Romance Novel Giveaways

Lunar Seductions: A Limited-Edition Collection of Paranormal and Fantasy Romance Stories 💕 Release Blitz and $10 Giveaway 💕

2026-10-09T14:24:08.768-04:00

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When the moon rises, desire follows.

When the moon rises, desire follows.

Some lovers are chosen.

Some are destined.

And some are the kind you should run from, but where would be the fun in that?

Lunar Seductions brings together nine steamy tales of supernatural desire, dangerous attraction, and romance that refuses to play by mortal rules.

Lose yourself among shifters, monsters, psychics, goddesses, and other creatures of the night. Meet lovers bound by fate, trapped by circumstance, divided by old grudges, or drawn together despite every reason to stay apart.

There are secrets to uncover, enemies to tempt, boundaries to cross, and more than a few teeth and claws waiting in the dark.

Give in to temptation.

The moon won't tell.

Including stories by:

Stephanie Morris - USA Today bestselling author

Charmaine Louise Shelton

Nadine D. Price

Danika LaRue

Kiera Rose

Peyton Lawson

Celia Breslin

Ravyn Wilde

Ryan L Reeve

Diamond Moon Rising

by Celia Breslin

(included in Lunar Seductions anthology)

Her wolf wants him. Her human side wants out.

After her last shift nearly kills her, human-wolf hybrid Darci has had enough—it’s time to stop shifting once and for all. Armed with a cryptic note from her dead shifter dad, she sets out in search of his mythical hometown in the wilds of Rogue Valley, Oregon, hoping Dad is right, and the shifters there might help.

As a dominant beta and pack protector, Ross is never taken by surprise…until a half-wolf half-human pixie with the biggest green eyes he’s ever seen lands on his doorstep. It’s rare for strangers to venture into their world—rarer still for a fated mate to literally fall into your arms. But she did, and he recognizes her immediately as his one and only.

Darci isn’t sure about the whole mate business. She just wants a normal human life, free from shifting. Ross won’t give up on her wolf and tries to help her accept her true nature and their mate bond. But the Full Moon is three days away, threatening Darci with a potentially deadly shift, and certain pack members would rather kill a human than help one. Darci might not survive long enough to trust Ross with her heart.

from Diamond Moon Rising by Celia Breslin

A thump from outside on his deck, heavier than the staccato taps of the hail, halted him in his foyer. More offbeat thuds sounded near the front door.

Company in this weather?

No one would venture up his private road uninvited…

He stalked to his door and released a bit of power in warning. If they were a shifter, they would likely take the hint. And if they didn’t… Well, he was a dominant wolf, a Beta, and one of the alpha’s enforcers.

They don’t stand a chance.

The feedback froze his fingers on the doorknob.

Female.

He inhaled. Damn, she smells good.

Human. Wolf.

Wait…both?

The copper tang of blood hit his nose. She’s injured.

He flung open the door and caught his visitor off guard, one small, white fist raised to knock. The woman startled then fell forward. Ross caught her in his arms then pulled her inside, kicking the door shut with one booted foot.

The petite female sagged against him, a shivering bundle of sopping wet woman. Underneath the dampness, her scent drop-kicked his gut.

Fresh and sweet, like apples dipped in cinnamon and honey.

His body perked up, taking extreme notice. A growl of possession threatened to tear out of his throat, and an ancient, primal energy stirred to life inside him, accelerating his pulse.

Holy hell, she’s my potential mate.

The scent of her blood spurred him into action. He lowered her gently to the floor. “Are you okay?”

His instincts urged him to check her for wounds everywhere, but he was a stranger and didn’t want to spook her. But goddamn, he wanted to touch her. Peel off her wet clothes. To see all of her and warm her with his body.

With a jacket covering her torso, baggy jeans hiding her legs, and a ball cap pulled low over her face, all he could see so far was her quivering pale chin, full red lips, and delicate, trembling fingers peeking out from her coat sleeves.

“S-s-sorry, d-dripping all ov-v-ver your f-f-floor,” she said, her teeth chattering.

Her snow-white fingers curled into fists, her arms trembling with the effort to keep herself upright. Blood droplets dotted the floor plank near her hip.

To hell with propriety. “You’re injured. Let me help you.” He pulled up her cap and damn near swallowed his tongue.

Big green eyes blinked up at him from a face so pale it made him think of moonlight. Drenched, short black hair lay plastered to her head, the ends framing features reminiscent of the fairies his sister loved to draw.

Ethereal beauty. Want her to be my beauty.

She flinched and batted his hand away. “Stop,” she rasped before listing to her side, her body trembling.

With the cold or fear?

He desperately didn’t want her to be afraid. “Sorry. Please, let me help you. I’m Ross. You’re safe here. I promise.”

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Celia Breslin lives in San Francisco, California, USA, with her family, including three feisty felines who like to stalk across her keyboard while she’s hard at work crafting urban fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal romances. When not glued to her laptop, Celia likes to work out, read books (of course!), hang with her family, and binge-watch sci-fi and fantasy TV shows and movies. Matcha lattes keep her fueled for All The Life Stuff!

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Nicolette Durand leaves the city behind for a quaint town in the California wine country—a choice that has nothing to do with men. Intent on converting the antique store she inherited, Nicky doesn’t care how many dating edicts the cupids send her, she’s simply too busy…until a hunk of surly angel crashes into her life. Literally.

Ezekiel is less than delighted when the Almighty assigns him and his team to Earth with instructions to help the cupids. Now Heaven’s top soldiers are running two businesses where speed dating events are a part of their mission. But Zeke might have to rethink his grumpy position after he meets the kind and curvy biz owner next door.

Nicky is sure she doesn’t have time for a relationship, not even with the gorgeous hunk of Heaven who rocks her world, but Zeke seems determined to convince her otherwise. Too bad thousands of Hell’s servants intent on destruction stand in their way…

A Warrior’s Kiss is a steamy Opposites Attract/Lovers From Different Worlds fantasy romance intended for an adult (18+) audience. For fans of snark, otherworldly hijinks, and sizzling romance!

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When Harry Met Charlie by Donna Costa 💕 New Releaes Tour and $50 Giveaway 💕 (M/M Romantic Comedy)

2026-10-09T13:57:38.490-04:00

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Can two men who clash over everything ever agree on love?

Harry is a number-cruncher. Charlie is a people-person. One is bubbly and optimistic, the other serious and pessimistic. With an endless stream of verbal sparring and heated debates filling the car on their road trip from Vancouver to Toronto, they arrive at the conclusion they are complete opposites and go their separate ways.

When they meet years later – older, wiser, and love-worn – will their sparring become a prelude to romance? An exciting turn on? Will they be there for each other when it’s needed most?

Boys’ Love + Nora Ephron Fan Fiction = When Harry Met Charlie

“Fun, funny and wonderfully delightful! Reminds you of experiencing your first crush – I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!” – Leeanne Whitehouse, Pure Country Morning Host

It’s 1977. Harry Burns has just graduated from law school on the West Coast and is standing at the window of his third-story dorm watching for the arrival of his ride to Toronto. He crosses his arms and drums his fingers impatiently.

Behind him, Harry’s friend and dorm mate Rufus is vigorously kissing his girlfriend, Sally. They’re sighing and murmuring to each other. Oh, I’m going to miss you so much. I love you. Will we ever see each other again? Kiss me again. Harry rolls his eyes.

Out the window, Harry spots a VW Beetle pulling up to the curb across the campus green. Rays from the rising sun glint off the car roof. He pushes his glasses up his nose and shouts, “Ride’s here, Rufus.”

Harry slings his backpack over one shoulder and wedges a heavy box of textbooks under his arm, then grabs his suitcase with his other hand. Why couldn’t someone invent luggage with wheels? Struggling to carry all his gear, Harry loses patience with the couple’s sloppy sweet-nothings and shoves Rufus’ arm none too gently, dislodging him from the embrace. “C’mon. Let’s go!”

“Bye, sweet-ums!” Rufus gives Sally one last smooch. “I’ll call as soon as I get there.” He stares longingly into her eyes and blows her a kiss, then snatches up his duffel and follows Harry down the stairs.

Harry stops as they reach the VW, taking in the vomit-green color, which reminds him of the nauseating flight he took from Toronto when he moved west to start university. He’s in no hurry to repeat that experience. A two-day nonstop road trip is the lesser of two evils.

He eyes the car’s thick rust and immediately wonders if the car will make it all the way across the country. With two unknowns—the driver he’s never met and the state of the car—his anxiety increases. Why hadn’t he been more prepared, done more research? Am I going to regret this?

A young man gets out of the VW, and Rufus, the common denominator, makes the introductions.

“Charlie, this is Harry, my roommate here in Vancouver and my pal growing up in small-town Ontario. Harry, meet Charlie, my friend from karaoke. That’s where Charlie told me he was headed to Toronto, like you, and why I suggested you ride together.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it isn’t this. Shouldn’t a future flight attendant be clean-cut and well groomed? Instead, Charlie has the appearance of a furry teddy bear. Even his forearms, visible below the short sleeves of his Oscar Wilde T-shirt, are bushy. His faded bellbottoms are a little too tight. Is that the start of a pot belly? Don’t flight attendants have weight restrictions? He extends his hand to Charlie for a handshake.

As Charlie settles behind the wheel of the Beetle, Harry places his suitcase and textbooks on the back floor behind the passenger seat. A Coleman thermos and small picnic cooler already take up the floor space on the driver’s side. Harry folds his long frame onto the rear seat beside Charlie’s nineteen-inch Electrohome TV, complete with rabbit ears. The only place for his feet is atop the box of his books. He squeezes his knees together and holds his backpack on his lap. It’s only a short drive to the airport. I can manage.

Rufus jumps into the front passenger seat. The bud vase on the dash holding a single daisy catches his attention, and he flashes a peace sign at Charlie. “Cool!”

“I knew you’d like it,” Charlie says, beaming a hundred-watt smile. He grabs an imaginary microphone. “Good morning, ladies, ahem, gentlemen. Welcome aboard Flight 2B with service from Vancouver to Toronto, with a short layover at the airport. We expect to be on the road for approximately forty-eight hours. Please fasten your seatbelts and stow your baggage. Please note there are two exits.” Charlie points at the car doors, then adds, “Thank you for choosing Charlie’s VW Air.”

Harry rolls his eyes and wonders if he’ll have to put up with aviation demonstrations every time Charlie takes the wheel.

Maybe flying would have been a better option?

Too late now.

Donna Costa draws on her love of romance, both novels and movies, plus her years in the aviation industry for When Harry Met Charlie. She writes in a variety of genres including YA, memoir, romance, and historical fiction. She lives in London, Ontario.

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Loving Her Enemy by Sharon C. Cooper 💕 Book Tour and $15 Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Billionaire Fake Dating Romance)

2026-10-07T14:27:58.094-04:00

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Falling in love was never part of the deal.

A billionaire businessman. A heartbroken, unemployed chemist. A marriage agreement that can benefit them both.

Billionaire businessman Sloane Davidson needs a wife—fast. And although Halayna Tanaka is ten years younger than him, and an enticing temptation he managed to resist years ago, she's perfect for the role. But she thinks he's some gold-plated scumbag and wants nothing to do with him.

After a devastating string of bad luck, Halayna is struggling to stay afloat in a world that keeps knocking her down. So when Sloane, her best friend’s brother, offers a marriage of convenience as a solution to both their problems, she’s tempted. The thing is she can't stand him. He may be the sexiest man on the planet, but he’s also arrogant, infuriating, and overbearing. She shouldn’t want him. Shouldn’t even give him the time of day. Yet, her body ignites with desire whenever he’s around.

Is selling out to a billionaire worth it? Especially if he tempts her beyond her control. Or is this marriage of convenience the path to the love she always dreamed of?

Ohmigod. Ohmigod. Ohmigod.

Running as if her ass was on fire, Halayna took the steps two at a time and burst into her bedroom suite, slamming the door behind her. Struggling to get air into her lungs, she paced the length of the room a couple of times before collapsing face first onto the king size bed.

What the heck had just happened?

One minute, she and Sloane were talking, laughing, and eating, and in the next minute, they were hugged up together kissing.

“Oh my God!” Halayna groaned into the mattress as the full weight of what they’d done hit her. He was her best friend’s brother. A man who was so far out of her league, it was laughable. Yet, he had kissed her, and it hadn’t been just any kiss, but a kiss that had her questioning her sanity.

Sloane kissed me… and I liked it… a lot.

Oh man, she more than liked it. She wanted a repeat. A repeat of his full, demanding mouth taking what he wanted from her. A repeat of the way he held her close to his big, hard, muscular body, and she wanted a repeat of how good it felt being held in his strong, unyielding arms.

For those few minutes, with their tongues tangling, all Halayna’s thoughts and worries had fallen away, and in their place had been a peace she hadn’t felt in months or maybe even years. Sloane had somehow made her feel more cherished than she’d ever felt by a man. Which was saying a lot since she’d been engaged to be married and supposedly crazy in love with Owen.

She snorted at the thought. Talk about her picker being off when it came to choosing men. It was a good thing her relationship with Owen had imploded. Marrying him would’ve been a huge mistake because kissing and being with him had felt nothing like what she had just experienced.

Kissing Sloane had felt like a dream. Like something straight out of a sexy fairy tale, an X-rated fairy tale. But this wasn’t a fantasy. His kiss and the way he’d held her had been very real. She still felt his lips covering hers and the taste of him lingered on her tongue.

How was that possible when it had been just one kiss? One soul-stirring, passionate kiss.

It was clear she and Owen hadn’t had a strong connection. Not like what she had felt a short while ago with Sloane, and that realization had her shook. She almost married a man she was sure she’d been in love with. Yet, she never felt the intense desire and passion swirling inside of her. Never felt that I-can’t-live-without-you vibe.

How was that even possible?

Halayna flipped onto her back, and as her heart rate slowly went back to normal, she stared at the ceiling, her mind reeling at these new realizations. The most shocking one was Sloane wanting her to agree to a marriage of convenience… with him.

She shook her head. Sloane Davidson, the wealthiest man she’d ever known, had asked her to marry him. He wanted her to be his fake wife. No, not fake. Just convenient. Wait. Not convenient. He wanted a marriage of convenience. But what the hell did that even mean?

USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper loves anything involving romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and dabbles in romantic comedy. She enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sharon’s stories have won numerous awards over the years, and when she isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

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Angelica Under Glass by C L Roman 💕 Behind the Scenes, Newsletter Freebie, Book Tour and Signed Book Giveaway 💕 (Fantasy Cozy Mystery)

2026-10-06T00:07:00.000-04:00

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Lena is going to need more than potions to untangle this one...

When the main sponsor of a regional potions competition is found dead in her hotel suite, the evidence is almost too neat: a rare allergy, a suspicious vial, and Lena Knox’s best friend standing over the body.

Faye didn’t do it. But someone went to a lot of trouble to make it look like she did.

Lena – green witch and reluctant amateur sleuth – isn’t about to let her best friend take the fall. Not when the killer is still in the hotel, the suspect list includes half the potions industry, and the motive turns out to be tangled up in a family secret Faye didn’t even know she had.

With her familiar, Thorn, offering opinions she didn’t ask for, and her ex-boyfriend inconveniently working the case, Lena is going to need more than potions to untangle this one.

When I started writing this series, I wasn’t sure of anything. I’d never written a mystery before, let alone one involving magical plants. But I’d already built the Hawthorne world for Charlotte Knox (Lena’s older sister). So that made it feel slightly less daunting.

Then there was the whole green witch thing. When Lena started asking for her own series, I protested. I am not a gardener. Ask my husband. The closest I’ve ever come to herbology is my tea cabinet. I won’t say I have a black thumb, but it is true that I’m unlikely to keep a single mint plant alive, let alone an entire herbarium as Lena does. I admire people who can grow their own herbs. People who can turn those herbs into healing tinctures and salves absolutely amaze me.

During the research phase, I learned an even greater appreciation for those who understand plants and their uses, both magical, medicinal, and mundane. Discovering that some plants have evil twins (see Hemlock and Lace) that are actually poisonous was a fascinating trip into herbology.

I also enjoyed the gentler (albeit still murderous on occasion) world of the cozy. Charlotte Knox is a heroine who tends to kick ass first and ask questions later, maybe. Lena Knox is a different sort of heroine. She wants to solve the mystery just as much, but chooses the more subtle path of clues and magic to achieve her results. Not that she can’t throw a punch when pressed, but she usually finds other methods that are equally successful and not as violent.

All in all, this has been a wonderful adventure. I already have at least two more books planned for the series, and I’m pretty sure Thorn has his own ideas that he will share with me in due time. Meanwhile, I think a cup of peppermint tea is in order. It always perks up the brain cells.

"Before you go, I wanted to ask a favor." Zel held up a pair of small, glass globes clouded with purple and black swirls of color. "This is an item I'm considering carrying, but I want to test it out first."

"What is it?" I asked as I accepted the sample and held it up to the light. The way the color clung to the interior intrigued me. It moved slowly, almost deliberately, around the inside. I shivered lightly. I could have sworn it was looking for a way out.

"It's a self-defense orb. Smash it in front of an attacker, and it is supposed to incapacitate them."

I stiffened. "Incapacitate? It isn't lethal, is it?" The idea of carrying something dangerous made me nervous.

"No, no, just—" She frowned. "Actually, I'm not sure how it does it, but I trust the maker. She said it 'neutralizes them without direct harm,' whatever that means. I'll call and get clarification. Could you give this one to Faye for testing? I don't want you to have to use it, of course, but I want to know how well it holds up to being carried about."

Tucking the orb into my backpack, I hefted the box of vials. Behind me, the bell chimed again, and as I turned, my stomach clenched. It was Marcus.

C.L. Roman (aka Cheri) writes fantasy across multiple subgenres — this cozy paranormal mystery marks her first foray into crime-solving witches. She lives in Northeast Florida with her ever-patient husband and their spirited mini-menagerie: Jack E. Boy, the super Chihuahua; Bennie the Jet; Pyewacket (Pye), the frequently invisible cat and possible space alien; and Lilly, all grown up now and every bit as imperious as she always intended to be. Find Cheri online at clroman.com and on Facebook under C.L.’s Novel Bunch.

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Start a new paranormal mystery series featuring green witch Lena Knox and her enigmatic Maine Coon familiar.

Lena Knox thought the worst part of her week was running into the man who broke her heart.

She was wrong.

When a murder accusation pulls her into Hawthorne’s hidden magical world, Lena finds herself caught between suspicious law enforcement, a town on edge, and a supernatural threat hiding in plain sight.

With her reputation on the line and her freedom at stake, Lena must rely on her training, her instincts, and an unexpectedly opinionated Maine Coon who seems to know far more than he should.

Because in Hawthorne, nothing is ever quite what it seems.

And this time, the truth may be lethal.

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Dreidels and Dead Ends by Nancy J. Cohen 💕 Guest Post, Book Tour, FREE eBook, Newsletter Freebie and Prize Pack (Holiday Cozy Mystery)

2026-10-04T00:07:00.000-04:00

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Suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job...

A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet.

When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard.

Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case.

Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside.

Antiques vs Antiquities

By Nancy J. Cohen

Do you know the difference between antiques and antiquities? Which one would you go after if you were a treasure hunter?

In Dreidels and Dead Ends, my latest Bad Hair Day mystery, hairstylist Marla Vail is helping her friend Becky—curator at the local history museum—to recover a stolen antique hairbrush. Having belonged to a Florida sugar producer’s family in the 1800s, this heirloom piece is rumored to be cursed. It was originally part of a three-piece set including a comb and mirror, but those other items have been lost through time. This hairbrush would be considered an antique, not an antiquity.

I wasn’t clear on the difference, so I learned the definitions along with Marla.

Antiques refer to items that are at least one hundred years old. These objects can be works of art, jewelry, furniture, household goods and even books. They’re valued for their craftsmanship, since they were created before items were mass-produced.

Is this the same thing as Vintage?

No. Vintage refers to items from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Fashions and accessories from that era are popular because many were handmade or one-of-a-kind. Comic books may also be considered vintage if they date back that far.

Then there’s the Retro era, which covers the 1960s through the 1990s, although an earlier style might be imitated and called Retro, like a 50s-style diner or an old-fashioned soda fountain. Kitchen accessories in Retro style are also popular. Remember CorningWare casserole dishes with the blue cornflower design? I still have a set of these useful, covered dishes in my cabinets.

What are Antiquities?

Antiquities go much farther back to ancient civilizations. They can be thousands of years old and provide insights into the daily lives, beliefs, and artistic expressions of ancient peoples. This history connects us to the past and can help to shape the future if we listen. Because these objects help humanity preserve our stories and cultures, they hold vast archaeological value.

Provenance tells us where an item originated, who owned it, and how it passed from hand to hand over time. Knowing an object’s provenance gives it more value and verifies its authenticity.

In Dreidels and Dead Ends, Marla suspects a local antiquities collector might be involved in the theft from the museum. It’s possible his interest in the antique hairbrush comes more from its alleged curse than from the diamonds embedded in its sterling silver back. Norman Falconi collects items with mystical powers allegedly to protect the public from harm, or at least that’s his excuse for dabbling in the black antiquities market.

Then again, a clever jewel thief might have stolen the hairbrush for the gemstones alone.

Or, there’s one other possibility that doesn’t escape Marla’s notice. Becky’s job as museum curator is on the line if the hairbrush remains missing. Could it be a rival at work who is at fault, or someone else who is targeting her for a specific purpose?

Meanwhile, bad things start happening around town and especially to Becky. Whatever the reason behind the crime, Marla promises to find the hairbrush before its curse spreads to everyone involved, and the mayor decides to permanently close the museum.

Dreidels and Dead Ends is book #19 in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries. Since the story takes place around the holidays, Marla must juggle her busy life with solving a crime, planning holiday meals, gift shopping for her interfaith family, and seeing clients at her salon.

No worries if you haven’t read this series before. All titles are written as standalones so you can jump in at any time.

What You’ll Get

Museum Heist
Cursed Artifact
Stolen Heirloom
Holiday Traditions
Small-Town Setting
Shady Suspects
Heartwarming Family Scenes

Do you enjoy visiting history museums, historic houses, or living history villages? Which is your favorite?

DREIDELS AND DEAD ENDS

A cursed family heirloom, a murder at a museum, and eight nights to solve the crime...

When hairstylist Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded antique hairbrush. Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor slashes their funding.

As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues. But with Becky’s job at stake and secrets piling up faster than wrapped presents, she takes on the case. To make matters worse, the missing heirloom comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. Marla will need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside.

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About the Author

Nancy J. Cohen is the author of over thirty published works, including the Bad Hair Day Mysteries and the Keri Armstrong cozy mystery series. These books have won numerous awards, along with her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy has served as president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter and vice president of Citrus Crime Writers. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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She rounded a corner to note Sierra vanishing into the restroom. Marla followed her inside, realizing she could use a bathroom break herself.

However, Sierra wasn’t in a stall when Marla entered. The redhead stood by a sink, washing her hands. No, she was scrubbing them like Lady Macbeth wiping imaginary blood off her skin.

“Hey, Sierra. Are you okay?” Marla asked with a friendly smile.

Sierra cast her a surprised glance, then her eyes narrowed. “I’m fine, except for you being here. With my social media presence, they should have asked me to give that keynote speech. I could have come up with some beauty tips and filmed the session for my podcast.”

Of course you would only think of yourself. “People wanted a history lesson, not a class on beauty hacks,” Marla managed to say in an even tone.

“Oh, yeah? And what are your credentials in the field?”

“I’ve had an article published on the subject, plus I work with hairbrushes every day. And I’m friends with the curator, she thought but didn’t say aloud. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Did you come with the handsome man in a tux that I saw you with earlier?”

“That’s none of your business.” Sierra dried her hands with a paper towel and tossed it in the trash.

“He’s impressive, whoever he is.” When Sierra didn’t respond and merely glared at her, she tried another tack. “It’s terrible that the guard was hurt. I hope he’ll recover without any residual damage. Imagine the chances of standing right under the chandelier at the wrong time.”

“People are saying the curse struck again,” Sierra remarked, lifting her penciled brows.

“I don’t believe there’s anything supernatural involved. Joel’s accident put him conveniently out of commission so somebody could steal the hairbrush.”

“I’ll bet you want to investigate,” Sierra said with a sneer. “I know how you like to meddle, but it wouldn’t be wise for you to get involved.”

Is that a warning? Marla’s instincts flared. Since she’d been solving cases with Dalton, she’d become suspicious of implied threats.

“Why is that?” she asked, with a glance at the Kate Spade bag on Sierra’s shoulder. It was large enough to hold swag that she gave out to fans, like samples from the companies she endorsed online. Or perhaps a stolen artifact?

Sierra gave her a smirk. “The curse may affect you next. Maybe I should be glad no one asked me to speak.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t believe in evil spells. And even if I did, once the hairbrush is restored to its rightful owner, nobody will have to worry about a mythical curse.”

Sierra swept a tendril of red hair off her face. “If I were you, I’d leave the investigation to the cops. I’d think you have enough on your plate without interfering in other people’s affairs.” She gave a pointed glance at Marla’s belly, then whipped around and left.

Marla frowned as she watched Sierra depart. She couldn’t fathom what the woman might know, and yet she felt certain Sierra hadn’t been scrubbing her hands for fear of germs.

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Hairstylist Marla Shore untangles a knot of secrets when she’s suspected of poisoning her client’s coffee creamer in this debut case.

Hairstylist Marla Shore is giving grumpy Mrs. Kravitz a perm when her client dies in the shampoo chair. If that isn’t enough to give her a bad hair day, handsome Detective Vail suspects Marla of poisoning the woman’s coffee creamer. With her reputation at stake, she decides it's up to her to unmask the killer.

While combing Bertha Kravitz’s privileged world for clues, Marla uncovers a tangled web of suspects. There's the resentful son excluded from his mother's will, a shady business partner, and a niece who inherits a substantial fortune. But Marla might have to look closer to home, especially when her janitor vanishes without a trace and she discovers one of her stylists is living a lavish lifestyle.

With the detective tightening the net, Marla races to decipher the clues before her own secrets are exposed. If she doesn't solve this case fast, he’ll pin her with a motive and lock her away in a place where bad hair days will become permanent.

“Marla the beautician is a delight!”—Tamar Myers, author of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries

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Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the RONE Award, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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Horny Holidays: The Halloween Edition by Kiki Wellington 💕 Spotlight and EXCLUSIVE $10 Gift Card Giveaway 💕 (Halloween Erotica)

2026-10-02T06:35:45.700-04:00

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Their sexual tricks lead to hot Halloween treats.

These ladies love October 31, and when they go out on the prowl for some horny holiday fun, their sexual tricks lead to hot, Halloween treats.

This collection contains the following erotic stories:

As a long-time hotel worker, Jennifer is no stranger to sexual encounters on the job. But when she hooks up with an executive at a confectioners’ conference during Halloween weekend, she finds that hotel lust is not just hot—it’s sweet.

From the Author:
ADULTS ONLY PLEASE. Strangers With Candy is a 9,400 word story that contains sexually explicit material and adult language. This story is not appropriate for children and may be offensive to some readers.

Warning: Strangers With Candy contains rooftop rendezvous, elevator exhibitionism and sweet, one-night delights.

As the elevator flung open, Phillip grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the sliding doors. He led me down the hall to his office, where I coyly stalled at the door, pretending I didn't know what we were doing there.

"Did we move the meeting location, Phillip?" I asked him.

"No, Jennifer," he said as he pulled me inside and locked the door behind us. "I'm calling a quick meeting right now. Just the two of us."

Before I could even tell him I was game for it, he started unbuttoning my blouse, exposing my hard nipples that were still poking through the thin fabric of my bra. He grabbed my tits and squeezed them in the palms of his hands, working my nipples with his thumbs. He pushed me up against the nearest wall and took one of my nipples in his hot, ravenous mouth, resting his teeth on it. He reached his hand up under my skirt and grabbed my pussy through my panties, which were already drenched from watching the elevator sex show. As he insatiably devoured my nipples, he hiked my skirt up to my belly, and moved my panties just enough to stick one of his fingers inside me.

"I see you liked that couple as much as I did," he muttered as he plunged two more fingers into my wetness.

"I did," I whispered, closing my eyes and enjoying him ravaging my hot spots. "I didn't really think you noticed."

"You couldn't see how hard I was in the meeting? I know you were looking down there."

"Bad lighting," I moaned, swiveling my hips back and forth between the wall and Phillip's hand.

Phillip yanked his fingers out of my hole, and directed me to his desk. His drenched hand swiped a stack of paperwork onto the floor as he pushed my back against the mahogany wood. He got on his knees in front of me, spread my legs, and spent a moment admiring my fuckable folds.

"Did you see them?" he asked me. "Did you see him sucking on her pussy like that?"

"Yeah," I panted.

"Good," he said. "Because I'm about to do the same thing to you."

Cynthia met her husband during a drunken Halloween hook up—and she's been in love with the holiday ever since. She's always found ways to spice up her marriage on October 31, but when masks are added to the sexual equation, her desires soar to a new level of chills and thrills.

Warning: Masquerade (12,200 words) contains frat party fumblings, self-served oral, shower nozzle nookie, and furry bathroom fantasies.

He started staring at me: The look on his face was a weird mixture of arousal and angst. It finally dawned on me that Robert was getting jealous and the experience wasn't at all what he thought it would be.

But still, he nodded, letting me know he wanted me to enjoy myself—even if he wasn't.

"It's okay," he mouthed at me.

I closed my eyes, feeling Mark's cock pushing in and out of me, deeper and deeper with every thrust. His hands rested on my stomach, and then traveled up to my bouncing tits. He squeezed them and pushed his hips upward into my crotch. I started to feel the damp sweat that covered his legs. The room smelled like sex, sex, and more sex. I heard slapping bodies next to me, and Maggie screaming in ecstasy. Robert let out a moan—though not quite the moan I've gotten to know so well in our years together—alerting the entire room that he had just come inside of a strange woman's cunt.

Maggie collapsed on the bed and rolled around onto her back. Robert sat down next to her, zipped up his pants, and continued watching us. All eyes seemed to be on us. I wildly bounced up and down on Mark's long shaft, wanting to give everyone a good show. He grabbed my tits tightly, squeezing them as if he was inspecting melons at the supermarket. Then he pulled his torso upward, which made his cock fill me up even more. I felt his hot breath against my face, and as he started nibbling on my neck, he reached around to push my cunt down against his throbbing dick. I felt his stubble against my face, and he wrestled his head toward my mouth. Mark kissed me deeply and it felt like he was trying to put out a fire inside my cheeks. Our tongues fought in our mouths, and I enjoyed the taste of him and the drinks he had. I glanced over at Robert staring at us and rubbing his cock through his pants, which turned me on even more. I moaned inside of Mark's mouth, as one last thrust did me in and sent me over the edge. I shook and shuddered in his arms, and the pleasure cut through me like a lightning bolt.

Although I’ve been writing fiction since I was a teenager, I fell into writing erotica because, like many people in this space, I saw the surge of indie erotica after Fifty Shades of Grey was published. I thought I would give it a shot and the result was my first story, Supernatural Seductions.

The fact that my first toe dip into the erotica pool was a paranormal story is no coincidence: I have been both fascinated wholly and frightened witless by the otherworldly since I was dragged to see the original Amityville Horror in the movie theater as a child. Horror movies and novels became my primary go-to entertainment source for many years, and although they made for many sleepless nights, I couldn’t stay away from them.

I also can’t resist a strange story. Or a story with a twist. (I have The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents to thank for that.) I know that some of my stories can be downright weird…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Much like life, the path I take from Point A to Point B is not always a straight line and orgasms are often part of the journey my characters take, not always merely the destination.

I see myself as a literary flesh peddler—that is, like a talent scout, I get the characters together and let them perform. They present themselves to me, tell me who they are and what they want to do, and I give them the stage to do it on. Naked, of course. Some characters are bold and brazen and tell me exactly how they want to navigate the story, while others are more quiet and reserved, causing me to give them stricter direction in their scenes. In the end, I hope this all results in a fun and sexy story that turns you on as it takes turns you may not have expected—but leaves you satisfied on multiple levels nonetheless.

When I’m not writing my quirky erotica, I’m being quirky over on Medium, where I write erotic poetry, sex and relationship tips, flash fiction, and summaries of sex research. This is a great complement to my erotic stories because it allows me to explore sex and relationships in a different way—and hopefully help readers laugh, learn, think, get horny, and find information they can use in their own relationships and sex lives.

I love this strange little corner that I’ve created for myself and whether you read my fiction or my work on Medium, I hope you enjoy it too. I am tremendously thankful for each and every one of my readers because you are giving me your most valuable asset—your time. You could be doing anything in the world right now, but instead you’re spending this moment with me, and for that, I appreciate you.

With gratitude and mind-blowing orgasms,

Kiki Wellington

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Murder on Mulberry Lane by Lori Soard 💕 Behind the Scenes, Newsletter Freebie, Book Tour and Signed Book Prize Pack Giveaway 💕 (Cozy Mystery)

2026-10-01T00:07:00.000-04:00

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Mildred Wiggins isn’t nosy․

She just… pays attention․

Small town. Big secrets. One woman who refuses to mind her own business.

Mildred Wiggins isn’t nosy․

She just… pays attention․

It’s been fifty years since Mildred moved to the small Indiana town of Maple Hollow․ She knows her neighbors by name‚ their habits‚ and when something isn’t right․ The man living near her on Mulberry Lane has been setting off every alarm she has․

He’s rude․ Secretive․ Always in trouble with someone. When he’s found dead at the bottom of his porch steps‚ most of the neighbors are not surprised․

The police deem it an accident․

Mildred calls it suspicious․

Armed with her surprising powers of observation‚ her keen sense of justice‚ and her exceedingly opinionated rooster‚ Sir Alphonse Beauregard Clucksworth III‚ Mildred sets out to solve the case․ Because in a town like Maple Hollow, everyone knows everyone… which means anyone could be hiding something.

The deeper Mildred digs‚ the more she believes his death was not an accident․

It was murder․

But it will take more than curiosity to prove it. Will Mildred be the only one brave enough to ask the questions no one else dares?

After all, in Maple Hollow‚ secrets don’t disappear․

They wait․

Why I Chose a Woman in Her 50s to Solve the Mystery,

Is There Any Romance for a Middle-Aged Heroine?

and A Fresh Take on Beginnings

Why I Chose a Woman in Her 50s to Solve the Mystery

I wrote sweet romances and cozy mysteries. A lot of my romance heroines are in their 20s or 30s. When I decided to write a new mystery series (Mildred insisted I write her stories), I knew I wanted a different type of main character. Mildred is older, wiser and more determined than some of my other characters.

I’m a woman in her 50s, so I am well aware of the ways in which women my age have decades of friendships, grudges, wedded bliss and experience to draw upon. In fact, Mildred being 52 seems like the only way for her to know how to get to the bottom of a mystery.

Mildred is savvy. She’s seen it all, heard even more and has a no-nonsense approach that I envy. Mildred is who I’d be if I wasn’t scared to be rude.

Is There Any Romance for a Middle-Aged Heroine?

I’m a romance writer first, with over 20 books in the genre. However, Murder on Mulberry Lane is a mystery. Mildred is already married. She and Harry are one of those couples who know how much cream and sugar each takes in their coffee.

Even though there’s a handsome sheriff in the story, Mildred isn’t interested in a kid she used to babysit. She has her person and is quite content, even when she drives Harry a little crazy.

I’ve been married for 36 years. There’s a familiarity that comes with knowing each other for that many years that I wanted Mildred to have. By giving her a supportive husband, I am able to focus her attention on the mystery at hand.

Harry also serves as a bit of comic relief at times. He’s exasperated with her tactics, but he also knows she gets things done.

After all, 50 isn’t where a woman’s story ends. For many of us, it’s just beginning. Focusing too much on romance for an older heroine seemed counterintuitive to me.

A Fresh Take on Beginnings

There's something else I love about writing Mildred at this age. She's entering a new season of her life. I truly believe we’re never too old to embrace a new adventure and Mildred does just that by inserting herself into any investigation that comes along in her small town.

I want this series to highlight how 52 is just the beginning. The adventure doesn’t stop because we have a few more gray hairs, extra wrinkles, and typical aches and pains. It’s only when you stop having adventures that you grow old. 50-something women still make new friends, travel to new places, take classes, reconnect with old hobbies and embrace the unexpected. They even stick their nose where it doesn’t belong and solve mysteries sometimes.

And if we're Mildred Wiggins, we might just solve a murder while we're at it. Fifty-two isn’t the end of a woman’s story. It’s the beginning of something. Who knows, you might just find a mystery to solve like Mildred. For Mildred, it's where the mystery begins.

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Lori Soard has a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, but she’s hardly the stuffy professor type. She loves nothing better than a good romantic comedy and thinks the good guy should always win, and the ending should always be happy.

From an early age, Lori started honing her storytelling skills. As a kid, she was rarely seen without a book in her hand, even walking and reading at the same time. Her first stories were about the world around her. At twenty she wrote her first novel, which she admits was horrible. At twenty-one, she sold her first article to a local newspaper. Once she got that taste of having others read her work and realizing that she could reach others and touch their hearts, there was no turning back for this natural-born writer.

“If I can make someone’s day just a tiny bit better,” Lori says, “if I can make them smile even though they are sad, make them think things could be better, make them understand how much God loves them, then I have accomplished something. I write my stories, articles, and books with that one person in mind who really needs the message. If I can change one person’s perspective, then I’ve succeeded.”

Lori is a lifelong Hoosier and lives in southern Indiana with her high school sweetheart turned husband. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She always has her critters surrounding her, including a couple of miniature dachshunds and several rescue cats. “During the extreme low points in life, it has been my animals that have seen me through. There is nothing like the deep devotion of a dog or the unconditional love of a cat.” Lori adores animals, and while some of her dear friends have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, she will always stand by her belief that animals make the world a better place.

She loves to hear from her readers and blogs regularly.

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Ben Cramer is used to his meddling sisters always intervening on his behalf, but when it comes to his love life, or lack thereof, he’s simply not interested in their advice. But like their younger brother, they’re not so easily dissuaded. They’re determined to find him a bride, no matter how long it takes. Emily Pierce knows, in order to have a family of her own someday, she must open her heart to love, but she can’t see past the pain and heartache of her last relationship. With her fate seemingly predetermined for her, she’s resolved herself to a life devoid of love…until she meets the man who makes heart sing. Although neither was looking for love, will they go where their hearts lead them or will they allow fear to get in between them and ruin the possibility of happily ever after?

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One of Our Darcies is Dead by Grace Caldwell 💕 Guest Post, Book Tour, Newsletter Freebie and Signed Book Prize Pack Giveaway 💕 (Austenesque Cosy Mystery)

2026-09-30T00:07:00.000-04:00

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Chloe will have to read this town the way she reads Austen: closely, and between the lines.

After a devastating breakup derails her carefully planned future, literature professor Chloe Sinclair escapes to the charming seaside town of Hawthorne Cove to attend its inaugural Jane Austen Festival and spend time with her best friend, Daphne, the festival's event planner.

But when one of the actors hired to portray Mr. Darcy is found murdered on opening night, the celebration is thrown into chaos. With the festival—and the town's livelihood—hanging in the balance, Chloe and Daphne set out to uncover the truth.

As they dig beneath Hawthorne Cove's picture-perfect literary charm, they discover long-buried secrets, simmering rivalries, and more suspects than they ever imagined. To catch a killer, Chloe will have to read this town the way she reads Austen: closely, and between the lines.

Forget Darcy: Captain Wentworth is Austen’s Best Leading Man

Look, I get it. Mr. Darcy is a fantastic character. And Colin Firth in that BBC miniseries? I mean, come on. Is there a woman on earth who doesn’t swoon at that lake scene? I literally just wrote a book with half a dozen Mr. Darcies in it, one of whom is a cat, so trust me when I say that I fully understand what all the fuss is about.

But as good as Fitzwilliam Darcy is, I would argue he’s not Austen’s best male lead. That honor— and hear me out here— belongs to Persuasion’s Captain Wentworth.

In Austen’s work, there are two types of romantic leads: the leading man and the other man. The other man might not be Mr. Right, but you couldn’t blame someone for wanting him to be Mr. Right Now. He’s funny and charming and dashing— the sort of man who sweeps you off your feet almost instantly. He’s the kind of guy who could make a girl believe in love at first sight.

But he’s also deeply flawed. He’d be fun for a night, but never for a lifetime, and the more the reader, and the heroine, gets to know him, the less attractive he seems. That’s what clears the way for the leading man. He may not be as charming or handsome as the other man, but he’s honest and steadfast. He sees the heroine— really sees her. He loves her deeply. He challenges her. He acknowledges her flaws and encourages her growth. He cherishes her without putting her on a pedestal. He never asks her to be smaller, and he sees her as an equal. Though he’s not as flashy as the other man, with time, neither the heroine nor the reader can resist him.

Captain Wentworth is the exception. Like Austen’s other leading men, the more we learn about him, the more we fall in love with him. He is a man of character and a man of depth. But, unlike Austen’s other leading men, he’s also instantly dashing and charming. He’s the life of the party— the man you want next to you for a night and a lifetime. Unlike Darcy, he doesn’t have to overcome a terrible first impression because he doesn’t make one. He has his flaws, sure, and he is a jerk to Anne in spots, yes. But, unlike Darcy, his flaws are a function of his heartbreak rather than his arrogance.

And then, of course, there’s the letter. “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.”

Even a sopping wet Colin Firth can’t compete with that.

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It’s Christmas time in Hawthorne Cove, and new resident bookstore owner Chloe Sinclair has never been more excited to celebrate. The Dickens’ Festival her best friend Daphne is throwing has the charming seaside town looking more magical than ever, and for a moment, Chloe feels like she is living in a storybook. But when a food critic drops dead during dinner, and Jack, the man she’s falling for, is arrested for murder, suddenly things are looking infinitely less merry and bright.

Chloe knows Jack didn’t do this, but proving it is a different matter. With the festival in full swing, Chloe and Daphne must follow a trail of old grudges and buried secrets to uncover the truth. And they’d better do it fast—because in Hawthorne Cove, it may be the season of peace and goodwill—but someone has murder on their Christmas list.

💕 To be released November 1, 2026 💕

Grace Caldwell writes cozy mysteries for people who’d bring a book to a murder. An award-winning screenwriter and a professor of creative writing and literature, she’s published across more genres than she can reasonably list at a dinner party, but cozy mysteries are where she feels most at home. She lives in Central Florida with two fluffy feline assistants, Elsa and Anna, who supervise every page and approve of none of her deadlines.

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Step into Hawthorne Cove's favorite bakery with this free collection of 8 literary-inspired treats, straight from the pages of the Hawthorne Cove Mystery series. Whether you're craving something sweet like our Sherlock Scones, or something a little spicy like our Bread Badge of Courage, there's a recipe here for every chapter of your day. So, grab your apron, put the kettle on, and bake your way through Hawthorne Cove. No murder investigation required (probably).

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Sugar Sand Land by Patricia Leavy 💕 Character Interview, Book Tour and $25 Giveaway 💕 (Contemporary Romance)

2026-09-29T00:07:00.000-04:00

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Do we ever really know anyone?

For fans of Ashley Poston and Abby Jimenez, a contemporary romance—with a twist—about a media-savvy reality television star and a canceled country singer.

Twenty-eight-year-old beauty Emerson Blue is the second most followed celebrity on social media. A self-proclaimed “living piece of art” who rose to fame as a reality star and then parlayed her celebrity into a megabucks career as an influencer, she seems to have everything.

Forty-eight-year-old Grammy winner Renn Walker is a fallen country music star. Years ago, he was canceled following allegations of sexual misconduct, and he has lived in seclusion ever since. Once a beloved figure, he seems to have lost it all.

When Emerson and Renn meet, sparks fly. Against all odds, a star obsessed with popularity and a recluse shunned by the world fall in love. Everyone in the public and media has an opinion and thinks they know Emerson and Renn. But in a world dominated by social media—a world that blurs the lines between what’s public and private, what’s real and what’s illusion—do we ever really know anyone?

Character Interview with Hollywood Agent Leo Schneider

By Patricia Leavy

As a longtime Hollywood agent, you’ve seen it all, but it’s rare for someone to become as successful as Emerson Blue. What’s her deal?

Leo: She rose to fame on social media, starred in a reality show about her life, and parlayed it into a megabucks career as an influencer. She partners with fashion, cosmetic, and lifestyle brands. She gets paid seven figures just to show up on a red carpet or at a casino or nightclub opening. If she’s there, the place becomes huge. She’s a goddamn marketing genius. She has this shtick about being a living piece of art. People can’t get enough of it. She’s got the secret sauce in spades.

How did she become so famous?

Leo: She amassed a decent following on social media and then started this campaign with a spectacular close-up beauty shot of her face and the caption, ‘Who is Emerson Blue?’ The thing went viral, kids reposting, even some A-list celebrities commenting on it. Suddenly, her name and face were everywhere, a girl no one had ever heard of. She made herself famous out of nothing, like magic, in front of the whole world.

What did you think when Renn Walker decided to pursue a romance with Emerson?

Leo: I told Renn it was a bad idea. He’s a shut-in. Emerson doesn’t go anywhere without an entourage. She would take a film crew to a colonoscopy. But I was wrong. Sometimes opposites attract. I’ve never seen Renn happier.

You’ve stuck with Renn through thick and thin—his massive success in country music and his fall from grace. What would you say about him?

Leo: Renn is my favorite client and my friend. He’s a genius. He’s got more talent than most people can dream of. He’s a good egg no matter what anyone thinks. He’s authentic. He doesn’t give a crap about fame or what’s trending or any of that bs.

Forty minutes later, a seamstress was pinning the hem of Emerson’s dress when her phone rang. She grabbed it off the vanity. “It’s him,” she said to Diba. He rolled his eyes.

Emerson answered the call, “Hello.”

“Renn here.”

“Can you hold on? I’m in my dressing room prepping for a photo shoot, and they’re just finishing pinning my dress. We’re on a time crunch. Last-minute alterations. It’ll just be a couple minutes.”

“Sure thing.”

As soon as the seamstress was done, Emerson handed her the garment and threw on her silk robe. She grabbed her phone. “I’m back. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. You’re worth the wait.”

“You’re quite the smooth talker,” she said. “I wasn’t sure you were going to call back.”

“Bullshit. You knew I’d call back.” She giggled and he continued, “I needed time to write you a song.”

“You wrote me a song?” she asked in surprise.

“Yeah. Hang on. I’m going to put you on speaker so I can play it.”

A few seconds later, Renn started strumming his guitar and singing a country ballad in the whiskey-soaked voice that had made him a household name. Soon he was crooning the lyric, “Girl says she’s blue, but she takes away my blues / Emerson Blue, making me feel new.”

When he finished playing, Emerson could hardly speak. After a moment passed, she managed to say, “That was incredible. I can’t believe you wrote that for me.”

“Does that mean you’ll have dinner with me?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“How’s tonight at eight?”

“Kind of last-minute. I have plans.”

“Cancel them,” he said.

She paused for a moment. “Okay. Tonight at eight. Where?”

“My place. Don’t worry, I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I’m just not into the LA scene.”

“Okay,” she said. “Where’s your place?”

“Depends. Where do you live?”

“The Hollywood Hills.”

“Then we can have dinner at my house in Beverly Hills,” he said. “What’s your address? I’ll pick you up.”

“Text me your address. My driver can take me.”

“Okay. See you tonight. Anything I should know before dinner? Like you’re vegan or kosher or only eat purple food?”

She laughed. “No. I eat everything. Surprise me.”

“See you later.”

“Later.”

Emerson put the phone down and looked over at Diba, unable to stop the rosy grin from spreading across her face.

“Well, now you’re fucked,” he muttered.

“Yup. Definitely fucked,” she agreed.

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Featured in Vivant Magazine “Best Books of the Fall”
Featured on Bookstr “3 Remarkable Romance Reads for Your Beach Bag”
2026 American Fiction Awards Winner in Romantic Suspense
2026 Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner

“Sugar Sand Land by Patricia Leavy is a love story for the ages . . . It begs the question: what is real and what is illusory? This is first and foremost a beautiful love story, though, and it is one I thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend this book.”—Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review

“What begins as a glamorous, high-heat romance opens into something heavier and more tender . . . the meaning of Sugar Sand Land itself, gave the book a deeper emotional center than I expected at the start. It gives the title a softness and ache that the early Hollywood scenes only hint at . . . this is a romance for readers who want both swoon and reflection.”—Literary Titan, 5-star review

“If you are looking for a compelling romantic read this fall, check out Patricia Leavy’s Sugar Sand Land. This is a novel filled with unexpected twists and timely themes . . . the author captures the zeitgeist of our modern age . . . I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys celebrity romances, stories exploring social media culture, or character-driven contemporary fiction.”—Read Unwritten

“A tour de force! I’ve never read a novel that better captures appearance versus reality in contemporary culture. Gorgeous writing, a super smart story, and a sweet and sexy romance. I can’t get the ending out of my mind. Leavy gets to the essence of art, illusion, and love like no other. Sugar Sand Land is a modern masterpiece.”—Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

“You will be surprised by how much you end up loving the characters. Just when you think you’re reading a book about Emerson Blue and Renn Walker, you realize you’re really reading about all of us in the age of social media. Sugar Sand Land is a brilliant romance novel with twists, turns, and timely messages. Leavy’s smartest novel to date and a must-read as a personal escape or with your book club.”—U. Melissa Anyiwo, editor of Gender Warriors

“Still waters run deep in this tale of whirlwind romance that conceals deeper currents of torment and transformation. Readers seeking jubilant love stories will find plenty here—and themselves pulled beneath the surface of private pain underlying public performance. A sweet escape with a wrenching twist, haunting in the negative space left behind. Sugar Sand Land poignantly crystallizes how intentional choices make the difference between love conquering all and all conquering love.”—Alexandra “Xan” Nowakowski, coauthor of Other People’s Oysters

“Sugar Sand Land is a delicious romance that follows two celebrities embroiled in social media fervor. The biggest reality star in the world. A canceled country singer. How can these two fall in love with the whole world watching? This love story rings so true it could have been pulled from the headlines and it’s impossible to put down. A smart take on life, art, and social media.”—Jessica Smartt Gullion, author of October Birds

“This book is about that space between appearances and reality, love and hurt, social media and illusion, and how a couple in love can navigate that space while remaining true to their art and themselves. I found myself rooting for Renn and Emerson and felt like I had a backstage pass to their hit movie about love as a balm for the hurt places we don’t know how to heal. An amazing novel.”—Sandra L. Faulkner, author of Poetic Inquiry: Craft, Method and Practice

“Sugar Sand Land is full of romantic magic that will leave readers captivated and utterly spellbound with each passing page. Leavy writes with heart and wit. This is such a fun book to read and think about.”—J. E. Sumerau, 2021 George Garrett Fiction Prize–winning author of Transmission

“Page-turning, sexy, smart, and full of love. Leavy brilliantly weaves a beautiful romance with questions about identity in contemporary culture. There are layers of depth in a read that feels effortless. Sugar Sand Land is the new great American novel. An absolute must-read.”—Jessie Voigts, Ph.D., founder of Wandering Educators

“Sugar Sand Land is about what happens when romantic love inspires art and art inspires hope and social change in the world. Timely and wonderfully written. Love it!”—Mary E. Weems, author of Fall and Response

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She is also the publisher and CEO of Paper Stars Press. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book awards. Her novel Shooting Stars Above was featured on People “10 Romance Books to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry” and was the 2025 Firebird Book Award First Place Winner in Contemporary Novel, Romance, and Summer Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established “The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

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Crime and Croissants by Emmie Lyn 💕 Guest Post, Book Tour and Prize Pack Giveaway 💕 (Cozy Mystery)

2026-09-29T00:06:00.000-04:00

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Milly finds that every gathering comes with good food… and a side of suspicion.

Milly Rosebush thought the hardest part of starting over would be moving into the lakeside home she once owned with her ex-husband. In a small New Hampshire town where everyone knows her history, she’s determined to rebuild her life—with good food, fresh starts, and her best friend by her side.

Then she finds a woman in her upstairs bedroom. Dead.

Worse, a stranger walks in to find Milly holding the murder weapon—and just like that, she’s the prime suspect.

As gossip spreads faster than a kitchen fire, clearing her name means asking questions no one in Fox Hollow wants answered. Because the deeper Milly digs, the more unsettling the truth becomes.

With the help of her cooking club—a group with sharp opinions and sharper instincts—plus a too-helpful neighbor, Milly finds that every gathering comes with good food… and a side of suspicion.

But in a town built on secrets, getting too close to the truth can be dangerous.

If Milly wants a second chance, she has to catch a killer—before she ends up on the menu.

With lakeside charm, mouthwatering recipes, and a dash of danger, the Cooking Club Murder Mysteries serve up the perfect bite of cozy crime.

At the beginning of this year, I chose balance as my word for 2026.

I’m still working on it.

When you write for a living, the line between work and the rest of your life can get a little blurry. My office is at home. My characters live in my head. And a mystery doesn't necessarily stop demanding attention because I've closed my computer for the day.

There is always something I could be doing.

Another chapter to write. Edits to finish. A newsletter to put together. A book to promote. An email to answer. And when one book is finished, there's usually another waiting rather impatiently behind it.

But there are also gardens to enjoy, trails to walk, birds to watch, family dinners, and grandkids who are growing up much too quickly.

I've come to realize that balance doesn't necessarily mean giving everything an equal amount of time.

Some days are writing days. I might disappear into a book for hours, completely caught up in the story and determined to get one more chapter finished.

Other days, writing needs to wait.

And I'm learning to be okay with that.

My family is a wonderful reminder that there is a world outside my fictional one. Spending time with my grandkids can pull me out of my own head faster than just about anything. When we're together, there are games to play, places to explore, stories to hear, and plenty of reasons to laugh.

Ironically, stepping away often helps my writing.

A walk can untangle a plot problem I've been staring at for hours. Working in my garden gives my mind room to wander. Sometimes the solution to a scene appears when I'm doing something completely unrelated to the book.

And family life has a way of finding its way into my stories, too.

Not literally, of course. My relatives don't need to worry about becoming murder victims or suspects.

Probably.

But the warmth of family relationships, the teasing, the disagreements, the way people show up for one another, inevitably influence what I write. I even write little stories starring my grandkids, which has become a completely different kind of storytelling and something I treasure.

I've also learned that sometimes balance means recognizing when I've tipped too far in one direction.

There are times when a deadline needs to come first. There are also times when the computer needs to close, even though there are still things on my list.

The list will be there tomorrow.

The beautiful afternoon might not be.

Neither will a grandchild be exactly the age he is today ever again.

I'm trying to get better at noticing those things.

Maybe that's what balance really means to me now. Not dividing every day neatly into perfectly measured pieces, but paying attention to what needs me most at that particular moment.

Some days that's a book.

Some days it's my family.

And some days it's me—taking a walk, digging in my chaos garden, or sitting quietly with a cup of tea.

I still don't get the balance right all the time.

I'm beginning to suspect nobody does.

But I'm getting better at recognizing when it's time to stop writing about life for a while...

and go make a good day.

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Emmie Lyn has written several cozy mystery series and a romantic suspense series.

Emmie lives in a small New England town, the kind where everyone knows your name—and your secrets. It’s no surprise that her fictional worlds are filled with the same charm: scenic, close-knit communities full of quirky, unforgettable characters. She loves crafting mysteries laced with clever twists and turns, the kind that keep readers guessing and turning pages well into the night.

She lives with her husband and a black cat who rules the house with a velvet paw and a terrible attitude. Their twelve-acre homestead is a haven for deer, bunnies, turkeys, and a chorus of songbirds. When she’s not plotting fictional murders, she’s out hiking wooded trails, or spending time with her grandchildren.

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