In the high-octane realm of military thrillers,Rose Island stands
out with its masterful blend of espionage and covert warfare. Set against the
backdrop of a forgotten Cold War bastion that harbors earth-shattering secrets,
former Marine turned clandestine operator Jake Harper is drawn back into action
when a top-secret rescue mission calls him to an island erased from every map—a
place steeped in mystery and guarded by deadly forces.
Charged with leading a special operations team amidst the threat of a looming
hurricane, Harper and his team, with their unwavering courage and resilience,
must navigate the treacherous mysteries of Rose Island. As they unearth hidden
bunkers and tangled alliances, each revelation plunges them deeper into a
whirlpool of political intrigue and betrayal. The island, a forgotten relic of
Cold War experiments, holds secrets that some will kill to protect.
Their mission escalates in complexity when they cross paths with a renegade
unit of mercenaries with connections to enigmatic international powers. These
well-trained, heavily armed adversaries are resolute in their intent to exploit
the island’s secrets for their own sinister ends.
With time running out, their mission evolves from a covert infiltration to a
desperate fight for survival. Harper’s resolve is tested as past emotional
entanglements with a team member add layers of complexity to his leadership. As
the storm bears down, they face the natural elements and a formidable enemy in
a climactic showdown that promises to blend their fates with the island’s dark
history.
Dive into Rose Island, where survival clashes with the ghosts of
history, crafting a narrative so tense and gripping that it will leave readers
breathless until the last page is turned.
Zander Hatch, a US Marine veteran, blends his extensive
military experience with a talent for storytelling to create thrilling,
authentic narratives. Drawing from global deployments, Hatch’s writing in Rose
Island offers an immersive experience in tactical expertise and unyielding
suspense. Dive into his books for a gripping journey through the realms of
action and adventure, where courage meets the climax of military strategy.
When PJ and his team of Paranormal Pursuers unearth the sinister secrets of the Scottish village of Pittenweem’s witch-hunting past, they must confront the malevolent spirit of a young boy to save the villagers from chaos and terror.
The Phantoms of Pittenweem
PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers Book 2
by Jacqui Dempster
Genre: YA, Teen Paranormal Adventure
After moving from New York to Edinburgh to live with his aunt, PJ very quickly discovered the parallel worlds of the living and the dead when he was forced to battle the evil Mackenzie Poltergeist at Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Now, PJ and his fellow ghost-hunting friends are invited to stay in the picturesque fishing village of Pittenweem in Fife, a place which, unbeknown to them, has haunting echoes of its witch-hunting past.
However, their holiday promises to be anything but peaceful, as witchcraft and superstition threatens to bring terror and chaos to the villagers and the Paranormal Pursuers must face off with the malevolent spirit of a young boy, Patrick Morton. Can they find a way to prevent him from reviving the dark and sinister past of Pittenweem before it’s too late?
After his mom dies, PJ reluctantly leaves his New York home and everyone he loves, to live with his Aunt Katie in Edinburgh. A series of strange events begin when his aunt’s elderly neighbour and her cat Azrael convince him that his mom, weirdly, is still very much with him.
At a bereavement counselling group, PJ makes a new group of friends, all of whom have lost loved ones. Drawn together by their shared experiences, they soon discover they have something else in common; an interest in the supernatural. Freya is the daughter of a white witch, Sunny has a scientific and enquiring mind and Shuggie, a superfan of ghost hunting programmes. Led by PJ, they try to prove that there is life after death and that their loved ones are still with them. The team receives strange messages leading them to investigate Greyfriars Kirkyard where they experience terrifying paranormal activity and PJ is drawn into the clutches of the evil Mackenzie Poltergeist after reciting a famous rhyme that invites the restless spirit to draw back the bolt of his scary mausoleum to allow him entry. There, he finds himself in a fight of good against evil with the ghost of Sir George Mackenzie.
“If you are, or know someone who is a teenager with a newfound interest in the supernatural and paranormal, this is the book for you.” The Courier and Advertiser (Fife Edition)
“PJ and his friends make a great group of characters, and there’s lots of laughter to be had as well as scares, while ‘auld reekie’ provides the perfect backdrop for these ghostly goings-on.”LoveReading4Kids & LoveReading4Schools
“This is a terrific story for teen readers to devour on a spooky autumn evening.” The School Librarian (TSL)
Who are the Dogs on the Cover of PJ and The Paranormal Pursuers – The Phantoms of Pittenweem?
Well, the small white dog, who appeared on the cover of my first PJ book, The Mackenzie Poltergeist, was designed from a photograph of my beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Smudge. Sadly, at the time the first book went to print, Smudge, who was almost 17 had been terribly ill for a while. The book has a dedication to him but he went to the Rainbow Bridge before publication and I wanted his memory to live on. He does so as ‘Dug,’ Shuggie’s JRT in the book and as the motif on the covers. The other dog, added for the Phantoms of Pittenweem is modelled on Gus, another family dog. He was a Schnauzer who was also a lovely soul. When he wasn’t freshly groomed, he was a shaggy dog on whom I modelled Buddy, PJ’s dog. Gus had also travelled the Rainbow Bridge by the time the new book was published and he joins Smudge on the cover of my second book.
As many people will understand, the grief of losing a pet, who is very much a family member, friend and companion is hard – often just as hard as losing a human. I was devastated at the loss of Smudge and resolved never to have another dog of my own because the pain and trauma was too great. I know that many people say that you should offer another dog a happy home and believe me, I have been tempted – until that wave of grief crashes over me and reminds me of what we went through. I have written about Smudge extensively on my blog; one part (For the Love of Smudge) telling his story and the second part (I’m only talking to my dog today) which explains the strange events after his death which convinced me he was still around and sending messages to say he was OK. These can be found here: Jacqueline Dempster – Medium. I hope that the articles help those of you who find themselves grief stricken after the loss of a beloved pet.
My days of doggy love are not over, however. Although we don’t have any of our own, we did join an organisation called ‘Borrow my Doggy,’ which offers just what it says on the tin! For a small annual fee, you can offer to borrow other people’s doggies when they need company during the week or a place to stay when their people want to go on holiday. It’s worked out brilliantly for us and we’ve had the joy of looking after Winnie, a Jack Russell Terrier (who looks remarkably like Smudge) and Arlo who is a very cheeky little JRT/Shih Tzu cross. We also look after our grandpups, Willow (guess what – a JRT whose arrival as a pup was accurately predicted by one of the animal psychics I consulted after we lost Smudge) and Pepper, a Poodle/Bichon Frise cross. We have a new boy, Joe, (JRT) coming to visit and stay for holidays very soon! I am certain that Smudge knows that we’ll never replace him but has a hand in bringing all these perfect friends into our lives. It is very strange how all of the borrowed doggies who’ve arrived on our doorstep have been JRTs and I am certain our boy has a hand in it. To be honest, I love each one of them dearly and while they are not our dogs, the grief of losing any of them will be hard. I can console myself, however, knowing that we’ve been able to give them a welcome and the comfort of a loving home from home whenever their mums and dads need a holiday, or just to stop them getting lonely while their people are working. They return the love in spades and I wouldn’t be without them. They’ve also been very willing to read my books as
Jacqui Dempster qualified as a solicitor in 1999 but now works as a malpractice investigator for an education and qualifications organisation. She lives in Dunfermline, Fife, with partner, Andrew, and various ‘borrowed’ doggies who visit regularly. Jacqui loves dogs, especially Jack Russell Terriers and thinks if they ruled the world, it would be a better place! The doggy motifs on the cover of her books represent Dug and Buddy who belong to the characters, Shuggie and PJ. Dug is based on Jacqui’s own beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Smudge, and her grandpup, Gus, both of whom have sadly passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
Jacqui loves theatre and ran performing arts schools for young people in Fife. She produced and directed various shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. When not either working or writing, she loves to paint and crochet, and of course, read books.
Her first children’s book in this series, PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers– The Mackenzie Poltergeist, was published by The Book Guild in 2021.
Jacqui explains: “The supernatural has featured in my life since I was young, with a grandfather who saw ghosts regularly and other members of the family, on my Welsh side, having strange experiences and even dabbling in magic! I studied on the Edinburgh University Koestler Parapsychology course to learn about the science of the Paranormal. I have also been on a few ghost investigations with mixed results.
I live in Fife nowadays and often visit the beautiful towns and villages within the county. Fife was one of the famous areas where ‘witches’ were persecuted, and the story of the Pitteweem Witches is particularly well known. In my book, the story is told for a younger reader involving a contemporary allegory about one of the young characters, Freya, who is a Wiccan. The subject of Scotland’s witches came up in 2022, when an apology was issued by the then First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon to those persecuted, tortured and executed, and MSPs were invited to consider legislation to pardon them.
I enjoy writing about various places we’ve visited, and especially about any with spooky stories attached on my Medium Daily Digest blog.”
Jacqui loves history and enjoys embracing fact with fiction in her books which she hopes encourages not only a love of reading in young people but also the desire to learn about events of the past which often influence the present and the future.
“This fast-paced read, filled with twists and turns, will keep readers glued to the pages until they reach the very satisfying ending.”
—Cindy Sample, National Bestselling Author of the Laurel
McKay Mystery Series
“Rocky Nelson is just the kind of heroine I love: strong, smart, fierce, and yet still vulnerable.”
—Eileen Rendahl, award-winning author
“This debut mystery delivers a one-two punch!”
—Kim Davis, author
“Phillips has mastered the ‘whodunit’ craft.”
—R. Franklin James, award winning author
Sisters Rocky and Bridget are enjoying each other’s company
at a vintage trailerfest until they stumble over a corpse. The dead guy is none
other than the local trailer restorer Bridget was overheard threatening to
kill. Mounting evidence leads police to focus on Bridget as a person of
interest. Desperate to prove her sister innocent of murder, Rocky dons her own
deerstalker cap and goes sleuthing until she runs into police detective
Thompson who warns her off his case in no uncertain terms. But Rocky is
tenacious if not stubborn. Combined with a 78-year-old father who becomes her
sidekick, Rocky uses her courage and skills learned in boxing lessons to
protect her family and keep from becoming the killer’s next victim.
“A Deadly Match packs an Oscar-worthy punch!” —Holly West, author of
the Mistress of Fortune series and Anthony Award-winning editor of Killin’
Time in San Diego
In Book 2, Raquel (AKA Rocky) investigates family secrets and murder.
Twin sisters Rocky and Bridget soon find themselves facing
another shocking mystery when Hollywood visits the Sierra Foothills.
Their aunt and uncle, both famous movie stars they haven’t
seen since their mother’s funeral, are in town to film a movie. Forced into
family togetherness, Rocky takes them on a tour of her boxing gym, which wasn’t
supposed to include a dead body.
When her beloved coach, Cutter, is arrested for the murder,
Rocky refuses to believe he’s guilty. Driven to clear his name, she embarks on
a dangerous investigation that leads her into a web of secrets, lies, and
unexpected betrayals. As the stakes get higher and the killer’s motives become
more twisted, Rocky realizes she may be fighting for more than just the
truth—she may be fighting for her own life.
Karen A. Phillips enjoys writing mysteries, MG/YA fantasy,
and poetry. She resides in Northern California, and is a proud member of
Sisters In Crime and Willamette Writers.
Standing up for magíq means the world stands against you.
Call Forth the Moonlight:
A Magíqon’s Guide to Gryphon Liberation
by Z.M. Celestaire
Genre: LGBTQ Ecopunk Fantasy Romance
Deubrise is a land blessed by the breath of the slumbering gods. Magíq lives within nature, powerful and beautiful. Few else can harness it besides the gryphons that reside in the mountains near Nico De Falco’s home, and the rare magíqon like Nico’s little sister. But magíqon are shunned and feared by modern society.
To protect himself from such treatment, Dr. Ackerleigh Sebring keeps his magíq a secret. Yet his “radical” teachings of magíqal history gets him fired from Ravensbourne University. Desperate, he finds a gamekeeper job caring for an imprisoned gryphon. Finally, he can be his whole self.
That is, until Nico follows a misguided impulse and frees the gryphon, injuring Ackerleigh accidentally.
Their fates—and feelings—become entangled in their determination to protect the sacred magíq of the gryphon. Ackerleigh and Nico will stop at nothing for the sake of liberation.
**Order direct from the author and get extra goodies!**
Z.M. (they/them) is a writer, artist, and therapist. Writing and art have been a hobby for some twenty years now since they were a goofy little middle schooler. Z.M. grew up devouring urban fantasy authors like Charles De Lint, Holly Black, and Patricia C. Wrede. Z.M. lives in Saint Paul with their spouse, human child, and fur children.
Is it coincidence
or is it something more sinister?
Book 2 reveals the truth!
Vengeful CONspiracies
A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 2
by Nicole Leiren
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Sadie is settling into her new life
in Wilson, Texas. She’s making friends and her business, Tesoro, is starting to
thrive. But the past is never far behind. When two former team members come for
a visit, they bring trouble in the form of a mutual enemy set on revenge
threatening to disrupt Sadie’s fresh start.
She can’t turn her
back on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The more
Sadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the con
this time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of her
decisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question the
choices she made leading to this point.
When their mutual
enemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race to
the truth reveals who can be trusted and who is running their final con.
Sadie Sabatini thinks of herself
as a modern-day Robin Hood who uses her gift as a skilled con artist to help
those who have nowhere else to turn. Leading this life is rewarding, but the
number of enemies are piling up. Sadie decides to lay low and start over with a
new (and legitimate business) in the small town of Wilson, Texas, situated on a
small peninsula in beautiful Lake Amore.
Trouble is never far behind
though and her past catches up to her in a big way when a friend of a former
mark threatens blackmail for his silence. When he turns up dead and Sadie is
the prime suspect, she realizes this time she must protect herself. Her skills
prove helpful as she digs deeper into the web of revenge, blackmail, and
secrets to discover she’s not the only one with a past to hide.
As the threats mount, Sadie
knows she’s closing in on the truth. She now worries that the few new friends
she’s made in town are in danger because of her. With time running out, can she
protect those around her and find the real killer before this new chapter in
her life is conned out of a happy ending?
Have you written any other books that aren’t published?
The very first book I wrote is still unpublished. I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember. At first, it was stories for my little sister, then some fanfic, and finally I wanted to try my hand at my own story. It took a number of years with lots of stops and starts and more name changes than I can remember before I finally typed “The End” Of course, once I’d done that, I had no idea what I should do next. So, I did what anyone would do, Googled it 😊 I learned that you had to submit a pitch, hook, and query. I had no idea how to do that so I found an online class, offered by Savvy Authors that taught you how to do those things. The class was being taught by an agent, Dawn Dowdle. We learned how to write the hook and pitch and after submitting mine, she typed in my chat that she would be open to my querying her with this story. Of course, I replied that as soon as she taught me how to do that, I would love to! LOL
She did just that and I used what she taught me to submit my query to her. A week or so later, she offered representation. We went through several edits and finally sent it out to query publishers. Rejection after rejection followed and, I confess, to being a bit disheartened. Ironically, the reason for the rejections weren’t really bad. The mystery publishers said it didn’t have enough mystery, suspense publishers said not enough suspense and romance pubs said not enough romance. I took that to mean it was a well-balanced story. 😊
Thankfully, my story didn’t end there. While that story still hasn’t seen the light of day…yet, I went on to write my first contemporary sweet military romance which was picked up by Gemma Halliday Publishing. From there, I published six full-length novels with Gemma before taking a break for a couple years.
My next book, Murderous CONsequences, was picked up by Harbor Lane Publishing as a 3 book series. I’m excited that Sadie’s story is continuing and you can join her next adventure (along with the gang in Wilson, TX) with Vengeful CONspiracies. Murder and betrayal are the theme of book 2 (along with second guessing decisions we made in the past and making things right in the future!)
Thank you for visiting today!
Described by those who know her
best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole
Leiren likes to have fun — in life, with her characters and, of course, her
readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for
her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets
while traversing the country.
Nicole enjoys sharing the love,
laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her
characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and
heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or
happily ever after (usually both!)
What if the key to saving the world lies in the one creature
everyone learned to fear?
Dragons, Mermaids, Elves… and Kitsune?
Keeper of Dragons: Aprella Academy Book 1
by J.A. Culican
Genre: YA Fantasy, Ranobe
What if the key to
saving the world lies in the one creature everyone learned to fear?
Rhyden was supposed to stay hidden in Ochana, the floating
realm of dragons—isolated ever since Prince Jago’s mysterious death. But with
an unshakable sense of duty, he defies his people’s decree and enrolls at
Aprella Academy, a legendary school where mermaids, elves, fairies, and kitsune
shape the world’s magic.
Arriving as the first dragon on campus in a century, Rhyden
becomes an instant sensation—and not everyone is thrilled about it. Whispers
circulate that the wards protecting the academy are failing. A priceless
artifact has been stolen, dark forces lurk in hidden corridors, and rumors
blame the sudden “dragon presence” for the danger creeping past the gates.
Teaming up with a ragtag circle of new friends—Kairo the
mermaid warrior torn between land and sea, Fenrick the kitsune trickster hiding
unexpected insecurities, Talyssa the elf struggling to atone for her people’s
past, and Lirien the quiet fairy sensing a looming evil—Rhyden races to unmask
the culprit. Yet ominous illusions and shocking betrayals await at every turn,
threatening to shatter the fragile trust he’s begun to build.
When Rhyden’s draconic power finally awakens, it’s as
explosive as the secrets that forced dragons into hiding long ago. Determined
to reclaim the dragon legacy and protect a world that once shunned his kind, he
soon learns that defeating hidden enemies may require forging alliances beyond
imagination—and confronting a darkness older than the academy itself.
Dive into a ranobe-inspired tale of epic magic, unlikely
friendships, and one dragon shifter trying to light the path forward in a realm
built on shadows. Will Rhyden spark a new era for dragons—or remind the world
why they vanished in the first place?
Perfect for fans of
magical academies, secret conspiracies, and unstoppable teamwork, Keeper
of Dragons: Aprella Academy is your next addictive fantasy read.
J.A. Culican is a USA Today Bestselling author of the middle
grade fantasy series Keeper of Dragons. Her first novel in the fictional series
catapulted a trajectory of titles and awards, including top selling author on
the USA Today bestsellers list and Amazon, and a rightfully earned spot as an
international best seller. Additional accolades include Best Fantasy Book of
2016, Runner-up in Reality Bites Book Awards, and 1st place for Best Coming of
Age Book from the Indie book Awards.
J.A. Culican holds a Master’s degree in Special Education
from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for
over 13 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit
Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her
husband and four young children.
Betrayed! Banished! Broken! Can Luther’s love for Amelia survive?
The Forgotten
The Realms of Darkness Book 1
by KA Stefana
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
My name is Luther Van Leer, and I’m a prisoner in the vampire queen’s castle. She’ll let me out if I’m willing to meet her demands, but I will refuse until she puts a
stake through my heart. I’ll not let her turn me into a monster. At least, that
was my plan. With a turning kiss, I was turned into a monster, banished,
beaten, and betrayed. Now, my master expects that I will fall in love with her
and play nice. If my cold-dark heart ever finds her, revenge will be mine!
Step into the dark and feudal world of the four kingdoms. The prophecy hangs
over the land, turning kings and queens against each other. When Amelia turns
Luther, she unknowingly drags him into her world. Instead of gaining a lover,
she gains another enemy. Will Luther forgive her ultimate betrayal and help her
survive, or will he abandon her? It would be his right.
From the darkness of the salt mines, the horrors of the bird cages, the
temptations of the Forbidden Lake, and dragon tattoos, Luther and Amelia will
be in a race against time to save their kingdom.
This is book 1 in the Realms of Darkness Series.
This book was first published on Amazon’s Kindle Vella.
Welcome Readers! I am so excited that you are taking this journey with me into the
Shadowvere, where my characters live. I love to weave tales of darkness and
light, pushing my characters to the end of themselves. How will they react?
Some may fall into evil, spiraling into a never-ending vortex of darkness.
Others may walk the line between the realms of darkness and light. Only a few
will rise above the chaos. They are the defenders and heroes in the world of
shadows, but they, too, wrestle with the shadows surrounding them, trying to
lure them down dark alleyways and into the back rooms of iniquity.
My friends always ask me where my tales come from. I guess it comes from years of reading great tales from the likes of Tolkien, Lewis, and so many others. In reality, I
don’t have a clue. The stories somehow flow from the unruly characters that beg
to be written yet refuse to follow their storylines. Just the way I like it!
Past the shadows, you will find twist of romance between kings and outcasts, enemies to
lovers and everything in between.
As for me, I started my writing journey during quarantine and haven’t stopped writing since.
I am thankful for the writing community and their support and for my family and
friends. Most of all, I am blessed to have a husband who supports all of my
late-night shenanigans, wrestling with characters and pounding away at the
keyboard until the wee hours of the morning.
~ A million hugs! Thanks for joining the Shadowverse.
Headstrong siblings, fated mates, a grandmother’s love, and enemies thirsting for revenge.
Saved by the Wolf
The McCullough Pack Book 1
by Nola Li Barr
Genre: Sweet Paranormal Romance
A Sweet Paranormal Romance Complete Series
Fate brought us together, but the scars of our pasts threaten to tear us apart.
Jill
The moment I hear his voice, something inside me shifts. He seems to reach right into my soul, and suddenly, all I want is to be near him, to feel safe in his arms. But I’ve been down this road before. My last relationship left me broken, bruised, and wary. And the way his friends hang on his every word? It’s too familiar—too much like my past.
Still, there’s an undeniable connection between us. My heart whispers that he’s different, that he’s the one I’ve been waiting for. But how can I trust it when my head is screaming to run?
Luc
She’s shy, quiet . . . human. Not someone my wolf should be drawn to, but he is. When I’m near her, my wolf is calm, content, and all he wants is to claim her as mine. But I’ve sworn off love. I know too well the pain of a broken heart, and I promised myself I wouldn’t go through that again.
Yet, no matter how much I try to push her away, my wolf won’t let me. She’s the one, and every fiber of my being knows it.
Saved by the Wolf is the first book in the McCullough Pack series—a heart-tugging, sweet paranormal romance with all the love, none of the spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
*Originally published under Nola Li Gordon. The whole series is now under Nola Li Barr.
He loves me . . . He loves me not . . .
Becca
I’ve loved him for years and thought the feeling was mutual. But when I lean in to kiss him on our first date, he recoils, claiming he only loves me like a sister.
He breaks my heart that night.
Every bone in my body is telling me to leave—to start a new life in a new place. A place without him in it.
But I must be a masochist because no matter what I tell myself, I cannot stay away from him. . .
Brandon
She is my mate. My wolf knows it.
Ever since she kissed me, my wolf has been clawing at me to claim her. It is becoming harder and harder to control myself.
Because I can’t claim her.
My past haunts me with reminders of my failures. She’s better off without me. The best I can do is be her protector—if I can even do that . . . .
Set against a backdrop of a tight-knit family, this friends-to-lovers story is filled with all the love without the spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
*Originally published under Nola Li Gordon. The whole series is now under Nola Li Barr.
All is fair in love and war.
Millie
I’m the responsible sister. The one my family relies on. It’s the reason I’m standing in for my sister, instead of going on my well-deserved vacation.
My day brightens when he walks in. I try to act professional, but he stands close, and his eyes never leave me.
When he leaves, I tell myself he’ll soon forget about me. But on a visit to my friend, he’s there to greet me. This time, I’m the one who can’t look away.
I’m only enjoying his company. Nothing can go wrong.
Jacob
I’m the planner of my family, and with war coming to my pack, I must prepare for it. But my wolf is restless, wanting what my elder brothers have—a mate.
When I see her, my wolf screams she’s the one, and I feel the urge to claim her. I push him down and manage to leave, but thoughts of her continue to bombard me every day.
A day later, my brother pays her a visit, and on his return, he starts acting . . . odd. Once my partner in crime, now he’s looking at me as his enemy.
Suddenly, everything goes wrong.
Enter a world where the strength of a family lies not only with its pack but also with their soulmates. A world filled with all the love without the spice, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Nola Li Barr writes sweet family saga romances. Both in contemporary and paranormal/fairy tale settings. She loves to explore family dynamics with her characters and see them fall in love, most of the time with someone they’d never deem possible. In the hopes of sharing her stories with her kids sooner than later, her romances are always sweet with a happily ever after. When she’s not writing she can be found reading, baking, and navigating the path of motherhood. Follow her on social media @nolalibarr or visit nolalibarr.com.
She’s the first female police detective in Acapulco.
Barracuda Bay
Detective Emilia Cruz Book 9
by Carmen Amato
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Female Detective
Political
corruption turns Acapulco’s first female police detective into a fugitive on
the run . . . in Washington DC.
“A
thrilling series” — National Public Radio
In a derelict building for sale, Acapulco police detective Emilia Cruz stumbles
on the body of a woman brutally shot to death. Incredibly, the victim was the
sister of Acapulco’s ambitious mayor, who is running for re-election against an
opponent with deep pockets.
Emilia’s investigation is immediately under pressure for a fast result. The
victim’s ex-boyfriend has a suspiciously weak alibi but is the crime scene the
key to finding the murderer? The building was once used for a secret Mexican
government operation targeting a ruthless drug lord.
Meanwhile, there’s a conspiracy within the police department to force Emilia
out.
Before Emilia can save her job or arrest her prime suspect, she’s sent on an
errand of mercy to Washington, DC.
There she becomes a fugitive hunted by killers masquerading as cops. Alone,
desperate and on the run, Emilia turns for help to a man she once vowed to
murder.
He’s her only chance to survive a deadly game of political intrigue on the
wrong side of the border.
From Acapulco’s beaches to the streets of Washington, DC, the stakes couldn’t
be higher in this electrifying, page-turning thriller.
2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award, Outstanding Series – CrimeMasters of
America
“Emilia is a character who is close to my heart” –
MysterySequels
“Amato brings her characters to life with her vivid writing style
and sets them on the streets of a Mexico steeped in Catholicism and
corruption” – OnlineBookClub.org
With unflinching authenticity from the author’s own espionage and counterdrug
experience in Mexico and Central America, this is a female detective mystery
series like no other.
The Emilia Cruz series is for fans of international mystery and crime by Ian
Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Donna Leon and Liza Marklund, plus the
Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Fans of Don Winslow’s cartel and
border thrillers set in Mexico love the plots torn from the headlines of the
Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco.
Now a mystery and thriller author, I was an intelligence officer for 30 years with the Central Intelligence Agency. Most of that time, I dealt with technical intelligence collection and counterdrug issues. I also spent a great deal of time overseas, finishing as the head of one of the US national intelligence schools.
I poured my experiences into the 9-book Detective Emilia Cruz series (BARRACUDA BAY, CLIFF DIVER, NARCO NOIR, etc.) Traveling at night through a strange country, with only my passport for protection? Check.
Getting stalked through a store by a thief? Check.
Being told by a colleague that he didn’t want to work with a woman? Check.
The Detective Emilia Cruz books are loaded with danger, deception, and authenticity. She’s the first female police detective in Acapulco, taking on official corruption, drug cartels, and Mexico’s social inequalities. The series won the 2019 and 2020 Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series from Crime Masters of America, the 2019 Silver Falchion from Killer Nashville, and was optioned for television.
One particular experience motivated me to begin the series when an armed drug addict came into our church in Mexico City during midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. No one was hurt, but it was a wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moment. I turned to fiction to show what was happening not so very far from home.
Fiction doesn’t get more authentic than BARRACUDA BAY and the rest of the Detective Emilia Cruz series.
A 30-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency,
Carmen Amato writes the contemporary Detective Emilia Cruz series pitting the
first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico’s cartels, corruption,
and social inequality. Beginning with Cliff Diver, it’s a 2-time winner
of the Outstanding Series award from CrimeMasters of America and a 4-time
finalist for the Silver Falchion award, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “Danger and
betrayal never more than a few pages away.”
Carmen Amato is also the 2023 winner of the Silver
Falchion Award for Best Historical for Murder at the Galliano Club,
inspired by her grandfather’s experiences as a deputy sheriff during
Prohibition. Her standalone thrillers include The Hidden Light of Mexico
City, which was longlisted for the 2020 Millennium Book Award.
Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence
Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. She has been a judge for the BookLife
Prize and Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award. Her work has appeared in Huffpost,
Criminal Element, Publishers Weekly, and other national publications.
Originally from upstate New York, after years of
globe-trotting she and her husband enjoy life in Tennessee.
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When truths uncovered cannot be forgotten. Or forgiven.
Faeries Don’t Forgive
Heart of the Worlds Book 2
by TF Burke
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Returning to Nonderu, the underworld court, to rescue her dad should have been simple after the malevolent soul-sucking Boggleman fell to his presumable demise. They just need to find a way in. And get past the Mockmen trolls.
Instead, Aunia is attacked by a fanatical soldier cult that seeks to kill or capture her. Plus, her unmanageable magic notifies deadly wererats of her location. It also hurls her into an evil sorceress’ study. If all this wasn’t enough, she’s fighting a different battle with Mathias, her pegasus-riding love. His insistence to keep her hidden is more infuriating than any of their enemies. It leaves her determined to kick anyone who says first love is easy.
Worst of all are the truths she’s uncovering. Truths that can’t be forgotten. Or forgiven.
Releasing a Chandarion’s god-like magic into the world isn’t what sixteen-year-old Aunia, the village’s outcast, intends. She only wants to impress Mathias, a visiting seventeen-year-old pegasus flyer, who fiercely believes the choice—either Faery or Mortal world surviving—has come.
Her action calls forth the Boggleman, a soul-sucking ghoul, who abducts her dad, eats her faery friends, and sets Dagel demons on her isolated village. And worse.
The worlds of Ahnu-Endynia are full of faeries, pegasi flyers, myths, secrets, and themes of belonging, despite being misunderstood. And if you don’t watch carefully . . . You might be pulled into the Betwixt. . . the space between the worlds.
What makes a man something worth admiring and when will you doubt his worth? — Queen Didianne, in the reign of the mad queen
A buzzing brushed Aunia’s skin like a hive of bees as she lurched in a mad attempt to keep her footing. The smell of woods, perfumes, and herbs had disappeared and in its place was the stench of waste, unfamiliar food, and burning metal.
A village-full of voices swirled within the buzzing . . . one pulled at her plaintively, though she couldn’t make out the words. Dust skated over Aunia’s feet as she appeared in a long boxed-in area surrounded by bulging timber buildings covered in faded paint and smeared pitch. And pressed within this area were more people than she had seen in her entire life.
“I said let the child go,” a gruff voice said from behind her.
Aunia swiveled.
An older man with a broken-nose, well-muscled and tall, like Oskan from her village, stood in front of two men in red cloaks.
“We don’t take orders from you, Mason,” the shorter of the two red-cloaked men said. He yanked a small boy towards him by the arm and the child’s sandy-haired head bounced off his chest.
“He’s hungry is all,” the broken-nose man said. “I’ll pay for him.”
“Bugger off,” the red cloak said.
Aunia stepped forward. “You can’t let a child go hungry.”
Several of the people glared at her.
“Shut your mouth, rover,” said a pillar-built woman with a messy bun, brown hair streaked in gray. She stood in front of a building with large windows and a swinging sign, which read ‘Forged Tankard.’ “Ain’t no food he stole.”
“Brana,” the broken-nosed man growled.
The woman rolled her eyes and pushed past him, holding up a small ring with two finger-length keys. “Missing these?”
The larger of the two red-cloaked men reached under his cloak patted his side, and his face turned red. “It’s the stocks for ye, boy.”
The boy dropped to the cobblestones and the shorter, red-cloaked man yanked him back one-handed. Held his other hand high to strike.
“Stop it,” Aunia yelled.
The larger of the red-cloaked men turned in her direction.
“Not the stocks.” A bearded man in a long-sleeved patchwork tunic, white powder streaks along his sleeves, stepped forward. “You’ve the boy’s mother in custody already. She was an unbraceleted faeblood. He’d be the same. You know it. It’s prison he should go.”
Faces pressed against the glass windows of the Forged Tankard’s tavern. Some folk stepped forward. Others melted back, including the broken-nosed man.
Aunia shook. Taya was indeed right of cities being dangerous. If this was how they treated small children . . . but what could she do? She was only one in a crowd.
“Stop,” she slid back, beseeching the broken-nose man. “You have to help. He’s just a boy.”
But the man slid into a narrow alleyway between the tavern and another building, and past a pig rooting in a pile of broken barrels, jugs, food scraps, and rags.
“She ain’t my mom,” the child screamed. “Not my real one. She picked me out of the garbage. I was just a slave to her.”
The taller, red-cloaked man yanked the child’s sleeve up. “Unbraceleted. You. Run to the Yanna’s forge. Grab a cuff. Now.”
“Don’t be thinking of calling on any magic,” the shorter, red-cloaked man said, bending to sneer those words in the child’s face.
“I’m . . . not a faeblood.” The child stopped his struggling and with his wrist in the guard’s grip, pointed in Aunia’s direction. “That’s the one you want. A real faeblood. Didn’t you see? She just skipped out of nowhere.”
The larger man straightened. “You. Rover.”
Aunia backed away, nearly colliding with a press of people guarding her back. Rover? But of course, she was wearing their garb. And by their expression and harsh tone, they did not like rovers.
“Don’t think you’re going anywhere,” one woman in a dark gray gown said.
Faeblood . . . this is how the people saw Reina. “I’ve . . . I’m looking for flyers,” Aunia said. “I flew with them over the Grashbear. Mathias. Keston. Fallo. You’ve had to have seen them. This is Dalin, isn’t it?”
The scowls of the people deepened. They shuffled closer. People in front of her and behind her, but the alleyway . . . could she flee with that pig in the way? Pig. She blinked. It had a quilted cloth saddle fastened around its girth with knotted cloth straps. And stitched cloth saddlebags hanging along the pig’s side. Who would be riding a pig?
[for a 700+ word excerpt use the verbiage above OR include the rest of the chapter for just under 1500 words]
“Look alive,” a raspy voice sounded.
Aunia squinted. Amongst the broken wooden boxes and broken jars, two little men, shin-high, drank from a clay jar over half the size they were. Clurichauns with their rosy, weathered faces. They were solitary beings generally. The last time she saw one was in Gaitha’s basement lapping up a bit of spilled apple brandy.
Someone, the taller red-cloak, grabbed Aunia’s upper arm and a raw thrill, like a sharp nail, rose through her throat. “Leave me be.”
She yanked. He held her firm, his fingers pressing into her flesh like a vise.
The adrenaline spike landed against the pit of her stomach like a stone. Mygul. She sucked in a breath, squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to coax a pinching sensation in her temples. Nothing. Her mouth turned to dry paper. Did she even have her glowing blue globefire anymore? She hadn’t seen it since the Boggleman’s veil tendril lodged itself in her gut when she stood on Hebsolum’s palm. Did that mean Hebsolum had it? Hebsolum, the thief who took her mother’s amulet. The only good thing he had done was to help her cage the roiling blue storm cloud made of Edvaras’ magic . . . but her bit of magic . . . the one that caused mischief, made her an outcast, kept her safe. He must have taken it, too.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Prison. Was that where they were sending her? How would Mathias even find her? A soft mew escaped her and Aunia shook her head. She couldn’t show weakness. And there were clurichauns. Faeries often would help her. Would these?
She turned her head to the alleyway where the clurichauns swilled leftover booze from broken crockery. “Help me.”
One of the clurichauns looked her way, bright eyes going wide. “She sees us.” His voice, gravelly and sing-song, sounded over the clamor of human voices.
“She don’t.” The blonder of the two clapped the auburn one’s shoulder. “She do. Drat it. On our way, Sharpish.” He pointed to the pig.
“She be the one Mara made mention.”
“We can’t be making the Boggles mad now, can we, you know,” the blonde one said. “We go.”
The Boggles? Did he mean the Boggleman? Aunia struggled against her restraint. “I want to, too.”
“Want to what?” the red-cloaked man sneered.
“Want you to let go,” Aunia said between her teeth. “You’re hurting me.”
The man tightened his grip. “I’m barely holding you.”
Aunia struggled toward the alleyway. Saying please would cause possible faery aid to disappear but what poem could she utter? Aunia groaned. “Help me now it’s good folk fashion. Aid to for those who seek compassion.”
“You call that a poem,” the blonde clurichaun said. He shook his head then made a running jump onto the pig’s back. His green pants contrasted with the wine-stained saddle. “Come on, brother.”
“Brandy. I’ll bring you brandy,” Aunia yelled.
“No one bribes the guard.” The stinging heat from his slap rang into her cheekbones. “Where’s that Davis? Cuff her good and she can blubber whatever nonsense with the other lobheads.
“Don’t know,” the shorter of the red-cloaked men said. He still clutched the boy’s arm. “But that face is sweet even with your handprint.”
Gargle patted the saddle. “There’s another tavern were—”
“Certain things don’t get done. Now off brother, lest you go for a ride.”
The two clurichauns glared at each other while some of the townsfolk shuffled aside and a thin man with iron cuffs jogged forward.
Gargle dismounted. “It’s on you if this is a bad decision.”
“I’m always the one you blame.” Sharply scooped up the neck of a broken bottle, drew his arm back and made a mighty throw at the pig’s backside. It hit with a thunk and the pig gave a squeal. People standing at the mouth of the alleyway fell back as the pig pelted straight for Aunia and the red-cloaked man.
“Doxy-churl,” the guardsmen swore. He staggered back, pulling Aunia with him out of the way but Aunia yanked with everything she had in the other direction. The man’s fingers slid over her upper arm painfully. There was the sharp rip of fabric. And then she was free.
Aunia ran.
TF Burke currently works with NYT David Farland’s Apex-Writers as an admin and marketing specialist, where she schedules industry leaders for weekly multi-Zoom calls, provides content for social posts, and hosts several writer-focused Zooms.
Her published works includes hundreds of newspaper articles, blog posts across various platforms, anthologies, including MURDERBUGS, the second volume of the Unhelpful Encyclopediam a collection of short stories in WHIRL OF THE FAE, and the first book of the Heart of the Worlds Series, FAERIES DON’T LIE.
When not writing or wearing other hats, she can be found with a sword and a dagger in her hands for medieval-style fencing tournaments and melees, something she’s been doing since 2010.
