RELEASE BLITZ: Hush Little Baby Anthology

Horror, Holiday Horror (various subgenres)

Release Date: October 31

 

 

Santa’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. And if you’ve been
naughty… run. Because Krampus is real…but the legend never told the whole
story. In this eclectic anthology, multiple authors unleash the Alpine myth in
unexpected ways. He’s a monster. A protector. A lover. A nightmare. Sometimes
charming, sometimes deadly, always unforgettable. From vivid poetry to
spine-tingling terror to sinful spice, every story peels back another layer of
the creature who passes judgment on the naughty ones…and what happens next.
This multi-author collection features stories with varying tones and heat
levels. Graphic content is clearly labeled for your reading pleasure.


ALL proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a
501c3 wildlife rehabilitation

 

Featuring Works By


Jodee Jean Daniels, Luna Nyx Frost, C.L. Hart, Spiros Katsaras, Jayce Maxwell,
J. Noble, Jenna O’Malley, Kay Parquet, Melissa Power, Alyce Reads, E.L.
Summers, Jason M. Spencer, Kyle Thomas, Cass Voit

Excerpt

Crimson Retribution by C. L. Hart

Hashim led Donata to a clear spot where a cluster of trees blocked the wind.
After relieving herself, she returned to his side.

“All right, let’s see the fabulous view you’ve been raving about.”

“Would you like a pair of binoculars?”

“Certainly. I’ve always enjoyed pretending I was a bird flying above the
world.”

“Or an angel,” Hashim proposed.

“I imagine I have a few more miles left in this aging body before God or
whoever calls me home.”

“Darling, you’re always my angel.”

“What are you angling for with all this flattery, Hashim?”

“I’m only trying to make things right, my love. I don’t want a divorce. I love
you, and even though Libby is biologically Javed’s daughter, I’ve always
thought of her as my own.”

“No matter what happens between you and me, you will always be Libby’s father.
I’m open to working things out, but you need to understand that I will not put
up with any more abuse, either verbal or physical, and I won’t abide any more
cheating.”

Hashim handed Donata the binoculars.

“Gaze through your magic spectacles and tell me what appears to your wondering
eyes, my snow queen.”

“I believe this is what Santa sees from his sleigh as he swoops down on a
quiet Christmas Eve night. There are fantastical decorations, and the
multicolored lights make everything look festive.”

“You always had an amazing imagination.”

Hashim reached behind the seat of the sleigh, retrieving an axe.

“Picture being here with Libby on Christmas Eve. Imagine walking out on the
deck with her to marvel at the lights and look for Santa flying overhead.”

“Oh, there’s a house with a life-size Santa on the roof! He and the reindeer
seem so real. Rudolph’s nose flashes bright red, and Santa is waving to the
people below. I can almost hear Christmas carols playing and taste hot spiced
cider.”

 


About the Author


C. L. Hart, also known as The Terrible Old Woman, is an
editor who writes. She enjoys creating holiday stories with a twist, usually
in either the dark fantasy/horror or sweet romance genres. Her short stories
have appeared in several anthologies, and she has self-published her own works
as well, including four poetry volumes, a novella, a fix-up novel, and several
short stories.

Ms. Hart lives in a tiny town on the Northeastern Colorado plains with her
adult son, cat daughter, and cat grandson. She doesn’t mind cooking, but she
hopes one day to hire elves to do the housework for her.

Ms. Hart can be found online at naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

Purchase Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

BOOK TOUR: Death Comes Slow in the Bayour by Nick Mendoza

Welcome to the tour for horror collection, Death Comes Slow in the Bayou by Nick Mendoza!

Death Comes Slow in the Bayou: The Witch, The Bookseller, and The Bride

Release Date: June 2025

Genre: Southern Gothic Horror/ Short Stories

  • Southern Gothic Horror
  • Witches
  • Folklore Curses
  • Haunted Brides
  • Psychological Unraveling
  • Vampires with a Folkloric Edge

Something lingers in the Louisiana night—watching, waiting. Vengeance seeps through the swamps, and the past refuses to stay buried.

In this chilling Southern Gothic horror anthology, author and screenwriter Nick Mendoza weaves three haunting tales of supernatural terror, psychological dread, and creeping folklore. These are stories of the cursed and the desperate—of those who seek answers in the dark, only to find something staring back.

The Witch of Acadiana

When his young son falls gravely ill under unexplainable circumstances, a skeptical father dismisses the whispers of an old woman’s curse. But as the sickness deepens and reason unravels, he’s forced to confront the terrifying possibility that folklore isn’t just legend.

Mirrored Opposition

A distraught young man scours the French Quarter for his missing girlfriend, only to discover her last known whereabouts tied to a reclusive bookseller—rumored to have made a deal with the devil. As he searches for answers, he begins to wonder: what if the rumors are true?

Valeria

In the heart of the South, where secrets fester and grudges never die, a charismatic bachelor offers his quiet coworker advice on how to take control in his relationship. But when the bride-to-be finds out—and a series of catastrophic, almost unnatural events unfold—he begins to wonder if she’s coming for revenge… and if anything can stop her.

Mirrored Opposition was a Nashville Film Festival Semifinalist screenplay, and the full collection has earned accolades from over a dozen domestic and international competitions, including Cinequest, Vail Film Festival, ScreenCraft, and the Manchester Film Festival.

Perfect for fans of:

Gothic horror
Psychological thrillers
Supernatural folklore
Dark folklore

Dripping with dread and steeped in Southern mystery, Death Comes Slow in the Bayou is a chilling journey through whispered legends, buried guilt, and inevitable fates

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

BOOK TOUR ORGANIZED BY:

R&R BOOK TOURS

ARC SIGN UPS: The Unknown Daemon by M.M. Parks

ARC/Street Team sign ups are NOW OPEN for book two of the Omnis series, The Unknown Daemon!

Joining M.M.’s ARC/Street Team will get you:

-An eARC of The Unknown Daemon
-Entered to win one of three physical ARCs
-Access to The Coven Discord
-Street Team benefits including monthly goodie giveaways and exclusive bonus scenes, first look at character art, & more!

If you are a fan of dark romantasy, sign up now at this link: 
https://forms.gle/um4b4AfDpoG7TqB79

The Unknown Daemon by @mmparksauthor

Tropes

✨️ Witches & Daemons
✨️ Forbidden love
✨️ Morally grey MMC
✨️ Touch her and die
✨️ Good girl goes bad
✨️ Found family + Non-binary rep
✨️ Mysterious Gods

A new path…

After Ena’s bold decision to join Ty in the Underworld, she must navigate her status as the only witch in a society of daemons. Charged with posing as his witch-slave for her own safety, she learns to embrace her dark side, all while grappling with the guilt of her decision to leave her sister and Coven behind.

A growing love…

After waiting for nine years, Ty finally has what he’s always wanted—Ena. As their trust and bond grows, Ty must grapple with his many conflicting responsibilities to his people, to Ena, and to himself. Can he have everything he wants or is hope for the future only a delusion?

An unknown future…

As Ena and Ty work together with daemon and witch allies alike, they must find a way to break the bond to Iblis, setting right that which the witches broke centuries ago. But as they uncover more about the amulet, the ritual, and the very Gods they worship, they find that everything is not as simple as it once seemed. Together, can they forge a new future, for their peoples and themselves, or will their differences forever keep them apart?

Trigger Warnings:

– Animal death in childbirth

– Animal stillbirth

– Violence

– Explicit sexual content (including Dom/sub dynamics)

– Death

– Grief/loss

– Emotional abuse from a parent

– Drug use

– Pregnancy

BOOK BLITZ: Lennox by S.R. Grey

Title: Lennox
Series: A Glacier Hockey Novel
Author: S.R. Grey
Genre: Sports Romance, Romantic Comedy 
Release Date: October 28, 2025
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs




Lennox

The only commitment I adhere to is being the best hockey player out there on the ice. That’s why I’m captain of my team and center the top line.
Relationships? Nah, they’re not for me.
But I’m far from a monk. Women flock to me, so I give them what they want—a good time and that’s it.
But now there’s this one girl, Madison Ellery, who I can’t get out of my head. I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone before. What’s even crazier is that I want more from her than just the usual one lusty night.
What is happening to me?
Madison
I want Lennox Foley, and I’m going to get him. But he better not fall for me. I’m too much of a “love ’em and leave ’em” kind of gal.
Even gorgeous Lennox can’t change my ways.
Or can he?
Send help!
Lennox is the story of two perfectly matched people trying to fight fate, and it’s the second novel in the new Glacier Hockey series.
*can be read as a standalone*






S.R. Grey is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Breakaway hockey series, Boys of Winter hockey books, and Men of Fall football novels. Other New Adult and Romantic Suspense works of hers include the Judge Me Not books, the Promises series, the Inevitability duology, A Harbour Falls Mystery trilogy, and the Laid Bare series of novellas.
When not writing Ms. Grey can be found reading, traveling, running, and cheering for her hometown sports teams. Sometimes all at the same time!


HOSTED BY:

RELEASE BLITZ: A Vicious Love Burns by Sophie Barnes

 

House of Croft, Book 5

 

Murder Mystery Romance

Date Published: October 28, 2025

Danger isn’t just coming—it’s personal…

 

Adrian Croft has sacrificed everything to protect his family. But when a
brutal string of murders rock London, he’s briefly distracted from the
ruthless heir of an Irish crime lord—an enemy with ties to Adrian’s
darkest past. With Bow Street floundering and innocent lives at stake, Adrian
steps back into the fray… and the cost is more than he ever expected.

Five months pregnant and desperate to be by her husband’s side, Samantha Croft
returns from her wintry retreat in the country—only to find herself in
the crosshairs of the man determined to destroy her husband. Finn O’Leary
doesn’t care who he has to break to bring Adrian down, and Samantha may be his
most valuable target.

 

House of Croft Series

A Vengeful King Rises

House of Croft, Book One

 

A Tainted Heart Bleeds

House of Croft, Book Two

 

A Ruthless Angel Weeps

House of Croft, Book Three

 

A Deceptive Game Ensues

House of Croft, Book Four

 

A Vicious Love Burns

House of Croft, Book Five

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKHWD83L

 

 

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in
which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for
happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her
books have been published internationally in numerous languages. With a
fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents,
and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees
of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in
three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel,
Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking,
gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

 

Contact Links

Website

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

AMAZON

BOOKBUB

TWITTER

GOODREADS

BookBuzz

Purchase Links

AMAZON


B&N

KOBO

APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

RABT Book Tours & PR

TEASER: Convention of Dragons by Emily Carrington


LGBTQ, Dark Fantasy, Polyamorous, Shapeshifters

Date Published: October 31, 2025

When duty calls, where will the heart go?

Joel’s twin has been hurt, and Joel decides to stay with him rather than
join his new lovers across the sea. But fate, and a serial killer, have other
plans.

Parisa and Noah are drifting apart and without Joel they might lose everything
they’ve built.

Can this new throuple fight together to win their happiness or will evil
triumph?


EXCERPT

 

“Hooo-elll…”

It was Parisa’s voice, but he couldn’t touch her physically or
telepathically. All Joel’s senses were blurred.

Joel wasn’t sure if he’d passed out, but everything was foggy. Not
dark, since he had no concept of light beyond the meaning of the word, but
misty. It was like the fog that clung to his face and arms, to his hearing and
sense of smell when he’d visited England thirty years ago. He’d
never forget that sensation of everything being muffled. The sound of his own
voice had been right, but the tapping of his cane tip on the cobblestones in
London had been oddly removed from the rest of him. He’d actually fallen
a couple of times in London, not because he couldn’t feel the ground but
because he had tried too hard to rely on the sound of his cane to tell him the
depth of things like cracks and steps.

Now, although the sense of being wrapped in cotton persisted, he felt even
more cut off from the world because he was really two people. He
couldn’t attend to his own movements or speech while living in
Jules’s head. Especially not when Jules was so distant from the world.
His whole spirit seemed caught up in confusion and fear. So although Joel and
Jules sometimes lived in each other’s heads for brief moments, there had
never been such a fundamental separation from physical reality.

Dimly, he could feel a hand caressing his face. He tried to reach up and catch
those fingers, but his arms felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. He
attempted another connection with Jules, one that would allow him to
communicate more than just his confusion and to feel Jules’s sense of
dislocation. That, too, failed.

Someone spoke then, their voice cutting through the fog. “Joel.”
It was James, the dragon guarding him. “Joel, come back. Follow me if
you’re turned around.”

He clung to those words and finally managed, by trailing after them in the
psychic world, to reestablish himself in the realm of touch, hearing, and
scent.

The person caressing his face paused and Parisa asked, “Can you hear me,
Joel?”

“Yes,” he croaked, his throat dry.

“Drink,” she answered, and he opened his mouth, unsure if he would
feel a glass against his lips or her cupped hand. He registered the water as
cool and drank as palmfuls were brought to his lips. From where he’d
heard Parisa’s voice, he’d expected the water to come from another
angle. Maybe Noah was actually giving him the refreshing liquid.

“James?” he asked between mouthfuls.

“He’s not here,” Parisa said, “although I heard him
too. It was like he somehow tapped into a telepathy that could be carried to
more than one person.”

“Are either of you hurt?” Joel asked.

“No,” Parisa answered after a moment. He wondered what caused the
hesitation. Then she explained. “Noah is shell-shocked, I think.
He’s –”

“I’m fine,” Noah said firmly. “Just… sorry
about…”

Struggling to raise his head, Joel felt hands tighten on his shoulders. He
fought down the instantaneous panic that clawed at his throat. “Unless
there’s a reason for me to be lying on my back,” he said as gently
as he could manage, “I’d rather sit up.”

The hands released him and as he sat up, crossing his legs, he felt
Parisa’s breath on his shoulder blade. He was still naked. He shivered
and instinctively pulled his legs up to shield his stomach and softer bits. He
wasn’t afraid of Parisa or Noah, but he felt vulnerable. “What
happened?”

“There was an explosion,” Noah said, and he did sound a little
shocky because his voice trembled. “Over at the other house, we
think.”

“Definitely not here,” Parisa put in. “Do either of you need
a towel? There aren’t robes in here, and I don’t think we should
leave the bathroom until we get the all-clear.”

So, that was why his bare butt was on tile. “Did you two carry me in
here?”

Again, there was that momentary pause. Then Parisa said, “I helped Noah
and carried you, yes.”

Their location made sense even if nothing else did. As far as Joel knew, the
bathroom might be the only room in the smaller house without windows.

Not like the one that had blown inward, injuring Jules.

He shivered as that realization, sent by his twin, hit him. Jules didn’t
actually know it had been a window, but he’d had glass taken out of his
arm so he’d made an educated guess. Joel said, “Soon as we can, I
need to get to Jules. Something’s seriously wrong with him.”

“Can you feel him?” Parisa asked, her hand warm on his back.

“Not now but…” He shivered again, unable to help himself.
“He was muffled, or that’s what it felt like. Like having your
head wrapped in a blanket.”

Noah began, “Did he –”

Someone interrupted, throwing open the door. “Here they are,” said
James, his voice tight.

“Good,” said a voice that came out slightly tinny. “Help is
on the way but it’s a good hour out. See if you can move them to this
building.”

“Will do.” James crouched, his voice coming from off to
Joel’s right. “Are any of you hurt?”

Joel shook his head. “I’m fine. It didn’t happen
here.” He reached out toward James’s voice, but Parisa caught his
hand.

“Agent Tavery,” she said softly, “you’re
bleeding.”

 

About the Author

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender
women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she
created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its
problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host
of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the
contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily
has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate
quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her
website.

 

Author’s Website

Emily on Facebook

Emily on Twitter

 

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

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

Pre-Order Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Pity Please by Whitney Dineen

Pity Please
Whitney Dineen
(Pity Series, #7)
Publication date: October 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

She had a foolproof plan. He thought his future was sealed. Neither of them imagined life would take them down a different path …

Allie

I never planned to live in Elk Lake again, but here I am. I was going to get married, have a great family and career, and then I’d get my happily-ever-after stamped on the passport of my life.

But Brett cheated and got his mistress pregnant with quadruplets. Karma was my consolation and believe me when I tell you, I couldn’t have been more satisfied by the outcome.

Just as I was busy with my fresh start, Noah Riley walked back into my life. I’ve always worshipped my best friend’s older brother, but he never noticed me.

Until that one day …

Noah

What coach gets demoted after taking their high school basketball team all the way to third in the state? Me, that’s who.

I could have gotten any other job in Chicago, but my anger and hurt pride caused me to accept a position at my alma mater. That’s right, I’m the new basketball coach of the Elk Lake Crappies. Don’t think the irony is lost on me.

My goal is to make a splash with my new team, and then have my old school beg to hire me back. Of course, I won’t accept until there’s an appropriate amount of groveling, along with a substantial pay raise.

When I moved to Elk Lake, I never expected to run into my sister’s best friend from childhood.

Who knew Allie Rogers would make me reconsider my dream?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Instead of agreeing that I should be the captain of my own ship, my mother laments, “I always thought your life would turn out like one of those delightful romcoms from the nineteen nineties. You know, single girl meets the love of her life in a quirky, yet totally believable way …”

I’m not sure which movie she’s thinking of as I’ve grown up watching them all with her. On repeat.

“Which Julia Roberts character did you envision me being? If it’s Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman, I’ll have to move to LA and become a sex worker first.” My mom pushes out of my arms and stares at me in horror.

Instead of letting the subject drop, I feel a burst of indignant steam start to build. “If you want me to be like Anna Scott in Knotting Hill, I’ll also have to move to LA, but this time I’ll have to figure out how to become a movie star. Then I’ll need to find an abusive boyfriend so I can cheat on him with a bookstore owner in London.” How does she find these to be believable scenarios?

Hurt tinges her voice as she responds, “What about Jules Potter in My Best Friend’s Wedding?”

“She didn’t even wind up with the guy!” I shout.

“How about the Runaway Bride?” This woman is relentless.

“I would have to get engaged three times so I could dump three men before my true love showed up to write an article about my chaotic life,” I remind her.

My mom’s face screws up in an agonizing expression like she’s painfully wracking her brain. “Maybe not a Julia Roberts movie then. What about Sandra Bullock? Her romcoms were more girl-next-door, which is exactly what you are.”

Raising my hand into the air, I start ticking off fingers. “While You Were Sleeping would involve nearly killing someone in a train accident so I could lie to the victim’s family and fall for his brother. In Miss Congeniality, I’d have to be an FBI agent masquerading as Miss New Jersey. Hope Floats would get me that husband and child you so badly want me to have but said husband would have to dump me on national television before running off with my best friend. Do you want me to go on?” I demand.

Confusion riddles my mom’s features resulting in my feeling an unexpected wave of compassion for her. “I don’t want any of that for you. I just want you to have a beautiful and happy ending to your story.”

“My story is a long way from being over, Mom.” I’m not going to tell her that my vision of the future is nothing like what she’s hoping for. As in, I’m pretty sure I’ll never let myself be vulnerable enough to give love a second chance. I know for certain I will never have my own children. Three lost pregnancies are enough for me to take the hint.

My mother inhales deeply before telling me, “I’m not good at leaving things in the hands of fate.”

“No, you’re not. You’re the worst control freak I know, but that doesn’t mean you’ve been appointed God and get to make all the decisions for my life.”

“I don’t want to make all the decisions. I just want you to start living again!”

“I’m enough on my own, Mom. I don’t have to be a wife to have value.” I can tell I’ve hurt her feelings again, but what else can I do? It’s like we’re two different species with zero understanding of how the other works.

With hands on hips, she demands, “What’s your five-year plan?”

“To still be breathing,” I tell her honestly.

“Do you ever want to get back into publishing?”

I offer a brief shrug. “Can’t say.”

“Do you plan on working at Rosemary’s for the rest of your life?”

“Would there be anything wrong with that? Would you not be able to love me anymore if I don’t get the Hollywood ending you’ve always imagined for me?”

My mom’s face turns bright red, which is a sure indicator she’s about to lose her cool. But instead of screaming at me, she merely turns around and strides out of the dining room like she’s on her way to execute a military coup. Napoleon had nothing on this woman.

I take her reaction to my question to mean that her love is dependent on my capitulation to her vision. Well, too freaking bad, Margaret. I’m not going to try to make you happy when I don’t even know what will make me happy.

My phone pings before I can stand up and clear the remnants of my uneaten breakfast. Picking it up, I click on the message notification and read a text from Lorelai.

Lorelai: Noah is driving me crazy! I’ve been asking him to put my navy-blue cashmere sweater in the mail for a week, and he hasn’t done it. Would you mind going over to my parents’ house and sending it? The key is under the mat.

My nervous system responds by causing me to break out into a cold sweat. I do not want to see Noah Riley. To be honest, I hate that he’s moved back to Elk Lake. There is no place in my life for my childhood crush. He’s part of my past and I will not go out of my way to run into him again.

Having said that, Lorelai is my best friend, and she never asks for anything. Shoot! I’m going to have to do it. I’ll just have to make sure to go when Noah isn’t there.

Author Bio:

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / X / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!

Pity Please Blitz


BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Death by Mistake by Abigail Keam

Death By Mistake
Abigail Keam
(A Josiah Reynolds Mystery, #22)
Publication date: October 13th 2025
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery

In a world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms, secrets buried in the deep earth are never hidden long.
Josiah has resigned herself to being alone. Her boyfriend, Hunter left her for an old flame, and Josiah vows not to interfere in his life. She cares for the man and wants him to be happy. So, it comes as a shock when Detective Drake informs her that Hunter has been arrested for the murder of his wife, Kathy Wickliffe. Josiah simply can’t believe Hunter would harm another human being. She must uncover the truth—and fast. There’s the law, and there is Josiah’s justice!

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

The Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series
Death By A HoneyBee
Death By Drowning
Death By Bridle
Death By Bourbon
Death By Lotto
Death by Chocolate
Death by Haunting
Death By Derby
Death By Design
Death By Malice
Death By Drama
Death By Stalking
Death By Deceit
Death By Magic
Death By Shock
Death By Chance
Death By Poison
Death By Greed
Death By Theft
Death By Betrayal
Death By Trauma
Death By Mistake
Death By Mail

AWARDS
2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee
2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee
2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
2019 Top 10 Mystery Novels from Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Blue Moon
2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery – Death By Stalking
2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A Full Moon
2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A New Moon
2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery

EXCERPT:

Hunter Wickliffe woke up. Something had sounded in the night and awakened him. Getting out of bed, he went over to the large double-hung sash window, catching sight of a car racing away around the curve of the driveway to Wickliffe Manor. He could hear the car screech to a stop and then turn onto Old Frankfort Pike. He looked at his watch. It was two twenty-three in the morning.

Donning trousers and flip-flops, Hunter trudged down the hallway and opened the door to his wife’s son, Palley’s bedroom. The bed was messy, but no Palley. He then slogged to Kathy’s room, gently knocked, and opened the bedroom door.

The bed was made, showing no one had slept in it. Odd. His wife usually went to bed around midnight.

After checking the upstairs bathrooms and finding them unoccupied, Hunter went down the grand staircase and searched throughout the entire first floor of his 19th-century home. He couldn’t find either Kathy or Palley.

Hunter checked the decorative ceramic bowl by the open back door and saw Kathy’s keys were there. Stepping into the velvet night, he shouted Kathy’s name.

No one returned his call.

Thinking it strange Kathy was not in the house, Hunter went outside to look for her. Discovering Kathy’s Lexus parked in the driveway, he placed his hand on the hood. Hunter found it cold to the touch, so she had to be on the grounds somewhere. He headed to the stables as he heard the boarded horses acting up. That was always a bad sign.

As he walked down the dark gravel path to the horse barn, a Great Horned Owl hooted in the distance, Black Angus cattle snorted in their pasture, and the crunch-crunch of his flip-flops on the gravel were the only sounds to be heard. The otherwise eerie quiet unnerved Hunter. He made a mental note to get some dogs. Dogs were good indicators of people and things not being in place. They were always aware of the unusual. A dog walking beside him in the dark would give him confidence.

Was he frightened?

Hunter was certainly wary.

Something was definitely off.

He picked up a thick fallen branch from a walnut tree and carried it with him. Closer to the barn, he distinctly heard the horses kicking their stalls and neighing occasionally. Not a good sign. Perhaps a coyote had been sniffing around the stable.

Dropping the branch, Hunter stepped through the side door. Searching for the light switch, he found it and turned on the overhead barn lights. The horses immediately quieted down. He first noticed the pedestal fans, which were supposed to circulate the air on warm nights, were turned off. He looked at his watch again. It was two forty-five. As the night cooled, the fans were programmed to switch off at three.

He stepped to the nearest fan and touched the housing. The metal felt wet. Now what would cause water on the fans? Hunter looked up. The roof wasn’t leaking. Besides, it hadn’t rained.

“What’s going on, ladies?” Hunter asked as he opened the stall doors and checked several horses close to the west entrance until he noticed bales of hay lying in disarray on the floor of the barn’s central aisle. Someone or something had also overturned the sweet feed buckets near the storage closet. A sense of dread filled him.

“Kathy? Kathy, are you here?” Hunter called out.

The only responses were horses nickering. Hunter strained to hear his wife’s response or maybe a faint cry for help. Perhaps she went to check on the horses and fell. He wanted to hear something—anything resembling a human voice.

Certain that something was amiss, Hunter went into the first five stalls and opened the back stall doors to a large paddock, letting the pregnant Thoroughbred mares out. He brought them in only at night to keep coyotes and wandering dogs away from them. Free, the horses ambled over to a water trough for a quick sip of cool water.

The last four stalls contained pleasure horses boarded at the Wickliffe Farm. Hunter slid open the stall door and grabbed the skittish Arabian horse by the halter. “Whoa, girl. Whoa. That’s a good girl.” He opened the back exterior door of the stall and pulled the horse toward the outside. She happily joined the other horses now grazing hay left out for them.

Hunter went to the next stall to check on a Quarter horse when he noticed shiny

splotches of a dark substance on the center aisle’s rubber mat. He squatted down and swiped the dark substance with his finger. The substance was gooey, and as he raised his hand to inspect it, the overhead light illuminated the unmistakable red color. Hunter smelled the red substance and rubbed it between his fingers. As a forensic psychiatrist, he had seen enough dead bodies to know this was coagulated blood!

He jumped up and frantically searched the last stalls. “Kathy! Kathy!” There were two remaining horses, which he quickly pulled into the paddock. It wasn’t until Hunter came to the remaining stall that he discovered Kathy lying on her back with unblinking eyes staring at the ceiling. He quickly checked for a pulse, and when he didn’t discover one, Hunter slid down the wall of the stall in disbelief. Shocked, he sat beside his dead wife and put his head between his hands, moaned, “Oh, Kathy. What did you do? What did you do?”

Author Bio:

Abigail Keam is an award-winning and best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms.
Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, Abigail loves honeybees and for many years made her living by selling honey at a farmers’ market like her protagonist, Josiah Reynolds. She is an award-winning beekeeper who has won many honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition.
Miss Abigail has taken her knowledge of beekeeping to create a fictional beekeeping protagonist, Josiah Reynolds, who solves murder mysteries in the Bluegrass. While Miss Abigail’s novels are for enjoyment, she discusses the importance of a local sustainable food economy and land management for honeybees and other creatures.
She currently lives on the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters.

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Death By Mistake Crush Blitz


BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: The Magical Christmas Cottage by Aimee O’Brian

The Magical Christmas Cottage
Aimee O’Brian
(Charmed Love, #3)
Publication date: October 23rd 2025
Genres: Adult, Holiday, Romance

In the small town of Hazard, sometimes love is the greatest Christmas miracle.

Alina McAllister is starting fresh in the charming town of Hazard, Rhode Island, with a simple plan: take a docent job at the Historical Society and embrace the magic of the season. But when her landlady Hazel suffers a stroke, everything changes. Hazel’s grumpy yet undeniably handsome grandson, Carter Bestwick, swoops into town determined to sell the cottage and move on with his corporate life. He needs Alina to leave—immediately.

With nowhere to go and a snowstorm trapping them together, Alina and Carter are forced into close quarters. What starts as a tense, begrudging arrangement soon sparks undeniable chemistry. As they clear out the attic, they discover Hazel’s magical wedding bands—heirlooms passed down through generations since the Revolutionary War—and find that sometimes, the magic of love is closer than they think.

In this heartwarming, opposites-attract holiday romance, Alina and Carter may just find that the greatest gift of all is an unexpected love.

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EXCERPT:

With a playful glance at Carter, Alina slipped the small gold ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. She admired the filigreed design of clasped hands and held up her own. “What do you think?”

Carter frowned at her. Of course he did. His voice was rough when he spoke. “What are you doing?”

Alina shrugged. “Having some fun. You could try it. You do know what fun is?”

His frown lines deepened into furrows. If he wasn’t careful, he’d look old before his time.

Determined to help him avoid that fate, Alina teased, “Don’t you ever have fun? Here.” She held out the larger ring to him. It too, had a design of clasped hands.

He raised a disapproving brow. “You want me to put on some old wedding band.” It wasn’t a question and the censure in his voice was obvious.

“Sure, why not? What are you afraid of?”

He tilted his head. “I’m not a commitment-phobe if that’s what you’re implying.”

“So, put it on.” She issued the challenge to see if he’d accept.

“We are not making a commitment.”

“No, we are playing. Fun, remember?”

When he just stared at the ring, she added, “I dare you.”

Carter’s eyes narrowed. “You dare me?”

“That’s right, I dare you.” She was back to playground taunts, but this time Alina didn’t care because it really was fun. And he needed to lighten up.

Carter tilted his chin up for a moment before he narrowed his eyes at her and slipped the ring on the third finger of his left hand.

It went on easily like hers had. “See, perfect fit. I wonder where they came from.”

“They’re old, I’m certain.” Carter gazed down at the ring on his finger. “I’ve seen pictures of this type of ring somewhere. Traditional workmanship but surprisingly comfortable. Okay, time to get back to work. Fun’s over.”

“Fun should never be over.”

Carter tugged on the ring to take it off. He blinked, tugged harder. “That’s odd. It went on so smooth, and now it’s stuck.”

Author Bio:

Having lived in both California and Texas, award-winning author Aimee O’Brian now resides in the beautiful wine country where she writes dark, sexy, funny romance. With her three children grown and experiencing their own adventures, she and her husband are free to explore the world. When she’s not reading, writing, or planting even more flowers in her garden, she can be found stomping through ancient ruins and getting lost in museums.

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BOOK TOUR: A Shadow Called Sunshine by Nicole Cherie Hesse

This week we are pleased to share a unique story that while fictional, is based on the author’s journey!

A Shadow Called Sunshine

Genre: Dark Psychological Romance

Tropes/ Themes

  • Hero’s journey
  • Major characters killed off
  • Unlikeable victim
  • Self discovery
  • Righting past wrongs
  • Time twisted Love triangle
  • Forbidden love
  • Soul life journey

He doesn’t see himself as the villain.

She can’t believe he is, until it’s too late. But the damage is undeniable.

Charismatic, composed, and deeply controlled, the shadow of the man at the center of this haunting story has mastered the art of perception. Yet beneath his carefully curated surface lives a long lineage of suffering, sabotage and choices that ripple far beyond what her doting eyes can see.

When their worlds begin to unravel, their souls are pulled into a surreal, subconscious descent—where memories blend with illusion,
time folds into itself, and lives once lived rise to the surface.

What emerges is not just the unraveling of one man’s mind, but a blinding revelation: that every choice casts a shadow that we carry from one life to the next.

That power, without awareness, breeds quiet devastation.

And our stories—spoken or not—bind us in spiraling patterns across generations, and even lifetimes.

Told through lyrical, dreamlike prose, A Shadow Called Sunshine is a psychological and spiritual reckoning— a mirror reflecting the shadows we all carry, and the karmic imprint of the pain we refuse to face.

This is not a story of survival.

It’s a story of consequence that explores the path from self-sabotage to self-sovereignty.

And it dares to ask:

What if self-sabotage casts shadows beyond the edges of this lifetime?

A Shadow Called Sunshine is a haunting psychological novel that explores the allure of narcissism, the rippling impact of abuse and the soul life journey that connects us all—even beyond the constraints of our current reality.

Told through dreamlike prose and a surreal, poetic lens, this story follows the spiral staircase timeline of three trauma tethered souls. A woman who trifles with the sharp knife of self sabotage, the man who wants to save her and the monster who never saw himself as the villain.

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