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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 2, 2026

The golden boy has secrets. I’m about to discover his biggest one.

Dante Spence. Quarterback. National champion. Star of the Alabama Lions. The smile on every billboard — charming, untouchable, worshipped.

I’m the dean’s daughter. I can spot a performance from across a banquet hall.

The academic office assigned me as his tutor for one semester. It’s simple. He flirts. I ignore him. He passes. I walk away.

But I start noticing things.

The pill bottle in his bag with someone else’s name on it. The phone call I wasn’t supposed to hear. The way his perfect smile disappears when he thinks no one’s watching.

Dante isn’t the man on the billboard. He’s ruthless. Reckless. Hiding something dangerous enough to destroy his career.

I should stay far away from him. I could ruin everything he’s built.
So why does he look at me like I’m his to own?

He’s not safe.
And the worst part . . .
I don’t want him to be.

•••••

REVIEW: FOREVER RECKLESS is the first instalment in Eve L Mitchell’s contemporary, new adult FOURTH AND FOREVER football erotic, romance series. This is college junior, quarterback for the Alabama Lions Dante Spence, and Dean Cole’s daughter Savannah Cole’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Dante and Savannah) FOREVER RECKLESS focuses on the darker side of collegiate sports. Dante Spence is the star quarterback for the Alabama Lions but Dante is struggling with shoulder pain, and faltering grades, two things that threaten his future but when Dante is assigned a tutor, in the guise of Savannah Cole, the dean’s daughter, and a woman who is struggling with her father’s demands. As Dante continues to battle his demons, Savannah begins to fall for the man who will break her heart but Savannah is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, naïve to the reality of collegiate sports, and a pawn under her father’s control.

The world building focuses on the demands of college football, and the darker side of athletics. From morally grey and illegal legacy traditions, to the exploitation of players; sport vs academics, injuries (real or fake), painkillers and over training; ethical and questionable practices, gambling and betting, buyouts and payouts, donor boosters and benefactors, exploitation, predators, mentors, blackmail and demands.

The relationship between Savannah and Dante begins acrimoniously. Dante needs a tutor to help raise his marks but Savannah will become suspicious when she discovers it is all a ruse. Forced to work together, our couple will dance around their mutual attraction but the poison that is collegiate sports, threatens any chance for a happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, and sometimes questionable secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to wide receiver Dustin Slater, Noah Matthews, Coach TJ Hembry, Coach Sutherland, Savannah’s parents Dean Maxwell Cole and Dr. Eliza Cole,as well as art professor Yates, and several donors, students, and players.

FOREVER RECKLESS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is detailed, revealing and dramatic; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, determined and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Eve L. Mitchell is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes contemporary romance and urban fantasy.

Being an avid reader from a young age, Eve still considers herself to be a reader first. She believes there is nothing better than getting that new book either on your e-reader or in your hands, and the fact she may bring that excitement to a fellow reader, fills her with wonder. She writes under a pen name because otherwise her Secret Agent status will be revoked.

Eve lives in the North East of Scotland, with her three coffee machines and her significant other, Mr. M. She enjoys NFL Football, music and having long conversations with the voices in her head, which sometimes turn into the stories she writes.

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 9, 2026

Luna Canning trusts numbers more than people—and for good reason. As a forensic accountant who specializes in exposing fraud, she knows numbers never deceive, unlike the toxic family she’s spent a lifetime trying to escape. Now living in her grandmother’s Victorian home, Luna has built a carefully ordered life behind walls she thought were unbreakable.

When her car is stolen from an airport parking lot, former FBI agent turned PI Nate Warren steps in to help—and proves more dangerous to her defenses than any thief. Despite Luna’s ironclad rules about mixing business with pleasure, their chemistry ignites, and for the first time, she considers letting someone past her guard. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, Luna’s manipulative mother arrives unannounced, dragging with her a dangerous man and decades of unresolved trauma that threaten everything Luna has built.

Now Luna must confront the ghosts of her past—both metaphorical and possibly literal, as strange occurrences in her historic home suggest she’s not alone. With a violent threat looming and her heart on the line, Luna discovers that sometimes the hardest person to trust is yourself.

••••••

REVIEW: The first book in Catherine Bybee’s newest series Lead Me Home is a steamy, suspenseful, spooky romance that fans of the author are sure to enjoy. Lead Me Home is my first read with this author and despite the crazy mother, I did enjoy it.

Luna Canning is a forensic accountant, she not only works with numbers, she trusts them to make her rules as well. Rules that keep her safe, rules that keep her life in check and her in control, not her overly zealous, destructive mother who is determined to control her at every turn. Life however has a way of delivering what you need without you even knowing. And for Luna, life sends her Nate Warren.

Nate is a former FBI who now spends his time as a Private Investigator. When he joins the newest project at Luna’s office, he is smitten with Luna from the get go, but they both do their best to keep things as professional as they can. Then when Luna’s car is vandalized and next swoops in to rescue her in her time of vulnerability. This sparks even more feelings in the pair, but even with that, Luna is torn. She is slowly forming a connection with Nate, but when her things start to go bump in the night at her home, the arrival of her mother rocks Luna to her core. It’s one disaster after another, after another and when a creepy stranger appears, Nate is done hanging in the background. Together Luna and Nate embark on a mystery that may just change their lives forever.

Nate is the man! I think I actually like him more than Luna at this point. He is protective and calm, the perfect balm to soothe Luna and her ever burning rules. Luna is a little harder on the nerves, I feel for her character, even more so with a Mother that toxic, but she surprised me in parts as well. Overall, I did really enjoy the book, and would read more from the author. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what comes next in the Queen Anne Hill series.

Copy  supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 24, 2026

The mafia boss caught me spray painting my ex’s car… And helped burn it to the ground instead.

I’m at rock bottom: I just caught my ex-fiance cheating on me… In the bed we shared together.

It feels like my life is over when I meet Liam Lankshear.

Liam is living chaos. He’s everything I can’t stand: wild, impulsive, gorgeous, and a vicious underworld thug.

But my ex steals something dangerous from my family… and starts a war I never wanted. Which is how I end up engaged to my worst nightmare.

Liam wants marriage about as much as I do. He’s my opposite, my shadow, and my ruin. I don’t know how someone so attractive can also be so insanely frustrating.

The war turns ugly and death comes stalking, Now Liam’s done playing games.

He says I’m his bride, no matter what. And he’ll burn the city to keep me.

I just have to survive long enough to decide if I want to be saved.

••••••

REVIEW: ARRANGED DEVOTION by BB Hamel is a contemporary, adult, Irish Mafia romance series set in the Whelan Irish Crime family series. This is Liam Lankshear, and CPA Regan Corrigan’s story line. ARRANGED DEVOTION can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspective (Liam and Regan) ARRANGED DEVOTION follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. Regan Corrigan recently discovered her long term boyfriend was having an affair, and as an act of revenge, decided to damage her boyfriend’s car but Regan found herself with an accomplice in the form of Liam Lankshear, the man with whom Regan would fall in love. A few nights together would end when both would discover they would be forced to marry, a marriage needed to regain power and information from a potential traitor but all was not as it appears to be when the search for the truth reveals a betrayal from within.

The world building follows Regan and Liam in the weeks leading up to, and following their marriage. As Liam and the Whelan Crime Syndicate begin a deep dive searching for the truth, the ultimate betrayal will break the heart of our story line heroine. From the Irish Mafia to the Russian Bratva, no one is immune to the encroaching war.

The relationship between Liam and Regan begins acrimoniously when Regan is discovered in the process of damaging her ex boyfriend’s car but Liam finds himself attracted to the woman that is willing to seek revenge on the people who betray and deceive. Forced to marry for an unwelcome alliance, Regan struggles with her attraction to the man who could break her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are familiar and determined. We are introduced to Regan’s ex Kieren Foley; Regan’s brother Luke, and their parents Noreen and Martin Corrigan, as well as the return of Declan, Finn and Cormac Whelan. The requisite evil has many faces.

ARRANGED DEVOTION is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dark, gritty and edgy; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, charismatic and animated.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

THE EVENT HORIZON MURDER
by Greg Hickey
Genre: Sci-Fi, Crime, Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK

A battle-scarred detective. A dead-end case. In a future of omnipresent cameras and digital disguises, can he find an elusive killer?

Law enforcement is in Detective Marcus Carver’s blood. And with the help of Chicago’s citywide surveillance, he excels at tracking and catching killers. But when a politician’s son is slain in the city’s blacked-out cyberpunk gang territory, Carver has everyone’s attention and no leads on the murderer.

His boss breathing down his neck doesn’t help Carver’s authority issues, but with the victim’s family growing desperate, Carver runs down every hint of a trail. And when his most promising lead evaporates, Carver finds himself out of clues and short on time.

Can Carver catch the killer before someone buries the truth for good?

The Event Horizon Murder is a thrilling science fiction crime novella. If you like stories about mass surveillance, futuristic cityscapes and hard-boiled detectives, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s tense sci-fi whodunit.

••••••

REVIEW: THE EVENT HORIZON MURDER by Greg Hickey is an adult, sci-fi, futuristic crime novella focusing on Chicago PD Detective Marcus Carver.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Marcus ) THE EVENT HORIZON MURDER follows Detective Marcus Carver on the search for a killer but with no help, and fewer clues, Carver finds himself the target of the CPD, and a deep fake video tells another tale.

THE EVENT HORIZON MURDER is a fast paced, quick read; a dark yet intriguing short story of murder, $ex trafficking and deception. Regardless of his successes, Marcus Carver finds himself the victim of vengeance, sabotage and workplace betrayal. The premise is dark and captivating yet limited in sci-fi elements; the characters are questionable and desperate.

_________

MURDER IN RETROGRADE
by Greg Hickey
Genre: Sci-Fi, Crime, Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK

A near-future private detective. A case that would cover all his debts. When the first body drops, can he catch a killer before he’s cashed out?

In a litigious future America, detective Marcus Carver sticks to civil cases. When a space tech CEO wants him to investigate a business rival for illegal hydrocarbon combustion, Carver reluctantly agrees. But the case takes an explosive turn when the police find the target’s head of security murdered.

Determined to get to the bottom of things, Carver finds himself sucked into a morass of cyberpunk gangsters, cultish environmentalists and crooked cops. And when another body turns up, it’s clear this ruthless killer doesn’t intend to stop.

Can Carver crack the case before it blows up in his face?

Murder in Retrograde is a thrilling science fiction crime novel. If you like stories about dystopian systems and hard-boiled detectives battling corrupt institutions, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s propulsive futuristic whodunit.

••••••

REVIEW:MURDER IN RETROGRADE by Greg Hickey is a futuristic sci-fi, crime novel focusing on former Chicago police detective turned PI Marcus Carver as he is contracted by a tech billionaire to ‘spy’ on the competition.

Told from first person perspective (Marcus) MURDER IN RETROGRADE follows former Chicago police detective turned PI Marcus Carver as he is tasked with investigating a possible environmental lawbreaker but what Marcus will discover is something much worse. Two suspected murders linked to organized crime, an abduction, missing persons, and now a target on his back, PI Carver finds himself on the run, in a world where with the push of a button, you can become someone else.

The world building is detailed and intriguing as the wildfires of LA continue to encroach on the million dollar homes; big business and high tech clash for control on Mars, and dirty law enforcement runs rampant and free.

The secondary and supporting characters are an eclectic mix of diverse, ethnic and designated representation of good and evil. We are introduced to founder and CEO of iRise Space Exploration Naomi Battle, and her assistant Mirlande Joseph; Naomi’s head of security Dev Chaudry; CEO of Schuyler Space Industries Ellory Schuyler, as well as several law enforcement, house assistants, and members of organized crimes.

MURDER IN RETROGRADE is a captivating and gripping tale of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control. The character driven premise is twisted and inviting; the characters are diverse and determined.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

TRC:Hi Greg and welcome to The Reading Cafe

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Greg:  I am a former international professional baseball player and forensic scientist, and a current endurance athlete and author of entertaining stories for smart readers. I live in Chicago with my wife and daughter.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Greg:It’s hard to point to a single influence. I’ve always loved reading and I’ve been writing stories for as long as I could put together a coherent plot. I started writing my first novel the summer after seventh grade. It was based on a story I had written for school about the passengers of a shipwrecked cruise ship forced to coexist on a deserted island. I didn’t get very far, because I quickly realized I wanted to spend the summer playing outside with my friends. That story and the completed stories I’ve published since come from a mix of influences ranging from middle grade authors like Matt Christopher and Brian Jacques, to my high school creative writing teacher Ms. Johnson, to the first time I read Orwell’s 1984 and Wells’s The Time Machine, to my adventures abroad.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story and series?

Greg: I think every sci-fi creator starts with either the social/philosophical aspect or the technological aspect of their invented world. As an example, The Matrix seems like a project that started with a philosophical question. “How do we know our experiences are real?” is a question humans have been asking since at least as far back as Plato in the fourth century BCE. But the Wachowskis matched the intrigue of that question with their vision of a world controlled by machines and powered by human batteries tamed via elaborate virtual simulations. In contrast, I think Star Wars started with the technological aspect (lightsabers, space battles, the Death Star) and then supported those elements with rich social/philosophical world-building (Jedi vs. Sith, Rebellion vs. Empire). But no matter where the creator starts, the challenge is to make the two aspects complementary and integrate them seamlessly into the world of the story.

I was a college philosophy major, and I’ve long believed science fiction is a great vehicle for exploring philosophical questions. So that’s where I tend to start. In the case of the Marcus Carver books, I was intrigued by the increase of U.S. state laws passed in the last six years that are enforced by citizens filing lawsuits against offenders rather than by the police or the state. Taken to its extreme, it sounded like the perfect backdrop for a noir detective story—a grimy world where citizens rat out their neighbors and turn to private investigators to find evidence for their claims. So the challenge I faced was imagining what kind of technology that society would demand—like holographic masks and underground dwellings to shield people from their litigious fellow-citizens.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of THE EVENT HORIZON MURDER / MURDER IN RETROGRADE?

Greg: Both stories take place in the world I described above: a near-future America with people looking for excuses to sue each other, mass surveillance, and organized crime dealing in personal information rather than drugs or gambling. The Event Horizon Murder follows protagonist Marcus Carver’s last case as a homicide detective for the Chicago Police Department: the gangland murder of a politician’s son. Murder in Retrograde follows Carver’s first case as a private detective, in which a space tech CEO hires him to investigate a business rival for illegal hydrocarbon combustion—a civil case that soon leads to multiple murders.

TRC:  What types of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning the series?

Greg: I started thinking about the series in 2022, two years before I published The Event Horizon Murder. The plots for both books came together pretty quickly, but I spent a lot of time researching the technology and other futuristic aspects of the story world. In addition to what I mentioned above, my research proved to be an ongoing process to account for all the ways our world might change over the next several decades. How are cities organized? How do people get around? How has climate change affected the world? How is automation/AI integrated into everyday life? What materials are used in buildings, infrastructure and clothing? And so on. I’m currently editing the next book in the series, so the research process continues.

TRC:  How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing believability or content?

Greg: The author always has an advantage over the reader in terms of unpredictability because the author knows what’s going to happen. With that in mind, I don’t feel like I need to force plot twists. Between having multiple characters with multiple competing agendas, multiple mysteries to be solved, and using red herrings and misdirection naturally rather then forcing them, I feel like I have a lot of tools at my disposal to enhance unpredictability without sacrificing believability.

TRC:  Along the same vein, believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of science-fiction and fantasy, such that the reader can place themselves into the story. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

Greg:I read other science fiction and crime fiction and find out what I like and don’t like in those stories. Having a first-person narrator helps in certain respects. Even though I’m actually writing these books in the 2020s, it wouldn’t make sense for Carver to tell the story like he’s speaking to someone in 2026. So I approach each book as though Carver is telling the story to a contemporary in his future world. Everything in that world has to make sense to him, and he wouldn’t have to spend a paragraph explaining that a holohead is a holographic mask that people use to disguise themselves in a society where everyone is watching them. That information has to be conveyed more subtly. I think trying to see through Carver’s eyes eliminates problems like unbelievability, info-dumping, un-realism, etc., and helps immerse the reader in the story and world.

The downside of a first-person narrator is that it can be easy for an author to get hung up in the narrator’s internal monologue. I don’t like when a detective first-person narrator walks the reader through their thought process as they analyze the evidence. I try to give my readers credit and trust that they can follow the story, pick up on clues and form their own conclusions about what’s going on and which characters are prime suspects.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Greg:I think cover design is important, but it’s not a deciding factor for me. When I search for a new book to read, I rely on the cover to tell me the book’s genre. If it’s the genre I’m looking for, I’ll read the book description. What the book is about and how well it has been received are the deciding factors for me in selecting a book.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Greg: It depends on the story and the scene. In a murder mystery, at least one character has to die, and there must be at least one killer. So I will choose certain characters for those roles and shape the storyline so that they arrive at those ends with the proper motivation and emotional impact. In literary fiction, the story requirements are more open-ended, so the characters have more free rein. And in a scene that doesn’t have an essential plot point, I like to imagine how my characters would act given their personalities and goals in the scene and allow them to behave naturally.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Greg:Give readers a main character with at least one trait or problem readers can identify with. Give the character a goal and enough obstacles standing in their way that achieving the goal is not a foregone conclusion. I’m most annoyed by stories in which the main character has no goals or desires. “Slice of life” and “coming of age” aren’t stories. They’re genres. A story is the journey the main character goes on to get what they want. Even Seinfeld—a show supposedly about nothing—featured characters with desires, whether it was making a relationship work, saving their job or even something as silly as Kramer wanting to build levels in his apartment.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Greg:No, I find music too distracting when I’m writing. And I try to do a lot of first-draft writing by dictation while I’m walking outside. Listening to music at the same time would be too much.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Greg: Before my first book was published, I didn’t realize how much non-writing work goes into being an author. That realization was one of the main reasons I switched to self-publishing after my first two novels were released by small presses. Aside from my cover designer and editor, I’m a one-man show. I format my books and organize their distribution, email my newsletter subscribers, run my social media accounts, maintain my website, manage my advertising platforms, etc. Writing still takes up a lot of my time, but the additional tasks required to produce and sell a book quickly add up.

TRC:  What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Greg: David Foster Wallace was a visiting professor at my college while I was there, and one of my greatest regrets is that I never took a creative writing class with him.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Greg: I sent the latest draft of the next book of the Marcus Carver series to my beta readers, and I expect to publish it later this year. In the meantime, I’m planning the fourth Carver story.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Greg: No, this was very thorough. I appreciate the insightful questions.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Honestly, too many to choose just one. But for the purposes of this interview, I’ll say tacos.

Favorite Dessert
Anything chocolate

Favorite TV Show
Comedy: Seinfeld, drama: Game of Thrones

Favorite Sport
Baseball

Last Movie You Saw
Train Dreams

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush
Jennifer Connelly

Last Vacation Destination
Provence, France

Do you have any pets?
No

Last book you read
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

TRC:  Thank you Greg for taking the time to answer our questions. Good luck on your future releases.

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2026

The battle lines are drawn—between a romance-loving bookseller and the shock jock determined to tear happily-ever-afters apart.

Alice Willoughby and her mom run HEA Books, a cozy shop devoted to love stories and the people who crave them. Alice is great at matching customers with their perfect happily-ever-after…she just can’t seem to find her own.

Enter Parker Black, a disillusioned radio host who’s reinvented himself as a romance-bashing shock jock. Bitter from his breakup with a romance author who turned love into a four-letter word, Parker takes aim at the entire genre—and his on-air rants start stirring up trouble for Alice’s loyal customers and their partners. He’s arrogant, aggravating, and absolutely not book-boyfriend material.

Parker’s crusade leads to spirited debates and bookstore protests, but when unexpected sparks fly between the two of them Alice begins to wonder if her favorite trope—enemies to lovers—might actually be playing out in real life. Parker may claim romance is a lie…but is he protesting a little too much?

With sharp wit and plenty of charm, USA Today bestselling author Sheila Roberts delivers a modern battle of the sexes where the biggest question is simple:

Are romance novels ruining love—or rewriting it?

••••••

REVIEW:LOVE ON THE SHELF by Sheila Roberts is a stand alone, cozy, contemporary, adult, story line focusing on book store owner Alice Willouoghby, and radio host / podcaster Parker Black.

NOTE: I will be honest from the start, I struggled with the storyline, the characters, and who and what they represent.

Told from several third person perspectives including but not exclusive to Alice and Parker, LOVE ON THE SHELF focuses on the age-old war of the sexes. Alice and her mother Nola own and operate a bookstore where they host all genre book club meetings but when Alice, her sister Scarlet and their mother Nola hear about a sports podcaster disparaging romance novels, the lines are drawn in the proverbial sand, and all gloves are off.

The world building is a study in pathological misogyny and hidden patriarchy. All but one of the male leads is immature, selfish and their acts of vengeance are childish and demeaning. As Parker and his partner Jay’s podcasts and radio shows gain momentum with the male audience, women are cast as witches, and many men will jump on the ‘band wagon’ threatening families and marriages in the process.

The relationship between Alice and Parker never truly gets off the ground until the final chapter of the book, and even then, I felt no palpable sexual attraction. Alice fantasizes about the men in her books, and no amount of eleventh hour supplication or grovelling can make up for the rampant woman bashing of the male leads. There are no $ex scenes, and the few kisses are meant to be awkward and clearly uncomfortable.

There is a large ensemble cast of interesting and determined characters including several members of Alice’s book clubs. We are introduced to Alice’s mother and co-owner Nola Willloughby; Alice’s sister Scarlet and her troubling husband Mark; Parker’s mother Genevieve, and her brother Jerome, as well as Parker’s co-conspirator and fellow podcaster Jay Barker.

LOVE ON THE SHELF is a story of gaslighting, conflict and animosity, jealousy and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and moving forward. The premise is thought provoking, and often frustrating; the characters’ actions and behavior are troubling; there is no romance.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Sheila and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of
LOVE ON THE SHELF.

Sheila: Thank you. And thank you so much for having me.

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell
us something about yourself?

Sheila: In addition to being a writer I’m also a songwriter. (Which was what I’d planned on doing before my writing career happened. Oh, the many trips to Nashville and money spent on song demos in those days! I did a lot in my little corner of the music world – worked my
way through college as a singing waitress, owned a singing telegram company, played
in bands.) Even though the songwriting didn’t take off I still enjoy doing it on the side.
Next time you’re on YouTube, check out Merry Christmas Mama. I wrote that with a
friend to be a bonus for my Christmas Novel Merry Ex-Mas. And yes, that’s me getting
hauled off by Santa!

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Sheila: I want to give credit to Debbie Macomber, who has been both a mentor and a good
friend to me for many years. I learned a lot about how to run my writing business from
her. She is inspiring both as a writer, a businesswoman and as a person.

TRC: How has your writing evolved since publishing your first novel?

Sheila: Oh, my! Where to begin. I started out writing Regency Romances. But honestly, I was
terrible at research, and I really didn’t enjoy it. I eventually realized, even though I will
forever love Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, I am meant to write stories set in the
time period in which I live. Much easier to do research. ☺

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of LOVE ON THE SHELF?

Sheila: This is a battle of the sexes between a bitter shock jock, who has nominated himself as a champion of men (and who thinks romance novels are a bad influence) and the owner
of a romance bookstore. It all starts with an on-air debate, and everything slides
downhill after that with Parker Black, my messed-up hero learning a thing about those
romance novels along the way. And about love. All thanks to Alice Willoughby, co-
owner of HEA Books and her band of loyal customers, who do an excellent job of
setting Parker straight.

TRC: Do you have plans for a series involving any of the secondary characters or
otherwise?

Sheila: I think their stories all get beautifully wrapped up. We’ll leave them to enjoy their happy
endings and move on to someone else.

TRC: What do you hope readers will take away from LOVE ON THE SHELF?

Sheila: I hope they’ll come away quoting the mantra, Love Always Wins.

TRC: What types of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend
researching /plotting before beginning the series?

Sheila: I always spend a lot of time planning a book before I begin to write. I like to have a story map in place to follow. As for research, it is handy to live in modern times where I can
hop on the internet or talk to someone in person. I’m lucky to have a friend who owns an
indie bookstore and, while I tried not to make a pest of myself, I did pick her brain a
little.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing believability or
content?

Sheila: There’s always going to be a certain amount of predictability in a genre novel. Readers
expect the killer to get caught in a murder mystery. In a romance novel they expect the
couple to work out their problems and get together in the end. But along the way it’s
nice to dream up some surprises. And all I can say about that is this is where
imagination comes in. Making up stories is part reality, part imagination and mostly
magic.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the
process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Sheila: I can’t speak for other readers, but I know for myself, an intriguing book cover will tempt me to pick up the book and see what it’s all about. I’m also a sucker for a great title!

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the
characters?

Sheila: No, for better or worse, I’m in charge and the characters do what they’re told. The
upside to that is that I’m in control. The downside to that is, when someone doesn’t like
my character, I have no one to blame but myself.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they
experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer
must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Sheila: Again, I can’t speak for other writers, but I know I need to be emotionally invested in a
story. I need to care about my characters. There have been more than one occasion
when I cried reading a scene I wrote… because I cared. Hopefully, if I’ve drawn my
character well enough, shared enough of that character’s background, hopes and
dreams, that readers will care as much as I do. Of course, sometimes readers don’t love
my pretend people as much as I do – we’re all different, we all see the world differently
– and I have to admit, that’s a little painful. But that’s also life, right?

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the
storyline direction? Characters?

Sheila:  I only listen to instrumental music because otherwise I get too distracted and start
singing along instead of paying attention to my writing. The music doesn’t influence the
storyline but I do like having it playing in the background, keeping me company.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Sheila: That writing a book is easy. To write a novel and do it well is like weaving a tapestry
with many threads. There is a lot to keep track of.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Sheila:  I’ve crashed my writing career twice and have had to reinvent myself. I’m living proof
that we can rebuild when our dream collapses.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Sheila:  Ooh, that’s top secret. But I can tell you what’s coming out next. I’m excited about my
fun holiday romp, Have Yourself a Merry Little Meltdown. This has a book theme also.
What happens when you’ve written a holiday novel and based it on your over the top
family. Do you dare go home for the holidays?

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Sheila: I think we’ve about covered it. The only thing left is my weight. And, like my current
project, that’s top secret. Haha.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Chinese!

Favorite Dessert – I have to narrow it down to one? Cake. Love cake!

Favorite TV Show – Dancing with the Stars

Favorite Sport – Tennis. Been playing it for years. (Not fabulously but that’s to be
expected since I’m not really a jock.)

Last Movie You Saw – The Sheep Detectives. Loved that movie so much!

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Used to be milk but I’ve gone over to the dark side.

Secret Celebrity Crush – Tom Selleck. Have loved him since Magnum P.I.

Last Vacation Destination – The Mediterranean. Love cruises!

Do you have any pets? – Not any more. The only animal in my house now is my
husband.

Last book you read – Still working on it: Lonesome Dove.

TRC: Thank you Sheila for taking the time to answer our questions. Good luck with your
career in writing.

Sheila:  Thank you again so much for having me!

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2026

MAREN
Everyone in Gator Flats knows Knox.
They know the sound of his bike rolling through the swamp. The way men step aside when he walks into a room. And they know my father shot his brother and somehow kept his badge.
I should hate Knox.
Instead, every time he looks at me, I feel like he sees the parts of me I’ve spent my whole life trying to hide while working at the Magnolia Bait and Marine Supply.
Wanting him is dangerous.
But maybe staying exactly who I’ve always been is worse.

KNOX
I rule Gator Flats.
Seventeen years wearing the president’s patch, and every man in this swamp answers to me. So when someone gives up a club member’s location to an enemy, I take it personal.
What I don’t need is Maren Caldwell driving past my compound like her father didn’t change both our lives forever.
She’s too young. Too tied to things that never washed clean. And every time I look at her, I forget that wanting something and taking it are two different things.
I rule this town.
But one mistake is all it takes to lose it.

•••••••

REVIEW: KNOX UNLEASHED is the first instalment in S. Cole’s contemporary, adult IRON OUTLAWS MC: FLORIDA dark, erotic, MC romance series, set in the author’s S. Cole’s Iron Outlaws worlds. This is Iron Outlaws MC: Florida president Knox, and bait and marine shop owner Maren Caldwell’s story line. KNOX UNLEASHED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary .

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Knox and Maren) KNOX UNLEASHED follows several pathways including the protection of our story line heroine. From a questionable cop, the murder of a club brother, and dangerous strangers in town looking for another club members location, Knox, president Iron Outlaws MC finds himself taking refuge during a hurricane with our story line heroine, a woman with connections to the past but when Maren is targeted, Knox becomes guardian and protector, claiming Maren as his own. As the threats against Maren become personal, a club brother is next, barely surviving that attack on his life.

The world building follows the forced proximity, and the tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Maren has been painted with the same brush as her father but as Knox quickly discovers father and daughter don’t see eye to eye. As the threats grow, Knox calls in help from several Iron Outlaws MC chapters, help needed to take down the people at the top.

The relationship between Knox and Maren begins acrimoniously but Knox will discover Maren is unlike the man who claims to control the town.With her own reasons to despise her father, Maren refuses to back down, remaining true to our story line hero. Knox never expected to fall in love, especially with the sheriff’s daughter but the possiblity of his own happily ever after forces Knox to claim the woman that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.

There is another large ensemble cast of familiar, colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including several members and their significant others of the Iron Outlaws MC, Sheriff Caldwell, and the cartel.

KNOX UNLEASHED is a story of dysfunctional family dynamics, secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, gritty and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, charismatic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Scarlett Cole is a contemporary romance author that calls both Toronto, Canada and Manchester, England home. A born city dweller, she periodically quashes the urge to live in the country by hiking up a mountain to remind herself that living away from people would terrify the pants off her.

She believes everybody deserves their love story to be told and loves her heroes on the rough and rugged side…and usually tall (because she married one of those 6ft 6” men you read about in romance books!). She’s an A-type personality and Scorpio star sign, so good luck getting her to do anything she doesn’t want to.

When she isn’t writing, she’s happy to talk about hot men and expensive shoes while drinking a cold gin and tonic. Don’t bring up olives. As far as Scarlett is concerned, they are the devil’s food. As long as you don’t bring up olives, she’s happy to hear from you any time.

She is represented by Louise Fury at The Fury Agency.

To find out about S. Cole’s upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here

Connect with Scarlett Cole:

Website: http://www.scarlettcole.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettcole/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/scarlett-cole

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 5, 2026

I can’t decide if my new summer tenant—a devastatingly handsome hockey player and single dad—is the answer to my problems or the start of a new one.

When big-city developers threaten to buy up my small town, I need to save the rental cottage next door from demolition. I have a plan . . . until Daniel Sutton checks in.

Six-four, a face chiseled by the gods, and a body built by a career on the ice, I’m knocked sideways. He’s charming with me and adorable with his son. And when we touch, it’s electric.

But two things change everything. The pipes break in the cottage, and his agent calls. Before I can stop myself, I’m offering him a place to stay, and Daniel is offering me the answer to my problems. He’ll buy the cottage for me if I help him clean up his reputation.

Sounds simple enough. But when I start to fall in love with him, even though I know he’s leaving in a few months, it’s suddenly more complicated than ever.

I’m willing to take a chance on us and pour my heart into a letter. But with him skating on thin ice, he’s going to have to sacrifice something—me or his career.

I just hope XOXO, Summer isn’t the last thing I ever get to say to him.

•••••

REVIEW:I just finished XOXO, Summer and I loved it, the story gave me exactly the kind of light, heartfelt escape I was craving from a summer romance. 💕

The story follows Summer, a small town woman fighting to protect her family’s rental cottage and her community from big city developers. And when a hockey player/single dad becomes her unexpected tenant, everything shifts. 😉

Daniel is the kind of hero who ticks all the right boxes.. Tall, athletic, charming in that quiet confident way, and completely devoted to his young son. The single dad scenes are genuinely warm and never overdone. (They are probably some of my favourite moments in the book)

You feel the pull between him and Summer right away, especially once the cottage pipes burst and she offers him a place in her own home….. What starts as a practical arrangement turns into something much deeper, with Daniel offering to buy the cottage for her in exchange for help cleaning up his public image.

The romance builds nicely with plenty of tension, sweet moments, and that chemistry the blurb promises. I particularly enjoyed the age gap dynamic and how Daniel falls first, showing his vulnerability beneath the professional/athlete exterior.

The small town setting felt like I wanted to live be there, it’s cute and charming, and with the threat of development I felt it added just enough drama to keep things moving.

The conflict around Daniel’s career and the choices he has to make felt a little rushed to me, and I wanted a bit more emotional depth in how they navigated the “he’s leaving soon” reality. (But that’s my own personal opinion)

Still, the letters and the XOXO theme tie everything together in a pretty satisfying way.

Overall, this is a cozy, feel good sports romance with heart. If you enjoy single

parent stories, small town charm, and a hero who knows what he wants, it’s worth picking up for an afternoon read.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie 🦋

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling, avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist.

Scott writes character driven, heart-racing, and swoony romances to suspense that will leave you glued to the page. Her stories are regarded as emotion-filled and soulful. With stories ranging from light and witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, Scott has a story for all readers. Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

Connect w/S.L. Scott:

Website: www.slscottauthor.com or https://geni.us/slscott
Newsletter: https://geni.us/intheknow
Amazon: https://geni.us/SLSAm
Goodreads: https://geni.us/SLGR
Instagram: https://geni.us/IGSLS
Facebook: https://geni.us/SLSPage
Bookbub: https://geni.us/SLScottBB
Facebook Reader Group: https://geni.us/SLScottBooks
Twitter: https://geni.us/SLTwitter

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2026

Sami

Getting involved with someone new after my divorce was the last thing I expected. Then I met him.

Loyal.

A younger bad boy who belongs to a motorcycle club.

I shouldn’t want him. Especially when he is only a few years older than my daughter, but I’ve come to crave the safety and peace he brings me.

The only problem is my daughter won’t accept him.

Do I risk my relationship with my daughter for true happiness or do I let him slip through my fingers and make the sacrifice?

Loyal

My sole focus has always been the club that took me in when I needed it most.

Until I saw her.

Sami.

The single mom who is a decade older than me.

I knew I wanted her the moment I laid eyes on her. It’s why I bought a house to be close to her.

There are powers that be that don’t want us together though. Society, her daughter, and the sleazy ex-husband who seems to think that she belongs to him.

I’m not one to give up easy though. I will fight for her until my dying breath.

••••••

REVIEW: LOYAL is the third instalment in Cala Riley’s contemporary, adult LOTUS MC: SAN ANTONIO erotic, MC romance series, a spin off set in the author’s LOTUS MC world. This is twenty-two year old, Lotus MC VP Matt ‘Loyal’ Green, and thirty-three year old, L&D nurse Sami Abrahams’ story line. LOYAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Loyal and Sami) LOYAL follows the age-gap romance and relationship between our story line couple. Divorcee, single mother and nurse Sami Abrahams finds herself attracted to her much younger neighbor but as the mother of a teenaged daughter, Sami struggles with what people will say including her ex who refuses to let go. Matt ‘Loyal’ Green knows what he wants, and he wants our story line heroine but he no longer wants to be Sami’s ‘dirty little secret’, and once their relationship is made public, Sami’s ex refuses to back, and will use any means necessary to take back what doesn’t belong.

The world building follows the slow building relationship between Sami and Loyal as they must navigate the bumps and accusations by Sami’s ex. At every opportunity, Sami and Loyal will be targeted, and Sami’s daughter will be caught in the middle between her warring parents.

The relationship between Sami and Loyal begins as a friends with benefits but one year later, Loyal is hoping for something more. Sami and Loyal have kept their relationship a secret but once revealed , Sami finds herself the target of vengeance, and her daughter playing along. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are familiar, energetic and protective. We are reintroduced to several members of the Lotus MC: San Antonio, and their significant others, as well as the introduction of Sami’s daughter Farrah, and her ex Billy Abrahams.

LOYAL is a story of betrayal and vengeance, obsession and madness, secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is thought provoking, real and twisted; the romance is sensitive and lively; the characters are sassy, desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Cala Riley, better known as Cala and Riley, are a pair of friends with a deep seated love of books and writing. Both Cala and Riley are happily married and each have children, Cala with the four-legged kind while Riley has a mixture of both two-legged and four. While they live apart, that does not affect their connection. They are the true definition of family. What started as an idea that quickly turned into a full-length book and a bond that will never end.