Author Archives: JessicaS

About JessicaS

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.

COVER REVEAL: You Don’t Belong Here by D.M. Siciliano

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You Don’t Belong Here
D.M. Siciliano
Publication date: October 13th 2025
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Suspense

A girl who feels invisible finally faces her worst fear on her sixteenth birthday and hastily makes a dark deal.

An old man returns to the same place every year on the anniversary of his wife’s death, to have one last moonlit dance with her.

A woman’s health concerns are ignored, and it leads to global chaos.

A young woman goes home to bury her father and sell his house but finds that the home is no longer hers.

An old man with Alzheimer’s becomes increasingly lost in his own house, which seems to be doing its own forgetting.

Two young girls find a Ouija board, thinking they’re communicating with a deceased relative, but find something much more cunning.

A woman, grieving the loss of her baby, takes a trip to a remote cabin in Tahoe. Her worried sister goes after her and isn’t prepared for what she finds.

A woman’s drive through California’s winding roads leads her to a perilous and sinister discovery lurking in the woods.

A woman takes a job as a nanny for two troublesome kids, only to find that the children aren’t the problem.


Author Bio:

DM is a lover of all things creative. From the moment she could speak, growing up in Massachusetts, she had a passion for flair and drama, putting on concerts for anyone who was even remotely interested (and even for those who were not). A storyteller by nature, she first pursued her young dream of becoming a singing diva while living in Arizona. She soon found that stage life wasn’t the only form of storytelling she craved, so she dropped the mic and picked up a pencil instead. She still hasn’t given up on her diva-ness, and hopes her pencil stays as sharp as her tongue.

A dark sense of humor and curiosity for haunted houses and things out of the ordinary led her down the path of completing her first novel, Inside. Several other projects are constantly floating around in her head and her laptop daily, and sometimes keeping her up much too late at night. Occasionally, those projects are so dark and twisted, she needs to leave a nightlight on.

She now lives in Northern California with her two fluffy furbabies, Cezare and Michaleto.

Website / Instagram / Bookbub / Facebook


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PREORDER BLITZ: To Know Good and Evil by Daniel V. Meier Jr.

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Book 2 in the Frank Adams Detective Series

Murder Mystery

Date Published: October 7, 2025

On a refreshingly cool summer evening in North Carolina, a hog farmer
was stunned, then horrified when a light airplane crashed into his hog pens
and erupted into flames.

The ensuing FAA investigation convinced the small town that the crash was an
accident. Except for one person. Ted Grant was an academic colleague and good
friend of Dr. David Lanmore’, and Ted knew that Dr. Lanmore had just
discovered a cure for cancer.

The last place Frank Adams wanted to investigate an airplane accident was in
his hometown of Scottsville, North Carolina. Though his parents were no longer
living, Clayton Housley, his uncle, wielded significant influence over the
town and surrounding areas as if it were his own fiefdom.

But Ted Grant’s call was urgent and disturbing. Apparently S&H
Pharmaceuticals had discovered Dr. Lanmore’s secret and would go to any
lengths to acquire the research. But would they kill for it? And if Frank
meddled in the town’s business, would his life be in danger?

 

About the Author

Daniel V. Meier Jr. is a celebrated American author known for his
gripping historical novels, thrillers, and literary fiction. With a passion
for storytelling rooted in history and adventure, Meier brings a wealth of
diverse experiences to his craft.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, with a degree in
History, Meier later pursued American Literature at the University of Maryland
Graduate School. His life journey has been as dynamic as his writing,
encompassing roles as a U.S. Navy veteran, flight instructor, FAA pilot
examiner, and high school English and History teacher.

Meier’s literary career spans decades, beginning in 1980 when he
published a mystery/thriller under the pen name Vince Daniels.

He has also contributed to aviation magazines and served as a journalist for
the Washington Business Journal. After retiring from his role as an Aviation
Safety Inspector with the FAA, Meier embraced writing full-time, crafting
stories that captivate readers with their depth and authenticity.

In addition to TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL, his acclaimed works include:

• The Dung Beetles of Liberia: A riveting historical novel based on true
events, exploring the complexities of 1960s Liberia through the eyes of an
adventurous pilot.

• Blood Before Dawn: A thrilling continuation of the story introduced in
The Dung Beetles of Liberia.

• Bloodroot: A powerful tale of survival set in Jamestown, Virginia,
America’s first settlement.

• No Birds Sing Here: A sharp and satirical piece of literary fiction.

• Guidance to Death: A murder mystery that draws on Meier’s
extensive aviation experience.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon


Barnes & Noble

Kobo

 

Contact Links

Website

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Pinterest

LinkedIn

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Goodreads

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall

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Skating and Fake Dating
Ellie Hall
(Love in Maple Falls, #4))
Publication date: September 3rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

I’m pretending to be his stable girlfriend while he plays my successful boyfriend. But now faking feels a lot like falling.

Bailey
I’m a walking contradiction—professional on the job, a hot mess at home, and working my “I’ve got this” smile until my cheeks ache while hiding my hobbies: making maple butter and finding a husband. With my perfect sister’s recent engagement, I’m desperate to avoid Mom’s pitying looks and matchmaking attempts.

Carson
I used to be hockey’s laid-back southern charmer until a crushing rejection from my high school sweetheart transformed me into a workaholic. When I’m unexpectedly traded to a new team, rumors circulate about whether the gentleman wingman lost his edge. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove them wrong.

Bailey
When our worlds collide after a dessert disaster, we come up with a mutually beneficial solution to our respective woes: a fake relationship. The rules are simple: I get a “successful” boyfriend for family events. He gets a “stable” girlfriend for team image. No feelings, no complications, and a definite expiration date.

Carson
But between posing as a couple at the fall festival, midnight maple butter-making sessions, trying to keep our stories straight, and undeniable chemistry, what started as a convenient lie is beginning to feel inconveniently real. As the clock runs down on our arrangement, we’ll have to decide: walk away when the final buzzer sounds, or take a shot at the love neither of us saw coming.

***

Skating and Fake Dating is a heartwarming hockey romcom featuring Bailey and ‘Bama who are perfect for each other in all the most imperfect ways, plus, small-town charm, family shenanigans, and a guaranteed happily ever after sweeter than homemade maple butter blondies.

Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you’ll enjoy them best in order.

Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“In one simple move—” Waving his hand across the links of the cuffs, my pulse skips and then plummets.

Nothing happens.

A consummate professional, he declares, “That was to show that no ordinary person has the ability to free these people from their bonds. No, it takes a special flick of the—” He motions again, and I expect the handcuffs to drop from our wrists, but they remain fixed, locked.

His smile wavers. My expression morphs into a scowl. Bailey grins as if this is all part of the act and she’s expecting the handcuffs to vanish like the coin from the box.

I know better … or at least, my stomach thinks it does.

The magician tries one more time, but we remain locked together.

“Ah, yes. I must’ve, um, we’ll just take a moment in my stall to—” Turning his back on the crowd, he ushers us inside and then closes the black curtain at our backs.

“Get these off, now,” I say, forgoing my manners and the word sir.

Bailey adds, “Please.”

Sweat dots his forehead. “I don’t know what went wrong. Yes, of course. Let me just find the key. It’s here—” He rifles through a little drawer in a wooden chest.

I glance at Bailey and her shoulders droop slightly. She mouths, I’m sorry.

No, it’s this clown show of a magician who should be sorry.

“Ah ha!” He says, pinching a small key between his fingers.

“Hurry up. We have a wedding to go to.” I belatedly realize I included myself when in reality I’m dropping Bailey off and then going, well, I’m not sure where. She must, though, having arranged my moving plans.

The magician slides the key into the lock, but again, nothing happens. Wrenching it from his fingers, I say, “Let me try.”

Author Bio:

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. 😉 She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter


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Skating and Fake Dating Blitz

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Ashes and Echoes by Jo-Anne Van Gelder

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Ashes and Echoes
Jo-Anne Van Gelder
Publication date: August 22nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

A missing friend. A locked estate. A note that says, I know what you did.

Three friends. One is missing. The truth won’t stay buried.

Mara hasn’t seen Elise in years—until a handwritten invitation pulls her back to the crumbling estate they swore they’d never return to.

But Elise isn’t there.
Her handbag is.
So is the daisy.
And a note that reads: I know what you did.

Now Mara and Jodie—the third in their fractured trio—are trapped. No cars. No signal. Nowhere to run.

The house is full of locked doors and old ghosts.
Every secret points back to that night.

Elise’s absence is only the beginning.

Some friendships end in silence.
Some secrets refuse to stay dead.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

PROLOGUE:

There were three rules.

One: Don’t ask questions.

Two: Don’t keep records.

Three: If something goes wrong, disappear.

Elise memorised them before she knew what they meant.

Before she understood what kind of house she lived in.

What kind of programme she had been born into.

What kind of silence the adults needed in order to survive.

They were never written down. Just repeated in whispers.

Embedded in routine. Hidden in the space between a closed

door and a too-long pause.

The files were kept in a box under Ian’s bed. Locked, of

course—but not well. She picked the clasp with a bobby pin

when she was twelve and didn’t breathe again until she was

fourteen.

Inside: incident reports, training forms, assessment notes.

Faces she didn’t know. Names she couldn’t place. Her own

wasn’t among them. That unsettled her more than if it had

been.

She never told Grace.

She told no one.

But she remembered.

Not everything. Just enough.

Just the names that seemed misfiled.

The dates that didn’t line up.

The symbols that kept reappearing—on files, in margins, on

lanyards and notebooks.

And once, scratched into the underside of a metal desk in the

old admin wing: a daisy. Faint, but deliberate.

She started drawing them, too.

On the inside of her sleeve. In the dust on her windowsill.

With steam on the bathroom mirror.

By the time she turned fifteen, she no longer trusted the

silence around her. She didn’t fear it, either. But she recognised

it for what it was—a tool.

On the night of her birthday, she wrote a single line inside

the fabric lining of her mattress, using the ink from a leaking

pen:

If something happens to me, it wasn’t random. And it wasn’t

right.

She drew a daisy beside it.

And smiled, like any other girl.


Author Bio:

Jo-Anne van Gelder is the pen name of a Dutch novelist based in the Netherlands. Ashes and Echoes is Jo’s debut psychological thriller—a dark, emotionally layered novel about memory, guilt, and buried truths.

Jo lives with her partner, who is also an author, and their cat. She spends most days surrounded by books, coffee, and the quiet thrill of untold stories.


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Ashes and Echoes Blitz

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RELEASE BLITZ: Protect My Wrong Secret by Summer Hunter

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Pine Peaks, Book 2

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: August 28, 2025

She’s the wrong secret I should’ve left buried.

Jaci Linwood is unlike any woman I’ve ever known.

Pint-sized and buttoned up, she’s enclosed in sky-high walls I
can’t charm my way past.

Giving up is not my MO.

So when HEY, the security firm I co-own with my ex-military friends, gets
tasked with finding out what she and her boss are doing at Pine Peaks Resort,
I’m stoked to be the private investigator on the case.

Mysteries shroud their presence, but my investigation proves that
they’re not merely vacationing.

Something far more sinister lays at our doorstep and Jaci’s at the
center of it.

I should be doing my job…

But she becomes a fixation I can’t break, a craving that’s never
satisfied, a need I don’t want to escape.

She sees through my facade and challenges me, pushes me, unravels me.

Then I’m straddling two paths—doing my job or following my desire.

The danger creeps closer, bearing down on her.

I must protect her from those who’d cause her harm.

And from my obsessed self…

 

About the Author

Summer Hunter writes romantic suspense with bite—where love
sizzles, danger lurks, and someone always ends up shirtless.

She calls Hawaii home, which means she’s fueled by sunshine, strong
coffee, and the occasional plot twist that shows up between bites of fried
noodles. Her characters are bold, her banter is sharp, and her
happily-ever-afters always come with a little chaos and a lot of heat.

When she’s not plotting her next twisty love story, she’s probably
side-eyeing tourists from behind her sunglasses and pretending it’s all
“research.”

“Spicy Love, Sassy Suspense – Always HEA.”

Grab a fan. Things are about to get steamy!

Contact Links

Author website

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

GoodReads

BookBub

Amazon (follow me)

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

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TEASER: Bunny’s F*ckfest by Wanda Violet O.

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BDSM Erotica

Date to be published: August 29, 2025

Publisher: ‎ Changeling Press LLC

Warning: This is a Razor’s Edge Daddy Dom BDSM Erotica short
story. Expect limited plot and character development, and lots of heat. If
you’re looking for a lengthy plot driven erotic romance, this is not it!

Every night with Max is a rush, a storm of sensation and wild, beautiful
chaos. But today? Today feels different. From the moment Max wakes me, in the
naughtiest of ways, I know something’s about to change. I have a feeling
whatever he has in store for me today may break me, unravel me to my very
core, only to rebuild me stronger than ever before.

Excerpt

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Wanda Violet
O.

I woke up to the feel of Max’s tongue between my thighs, pulling me from
sleep with waves of pleasure that made my back arch off the silk sheets.

“Fuck, Max,” I gasped, my fingers tangling in his dark hair as he
worked me with that skilled mouth of his. The morning light streaming through
the windows of our suite caught the blue of his eyes as he looked up at me,
never breaking rhythm. He knew exactly how to make me come undone, his tongue
circling and flicking until my orgasm forced a scream from my throat as I
trembled beneath him.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured against my skin, his voice
rough with desire. “I wanted to give you a treat.” Another swipe
with his tongue. Another moan from me. “Before you go to work
today.”

“Work?” Oh, boy… I tried to act nonchalant, but I thought
I’d failed when Max smirked at me.

“Yep. And, boy, are you going to need your strength today.” The
wicked gleam in his eyes never failed to make me wet. That always meant
something naughty and fun as fuck was about to follow.

I could barely form words as he continued his assault on my senses, building
me higher and higher once more until I shattered with a cry that echoed
through the room. My body convulsed as waves of pleasure crashed over me, and
Max didn’t stop until I lay panting and boneless beneath him.

He crawled up my body like the predator he was, all muscle and controlled
power, before claiming my mouth in a kiss that tasted of me and pure hunger.
“You’re insatiable,” I said, my voice a hoarse whisper.

“Daddy Jacob said I should put you in a good mood.” The rough
timbre of his voice vibrated through my chest. “I’m just following
orders.”

A shiver of anticipation raced through me. Daddy Jacob did this often for me
and his Kitten — a game we played. He and Max knew how we loved our
“jobs” and they both took great delight in keeping me and Kitten
as busy as we wanted to be. I’d come to love this play time. I also
loved coming back to our suite and letting Max question me and repeating every
single thing I’d done while away from him.

He didn’t push into me. Not yet. Instead he braced his weight above me,
his arms caging me in, and bent to kiss me. His kiss, soft, almost reverent,
carried the taste of my pussy on his tongue, filthy and sweet. I opened for
him, letting him take what he wanted.

Max kissed like he did everything. With full attention, like there was nothing
else in the world. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer,
burying my fingers in his thick hair. He growled low, a vibration that started
in his chest and echoed in mine.

When he broke away, his face hovered just above mine, his eyes impossibly blue
and focused.

“I need you, Max,” I whispered, my body still on edge despite the
two earlier orgasms.

He flashed me a wolfish smile. “You’ll have me, little
Bunny.”

Max reached over the edge of the bed, rummaging in the nightstand, a practiced
move. Condoms and lube were two staples in this house. With practice ease, Max
tore open the packet and rolled the condom down his length with a downward
stroke of his hand. For a second, I let myself savor the view, admiring the
way his cock jutted from his body, thick and veined and angry red at the tip.
I ached for him to fuck me.

Max must have seen the hunger on my face because he gripped my hips tighter,
his fingers digging into my soft curves. He lined up, teasing the head along
my slit, and the heat of the intimate contact the ultimate tease.

He paused, holding himself at my entrance, his mouth at my ear. “You
ready, Bunny?”

 

About the Author

Welcome to Wanda Violet O.’s world of bedtime fantasy, where you’ll find a
variety of sexy creatures ready to drink their fill. Wanda specializes in
extreme kink. Monsters, BDSM role play… she’s got it all. Come take a look
for yourself!

 

Author Contact Links

Wanda on Facebook

Wanda on Goodreads

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today


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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Stalled Descent by Kel O’Connor

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Stalled Descent
Kel O’Connor
(DAG Team Series, #4)
Publication date: August 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

A man forced to work for the enemy and a woman on the run from her past…

For years, ace pilot Archie McKinley has been living a double life. Now that his role as a mole within DAG has been exposed, he has one chance to make things right: take down Elliot Essa, the man who’s held him captive with threats and manipulation for over a decade.

To infiltrate the impenetrable Red Winter compound, Archie needs help from the team he deceived and the one person who truly knows him—Meret Shahid, his childhood partner-in-crime turned photographer. The girl who once earned the nickname “the Imp” in their small Iranian village might be his only shot at redemption. But Meret has her own demons from Red Winter, and returning to the organization she barely escaped could cost her everything.

As Archie grapples with guilt over his betrayal and his growing feelings for Meret, they must navigate new threats, uneasy alliances, and shocking revelations. The mission is clear: destroy Red Winter’s empire and free the innocent families trapped within it.

But the price of redemption may be higher than either of them is willing to pay.

This book is a full-length romance with a happy ending. It is part of a 4-book interconnected series where each book features a different couple.
This is a steamy romance for readers 18+

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

The knock on her door had her glancing at the clock. Archie likely wanted her dinner order, even though it was a bit early. She opened the door before she considered her outfit. She’d changed into a tank top and loose shorts after lunch. For comfort. Which, of course, included ditching her bra.

Too late to turn back. She opened the door halfway and hid behind it as much as possible. Surprisingly, Archie walked a few steps into the room instead of remaining outside. When he turned to her, all the moisture in her mouth dried up.

Meret bit the inside of her cheek rather than moan out loud. Gray sweatpants hung so low on his hips, she saw the white elastic band of his underwear. A light dusting of dark hair curled across the top of his chest. There was none on his perfect abs and only a thin trail that began under his navel. The bruises from his recent fight were fading to a greenish yellow along the left side of his torso.

There were scars on his tanned skin, including a long strip across his shoulder, possibly from a knife. On his right bicep, there was a corner of a tattoo showing, but she couldn’t make out the design from this angle. Of course, he was still an agent, maintaining the top-shelf physical fitness that was required. Damn, he was beautiful.

Archie bit his lip, chagrin obvious on his face. He took a deep breath, shook his shoulders, and all the awkwardness fell away, replaced by steely determination. Meret swayed, mesmerized at the transformation. He held her gaze and this time, his voice was strong.

“What happened between us on the boat was good. But we can do much better.”

Shock held her muted. This was not what she’d expected, but oh, was it what she wanted. Her fingers flexed as electricity shot through her in anticipation. She tightened her mouth, loathe to say the wrong thing. Best to let him do the talking.

He continued, “I’m aware my experience and skills are lacking, but I’ve been studying.”

Her mouth fell open, and she managed a single word, “Studying?”

His slow grin was equally charming and sexual, even showing a hint of teeth. Her lungs shrank at least four sizes as she tried to breathe. What was happening? She was 90% sure she wasn’t dreaming. He was not only discussing her and sex, he had smiled.

His voice lowered, and she felt the vibration between her legs. “Yeah. Reading the sexy parts of romance books. I assumed it was better than watching porn made for men.”

Oh, dear God in heaven. Which books? Steamy, spicy, kinky? Okay, she’d gladly take any of the above, even if kinky was not her preference. Her nipples hardened until it was almost painful.

They both chuckled a bit, and he added, “Plus, there are actually helpful instructional websites. I only need someone to test my knowledge on.” His expression morphed to sincere. “Meret, you are the only person I want to touch me.”

Tears stung the back of her eyelids at his confession. What courage it took for him to lay it all out for her. She was honored, but mostly, she was aroused. His fiery gaze roamed all over her body, clad only in the thin tank top and short shorts. His growing erection became obvious under the loose sweats. She stood rooted to the spot in shock, so he moved closer.

He looked feral, reckless, slowly stalking towards her like a predator.

Why did she think he was reckless? Agents were never reckless. They always had a plan. And two backup plans, plus an “oh shit, everything has gone to hell” plan.

What was her plan? Meet him halfway, yank his head down for a kiss? Hold up a hand to stop him? Plot an escape? Oh, hell no.

Suddenly, she didn’t want a plan. It was time to live in the moment. He wouldn’t harm her as long as she held her heart back. Sparks sizzled along her skin, put there by the singular focus in his eyes. For this moment, she would join him in recklessness. Her anxiety broke free, and she waited for him to reach her.

Author Bio:

Winner of the Pencraft Award and The Chill Award and a finalist for The Book Buyers Best Award, The Maggie Award for Excellence and The Carolyn Reader’s Choice Award, Kel lives with her family in the mountains of North Carolina. In addition to reading and writing, she loves coffee, loud rock music, subversive humor and the smell of old books. You can find her online on Instagram, Facebook and at keloconnor.com.

3 Random Facts about Kel:
* She will buy almost anything if it is a hot pink color
* She watches any and every show/movie about crime-fighting, spies, detective work or secret agents
* She and her husband once owned a humor store

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / X


GIVEAWAY!

Stalled Descent Blitz

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BOOK BLITZ: The Sweetest Getaway by Sasha Preston

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Women’s Fiction, Crime Caper, Cozy Heist

Date Published: 07-21-2025

Publisher:
Heart & Horizon


They’ll need the sweetest getaway ever to escape this mess…


Jennifer
used to be a wholesome daydreamer who’d never broken a law in her
life.

In a moment of weakness, she lets her roommate, Nari, rope her into
a money-making scheme that isn’t exactly…legal.

How could
she have known that stealing from bad guys would be so much fun?

Soon,
Jennifer is so busy leading a double life that she barely has time to
fantasize about the hot, dimpled stranger she met at one of Nari’s
parties.

Everything is going smoothly, until someone rats them out to the
cops.

Now, Jennifer and Nari need help from a team of seasoned criminals
to pull off a heist that’ll either set them up for life…or get
them locked up for a very long time.

Can Jennifer find a path to happily
ever after that doesn’t include an ugly prison jumpsuit? 
There’s
only one way to find out…


The Sweetest Getaway is a no spice, cozy heist novel with laughs, a diverse
cast, and the smartest heroines since Ocean’s 8. Perfect for fans of
women’s fiction and crime capers. Get it today for a criminally good
time.



Excerpt

“All we have to do is confidently walk to the door like we’re
supposed to be here,” Nari said under her breath.     
                     
         
She and Jennifer argued in the
parking lot of Omaha’s largest mansion as glamorously dressed revelers
approached the entrance, arm in arm.           
         
“I’ll enter five minutes
before you. When they ask for our names, remember that I’m Doris and
you’re Béatrice. After that, everything will be easy. No big
deal,” Nari explained.           

Right. It was no big deal to Nari because she was endlessly charming,
constantly meeting new people, and making loads of cash from random schemes
that took her all over the world. Jennifer, on the other hand, was great at
petting her neighbors’ dogs and getting lost mid-conversation in
daydreams about faraway lands she’d never visited.
Doris Huang and
Béatrice Boivin were wealthy business-women who were actually invited to the
gala. Jennifer had helped Nari find an Asian and black woman on the guest list
that they could impersonate. Doris and Béatrice looked enough like them,
although Doris was in her fifties. Luckily, Doris wore glasses, so Nari could
hide her youth behind a pair of round black frames that complemented her
off-the-shoulder, gold metallic gown.
“Honestly, Nari, I
don’t think it’s going to be that easy.” Jennifer tapped her
fingers nervously on her arm. “What if Doris and Béatrice are inside
already? Why don’t we look for a back entrance to sneak into
instead?”
At least there would be fewer witnesses if they got
caught at the back entrance. Maybe they could even pretend they were lost, ask
for directions, and then decide to scrap the whole mission and return to their
cozy apartment. “Oh well, that didn’t work. At least we
tried!” Jennifer would say peppily. Nari would shrug. They’d end
the night bingeing on popcorn and singing nineties hits into their TV’s
karaoke app.                 
                     

But Nari would never give up that easily. “Nah, we’re early.
We’ll have at least an hour before these two fabulous women show up.
They’re always late for events like this. Besides, our target is already
inside.”
Jennifer groaned. “This is nuts. I’ve got to
pretend to be French like Béatrice.” She shook her head. “I
can’t even tell the difference between a good macaron and a bad one.
They’re all delicious to me. I don’t know why I let you talk me
into this.”
“I know why you said yes, mon amie,” Nari
said, grinning. “Remember, you’ll be getting twenty-five percent
of whatever deal we pull off after today. If I can close this deal, it could
be worth half a million dollars.”         
                   

Jennifer had almost forgotten about the payout. Normally, Nari
compensated her for these wild rides with chili cheese fries. She sucked in
air through her teeth. “I… I can’t really say no to that,”
she said, goosebumps covering her arms.
With that kind of money, maybe
she could travel far beyond Omaha’s borders. She’d meet wonderful,
surprising people. People who spoke five languages, painted in their spare
time, and effortlessly rode their electric scooters through crowded street
markets before arriving at home to make love to their beautiful spouses. Maybe
she could even quit her job as a marketing analyst.
Nari swept her arm
out in front of her, as if she were showing off her kingdom. “Welcome to
the business world. There’s tons of cash just waiting for
you.”                 
       
Money came easily to Nari, even though she
had the attention span of a gnat. She could have her own massive condo if she
wanted to, but she chose to live with Jennifer to feel a sense of home so far
away from her family. Jennifer, however, was thirty-six years old and broke.
If she didn’t live with Nari, she would have to start a window washing
side hustle to be able to afford her student loan payments.   
          “It’s my favorite
business world, the one where we have to sneak into galas to close
deals,” Jennifer snorted.
 

About the Author

 
 Sasha Preston writes women’s fiction crime capers that help you to
escape your daily reality, feel a sense of excitement, and plan your next
adventure – all with some humor and close friendship thrown into the
mix.
They say you should write about what you know. While she still
hasn’t officially committed a heist, there’s nothing she loves
more than going on adventures with girlfriends. You can find her waking up
while it’s still dark outside to write, exercise, and explore.

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Murder, Mystery and Misdirection by Pamela McCord

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Murder, Mystery and Misdirection
Pamela McCord
(An Erin Baily in Franklin Paranormal Mystery, #3)
Publication date: August 21st 2025
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

Hold onto your coffee and get ready to dive into the charmingly quirky world of Franklin, Tennessee. Erin Bailey never expected her new Southern estate to come with a talking cat named Peekaboo and a parade of ghostly visitors, giving her life a supernatural twist beyond even her wildest imaginings.

In “Murder, Mystery and Misdirection,” Erin becomes embroiled in yet another haunting mystery when her neighbor, Derek, vanishes under suspicious circumstances. As she delves into the secrets surrounding Derek’s disappearance, Erin must navigate the demands of an irate spirit who wishes she’d mind her own business, and the wife he left behind who would prefer that Erin not meddle in her personal life. Despite her initial distaste for Derek, an admittedly abusive husband, Erin is determined to help his pesky ghost cross over—all with her signature wit and relatable charm.

With the assistance of her best friend Susie, a podcast-loving sidekick, Detective Ryan Cahill, the handsome detective who has captured Erin’s heart, and DC, a private investigator and Susie’s boyfriend, Erin faces breathtaking revelations and dangerous discoveries. Add in an unexpected visit from Susie’s all-knowing Italian mother, bringing her own mix of culinary talents and psychic insight, and Erin’s world becomes as dizzyingly delightful as it is unpredictable.

Immerse yourself in a tale where cozy meets paranormal, filled with laughter and suspense. When your closest advisor is a snarky orange cat and your sleuthing targets the world of the dead, nothing is off-limits.

Perfect for fans of mystery interwoven with humor, “Murder, Mystery and Misdirection” promises a journey that’s both heartwarming and hilariously unpredictable—because unraveling a murder mystery is just another day in the life when your companions are as spectral and sassy as the enigmatic Peekaboo.

Join Erin as she dances through danger, one ghostly encounter at a time!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“Peekaboo!”

I burst through the front door, Ryan in my wake. I stopped in the hallway and looked for any sign of the orange cat who was currently on my sugar (I don’t like to swear) list. It only took a moment before the little creature stepped primly into the hall.

“I was napping,” the grumpy feline said, shooting me a gold-eyed glare. She waited for me to continue.

“I acknowledged them,” I said, deadpan. Just what my cat warned me not to do.

“Oh.” Peekaboo’s snooty manner fell away, and she lowered those gold eyes.

“That’s all you have to say?” I stood, arms crossed, my eyes shooting daggers. Ryan, my boyfriend, stood mutely watching. He couldn’t hear Peekaboo.

But I could. Oh, boy, could I. My sweet little inherited orange cat bestowed on me, by way of tripping me on my way down the front porch steps, the “gift” of being able to communicate with her. Oh, and see ghosts. To be fair, her motives were pure. She needed me to have a near-death experience so I’d wake up and be able to listen to her.

Maybe I should back up, so you know what I’m talking about.

I used to live in Los Angeles. When I was twenty-one, I broke up a mugging and saved a dear little old lady. She was so grateful that seven years later she left me her estate in her will.

In addition to a house, an SUV and a large amount of money, I inherited Peekaboo, the talking cat. Of course, I didn’t know she was a talking cat at the time. After glaring at me for a few days, she apparently thought I was hopeless and pushed me down the stairs. So, I woke up in the hospital and saw a doctor with a clipboard walk through a wall. But that’s really immaterial to my story. My neighbor, who found me splayed out on the porch steps, called 911. When I was released from the hospital, Elsie, the neighbor, told me I’d flatlined and it took ten minutes of the paddles to bring me back to life.

As I hobbled into my house after Elsie brought me home from the hospital and made sure I was all right to be left alone, subject cat started talking to me. I thought I must have a brain tumor…somebody get me back to the hospital! I grabbed the fireplace poker and used it to keep her at bay. I think she may have rolled her eyes at me.

Then, before I was comfortable that she was talking…and I could understand her…she trotted out the ghost of Alice, the sweet little old lady who’d left me her house. Apparently, this whole episode was so I could see Alice and solve her murder.


Author Bio:

A Mom’s Choice Awards® Recipient, Pam started writing later in life when an author friend challenged her to create a book from his story idea. Being a never-say-never person, she met the challenge and managed to finish an entire novel, much to her surprise. Since that beginning, she’s written several books, in several genres. Romance, middle grade and paranormal comprise most of her work. Her first published book, The Haunting of Elmwood Manor, A Pekin Dewlap Mystery, is a Mom’s Choice Award Winner! Several of her books have also earned that award. Pam lives in Tennessee, where she shares a home with her My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.

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Murder, Mystery and Misdirection Blitz

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Stranger Still by George Ochoa

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Stranger Still
George Ochoa
Publication date: August 19th 2025
Genres: Adult, Literary Fiction, Thriller

Paul Inster, a brilliant, insane Columbia college student majoring in English with an undisclosed minor in knives, is in love with graduate student, Tracy Iridio. Seeing her in the library every day, he mistakenly believes she is in love with him and that she is a goddess, Teresa. In fact, the two have never met, and she does not know who he is. When, for the first time, he sees her with her boyfriend, classical history professor Larry Post, Paul sets out to destroy Larry via a campaign of terror. As the campaign mounts, Larry, mystified, tries to figure out who is attacking him and why. Through a series of surprises and confusions, the campaign escalates to murder.

Stranger Still is both a thriller and a literary novel, combining suspense and violence with rich language, webs of cultural allusions, and themes of love and madness.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Teresa and I often made love, though never in the flesh. To this day the psychiatrists will scrutinize such a statement as if it meant something other than what it plainly says, as if it were the telltale boil of some rare mental pox that might explain the blood spills photographed by the police. But these doctors do not understand love, optics, metaphysics, error, or even good taste. As far as flesh went, I never touched or even talked to Teresa, not until our moral decline had already begun. Before then, seeing the chaste tables that divided us in the Columbia library less than a decade ago, in the middle years of the 1990s, you might have thought Teresa and I were strangers, that she didn’t know I was alive.

I first saw her early in my junior year, a new female sitting several tables away in the Burgess-Carpenter reading room on the fourth floor of Butler Library. She seemed at first like any other of the pretty women on campus whom I liked to ogle and who regarded me as if I were invisible. But the more I stared at her, the more she particularly interested me. A pile of books rested near her elbow on the blond pine table, her head bent with rapt attention over her open book. Hazy September sunlight from the tall windows bathed her small breasts in her magenta top, made the white skin of her forearms glow. Her dark-brown hair was long and luxuriant, her neck long, her face shaped like that of a Raphael Madonna. But what captured me most were her eyes—large, sad eyes, ringed with mauve circles as if she hadn’t slept well. Why was she sad? Was there something I could do to make her happier?

We sat like that for a long time, she near the east end of a table in the back, never noticing me, while I shot frequent glances at her from near the west end of the second table from the door. About twenty feet diagonally divided us, too far for me to discern her eye color, though I tried. Finally, she got up, gathering her books into a white canvas tote bag and walking toward the door. As her gangly frame passed me, I gave her eyes a good look and saw they were hazel, flickering elusively under their long lashes from green to brown to gold.

The thought of her big, sad, long-lashed hazel eyes kept me happy for the rest of my day at Columbia. Even when I boarded the downtown Number One train, the first of the three trains that every evening buried me back in Jamaica, Queens, I was still thinking of those eyes. But an hour and fifteen minutes in the subways will discourage anyone. By the time I left the second leg, the D train, for the final and longest leg, the F, my thoughts were turning dark. The train was crowded with smelly, loam-colored laborers imported from faraway continents, and me just one of the horde.

Most students at Columbia boarded, but because my family was poorer than that of the standard Ivy Leaguer, I was a commuter. Combined with my natural tendency toward solitude, this meant I had no friends either on campus or anywhere else. I longed to make contact with someone, anyone, but did not know how. Sometimes I just wanted to pet them—the young secretary sitting before me on the subway in vinyl jacket and glittery eyeliner—to touch her shoulder, her pulsing throat, and say, “I am here. I am lonely. Help me.” Sometimes I wanted to hit them—the goon in the Yankees cap. When I felt particularly desperate, I wanted to stab them. I had knives that would have fit that purpose, but I never took them out of the house.

Author Bio:

George Ochoa’s first novel is the thriller Stranger Still. In addition, he has written or cowritten thirty-five nonfiction books, including The Book of Answers, The Writer’s Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe, The American Film Institute Desk Reference, and Deformed and Destructive Beings: The Purpose of Horror Films. His short fiction has been published in North American Review, Eureka Literary Magazine, Eunoia Review, Bangalore Review, and elsewhere. He is also the author of published poems and essays.

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