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.
Best Friend’s Little Sister/Older Brother’s Best Friend
Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
Release Date: July 22, 2025
BLURB
Everything I’d ever done had been because of Scarlett Green.
I’d worked hard in school, played hard but trained harder all while waiting for her to get her degree. Her brother, my best friend, knew how I felt about her and the only promise I’d made to him was that I’d wait to make my move until after she’d graduated.
That day finally came, and I’d come home to celebrate with her and send her on her way to new job in a new city. The exact same city I was living in, New York. It was finally going to be our time. I planned to offer her a place to live. After all, I had just bought a large three-bedroom condo after signing a five-year contract with the New York Predators.
Only our time was short lived when my past came back to haunt me in the form of a child I knew nothing about. Overnight, my life was turned upside down. Like the good woman Scarlett is, she immediately put a stop to everything between us, demanding I concentrate on learning how to raise my baby boy while playing hockey.
Now, five years later, I’ve gotten control over our life when the news came that I was being traded to the Vancouver Dominators. Without debate I moved to Vancouver. Within six months of my return, I ran into Scarlett and her brother at one of our home games. She’s not only moving to Vancouver but she is here to do an article on the team for the new Canadian division of the Ice Insiders, a sports publication. After one disastrous run in with her I learn she’s living in my building and looking to find Mr. Right. I figured now might be the perfect time to pick up where we left off, after all I was certain she was meant to be mine.
USA Today Bestselling Author S.L. Sterling was born and raised in southern Ontario. She now lives in Northern Ontario Canada and is married to her best friend and soul mate and their two dogs.
An avid reader all her life, S.L. Sterling dreamt of becoming an author. She decided to give writing a try after one of her favorite authors launched a course on how to write your novel. This course gave her the push she needed to put pen to paper and her debut novel “It Was Always You” was born.
When S.L. Sterling isn’t writing or plotting her next novel she can be found curled up with a cup of coffee, blanket and the newest romance novel from one of her favorite authors.
In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, sunny destinations, spending quality time with family and friends and of course reading.
Is it friendship or something more? I think I’m ready to find out.
Yulia — They call him Salvation, and that’s exactly what
he’s been for me. I was only sixteen when he swept me up into his arms
and carried me out of hell. Things were so bad, all I wanted was to die. He
and his club, the Reckless Kings, they saved me. Salvation’s never
touched me, even though we’re technically married, and he honestly has
enough on his plate already with a daughter who’s badly scarred from an
explosion. But we’ve been together for eleven years now, and the older I
get, the more I want our marriage to be real.
Salvation — Since the day Yulia came to live with me, I’ve not once
cheated on her. She’s legally my wife, and that’s all that
matters. Besides, my daughter, Clover, has kept me busy. Now Clover’s
nearly an adult and I’ve noticed the way Yulia looks at me when she
thinks I’m not paying attention. But can we have a real marriage when
we’ve been nothing but friends all these years? It’s too bad my
family has be to taken before I realize the answer to that question. Now
I’ll do whatever it takes to get Clover and Yulia back, and I’ll
send their kidnappers straight to hell.
Warning: Salvation is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations,
bad language, and violence. It can be read as a stand-alone, but the series
will be enjoyed more if read in order. This is a slow-burn romance with steamy
scenes. There’s no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA!
The wind whipped my hair across my face, stinging my eyes as I stood at
the edge of the school grounds. My heart pounded, each beat a reminder of the
choice before me. Memories flashed through my mind — cruel hands, mocking
laughter, endless fear. I closed my eyes, willing the images away.
This was it. The end. My fingers trembled as I gripped the knife tighter. Just
one cut and it would all be over. No more pain. No more shame. I took a shaky
breath. “Prosti menya, sestra,” I whispered. Forgive me, sister.
The blade glinted in the fading sunlight. So sharp. So final. I pressed it to
my wrist.
A roar split the air.
My eyes snapped open. In the distance, a motorcycle engine growled, growing
louder. Closer. I hesitated, the knife hovering above my skin. Who would come
here? Why now? The engine’s rumble filled my ears, drowning out the
frantic beating of my heart. Despite myself, I turned toward the sound.
A flicker of… something. Not quite hope. But curiosity. A momentary
distraction from the abyss. I lowered the knife, just slightly. My mind raced.
Should I wait? See who it was? Or finish what I’d started?
The motorcycle drew nearer. Any moment now, it would crest the hill. I bit my
lip, indecision paralyzing me. The wind continued to howl around me, urging me
forward. But that sound… it called to me. Promising… what?
I didn’t know.
For just a moment, my despair lifted. And in that moment, I chose to wait.
The motorcycle crested the hill, its rider a dark silhouette against the
blazing orange sky. My breath caught in my throat. He was massive, all broad
shoulders and muscled limbs, his leather cut emblazoned with a patch I
couldn’t quite make out.
He dismounted in one fluid motion, his boots hitting the ground with a heavy
thud. My fingers tightened around the knife as he strode toward me, his pace
urgent but measured. “Easy now, darlin’,” he called out, his
voice a low rumble that carried on the wind. “Why don’t you put
that knife down?”
I shook my head, taking a step back. “Stay away,” I warned.
“I don’t know you.”
He slowed his approach, hands raised placatingly. “Name’s Hawk.
I’m with the Reckless Kings. I was sent here to help. A few of my
brothers are waiting nearby to make sure we don’t run into
trouble.”
My mind reeled. The Reckless Kings? How did they know? Why would they care?
“No one can help,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.
“It’s too late.”
Hawk took another careful step forward. “It’s never too late,
sweetheart. Trust me on that.”
I laughed, a bitter sound that surprised even me. “Trust? I don’t
even know what that means anymore.”
His gaze met mine. “Then let me show you. Just… put the knife
down. Please.”
My hand trembled. Part of me wanted to believe him, to grasp at this lifeline
he was offering. But the fear, the pain of the past years, it all threatened
to drown me. “I can’t,” I choked out. “You don’t
understand what he did to me.”
Hawk’s expression softened. “Maybe not exactly. But I’ve
seen enough pain in this world to recognize it. You’re not alone, Yulia.
Not anymore.”
My name on his lips startled me. How did he know? Who sent him?
As if sensing my thoughts, he added, “Your sister’s worried sick.
She asked us to find you.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Oksana?”
Hawk nodded. “She loves you. Let us help. Let me take you somewhere
safe.”
The knife slipped in my grasp, my resolve wavering… The knife clattered
to the ground, and my legs gave out. I crumpled, expecting to hit the cold
earth. Instead, strong arms caught me, steadying me against a broad chest.
“I’ve got you,” Hawk murmured, his voice a low rumble.
“You’re safe now.”
I trembled, my body wracked with silent sobs. Years of pent-up fear and pain
poured out of me as Hawk held me, his grip firm but gentle. “Can you
walk?” he asked after a moment.
I nodded weakly, not trusting my voice. Hawk kept an arm around me as he
guided me toward his motorcycle. The machine loomed before us, all gleaming
chrome and sleek lines. “Ever ridden before?” Hawk asked, swinging
his leg over the seat.
I shook my head, eyeing the bike warily. “Nyet… no.”
He extended his hand. “First time for everything. Hold on tight,
okay?”
With shaking fingers, I grasped his hand and climbed on behind him. The
leather of his cut was smooth under my palms as I wrapped my arms around his
waist. I heard three more motorcycles and noticed the men were also from the
Reckless Kings.
“Ready?” Hawk called over his shoulder.
“Da,” I whispered, tightening my grip.
The engine roared to life, vibrating through my entire body. We took off, the
world blurring around us as we sped away from the school grounds. Away from my
nightmares.
I pressed my face against Hawk’s back, the wind whipping my hair. Part
of me still couldn’t believe this was real. That I was escaping. That
someone had come for me. “Where are we going?” I shouted over the
engine’s rumble.
“Somewhere safe,” Hawk called back. “Our compound.
You’ll be protected there.”
Protected. The word sent a shiver through me — of fear or hope, I
wasn’t sure.
As we rode into the gathering darkness, I clung to Hawk, to this stranger
who’d become my unexpected savior. My mind raced with questions, with
doubts. But for now, I let the roar of the engine drown out my thoughts,
focusing only on the road ahead and the promise of safety it held.
Tears stung my eyes, instantly whisked away by the biting wind. My chest ached
with each ragged breath, emotions churning like a storm inside me. Gratitude
and terror warred for dominance.
“You okay back there?” Hawk’s voice barely reached me over
the engine’s roar.
I nodded against his back, not trusting my voice. My fingers dug into the
leather of his cut, anchoring me to this surreal moment.
About the Author
Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances.
With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her
readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works
exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a
satisfying note each time.
When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new
plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book.
She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies.
Visit Wylde’s website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and
don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and
other exciting perks.
Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15
Genre: Mystery. A hardboiled PI novel with family dynamics.
On his deathbed, Minneapolis private investigator Lyle Dahms’s father, a retired suburban police patrolman, asks his son to reach out to a dark figure from their shared past. Despite his reservations, Dahms feels he cannot refuse. But the visit sets off a chain reaction that will expose long-buried family secrets and provoke dangerous enemies. As threats mount, Dahms must protect not only his family, but also that of his dad’s former partner—a man he is not sure
he can trust.
The drive home took a lot less time than the drive up to the motel. Driving home always seems to take less time. I fiddled with the radio, but I couldn’t seem to focus on the music.
Instead, I thought about Donnie and Mindy. I didn’t believe in their future. There was too much of the past in their way. I didn’t even think I owed them anything. But now I knew their secrets. Now, they were my secrets, too.
I thought about my dad. Donnie’s secret had been his as well. He’d hid it away. He’d let it eat at him. He died trying to be rid of it. He died passing it on to me.
I arrived home more tired than I remember being before.
Naomi was tall and round, yet oh so shapely, with full, womanly breasts and an unmistakable aura of strength that seemed even more potent the times she yielded to me. Her small mouth, now primly fixed, seemed to hold secrets. But there was light dancing in
her blue eyes as if to say that those secrets were merry things eager to spill out. Her freckle-splashed cheeks were framed by marvelously long tangles of hair—the color of embers—that shone lustrously as though spun from the afterglow of a radiant sunset.
Despite our recent troubles, I was deeply aware of the hold that she had on my heart—a hold that I feared, once released, would leave me profoundly diminished. There was no question that I’d be a fool not to fight to hold on to her. And no question that fighting wouldn’t be enough.
What Readers Are Saying:
Death’s Honesty. A Lyle Dahms Mystery. Readers have called the series “funny and well-crafted” and say that “author Brian Anderson does a terrific job of channeling a combo of Hammett and Chandler with a sassy sense of humor of his own.”
Guest Post:
My first mystery novel, The Shiver in Her Eyes, was published in August 2022, and the fourth in the Lyle Dahms mystery series, Death’s Honesty, will be published in July 2025. I was also fortunate enough to have a standalone mystery, Yule Tide, published late last year.
Five books in three years.
When people hear this, they often say, “You’re quite prolific.” But the truth is very different.
I began writing the Lyle Dahms mystery series before the birth of our first daughter. She just turned thirty-two. After she was born, I was able to serve as a full-time stay-at-home dad for ten years. Two more daughters came along, and these were the happiest days of my life. I would get up very early, way before they began to stir, and make my way down to my basement writing desk to work for an hour or two on what would eventually become my novels. The rest of the day was devoted to them. When the girls were all in school full-time, I took a job at a Seattle-based nonprofit. My writing time decreased, but I was fortunate enough to find a critique group that encouraged me to keep at it. We’ve been together for more than twenty-five years. With their advice and support, I revised and re-revised my manuscripts. I weathered many rejections over all those years, but, bolstered by my faith in the work and the motivating force of my critique group, I eventually found a publisher in The Wild Rose Press.
I am deeply indebted to everyone, my long-suffering wife Sue, my three beautiful daughters, my fellow writers, and most importantly, to my readers, for whatever success I’ve achieved.
In my books, I try to weave a tapestry that is part menace and part merriment. Part mystery and suspense, and part laugh-out-loud humor. Tension, yes, but also release.
I still write slowly and revise often. I am not prolific, but I am grateful, and I hope to be bringing you all these novels for some time to come.
About the Author:
Brian Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota whose Dinkytown
neighborhood provides the setting for his mystery series featuring private
investigator Lyle Dahms. The Dahms novels spring from his lifelong love of
mystery fiction, especially the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler,
as well as more contemporary masters like Robert B. Parker and G.M. Ford. He is a three-time finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association mystery and suspense contest.
Brian spent much of his professional career working to alleviate domestic hunger
serving as the operations director of the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle
& King County as well as the manager of the Pike Market Food Bank in
downtown Seattle. Married with three beautiful daughters, he now lives and
writes in Ocean Shores, a small city on the Washington coast.
The Forged Empire Samantha Gillespie (The Kingdom Within, #3) Publication date: July 15th 2025 Genres: Historical Romance, Young Adult
She married a prince. She loved a soldier. Now she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to save them all.
As the specter of war looms, Meredith Ethan, and Connor are thrust into a final, desperate struggle for freedom. With Stonefall reclaimed and the plague’s grip finally broken, they must now race to forge new alliances before Theros-the ruthless King of Talos-brings his twisted vision of an empire to life.
But Theros’s ambitions run deeper than conquest-and Meredith is at the heart of his plans.
As betrayals mount and loyalties are tested, she finds herself caught between the prince she married and the soldier she never forgot.
And beneath the weight of destiny, Meredith must decide who she truly is:
a queen who must learn to believe in her own strength… or a pawn in a game she can no longer control.
In a war where survival means sacrifice, the price of freedom may be everything.
The final battle is here. And only one legacy will endure.
A tremor starts in my hands again, subtle but insistent. I clench my fists, willing it to stop.
“My lady?” Anabella appears near the foot of the staircase, her wide eyes fixed on me, worry plain in her gaze.
My pulse pounds harder in my ears, and the air feels thick, suffocating. A bead of sweat traces a line down my temple, and I lift a trembling hand to brush it away. The motion betrays me. My uncle’s eyes narrow, alarm darkening his expression.
“You’re quite pale,” he remarks, his voice softer now but no less authoritative. “Sit down before you fall.”
“I’m fine,” I say, gritting my teeth. “It’s just a dizzy spell—”
The room wavers, and a sharp pain lances through my temple. I dig my nails into the carved wood of a nearby table, struggling to stay upright. Voices fade into a muffled roar behind the pounding in my ears. My legs threaten to buckle, yet I take a step forward . . . feeling as if the crown itself is dragging me down.
“Meredith!” Anabella cries out, her fear breaking through decorum. She rushes forward, but someone stops her—a hand grabbing her arm, likely my uncle’s.
“No one is to approach her!” The command explodes from my uncle’s throat like a war cry, freezing everyone mid-step. “She was inoculated this morning—she could be infected!”
Infected.
Understanding dawns like poison spreading through my veins. They think the inoculation failed. They think I’m a walking plague, a vector of death.
Am I?
My knees buckle as the implications cascade through my mind. The room warps and tilts, faces stretching into grotesque masks of fear and revulsion.
“Please, let me help her!” Anabella’s voice cracks with desperation, cutting through the growing pandemonium. “She’s fainting—she needs—”
My uncle stops her. “Stay where you are, woman, or I’ll have you restrained!”
I struggle to form reassurances, denials, anything. But my tongue lies thick and useless in my mouth. The marble floor begins its inexorable rise to meet me, my legs folding like paper beneath my weight. Colors bleed together, the world smearing into an impressionist nightmare.
“Get the physician! Now!” My uncle’s bellow seems to come from very far away, echoing down a tunnel of gathering darkness.
I’m falling—but suddenly strong arms encircle me, crushing me against a chest that thunders with someone else’s racing heartbeat. The scent of leather and pine fills my fading senses, achingly familiar.
“Get away from her!” the duke roars. “You fool—you’re putting yourself at risk! Guards, pull him back!”
“Try it.” Connor’s voice is a low growl. “See what happens.”
The threat hangs in the air, electric with promise. Even through my fading consciousness, I feel the tension ratchet higher, guards hesitating at the challenge in his tone.
Through the narrow slits of my barely-open eyes, I see Connor’s face swimming above me, those midnight-blue eyes fierce with determination. His jaw is set in stone, daring anyone to test him. His lips move urgently, forming words that reach me only as distant whispers, lost in the roaring tide of unconsciousness.
The last thing I register is his arms tightening around me, unyielding as iron, before the darkness swallows me whole.
Author Bio:
Samantha Gillespie writes the kind of romantasy novels she loves to read: stories packed with forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and just enough angst to keep you up way past your bedtime.
She lives in Houston with her husband and their ever-expanding menagerie—cats who’ve crowned themselves royalty, a dog with strong opinions about the weather, and chickens whose sole mission is acquiring treats and destroying the yard. When she’s not breaking hearts through fiction, she thrives on copious amounts of coffee, sharp wit, and the delicious tears of her devoted readers.
In a city plagued by hidden crime, Rachel Remington is a solitary investigator
haunted by her family’s tragic past—her mother’s murder and
her father’s assassination. At 26, her obsession with finding their
killers drives her into a dangerous confrontation with a shadowy underworld of
illicit drug trafficking.
Will Rachel Get Her Revenge?
As hope emerges through the enigmatic Detective Trent, Rachel’s life spirals
into chaos. As they join forces, she discovers hidden agendas and dark secrets
threatening to consume her.
Games, Betrayals, and Love
Caught in a perilous game of trust and betrayal, Rachel must uncover her
family’s past while evading those determined to silence her. In a
thrilling tale of revenge and unexpected alliances, will Rachel uncover the
truth, seize her chance for redemption, find love, or will the shadows of her
past cost her everything?
About the Author
It’s never too late to make my dreams come true. I was lucky to be
born on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, specifically in
Alexandria. My summers were spent on the beach, enjoying the sunshine, the
original surfboards/paddle boards, and the game of sand pickleball before it
even made it to the US.
Not having TVs, I read many books, especially wartime ones, Ian
Flemings’s early James Bond novels, John Le Carre, Agatha Christie,
Maurice LeBlanc (Arsene Lupin), and other detective/mystery-type books. For
school, we had to read all the French Classics. I was always intrigued by how
the characters always managed to resolve their problems.
At the Age of 19, I came to California as a foreign student. After graduating
with an engineering degree, I was able to obtain my permanent residency. I
never looked back. My mother was able to join me, but unfortunately, my father
passed away.
Once I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree, I joined an
International Engineering and Construction Company and spent all my working
time with them. What was great is that the company moved me to many work
projects around the world, where I spent an average of a couple of years on
each. My wife joined me on some of these assignments.
But my love for writing was always with me. During my stay abroad, I wrote a
philosophical book and many articles for local newspapers and the Laguna Beach
weekly issues, comparing life in Laguna Beach with life in Indonesia. I wrote
articles for the company’s monthly newsletter, as well as for other
publications.
I recently decided to use a “nom de plume”/pseudonym for my
writings. My real name is Jean-Pierre Zacaropoulos. Having a last name
starting with a “Z” had me called upon in classes either as one of
the last ones or one of the first one. It was always a guessing game. But
usually having an A or B will push you to the top (Ha! Ha!). So I decided to
choose a “B”
Now, I have a little bit more time, so I decided to make my long-time desire
come true. I wrote my mystery/romance novel, which will be followed shortly
after by a sequel.
Award-winning author E.M. Shue returns with another installment in the Happily Ever Alpha World, created by USA Today and New York Times best-selling author Aurora Rose Reynolds.
Ham Martinez never expected a traffic confrontation to change his life.
When a sexy little blonde cuts him off and blows him a kiss, Ham assumes it’s just a playful invitation. But the moment he looks into her eyes, everything shifts. She’s his. He doesn’t care that her sole focus is her doctoral studies. Ham is determined to prove that he’s her future and the one she can trust with her heart.
Presley Blanchard has one goal. Earn her doctorate and finally gain her father’s approval.
She also wants to avoid her cruel stepsister, who finds great joy in bullying her. But when Presley accidentally cuts off a black lifted Jeep, she apologizes with a pucker of her lips, thinking that’s the end of it. She never expects the driver to chase after her, or for him to be a tall, sexy, alpha male who won’t leave her alone. He promises to make her his priority, something she’s craved for a very long time. Giving Ham a chance and losing her heart wasn’t in her plans, but now she can’t imagine a life without him.
When Presley catches the attention of a deadly enemy, Ham will stop at nothing to protect her. As the danger surrounding Presley grows, their love will be tested by the deadly waters threatening to tear them apart. Ham and Presley will have to fight through the darkness to dive into their BOOM, no matter what stands in their way.
If you loved Until Hanna, you won’t be able to put down Until Presley.
Writer, wife, mother of three girls, grandma to two beautiful grand-daughters, doggie mom to one, and doggie grandma to five. This multi-published award-winning author likes her whiskey Irish, her chocolate dark and her hockey hard hitting. She’s an avid reader and you can find her Kindle packed full of all sub-genres of romance. When she isn’t writing action-adventure, dark-mafia, suspense, MC, and strong woman she’s spending time with her family exploring Alaska.
She’s currently writing several series and stand-alones in multiple sub-genres of romance but all are hot & steamy and action-packed.
Four of her books have won the Colorado RWA Beverley contest, Sniper’s Kiss in 2018 for Suspense, Angel’s Kiss in 2019 for Contemporary, Accidentally Noah in 2020 for Suspense, and Zeke’s Choice in 2021 for Suspense, while many others were finalists in this same contest.
E.M.’s favorite saying is don’t piss her off she’ll write you into a book and kill you off in a new and gory way.
Aurora Rose Reynolds and her husband, Sedaka Reynolds, created Boom Factory Publishing to use their experiences to expand and promote upcoming and existing indie authors.
With over five years in the industry, and millions of books sold worldwide, we know what it takes to become a successful author and we will use this knowledge to take our authors to the next level.
“As a successful hybrid author in this ever evolving industry, I know that you’re only as successful as the team that is promoting you!” – Aurora Rose Reynolds
A Prodigy in Auschwitz: A Holocaust Story, Book One: Simon
By Fred Raymond Goldman
When Nazi Germany troops enter Krakow, Poland on September 2, 1939, fourteen-year-old Simon Baron learns two truths that have been hidden from him.
One, the people who have raised him are not his biological parents. Two, his birth mother was Jewish. In the eyes of the Germans, although he has been raised Catholic, this makes Simon Jewish.
Simon’s dreams of becoming a concert violinist and composer are dashed when his school is forced to expel him, and he is no longer eligible to represent it at its annual Poland Independence Day Concert. There, he had hoped to draw the attention of representatives of a prestigious contest who might have helped him fulfill his dreams.
Simon vows to never forgive his birth father for abandoning him, an act resulting in unspeakable tragedies for his family and in his being forced to live the indignities of the ghetto and the horrors of Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.
Throughout his ordeals, Simon wavers between his intense anger toward his birth father and his dreams of being reunited with him. Through his relationships with Rabbi Rosenschtein and the rabbi’s daughter, Rachel, Simon comes to appreciate his Jewish heritage and find purpose in his life. Driven by devotion to family and friends and his passion for music, Simon holds on to hope. But can he survive the atrocities of the Nazi regime?
How do you reconcile a decision you made in the past when the world erupts in war, threatening the life of someone you love and believe you were protecting?
The rector cleared his throat, stood, and walked back and forth before them with his hands behind his back. His voice seemed apologetic when he stopped and said, “The Nazis are insisting we expel our Jewish students. The ones who came here told me they are forcing all other conservatories and universities throughout Poland to do the same. If we don’t conform, they’ll close the school.”
Simon’s chest tightened. He slowly shook his head in disbelief. A slight noise rose from his throat. He fought an impulse to leap from his chair and swipe his arm across the rector’s desk, letting the items scatter across the floor. To control himself, he squeezed his hands more tightly onto the arms of his chair. He looked at Professor Kaminski again for support. There was a look of helplessness on her face, a look of sympathy for what he must be feeling. He had grown to respect and love her dearly. The thought of losing her as his teacher devastated him.
His father raised his voice. “So, what are you saying? You’re expelling Simon?”
“It’s most unfortunate, but the Germans have tied our hands. I’m afraid the answer is yes.”
“When will this expulsion take place?”
The rector looked down and lowered his voice. “Immediately, I’m afraid.”
Simon’s face reddened. “Does this mean I can’t represent the school at the Independence Day Concert?”
The rector stroked his forearm. “I’m sorry, son. I have no choice.” The rector turned to Simon’s parents. In a gentle tone, he said, “I want to repeat, Mr. and Mrs. Baron, we have the highest regard for Simon. It distresses us to have to take this action.” No one responded. The meeting ended with everyone looking dejected and unable to find the right words to say.
Professor Kaminski and Simon walked quietly to his classrooms to collect his belongings. Other students passed Simon and nodded. Simon’s eyes averted theirs. When Simon finished, Professor Kaminski walked him to his parents. On the way she stopped, faced him, and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You’re a fine violinist, Simon,” she said. “You must never forget that. This war will be over one day, and you will resume your studies here, I hope. In the meantime, hold your head high, and keep practicing and composing. I’ll want to hear your compositions when we meet again.” They hugged each other. Simon bit his lip to hold back his tears.
Simon and his parents walked out the front door of the school with their shoulders slumped and their heads down. His father attempted to put his arm around Simon’s shoulder. Simon brushed it away and walked home ahead of his parents.
Once home, Simon retreated to his room and slammed the door. He threw his backpack on the floor and fell into his bed, stomach first. He hid his face in his pillow and cried.
Author Bio:
Fred Raymond Goldman graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD (now named McDaniel College) in June 1962 with a BA in psychology. Two years later, in 1964, he earned an MSW degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
Most of Fred’s career was spent in Jewish Communal Service. He served as the administrator of Northwest Drug Alert, a methadone maintenance program at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. In this role, he also acted as a community resource, guiding individuals struggling with addiction toward Jewish services that supported abstinence, counseling, and job placement.
Following that, Fred was hired as the Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family Services in Baltimore.
His final professional role was with Har Sinai Congregation, a Jewish Reform Synagogue in Baltimore, where he served as Executive Director for 23 years, retiring in October 2005.
In retirement, Fred pursued his love of hiking with The Maryland Hiking Club and spent time volunteering at The Irvine Nature Center. There, he led schoolchildren on nature hikes and assisted in the center’s nature store.
Writing had always been a passion for Fred, dating back to childhood, but it wasn’t until retirement that he began to take it seriously. He started writing children’s books and became a member of the Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Association. Among the titles he wrote are: Vera and the Blue Bear Go to the Zoo, Never Bite an Elephant (And Other Bits of Wisdom), The Day the School Bus Drivers Went on Strike, If You Count, and The Day the School Devices Went on Strike.
Though none of these books has been published, Fred remains hopeful that if the CONCERTO books gain recognition, opportunities for the earlier works may follow.
Fred’s journey of writing the CONCERTO companion books began when he saw a note on a local library bulletin board about a new writer’s group led by a local author. He joined and, along with nine other participants, learned the fundamentals of writing: staying in the protagonist’s point of view, building narrative tension, developing distinctive and flawed characters, and the process of writing and rewriting.
Over the course of more than four years, Fred dedicated time to writing, researching, rewriting, and submitting the manuscript. What began as a single book titled The Auschwitz Concerto was eventually split into two volumes and self-published. For a time, the manuscript was also titled The Box.
The encouragement from the group’s teacher and fellow members played a key role in shaping the novels, and Fred hopes his feedback was equally helpful to others in the group.
In the ‘Author’s Notes’ of the CONCERTO books, Fred outlines the goals behind sharing these stories. Prior to writing them, he had only a general understanding of the Holocaust—knowing that nine million lives were lost and that it was a horrific chapter in history. Through the writing process, he gained deeper insights into both historical events and human suffering, fostering a greater sensitivity to contemporary issues. He firmly believes that what affects one group can quickly impact everyone, and that such awareness is critical today.
Zane Carter and his sons, eleven-year-old Ty and thirteen-year-old
Joseph, venture one hundred miles into the Idaho wilderness with only a knife
and the knowledge of their Nez Perce ancestors. Danger awaits at every
deadfall and lurks in every snowy shadow as the boys hunt, fish, make weapons,
and build shelter, learning to survive, taking only what they need from the
land, and leaving no trace.
During their eighteen-day journey, Zane’s determination to fulfill a
promise to his grandfather, an Indigenous warrior who exemplified the tenets
of a wise and spiritual existence, is thwarted by a fatal encounter that
transports Zane into an ancient realm as he straddles the thin line between
life and death.
He wonders what has become of his boys. Have they learned enough patience,
resourcefulness, and courage to complete this rite of passage? Will they make
it out of the wildlands alive? Or will the unforgiving forces of the natural
world take them too far from home to ever return?
About the Author
After high school, Aaron Anderson set out to see the world, embarking on
adventures through North America, Europe, and North Africa. He enjoyed
traveling as a bicyclist, motorcyclist, train passenger, and even as a
hitchhiker, reveling in the excitement of the unknown.
At the age of twenty-two, Aaron returned to the US and worked on oil rigs in
Wyoming. He later became a carpenter and eventually a real estate appraiser.
However, his true passions have always been writing, developing powerful
friendships, and exploring new country.
During the 1980s he and his two sons hunted, hiked, and camped throughout the
western states. Here, his love for the natural world and respect for
Indigenous people prompted him to write his second novel, Never Lost.
What if the men destroying our world were doing it on purpose? The Variant Conspiracy trilogy follows 19-year-old Irina Proffer as she connects the dots between her cryptic employer’s work and an international plot to transform Earth. All while she navigates love and grief, both for the first time.
As Irina comes of age within a subculture of human mutation, she and her friends hunt a group of corporate eco-saboteurs. They discover a singular ancient evil that wants nothing more than to wipe out all life and remake our planet. As Irina pieces together visions of the future, she must figure out a way to change an outcome that seems inevitable
Book 1: In Irina’s Cards
Irina Proffer leaves mundane small-town life behind when she experiences visions inspired by a strange deck of tarot cards. To get answers, she travels from her northern British Columbia home to the province’s coastal capital. She quickly discovers a world of fringe genetic science and supernatural mystery.
Working for Innoviro Industries, Irina is drawn in by a powerful first love and compelling, yet dangerous questions about the nature of the company’s business. Meeting other ‘variants’ brings Irina closer and closer to the dark truth about her origins. She finds herself at the heart of two overlapping love triangles as she scrambles to escape her employer’s grip.
Before she leaves the city, Irina realizes she has merely scratched the surface of a frightening conspiracy on a global scale.
Book 2: The Compendium
Irina and her renegade variant friends are scrambling to pick up the trail of their former employer, Ivan, and his globally catastrophic scheme. After strategically sharing their story with the media, the group heads south from Vancouver to Seattle hoping to recruit more experienced – and lethal – variants to their cause.
Their attention develops a laser focus on an engineered disaster mere days ahead of them. Ivan is using what staff and resources remain of Innoviro Industries to set off a violent earthquake in San Francisco. While they fight to stop the earthquake, Irina pushes the love of her life Jonah as far away as she can, trying to keep his unstable genetic degradation in check.
Irina’s friends think they’ve seen the worst that Innoviro could bring forth by the time they reach a secret facility in the Mojave Desert. As they near the property, the group uncovers a horror none of them had ever imagined.
Book 3: Terra Nova
The end of humanity and an unrecognizable future Earth are now days away. After their first glimpse of the Terra Nova virus, Irina and her variant friends know their former employer’s plans are almost at hand. Their failed attempt to publicize Ivan and Innoviro Industries’ horrific activities has left them utterly reliant on their own wits and weapons.
After surviving a catastrophic earthquake in San Francisco and destroying a secret viral testing facility, Irina’s crew has traveled by a variant portal to London. On the other side of the world, they begin tracking when and where Terra Nova will be unleashed on the world. They know stopping Terra Nova is only the beginning of unraveling Ivan’s plans to reinvent the planet, but if they can’t stop this virus, there will be no one left to save.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt from In Irina’s Cards:
We walked a bit farther in silence. I had assumed Jonah would find something, at least a mention of the drug, within the files at Innoviro. How could something either guarded or fresh out of the lab, be a trustworthy substance I should let them inject into my veins? Even if Ivan showed me charts and research findings, what insight could I gain from them?
Jonah and I rounded a corner. The path diverged around a ring of shrubs and a large arbutus tree. On the one side, the path jutted out to a viewpoint looking over to the Inner Harbour. On the other, a bench sat tucked into a semicircle of overgrown juniper bushes. The sun had nearly dropped behind the hills in Esquimalt, casting vivid yellow-orange light onto downtown. Bright pink clouds floated like cotton candy in the sky. If we kept going the Harbour would greet us in its gown of twinkling lights. My sunroom balcony had that view at every sunset. I turned towards the bench. I suddenly felt like I needed a break.
Jonah sat down next to me. He touched the side of my mouth and I jumped.
“Sorry; you had some ice cream …” he said sheepishly.
I wished I was the kind of girl who carried a mirror in my purse, but I knew better than to bother searching. I looked out at the ocean and the pink pieces of light floating on the water.
“You look tense.”
His arm slipped behind my back as I kept staring ahead. I turned to answer and found myself nose-to-nose with him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUEST POST:
The Variant Conspiracy books take place in a world almost identical to ours. With one exception. Variants, or mutants, are a reality. And they exist within a sub-culture, blending with mainstream society or staying hidden as needed. When I created the setting and characters, I visualized our world, but pondered the possibility of amazing people among us, just beyond our common knowledge.
I’ve always loved the idea of hidden worlds and alternative communities. Cultures that function outside our well-travelled cities and towns are fascinating to me because their very existence shines a light on how hollow the trappings of contemporary suburban life can be.
When I imagine hidden worlds, I’m trying to create a space for readers to discover treasures. Like that moment at a vintage market or antique mall when you find something truly magical that hits right in the heart. I love the idea of writing a beautiful idea into a tapestry of an imagined world.
But I also love science fiction. I want to understand the biology of fantastic creatures. I need to explain the mechanics of any magic I create. Which is why I love genre-bending. To me, it’s delightful to take elements from science fiction, fantasy, magic realism, and romance, and blend them together for something unique.
When a new reader asks me about the world of my trilogy, I tell them to picture this one, but add hidden catacombs, corporate conspiracies, and human mutations (some extreme) that include abilities and appendages from our wildest dreams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Christine Hart is a writer of speculative fiction for youth and adults. She also runs an online metalsmithing shop, Hart Fabrications.
Christine’s backlist includes YA, NA, and MG titles. Her first collection of adult fiction, Weird Stories of Strange Women, is coming in 2026.
When not writing, she creates wearable art from recycled metals, vintage glass, and unusual gemstones. She shares her eclectic home with her husband and two children.
Learn more about Christine and her work at hart-fabrications.com and christine-hart.ca.
How to Date a Prince Hayden Stone Publication date: July 15th 2025 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
What happens when the British Crown Prince falls in love with an American man who opposes the monarchy?
Prince Auggie swears he’s no kind of dashing prince: daydreamer, private—and also secretly very gay. He’s instantly horrified when his father, reality TV addict King James, signs Auggie up for a reality TV show to promote the monarchy, where the man with the most talents wins—and to help find Auggie a bride, the very last thing Auggie wants. But duty calls.
When Auggie finds out his co-star is irritatingly gorgeous Thomas Golden, the charismatic dual American-English heir to the Golden hotel fortune, it’s another step too far. There’s at least one problem: Prince Auggie’s already recently crossed paths with Thomas Golden one disastrous night in a London club. Plus, there’s that whole second not-so-small, not-so-secret problem—the Golden family wants to get rid of the monarchy.
Once Auggie and Thomas arrive on set in the English countryside, it’s already unapologetically hate at first sight. It’s going to be a very long summer of filming…until sparks fly behind the scenes, leading them to make a searing heatwave all their own. But soon, real reality strikes, and Auggie must choose between the life he’s destined for as the future king—or dare risk everything for love.
An enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, feel-good gay royal rom-com.
For fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material, and The Unlikely Heir.
In my next life, I’ll be reborn as Harry Styles. Or maybe as the reincarnation of Taylor Swift. I’ll still be famous if I must, but I’ll be famous due to my talent instead of my chance birth as a royal. I’m quite sure I’m a negative ten on the talent-o-meter.
Everything else is just genetics. And training.
It’s Friday night in London, and Mayfair glitters. When I step out of the black SUV, straightening to my full height, I pause in the drizzle for the cameras on the red carpet at the charity ball. Snapping shutters echo, and a familiar blinding flash dazzles my eyes.
I give my best public smile and stop in a flattering pose, then strike another pose for my best angles like the Danish prince once taught me during a secret fling. Work it, babe, Prince Theodor coached me then as we drank spicy margaritas, which incidentally led to more spice.
More confidence, more sultry. Hand on my hip and a three-quarter turn to the cameras.
The crowd cheers their approval as I’m blinded by the lights. I wave, smile broadly, and carry on, mindful of not tripping over my own feet.
“Prince Auggie! Over here!”
“Prince Auggie—where’s Katie? I’ll be your date!”
“Prince Auggie, come back!”
Tonight, I’m shamelessly selling the image of charming Prince Auggie, future British monarch. I’d like to meet him too, to be honest, because he’s great in the press. Cool guy. From the outside, he has it together. The media and public are fascinated, so somehow, I must be doing something right. Or quite possibly, I’m doing something wrong enough that the media sticks to me waiting for my next mistake.
I’m all kitted up in an edgy mohair tux that an up-and-coming London designer sent over to me. I’m at least looking the part of the dashing prince, even if I can’t get over the idea that the dashing prince is supposed to be me.
To be fair, I do look good enough, taking after my mum—see genetics above—though I wish I loved crowds like she had. The looks balance out the panic, my friend Gav told me. He said it’s heaps of fun not knowing what I might blurt out next. For him, maybe. Meanwhile, I try to keep my mouth shut as a preventative measure in case something messy accidentally spills out.
“Prince Auggie, is it true you’re still single?”
“Prince Auggie, would you take a photo with me? It’s my birthday!”
I pause and go to the young woman at the barrier for a photo taken by her friend. The paparazzi goes wild. We both grin, and for a moment, I pretend I’m carefree. “Happy birthday,” I say, on my best behavior as she gives a small curtsy. “How do you do.”
She blushes, too tongue-tied to speak.
My father, the King, told me not to be too extra tonight, as if he can sniff out rising rebellion like the dawn breaks each day. I’m kind of horrified that he knows what being extra means. And that he’s applied being extra to me, specifically. Nothing good can come of that. Especially when I’ve been on my best behavior the last few months.
Which is why I asked the stylist at the earlier magazine shoot I’m coming from to give me a smoky-eye look for evening, after we bonded over our favorite makeup. She tousled my medium-length, light reddish-brown—blond if you’re generous during the summer—hair with product. Plus, a touch of contouring never hurt anyone. Use those cheekbones for the good of the kingdom, she told me, because it’s your royal duty to the people.
Author Bio:
More animal than mineral, Hayden Stone is a writer of fun queer fiction, especially with kissing. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. He likes strong coffee and is owned by two cats. You can find out his latest news on Twitter or Instagram, or at his website: haydenstonebooks.com
