Life as humans know it comes to a close when vampires take over as dominant species in our world, and magic makes its return. It’s up to several unusual heroes to protect the innocent in a select few areas around the world.
The Dancing Crow
The Kingdoms of Blood Book 1
by Des M. Astor
Genre: Vampire Horror, Dystopian Urban Fantasy
Hey, I’m Ares. Big, bad, scary vampire that your kind is supposed to be afraid of. And I’m here to help save you!
They call me the “Dancing Crow”. Don’t ask me who ‘they’ is. No idea. Anyway, my kind has emerged from the shadows and ripped the mantle of ‘dominant species’, or whatever, right from your hands. Shame, really. If only you didn’t erase magic from your history.
Anyway-z, I used to prowl the streets, ripping to shreds the evils of your society. Like some twisted superhero, or something. Everything changed when other vampires had enough, and well, here we are. Now my gang and I are trying to establish harmony in this city, at least. Not many would expect a gang, of all things, to be heroes. But here we are.
Our job is to help you widdle humans by getting rid of an evil tyrant, Ash, in this unnamed city. Well, that’s hard to do, so we got allies. A half-dragon, a Tasmanian Devil shapeshifter, you know, cool stuff like that. Now, if only I could get this vampire hunter to leave me alone. No idea what her deal is, but she clearly can’t kill me despite ‘trying’ her hardest. Ah well, I know my job, and it’s to continue doing SOMETHING to help out here.
CONTENT WARNING: Heavy gore, sexual assault and rescue from it, extreme religious indoctrination/manipulation, and heavy profanity.
This is Book 1, version 2 of “The Kingdoms of Blood” series.
Ever see a Tasmanian Devil shapeshifter before? Well, you’re about to meet one. The name’s Darcia Deville.
We might have established harmony in Elapid City, but there’s a bunch of twisted vampire hunters eyeing us now. If they get their knives into our vampires, well, that can only end badly. So, now, we’re taking the fight to them.
Everything just had to go wrong, though.
My partner, Robert Smoke, a turned vampire, ended up captured by an insane scientist known as Doctor Astral. I need to save that brat in distress before he gets himself tortured to death. Not only that, but this woman is messing around with magic and science to an alarming extent. Wolfmen never existed before.
Apparently, they do now.
CONTENT WARNING: Extreme gore, descriptive sex scenes, profanity, rescue from sexual assault, & graphic torture.
Des M. Astor is a dystopic urban fantasy author who twists everything you know about creatures like vampires. If you’re looking for gory, action-heavy novels that take several steps away from common myth for a flavor of her own, her works are the ones for you. She has a fascination with horror, and is unafraid of spiders, bats, and serpents. In fact, she adores all three. She takes pride in her worldbuilding, to the point where you might question if she’s stepped out of an alternative Earth onto ours in order to tell these stories…
Outraged when The Post Gazette overlooks him for a promotion, 43-year-old
Sportswriter Christian Kane quits the Paper and moves to the country to
write fiction. Inspiration flows from a grave he stumbles upon in the woods.
He pens The Legend of Rachel Petersen, a fascinating story revolving around
the dead twelve-year-old girl who was laid to rest beneath the weathered
tombstone in 1863. His book climbs the Best Seller lists; then Hollywood
adapts it into a blockbuster movie. Kane becomes rich and famous; but then!
Does an enraged Rachel become more than a figment of the writer’s
imagination and rise from her grave, seeking revenge on him for slandering
her name?
Author’s Favorite Excerpts
Page 36
The wind picked up a bit and carried dry leaves off in a small whirlwind that danced around the tombstone. Then, the miniscule tornado lingered as it crisscrossed back and forth over the grave.
Page 55
The usually very shy and timid twelve-year-old girl tugged at the good doctor’s suitcoat. With tear filled eyes, she frantically begged, “Please Doctor Ferguson, make Momma better. You can’t let her die! Please wake her up! You have to!”
Page 71
Thaddeus looked up and calmly told his brother, “She’s gonna slice your throat too, I tell ya. She’s pissed because you sleep in her bed, ya know.”
The spoonful of soup he then swallowed poured out from the wide-open gash in his throat; pieces of cubed beef, peas, and carrots, trickled down his shirt.
Page 82
His eyes widened and his jaw fell open. Floating on top of the broth were the words… ‘help me’… spelled out with the alphabet macaroni! Thaddeus quickly stirred his soup and watched in awe as the words reappeared amongst the chunks of chicken, chopped celery, and diced carrots — ‘help me.’
Page 86
Thaddeus stopped talking when he noticed one of the two old hickory rocking chairs begin to rock back and forth. However, nobody could be seen sitting in it, and there was no breeze whatsoever!
Page 139
“You did not view these pictures on your computer before sending them, did you?”
“No, why? Is there a problem that’s going to delay publishing?”
“No! The exact opposite! In every one of the photos of you by the grave, about a foot away from you… There’s a freaking orb!”
(J.T. Baroni, pictured with the tombstone that inspired the story)
Living in Western Pennsylvania all my life, I’ve been an avid
Whitetail hunter since old enough to tote a rifle, which is also about as
long as I’ve had a fondness for word games and literature.
While hunting one year, I actually did stumble upon a weathered tombstone
in the middle of the woods.
While waiting patiently for that big buck to cross my path, I had plenty of
time to ponder the dead girl’s fate, which I was then driven to write.
Eerily enough, this is the premise of The Legend of Rachel Petersen, my
first novel published in 2012, which I recently revised.
A newly retired transformer repairman, I refer to Johnstown, Pennsylvania,
a small town outside of Pittsburgh, as home.
My wife Becky and I share our abode with two retrievers – Piper, and
Remmy.
A Bone-Chilling Mystery-Suspense-Thriller Set in the Edwardian Era
Finalist, Eric Hoffer Book Award
“Beauty is power,” Dr. Rome told her. “And with enough power, one can achieve anything.”
Straightening noses, trimming eyelids, lifting jowls . . . In the year 1907, his revolutionary beauty surgery is considered daring, perhaps dangerous. Still, women want what Dr. Rome promises. Neither is his young assistant Abigail Platford immune to Dr. Rome’s persuasive charm.
Abigail once dreamed of becoming a doctor, though of a much different sort. That dream ended with her father’s tragic death from a medical error for which she holds herself responsible. Dr. Rome, who proudly displays his medical degree from Johns Hopkins, seems to believe in her. If he were willing to act as her mentor, might there still be a chance to realize her dream of someday becoming a doctor serving New York City’s poor?
But something feels terribly wrong, as though an insidious evil is closing in. Broken promises, lies, and intrigues abound. The powerful are threatening to destroy the weak, and a doctor’s sacred duty hangs in the balance. Abigail no longer knows who to believe; but with Dr. Rome now her mentor and her lover, she desperately wants to trust him.
Even when she discovers that one of their patients has mysteriously disappeared.
From bestselling author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, a suspenseful work of historical fiction grounded in the social and moral issues of the Edwardian era in America. Second Edition with Author’s Preface.
Excerpt:
In a panic, she ran downstairs to retrieve the stethoscope and a thermometer. When she returned to the twins’ room, wishing not to wake them yet, she started with the stethoscope. First, Melilla’s lungs. Abigail found her breathing somewhat labored, with congestion mainly in the right lung. Next, she listened to her heart; it was beating much faster than it should. Checking Valencia, she discovered nothing out of the ordinary. The stronger twin was, so far, holding her own.
Armed with this new information, Abigail went downstairs again, this time to Franklin’s private office. From his bookcase, she selected a volume on infectious diseases. Since she wasn’t certain of a diagnosis, it seemed prudent to assume the worst. She looked up pneumonia and skimmed the entire chapter before sitting at Franklin’s desk to jot down some essential notes.
“Milk punch to stimulate the heart … quinine, two grains every four hours in a tablespoon of brandy … opium for pain and to calm the cough … linseed poultice covered with oiled silk over the affected lung …”
When finished, she went into the operating room to search the medicine cabinet for the items she would need. Everything was there except milk for the punch and silk for the poultice, both easily obtainable from Prudence.
She put the items into a large bag and headed for the sickroom. The distressing sound of Melilla’s coughing met her at the door. The girls were awake now and sitting up in bed.
“All right, the doctor is in!” she announced, sounding as cheerful as she could.
“Miss Abby!” Valencia squealed. Melilla tried to speak, but the effort only made her cough again. She held a napkin to her mouth, and when she lowered it, Abigail saw a glob of thick, green mucus.
While taking their temperatures, Abigail did her best to make light of their condition. She even joked about how lazy they’d become, lounging around in bed all day. But it was impossible to remain jovial when she saw Melilla’s temperature—102º.
She immediately went to work, following the instructions she had written about the punch and the medicines and the poultice. Prudence brought milk and a piece of silk. After laboring for an hour in preparation of the various remedies, she administered them in the prescribed doses to Melilla, knowing that Valencia would benefit as well through the conjoined twins’ shared circulatory system.
As expected, the opium made them both very sleepy. As soon as they had drifted off, and knowing that nothing further needed to be done for several hours, Abigail tiptoed from the room and shut the door behind her.
“Can I get you some tea, Miss Platford? Or something to eat?” Prudence offered, appearing in the kitchen doorway.
“I’m fine, thank you. But could you manage here by yourself for a little while?”
“Oh yes, ma’am. I’m all rested up now.”
“Please look in on them every fifteen minutes. I’ll be back in about an hour. There are a couple of things I need to take care of right away.”
Wearily, Abigail again descended the wooden staircase to the office. Her plan was to see if Mrs. Krueger would look after Shaena overnight. A lot to ask of a neighbor, but the elderly widow didn’t seem to mind having company. Actually, Shaena was the one most likely to object. She loved that big, soft feather bed, and Mrs. Krueger had only a tiny cot in her spare room.
And there was something else Abigail must do at the apartment. Retrieve the card from the drawer of her night table.
The one with Detective Baldwin’s number.
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is the author of bestselling historical novels. Her 2023 release, Sisters of Castle Leod, is an Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller (Historical Biographical Fiction, Historical Literary Fiction), winner of the 2023 Maxy Award for Historical and Adventure Fiction, and an Editors’ Choice of the Historical Novel Society. Her biographical novel Temptation Rag (2018) was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “resonant novel . . . about the birth and demise of ragtime . . . in which romance and creative passions abound.” Elizabeth’s 2017 historical mystery-suspense-thriller, The Beauty Doctor, was a finalist for the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award. The book’s re-release (Jan. 4, 2024) features a stunning new cover and an Author Preface with insights into social and moral issues of the Edwardian era that frame this shocking fictional story set in the early days of cosmetic surgery. Before becoming a full-time author, Elizabeth was executive editor of an international aesthetic surgery journal, and senior consultant to the National Cosmetic Network in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University’s plastic surgery educational program. Learn more about Elizabeth and her books at http://www.EHBernard.com.
We’re celebrating the release of Shadows of Memory by Abigail Hammond! Read on for more details!
Shadows of Memory
Publication Date: January 5, 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi Mystery/ Romance
A scientific breakthrough. A twisted motive. A chance to regain everything that was lost.
Everyone in New Ancadium has been having the same dream. Nobody knows what caused it, or what it means. But the more time that passes, the more apparent it becomes that it was anything but ordinary.
Holly Beckett, an up and coming scientist, is pulled into the investigation against her will. In a desperate attempt to uncover the truth, she seeks help from trusted friends and dangerous criminals alike.
Oliver Cahill, an ordinary accountant, may be the key to solving the case—if Holly can help him before his brain, and his reality, is torn apart.
As the mystery unravels, new feelings blossom, old wounds are reopened, and reality is threatened.
My name is Abigail Hammond, but I always go by Abby. One of my thumbs is shorter than the other. I have absolutely no idea why, but it’s useful for those awkward times when you meet new people and you’re supposed to share a fun fact about yourself.
Thankfully, having unmatched thumbs in no way hinders my ability to write, so I’ll keep working on more books! My team consists of my amazing husband who handles the cover art and illustrations for my books, and my dog, who is my chief distraction officer. We live in sunny California and consume way too many tacos. Seriously, we eat tacos for dinner almost every day.
The red dragon full of chaos fire magic must serve the human mages for
seventy years.
Leslie Μάγος
Orphaned human child of slaves, sold to the Magesterium to train as a mage,
and paired with a fire dragon.
Ruven Σκιά
Shadow assassin elf turned tracker with a hellhound who eats the
undead.
Heista Νεκρός
An undead priest risen and controlled by the most powerful
necromancer
Tiamat is a demon god from Earth now banished to a world full of magic and
dragon. Lucky for him, his dragon form is a six-headed dragon. The magic
here is not like on Earth, it comes from dragons, not from souls.
To be a god on this world, he must learn how to harness the power of the
dragons. So, pretending to be less than he is, he joins the Magesterium to
train as a mage. He masters this ability easily but is paired with a dragon
who was once a human. Her dragon mate has died and if he doesn’t pair
with her, the other dragons will kill her.
Her magic is weak, but Tiamat can fix that. He can show this world that the
dragons banished from their clans can find a new purpose, just like him.
Until his past catches up and demons from Earth arrive to take a soul from
Tiamat that they feel is theirs. Turns out, necromancy is easy to do on this
world and the other demons have no qualms about using it.
To defeat the other demons, Tiamat must give up the new life he’s
found, and become the god he was destined to be.
This story is told from multiple viewpoints and is available in both an
all-ages friendly adaptation (Mage & Magic) and the original (Mages and
Mates) which has a heavier focus on romance.
The heat was gone. It crept into his bones, waking him from the fuzz of slumber he’d enjoyed for too short of time. To survive, he needed to wake. His limbs, weak from sleep and not yet as formed as they should be, pressed against the shell. Even unborn, cradled in his egg, he knew this. He needed to break free and find new heat. He pushed harder, uncoiling his body and using his length to push against the unrelenting shell.
A small crack formed, and the chill of fresh air seeped in. He wanted to recoil and hide, thinking perhaps death would be welcoming. It might be warmer there. His world was unsteady and rocked. He was not in his nest. In one sudden thrust, pushed his neck up and flicked the top of the shell off. The oxygen of the air around him reached him. The elements in the air combined with his internal combustion and flames skittered down his back.
He was in a boat, nestled against three other eggs in a basket. The thief rowed the narrow canoe quietly in the darkness of night. Though the hatchling knew little, he knew this man had stolen him. He was not his mother, the dragon, who had kept him warm all these weeks.
His mother would be born of fire, not of cold and dark like this pointy-eared humanoid before him. The dragon slithered out of his shell, shaking off the embryonic fluid. He pressed his tiny paws against the glittering gold egg next to him and sent heat into it. Hoping he wasn’t too late, and his companion was alive.
The boat rocked as it hit the shore. The man stood on his long legs and reached his arms to pick up a burlap bag. He dropped it over the tiny red dragon. His world was cast into darkness, but the man was a fool. The dragon would not be snuffed out, not ever. His eyes blazed, and he exhaled the heat from his core, igniting the bag and setting it aflame. He fell to the sandy beach and watched as the fire spread, burning the boat and darting along the shore to race up the trees.
The eggs by him were consumed, and three more dragons rose, all screaming and writhing, renewed by the warmth of his flame. The thief fell back, patting at the fire that danced on his skin because, unlike the dragons, he could not tolerate it.
The red dragon sprang at the man. His teeth bit into his wrist. Though he was small, his fangs excreted a toxin that would burn and scar. If he were larger, it would kill the thief. Today, the dragon would be satisfied knowing his prey would forever be marked by him. But he vowed to find the thief and kill him. He would kill all who dared steal from a dragon’s nest. The man fled into the burning forest, screaming as he cradled his injured arm. The flames signaled the dragon’s kin, and their roars could be heard. The tiny red dragon, no bigger than a five-pound house cat, tried his best to answer their call. The three hatchlings with him also cried, but one collapsed from the effort, his breath no longer coming.
The red dragon screamed until his throat hurt. He pleaded for help as their numbers dwindled. Only the gold dragon remained trembling by his side. The other two were lifeless and gone.
Every night he would scream in the darkness. Born of fire. Born of hate. Born knowing no one was coming to save him.
Fantasy Adventure (Adult)
Date of Publication: 1 September 2023
Rojo Siete Φωτιά
The red dragon full of chaos fire magic must serve the human mages for
seventy years.
Leslie Μάγος
Orphaned human child of slaves, sold to the Magesterium to train as a mage,
and paired with a fire dragon.
Ruven Σκιά
Shadow assassin elf turned tracker with a hellhound who eats the
undead.
Heista Νεκρός
An undead priest risen and controlled by the most powerful
necromancer
Tiamat is a demon god from Earth now banished to a world full of magic and
dragon. Lucky for him, his dragon form is a six-headed dragon. The magic
here is not like on Earth, it comes from dragons, not from souls.
To be a god on this world, he must learn how to harness the power of the
dragons. So, pretending to be less than he is, he joins the Magesterium to
train as a mage. He masters this ability easily but is paired with a dragon
who was once a human. Her dragon mate has died and if he doesn’t pair
with her, the other dragons will kill her.
Her magic is weak, but Tiamat can fix that. He can show this world that the
dragons banished from their clans can find a new purpose, just like him.
Until his past catches up and demons from Earth arrive to take a soul from
Tiamat that they feel is theirs. Turns out, necromancy is easy to do on this
world and the other demons have no qualms about using it.
To defeat the other demons, Tiamat must give up the new life he’s
found, and become the god he was destined to be.
This story is told from multiple viewpoints and is available in both an
all-ages friendly adaptation (Mage & Magic) and the original (Mages and
Mates) which has a heavier focus on romance.
Dedicated Goblin Paladin of the Sun Deities, raised as an undead protector
to Tiamat
Gruillie
Καλόγερος
Religious Goblin Monk, fierce warrior, and bound to Mage Tiamat as his
dragon.
Tiamat ψόφιος
Six-headed demon god dragon sworn to protect the inhabitants of this
world.
Neo Νερό
Water Dragon, bound to Mage Peter and entangled with demons.
Goblins have secrets. Their knowledge of science has created the sun
deities and given them the power to harness the holy sun power from another
plane of existence. Their methods of creating the coveted gold is unethical.
Their practices drive a wedge in their alliance to the six-headed demon god
Tiamat and soon elves, humans, dragons, and goblins are divided in who they
will trust in the coming war against the undead.
New mages and dragons become trusted allies, while others are lost. Neo, a
water dragon, despises elves and undead, yet vows to help Tiamat in order to
protect his clan. Olje, a goblin monk, once faithful to Tiamat, shifts his
priorities when an unwitting mage comes into possession of a clutch of
goblin gold. This gold must be acquired and kept safe at all costs, even if
it means asking the elves for help.
This story is told from multiple viewpoints and is available in both an
all-ages friendly adaptation (Mage & Magic) and the original (Mages and
Mates) which has a heavier focus on romance.
Dedicated Goblin Paladin of the Sun Deities, raised as an undead protector
to Tiamat
Gruillie
Καλόγερος
Religious Goblin Monk, fierce warrior, and bound to Mage Tiamat as his
dragon.
Tiamat ψόφιος
Six-headed demon god dragon sworn to protect the inhabitants of this
world.
Neo Νερό
Water Dragon, bound to Mage Peter and entangled with demons.
Goblins have secrets. Their knowledge of science has created the sun
deities and given them the power to harness the holy sun power from another
plane of existence. Their methods of creating the coveted gold is unethical.
Their practices drive a wedge in their alliance to the six-headed demon god
Tiamat and soon elves, humans, dragons, and goblins are divided in who they
will trust in the coming war against the undead.
New mages and dragons become trusted allies, while others are lost. Neo, a
water dragon, despises elves and undead, yet vows to help Tiamat in order to
protect his clan. Olje, a goblin monk, once faithful to Tiamat, shifts his
priorities when an unwitting mage comes into possession of a clutch of
goblin gold. This gold must be acquired and kept safe at all costs, even if
it means asking the elves for help.
This story is told from multiple viewpoints and is available in both an
all-ages friendly adaptation (Mage & Magic) and the original (Mages and
Mates) which has a heavier focus on romance.
Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote
short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels
she creates today.
Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as
she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are
always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl
from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so
called “calming kitten.”
Welcome to the 𝖂𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖜𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕻𝖆𝖈𝖐… Where the fire burns h҉o҉t҉ … The water is as c҉o҉l҉d҉❄️ as Canadian winters… And a day of [̲̅p][̲̅e][̲̅a][̲̅c][̲̅e] just never seems to come.
If you love Alpha males who are both s♥w♥e♥e♥t and 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕝𝕪 and watching women discover the power lurking just beneath the surface, then you’ve come to the right place.
The Westwood Pack Series follows the members of the Westwood Pack on their journey to find their mates. We have shifters 🐺, witches 🪄, fae🧝♂️, vampires 🧛and even a dragon 🐉or two..
Rise of the Phoenix
The Westwood Pack Book 1
by F.D. Fair
Genre: Paranormal Romance
On “The Best Wolf Shifters of Romance” list on Goodreads!
He promised me forever. But when he shows his true colors, I have no choice but to run…
Alaric
I found my mate. It should be the happiest day of my life, right? Wrong. The problem? She’s human and already has a family. When her husband turns out to be a dangerous race once thought extinct, it becomes even more complicated…
Phoebe
I’m living the dream: A big house, a good job, a good-looking husband, and two beautiful kids. I start to question everything when my husband shows his true colors. Who is this man I’m married to? As if it’s fate, I meet a stranger who sets my body ablaze and offers me protection. But my husband won’t let me go that easily…
And now Alaric is risking everything to get me free.
Rise of the Phoenix is Book One of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate, rescued by the alpha romance.
He rejected me, and then he realized he made a mistake. Sucks to be him…
Skarlyt
My mate left me rejected and broken on the bathroom floor. I’m going to make him pay. Once I pick myself up and dust myself off, I’ll come back stronger than he ever could have imagined. But when he realizes the mistake he made, how far will he go to get what he wants most? Especially when he finds out about the hot new wolf shifter who says he’s my second chance mate…
Lennox
Rejected at first glance, she didn’t even know my name. But when my sisters join a new pack, it offers me a chance to start over fresh. No way could I turn that down. I’m glad I didn’t… Meeting a sexy witch isn’t something I had ever expected, but you know what they say – the moment you stop looking for a mate is the moment they appear. This one comes with more than just a killer body and a scent that drives me absolutely wild. She also has a past that comes back to haunt her with a fury.
But I’ll be damned if he ever gets his hands on her again…
Second Moon is Book Two of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a rejected mate, second chance paranormal romance.
I’ve been their captive and slave for as many years as I’ve been on this earth. I never dared to dream or hope for a better life. But when these mages decide to turn me into a baby maker…things change. I will not let them force me to bring their spawn into the world. So, along with the help a friend, I run. Running away turned out to be the best thing that ever happened. I’ve finally found where I belong – with the Westwood Pack. It’s a family I didn’t know ever existed. But it’s not long before the mages track me down… And use my mate as bait to get me back.
Darren
Sophia being liberated from her cage and joining our family was the happiest day of my life. The mages finding her and using me as bait to get her back was the worst. But if they think that my family will trade one member for another, they’re in for a rude awakening. We never give up on each other.
Even if we have to die in the process…
Twin Flames is Book Three of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate romance.
Running from my father is a necessity. But can I trust the man who is offering me protection?
Sarah
Being raised by a single father was hard enough, add in that he’s an evil man who only cares about himself and the coven, and my life is a recipe for disaster. Now he’s forcing me to marry someone even worse than him. If I escape and he finds me, it will only be worse. Now, another man is promising me the world, trying to convince me he’s different and is offering me protection. But I don’t know if I can ever learn to open myself up again…
Sebastyn
I’m happiest when traveling the world, learning many kinds of magic that were lost throughout the centuries. When my sister is kidnapped, I rush home, planning to stay long enough to rescue her. Then she shows up… She consumes my thoughts both day and night. Being anywhere else but here no longer appeals to me. I know she’s attracted to me, though she’s hesitant. How can I convince her I’m different from all she’s known? That I will keep her safe? I can be patient… I have to be. She’s worth it.
Though I think my mom has been holding onto a secret…
Magical Mate is Book Four of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series,The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate paranormal romance.
Hunters have been tasked with eradicating my kind from the earth. The woman I want just so happens to be one of them…
Rayne
I am the descendant of Ullr, the Norse God of the Hunt. I’ve hunted supernaturals all my life, always questioning if it was the right thing to do. A woman on fire saved me during a battle, and now I can’t stop questioning my entire life. So, I run to find out for myself. And I run right into the supernatural world… Which should have scared me, but instead I’ve found my home. The supernaturals my father taught me to hate are more family to me than he ever was. So, naturally, complications are sure to follow. My complication is a tall, blonde, sexy-as-sin vampire, who’s also the biggest dick I’ve ever met. But my real problem is that I can’t find the strength to deny him…
Drake
I’ve never wanted a mate. I could never fathom how anyone could be tethered to a single person their entire life. Then I met her. She’s gorgeous, strong willed, everything I could ever imagine in a mate. She also happens to drive me certifiably insane. The real problem? She’s a hunter. And my kind are usually the ones in her crosshairs…
Can enemies truly turn to lovers, or will she betray us all at the first opportunity?
Hunter’s Heart is Book Five of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is an enemies to lovers paranormal romance.
A thousand years ago a prophecy was told of a love that would transcend time. Some things are worth the wait…
Drusilla
Severe PTSD? Check. Low self-esteem? Double check. Terrified to leave my home? Triple check. I’m a vampire. I was taken captive and tortured by a group of hunters when I was young. Ever since I returned home, I haven’t left. I’m still being held captive by the scars they left. Now, with my friend’s help, I’m learning to live again. And I’m longing for a mate of my own… When Andres confirms what my body already seems to know – that he’s my mate. It terrifies me. I know I can’t love another until I can love myself again. I just hope he’ll be able to wait…
Andres
I’ve waited a thousand years for her, and I’d wait a thousand more. She’s perfect and everything I’ve ever wished for–caring, beautiful, and a heart of gold. The last great seer told me she wouldn’t be ready right away, and she would need time and understanding. I’ve been preparing myself for that and thought I was ready. But it’s so hard… Every second of every day my dragon is riding me to claim our mate, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep him under control…
Maybe unleashing him on the ones who held her captive would help.
Dragon’s Destiny is Book Six of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mates romance.
I was given the gift of two identical twin mates…and then one of them rejects me. Now our souls can never be complete.
Opal
Meeting my mate was the best day of my life… Until he rejected me seconds after giving me the best birthday present a girl could ask for. I then ran and reinvented myself into someone who didn’t care. But when he steps back in my life, I’m forced right back to where I started. Though not for long… Fate is a bitch and decided one man wasn’t enough to handle me, so she gave me two. I’m not sure what was going through the goddess’ mind when she gave me identical twins—the one who rejected me and the one who promises me the world. The problem? Our souls will never be complete with one of them left out. How do I trust these men after one has already ripped out my heart?
Zeke
Hunters murdered my father. I left home to seek retribution and take revenge. When I returned home one last time to say goodbye to my twin, I ran into the last thing I ever wanted… My mate. But the only thing I can give her right now is death… So, I do the unthinkable. I reject her.
Axel
I’m livid with my twin. Not because of why he was banished, but because of his rejection of my mate. Now I need to convince her I’m different from him…
Because there is no life for me without her.
Bound by Fate is Book Seven of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a rejected mate romance.
Two choices, both impossible. One means death for my family, the other death for my soul…
Breanne
A puppet. That’s what I am. When the hunters offer me a choice between the death of my family or my soul, I choose my soul and I would do it again. Every. Single. Time. But now that means I am helping them hunt and kill my own kind.
When the sexiest man I’ve ever met gives me a chance at freedom, literally breaking the bonds that hold me captive, I jump. But it comes with a cost.
Only I’m not the one who will have to pay…
Matt
I take down the bad guys. The hunters. It’s what I do. But when I meet one of them, a sexy vixen who is both sinner and saint, and I learn she’s their captive who was forced into a life of slavery…I question if what I’ve been doing is right. How many of them have I punished for something they were manipulated into?
She thinks she’s broken, damaged. But she’s neither of those things. So, I use my magic to break the collar that her puppet master uses to control her and try my best to give her what she needs to heal.
But it’s not long before he comes to collect his missing pet.
And it’s over my dead body that he’ll ever touch a hair on her head again…
Blood Magic is Book Eight of the hot and steamy werewolf shifter series, The Westwood Pack, and is a fated mate vampire romance.
Embrace your weirdness. It makes you unique, it sets you apart, and makes life more interesting.
F.D. Fair is married to the love of her life and a mother to three amazing boys. In their house, being weird is an accomplishment. They love everything strange and unnatural.
It was this love that prompted her to start writing…
In 1892, running one of the West’s fanciest brothels is a rough game. In a town filled with brazen criminals, corrupt police, zealous politicians, and morality committees, Madam Mattie Silks makes her fortune catering to Colorado’s gold and silver millionaires.
Notorious crime boss “Soapy” Smith is at the top of the Denver underworld. There are no rules for Smith’s gang. They solve problems with bribes and bullets. When Mattie’s husband stumbles into Soapy’s dealings, she struggles to protect him.
Gold is discovered in the Yukon and Mattie seizes the opportunity for adventure and profit. But Skagway, Alaska, is even more lawless than Denver. Mattie must use all her business sense and street smarts to safeguard those she cares about. Will it be enough? Or will Lady Justice again turn a blind eye?
Based on a true story, The Redemption of Mattie Silks is an action-packed tale of a woman succeeding in a man’s world even when the cards are stacked against her.
“The research on the era shines through, as do the grit and spirit of the characters. …A colorful and enthralling journey.”
~ K.T. Blakemore, award-winning author of The Good Time Girlsseries
“A nice, nuanced portrait of the complex underworld with fine and witty turns of phrase. A great Western romp!”
~ Randi Samuelson-Brown, award-winning author of TheBad Old Daysseries
Buy Links:
This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited
The new police and fire commissioners’ first order of business was to sort out the conflicting allegiances of the members of the police force and find a new chief of police to lead them. The job required someone with law enforcement experience who had not participated in the city hall barricade and was not overly friendly within Denver’s criminal element. From the chaos emerged the incorruptible Hamilton Armstrong. Although slight in stature, he attacked his new job with the tenacity of a bulldog.
“Policemen are hereby ordered to stay out of saloons and brothels except to detect crime and make arrests,” he announced on his first day. The citizens of Denver were skeptical.
***
A couple of weeks later, two black police vans stopped at the lower end of Market Street. Thirty policemen fanned out to the saloons and cribs within a five-block area. Mattie and her girls watched from behind the lace curtains as Negro, Chinese, Irish, and French women were rounded up. By the end of the day, one hundred and ten warrants had been served.
The entire third floor of the county courthouse was commandeered as a temporary jail. Curious citizens watched the paddy wagons rushing to and fro and gathered at the courthouse to get a peek at the ladies of joy. The girls accommodated the throng by throwing open the window and waving hankies. A rake in the crowd sang to them “Oh Girls, Why Won’t You Try to be Good.”
“Beer! Send up beer,” shouted a couple of Irish doxies. The mostly male crowd hooted.
A petit dark head poked out of another window, speaking in French.
“What did she say?” the men below asked each other.
“The French girls want cigarettes,” the Irish reported.
“Fair damsels in yon high castle, your wish is my command,” called a gent.
Chief Armstrong stood in the doorway of the county building with arms crossed and face blazing red. “Absolutely no beer or cigarettes will be allowed in the building,” he bellowed to those assembled. He stomped back into the building. “And take the playing cards away from the Negros.” He shook his head and muttered under his breath, “I don’t know if I’m head of the police department or the ringmaster of a circus.”
***
Judge Walburn’s enormous white eyebrows crawled up his forehead as over one hundred women were herded into his court. His brows then plunged as he frowned, slamming his gavel down in an effort to quiet the babble and gain control of the overcrowded room. “Mr. Stevens,” he called to the district attorney. “What is this all about?”
“These women are all part of the Market Street raid that you may have heard about. They are all being charged with encouraging drinking and fornication.” The prosecuting attorney had to speak up in order to be heard.
“Is there anyone that wishes to plead guilty?” the judge asked.
Several Irish girls, dressed in dingy white nightgowns, standing nearest the rail began to protest.
“No, we are not guilty.”
“Aye, we be good girls.”
“We be innocent boarders in a women’s rooming house.”
“We are wrongly accused.”
The French mademoiselles joined in the babble with their rapid-fire language, accompanied by hand gestures that did little to clear the confusion.
“Silence,” the judge commanded, beating the gavel again and again. When the defendants quieted, he tried a different tack. “Perhaps the complaining witnesses can identify which women…” The judge hooked spectacles around his ears and read from the charging document, “encouraged them to fornicate.”
Laughter rippled through the room. District Attorney Stevens cleared his throat. “Your Honor, this is a very delicate situation. It is not possible for the men who are the victims of these criminal enterprises to come forward and publicly press charges.”
The judge rubbed his forehead further ruffling his bushy brows. “I assume no one was caught red-handed, as it were.” At this, hardy guffaws were heard from the gallery.
“No, Your Honor.”
“So, there are no victims nor any evidence of a crime?”
The prosecutor shook his head no. At the back of the room, Chief Armstrong groaned.
Judge Walburn sighed and tapped the gavel once. “Case dismissed. Everyone is free to go.”
Author Bio:
Kimberly Burns grew up in Colorado hearing stories about the colourful characters of the Old West. She has degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Hartford. Kimberly is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Western Writers of America, and Women Writing the West. She lives with her husband and black Lab in Leesburg, Virginia.
Her debutnovel The Mrs. Tabor won numerous awards including the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best New Novel, a gold medal for Best Regional Fiction from the IndependentPublisher Book Awards, a National Indie Excellence Award, and a silver medal from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Awards.
Kimberly and her unruly heroines make for an entertaining book talk. She is available to discuss her novels with book groups in person or online. Email her at info@kimberlyburnsauthor.com.
The girl I ever loved became the girl I could never have.
A Second Chance
by I.S.A. Bella
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Tragedy tore us apart.
Scarlett
My entire world changed in an instant. The biggest betrayal led my brother to his death, shattering my soul in the process. He was my lifeline, the light to my darkness, and my best friend. I don’t think I can survive without him until Maverick walks back into my life. Maverick abandoned me when I needed him the most. He chose my sister over me. Can I trust him to keep my heart beating, or will he destroy it for the last time?
Tragedy brought us back together.
Maverick
My best friend is gone. The same day I lost Scarlett. My Tinkerbelle. My best friend’s little sister. The girl I ever loved became the girl I could never have. Our age difference kept us in the friend zone, but she’s all grown up now. I’ve waited long enough to make her mine. She needs me now more than ever. I just need to convince my Tinkerbelle I will never fail her again.
Tropes:
*Small town romance
*Brother’s best friend
*Age gap
*Small town boy to Hollywood Actor
*Single mother
*Tragedy
*Wicked half-sister
Please be aware this story contains content that might be troubling to some readers. Difficult topics are discussed in this story including mental health. Mature content, adult language, and disturbing matters that may trigger an emotional response.
I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York until our family moved around to four different states. Currently reside in Ohio with my husband Steven of fourteen years. No children or fur babies. I have three siblings: a sister who will go to the earth and moon for you, an older brother who passed away unexpectedly in 2019, and a younger brother who loves with his whole heart. I am also a proud auntie to a teenage niece and nephew.
My dream was to become a writer someday, but real life got in the way. I started writing in my journal at an early age. Over time, the words in the pages formed into poetry. Reading and writing is my way of “escaping reality.” Real life sucks sometimes and getting lost in a good book helps make it less sucky.
My favorite genre is romance which includes young adult, contemporary, sports, and fantasy.
When I am not reading or writing, you will find me in the kitchen baking a crap load of sugar that I do not need or binging on the next series on Netflix, movies (huge superhero fanatic) reading my Kindle at all hours of the night, or watching Tik Tok videos. Thank you for giving my books a chance. I hope you will fall in love with the characters as much as I had fun writing them.
Another tale in the Legends of Everclearing Series is coming out this week! Be sure to get Conall the Strong by Wendy L. Anderson on December 22nd!
Conall the Strong (The Legends of Everclearing Series)
Publication Date: December 22, 2023
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
When courage is not enough…Conall the Strong is a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and resilience, where two indomitable souls journey through darkness and adversity in search of the light that will forever free them.
In the shadowed depths of a brutal and unforgiving world, a tale of unyielding love and harrowing escape unfolds. Conall the Strong, whose physical strength knows no bounds, is held captive by ruthless slavers. Though he possesses the power to shatter his bonds at any moment, his heart is chained by a cruel twist of fate – the slavers have also imprisoned his twin sister and the woman he loves. Their lives are shackled to his failure, entwined within the merciless walls of a gold mine, where they toil endlessly.
Yearning for escape, Conall’s heart pulses with a relentless determination to right his past wrongs. Undertaking a heroic rebellion, they flee into the treacherous land of the Dark Waters, but evading their relentless pursuers proves to be a journey fraught with danger, where not all may emerge unscathed.
Kala, Conall’s twin sister, possesses a hidden power as a Dream Walker, wielding magic to transcend her enslaved existence. Unbeknownst to her, the man of her dreams is not a mere phantom but a flesh-and-blood reality waiting for her beyond the confines of captivity. To secure the freedom she craves and to find love, Kala must summon the strength to break free from the chains that bind her and survive the search to find him.
Amidst the challenges of their perilous journey is the mystical allure of the Ny-Failen, and the beckoning promise of the City of Everclearing. Conall’s unparalleled physical strength is put to the test, but it is his wounded spirit that threatens to shackle him once more.
We’re celebrating the release of Katie Richard’s latest romance, More than Our Fake Vows! Read on for more details and visit one of our Bookstagram hosts for a chance to win a book box!
More than Our Fake Vows
Publication Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance
🎵Marriage of Convenience
🎵Friends to Lovers
🎵Slow Burn
🎵Small Town
🎵Spicy
🎵Country Music Star
After catching her fiancé cheating, Natalie leaves the city she’s grown to love. Starting over in Hickory Valley, Georgia, a one-redlight town that makes for the perfect escape, or so she thought. Natalie makes quick friends with a local bartender and they both decide to make a pact- no men for a year. Natalie doubles down on her career until a handsome stranger strolls into the bar and threatens her resolve.
Teagan’s gold-digging ex is threatening to ruin him, his band and anything else she can get her greedy hands on. Hickory Valley looks like just the place to hide out while the press calms down. Nobody would think to look for him in this dust covered farm town.
With a cruel twist of fate, Natalie finds herself needing a husband, and fast! A fake marriage could fix both of their problems and what did they have to lose? Neither Teagan nor Natalie wants an actual relationship, it only has to look real to everyone else.
A string of events, tests their friendship and when emotions run high are they able to keep their feelings at bay? Or will they fall victim to the other’s charm and throw caution to the wind?
I have to admit this one didn’t hook me immediately. The book description caught my attention, and I knew I needed to read it. But it took me a few chapters to really invest in the story and the characters. There weren’t any issues with the writing itself. The slow start is merely my own personal experience. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give this one a try. It may grab you from the first word.
I enjoyed Natalie’s feistiness, and liked that Teagan seemed intrigued by her from the start. I also liked the fact he was a gentleman who wanted to give her a helping hand — not that she needed it. As far as fake relationships go, this one entertained me mostly because of the dynamic between the characters.
A solid read and good story. The ending did feel a little unfinished, which is a turn-off for me. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this story and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. This review is only my opinion.
About the Author
Katie is an Indie Author who lives in Vermont with her husband and their children. When she’s not busy working, writing, or spending time with loved ones, she enjoys getting lost in a good book. Katie loves all types of gardening but especially enjoys flowers. When she’s not hard at work writing the next novel in the Destiny Of Graystone series or the standalone romantic suspense novels, she likes creating things in Canva or Procreate!
