy it is to cut someone’s brake line, and I wrote that into the story when Laura’s trying to figure out what happened to her car. Turns out, it’s hard to cut the brake line, but not that hard to cut the rubber hose. I have no idea why someone would want to cut the brake hoses of strangers, but be sure and pump your brakes before you start driving.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
There has been some controversy about the choice of POV in the book. I used first person for Laura and third person limited for her husband and the PI. This allows the reader to feel closer to the protagonist but also give some other perspectives to add spice to the story. Some people love it and find it engaging and some people don’t seem to like very much. If I had to do it over, I might rethink it, but then I’ll have to see how it’s received by the wider audience. Michael Connelly did this in The Poet, and that’s where I got the idea. But then, I’m not Michael Connelly! If you read it, let me know what you think. Read more >>
New Novels
Romance
Mission: Betrayal Bear’s Brigade Book 2 by Emily Mims
Genre: Contemporary Military Romance
IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS
Preston Ramos knows most families are dysfunctional, but his has so many layers of messed up even he can’t believe what his father’s asking him to do. Yet, guilt and brotherly love have Preston going to South America with a woman he can’t stand who he wants to bed with a desire he’s never felt before.
Sergeant Sabina Kaslov is proud to be a part of Bear’s Brigade. The Special Ops team members are shadows who accomplish the impossible in the face of absolute danger.
But she fears this mission will surely see civilian casualties, especially since they have an idiot cop attached to their team. She’s never met a more infuriating, ignorant, biased man who has the face of a vengeful angel and the body of a warrior.
Neither can afford to be distracted, but combustible chemistry cannot be denied, and what awaits them at home cannot be ignored.
French Quarter Flirt (Broussard Brothers, #2) by Melissa Chambers
Publication date: May 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
He’s New Orleans’ biggest player. She just needs to control the game.
When Garrett Broussard is caught dipping Savannah Sanderson on the dancefloor of the Mardi Gras ball, they’re mistaken for a romantic couple and asked to attend a formal dinner that could boost Savannah’s career. Garrett capitalizes on the opportunity, trading a date for a date—he’ll attend the formal dinner if she’ll help him get his boss, who wants to set Garrett up with his daughter, off his back.
It’s a weekend trip, and they’ll have to share a room to make the fake relationship seem legit. He can handle it. He’ll just sweep the little crush he’s had on her all these years under the rug and pretend she’s not hot at all walking around in that oversized Saints T-shirt and no shorts.
Savannah is at her wits’ end with Garrett Broussard. He shamelessly flirts with her but never puts his money where his mouth is. She highly suspects that if she took him up on his empty advances, he’d cower like a shaking Chihuahua. She has half a mind to put him to the test on this upcoming weekend trip, but she knows better than to play with fire when it comes to a Broussard brother. She just has to make it through the weekend without letting New Orleans’ biggest flirt trample her heart. Read more >>
Some Day Soon by Anna Lindgren
Publication date: May 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis
Everyone wants something…
But why can’t I figure out what Noah James wants out of our relationship? His sister hates me hell, the whole town fears me, and if he knew what I’m capable of, he’d leave like everyone else.
I’ve terrorized the quaint town of Smugglers Cove, blazing a trail of self-destruction when anyone gets too close. So when Noah buys the cottage next door and finds out about my past, he creates a list of childish activities to complete together.
I try to keep him at arm’s length, but every-time I think I’ve scared him off, he’s back for more. He’s always there when I need him and even when I don’t.
One thing’s for certain, people like me don’t end up with Noah James.
***
Noah:
Samantha Simmons stole my heart the minute I saw her standing near the bar, in an off-white dress, at my little sister’s wedding. Everyone warned me about the infamous villain of Smugglers Cove, but I never thought it’d be impossible to stay away.
When I move in next door, she lets me in on some of her secrets and reveals a side of her few have uncovered. The more she lets me in, the more I want to defend her and prove there’s more to her than a bad reputation.
Each-time I think I’ve earned her trust, all hell breaks loose. She’s scared to let me in but I’ll wait until she sees,
She may be the villain in everyone’s story but I think she deserves a happily ever after. Read more >>
Psychological Thriller
The Surgeon by Leslie Wolfe
Genre: Psychological Thriller Trusted surgeon. Loving wife. Murderer?
Before my world came crashing down, I had it all. The successful career I dreamed of. The beautiful red-brick home where I could relax in front of the fire. The handsome, devoted husband whose blue eyes and charming smile always made me feel safe.
As I call time of death, my voice is steady. My colleagues stand hushed around me, their eyes on me, confused, concerned.
I have never lost a patient until today.
My hands tremble inside their gloves. I slide down the cold tiled walls, my heart racing in my chest.
I have never hated a patient until today.
But what choice did I have, once I recognized him?
And what will I do to protect myself, if someone learns the truth?
A totally gripping psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages, gasping for breath until the final jaw-dropping twist. If you love Freida McFadden, Shari Lapena and The Girl on the Train, you won’t be able to put this down. Read more >>
The Stepfamily Silicon Valley Series Book 1 by Bonnie Traymore
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Laura Foster’s not the type to go looking for trouble. But it seems to be looking for her.
Laura’s on the verge of living the life she’s always wanted. At the age of twenty-seven, she put her career plans on hold, married handsome widower Peter Foster, settled down in his Silicon Valley home, and helped raise his two children.
Twelve years later, it’s her turn to shine. Her career is thriving, the kids are out of the house, Peter’s company is on the verge of an FDA approval that could garner a windfall in stock gains for them, and she’s training for the Ironman world championship in Kona.
But when a series of freak accidents can no longer be chalked up to bad luck, it becomes clear that someone is out to get her. Is it someone from work, jealous of her promotion? Or is it perhaps someone more dangerous? Someone closer to home?
Laura has no enemies that she knows of, but she senses that husband Peter is keeping something from her. And when she starts digging into the family’s past, she ends up with more questions than answers. But with the walls closing in on her, she needs to find out why someone would want to harm her…and what really happened to his first wife.
Before it’s too late. Read more >>
Success in Sanity with Jessica Johnson Glover
Jessica Johnson Glover is an author, speaker, mental health advocate, and Realtor. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark Atlanta University.
After almost twenty years of living successfully with a mental illness, Jessica realized she possessed the skills and knowledge to help people who silently suffer from mental illnesses. Purposely, Jessica established and founded The Success In Sanity Society (SISS), an accountability tribe for those who are unashamed and ready to successfully maintain their sanity. In this community, Jessica conducts monthly virtual meetings that help individuals successfully manage mental illness and live the lives of their dreams. With the assistance of the SISS network professionals, Jessica and her team offer expertise, resources, and skills that are needed to not only be successful BUT maintain mental wellness.
Jessica is married to her soulmate, Gerald L. Glover, a mortgage professional. They reside in sunny Jacksonville, Florida. Her moments of purposeful selfcare include: spending time with her family and friends, listening to gospel music, getting pampered, and binge watching some of her favorite television shows with her husband. Read more>>
New Novels
Romance
Is this widower cowboy prepared for the feelings stirred up by this much-younger feisty maid running from the law?
When 40-year-old cowboy Dusty returns to his ranch in small-town Clear Creek County, he is shocked to find 19-year-old, beautiful black servant Lovely Jo hiding in his stables. She explains how she ran off after finding the master of her household, dead. She swears she’s innocent, but needing money to save his ranch, Dusty tries to take her to the Sheriff to claim the bounty for her return.
Lovely Jo ain’t the smartest weed in the field but she’s an excellent judge of character and she knows that despite his grouchiness, drinking, and gambling, Dusty is a trustworthy man and there is no one else in town she’d rather run to.
Desperate with her life on the line, Lovely Jo promises Dusty the one thing she has in her possession if he’d help her escape town: her virtue. But she never intended to give him her heart.
Tropes: grumpy cowboy, woman in jeopardy, widowed hero, interracial, small-town, age-gap, untouched/pure heroine, protective hero. Read more>>
Garrett
I’ve made a few mistakes over the last decade, but the one I regret most was letting Olivia Carter go. When I see her again, the past crashes over me, reminding me of everything I ever wanted and gave up when I let our dreams separate us.
Managing Balefire into the world’s biggest rock band came at a personal cost—walking away from my only love. When fate brings her back into my life, I’m determined not to screw up again. After Balefire hires her studio to produce their next music video, I have a second chance to rewrite our song—if I can convince her I’m a changed man.
Olivia
Ten years ago, Garrett Phillips chose to go with “his boys” and leave me in the dust of a ratty old tour bus. Now I’m working my ass off to make a name for myself as a Hollywood music video director. Unfortunately, my fledgling studio is bleeding money, and my only hope of saving it is to make a video with the biggest rock band on the planet. Too bad that means working with the man who tore my heart out of my chest when he chose his rock ’n’ roll dream over me.
He says he’s grown up. He says we can make things work. But can I truly trust that this time he will stay for me? Read more >>
Captain Ian Flynn would die for any one of his crew…if he could. Now he might have to. Because one of the only known weapons able to kill an immortal is missing. The Spear of Destiny—a priceless religious artifact from the crucifixion—is in the hands of his ship’s ruthless ex-captain. Now the lives of the Sea Dog’s immortal pirate crew are all at risk…along with the headstrong mortal Ian never should have fallen for.
Writer Lily Bouchard isn’t sure what’s worse. That she fell for Ian Flynn only to get her heart broken, or that she romanticized the man like he was some gorgeous viking straight out of a movie. So when he shows up suddenly with some absurd tale of immortal pirates and mythical religious relics, Lily doesn’t know what to think. He’s always had a wildness beneath his well-tailored appearance…but how could any of this possibly be real?
Now a centuries-old vendetta between two pirate captains has erupted, and Ian will do anything to keep Lily safe—even if it means risking everything. But she won’t give him up without a fight.
The only thing more dangerous than killing an immortal is falling for one…
Science Fiction
The year is 3120 and the Milky Way is in turmoil. Each alien race, including humans, is fighting over the scraps of what’s left of Krillium, the current energy source.
But there’s a new source of energy on the horizon: Ladium Crystals…
…And that’s about to change everything as the powers of the universe jockey for control, knowing whoever gets control of this precious resource will reign supreme within the galaxy.
It all starts when Captain Marcus La’Dek, a retired mercenary fulfilling one last mission to help his old buddies, unknowingly finds himself right smack in the middle of this galactic power struggle when he transports mysterious CARGO to the outer reaches of the stars.
If you’ve been searching for the next big book, this is it!
This action-packed science fiction novel is a high-octane, fast-moving adventure that will literally reach out and grab your attention from chapter one and not let you catch your breath until you’ve reached the last page! Read more>>
Award-Winning Poet and Song Writer + New Novels
Tony Burnett is an award-winning poet and songwriter, Tony Burnett is the Executive Director of Kallisto Gaia Press. He served as President of the Writers’ League of Texas from 2013 to 2017. His poetry, short fiction, and environmentally-focused nonfiction appear in over 70 publications.
His previous books include the story collection, Southern Gentlemen, and a full-length poetry collection, The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels. He resides in rural central Texas with his trophy wife and several rescue dogs who pay him no mind unless hungry.
His hobbies include poking wasp nests with short sticks and wandering aimlessly about. He hopes you enjoy meeting his imaginary friends.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
In no particular order: Barbara Kingsolver Tom Robbins, Donna Tartt, Sandra Cisneros, Don Winslow, John Irving, Margaret Atwood, Billy Collins, Gillian Flynn, Ann Patchett, Kim Addozinio, and a number of as-yet-unknown but amazing scribes.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
I want to have a strong sense of place so I’ll go visit the geographical setting. That’s one reason I don’t write space opera.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I can draft one novel at a time. I’ll have other projects going; revision, poetry, short stories. Being the Executive director of a nonprofit publishing company, I write a LOT of grant applications. Read more >>
New Novels this week
Adult Contemporary Romance
“Doesn’t miss a romantic beat . . . McCoy expertly crafts a well-balanced love triangle between empathetic and passionate characters—and delivers plenty of comic relief in the form of Zora’s lovable matchmaking grandmother.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
A heart-pounding, curvy romance about an indie bookstore owner who finds herself in a love triangle when she meets the author she’s had a crush on for years…and his best friend.
Zora has committed every inch of her life to establishing her thriving DC bookstore, making it into a pillar of the community, and she just hasn’t had time for romance. But when a mystery author she’s been crushing on for years agrees to have an event at her store, she starts to rethink her priorities. Lawrence is every bit as charming as she imagined, even if his understanding of his own books seems just a bit shallow. When he asks her out after his reading, she’s almost elated enough to forget about the grumpy guy who sat next to her making snide comments all evening. Apparently the grouch is Lawrence’s best friend, Reid, but she can’t imagine what kind of friendship that must be. They couldn’t be more different.
But as she starts seeing Lawrence, and spending more and more time with Reid, Zora finds first impressions can be deceiving. Reid is smart and thoughtful—he’s also interested. After years of avoiding dating, she suddenly has two handsome men competing for her affection. But even as she struggles to choose between them, she can’t shake the feeling that they’re both hiding something—a mystery she’s determined to solve before she can find her HEA. Read more >>
I left at dawn on a rainy day.
I left as he slept, believing that he’d still find me in his arms when he woke up. I left, taking everything I’d promised him. I took it all, and neither of us would ever have it again.
I left, turning my back on everything I knew, believing I could never be part of it.
I left the man who loved me, the family who raised me. I left my home, my roots, my dreams. I left my whole life behind in search of a past that was never mine. I hurt everyone who loved me, and broke him into so many pieces that I know I’ll never deserve his forgiveness.
But I’m here, now, trying to rebuild everything I’ve destroyed. I’m trying to find what I thought I’d lost. And although he says that he’ll never be the same, though he says that there’s nothing left of him, I can’t abandon him again. I can’t say goodbye to us.
They say that you always find your way back to happiness, but I’ve found my way back to the only place I’ve ever felt at home.
I’ve found my way back to him. Read more >>
Comedy, Fantasy
Religion is a funny thing. Especially when you accidentally create your own.
Eccentric young writer Zeggara “Egg” East has done just that, much to the chagrin of her devout mother. Egg’s new religion is called “Penguinism” and it’s proving far more popular than anyone—even the immortal Ageless—could’ve imagined. And the thing about deities is, they don’t appreciate a rival dogma.
Now everyone’s choosing sides in the coming conflict, including a tea-slurping tyrant, a guy with 12 gifts, and the God of Waste Management. So when Egg and her mother pick opposing factions, Egg has to wonder…can they reconcile, or will religion keep them apart forever?
Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Christopher Moore, and Douglas Adams, Eggs for the Ageless is a comic fantasy novel about family, faith, and waddling—not necessarily in that order. Read more >>
Supernatural/Paranormal
Being a witch in a world where witchcraft is still illegal is a bit of a challenge…
As a therapist and a natural-born witch, Alexandra Heale has seen her fair share of strange cases. But when she’s called upon to assess a coma patient, she discovers something far beyond her expectations. The patient has been possessed by the spirit of a woman fleeing from a lascivious demon.
As the only witch in Castle Point’s secretive paranormal community with the power to locate the demon and release the spirit, Alexandra faces a daunting task. She knows she needs help, but that means risking exposure in a world where witchcraft is forbidden and punishable by death.
Reluctantly, she turns to Deputy Sheriff Blake Sheraton, a man she finds herself inexplicably drawn to. Together, they must navigate the treacherous waters of Castle Point’s underground community and release the captive spirit before it’s too late.
But as their quest becomes more perilous, Alexandra finds herself torn between her duty and her growing feelings for Blake. And with the threat of burning at the stake looming over them both, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Can Alexandra free the spirit and keep her secret safe, or will she pay the ultimate price for her magic?
If you love the classic Witches of Practical Magic, the paranormal investigations of the Palmetto Point Witch Series by Wendy Wang, or the slow-burn romance and humor of The Witches of Hollow Cove by Kim Richardson, then you’ll love this book!
“Witches and Walk-Ins” is the pulse-pounding first book in the Castle Point Paranormal Witch series, written by award-winning author, Tammy Tyree! Read more >>
Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story.
The Cobbler How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace and Came Back Stronger Than Ever by Steve Madden with Jodi Lipper
Genre: Biography
Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100.00 to a global, multi-billion-dollar brand. But Madden’s mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes.
In this raw, intimate, and inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Readers are treated to the wild ride though his rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes, determined to give back. Read more>>
New Novels this week
Adult Contemporary
I let her go once because she wasn’t mine. This time, I’ll die before I give her up…
I want her.
That smile… those curves.
But Ava doesn’t belong to me.
Then she arrives in my clubhouse, seeking refuge. My gut churns at the sight of the bruises on her face, the fear in her eyes.
Before I was the president of the War Brothers Motorcycle Club, I was a special forces sniper who hunted down evil men like her husband. Now I avoid relationships because the wounds I have are more than skin deep.
But Ava’s different, and when I find her in the wrong bedroom—my bedroom—one night, what happens next changes everything.
I let her go once because she was married, but I won’t make the same mistake twice.
I’ll die before I let her dangerous husband, the jealous women in our club, or the enemy our club didn’t see coming lay a finger on her.
Because this time around, Ava is mine.
For fans of Autumn Jones Lake, Lani Lynn Vale, and Chantel Fernando, get ready to fall in love with the protective alpha men of the War Brothers Motorcycle Club. Each standalone book promises [an] emotionally captivating small-town romance with a deliciously dark twist. Read more>>
School’s my priority. All I do is eat, sleep, and study. My best friend says I need to loosen up and live a little. So I did.
I had one passionate night with billionaire playboy, Lucas Blessington. He’s tall, rich, and handsome, and can get any girl he wants. I’m just another woman that he can add to his long list of one night stands.
When he walks into my class and announces that he is the guest professor for the rest of the semester, I want to hide. Little did I know he did his research on me and managed a way back to his alma mater, Westview University, to continue where we left off from our night together.
I don’t know what’s riskier: having sex with my professor or having sex with a billionaire playboy? Either way, I’m risking my future and will have my heart broken by him anyway. Read more>>
Fantasy
When the nights grow longer, and we spend time curled up by the fire we seek out protection from the unknown. Seeking out times of merriment and joy, yet there is always darkness in the light. Embark on a journey into a collection of urban dark poetry portraying areas of the paranormal, afflictions of the heart and mind, and questions we all face in life. There are also tales of death, love, and the reaper of death himself. Read more >>
Lexa Kozlov must pay her family’s massive debt to the mob… all while raising even more money to save her little sister. The result? Lexa’s trapped in a never-ending (and incredibly illegal) stakeout for the Bratva. She barely has time for sleep, let alone find love.
Enter Caelin Vass, the handsome Scotsman who runs Empire Investments. Caelin offers Lexa a new job with dollars galore, as well as a hot bod (that would be his own) to contemplate every workday. Even so, Lexa isn’t sure she should take the gig. Freaky things keep happening whenever Lexa and Caelin are together. Simply put, the energy between them is magical, sensual, and way overwhelming. Lexa faces a big question: is she leaving her old prison just to enter a worse one… or is Caelin Vass all he seems and more? Read more >>
“Chaos and the wicked soul know no rest.”
(Old folk proverb)
Ina has no time to enjoy domestic life with Mar. As soon as life settles down after the Winter War, King Rewan calls his Royal Witch to give her a new task.
Southern rebellion, crops dying, and an endless stream of assassins attacking the king, leaving a trail that backs to a neighbouring kingdom. To make matters worse, an ancient cult has emerged from the shadows offering sacrifices to Winter’s Death.
One fateful letter and Ina is back on the road with an unlikely companion. But what can one Chaos mage do against so many enemies and the power of the Old Gods? Read more >>
For the love of Reading and Travel
Author Rhenna Morgan shares her love of reading and travel.
The thing I love about books is that they can take you just about anywhere in the world without having to step a foot outside your door. That said, I’m an avid reader, and the images and imaginations of the writers I’ve read have built a deep, nagging need to see some of these fantastic sites for myself.
I love to travel. I love to wander quietly through urban areas and people watch. I love to uncover the “local” haunts and see new environments from a native’s viewpoint. I find these travels also feed my writing. No matter where I go, there are snippets of stories waiting for me each and every day.
The places I’ve been so far are fabulous. I’ve lost count of the tropical locales I’ve seen—Aruba, Bahamas, Playa del Carmen, St. John, St. Barts, a little private island called Peter Island, and Antigua. (Yeah, I have a serious thing for beaches.) Thanks to my curious father and his penchant for spontaneous travels, I’ve been to Washington D.C., San Diego, Arizona, Kansas City, and Missouri. A past love introduced me to San Francisco and my husband showed me the beauty of Austin, Texas. I’d love to claim my visit to Denver, but I was little and the only thing I really remember about it was ordering chili and freaking out when the waitress asked me if I wanted red or green. Who eats green chili?
So, you can see, at least as far the US goes, I’ve gone and seen a ton of places. Probably even more than I’ve mentioned. But lately, I’ve gotten itchy for something new and even more adventurous. My kids are finally old enough, I don’t have to be available for their every beck and call, and I’ve caught myself hesitating on those lovely Groupon travel offers on an almost weekly basis.
My next stops—Ireland, Scotland, and England. I blame people like Kristen Ashley, Nora Roberts, and Karen Marie Moning for my need to see these lands in person.
They’re amazing writers with fantastic stories, and their characters have practically packed my bags for me.
What about you? What locations have you read about in books and found yourself jonesing to visit when you reached The End?
If you’re up for a fantastical adventure, pick up a copy of Healing Eden, or if you haven’t read it already, it’s predecessor Unexpected Eden. It’s definitely not a location you’ll be able to snag a good airfare for, and passports aren’t really relevant, but the sites are pretty amazing…as are the heroes. Go ahead. You deserve a trip to paradise. 🙂 Read more >>
Non-Fiction / Biography
The Cobbler How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace and Came Back Stronger Than Ever by Steve Madden with Jodi Lipper
Genre: Biography
Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100.00 to a global, multi-billion-dollar brand. But Madden’s mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes.
In this raw, intimate, and inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Readers are treated to the wild ride though his rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes, determined to give back. Read more >>
Women’s Fiction
“Insightful, entertaining, and satisfying. A deliciously dishy look at a typical American family behind closed doors.” ~ USA Today Bestseller Whitney Dineen
“A life-affirming emotional rollercoaster. Perfect for fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette!” ~ USA Today Bestseller Kate O’Keeffe
A richly satisfying family dramedy for any woman who has asked, “Whose life is this?”
Jessica Holloway is miserable. As mom to two ungrateful, almost-grown children and wife to one appreciative-but-needy husband, she has all-but-abandoned the extraordinary—and extraordinarily fun—woman she used to be.
She may be smiling while she volunteers at the school’s dog wash fundraiser, but inside, she’s seething. Having traded her future as a high-powered attorney for motherhood nearly two decades ago, she’s now desperate to reconnect with the woman she once was.
Pushed to her breaking point, Jessica is secretly terrified at what she might do.
Go on strike permanently?
Take the dog and run away to Mexico?
Tell her mother-in-law what she really thinks of her?
Whatever it is, it’s going to be a disaster. Because this time, Jessica will stop at nothing to get her power back – no matter the cost. Read more >>
Adult Contemporary Romance
Two worlds. One heart. Twelve hours.
Bianca Maria Curtis is at the brink of losing it all when she meets Eric at a bar in Manhattan. Eric, as it turns out, is the famous Korean drama celebrity Park Hyun Min, and he’s in town for one night to escape the pressures of fame. From walking along Fifth Avenue to eating ice cream at Serendipity to sharing tender moments on top of the Empire State building, sparks fly as Bianca and Eric spend twelve magical hours far away from their respective lives. In that time, they talk about the big stuff: love, life, and happiness, and the freedom they both seek to fully exist and not merely survive.
But real life is more than just a few exhilarating stolen moments in time.
As the clock strikes the twelfth hour, Bianca returns back to the life she detests to face a tragedy that will test her strength and resolve—and the only thing she has to keep going is the memory of a man she loves in secret from a world away. Read more >>
She will grit her teeth and smile at the snobby and suspicious CFO if it means landing the contract. But she won’t put on a dress and definitely not heels.
Event planner Jane Beckett has big dreams for her small company and is bending over backward to accommodate demanding clients. Jane doesn’t have to like them. She doesn’t have to spend her free time with them. But she wants to tease the grumpy pencil-pushing executive who always seems to be in her way, muss up his hair and show him that there’s more to life than boardrooms and bottom lines. That is, when she doesn’t want to yell at him. Or punch him.
Liam Cross believes every woman has a hidden agenda, one that involves taking advantage of big hearted, clueless billionaires like his best friend and co-worker. He’s watching Jane and her sister to ensure that party-planning is all that’s going on. Even though she manages to steal his assistant, he likes what he sees in the smart-mouthed brunette, admires her stubborn independence, and wants to help her fledgling firm succeed despite his misapprehensions.
Paintballs, punches, and sparks fly when inflated egos and miscommunication threaten relationships between friends, family, and partners.
Fantasy / Paranormal Romance
Faith Calhoun was almost forty when she walked in on her husband screwing someone else.
Talk about a terrible way to end what had admittedly not been an iconic decade of her life.
After serving him divorce papers—on her birthday—she heads straight to her favorite bar, where the ultra-hot bartender plies her with drinks to take the edge off.
They end up tumbling into bed together.
That part’s not bad—in fact, it’s really, really good—except in the morning, he rejects her too, and somehow, that rejection is even worse than the first one. Especially when he insists he needs to remain in her life to ensure she’s protected.
From what? Her gossipy neighbors?
Oh, and let’s not forget all the strange occurrences that are getting harder and harder to explain away.
First, there’s a wolf in her house. A real, live, massive wolf. Then the house is attacked and nearly destroyed by some unknown—and unseen—enemy, and, get this, the wolf saves her. Then the bartender tells her he’s a wolf too. It’s like something out of her favorite shifter romance novel—except she’s living it!
And then there’s the icing on the cake: Mikail, the bartender-slash-wolf, tells her she’s a faery princess.
Maybe this week isn’t so bad after all.
If you overlook the reason he kept her identity a secret: the enemies she didn’t know she had want to kill her, and now that she’s been outed.
Her bad week is about to get a whole lot worse. Read more >>
The Government Gave Us Bourbon + more
Believe it or not, bourbon was a gift from the American government. In 1964 the U.S. Congress declared the legalities of the liquor: it must be 51% corn, stored in a new charred oak barrel, and produced in America in order to be called “bourbon.” It is the quintessential American whiskey. Maybe that’s why we love it.
It didn’t start there. If you need further proof that George Washington was an astounding founding father, he made bourbon long before that. There is evidence that Washington bought a 50 gallon still in 1761 for use on his farm at Mount Vernon. His mash bill – or recipe – was similar to the one written into law over 200 years later. By 1799, he had the largest distillery in the United States.
Whether Washington was that prescient or whether he just needed another source of income is anybody’s guess. Whiskey was considered currency at the time. Distillers were businessmen. How many wish we were still there with that exchange? “I’d like to pay my electric bill. Here’s a bottle of bourbon that I cooked just for you.”
Taxes soon raised their ugly heads. The American Revolution was expensive, and taxes were slapped on liquor to help pay for the war. The revenue agents often found themselves tarred and feathered as they went to collect.
Thus the Whiskey Rebellion exploded, which Washington himself was forced to quash. This may have shown his strength as a leader in a new country, but he also drew a line in the sand when it came to the legalities of liquor. In essence, Washington forced distillers to cook their product in secret by the light of the moon.
Congress may have given us bourbon, but George Washington gave us moonshine. Learn more >>
Book Talk
Author Romy Lockhart talks about her Omegaverse series.
What inspired you to write this book?
Well, I was writing standalone shifter reverse harem novels when I first heard about omegaverse as a sub-genre. I was really intrigued by the thought of writing a series that’s a basically shifter romance minus the transformation into animal forms.
I decided to create a world where I could write standalone omegaverse reverse harem novels, centering around an Omega academy for the first few books. Secret Omega is the first book in my Sweet Omegaverse series, and I knew the moment I introduced Brooke in that book that she needed a story of her own, and that’s the story I’ve told in Broken Omega.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Broken Omega?
Brooke is the female lead and she’s an Omega. She’s been stuck at Goldcrest Academy for six years and her father is pushing her to choose an Alpha and get married, but her options are awful, and when he pushes harder, she decides to plan an escape.
Her fated mates come as a big surprise when they show up!
Kellan is an Alpha who spent his childhood and most of his teen years pretending to be a Beta to fit in, but when a chance encounter with Brooke makes him realize he has a true mate, he stops pretending and starts working his ass off to be accepted to visit Goldcrest.
Frost and Donnie are paramedics who meet Brooke the night of Secret’s big escape and who vow to come back for her when she’s ready to leave the academy.
River is an Omega who’s been pretending to be a Beta in public so he can stay close to Frost and Donnie but meeting their newest mate in Brooke changes everything.
What can we expect from you in the future? Read more >>
New Novel Releases
Romantic Suspense
Cassandra
Growing up, I was mesmerized by a man soaring the skies.
The greatest silk aerialist in the world, Chandler Moreau.
The day before my parents died, they took me to see his circus, and it was then I knew my fate was sealed.
I would do everything in my power to perform with them one day.
To perform with him.
Little did I realize, he would be far more than I’d ever imagined him being.
Far more than just a mentor.
He was a man I didn’t want to live without.
And someone I wanted to keep safe from a past that seemed to keep following me.
Chandler
My entire career, I’d been waiting for the right student to take under my wing.
A protégé with whom I could share my lifelong journey in the circus.
Little did I know it would be Cassandra Blackstone.
A woman who’d grown up admiring me from afar.
I never intended to fall in love with the student I was supposed to protect—from myself and the demons that lurked in my shadows.
But sometimes fate has other plans.
My grandfather’s taunting words still linger.
Mieux vaut plier que rompre.
Adapt and survive.
They weren’t just his adage but also unmistakably true.
A reminder that Cassandra and my shared history seemed to intertwine us more than the silks we’d spent our lives mastering ever could. Read more >>
Psychological Thriller
Victoria Hill’s son is missing—her worst nightmare realized. A nightmare made even more terrifying because, he’s in the hands of her father, a bounty hunter intent on connecting with his relations regardless of their attempts to escape his grasp. While Victoria’s mother, Honey, had changed their identities and moved from place to place to stay safe, she couldn’t prevent Victoria’s own kidnapping. Instead, she was forced to sacrifice everything she had to keep Richard at bay.
Now Honey’s dead. And daddy’s come calling. Again. With the help of an ex-lover and his mother, it’s Victoria’s turn to make the decisions that could mend her family, save her son, or send Richard over the edge. One problem. The decisions could also force Victoria to change the game in a way that sends them all on a slide straight down into her father’s particular brand of hell.
Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction
‘Your brass is ballsy, Kage Sable.’ – Harlow Meridien.
Running from her past, Harlow lives for the present. She’s sassy-smart-strong. A genius, generous, confident scientist developing a groundbreaking propulsion technology that’s attracted the attention of The Sable Group, and Kage Sable, to be exact.
He’s a master builder, an ex-warrior, a kick-ass engineer with sexy nerd energy and her new ‘boss’. His shop is responsible for an enviable fleet of high-tech corvettes, luxury flyers and racing pinnaces – helping to cement the Sable Riders’ dominance across Pegasi.
Convinced she’s the woman for him, Kage is determined to make Harlow his. He strongly believes every superwoman needs a superman. Problem is, she’s not so sure. She’s got a bad history with men. All she wants to do is focus on her work that could shift the balance of power in the Pegasi System.
She’s wary of Kage’s moxie and full-on thrust at life and love and doesn’t think she’s ready for that much intensity yet. But he slowly draws her in, one delicious moment at a time.
From subterranean speakeasies, sunken casinos and ancient ruins to fighting dens and exquisite eateries, Kage takes Harlow on dizzying flights of pure bliss across Eden II to convince her he’s light years from the ‘lame, always running game’ losers of her past. Instead, he’s a real man with strong convictions and the best intentions, who believes in an impossible love.
Together, they’ll fight for the relationship they want while keeping their top-secret breakthrough from a swarm of greedy, ruthless galactic hustlers. Together, they’ll fall into a twilight dusk of heady love and impossible starlight. Read more >>
Bartending as a career + more
Looking for bartending work in the small, Eastern Sierra town of Benson? Before you take a job at The Dusty Saddle, here are a few things you should know according to Claire McEwen.
1) Tyler Ellis is expanding this old dive bar to make the finest western bar and dancehall east of the Sierras. So be prepared for a whole lot of construction noise during your shift. And maybe some dust too.
2) Kit Hayes has worked at The Dusty Saddle for years— way before Tyler ever bought the place. She can teach you everything you need to know, and then some. Just don’t mention Tyler’s ‘improvements’ to Kit, or you’ll get an earful. She doesn’t like all these changes to the old bar she’s loved for so long.
3) Weeknights might be quiet at The Dusty Saddle, but just wait for the weekend. The bar will be packed with the most interesting group of misfits you can imagine. Miners, prospectors, ranch hands, folks who live on their own way out in the desert… they all come to The Dusty Saddle for a drink and some company.
4) Keep an eye on Tyler’s groupies. They’re easy to spot, in their Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots, all trying to get the handsome ex- rodeo champion’s attention. They look awfully young, so make sure you card them!
5) Most of all, watch out when Tyler and Kit get too near each other behind the bar. Sparks will fly and you might get scorched! Read more >>
New Novel Releases
Paranormal Romance
Till the End by Remy Marie
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Interracial Romance
Synopsis
Zombies, cults, and a desperate search for a cure…two friends must test the limits of their relationship in this action-packed apocalyptic romance where secrets are the key to survival.
The US government has been keeping a secret…
During the Vietnam War, they created zombies, and if the undead ever escaped, they created a backup plan.
Code Z.
A last-ditch contingency for if their ill-advised creation should ever cause an outbreak.
Unfortunately, the day has come for that plan to be enacted.
Navy SEALs Malcolm White and Zack Morris are on a mission to rescue the Governor of Virginia from the spreading zombie invasion when they learn that Malcolm’s friend Anne Yamaguchi, and Zack’s wife Kelsey, are stuck in a mall in the midst of a zombie attack.
Abandoning the mission, Malcolm and Zack rush to save them and bring them to the safety of the Little Creek Naval Base. However, they discover that only those who are married to a member of the military are allowed to find sanctuary on the base. That is when a plan is devised, Anne and Malcolm pretend to be married, to protect her from the worst of the plague.
Soon Anne and Malcolm discover this plan creates more problems than it solves. Not only will the couple find themselves struggling to uphold the ruse, while also evading zombies and vengeful demonic cults, they will find that living a lie changes their growing feelings for each other. Feelings that could have the potential to ruin their friendship forever.
This fast-paced apocalyptic romance will leave you turning pages late into the night as stakes rise and friendships are tested. Will a cure be found? Or will the world fall to a monster of its own making? Read more >>
Fantasy Romance
Thorns at Sunrise by Janeen Ippolito
Publication date: March 23rd 2023
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
A young queen. Her imaginary friend. A kingdom on the verge of death.
She believes she’s crazy.
Queen Usilea has a secret–and he lives in her mind. Ever since she was six years old, her imaginary friend has been her closest companion, and her arranged marriage has been a great dread. When she learns her betrothed and the royal family have suddenly died, she feels obligated to attend the funeral in the foreign land of Absteph–and perhaps learn more behind their mysterious passing.
He only wants the truth.
Petar endures great pain to protect those he does not remember. His only solace is a shadowy woman who he loves–even though she denies that he exists. When a terrible tragedy occurs in his kingdom, that mysterious woman is his only hope of bringing justice to light. For the cage that imprisons him grows harsher every day, and he is losing the fight.
But there are thorns at sunrise.
Brought together on the barest thread of reality, Usilea and Petar must discover what really happened to the royal family. But Petar’s time is running out. Soon not even a Mender like Usilea will be able to save him.
This YA romance features a gender-swapped Sleeping Beauty in an original fantasy world on the brink of doom. Read more >>
Dark Romance
Muddy Waters by DV Fischer
Genre: A Curvy Girl Dark Romance
Forgive me Father, for she is my sin.
Willow Ashley pays her bills through sin. She’s made her peace with that. Her best friend, on the other hand, cannot. She relentlessly begs Willow to go to church to confess all of her wrong-doings. When Willow finally gives in, she stumbles across the new pastor, Rowan Elsher. He’s the kind of gorgeous she wants to thank the heavens for, and makes her think all sorts of filthy things that would make even God blush.
Rowan Elsher came to New Orleans hoping to make a real difference in helping those in his congregation. When a woman approaches him about her best friend needing guidance, yet refusing to tell him why, he becomes curious. Then he sees Willow, with her ample curves and seductive pout. In a glance, his infatuation with her begins.
He was told to stay away from dating within the congregation. He shouldn’t want her. He can’t want her. But he just can’t help himself but to break all the rules he vowed to keep.
USA Today Best Seller, DV Fischer, delivers a sizzling dark romance sure to leave readers gasping for more.
Audio Book
Malevolence: The Tragedy of Lorna by Robert Hazelton
Genre: Gothic Horror Audio Drama
Synopsis
Sins of the past infringe on the events of the present. A young woman unwittingly becomes the center of an immortal struggle, one born of obsession, love, and vengeance. With innocent lives on the line, reality itself may well fracture. And it all comes down to the decisions of a girl hundreds of years in her grave…and her modern incarnation caught up in the Tragedy of Lorna.
New Novel Releases for March
Adult Contemporary Romance
Have you ever mistaken a guy for a stripper and had a scorching hot one-night stand with him only to find out he’s your new boss? No? Just me?
The first time I met Van, I was instantly drawn to his charismatic smile and stunning good looks as I shoved dollar bills into his waistband.
The second time I saw Van, he walked into my bakery as the new owner and boss. That time, I kept my dollars to myself.
But there’s a problem, owning a bakery wasn’t his choice and all he wants is to sell. Somehow, I need to persuade him to keep the business, so I can keep my dream job. When he admits he doesn’t know the difference between “frosting” and “icing,” I realize I have my work cut out for me.
With each passing day, our chemistry ignites like a chocolate flambé. But it’s a distraction I don’t need. I know from experience that when I wish for everything, I end up with nothing.
Van’s young and irresponsible, he can’t possibly know anything about running a bakery or falling in love. But he’s determined to prove me wrong.
It turns out he has a few cupcakes up his sleeve that just might satisfy my sweet tooth.
Flirting with the Stranger is a reverse age gap, strangers to lovers, one night stand, boss/employee romantic comedy with a hero who has a real sweet tooth for something besides cupcakes. Be prepared to laugh-out-loud one minute and swoon the next in this steamy standalone romance.
Young Adult
Do you enjoy complex female characters with a penchant for troublemaking?
Are you longing to inhabit the halls of a paranormal academy?
Do you crave an exciting twist on angels and demons?
Then you’ll love our Celestial Academy series.
Four angelic relics. Two warring families. One elite academy. School is about to get biblical.
Zuri’s next in line to rule Hell. Miryam’s father is an Archangel. When fate throws them together in the
halls of Celestial Academy, they’ll have to overcome brutal kidnappings, demonic manipulations and
an eons-old grudge of apocalyptic proportions.
When they uncover plans to start a second celestial war, they have no choice but to rely on each
other. With innocent lives on the line, is Miry and Zuri’s growing bond strong enough to overcome
eons of bad blood between Fallen and Archangels?
Celestial Academy is a completed four-book paranormal academy series set in a world of angels,
demons and saints where good and evil aren’t what they seem and features diverse voices. Read more>>
Historical Fiction
Suppiluliumas I and the Amarna pharaohs: Biographical novel of the greatest Hittite king. From palace coups in the lost city of Hattusas to treachery in the Egyptian court of Tutankhamun, I, the Sun, the saga of the Hittite King Suppiluliumas, rings with authenticity and the passion of a world that existed fourteen hundred years before the birth of Christ. They called him Great King, Favorite of the Storm God, the Valiant. He conquered more than forty nations and brought fear and war to the very doorstep of Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt, but he could not conquer the one woman he truly loved.
**For the month of March, I, the Sun is Perseid Press’ featured title and the kindle is on sale for $4.99 (regularly $9.98)!!**
Giveaways
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