I love a variety of books from romances, to teen fantasy, to horror. I enjoy the artwork and storylines in graphic novels, and have been known to pick up childrens' books if the book description hooks me.
Coming Up for Air Jessica Natalie Reino Published by: Fire and Ice YA Publication date: October 20th 2025 Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
As if the rumors and whispers from the people of her seaside town, Oceanbrook, weren’t bad enough, 17-year-old Sarah D’Antonio is troubled by the whispers from the forest. It’s not her fault that she hears voices, that she sees auras, and that she has been sleepwalking along the shore. The townspeople, and Sarah’s parents among them, claim that it is all in response to stress, including her chronic migraines and panic attacks. They believe that she can’t come to grips with the fact that her cousin, Lena, is dead. But Sarah knows that the things she is experiencing are real and not something she is bringing on herself. She also knows that Lena is not dead, only missing. She believes that there is something more supernatural going on and that the town is hiding secrets.
Sarah’s feelings are validated when she suddenly becomes thrust into a world in which she has always sensed but never seen. A world of fairy witches, shape-shifters, and legendary creatures. The world of the astral plane. And now, it will be up to her to form alliances to save the magic, fix the astral plane, and most importantly, to bring her cousin home.
I had lost so much over the span of the last few years. Second-guessing everything but still trying to find a reason behind why bad things happen. It’s not like I didn’t know that life wasn’t fair, but living with chronic illness and how everyone reacted differently to Lena’s disappearance really drove home the fact that I would never be able to fully trust my relationships, my health, or even my beliefs. I think that’s what scared me the most. Everything that I had believed was shaken, and I had to build a new normal. I had to build myself back up. Only, I didn’t have a solid foundation on which to do it.
Author Bio:
Jessica Natalie Reino is a multi-genre author with a soft spot for sweet romance and the supernatural. Inspired by her Italian heritage and growing up in New England, she is constantly developing new story ideas that not only raise awareness for those with invisible illnesses, but also promote kindness and the importance of physical and mental health. When she is not working on her own writing, Jess can be found helping other writers achieve their goals, spending time with family and friends, or out on the Zumba® dance floor.
Flint Ambrose Deville and Lavender Ann Lundy discover a love
that’s as electrifying as it is unexpected, yet danger brews in the
shadows of their Silicon Valley Lives.
Nicholas La Cour, haunted by his family’s turbulent legacy, is thrust
back into a battle he thought he’d left behind when his old nemesis,
Dante Channing, resurfaces. Alongside the enigmatic group known as the
Whispers, Dante brings with him a threat that could shatter the fragile
balance the La Cour and Deville family has fought so hard to restore.
As Lavender and Flint navigate the challenges of their budding romance,
they’re drawn into a web of intrigue that tests their courage, loyalty,
and trust in one another. With the Orchid Lover’s power dormant but far
from gone, and the Veil stirring once again, the stakes are higher than ever.
What if the love they’ve found isn’t enough to protect them from
the secrets of the past? What if the balance they’ve restored comes at a
price none of them are prepared to pay?
Will passion and loyalty triumph, or will the La Cour and Deville family be
consumed by forces they can no longer control? And can Nicholas La Cour
protect his family from the nemesis of his past?
In Lovers, Players, Seducers Book IV: When Lavender Meets Flint! It’s
Magic! ~ love collides with destiny, and every decision could be their last.
About the Author
J.A. Jackson is the pseudonym of Jerreece Jackson, an author known for
crafting sultry, suspenseful, and entertaining romantic novels with a
captivating twist. Her stories weave passion, intrigue, and a touch of the
unexpected, drawing readers into worlds where love and suspense collide.
Born in Arkansas and raised on Chicago’s Southside, Jerreece grew up in
a family of rich storytellers who fueled her lifelong love for writing. Today,
she resides in the enchanting foothills of Northern California, where she
continues to write from her cozy home surrounded by roses, tea, and
inspiration.
Before dedicating herself fully to fiction, she spent more than a decade
working in the non-profit sector as a grant writer and newsletter editor,
where she honed her skills in storytelling and communication.
Beyond her novels, Jerreece is the creative force behind A Geek An Angel
Jackson Publishing, a venture dedicated to inspiring creativity, promoting
mental wellness, supporting home-school education, and celebrating
individuality. Through her publishing brand, she has produced a diverse
collection of coloring books, journals, notebooks, and unique gifts that
reflect her mission to uplift and inspire.
A lover of magical tales, suspenseful ghost stories, chocolate, and the
timeless works of Jane Austen, J.A. Jackson continues to enchant readers with
her unforgettable blend of romance and intrigue.
The Black Rose Frances Paul Publication date: October 14th 2025 Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller
“Intense, a little bruising, and it doesn’t let you walk away untouched.”
— ★★★★★ Reader Review
Some weapons are born. Others are made.
She is the perfect operative.
A discarded orphan, remade by the very hands that broke her.
Trained to seduce. Conditioned to kill. Reborn as Elara Everhart.
They gave her new names. New faces. New identities, whichever the mission required.
Now, they call her Raina.
And they’ve sent her into the lion’s den.
Her target: Axel Voss. Billionaire. Powerbroker. Threat.
He’s everything she was trained to dismantle.
But he sees too much. Speaks too little.
And when he touches her, he wakes something she was never meant to feel.
She is the weapon they created.
But he’s the variable they never planned for.
What begins as a mission spirals into obsession.
And survival will cost more than her cover.
Because the most dangerous thing isn’t failing the mission,
It’s forgetting who the real enemy is.
If you love psychological thrillers with espionage, romantic suspense, and heart‑stopping twists, The Black Rose will keep you breathless until the very last page.
“To master the art of the strike, first let the target marinate in your charm and wit, until they are ripe for the taking.” – Elara Everhart
I stepped out of the cab and into the gallery, the air instantly changing around me. Heads turned. Eyes followed. The black Dolce & Gabbana dress I wore fit like it had been sewn onto my skin, elegant without trying, powerful without needing to speak. My hair, sleek and black, fell in glossy waves down my back, every strand precisely where it belonged. I walked with purpose, each step measured, as I took in the room.
It didn’t take long to find him.
Axel Voss stood in a more secluded wing of the gallery where the crowd had thinned. I spotted him across the space. His back was to me, dressed in a tailored dark gray suit that fit too perfectly to be anything but custom. His frame was lean and strong, his posture relaxed, hands tucked in his pockets as he studied a painting. He wasn’t just looking. He was dissecting it.
My attention moved to the guards. Two of them. Strategically placed in opposite corners of the room, trying not to look like security. They blended in well enough with the other patrons, but their eyes told the truth. Constantly scanning.
I inhaled and adjusted the strap of my dress. I ran my hands over my curves, making sure everything looked in place. My cue had come.
Each step felt burdened, as if what I was about to do had sunk deep into my limbs.
The rhythm of my heels against the marble echoed faintly. I moved closer, slipping into his orbit. I was near enough now for him to catch the light scent of my perfume, floral, soft, meant to linger without announcing itself.
I stopped beside him, eyes landing on the painting he was analyzing. It was abstract, wild with motion. Crimson slashed across the canvas, tangled with violent blues and fractured gold. The brushwork oscillated between jagged bursts and smooth sweeps, an unsettling mix of control and chaos.
I spoke, keeping my voice soft and level. Close enough to feel intimate, just loud enough to be heard.
“The intensity of the strokes is remarkable,” I said. “The way the colors collide feels almost violent, yet there’s a strange harmony in the chaos.”
He didn’t respond. Not verbally. But I felt it. His attention was on me now as much as the art. I let the silence stretch a second longer, then continued, my tone calm, analytical. “It’s as if the artist was fighting an inner battle. Conflict and catharsis, all bleeding onto the canvas. The jagged strokes speak of anger or defiance, but the way the hues blend reveals a deep vulnerability… like they couldn’t commit to full destruction.”
I leaned in just slightly, examining the layers of the painting, voice dropping.
“It’s the tension that makes it work. The pull between restraint and abandon. It feels… raw.”
The silence settled again, delicate but dense.
Then I allowed a smirk to touch my lips.
“Or maybe they just threw paint at the canvas after a bad day and decided to call it art.”
That broke it. He turned toward me, finally.
His eyes met mine.
Heat flashed between us. The force of his gaze hit harder than I expected.
My breath caught, not out of fear but from the pressure of it. He was already trying to read me.
I knew that look. He was hunting for the truth inside my performance.
I didn’t flinch.
Even when my pulse started to climb beneath my skin, I held my ground.
For a moment, neither of us said anything. The gallery around us faded. It was just him. Just me.
Then I stepped back, breaking the moment on my terms.
I turned without hesitation and walked away, slipping into the flow of bodies beyond the archway. My retreat was smooth.
Behind me, I felt his gaze linger, and so did the eyes of his guards.
I didn’t need to look back to know he was still watching the space I had just walked away from.
Back in the main gallery, I finally exhaled. The encounter had gone as planned. I had said what
I needed to. Played the part.
But the crackle between us wasn’t part of the plan.
And I felt it. Still pulsing through me.
This was only the beginning. One step into a game layered with risk, manipulation, and consequences I wasn’t sure I fully understood.
But I had just stepped onto the board.
And Axel Voss had noticed.
Author Bio:
Frances Paul is an author of emotionally charged, high-stakes fiction that captivates readers with its mix of psychological suspense, romance, and intricate plotting. Her work explores the fine line between love and survival, delving into themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the secrets we keep.
She is the author of Sea of Scars, a moving story of loss and redemption, and The Black Rose, a gripping psychological thriller that draws readers into a world where trust is dangerous and every choice carries lasting consequences.
With a distinctive voice and a cinematic style, Frances creates unforgettable characters and layered narratives that linger long after the final page. Her passion for storytelling comes from a lifelong fascination with the human heart and its capacity to endure even in the darkest of circumstances.
Best-selling author Libby Kay romances hearts with her sweet stories about family, friends, and love. Fans of Sherryl Woods’ Sweet Magnolias series are finding all the feels with Old Flames, the latest amazing story set in small town America. Don’t miss this enduring sweet romance!
Two high school sweet hearts, one charming small town, and flames of chemistry that are hard to deny…
Jessie “JJ” Mays has seen it all. Her job in the Peace Corps has put the world at her feet, with adventure calling with every new assignment. Yet after a decade of traveling, she’s become a little lonely—and unable to get over her first love. Soon an emergency phone call from home has her on the next plane, but will her heart survive this visit?
Malcolm “Smithy” Smith loves his smalltown life. His career as a fireman and EMT is fulfilling, his soap opera starlet mother keeps him on his toes, and he’s got a great group of friends. The only thing he doesn’t have—the love of his life by his side. No matter the distractions, he still misses JJ with a fierceness that consumes him.
When a call to a warehouse fire goes from routine to catastrophic, Malcolm is injured and unable to perform the job he loves. The only upside of having a building fall on him? His girl is back in Pinegrove ready to nurse him back to health. And hopefully, this visit is for good…
With some help from the residents of Pinegrove, JJ and Smithy will discover that sometimes, first love burns brightest.
Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!
When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.
Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!
Wyatt Baldwin’s senior year is not
going well. His parents divorced, and then his dad mysteriously died.
He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter Wright,
either. An ongoing debate with his best friends, Melvin and Howard
Drucker, over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much
rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s
dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he
doesn’t stand a chance.
But everything changes when Wyatt and
his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a
groundbreaking theme park where guests can interact with vampires in
Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk
among the dead in Zombieville.
With real werewolves, vampires, and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?
The fire Billy created burned bright; rabbits roasted on a spit made from hickory, the juices dripping to hiss in the flames. Seven of his hairy friends lay in scattered repose, enjoying the late afternoon lull—two napped, the others tossed a stuffed fur in the form of a ball around the clearing, hooting with amusement when it rolled into the brush.
Mosquitoes droned lazily over the still water. Frogs croaked while they sunbathed on waxy lily pads. The sun started its slow descent to the horizon, hot pink and lilac clouds rippling against the empty canvas of the sky. Here and there, fireflies flickered to life in the gloom, doing a placid ballet in the humid air.
Unseen, the men moved closer to the campfire as light faded against the western treetops.
Billy’s pack rarely spoke, communicating with grunts, so easy was their companionship. Billy only had to think it and he knew the others could sense what was in his mind. They did share a language of sorts, they used it in both forms of their manifestations.
A lone hawk cried out a warning, disturbing the peace of the marsh. They froze in their spots, their eyes alert, their bodies stiff with fear.
Huge birds answered, flapping their wings, creating a cacophony of swamp sounds. The area became a concerto of animals responding to the disruption of their home—wild screams, squeaks, and complaints of the invasion of their territory.
Billy stood, his head tilted as he listened intently. He heard a melody drifting from the water. It was a strange organization of sounds, predictable as well as dangerous instantly making his skin ripple with terror. Memories of another life flooded back, bringing waves of panic. His pulse raced, and he knew his face and bare back were slick with sweat. It had been years since he’d heard music, so deep were they hidden in the bayou. The discordant noise echoed in his head, assaulting his sensitive ears.
His nose twitched, his lips pulled tightly against his teeth. One of his pack whimpered like a child, he felt them drawing close, their bodies tensing with fear. Suppressing a growl, he forced his hands to unclench. He rolled forward onto the balls of his feet, his stance preparing the others to get ready. His stomach twisted with uneasiness. Where those rhythms originated meant only one thing—they were not alone in the swamp.
– Excerpted from Monsterland by Michael Okon, Chelshire, Inc., 2025. Reprinted with permission.
Book Review
4 ½ stars !!
Monsterland is a fast-paced, thrilling horror adventure that delivers both chills and heart. The concept of a theme park built around real monsters is as fascinating as it is terrifying, and Michael Okon makes the danger feel all too real.
The story reminds readers that sometimes the most frightening monsters are the human ones. Wyatt’s determination to protect his friends adds an emotional edge that keeps you rooting for him even as the chaos unfolds.
I found the story to be gripping and imaginative. A definite page-turner!
Disclaimer: This review is merely my opinion and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
About the Author
MICHAEL OKON
is a best-selling author and award-winning screenwriter whose
compelling storytelling spans paranormal, horror, thriller,
action-adventure, and self-help genres. With a BA in English and an MBA
in Business and Finance from Long Island University, Michael merges his
creative passion with entrepreneurial spirit to craft unforgettable
narratives across his novels and screenplays.
Born into a family of avid writers and
readers, Michael’s passion for storytelling runs deep—writing isn’t
just something he does; it’s who he is. Ever since he first watched The Goonies
as a kid, Michael has been captivated by the power of adventure,
compelling characters, and the ability of stories to entertain and
inspire. Whether crafting monster theme parks or penning insightful
guidance in self-help, his goal remains the same: to create narratives
that stick with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.
Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a
music playlist aficionado, a horrendous golfer, and a sucker for
esoteric & self-help books. He lives on Long Island’s North Shore
with his wife and children.
Rose Everson Finch thought her childhood friendship with Finn Murphy
would last forever. But a disagreement shattered their bond.
She returns
to New York City, only to learn that love is an illusion.
She’s
since moved back to Evers Hollow, caring for her beloved grandmother and
hiking the woods that inspire her middle-grade books.
A late-night phone
call will change her past, her present, and threaten to turn her future to
ash.
Finn Murphy never told his best friend Rose that he loved her.
Not as
they grew up together, or the night she committed to marrying another man.
He’s
avoided their small town since.
But family obligations bring him back.
Now
he’s made a promise:
To protect Rose.
Lingering Flames is a small-town, friends-to-lovers, he-falls-first, romantic
suspense in The Everson Legacy series by author Anna August. Set in the scenic
mountains of Western North Carolina, it’s a full length novel with a
steam-filled happy-ever-after.
About the Author
Anna August writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. She
enjoys writing imaginative characters with complicated backgrounds. She
cherishes books with plot twists, humor, and happily ever after’s.
Born and raised in California, Anna has also lived in Illinois, Texas, North
Carolina, Idaho, and England. She served as a military spouse alongside her
active duty husband in the US Air Force for twenty-one years. She holds a
bachelors degrees in English and also in Geology, after discovering her love
of rocks during a camping trip to a gold mine as a child.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and
two adult children at their home in Boise, Idaho. She also enjoys gardening,
gluten-free baking, and random home improvement projects.
Old Books and Faded Dreams transports readers on a nostalgic journey
with the townspeople of Tilden, a quaint community in Madison County,
Nebraska. At the center of the heartwarming story is Maggie Davis, a
middle-aged widow and heiress to a grand Victorian estate. The stately home,
which Maggie shares with her spunky nine-year-old daughter Jenna, also serves
as a bed-and-breakfast to a once regular, but now transitory, clientele. The
kitchen table is the epicenter of lively, often contentious, conversation
where no topics are off-limits. Maggie’s out-spoken, spinster neighbor
delights in keeping everyone on guard with her opinionated, prejudicial
tirades, but she is frequently reined in by an elderly, equally forthright
family member who has recently become a permanent dweller at the manor. Maggie
finds herself struggling with the painful memories of her husband’s tragic
death, as well as the stirrings in her heart associated with a new house
guest. A scandalous scheme to swindle Maggie out of her inherited property
rides on the heels of a sudden, unexpected death, pointing to a member of the
family as suspect. The startling discovery of a sinister family secret locked
away for decades in an old attic trunk threatens to overshadow a highly
esteemed familial image and cherished legacy. Can relationships be salvaged?
Old Books and Faded Dreams is a captivating, small-town tale about friendship,
grief, reconciliation and ultimately, unconditional love.
About the Author
D.L. Norris is a notable author and motivational speaker who has written
numerous short stories and articles on health, emotional wellness, family, and
cultural history. Norris’ novels, The Long Way Home and Where the Heart
Is, capture in colorful, humorous style the actual events and cultural
mindsets surrounding her Scandinavian family and personal life experiences.
Norris’ expressive writing style quickly engages her readers and
encourages them to sit back and enjoy a nostalgic, magical journey. She and
her husband are happily retired in beautiful Hartford, Connecticut.
Descendants of the Big House C. Vonzale Lewis
(A Horde of Dead Poets)
Publication date: October 14th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery
Beatrice Monroe is still getting used to the knowledge that she was born a champion for Good and Evil. She spends her days combing through her great grandmother’s journals trying to find answers to what this newfound ability means for her as a member of law enforcement.
When a woman walks into her precinct claiming her aunt was murdered, Beatrice discovers a link between their families that may just have the answers she needs. But those answers are not easy to find. Because this mystery’s roots are buried in the past with five young girls and what they gave birth to…in The Big House.
Descendants of the Big House is a standalone installment in A Horde of Dead Poets collection featuring seven authors and their stories inspired by famous literary poems. If you often find yourself steering toward a dark, mysterious, isolated location; if family curses haunt you and unreliable narrators keep you in suspense, you won’t want to miss a single volume in this gripping collection.
Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Simone St. James, Stephen King, and Shirley Jackson.
“I think somebody did something,” Mr. Taylor announced suddenly, voice raised. “My wife, my children. Not right. Not right at all.” He started crying. “I can’t convince anybody to listen to me.”
I got up and kneeled by his chair. “I’m listening, Mr. Elijah.” It didn’t dawn on me that I might have overstepped. The pain in his plea just pulled at me. I understood the feeling of being lost so well, growing up in a home filled with abuse and no one listening to my own cries for help.
He looked down at me. “I appreciate that. You find ’em. You find the one that took my Mary. She was the only woman I ever loved. And our children. Godsend. No matter what that man told her at the crossroads.”
“What man?” I asked, my blood running cold. Of course, I knew what man he was referring to, but I didn’t dare say it out loud.
He flapped his hand in the air again.
I looked at Gautier and dipped my head toward my bag. I didn’t want to upset him further, but I needed to confirm what I already suspected. Mary had met Papa Sin at the crossroads.
Gautier pulled out the book Odette gave us, still in an evidence bag, and came over and gave it to me. I pulled it out and Mr. Taylor gasped.
“Get that evil book out of my house!” He tried to get to his feet and ended up falling back in the chair. I straightened and, after thrusting the book at Gautier, helped Mr. Elijah right himself.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Cherie asked, rushing over. “What evil?” She looked at the book. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but it’s upsetting my daddy.”
“I’m sorry about that, ma’am. But your sister Natalie sent this book to Odette along with a letter claiming she was going to…” I looked down at Mr. Taylor. His eyes were wild.
“She swore she’d gotten rid of that book. She swore.” He let out a sob. “That man told her she’d birth evil. That twins were broken.” He caved in on himself, chest heaving as he cried.
“I better take him to his room,” Cherie said, her face filled with concern.
Gautier got up and helped her take him in the back. I stood there berating myself for upsetting him. I shouldn’t have asked about the book. But I had to get answers, right?
Author Bio:
Carla Vonzale Lewis likes her martini’s shaken…never stirred. Though she was born in Georgia, please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth, and all she had to say was, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”
Despite being born in the South, she grew up in the North. California to be exact. And every once in a great while, she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.
Her debut novel, LINEAGE, was released July 16, 2019 and she fully intends to ride that joy for the rest of her life.
When she’s not concocting her next contemporary fantasy story, she enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.
Series: The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales Book #6
Publisher: Buttercup Books
Pages: 210
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling
He has one last chance to be a fairy tale hero.
But she didn’t agree to be the damsel in distress.
When her longtime boyfriend unexpectedly slides a ring on her finger, Hannah is whisked from her everyday bedroom to a medieval ball. Hannah knew that Dylan would do anything to prove to her parents that he’s husband material, including going into the Fae world—but she never agreed to go through the Veil herself.
Now one of three princess sisters, Hannah is paired with now-Prince Dylan. But, homesick and blindsided, she pretends the Veil has wiped him from her memory.
As her prince scrambles in vain to be the right kind of hero, Hannah ignores her instincts and follows her new sisters onto a mysterious boat—which promptly sails them into a land of giants, magical traps, and enchanted pianos…and away from Dylan.
Read now to journey back to medieval Ireland, complete with the Fae and mythological monsters, in this fairy tale adventure and sweet “it was always you” romance.
But Morálta just shakes her head. “How should I know? I told you, I just work here.”
“What has happened to Mór and Nuala?” The words burst out of me.
She shrugs again. “I’m not in contact with the giants, so I don’t really have details. Last I saw, Red-beard was hoisting Nuala onto his pillion, and Mór was in Black-beard’s cart.”
“Are they safe?”
She gives me a strange look. “Safety is an illusion, Hannah.”
“But”—I wave my hands around this room—“any more danger than we are in, here?” Which might be considerable.
Morálta rolls her eyes. “It’s not like they are man-eating giants or anything. Black-beard really doesn’t care for those who don’t do their fair share of the work, so I dare say that Mór is going to be doing some scrubbing, and from what I’ve seen of her she’s not going to enjoy it. But hopefully you all have some true loves signed up to come and fetch you home again, right?”
“Maybe…”
Morálta does a double take. “Three princes, three princesses, et cetera, and you couldn’t even fall in love?”
“We didn’t have enough time,” I protest. “They just arrived last night.” Except me.
Morálta sighs, sounding put-upon. “And you couldn’t manage it in one evening? Young people these days. I don’t know why the Seven-Inch-Man didn’t give you three days, which would have fit better anyhow. I’ll put it in my Exit Survey when I finish up here. Now, did you want tea or did you not?”
We both murmur politely that we would like tea, thank you, and Morálta whisks away again.
That was possibly the strangest conversation I’ve ever had. Exit Survey?
Christy Matheson
Characters you connect with. Adventure. Love. Family… And endings that are more than a sugar rush.
When Christy Matheson is not throwing ordinary characters into fairy tales, she is busy raising five children. (Very busy.) She writes character-driven historical fiction with and without fantasy elements, and her “fresh, smart, and totally charming” stories have won multiple awards.
Christy is also an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds her of a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), with her husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and an improbable quantity of art supplies.
Xonarye: Japan S.H.S. Publication date: September 1st 2025 Genres: Adult, Mystery, Young Adult
In the snowy heartlands of Izumo, Japan, Leaf Brodie seeks answers. What begins as a path of discipline and inner reflection under the watchful eye of Master Kenji becomes a deeper journey-one where ancient secrets lie hidden in the folds of tradition and trust can shatter with a single lie.
As Leaf explores sacred shrines and timeless landscapes, a betrayal from within rocks his world. Yuji, once a friend and fellow student, is exposed as a spy for the powerful Reblick syndicate. The destruction he leaves behind is devastating-but the artifact he steals, a sacred belt buckle, is missing one thing: the next clue.
That clue isn’t written on paper or etched in stone-it’s been burned into human skin. On Master Kenji’s back is a mysterious script, unknown even to him, and unlike anything Leaf or Selina have seen before. What they uncover is not just a lost language-it’s a gateway to the forgotten land of Xonarye.
Blending action, cultural discovery, betrayal, and ancient myth, Xonarye: Japan is a powerful continuation of the global adventure.
When the dojo finally came into view, Leaf’s sense of calm and safety was suddenly shattered.
The main gate hung open, crooked on its hinges. Shards of splintered wood lay scattered across the stone pathway. A few windows had been shattered, with broken glass spread all around him . The paper screens of the main hall were torn and flapping loosely in the breeze. It looked like a storm had blown through but there had been no storm. Leaf’s heart pounded in his chest. He quickened his pace, stepping
over the debris, eyes scanning every corner. The courtyard was a mess, the practice weapons strewn about, some cracked in half. The tatami mats were shredded, spilling straw across the floor like scattered autumn leaves.
“Selina?” he called out, his voice sharp against the silence. “Yuji? Kenji?”
Nothing but the breeze whistling through some rocks around the dojo.
The rooms were upturned. Mats tossed aside, scrolls unravelled, some torn. Kenji’s study , usually immaculate , was in chaos. Books were thrown from their shelves, papers were scattered, and ink was spilled like blood across the floor. Kenji’s prized calligraphy scrolls hung lopsided, some sliced through as if by a blade. The room smelled of old ink and cold air, carrying a whisper of ash as if something had been burned. Leaf’s mind raced. Who would do this? Why?
He moved quickly through each room, heart hammering. No one. No sign of life. He reached the small back garden where the snow had settled undisturbed.
Suddenly, footsteps crunched behind him. Leaf spun, fists clenched. Selina stepped out from the shadows, her eyes sharp, surveying the damage.
“What happened?” she asked, voice low and controlled.
Leaf shook his head, the words tangled in his throat.
Author Bio:
Scott Shepherd is an emerging Australian author with a passion for adventure, storytelling, and the lure of lost lands. Hailing from Naracoorte, South Australia, Scott self-published his first novel in 2020, introducing readers to the daring world of Xonarye. Since then, he has written three books in the Xonarye series, bringing his vivid imagination to life through tales set in exotic locations steeped in mystery and culture.
In 2025, Scott re-released a refined edition of his debut novel, Xonarye: Australia, followed by the second instalment, Xonarye: Cuba, with the third book, Xonarye: Japan, set for release later the same year.
A part-time novelist, full-time family man, and self-described “regular guy,” Scott continues to write from his hometown, where he balances storytelling with hiking, fatherhood, and shared adventures with his partner. Whether at his desk or exploring the outdoors, Scott is always chasing the next great journey—on the page or beyond.
