Get ready for a charmingly quirky romance with a twist of murder mystery in Honey Mead Murder!
Honey Mead Murder
Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 1
by Dahlia Donovan
Genre: LGBTQ MM Romance, Cozy Mystery
Get ready for a charmingly quirky romance with a twist of murder mystery in Honey Mead Murder!
Follow the heart-warming story of George Bernard Sheth, a devoted pug and bee lover, who has been secretly crushing on a local mead brewer. But when a customer dies during a mead tasting, Murphy Baird, the brewer, finds himself at the centre of a police investigation.
As the two navigate the murder mystery, they find themselves falling deeper in love, all while trying to stay alive long enough for their first date. With meddling friends and unexpected plot twists, “Honey Mead Murder” is a must-read for anyone who loves a good MM romance and a thrilling mystery.
Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.
Tamaska is to become a wolf shifter but she might not survive the change.
Rogue Wolf
Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3
by Lilliana Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Tamaska is to become a wolf shifter but she might not survive the change.
If Tamaska wants to survive being hunted by vampires she must transformed into a wolf shifter. But new information brings into question if the transformation process will work or not.
Kodiak doesn’t want to take any risks that might end Tamaska’s life. She is his mate and he can’t imagine living without her. He’d rather she is alive, protected by himself against the vampires. But the vampires capture Kodiak.
Can Tamaska find someone else in the pack to transform her into the wolf shifter? Will she find a way to rescue her wolf mate without letting the vampires capture her?
Tamaska started up the car, ready to drive back to the pack. She’d promised Kodiak she wouldn’t return to her apartment, but it was the middle of the day, when vampires slumbered or whatever they did…hung upside down like bats? She was safe in any case and the chance to shower, to wash away the past few days and grab some clean clothes was too tempting.
What’s the worst thing Kodiak could do to me?
The thought opened all sorts of delicious possibilities that she shut down.
It wouldn’t take long. She’d just grab some of her clothes and toiletries, a few things that would make the clubhouse more like home for her.
“But he said to head right back.”
Tamaska drove the car through the crazy Sydney traffic, heading back to Kodiak.
Home called just as strongly as doing what she was ordered to do. She was sick of wearing sweaty, stinky clothes stained with blood.
It reminded her of the vampires, the fight, and the death she’d witnessed.
Tamaska gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if that action could push away the images burned in her mind.
A horn blasted from behind, and her attention crashed back into reality.
The lights ahead were green, and the cars behind were impatient for her to drive on. Tamaska took her foot off the brake too quickly and lurched forward.
Another blast from a car behind her set Tamaska on edge.
If she was careless and caused an accident, the pack members likely wouldn’t be so forgiving—especially Onai, since Tamaska drove his car. She needed brownie points, not black crosses against her. She couldn’t keep messing up and doing the wrong thing.
Kodiak wouldn’t need to know.
And he wouldn’t, not if she was quick. He was too busy with his new role, leading the pack. He wouldn’t even notice, never mind be angry at her.
All she had to do was to get to her apartment, then get back with the carpet cleaners.
Easy.
Tamaska parked in front of her apartment.
It’s close to the clubhouse, anyway.
Without another thought, she got out of her car and hurried inside the apartment building. After being transformed, she would never need to go back again. It made sense for her to get some of her things now rather than later.
Excuse after excuse for this disobedience filled her head.
The sun shone warm on her skin—another excuse…it was too early for the vampires to out hunt her.
Returning to the apartment might be a sightly risky detour, but if she skipped the shower it wouldn’t count. She’s just go in, grab some things and leave. Easy.
The elevator ride to her floor was slow, and she had to stop herself from pacing the small space. Fortunately, none of her neighbors seemed to be around, and she hurried to her apartment before anyone saw her and started asking questions.
Tamaska took the hidden spare key out of the lockbox, unlocked the door, and swung it open. She’s just do a grab and dash so—
She gasped. Her hand covered her mouth as she stared, horrified, at the sight.
Her neat apartment was torn apart.
Tamaska stood frozen in the doorway. The words who did this filled her brain, but she knew. Of course, she knew.
Vampires.
Marked Wolf
Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2
A vampire attack on the Shadow Pack may end in their destruction.
Scared and confused, Tamaska refuses to see or talk to the man who lied about what he was. Kodiak is a wolf shifter and even though her heart breaks at the distance between them, her fear of this supernatural world threatens to break the connection with him.
Tamaska is determined to overcome her fear and steal back the Blood Opal from the vampires so her life can return to normal. She sneaks into the night club in search of the Blood Opal, what she finds is far more terrifying than Kodiak and his pack could ever be.
Kodiak is rejected and disconnected, and loneliness eats away at him threatening to push him towards insanity if he can’t find a way to convince her they are meant to have a future together. He will not allow Tamaska to be so reckless. Worried she will be captured or worse, he ignores his pack responsibilities and risking his status as beta seeks her out.
Caught between the pack he’s sworn to protect and the woman he can’t live without, will Kodiak be able to hold on to everything he holds dear or watch helpless as it’s all torn away?
Fans of Roxie Ray, Kim Richardson, and Sarah Spade will devour Lilliana Rose’s world of unexpected adventure and dark imagination.
Scroll up and click to begin the journey in this protector turn lover and opposites attract series set in a dark, urban fantasy world.
A sound rang out above her, in the direction she’d come from, and made her freeze. Her blood chilled.
Tamaska wasn’t losing her mind, and she wasn’t alone.
Her heart lurched. She didn’t dare to move, let alone risk going back up the stairs. And she couldn’t stay here.
If the staircase led down, maybe there was a way out. But she didn’t want to run. She wanted to get to the balcony area and search for the gem.
Was it worth it?
The softest thump, a footstep on the top of the staircase above her, accelerated her decision. She could only go down and hope there would be a hiding place in the basement—or better still, a way out.
As she raced quickly down the final stairs, a second set of footsteps echoed toward her. Her senses seemed heightened to a level she’d never experienced before.
Since when did my hearing get so sharp?
It didn’t matter. All that mattered was escape. Self-preservation spurred her instincts on, and she rushed down a narrow, dark corridor.
Except it wasn’t as dark as it should be.
Add my eyesight to that list, too.
Soft, orange guide lights pushed back some of the thick, heavy darkness. Yet Tamaska could see the details of the basement area as if it were fully lit.
Her senses screamed. Someone knew she was there. That someone had followed her. She needed to keep moving.
Evenly spaced doors dotted each side of the corridor. Ahead stood a brick wall and an old wooden table with a vase of black roses and a flickering candle. Sensing no way out past the wall, she turned her attention to the doors. Did she dare to open one? The thought of the strange kitchens upstairs chilled her.
She was running out of options.
If she was found, who knew what might happen to her alone in the basement? She would lose the chance to find the Blood Opal, and she wasn’t about to let that happen.
One door stood ajar. Tamaska pushed it open and stepped inside. Immediately, she wished she’d taken her chances and gone back upstairs.
The chilly air in the room hurt her lungs. A strong metallic stench seemed to stain the air, permeating everything.
And in the middle of the room sat a huge, thick table, like an evil thing. It made her want to run as the panic slid in close to her bones, but curiosity drew her closer.
Strange swirl patterns were engraved deeply into the tabletop. The space had to be for something sacrificial. Her gut twisted.
What the fuck goes on here?
She knew.
Red liquid pooled deep in the carved crevices. Was that…blood? Something drew her to it. She reached out, hand shaking, and pressed her fingers against the table.
A jolt went through her, and she snatched her hand away. What was that strange sensation? It wasn’t sharp or burning hot, but more like an energy zap that sent an uncomfortable vibration up her arm. Like a low-level electric shock. It didn’t hurt, but the unpleasantness left her wanting to back away.
Moisture clung to her fingers, and her stomach heaved as she looked. It was definitely blood, fresh enough to still be wet, but congealed. Her mind filled once more with the images of blood drinking.
Coming here was a mistake. I have to go. She turned to step away and bumped into something. And screamed.
Shadow Wolf
Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1
Kodiak must protect Tamaska against vampires who want her dead.
The leader of the vampires wants to capture Tamaska. She needs someone to protector her against a world she has no idea about. That someone is Kodiak, but she doesn’t trust him.
If Kodiak fails at protecting Tamaska and the vampires kill her, they will cause death and destruction on earth. His alpha disagrees, and forbids him from protecting Tamaska. The pack must be committed to each other against the vampires and not be distracted by a human.
There’s a bond forming between Kodiak and Tamaska and he is compelled to protect her.
Who will he choose, his pack or Tamaska? Or will Tamaska break his heart and risk everything he is trying to protect?
Fans of Twilight, Shadow Hunters, and The Winx Saga will devour Lilliana Rose’s world of unexpected adventure and dark imagination.
Scroll up and click to begin the journey in this protector turn lover and opposites attract series set in a dark, urban fantasy world.
That lust had been there since the moment their eyes had met last night.
Tamaska took another step towards him and splayed her hand on his chest. Kodiak could barely think. Releasing her had taken most of his self-restraint and he wasn’t a man built for such things.
When he wanted, he took.
But she was human and…
Hell. She looked at him like she wanted to rip off his clothes and take him here and now.
Her eyes glittered with carnal lust, like she wanted to strip back all humanity’s constructs and get down to the bare boned honest business of sex.
As the music’s beat built, thrumming with the desire in his veins, the last of his control snapped.
He caught her hand and lifted it, without breaking eye contact. He took two of her fingers into his mouth and sucked on them, letting his tongue slide over them, before biting down. She moaned, that low-throated sound that set him ablaze and made the desire within him combust.
This was inevitable. It was fate.
He released her fingers and drew her in. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her toes so her mouth was a whisper from him.
His breath caught and he lowered his lips, catching hers. It was a taste, a nibble. She was hot and soft.
A groan broke free from his lips before he kissed her again. This time, she met him, her mouth as needy as his, as savage.
It was like an eternity of lust burst from them. The kiss was a carnal, dark exploration and he couldn’t get enough.
He wanted it all.
Now.
He didn’t give a fuck they were in the vampire club. He didn’t give a damn about the opal.
Right then, the only dangerous thing was not to continue.
He pulled her in hard against him and kissed her once more.
This could cost him his life, and hers.
And he didn’t give a damn.
Lilliana Rose is an Amazon Bestselling author, who writes romance in the subgenres of contemporary and paranormal romance. She enjoys helping characters overcome problems or issues, and the misunderstandings that often plague relationships, to help them fall in love. Whether it’s city heels being replaced with country work boots, or some magic beyond this world, each story shows how love can prevail. She has poetry, middle grade, picture book, novellas, and novels published under various pen names.
Disenchanted Brianna Sugalski
(A Lay of Ruinous Reign, #1)
Publication date: December 16th 2022
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, New Adult, Romance
At the peak of the Breton Renaissance, Lilac Trécesson is held prisoner in her own castle after a most wicked secret is revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Her coronation looms years later, and between their town riots and the noble family bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst…
Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, detailing a curious offer to banish her curse forever.
Her heirloom dagger at the ready, Lilac embarks into Brocéliande and finds herself in the hands of a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods.
She is thrust on a quest to uphold her family’s legacy—and her sovereign right to destroy it and start anew—by any means necessary. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but pure spite to make up for it.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? What do you find the most rewarding about it?
For a long time, as long as I can remember, in any capacity. I went to school for journalism and that ultimately fell through, and I had a family and became a romantic fantasy author instead. I’ve loved reading fantasy novels all my life, so it’s become my adult dream in a way.
Being able to transport readers to different places and periods and give them the same sort of escapism I enjoy is the most rewarding part of being a writer.
When you’re writing, do you plot ahead of time or does the story come to you along the way?
A little of both. I pantsed my way through Disenchanted but writing the sequel has not been the same process at all. Book two has challenged me in ways that forced me to become a plotter, because now that this is a full blown series (at first I was unsure if it would be a standalone or duology, but joke’s on me, it’s at LEAST a trilogy), the plot is always bigger than the draft in front of me. I then fill in little plot holes along the way, or rather, the characters will do that for me.
How do you balance your writing time with the rest of your life?
That has been the challenge. Over the pandemic my partner and I added two kids to our family, so it hasn’t been easy balancing motherhood and writing. Recently we’ve been able to finally accommodate daytime childcare and a PA for myself, both of whom I so appreciate. In the day I work on press, social media, and write here and there where I can, but I’ve always been a nighttime writer, when the house is asleep and I can hear my thoughts. I make sure to carve time to write four to six pages a day—a bare minimum of two—even if I’m exhausted at the end of it. It is my labor of love; the show must go on, the story of Lilac and Garin must be told, even with two or three kids sandwiched between us some nights.
Most authors started out as voracious readers. Do you still find time to read? What’s your favorite book of all time?
I do! The only way I can these days is by audio, and sometimes my Kindle app. I didn’t discover audiobooks until 2021. The first I listened to was Leigh Bardugo’s NINTH HOUSE and I’ve been hooked on the duet and dual narration styles since. I write while listening to them. My favorite books of all time are still grade school reads, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Three Musketeers. My favorite book recently is probably going to be the one I’m reading, The Love Hypothesis. It’s everywhere and I finally got my hands on it. I have a feeling Ali Hazelwood will be my contemporary romance fave, her writing is so easy to devour.
Tell us a little about your book. Where did the idea behind the story come from?
After experiencing a stillbirth in 2017, I took to writing. My therapist told me to free-write my feelings or whatever came to mind. I wrote a few poems in alternating POVs of two characters—a princess and a monster. I am a horrible poet, so I set those pieces aside, but they became two characters I could not stop thinking about. I needed names, a context, a setting, which quickly became a forest. Brocéliande came to mind. I knew a little about the mythical forest in the backdrop of Merlin and other Arthurian stories that inspired the fairy tales my mom read to me as a kid, and was shocked to find there was a real-life Brocéliande. The residents surrounding it still believe in and operate around faeries and other mythical creatures specific to the region. I spent the latter half of the year reading some of Le Morte d’Arthur and books on the romances of Brittany, and drafted in 2018. These characters, who became Princess Lilac (inspired by some of the women of Arthuriana but mostly Eleanor the Fair Maiden of Brittany, Constance of Brittany, and Anne of Brittany) and Garin (inspired by the themes in Gawain and the Green Knight, a little Klaus Mikaelson from TVD, and Spike from BTVS), basically told me their story from there.
As a writer, do you find yourself writing the heroes you love reading about the most? What’s the most difficult character you’ve ever written, and why?
No, I think I do the opposite. Lilac, the FMC, is the most difficult, and Garin comes to me the easiest. I think many authors in the romance fantasy genres these days are exploring the space between good and evil, that it is not so black and white after all, and I love it. I like to write realistic flaws and things readers might not like in my protagonists. Lilac does things that people roll their eyes at in book one, but the girl’s been spoon fed off a silver platter all her life and is told for the better part of it that she isn’t allowed to leave because of this dark gift she wields—that there are repercussions for a public appearance before she bears the crown. How would she have much common sense at all?
Is there anything you’d like to share with aspiring writers?
Write the book you want to read. There will always be an audience for it.
Author Bio:
Southeast Asian fantasy author with a soup addiction. Diverse medievalist and developmental editor who lives in oversized sweaters, and prefers to explore the more ominous—disenchanting, if you will—undertones of history, romance, and the arcane.
My debut, Breton Arthuriana-inspired YA Dark Fantasy DISENCHANTED, released with the Parliament Press in March 2020, and is being re-released and rebranded for the New Adult/ Adult indie market in December 2022. The rest of the trilogy will follow this updated genre rating.
Who loves a cozy mystery? Then check out Claire and the Missing Heir by Amanda Nelson!
Claire and the Missing Heir
Publication Date: June 19, 2023
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Romcom
When Mr. Johnson, the abrasive and crotchety bank manager who was almost universally disliked, is found dead in his house under suspicious circumstances. Best friends CC and Claire decide the new sheriff doesn’t know enough about small towns, and the people who live there, to solve the case. They begin asking questions, and generally annoying the sheriff, but one person points the finger at another until there are no answers, just more questions. With lots of reasons to want Mr. Johnson dead, what finally caused somebody to kill him? Could somebody they know really be a killer?
Claire’s inability to keep her thoughts to herself cause hurt feelings, hilarity, and bodily harm wherever she goes, but that won’t stop CC and Claire from trying to find who might be a murderer. Nor do the sheriff’s hopefully idle threats, and pointed statements, to keep out of his investigation. As far as Claire is concerned, he doesn’t have much of an investigation.
To make matters worse every time Claire and the sheriff are in the same area, he ends up injured. She didn’t mean to hit him with her car, or slap him, or hit him with a door, or feed him dog biscuits, or run over his foot, or … well you get the idea. A smart person would avoid the walking hazard that is Claire, but the sheriff keeps turning up wherever Claire goes. Is it a coincidence, or something more? The sparks and injuries fly as Claire and the new sheriff both try to solve the suspicious death of Mr. Johnson.
Writing has always been a hobby for Amanda Nelson. However, it was not always something she thought she could make a living with. After years of teaching elementary school, she finally sat down and wrote her first book. A cozy mystery about best friends solving a murder in their small town.
Since turning her passion into a profession she is never happier than when she sits down at her desk and puts the opening words to a new book or story on paper.
Amanda lives with her husband of over 20 years, her two grown children, and a lot of pets. When not writing she likes to spend time with family and friends, walk on the beach with her dogs, read, and take photographs.
Follow Amanda on Amazon for notifications when new books release and connect with her directly at amandanelsonauthor.com.
A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case
A Cryptic Clue
A Hunter & Clewe Mystery Book 1
by Victoria Gilbert
Genre: Mystery
A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.
Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.
Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric 33-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.
Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I always loved to write, but mostly wrote poetry and short stories when I was younger. I also outlined and started several novels, but never completed them. Life – in the form of work and family – then got in the way and I abandoned writing for many years. Finally, when I was 56, I decided to complete one novel just to say I had achieved that life goal. That book, and its sequel, are still on the shelf, but my third completed novel garnered me an agent and publishing deal. My first book was published when I was 58! Which is why I always say it is never too late.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I can’t really say that I’m a “country girl” or “city person.” I’ve lived in rural areas, small towns, moderately-sized cities, and very large cities (NYC) and actually enjoy all those lifestyles. I think if I was wealthy, I would have a home in each of those areas and alternate between them!
Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!
When I was around ten, my family spent 5 weeks traveling in a station wagon and pop-up tent camper. We crossed the USA from the east coast to the west coast and back again, and had many interesting adventures along the way. One evening we set up our camper beside a lake before a huge rainstorm and woke up to find water lapping the bottom of our camper steps. We also encountered a heat wave in the desert – and didn’t have air conditioning in the car! We had to fill a cooler with ice chips and use those to cool down. But it was an amazing trip and I admire my parents so much for taking a 12 year old, 10 year old, and 6-year old on such an adventure.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Peoria, Illinois, but don’t remember living there as my family moved to Virginia when I was two. I grew up in Loudoun County, Virginia, which is in the northern part of the state, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I actually set my first mystery series – the Blue Ridge Library series – there. Although I created a fictional town, it is based on the small towns I knew from living in that area.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
Probably not a very good one, as I have no desire to rule. I don’t care for politics, really don’t enjoy telling others what to do, and like my alone time too much to be a great ruler.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Of course I love to read! But I also like watching films and TV shows, walking, and gardening.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Intelligent, logical, empathetic, driven, and creative.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I love movies, especially classic and foreign films, so it is impossible for me to pick just one favorite. A few I really enjoy are the 1995 Sense and Sensibility, Babette’s Feast, The Lives of Others, Casablanca, Raiders of the Lost Ark, almost any B&W classic noir film, and most old Hollywood musicals.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I’m not sure any of my books would work as a movie, but I do believe all my mysteries would make wonderful TV shows. So if anyone in the industry is reading this…
Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director.
Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching TV and films, gardening, or traveling. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and two very spoiled cats.
Audiobook (coming soon): Ella McNish, Jamie Collette, Max Mustache, Christian Stark, Ju Thomas, Philip Zielinzki, Michael Garamoni
A beautiful love story between the Princess Royal Victoria and Fritz Wilhelm, Frederick III of Prussia
A lonely young man attends the first World’s Fair – the Great Exhibition of 1851 – and meets a family who changes his life forever.
Follow the young Prince Fritz – later Friedrich III – of Prussia and his wife, Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Vicky, (parents of Kaiser Wilhelm II) through their courtship and the joys and struggles of their first four years of marriage.
Fritz and Vicky dream of a peaceful united Germany, but Fritz’s uncle Karl has his own dreams of power…
Discover often hinted at but unrevealed secrets of the Prussian Royal court…
“It is Papa’s home… and yours.” She looked down, blushing slightly and speaking the last words more softly. “Shouldn’t we be going? Mama is probably waiting for us.” She looked around. “Here is Lady Flora Macdonald. She will be joining Mama. We should go on soon.”
“Vicky!” She had again been gazing at the heather-covered mountains, but turned to face him at the sound of his voice. It must have been strange, he thought; it hadn’t sounded like his own voice. He knelt, picking a bunch of white heather. “Would you like to go to Germany, always… always…?” He couldn’t speak any more, his throat had gone dry; his hands shook so much that he nearly dropped the flowers before he pressed them into her hand.
She looked at him, her eyes growing wider, her face turning bright red. “I didn’t say anything to offend you, did I, Vicky?”
She shook her head. “Would you like to come to Germany, with me?” She nodded, still blushing deeply, and buried her face in the bunch of heather. She pressed it to her heart, then, separating a few stems, kissed them, and held them out to him. Her hand trembled visibly, and her fingers felt hot as they touched his. She squeezed his fingers as he took the flowers back.
“Meine Vicky.” His voice wouldn’t come out above a whisper, as he held up his arms to help her dismount. She swung down gracefully and stood before him, her face still crimson, her eyes on the flowers on the ground.
He stepped closer. He gently put his right arm around her to draw her to him, but hesitated, letting her stand where she was. He put his hand on her shoulder; with the fingers of his left hand he touched her cheek for the first time, running his thumb over her lips. He stroked her chin, hoping she would look up at him.
She glanced up, and then down again, blushing more deeply than ever, then looked up to meet his eye, her lips parting slightly. The wind blew coldly, but he felt warmth flood through him as he closed his eyes and gently touched her lips with his.
He felt her hand on his chest. He opened his eyes. Several of the little heather-bells clung in her hair, and her face smelled sweet from the flowers. She was smiling, but looking down again. She stepped closer and hid her face against his chest. He felt her hand on his back; her arms were around him. He felt her shiver as the wind blew harder. Finally, the space between them had closed, and he embraced her tightly, kissing the top of her head.
“Vicky,” he whispered, as he stroked her cheek again. She raised her head, and he bent down to kiss her again. Their lips had barely touched, when she turned her head.
“Oh!” It was not really speech, but something between a sigh and a sob.
About the Author
Luv Lubker has lived in the Victorian era half her life, making friends with the Brontë sisters and the extended family of Queen Victoria. Now she knows them quite as well as her own family.
Born in a cattle trough in the Appalachian mountains, Luv lives in Texas – when she comes to the modern world.
When she isn’t living in the Victorian era, she enjoys being with her family; making and eating delicious raw food, riding her bike (which she only learned to ride at 25, though she’d ridden a unicycle since she was 7), and watching animals – the passion of her childhood.
Greyson hides many things from the Unseelie Court when they invade his estate each autumn for the Wild Hunt. During his required appearance as host, he is surprised to find a human among the glittering fae. She can see him even when he is using his stealth magic, which means only one thing—they are soul mates. Can he protect her amidst the swirl of fae politics and a plot against her life?
Lyra has grown up among the fae. She has been trained to be the perfect servant. Then her master brings her to the Unseelie Court event of the year and demands she demonstrate her skills to nobles. With the promise of freedom as a motivator, she willingly agrees. Then she realizes her master’s true plan thanks to the intimidating fae lord hosting the event. Though why he would be invested in her fate is a mystery.
The Unseelie’s Wallfloweris a light, fantasy romance novella about a relationship between an Unseelie and a human woman. It features faes, fated mates, and a romance between a noble and a servant, all played out against a backdrop of the peril, politics, and maneuverings of the Unseelie Court.
The hot summer air had cooled into autumn in the Great Wild Woods. Spreading north from the edge of human-dominated lands and nestling up against the feet of the Arista peeks where the gargoyles lived in their eyries, this was the region of the fae, of which I was one. Aligned with the Unseelie king, I was bestowed with his favor, probably because my smuggling operations kept him in all the luxury goods he could consume and more. That favor came with a price, though, hosting the annual Wild Hunt at the end of summer.
The guests began arriving at noon, their carriages, horses, and portals filling my front drive with mayhem and chaos as servants, children, and pets crowded for space among the adult fae as they call greetings to each other. My servants directed the guests inside under the lofty roof of my open-sided foyer as even more guests filled the drive once again. I watched the barely organized confusion from the top of the grand stair into the main house. No one approached me, and I liked it that way. The coming week was one to be endured for the greater good. Until the last guest left, I would be on edge. I needed to accept that.
“The king’s attendants have arrived.” Bartle, my majordomo, stepped to my side. A blonde faun, he kept his appearance meticulous, and I appreciated his tactful efficiency. “They presented this list of demands as per usual.” He extended a gilded sheet of thick parchment, which I took.
“All to be expected.” I handed the list back. “Anything new added since last year?”
“Pomegranate seeds, oranges, and pineapples.” Bartle’s nose wrinkled. “Apparently, he heard about your recent trades with the humans and elves.”
“Or he recalled that I acquired multiple saplings three years ago.”
The Haub family arrived, causing a mild uproar among the clustering fae. As a body, about half of the crowd surged elegantly in the direction of the sprite family as they stepped through their portal. Haub senior, a wizened old sprite, hated me on sight. From the moment he realized that he couldn’t provide what the king wanted and I could, he opposed me at every turn. However, that had recently changed. I hadn’t discovered why as yet, but that didn’t stop me from taking advantage.
“So, you approve the list?” Bartle asked, still standing at my elbow.
“If those are the only changes, then yes, it is approved.”
Bartle bowed and left.
I adjusted the leather gloves covering my hands and shook the edges of my sleeves down over their tops. Now a single inch of skin except my face showed. Gathering my stealth magic, I cloaked. Then, with weary reluctance, I descended the stairs and entered the fray.
Golden light filtered through the turning leaves outside the great expanses of smooth glass in the foyer walls. Arched recesses offered access to the gardens, but most of my guests lingered within the space bound by glass and columns. Designed to meld the gardens, groves, and front drive outside, the great gilt doors with the elegant interior. Marble tile floors, arched ceilings, and eggshell-surfaced columns created the illusion that the room lacked walls. Potted ferns and flowering bushes crowded every nook and clustered about the bases of each column in a vain attempt to decrease the clamor of a multitude of sounds bouncing off the hard surfaces.
And under all the cacophony, the splashing tinkle of the fountains flanking the grand staircase into the house relentlessly added to the pandemonium. I was of the mind to turn them off, but Bartle would be scandalized. Why not show off their engineering?
As I passed through the throng of Unseelie greeting each other, I mentally isolated out different conversations. They varied from gossip, flirting, and chatter to the planning of business negotiations as I passed among the partygoers. Noting who was attempting to speak with whom, I kept moving, relying on my inherent stealth magic to keep out of sight.
Without it, I would’ve been a very noticeable six-and-a-half-foot creature with curly black hair, dusky skin, and gray eyes dressed in all black. When I was uncloaked, most found me intimidating. An impression I tended to use to my advantage. The fact I kept myself aloof and unfailingly kept my appearance impeccable helped as well. Acting as the barely contained beast worked well when dealing with the Unseelie King and fulfilling his excessive tastes in wine, food, and frivolity. Whenever I decided enough was enough, I tapped my inherent intimidating magic and dropped a bit of my façade of culture and control, but this was not the time.
This year’s turn out for my annual gala promised to be the most impressive yet. The inns and rentable rooms for miles around had been sold out for months. Walking through the crowds, I noted almost every Unseelie noble from the king’s court had already arrived. Younglings of multiple species wove through clusters of elegant nymphs, sirens, sprites, goblins, ogres, pixies, and fairies of every size and rank. I began mentally ticking off the attendees from the list of those expected.
Then I noticed her, the singular human. A female, small even for her species, hid among the ferns at the foot of one the massive pillars supporting the soaring ceiling. Dressed simply but adequately, she watched the crowd with wary attention, burrowing deeper into the plants’ accommodating branches whenever a guest wandered near her hiding place.
Curious, I meandered that way. Slipping around the far side of the pillar, I settled in the deepest shadows of the leaves and set my back against the stone. She had chosen a good spot for spying. Most of the foot traffic flowed around this central point, but few of the passersby glanced in our direction. They ignored the greenery that I had ordered placed around the walls and bracketing the windows of my entryway.
“Bored with eavesdropping?” she asked.
I glanced over at her. Fronds framed her features as her bright eyes scanned the mingling crowd. She hadn’t turned my way, but somehow, I was certain she spoke to me. Assessing our surroundings, I noted that no one stood close enough to overhear or be the object of her query.
“Are you speaking to me?” I asked.
“Who else?” She flicked a glance over her shoulder. Blue eyes focusing on my face and the softening of her mouth hinting at a smile left no doubt.
“You see me?” Utter surprise brought a great rush of excitement. No one saw me when I wished to be hidden. Not even my own kind could detect my passing. Yet this slender human, magicless and helpless, could not only see me but didn’t hesitate to speak to me. It could only mean one thing. My breath caught in my chest. She was my soul mate.
“Of course, I see you.” Her mouth deepened into a suppressed smile while hidden laughter brightened her eyes. “You are a bit hard to miss.”
The realization that the day I had equal parts desired and dreaded since reaching my maturity had finally arrived hit me hard. I stiffened as the implications washed over me. She was human, how human I had yet to discover, but her lack of wings, sparkles, horns, or markings hinted strongly of ordinariness. But that couldn’t be. Just the fact she saw me through my shroud of camouflaging magic proved she was anything but ordinary. I took a slight measured step away from her and tucked my gloved hands behind my back. One touch and we would be bound. I couldn’t do that to her, to either of us. I needed time.
“I am sorry if I offended you, Master…” She let the title hang with a tentatively lifted eyebrow. Gone was the hidden laughter from her expression.
“Greyson,” I supplied my surname. I was fae. No fae offered their whole true name. Studying her solemn expression, I already missed her humor. Now she appeared worried. I opened my mouth to assure her that no offense had been taken, but the loud thump of iron boots announced the arrival of a Powrie with his red cap. He had manifested right outside her hiding place, stumbling as he did so in a flurry of loud tapping. The noise brought the nearby lingering guests’ attention around us—well to the Powrie and her.
“Lyra, who are you talking to?” He grabbed her arm. “Come and speak to those I instructed you to. I need more sylvian tears.” The Powrie dragged the woman away, making demands in her ear. The crowd parted to let them through without a word. Once they passed, my guests resumed their conversations as though the whole scene wasn’t worthy of note.
Every part of me protested her going. How dare he touch her so roughly? What was she to him? A wave of possessiveness urged me to pursue, subdue, and demand her attention. With great effort, I resisted the visceral desires that raced through my blood. I was more than my nature, and she was more than just a creature to be claimed. Closing my eyes, I drew my shoulders back. Now wasn’t the time. I had much to accomplish this night that had nothing to do with her, the woman, Lyra.
A reader of fairytales and folklore, Elisa Rae loves a happy ending. Noblebright characters, dastardly villains, and chemistry between characters delight her. When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch superhero movies and literary dramas.
The Douglas Bastard Archibald the Grim Series J R Tomlin Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Young Archibald, the Black Douglas’s bastard son, returns from exile to a Scotland ravaged by war. The war-hardened Knight of Liddesdale will teach him what he must learn. And with danger on every side, he must learn to sleep with one eye open and a claymore in his hand because even their closest ally may betray them…
My fascination with James, Lord of Douglas, known as the Black Douglas, came early from my granny reading me stories of his fight beside King Robert the Bruce for Scotland’s independence. My first trilogy was about this great knight. I did not give much thought to his sons for a long time. His older and ‘legitimate’ son died in battle while still in his teens, leaving only young Archibald. But Archibald was not his heir.
Archibald, as the chronicler Jean Froissart put it, “was held of little account because he was a bastard.” They underestimated him. Archibald inherited his father’s appearance, a dark, large man, and his father’s skill in battle. Even so, in his youth, he followed the man who carried on in James’s fight, his cousin, William Douglas, the Knight of Liddesdale.
The Knight of Liddesdale made Archie his squire. With this great fighter, Archie learned all he needed to know, as Liddesdale had learned from King Robert and the Black Douglas who went before.
On foot should be all Scottish war.
Let hill and marsh their foes debar
And woods and walls prove such an arm
That enemies do them no harm.
In hidden spots, keep every store
And burn the plainlands them before.
So, when they find the land lie waste
Needs must they pass away in haste,
Harried by cunning raids at night
And threatening sounds from every height.
Then as they leave, with great array,
Smite with the sword and chase away.
This is the counsel and intent
Of Good King Robert’s Testament.
Against the English, Archie learned to use the tactics of night attacks, ambushes, escalades of castle walls, and simple deception as he and Liddesdale recaptured castles and drove the English from their land. To these skills, he added to his strong sword arm that soon struck fear into any enemy he faced. Even so, he was still held of ‘little account.’
However, Archie also had a good friend, King David of Scotland, who would make a big difference in his life. As soon as the King was old enough to rule in his own right, David returned from exile to Scotland, determined to lead the fight against the English. And at his side in that fight, he meant to have Archie. Archie would fight for his King, whatever it might cost—and the cost would be high.
About the Author:
J R Tomlin is the author of twenty historical novels.
Her historical novels are mainly set in Scotland. You can trace her love of that nation to the stories of Robert the Bruce and the Black Douglas that her grandmother read her when she was small and to her hillwalking through the Scottish Cairngorms where the granite mountains have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun.
In addition to having lived in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, mainland Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.
…remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice. Welcome to the tour for House of Sticks, the sequel to House of Straw by Marc Scott. Read on for more details!House of SticksPublication Date: February 2022
Genre: Psychological Thriller
They are united now, two sisters who were kept apart by the cruel twists in their lives. And, despite the fact these siblings grew up at the opposite end of the social ladder, they have discovered that they share an unbreakable bond. It is like a modern-day fairy tale coming to life.
However, the pathway to their shared happiness is littered with misgivings and depraved memories from which they can never escape. Brianna is still haunted by the tragic death of her twin brother while Poppy finds it hard to let go of the ghosts of her abusive childhood.
It seems that the forces around them will never leave them alone. Neddy, a ruthless drug dealer is hell-bent on revenge. A worried mother who is desperate to unlock the darkest of secrets. A stranger with tattooed fingers who must face retribution for his evil sins. These women must be strong to survive.
But remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice. Be prepared! This is not a fairy tale…
Excerpt
Liver and Lights never did visit Lucy on that bitter cold and frosty night, but the myth was enough to buy the silence of at least a dozen of the victims of the sadistic caretaker. A lifelong warning that would forever disturb the minds and souls of even the strongest of them.
The loud commotion at the back gate that night was that of Lucy’s father, who, following his release from prison, had driven south from Cumbria for eight hours in heavy snowstorms to be re-united with his daughter. The pair enjoyed a hearty breakfast the following morning before driving up to Kendal in the north of England. Life returned to normal, or at least as normal as it would ever be for young Lucy.
She never did tell her rescuer about the atrocities that went on behind closed doors in that Childrens Home. She feared that if she did, her father would over-react, as he had done with the ‘touchy-feely’ teacher at her school and beat the living daylights out of Sean Donovan. She did not relish the idea of her father going back to prison. But neither Lucy nor her father were surprised when they discovered that the Bluebridge Childrens Home was closed some years later, following several abuse allegations against members of its staff. Justice final caught up with the wicked caretaker more recently when a Paedophile Hunting Group caught him red-handed grooming two thirteen-year-old girls. He has served almost two years of the seven-year sentence he received for his crimes and had recently been placed in the isolation unit of the prison for his own safety.
Lucy Jones had carried the unwelcome burden of being an exceptionally pretty child. Her shiny blonde hair, silky soft skin and piercing blue eyes made her stand out in a crowd. It also made her a target for every sick pervert that crossed her path when she was placed into the care system. However, the girl had coped better than most did and is now a strong-minded survivor of the torturous nightmares she endured during those eighteen months.
She is twenty-seven years old now and is married to the manager of a clothing store. She lives two streets away from her doting father who visits her at least three times each week. She is a mother herself, twice over, two daughters, one of which she named Poppy, in memory of a brave young girl who had once put her own safety at risk to protect her.
She never fails to read her daughters bedtime stories, telling them tales of handsome princes and fairy queens who live idyllic lives in beautiful surroundings. But sometimes, just sometimes, when she slips those magical books back into the drawer, it all comes back to her. She remembers Donovan’s frightening tale of his phantom accomplice Liver and Lights. And on those nights, she will always watch over her children until they are soundly asleep. Occasionally, she finds herself caught up in the moment. And on those nights, she can be seen staring out of her children’s bedroom window, up at the surrounding darkness, shouting a few words she keeps locked away inside her head.
Available on AmazonHouse of StrawPublication Date: November 2018
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Traumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.
Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.
When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again…
CW: Dark chapters involving child abuse and brutality, adult themesAmazon
About the Author
Marc Scott was born and raised in the heart of the East End of London. He spent more than 25 years working in the video and film industry, including a 12-month spell on a project in Los Angeles. More recently he has been involved with assisting at the rehabilitation section of the UK court service, working predominantly with young offenders. It was here where he met the people that would inspire him to write his first novel House of Straw.
He is unapologetic for the dark backdrop and raw brutality in his books. ‘You can’t sugar-coat some of these damaged individuals that live in a broken society and make excuses for them.’ he says. ‘Not everyone wants the chance to redeem themselves.’
His gritty writing style has earned him much praise from reviewers and bloggers. The second book in his trilogy, House of Sticks, will be available later this year. A story that Marc describes as, ‘An even darker and more twisted journey into the depths of depravity.’
Marc lives in Halstead in England. He has a son and two daughters, who, he says, have given him the proudest moments in his life. He lists his favourite author as Kazuo Ishiguro, and his favourite book as ‘Birdy’ by William Wharton. He sums up his reading choices with a method which he applies to his own works. ‘When I read a book, I want to feel like a bystander, watching on, as an ‘extra’ as everything unfolds. If any of the characters in the book are bland and don’t affect you in some way, the author has wasted an opportunity.’
Marc ScottBook Tour Organized ByR&R Book Tours
Even the most cunning femme fatale has her weakness
Siena Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an expert in the art of deception. Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie Lacroix, a specialist in antiques and objets d’art, she swindles her employer’s wealthy clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn’t yet met the man she can’t manipulate, but then the con she’s playing on Jonathan Woodward has only just begun.
Jonathan proves to be an easy mark, but he’s also enticingly irresistible. As their relationship heats up, her plot to steal his multi-million-dollar antique trinkets begins to unravel. Noticing a subtle change in Jonathan’s demeanor, Marie questions whether she’s still in control of the con or if she’s blindly become the gullible victim of her own scheme.
Marie was delighted with Jonathan’s responses to the teasers she’d thrown at him. His facial reaction when she described how she protected her skin while sunbathing was priceless. She could almost visualize the scene he’d created in his mind of her rubbing her nearly naked body with sunscreen lotion. She’d stroked his ego by praising his choice of venue for their leisurely afternoon, his devotion to his family, his attention to her needs. She’d tantalized him with the occasional touch of her bare skin against his, sparking his desire for more please. She’d even gone so far as to intimate he might be the man she’d been searching for all her life. Her confidence in the job grew stronger as Jonathan fell for her charades one after the other.
Most men were tongue-tied by the time she’d finished enticing them. Depending on the circumstances, they’d take the opportunity to grope her on the spot. Jonathan, however, had remained a gentleman and showered her with compliments, which she found both charming and refreshing. Perhaps he’d been a widower for too many years and had grown accustomed to a life of abstinence. If the pleasure of her company was all he craved, that was fine with Marie. She was willing to be whatever Jonathan wanted as long as the ploy granted her access to the Somerset Necklace.
Marie made a modest attempt to work in the subject of jewelry, but Jonathan hadn’t taken the bait. She’d need to find other subtle ways to wedge the topic into their conversation. When he eventually admitted ownership, she’d plead with him to let her see the necklace. A small distraction, spilling a glass of wine for instance, would occupy Jonathan’s attention while Marie deftly switched the necklace for the fake replica Gus had crafted. By the time Jonathan discovered he no longer possessed the original piece of jewelry, Marie Lacroix would be long gone.
She sipped the water and pondered how to use the remainder of the weekend to her best advantage. A plan developed in her mind, one she was certain would work. After rehearsing the lure she would use to reel Jonathan in, Marie next gauged when to make her move. She placed the phone call around the time she estimated he and his friends would be finishing dinner.
“Marie?” While his greeting was subdued, Marie detected the pleasure in his tone.
“Hello, Jonathan.” Marie noticed other men talking in the background which meant Jonathan was still at the restaurant and close to her hotel. Good timing. “Can you talk?”
“Hold on. Let me find a place that’s more private.” Jonathan’s voice was muffled as he excused himself from the table. A few moments later, he resumed their conversation. “Sorry. My frat brothers have a tendency to eavesdrop, and then the teasing begins. Sometimes, I wonder if they’ll ever grow up.”
“I understand,” she told him. “I returned to my room for the same reasons.”
“We’re about to finish dinner. I was going to call when I got to my car and ask if you have anything planned for the rest of the evening. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes, everything’s fine,” she assured him, then added a tinge of anguish to her voice. “But ever since we left the café, a comment you made has been haunting me.”
Jonathan sounded concerned when he asked, “Why? What did I say?”
“You questioned when we’d see each other again. I’ve been thinking all evening about how soon I’d be able to make another trip to Boston, or when you’d be free to meet me in the city. Over dinner with my girlfriends, I realized how little I have in common with them these days, and how much I’d rather spend the remainder of this weekend with you.” Shame on me for throwing my imaginary friends under the bus!
Jonathan chuckled. “Funny. I’ve spent my entire evening mulling over that same dilemma.”
Marie made her response sound as though she were swooning. “Oh, Jonathan! I’m so happy to hear you say that. I gave my girlfriends (Sorry again, ladies!) the excuse of needing to cut the weekend short and returned to my room to call you.” She took a breath before continuing. “When you leave the restaurant, would you like to meet me for a nightcap? There’s a lounge in my hotel that’s open late. Or, if you prefer, I can have a bottle delivered to my room.”
“We could do that,” Jonathan replied, “but I had something else in mind.” He paused, as if waiting for her reaction.
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you check out of the hotel? I’ll pick you up, and we can spend the night at my home instead.”
Marie congratulated herself on a job well done. Placing herself inside Jonathan’s home
had been her goal all along. “How soon can you be here?”
She caught the smile in his voice when he said, “I’ll meet you in your hotel lobby in forty-five minutes.”
“My suitcase and I will be waiting for you.”
Grinning, Marie disconnected the call and sat back in the chair. Mission accomplished.
Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read – intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home. Rosemary and her husband of 45 years enjoy traveling – on land to visit family and friends and on sea to any destination a cruise ship will take them. When not working on her next novel, she can be found discussing the latest in literary fare with her book club, playing a rousing game of Bunco with some of her oldest and dearest friends, researching her ancestry, volunteering in her community, burying her nose in a book, or obsessing over the latest binge-worthy TV series.
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