My Chaotic Ramblings

Begin Again by Author Jennifer Probst #Available Now

2026-10-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Chloe Lake is finally living her dream. As the daughter of the Governor, she's consistently in the spotlight, and after being dubbed the Most Eligible Bachelorette of NYC, both her career and personal life have exploded. Fortunately, her work as an advocate for animal welfare requires constant publicity and funding — so she embraces her role and plays for the camera. Anything for the sake of her beloved rescues.

But when a big case is on the line, she's faced with the one obstacle she never counted on: the boy who broke her heart is back, and in order to gain justice, they need to work together.

Chloe swears she can handle it until old feelings resurface, and she's faced with a heartbreaking choice. Will this time end differently, or are they destined to be only each other's first love instead of forever?

Owen Salt fell hard for Chloe when he was a screwed-up kid in college, and spent the next years changing himself into the man his grandfather always believed he could be. But when his career led him across the country, he knew he needed to leave the woman he loved behind. He's never forgotten her — but as the new darling of the press, she's way out of his league.

When work brings him back to fight for justice by her side, he swears he can handle it. But he's never really gotten over his first love, and he wants one more opportunity to prove he's worthy.

Can Owen convince the woman who holds his heart to take a second chance on forever? Or is it too late for them both?

Begin Again is a second chance romance featuring a governor's daughter, a reformed bad boy turned animal rights attorney, and the first love neither of them ever stopped feeling.

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Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since.

She is the NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 60 books in contemporary romance fiction. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, spent 26 weeks on the NY Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website at www.jenniferprobst.com. Sign up of her newsletter to receive a free book.

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The Killer’s Apprentice by Briana Michaels

2026-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

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My track record as a k!ller is flawless until a bombshell crashes through a window, leaves fingerprints all over my crime scene, and k!lls my mark.

Lexi’s a tornado of rage and impulsivity, which is a death sentence in my line of work. But when she begs me to take her on as an apprentice, I accept the challenge because she wants revenge, and I’m a sucker for a k!ll list.

And though her skill set is impressive, it doesn’t intrigue me nearly as much as the secrets I know she’s keeping. They’re almost as dark as the ones I’m hiding.

Did I just meet my match or my worst nightmare?

Lexi wants to be a k!ller like me. Fine. I’ll arm her to the teeth and set her loose on the monsters she’s hunting. But there’s one lesson she needs to learn first: Trust no one.

Not even me.

♦ ♦ ♦

Briana Michaels is the author of several contemporary, paranormal, why choose, and fantasy romance series. Best known for her spicy contemporary, Glitch, she spends her days creating worlds, putting her characters through hell and back, and making readers fall in love with morally grey heroes who empower their women in every way. With the love and support of her amazing hype-man husband and two incredible kids, she’s chasing her dreams like she chugs her tea — with glee all day, every day.

To find out more, go to: www.BrianaMichaels.com or visit her Facebook page: Facebook.com/BrianaMichaelsAuthor for the latest news.

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Hades' Revenge by Ella Jade #New Release

2026-09-23T14:27:51.745-04:00

Title: Hades' Revenge

Series: Morally Gray Gods #1

Author: Ella Jade

Genre: Dark Romance

Tropes: Age Gap/Father's Enemy/Daddy Vibes

Release Date: September 23, 2026

BLURB

When a vicious assassin is banished from the only life he’s ever known, he starts over only to be tempted by the goddaughter he hasn’t seen in almost twenty years.

Hades

Vindictive, malicious, some would even say sadistic…

I couldn’t argue with any of those assessments. We are who we are. I’m a vengeful assassin who will stop at nothing to make those who wronged me pay. And I’m thirsty for revenge.

Eighteen years ago, I took the fall for a man who was like a brother to me. I even vowed to protect his daughter by becoming her godfather— and then he betrayed me.

Two decades later, his daughter, now a stunning woman, strolls into my life, having no idea who I am or what I’m capable of. Capri takes an unhealthy interest in me, the older and dangerous man, and I don’t do anything to discourage her. I welcome her obsession because it suits me.

When her infatuation with me grows stronger, I prove just how vindictive, malicious, and sadistic I really am. Is she the opportunity I need to enact my revenge against her father or is she the reason I finally let this vendetta go?

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USA Today Bestselling author Ella Jade writes dark mafia romances with dominating mob bosses, the strong women who challenge them, and suspenseful twists that keep her readers turning the pages.

When she isn’t reading or writing sexy, angsty, and intense words, she indulges in a well-crafted martini and binge watches episodes of Dallas, Falcon Crest, and Dynasty, where she learned at an early age how to spin an old-school cliffhanger. She also enjoys spoiling her two chihuahua writing companions.

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Jazz Bang Boom by Will Okati #Teaser

2026-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Gay Cyberpunk Adventure Romance

Date Published: August 14, 2026

Riot’s attempt to teach his pretty lover to behave himself doesn’t… quite… go as planned.

Jazz loves pretty things and things that go BOOM. Tyger, AKA Riot, is a man on a mission, searching for the bits and pieces that’ll repair his damaged, bio-constructed DNA. It only makes sense for the happily mismatched lovers to turn airship pirates and sneak, snatch or con what they need, right?

Right. One problem. Occasionally Jazz gets a little too fond of explosives, and Tyger gets a tad too focused on his quest. When that happens, they need to vent a little steam. So to speak.

EXCERPT

T-minus sixty seconds. Really, it was bad manners to blow up a tea party, but some society dames were just asking for it. Jazz landed in the ornamental rose bushes outside his hostess's parlor window, gathered his heavy silk skirts around his knees, and ran like hell.

Not that he was worried. Jazz knew his explosives like he knew his way around the three-dimensional differential equations of a projected illusory field.

And wine. And perfume. What? Jazz prided himself on having layers.

He ticked off the seconds in his head, listening to an internal countdown. Right about now the aforementioned queens of "polite" society (and those who knew Jazz knew far better than to push a particular argument on behavior becoming to a lady and the mind-boggling double-standards that -- oh, anyway).

Jazz did enjoy traveling to different worlds and sampling the finest wines, velvets, songs and yes, incendiary devices from the thousands of cultures that flourished around the galaxies, but the next time his honey, Riot, wanted to spend time where good manners were forbidden in favor of good times? No thanks.

Where had he been? Oh, right. Crap! Cue the fine ladies screeching, coughing and sneezing, the last of a harmless fog floating out the window he'd helpfully, er, opened by jumping through, and they might have regained enough composure after the flash and bang that went with the smoke to have started complaining and oh, right.

Five, four, three, two --

Jazz managed to free himself of the pannier hoops just in time to dive under the cover of a cluster of almost-certainly-sacred ancient oak trees, before -- BOOM.

If a thing was worth doing, it was worth doing properly. "Proper." See what I did there?

This time, however, the dainty device of detonation had not been hidden in Jazz's decolletage (quite convincing cleavage, if he did say so himself). He'd set the charges long before smiling politely and pretending to enjoy a coin-sized cress sandwich in the ladies' salon.

BOOM.

There, that was the ticket! One for distraction, two to cause confusion to his enemies, e.g. the people in possession of A Thing Jazz Wanted, and a third to blow the ever-living fuck out of irritatingly secure locks that otherwise prevented his honey from wholesale liberation of a few deliciously prized goods.

POOF.

Oops. He'd forgotten the fourth bomb in the salon. Well, that one had been a bit spur of the moment. And a leetle more powerful. Enough to, say, jar loose some ripe pickings of his own, if he were lucky. All he needed to do was circle back around, and --

The discreet two-way comms device concealed in the cunning shape of a rosebud earring spoke to him. "Overkill, Jazz. Overkill."

"Spoilsport," Jazz said, and sneezed. "Let he who has never enjoyed the smell of C4 in the morning cast the first stone in a glass house."

"Excuse me?" The voice on the comms sounded amused. "You're high on adrenaline again, aren't you?"

"Pish, tosh, nonsense, and absolutely, yes. Perhaps that was overkill. Others could say I was in the wrong, but I can't blame me."

"You are a ridiculous man," the speaker said fondly.

"I know." Jazz preened. He sneezed again. "Tch. Plastique is one thing. Debris coated in dust is quite another. What about you, tick-tock man? Did you get what you came here for?"

"Stop calling me that," Riot said, quite clear -- even over the comms -- that he didn't mind in the least, and even had a soft spot in his heart for the nickname. "Yeah, I got what I needed. And then some. Wasn't easy to find and I had to pay a price, but it was worth it."

Jazz enjoyed a ripple's worth of goosebumps. He anticipated all sorts of good things once back on board the Sarah-Jessica-No-Parking. A triumphant Riot made for a feisty Riot with his blood running hot and his body all-systems-go. He employed the same affectionate tone when he replied, "Tell that to the watercress and unspiced kimchi I had to eat to make nice with my hostess."

"The one you just blew up?"

"Unspiced kimchi," Jazz repeated.

"The trials and tragedies you face, darlin'."

"Darn right. This piece of the puzzle you went after -- tell me about it," he coaxed.

"Later. For the moment --"

"Yes, yes. Run and keep running until you swoop in to save the day, and clear out of here before the smoke does?"

"You read my mind," Riot said, very dryly indeed but pleased. Almost purring.

Consider Jazz's curiosity piqued.

"I'm on my way." Such a tragedy, but the skirts had to go. Almost a full bolt of silk! Still, a man had to do what a man had to do, even when he'd tricked himself out in the finest of ladies' clothing.

Probably more so at such times. Hmm. He'd have to think about that more later. In the meantime, business. Beautiful, sparkly, gloriously shiny business! Jazz retrieved the pouches of more easily liftable and valuable trinketry from the panniers and pushed them into his reticule.

"Jazz? When I said run, that wasn't a suggestion."

Oh! Right. "And what'll you be doing while I skedaddle? How will I know if I'm being rescued by the right man?"

"I'll be the one dangling out of an airship with a rope and a half-cocked plan."

"Easily recognizable," Jazz said happily. Wait. "How long a rope? How high do the airships go?" Wouldn't exactly Be Done to whip off the 3-D fooler facade, and on this steampunk aficionado's wet dream of a world the airships he'd seen before had to go quite high indeed --"Riot? How high?"

"High enough I'll make it worth your while to man up and climb. And," Riot purred, "when I say 'worth your while' I mean, 'I plan to punish you, then fuck you three-quarters of the way through the nearest flat surface.'"

"I am so on my way now."

"Fast?"

"Darling, you have no idea." Jazz kicked off his heels. Not the shoes, mind, those gorgeous soft-supple open-calf boots of fawn-soft suede. Just the heels and pattens. "After all, who do you think you're talking to?"

Oh dear. Jazz heard a set of mastiffs on their way. Here I go again. Skirts, knees, running feet, check. Go time.

Fast.

About the Author

Willa Okati (AKA Will) is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a lifelong love of storytelling. Will's definitely one of the quiet ones you have to watch out for, though he -- not she anymore -- is a lot less quiet these days.

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

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Defense Mechanisms by Mo Kramer

2026-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Medical Thriller

Date Published: April 22, 2026

The end of disease is the end of humanity.

Can the destruction of humanity be prevented?

At an international medical conference, infectious-disease physician Noah Winter encounters the enigmatic Dr. Balodis—a visionary who claims to have engineered microbes capable of regenerating human cells, ending aging, and curing the world’s deadliest diseases.

But the miracle comes with a terrifying cost. Balodis plans to force humanity’s evolution—and reshape the world order. Once unleashed, the organisms mutate beyond control, spreading rapidly across the globe.

Hunted by intelligence agencies, mercenaries, and Balodis’s private army, Noah must expose the truth before the cure becomes a global extinction event.

Time is running out—and the cure may be humanity’s final mistake.

About the Author

Mo Kramer brings a background in medicine, communication, and psychology to the world of suspense fiction. After publishing several nonfiction books, Kramer makes a thriller debut with a chilling story of microbes, invisible threats, and the dangerous illusion of human control. Combining scientific realism with psychological suspense, this thriller keeps readers on edge while leaving disturbing questions behind long after the final page.

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Ride or Die by Author Delta James

2026-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

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𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱.

They say Grant Corbin’s death was just a bad ride.
I know better.

So, I lie my way onto the Southwest Circuit, posing as a journalist while I hunt for the truth behind my brother’s murder.

What I find instead is Colt Holloway.
Grant’s best friend.
The last man I should want.

Dark. Dangerous. Riding like he’s got nothing left to lose.

Colt already knows Grant was murdered. He’s been trying to prove it for weeks, chasing whispers about drugged bulls, stolen prize money, and a powerful man hiding behind the circuit’s biggest events.

Getting close to Colt is dangerous.
Lying to him is worse.

Because the deeper we dig, the uglier the truth becomes.

Fixed rides. Corrupt officials. Bulls turned into weapons.
And someone willing to kill anyone who gets too close.

The heat between us burns just as hard as the danger closing in—raw, reckless, impossible to resist.

But when Colt learns who I really am…

It won’t just destroy the investigation.

It might destroy us, too.

♦ ♦ ♦

If steamy alpha males, curvy heroines, and just the right amount of paranormal growl are your thing—meet your new favorite author: Delta James.

A USA Today bestselling queen of romantic suspense and paranormal heat, Delta writes fast-paced, heart-racing, panty-melting stories featuring strong women, dominant men, and more than a few fated mates. Whether it’s shifters howling in the wild or billionaires brooding in boardrooms, her books always bring the spice.

Delta didn’t grow up dreaming of writing romance. In fact, she launched her author career in 2018 after deciding her second act in life needed more passion… and possibly more bite. Since then? She’s published dozens of books across series like Wayward Mates, Otter Cove Shifters, Club Southside, Tangled Vines, and Mystic River Shifters—each one a decadent dive into danger, desire, and often, some well-placed discipline.

She lives in Florida with her pack of loyal basset hounds (aka editors with long ears and zero chill), and when she’s not writing steamy scenes or plotting revenge for her latest heroine, she’s probably riding horses, walking the beach, or white-water rafting—because why not?

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25 Bookish Confessions from a Chaos-Loving Reader

2026-07-19T19:49:39.242-04:00

25 Bookish Confessions from a Chaos-Loving Reader

Let’s be honest, being a bookworm isn’t always neat and tidy. Between towering TBR piles, emotional breakdowns over fictional characters, and the occasional impulse buy (okay, frequent), the reading life is chaotic in the best way. So here are 25 confessions from me, Melissa, your resident fantasy-romance addict and chaotic reviewer.

📚 Reading Habits

1. I’ve bought books just for the cover… and never read them.

2. I’ve read the same book twice and still forgot the ending.

3. I’ve stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish a book, then regretted nothing

4. I’ve DNF’d books halfway through and still reviewed them.

5. I’ve skipped chapters just to get to the romance.

6. I’ve read spoilers on purpose; sometimes I need emotional prep.

7. I’ve cried over characters like they were real people.

8. I’ve read five books at once and finished none.

9. I’ve judged a book by its first line, and been totally wrong.

10. I’ve reread my favorite scenes more than the actual book.

💘 Tropes & Emotions

11. I will never get tired of enemies-to-lovers. Ever.

12. I’ve rooted for the villain more than the hero.

13. I’ve fallen for morally gray characters and questioned my morals.

14. I’ve screamed at slow-burning romances to “just kiss already!”

15. I’ve loved “why choose” dynamics more than I care to admit.

16. I’ve forgiven toxic characters because they had a tragic backstory.

17. I’ve felt personally attacked by plot twists.

18. I’ve cried over found family tropes more than actual family drama.

19. I’ve read books just for the angst, and loved every second.

20. I’ve imagined alternate endings when the author betrayed me.

📝 Blogging & Bookish Life

21. I’ve written reviews while still emotionally wrecked.

22. I’ve posted book blasts for books I haven’t read (yet).

23. I’ve planned content and then ignored the plan completely.

24. I’ve joined blog tours just to discover new authors.

25. I’ve used my blog as therapy, and it works.

#NowLive Ruthless Vow by Brooke Summers

2026-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

···

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

Quinn Delaney becomes a bride only after her sister walks away, and two syndicates need the problem fixed. She is quiet, careful, and replaceable. Exactly what the alliance requires.

Lorenzo Mariano is the most dangerous man in the room, and he never pretends otherwise.

He gives Quinn his name, his protection, and his rules. He keeps his distance. He expects her to survive it.

She tries. But being overlooked hurts more than being hated.

When lies from Quinn's past reach Lorenzo before the truth can, the distance between them turns to ice. He married a stranger. Now he's not sure who he's living with.

𝗛𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗛𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲.

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿.

···

Brooke Summers writes Dark Mafia and MC Romance. Her Heroes are Alpha and her Heroines are all kickass! Sometimes she lets her alter ego out to play– Stella Bella! Where she writes all things steamy and taboo!

Brooke is a Londoner born and raised but she currently lives with my husband and her daughter in Ireland.

···

#𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 Prisoner, Book Two in the Russian Tattoos Series by Author K.M. Shehata

2026-04-14T10:00:00.004-04:00

♦ ♦ ♦

A Russian mafia romance laced with vengeance, loyalty, and a love that refuses to die.

Carter thought she escaped the Bratva.

She was dead wrong.

When her past with Vladimir Ivanov resurfaces, Carter is dragged back into a world ruled by power, secrets, and control—where walking away with a pulse is no longer an option.

Vladimir reigns as the Pakhan of the Ivanov Bratva, an empire built on blood, loyalty, and fear. He’s survived betrayal, war, and prison—but one woman still has the power to unravel him. As enemies close in and the Bratva turns against her, Vladimir has only one choice.

Protect Carter at all costs.

Even if it makes her his prisoner.

With a bounty on her head, Carter becomes both Vladimir’s greatest weakness and his most dangerous weapon. Bound together by obsession, survival, and a past neither can outrun, their connection deepens—blurring the line between protection and possession, love and captivity.

As a mafia war ignites in Russia, a rival Bratva boss wants Vladimir’s crown—and the woman he loves.

And he’s willing to burn everything to claim both.

♦ ♦ ♦

♦ ♦ ♦

♦ ♦ ♦

K.M. Shehata’s stories explore power, obsession, and relationships shaped by control, desire, and consequence. Known for blending emotional intensity with morally complex characters, she crafts narratives that pull readers in and refuse to let go.

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Redemption Road, Book Two in the Hell’s Raiders Series by Author Katie Ashley is 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

2026-04-13T10:00:00.003-04:00

♦ ♦ ♦

Born into a powerful political family, I’ve spent my life being sheltered by wealth and privilege. In an effort to fly free of my gilded cage, I embrace a relationship with a man my family would never accept–a biker bad boy from a notorious MC club. But my brief taste of freedom results in a betrayal that lands me trafficked into a hell on earth I never could have imagined.

Born and bred into the Hells Raiders MC, I’ve spent my life devoted to the club. With the President patch now stitched on my cut, I would give my life for my brothers. But when I become the unexpected savior of a rival club’s captive, I put everyone at risk with my personal mission to shelter Annabel from the madman who hunts her and the nightmares that torment her.

Despite being from two different worlds, we bond through our shared trauma. But as Anabel begins to heal, the glaring differences between our worlds become more evident. Can she ever accept the life I lead, or will I be forced to choose between the only life I’ve ever known and the woman I was never supposed to love?

♦ ♦ ♦

Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Top Three Best-Selling author of both Indie and Traditionally published books. She's written rockers, bikers, billionaires, manwhores with hearts of gold, New Adult, and Young Adult. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, her rescue mutts, Belle and Nova, and her cats, Mama Kitty, Joe, and Jake. She has a slight obsession with The Golden Girls, Shakespeare, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

She holds a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education and spent fourteen years teaching both middle and high school English, as well as a few adjunct college English classes.

Although she is a life-long Georgia peach, she loves traveling the country and world meeting readers.

♦ ♦ ♦

{Cover Reveal} Hades' Revenge by Ella Jade

2026-03-09T09:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Hades' Revenge

Series: Morally Gray Gods #1

Author: Ella Jade

Genre: Dark Romance

Tropes: Age Gap/Father's Enemy/Daddy Vibes

Cover Design: Dark City Designs

Model: Wander Aguiar

Release Date: September 23, 2026

BLURB

When a vicious assassin is banished from the only life he’s ever known, he starts over only to be tempted by the goddaughter he hasn’t seen in almost twenty years.

Hades

Vindictive, malicious, some would even say sadistic…

I couldn’t argue with any of those assessments. We are who we are. I’m a vengeful assassin who will stop at nothing to make those who wronged me pay. And I’m thirsty for revenge.

Eighteen years ago, I took the fall for a man who was like a brother to me. I even vowed to protect his daughter by becoming her godfather— and then he betrayed me.

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PRE-ORDER LINKS

$2.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

UNIVERSAL

AUTHOR BIO

USA Today Bestselling author Ella Jade writes dark mafia romances with dominating mob bosses, the strong women who challenge them, and suspenseful twists that keep her readers turning the pages.

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{Teaser} Impulse Caught by Emily Carrington

2026-03-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

A Sticks & Stones Romance

Marisburg Chronicles 9

M/M Romance Suspense

Date Published: March 6, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Riku takes charge in bed, but will he have any control over the day-to-day decisions of a marriage?

Money and status differences challenge Riku and Theo to find a middle ground. Their passion is white-hot, but their ideas of living comfortably are at odds. As their wedding nears, driven forward by Theo’s parents’ sense of guilt, Riku feels the old urge to run.

Riku refuses to give into this impulse at first, but as the comparison between his emotional scars and the mountains of Theo’s familial expectations grow, Riku fears running will be the only less-than-honorable course left to him.

Theo isn’t blind to Riku’s struggles but he doesn’t understand what’s wrong. Each time he reaches out, Riku reaches back, yet they never quite connect. Will their need for each other overcome their differences, or will their passion be subsumed by a wave of conflicting desires?

Excerpt

It was the day after the children had left for the summer. There would be ESY, of course, extended school year, but Riku hadn’t been asked to participate. He’d only been a teacher at the Colton school for the deaf since January, so it made sense he wouldn’t be first pick for ESY. He would have normally chewed over that until he was ill, but since Theo had gone back to work in February, they were living relatively comfortably. Riku’s student loans still put a squeeze on him, but he could manage without panicking.

He was sorting through papers posted on the walls. Most of them had gone home with their makers yesterday, but there were a few that hadn’t been collected. These he grouped into a folder he marked “leftover assignments” and stored for early September.

He glanced toward where Theo was wiping down desks, and Riku had to catch his breath. His fiancé was dressed in casual clothes, but he looked like a Greek statue come to life. Attired in a green T-shirt and jeans shorts, he looked younger than he was because of the cutoffs, but not like jailbait. He was thirty-two, having gained another year in mid-April. Unfortunately, Riku had also aged a year, so they were still a decade apart.

The brush of Theo’s medium brown hair on his green-clad shoulders made Riku think of a book he’d read in high school. It had been about a man who could sing magic into the world. His hair had been red as his Irish heritage, but the physical differences didn’t matter. Theo could definitely have sung magic into Riku’s heart, or anywhere else he chose. His broad shoulders stretched the T-shirt over his pectorals and his shorts showed off his long, muscular legs.

If they weren’t at school, Riku would have suggested they quit working and go goof off instead. Unfortunately, they weren’t in their rented room in Marisburg.

Turning his attention back to his chosen task, he went to the bookshelf and started organizing the books. Ninety percent of the books were in print, but the remaining ones were in print and braille, for his students who, like Theo, had Usher Syndrome or other hearing/vision challenges. He wasn’t the braille teacher, could barely feel the dots under his fingers, truth be told. Still, he liked the idea of providing all kinds of different access to literature. Probably that was part of what made him an effective English teacher.

With his back to Theo as he organized the books, he reflected that today most likely wouldn’t see the two of them making love.

Half a year ago, Theo’s parents, courtesy of his father’s quick tongue, had alienated themselves from their son. Mr. Billings had told Theo that if he could prove himself self-sufficient for six months, he would be welcomed back into the familial fold. Theo’s father had apologized, all but falling over his words in an attempt to retreat from the ultimatum but Theo had taken up the challenge.

Now it was the end of that six months. Theo hadn’t been out of communication with his parents, but certain topics, like his relationship with Riku, had been off-limits. As had his access to the family fortunes.

Theo had been, for the past six months, surviving on his own brilliant mind and on his ability to work from anywhere. Today, though, Theo would be reopening full communication with his parents.

Riku wasn’t sure if he should be dreading that time as much as he was.

It wasn’t that Theo hadn’t been talking to his parents. He just hadn’t accepted any monetary handouts from them, and he’d refused to discuss his relationship with Riku. It was easy to trust him, to believe he had suspended those ties temporarily. Theo was prideful and wouldn’t bend. Besides, the two of them had engaged in actual arguments about money, like any other couple.

Riku found himself smiling. Those fights had always ended in makeup sex, almost like they were a new kind of foreplay. He hadn’t always won the arguments, like the one they’d had about moving out of his ex’s house and into a rented room.

To save on money, he’d wanted to stay “just a little longer” despite the fact that they’d been sleeping on an air mattress in his ex’s living room. The word “uncomfortable” didn’t begin to define that situation but it had felt safe because Riku had been able to pay bills without worrying where he would rest at night.

Theo had ultimately been the hero of that fight because he’d shown Riku how selfish he was being. His lover had managed it without making Riku feel bad, which was almost a miracle.

So, why was he so tangled up about bringing the Billings parents back into the picture? They’d apologized for calling him Theo’s Asian fetish, which was apparently the worst offense in their eyes. Shouldn’t he forgive them?

No, he thought. There’s an essential disconnect between how I view the world and how they do. We can’t resolve that.

Hands closed on his shoulders, and he realized he’d been standing still instead of cleaning. He relaxed into the familiar touch of Theo’s skilled fingers as Theo began massaging his shoulders and that spot where he carried ninety percent of his tension, which was at the base of his skull. He must have been unmoving for quite a while because Theo, partially deaf and visually impaired as well, sometimes missed things that happened around him. He’d noticed today, though.

Riku turned and Theo dropped one hand into Riku’s palm. He signed, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m borrowing trouble,” he said and signed. He caught the light playing over Theo’s hair and reached up to touch a lock that had fallen in front of Theo’s eyes. “You’re gorgeous, you know that?”

“Thank you.” He laughed. “I do know, but I also am aware that you’re avoiding talking about whatever’s bothering you. What’s wrong?”

Riku shook his head, remembered Theo might not be able to see that, and answered, “I don’t want to talk about it here.”

“Maybe we should go home, and we should resume this cleaning tomorrow?”

He didn’t want to go back to the rented room and face Theo’s parents. “I’d better finish up here or it’s going to drag on all summer.”

“By yourself?”

“You can go back if you want,” Riku offered.

“Why don’t I stay with you, keep you out of your head?”

Riku hugged him, feeling the warmth of Theo’s skin on his forehead as he leaned against him. “I love you. Thank you for understanding how much I need you to be with me right now.”

Theo kissed him, angling his head so their noses didn’t bump. “I love you.” He smacked Riku’s hip lightly. “Now. Let’s get cleaning. I don’t just love you.” He signed into Riku’s hand. “I crave your touch.”

“And my mouth, I hope,” Riku signed back. “I’ve wanted to taste you for days.”

About the Author

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

Author’s Website

Emily on Facebook

Emily on Twitter

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[AUDIO PROMOTION] The Madman and His Broken Princess by Cora Reilly

2026-02-27T09:00:00.013-05:00

♦♦♦

🎙𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙮 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 & 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝘿𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣

🎙𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙮 𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙨

♦♦♦

Nestore Romano was achingly beautiful. A cruel, dark prince who only smiled when he could break his broken princess. His birthright destined him to rule over his kingdom. His indisputable fate until my father betrayed his oath and locked him in a cage to torture and humiliate. It was the end of Nestore. It was his rebirth too. I witnessed both.

He hated my last name for everything my father had done to him and his family. But me…

…he hated me for the single act of running away.

Amelia was the light in my eternal darkness.

Until she wasn’t.

Until she betrayed me like every other Lamorgese. I wouldn’t let her escape. I couldn’t, not when she was the only anchor to something I’d lost. My last salvation.

She would become my wife—the unwilling princess at my side.

I never wanted to make her pay for the scars her father had left.

But I would make her pay for breaking my heart.

♦♦♦

Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.

Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn't spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.

♦ ♦ ♦

{Teaser} Bedtime Stories Romance Box Set

2026-02-25T08:30:00.006-05:00

Bedtime Stories (#1)

Romance Box Set -- brought to you by Bedtime Stories Publishing

Date Published: February 27, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

This story’s about how Sam saved Troll’s Blog by coming up with one of the coolest ideas ever. Bedtime Stories Publishing…

Shelby Morgen -- Troll’s Blog: Perfect skin, dusted a light powder blue. Bright burgundy Mohawk. 6’4”. Dark blue uniform. Big shiny gun. Yeah. I’m the Troll under the bridge. But if you’re reading my blog, you know that. That’s why I call it Troll’s Blog. Duh. But I digress. This story isn’t about me. Not exactly. It’s about my blog. And Sam. And another one of Sam’s great ideas. You’re gonna love it. Really.

Lena Austin -- Ugly Duckling: Jean-Paul, incubus editor for Bedtime Stories Press has been assigned a new author. Dominick may be a fantastic author, but when he gets aroused, the situation gets ugly. Literally. Jean-Paul is sure he can handle Dom. Maybe…

Anne Kane -- Pixie’s Playmates: “While the story had an engaging quality, I feel that the flavor of the sex was too vanilla for Bedtime Stories Press.” When Bedtime Stories Press review coordinator Pixie calls the reviewer into the office she finds out “B.J. Smith” is really two very drool-worthy males who want to demonstrate their toys. What’s a pixie to do?

Marteeka Karland -- Shut Up! As official kitty of the Bar and Grille for the Bedtime Stories readers and authors, Callie has the last say in everything she does and with everyone in her vicinity. Then Troll makes a proclamation that could very well get someone killed. Anyone who can get the last word in on Callie gets to have his way with her in bed. It’s a proposition Eli can’t refuse. Callie’s about to get all the loving from Eli she can stand. If she can just shut up.

Note: Bedtime Stories in no way represents any actual publishing company. Any resemblance to the staff and authors of Changeling Press is purely coincidental.

That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.

Excerpt from Troll's Blog

I was so wrapped up watching the '50s vintage Harley coming toward me I didn't even notice he wasn't registering on my screen. As in 1950s. Well over a hundred years old, and still on the road. That machine was really flying. Well, no. Not really flying. That's an old euphemism for moving. Speeding.

God knows what he'd put in the tank. Probably running on moonshine. Nothing legal'd have it cranking like that. The sound of that motor purring down the road toward me had my blood heating up. I closed my eyes for a moment, ready to breathe in the scent of ancient exhaust.

Then it hit me. Sigh. No. Not literally hit me. My brain engaged -- enough to see the century-old motorcycle was not registering on my vid panel. Nothing. Flying completely under the radar. And he wasn't slowing down. In fact, the closer he got, the farther he laid himself out along that tank. Rider and cycle shot past me in one long black blur that had my mouth watering -- and my hand on my gun. He might be sexy as hell, all black leather stretched out long and lean over that tank, but nobody -- and I mean nobody -- runs the gate on my watch.

Alarms and sirens went off, and lights flashed down the next mile of bi-way, warning the felon that he'd best slow down and pull over before the Toll Collector caught up with him.

Not that he slowed in the least. In fact, I'd have bet a month's salary he gunned it about then.

Fine. If that's the way he wanted to play it, the chase was on.

Damn, but that view looked even better from behind.

I shook my head as I jumped into my patrol pod, a three-wheeled Flitter that was airborne at a safe hover of a half-meter or so by the time I got my Mohawk crammed into the cockpit and the door slammed shut. What the fuck was he thinking, trying to outrun a Toll Collector?

The bridge itself is a long, straight shot of highway with equally long approaches, spanning just under two kilometers of unquiet waters. This isn't just any bridge they've entrusted to me. No. It's the Golden Gate, linking Old San Francisco to Marin Co., California. One of the longest bridges in the world. One of the few still in constant operation. Sure, a lot of people use Flitters these days, rather than ground vehicles, but Flitters aren't exactly safe hovering over rough water, and the bay's never calm. So unless you've got a full pilot's license, and something jet propelled, if you're going south, you've got to pass over my bridge.

And pay my toll. Which this asshole had elected not to do.

I'm not exactly an inexperienced pilot. I know my bridge like she was my baby. She's 2.7 kilometers, from abutment to abutment, laid out straight and true as an arrow shot from a master's bow. We crossed her in just under one minute, and if I hadn't been so pissed off, I'd have been scared shitless.

Yeah, even a Troll can experience fear. Doesn't happen often, I'll admit, but chasing that leather-clad backside across that bridge through sheering winds high above some of the roughest, coldest water this side of hell at 200 KPH is more of a thrill than even a Troll is used to.

I could tell, too, from the way he hugged that tank, that he was really getting off on the chase. Every time the wind hit him he'd roll his shoulders, leaning back into it like he was riding a lover. He glanced back at me once, facemask lifted enough for me to see him grin. I'd bet my pension he had a boner the size of his ego. When I caught this idiot of a Human he was going to get a piece of a little more than my mind. I might even resort to police brutality -- before I friggin' killed him.

No Human scares a Troll and gets away with it.

About the Authors

Anne Kane: Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description and an Aussie Shepherd who’s too smart for her own good. Anne likes to write spicy stories with sassy heroines and protective, sexy male heroes who love those women. Her stories all have one thing in common: a happily ever after ending.

Lena Austin: Someone cursed Lena Austin with "may you have a life so full you'll have many tales to tell your grandchildren." Lena's a "fallen" society wench with a checkered past. She's been a licensed minister, hairdresser, Realtor, radio DJ, exotic dancer, telephone service tech, live-steel medievalist swordswoman, BDSM Mistress, and investment property manager. Not necessarily in that order. She never finished that degree in marine archaeology, but did learn to scuba -- she's got a lifetime of "Research material!"

Marteeka Karland: International bestselling author Marteeka Karland leads a double life as an action romance writer by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending.

Shelby Morgen: Shelby Morgen loves writing offbeat tales that defy as many rules as possible.

She likes chocolate with her peanut butter, suspense with her romance, and kink with her sex, and she’s always had a hard time keeping murder, motorcycles, science fiction, fantasy and paranormal from mixing with her kink.

Find Anne on Facebook

Find Marteeka on Facebook

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

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

Pre-Order Today

Staying for La Lluvia, Book One in the Ritmo y Pasión Series by Author Shelly Cruz

2026-02-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

♦ ♦ ♦

𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. 𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩….

Rocío Fontana has spent her career winning in court, but her personal life just hit rock bottom. Newly divorced and jaded, the brilliant divorce lawyer watched her marriage go down in flames, and now she’s ready to use that heat to reawaken her dormant desires. Determined to revive the vibrant, sexual woman buried under years of betrayal, she seeks out a spark to remind her what it feels like to be wanted. What was supposed to be a single, no-strings-attached night in Miami becomes a sensory awakening she never saw coming.

Reggaeton superstar, Xavier Delgado, is a man on the mend. After a downward spiral of addiction nearly cost him his throne, he’s finally clean, back in the studio, and planning his comeback tour. But he hasn't been able to find his rhythm since the night he met a woman who walked out of his bed and vanished into the Miami night. He thought he was done with the cravings but finds himself addicted to the memory of the one woman who didn't want his fame, just his fire.

When their worlds collide, Rocío realizes her “rebound” is a global icon ten years her junior. At forty-one, she’s learning to trust herself again, but can she trust a man who lives in a world of screaming fans and constant temptation? One night changed everything. Will their connection be a fleeting rhythm or a song that’s meant to last forever?

♦ ♦ ♦

Shelly Cruz is a Latina lawyer living the sunny South Florida life with her husband and their adorable rescue pup Dalia. She survives on cafecito, yerba mate, and a whole lot of lipstick. Author of Nine Years Gone and Amor in the 305, Shelly loves exploring all things love and relationships by weaving tales of Latin flavor and undeniable heat into stories that captivate and ignite. When she’s not immersed in her fictional worlds or navigating legal briefs, you’ll probably catch her speaking Spanglish, reading, traveling, or cruising on the back of her husband’s Harley.

♦ ♦ ♦

{Teaser} Enemies with Benefits by Wanda Violet O.

2026-02-23T08:30:00.005-05:00

Sanctum Black (#1)

A Razor’s Edge Enemies to Lovers BDSM Erotica Short

BDSM Erotica

Date Published: February 27, 2026

Publisher: Changeling Press

Power made them enemies. Desire makes them reckless. One surrender changes everything.

Mira: Elias Hartmann is a billionaire power player and my biggest professional obstacle. Six months of brutal negotiations turned into six months of tension I refuse to name. Every meeting is a battle. Every look feels like a challenge I shouldn’t want to accept. Then I receive an invitation to Sanctum Black. A private sex club where power, and desire collide. When Elias appears, I should leave. Instead, I let him show me exactly how thin the line is between control and surrender. Outside, we’re enemies fighting for the upper hand. Inside, I give him everything I pretend I don’t crave.

Elias: Mira Calder doesn’t bend. She dismantles. Brilliant, relentless, and impossible to ignore. I wanted her from the first meeting. Not romance. Not dates. I wanted to break her composure and earn her surrender. Sanctum Black gives us rules, boundaries, and privacy with no consequences. Just heat, power, and obsession in a safe, anonymous environment. She’s my equal in the boardroom. In the dark, she’s mine to challenge and claim. Enemies to lovers. High-stakes power play. One mistake neither of us can afford to walk away from untouched.

Excerpt

Mira

The moment I crossed the threshold of my apartment, I kicked off my heels, not caring where they landed. My feet throbbed with the special kind of pain reserved for women who spent twelve hours in Italian leather torture devices, all for the sake of standing eye-to-eye with men who confused height with authority. The negotiation with Elias Hartmann had dragged on until sunset, both of us refusing to yield on key points until our respective teams were practically falling asleep at the table. I’d won this round, but victory felt hollow when measured against the ache behind my eyes.

“Fuck it,” I muttered to no one, dropping my briefcase on the entryway bench. My apartment greeted me with familiar silence, the kind I usually found comforting after days filled with strategic verbal combat. Tonight, though, it felt like just another empty space.

I shrugged off my blazer and hung it with more care than I’d shown my shoes. Six hundred dollars of tailored wool deserved better, even if I couldn’t muster the energy to pick up my heels, which were now scattered across my polished hardwood floor. My blouse came next, the top three buttons already undone during the elevator ride up. Freedom, in small increments.

The wine rack in my kitchen called to me like a beacon. I selected a Cabernet I’d been saving, though I couldn’t remember why. Some mythical special occasion that never materialized. The cork came free with a satisfying pop that echoed in my silent kitchen.

I didn’t bother with a glass at first, taking a generous swig straight from the bottle. Only after that initial hit did I pour properly, the dark liquid swirling as I carried it to my living room. The tension in my neck had transformed into something solid, a concrete weight pressing down on my spine. I rolled my head, feeling vertebrae pop in protest.

Elias fucking Hartmann. The man was infuriating. Brilliant, undoubtedly, but maddening in a way that made me want to either slap him or…

I cut that thought off, unwilling to follow where it led. Six months of negotiations over this acquisition, and the progress we’d made could be measured in millimeters. Every concession was a battle, every clause scrutinized with microscopic closeness.

I raised my wine glass to take a healthy pull. I couldn’t deny the grudging respect I’d developed for my opponent. He had a mind like a steel trap and eyes that missed nothing. Including, I suspected, the way my breath sometimes caught when he leaned too close across the conference table.

I massaged my temples, pressing hard enough to make little starbursts appear behind my closed eyelids. Professional attraction was a complication I didn’t need. Especially not with someone whose corporate ambitions directly opposed my client’s interests.

Something caught my eye as I passed entryway table. A black envelope, sleek and heavy, with a minimalist gold emblem stamped in the corner. I froze, wine glass halfway to my lips. It definitely hadn’t been there this morning.

Setting down my glass, I approached the envelope cautiously, as though it might bite. My building had excellent security, a key consideration when I’d purchased the apartment. Someone placing this here meant either my security had been compromised, or…

I picked it up, feeling the substantial weight of the cardstock. Expensive. The gold emblem caught the light, an ornate “SB” intertwined in a design that managed to suggest both elegance and something darker. No postage, no address. Just my name in metallic ink that gleamed under my fingertips.

I slid my finger under the flap, breaking the wax seal that I hadn’t initially noticed. Inside was a single card of the same heavyweight black stock, text printed in the same gold ink.

To: Ms. Mira Calder
You are cordially invited to Sanctum Black, where discretion meets pleasure without judgment. Your reputation for excellence has been noted by our selection committee. Should you choose to accept, present this invitation at 1158 Blackwood Avenue at 10 PM this evening.
Boundaries respected. Desires fulfilled.
Sanctum Black
Your privacy is our sacred covenant
HW George
Concierge

I turned the card over, looking for more information, but found only the same emblem from the envelope. Sanctum Black. I’d heard whispers about it in certain circles. Sanctum Black was an exclusive club where the elite could shed their public personas. Not exactly a sex club, but definitely not a simple social club either. The kind of place where people went when they wanted experiences they couldn’t get elsewhere, with the absolute certainty that what happened there would never leave its walls.

My analytical mind immediately began dissecting how my name had reached their “selection committee.” Who had recommended me? What did they know about me that made them think I’d be interested? And more importantly, who else might I encounter there?

About the Author

Welcome to Wanda Violet O.'s world of bedtime fantasy, where you'll find a variety of sexy creatures ready to drink their fill. Wanda specializes in extreme kink. Monsters, BDSM role play... she's got it all. Come take a look for yourself!

Wanda on Facebook

Wanda on Goodreads

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

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

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{Excerpt Reveal} Taylor's Father by Penelope Ward

2026-02-20T12:52:00.001-05:00

Title: Taylor's Father

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Age Gap (17 Years), Best Guy Friend's Father

Single Dad, Forbidden, Second Chance

Protective Hero, Sassy Heroine

Release Date: February 22, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

When my best friend Taylor gifted me a vacation at a resort owned by his grandparents, the last thing I expected was to bond with a man seventeen years older.

Tate was also vacationing alone.

He’d come to Midnight Key to clear his head and reevaluate his life.

I’d come to get over my high school sweetheart who’d dumped me.

I’d spotted the brawny, tattooed Adonis in the lobby on the first day and thought he had to be someone’s hot dad.

But then we matched on an app that paired single men and women by proximity.

The problem was? At nineteen—almost twenty—I’d lied and said I was twenty-nine.

Tate outed me on our first date, and I fessed up to my real age.

But we continued to run into each other.

And eventually we found our connection was too magnetic to deny.

While we agreed to only use first names and to part ways at the end of the trip, I’d really fallen for Tate.

I never forgot him and knew he was the one who got away.

Remember that guy friend who gifted me the trip?

Well, four years later, Taylor got married.

He’d been estranged from his dad for years, though recently they’d reconnected.

What I didn’t know was that the man I’d had that torrid affair with at the resort would be standing next to Taylor in the receiving line.

My dream man Tate? Was Taylor’s father.

GOODREADS

BOOKBUB

PRE-ORDER LINKS

$3.99 for a limited time!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Will be FREE to read in Kindle Unlimited

AUDIOBOOK

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

The current paperback pre-order is for the special-edition cover only. A model-cover paperback will be live on release day.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

17-YEAR AGE GAP

BEST GUY FRIEND'S FATHER

SINGLE DAD

FORBIDDEN

SECOND CHANCE

PROTECTIVE HERO

SASSY HEROINE

EXCERPT

By Penelope Ward

The next morning, I woke up happier than I’d been in a long time.

The prospect of seeing Tate again filled me with anticipation. It was a wonder I’d gotten any sleep.

His words from last night still replayed in my head over and over.

“A responsible person wouldn’t be struggling with whether to protect you or eat you.”

God, I hoped he ultimately chose the latter.

We hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers, so I was pleased to see a message come through the dating app from him.

Tate: I’m heading down to breakfast in a few. Care to join me?

Blair: Only if you order me four different kinds of beverages to choose from. BTW, it’s never too early for an espresso martini.

Tate: You’re about two years too early.

I laughed as I typed.

Blair: Very funny.

Tate: See you in a few?

Blair: Maybe…

Tate: Brat.

Blair: You like that about me.

Tate: You’re not wrong.

My mouth hurt from smiling.

When I got downstairs, I saw Tate before he saw me. He sat at a table with a huge pile of food spread before him. How did this man look even more hot today? He wore his baseball hat backward, which was absolutely my weakness. The way pieces of his hair poked out the sides? Scrumptious. Every look he’d rocked was sexier than the last.

I walked over to where he was sitting. “Hey, you.”

He gave me a once-over, and his eyes filled with something that seemed a hell of a lot like desire as he appraised the floral sundress I wore, the top of which was held up by two skimpy strings. My current look wasn’t as dramatic as last night’s, though. Today I had gone for fresh-faced and sassy.

“Well, hello.” He smiled. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a baby…”

“No comment.”

“You’d better not.” I took the seat across from him. “How did you sleep?”

“Best sleep I’ve had in a while, actually.”

“Must have been the company you kept the night before.”

“I did have an amazing time with you last night.” Tate smiled.

He seemed genuine, and I felt myself blush. “Likewise.” I gestured to the food. “Hungry much?”

There were eggs, bacon, a huge stack of pancakes, home fries, and fruit.

“All of this is for both of us. Have you seen that buffet line? I waited for like twenty minutes. Didn’t want you to have to do the same.”

“Well, I guess I win for being fashionably late. Thank you.” I grinned. “Between the variety of drinks the first time we met and this private buffet, I’m starting to think this is your thing—hoarding food.”

He gestured to the plates. “Eat up.”

How I wish I could.

For some reason, I wasn’t all that hungry—at least for food. But it was amusing to watch this big, strong man devour his breakfast.

“What are your plans today?” I asked as he munched.

“Depends on whether a certain girl wants to hang out with me.”

“I wasn’t gonna be presumptuous. You’re the one who’s been resistant.”

“Only to certain things and for your own good,” he clarified. “I’m not resistant to your company in the least. I quite like it.”

“So what’s another safe activity we can do so you don’t have to feel like a creeper?”

Tate stopped chewing for a moment. “I was thinking maybe we could go kayaking, if you’re up for it.”

My mouth curved into a smile. “I would love that, actually.”

In truth, I could take or leave kayaking. But any activity where I’d be in close proximity to Tate today was fine by me.

“Cool. I already booked it.”

“Now you’re the one being presumptuous.”

“Maybe, yeah.” He winked before stuffing a big piece of pancake into his mouth.

Never thought I could be jealous of a pancake, but here we were.

I reached my fork across the table and began eating off his plate. As I leaned forward, I accidentally rested my foot on top of his at one point. To my surprise, he didn’t move it away. The contact sent a rush of desire through me.

I popped a piece of pineapple into my mouth. “Do anything interesting when you got back to your room last night?”

“Not particularly.” He chewed.

“After what you said about contemplating eating me, I think you might be lying.”

He stopped mid-bite and shook his head. “Even if I did do what you’re implying, I wouldn’t admit it.”

“I’m pretty sure you just did.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your face is red. You’re fidgeting. The signs are all there.”

I strategically selected a banana, holding it firmly in my hand as I slowly peeled it and took a big bite. Tate’s eyes remained fixed on me the entire time. “It was the only way I could sleep,” I added.

He nearly choked on his coffee.

“What you said riled me up,” I told him.

“Some things can remain private.” He glared. “You know?”

“So, you don’t want to know about my soothing Epsom salt foot soak?”

Tate reached across the table, grabbed my banana, and took a frustrated bite.

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

AUTHOR LINKS

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[RELEASE PROMOTION] Hushed Harmony by Kaylene Winter

2026-02-09T09:00:00.011-05:00

♦ ♦ ♦

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

I spend my life chasing sound. Grit, feedback, the moment a crowd holds its breath.

Fireball is the only thing I’ve built without it turning on me. Everything else stays locked tight.

Then Linus O’Donnell comes back.

My first real love.

The one man who knows exactly how I break.

The one I never stopped wanting.

Avonna doesn’t need an entrance.

She coaxes me past my defenses into truth.

Raw. Unfiltered. Impossible to ignore.

What starts as music turns carnal fast.

Late nights. Sweat-soaked rehearsals. Heat carrying into every chord.

Desire doesn’t divide. It multiplies.

I want them both.

Bodies. Loyalty. A future. The way we fit once the world goes quiet.

The problem?

It never does.

I lie. I stall. I pretend control is possible.

Some harmonies refuse to stay hushed.

𝙃𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚-𝙝𝙤𝙩, 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙮𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.

♦ ♦ ♦

Kaylene Winter is a best-selling author of steamy, contemporary romance.

Each character-driven novel is filled with snappy dialogue, pop-culture references and enough steam to make you fan yourself. Kaylene weaves authenticity, emotion and angst into a turbulent rollercoaster ride of love, passion and soul-searing romance always ending with a delicious HEA.

Kaylene lives in Seattle with her amazing Irish husband and her Pomsky, Phalen. She loves creating art of all kinds.

♦ ♦ ♦

[RELEASE PROMOTION] Shattered to Pieces by Shevaun DeLucia

2026-01-29T10:00:00.014-05:00

♦ ♦ ♦

Running scared is what Skylar Kramer had been doing her whole entire life and now she’s running to protect her son from Antonio Castro – the man who fooled her into a sense of security and safety only to become her tormentor and now his prey.

Skylar trusted in the wrong man which almost cost her life, and now after making a vow to herself to never trust another soul, she refuses to make that mistake again. Love and friendships are not in the cards for her any longer – then he comes along, slowly ripping down her walls changing everything.

Neal Caruso is career oriented, a natural protector, and a cop. It’s his job to witness the wicked and after answering a call one night years ago, he hasn’t been able to get her off his mind. Skylar has haunted his dreams for years but out of pure luck they cross paths again and this time Neal refuses to let her walk out of his life. He plans to do whatever it takes to protect them, no matter what the cost.

♦ ♦ ♦

Shevaun DeLucia lives in upstate New York with her husband, and two boys while also enjoying spending time with her two grown children who have already left the nest. As a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, she fell in love with reading. She indulged in the small moments that took her away from the reality of her loud, overly rambunctious household, bringing her into a world of fantasy. When reading wasn’t enough to satisfy her, she turned to writing, determined to create the perfect ending of her own.

♦ ♦ ♦

[RELEASE PROMOTION] Poisoned Empire & Redeeming Vow by Jo McCall

2026-01-26T10:00:00.005-05:00

♦ ♦ ♦

𝗣𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 (𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝘄𝗼):

They thought I was weak.

A pawn in their twisted game.

Insignificant. Disposable.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.

𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗼𝘄 (𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲):

I am no one’s pawn.

I’ve come back stronger. Fiercer.

A warrior. A queen.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲…

𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀.

♦ ♦ ♦

Jo McCall writes dark, contemporary and paranormal romance with a mafia focus.

A paramedic for over ten years, Jo traded in her stethoscope for paper and pen after an injury left her unable to finish out her career.

She is an avid reader of anything dark and steamy and when she isn’t writing, you can find her making a rather large dent in her TBR.

She is a lover of strong but vulnerable heroines who find their own and hot, sexy alpha males who might be a tad bit over-possessive. Jo loves to lose herself in her characters and the flaws and darkness that surround them.

There is no shame found here, and she often gets lost when writing out those erotic, steamy scenes that make women’s (and men’s) fantasies come true.

“There is nothing like getting lost in something you know is wrong, but still can’t resist.”

Jo currently resides in the beautiful state of Washington with her two dogs.

♦ ♦ ♦

{Release Promotion} Merciless Betrayal by Anise Storm

2026-01-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

♦ ♦ ♦

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧

I’d always known I’d never be part of his world, but I tried anyway.

And what should’ve been the happiest time of my life turned into Hell.

Back then, I didn’t know the true lengths a Brannington would go.

It’s why I’d fled and never looked back. Until now. Until I see him again.

I’d once thought that we were soulmates, but it had all been a delusion.

And now, it’s more than my heart I must protect. I must protect our child.

Cillian has changed from the boy I’d once known. He’s more dangerous.

And he’s out for more than blood. He wants to break me - heart and soul.

Only, they’re no longer mine to give. They’ve always been only his.

𝐂𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

She was considered beneath me by my family. I’d never given a damn.

Despite a foolish and desperate move, my grandfather enacted an evil plan.

I’d tried protecting Reagan, but I’d ultimately failed her, and I’d failed us.

Until ten years later when I come face to face with a ghost from my past.

She might be using a different name, but I would know her anywhere.

Her betrayal reignites a spark in a heart that I’d thought died alongside her.

And now love doesn’t fill me. Anger and retribution does instead.

I want to make her pay for her betrayal, but I’m not faultless in her eyes.

In the world of an eye for an eye, this battle might be a heart for a heart.

♦ ♦ ♦

Anise Storm is a USA Today Bestselling author of Contemporary and Dark Romance. A Southern transplant, Anise is married with children. She has a love of football, shoes, and tall, dark heroes. When not spending time with family or traveling, she can be found either curled up with a good book or writing.

♦ ♦ ♦

{Blitz} By Dawn: The 13th House by Martha Wickham

2026-01-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

Horror/paranormal

Date Published: 11-22-2025

Nine Tales. Nine Secrets. All Before Dawn.

In the shadow of Bloomstone Manor, a dilapidated estate hauntingly known as "Lily Lane", the veil between the living and the dead is impossibly thin. This collection of nine paranormal mystery stories explores inheritances, dark family legacies, and spectral demands, all bound by the Manor's enduring, dark influence.

This Halloween, meet the three students who dare to knock on the door of "The 13th House"—a black, unnumbered prison that holds the sinister secrets of the past. Their trick-or-treating leads them to a terrifying collection of artifacts: a bent spoon, a rusted key, and a doll's eye. Every artifact is a clue left by a child who vanished, whispering pleas for help from beyond the grave. The teens must solve the mystery and free the spirits before the night's magic fades, or they might become the next secret the old house keeps.

Every house has a debt. Every ghost has a tether. Uncover the restless spirits and broken promises that demand attention and resolution. When the clock strikes dawn, the secrets settle back into the dust and the lilies—and it may be too late.

Excerpt

Night of the Spirits

Anthony pushed through the thick brush that had swallowed the old path. His friends told him the house was hidden somewhere ahead, rumored to be haunted. When he finally saw it, the place looked half-demolished, with climbing walls that had paint curling and peeling. Yet every window was perfectly intact.

He opened the front door. Stale, cold air rushed out, thick with dust. His footsteps echoed through the empty living room.As he moved down the hallway, the front door suddenly slammed. He spun around and ran back, and in that moment, he was sure he heard a whisper: Sam.The door wouldn’t budge. He was trapped. He tried the windows too none of them opened.

Again, the whisper came, louder this time. Sam.

“Who’s Sam? I’m not Sam!” he shouted.

A hiss answered him, followed by footsteps upstairs. Heart pounding, he raced up the stairs. At the top, he stopped and listened. The footsteps were clear, moving steadily into an empty room. He followed them.

Moonlight spilt across the floor through a bare window. The invisible footsteps crossed the room and came to a stop at the closet. Inside, there was only a small box containing a single book. The spirits wanted him to find it; maybe it would explain everything.

He lifted the book. It was an old, battered ledger. Inside, a name was written: Samuel. He began to read.I made a promise to the spirits trapped here. One of them is buried downstairs. I swore I would help free them with my rituals. I study the occult, and they own a golden statue worth a fortune. It must be used in the ritual. If I hide it now, I can return for it later. No one alive will see me take it.

Anthony reached deeper into the box and pulled out a loose page, a torn sheet from another book. It carried a chant and the instructions for a ritual to free spirits.A freezing gust swept through the room. Then a booming voice declared:“Complete the ritual by dawn, or be trapped here forever!”

“What am I supposed to do?” he asked the spirit.

Once again, he heard footsteps descending the stairs and followed them. Near the kitchen, the basement door creaked open. He cautiously stepped down the dark basement steps and saw the cloud-like spirit hovering over a crypt in the floor, where it looked like a ritual had been started over someone’s grave. Candles and matches were scattered nearby.

About the Author

Martha Wickham has a knack for finding the ghosts hidden in the dust. A lifelong student of the arcane and the artistic, Martha has an Associate's Degree and professional writing credentials, but she honed her skills in the thrilling shadows of screenwriting and horror. Martha lives for the secrets that only come out "By Dawn". You can discover more of her work, including her newest audiobooks, at your favorite retailer.

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{Teaser Tuesday} ACE by Harley Wylde

2026-01-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

(Savage Raptors MC)

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: January 9, 2026

He’s the calm before the storm. She’s the chaos that makes him feel alive.

Marci: Running only works for so long when the devil hunting me wears a badge. I’ve spent a year hiding behind fake names and cheap motel rooms, praying I could disappear. Bryson Corners was supposed to be a quiet stop before I ran again.

Then I walk into The Broken Spoke and meet Ace. He looks at me and I feel safe… and I believe him. I shouldn’t. Attachment gets people killed. But every time he touches me, every time he stands between me and the world, I want to stay instead of run.

Ace: I’ve learned the hard way that peace never lasts. Managing the bar keeps me steady -- until Marci walks in, scared and stubborn and pretending she doesn’t need anyone. She’s mine before I can stop it.

She’s running from something brutal, and whoever wants her will have to go through me -- and through the Savage Raptors MC. I’ve fought for my brothers, my patch, my life… but for her?

I’ll burn the world down.

An emotional age-gap MC romance full of danger, loyalty, and the kind of love that takes root and refuses to let go.

EXCERPT

Marci

The Honda’s engine ticked while heat faded, each sharp sound far too loud in the afternoon quiet. I sat behind the wheel, hands locked around the steering wheel, knuckles white, and counted my breaths the way I’d trained myself to do whenever panic climbed my throat. One. Two. Three. The parking lot stretched empty before me except for a single pickup truck near the building’s entrance, and I’d already checked every mirror twice to make sure no one had followed me here.

The Broken Spoke hunched low under the Oklahoma sky, weathered boards faded from sun and storms, neon sign quiet during daylight hours. The whole place looked tired and rough around the edges, the kind of bar where broken people carried wounds behind their eyes, where forgetting felt easier than healing.

I peeled my fingers from the steering wheel, joints stiff from the grip. Shaking returned, small at first, then stronger once my focus locked on the tremor. Two years of this -- two years since I’d walked away from everything I knew, carrying only a backpack and clothes from a life better left behind. I learned to hide the tremor. Learned to keep my hands busy, to move like I belonged anywhere, even on days when my balance barely held.

A Help Wanted sign waited in the window, same place I saw yesterday during a slow drive through town. I had bartended, waitressed, cleaned houses, taken any job paying cash, asking no questions. Those jobs kept me fed and moving forward. My ribs remembered hunger. My heart remembered the way loss hollowed me out.

I drew a breath rough enough to scrape my throat and reached for the door handle. One step at a time. Survive first. Trust later.

I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat and checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. Blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup except a touch of lip gloss I’d worried off an hour ago. I looked tired. I looked like someone who’d been running for too long. But I also looked ordinary, forgettable, and the point settled heavy in my chest.

The door handle felt slick under my palm as I pushed the door open. Heat washed over me in an instant, thick afternoon warmth turning every breath into work. I locked the car -- muscle memory by now, even though nothing inside held any value -- and started across the parking lot.

Each step carried a quiet prayer for a place where I could disappear, earn enough to survive, and not draw attention. Ordinary helped. Forgettable kept doors from slamming in my face. I clung to both, even when my heart begged for something more.

Gravel crunched under my sneakers. I kept my gaze moving, scanning the tree line beyond the building, the road I’d just come from, the shadows under the eaves where someone could wait unseen. Old habits. Survival instincts kept me alive this long. I couldn’t let go of those instincts, no matter how hard I tried to believe safety waited here for me.

The hinges announced my entrance in a drawn-out creak, a sharp warning dragging tension through my shoulders. Inside, the bar sat dim and cool, the smell of old beer and wood polish settling over me like a memory I didn’t know I needed. My eyes took a moment to adjust, shapes forming slowly from the gloom. Tables and chairs. A long bar, bottles lined up behind the counter. A jukebox quiet in the corner, waiting for someone brave enough to wake the music.

A small part of me wanted to collapse into the comfort promised by that familiar scene. A larger part stayed on guard, ready for danger around every shadow. Hope and fear fought under my skin, and neither side won.

And a man.

He straightened from a crouch beside a stack of crates, turning toward me in an unhurried movement conveying complete awareness of his surroundings. Tall -- easily over six feet. Broad through the shoulders from real labor, not hours in a gym. Dark hair needing a cut, hazel eyes finding mine and holding my gaze through an intensity strong enough to steal a breath from my lungs.

“We’re closed.” His voice was deep, measured. It didn’t need to be raised to command attention.

“I saw the sign. The Help Wanted sign. I was hoping to talk to someone about the position.”

He studied me for a long moment, and I forced myself not to fidget under his gaze. I’d gotten good at standing still, at appearing calm even when my pulse was hammering. He set down the clipboard he’d been holding and walked closer, his movements economical, controlled.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Marci. Marci Robbins.”

“I’m Ace. I manage this place.” He leaned against the bar, arms crossing over his chest. “You have experience?”

“Yes.” I’d practiced this part, rehearsed what I’d say. “I’ve bartended before. A few different places over the years. I’m good with customers, I show up on time, and I’m a hard worker.”

“Where was your last job?”

The question I’d been waiting for. “A place in San Antonio. Small bar, nothing fancy. It closed down a few months back, and I’ve been moving around since then, picking up work where I can find it.”

His gaze hadn’t left my face. He was looking at me the way people looked when they were trying to see past the surface, searching for whatever you were hiding. I had seen the same look before -- from cops pulling me over for a busted taillight, from landlords asking for references I could never provide, from strangers sensing something off and failing to name the source.

“You got any references?” he asked.

“No.” I met his gaze directly. “The owner of my last place died, and I lost touch with the other employees after it closed. But I can prove I know what I’m doing if you give me a chance.”

“Why The Broken Spoke?”

“I need work.” Simple. Honest. “I’m new to the area and this was the first place I saw hiring. I’m not picky about where I work as long as it’s steady.”

He nodded slowly, leaving me unsure whether anything positive would come from the moment. My hands wanted to shake again, so I shoved them into my pockets. The bar felt too quiet around us, just the hum of coolers and the distant sound of traffic from the road. I’d already mapped the exits -- front door, back door through what I assumed was the kitchen, emergency exit near the restrooms. Automatic assessment, the kind I did everywhere now.

“Family in the area?”

“No.” The word landed sharper than I wanted. I tried to soften the moment through a shrug. “Just me.”

Something shifted in his expression, though I couldn’t read the meaning. He pushed off the bar and stepped behind the counter, reaching for a glass. He filled the glass from the tap and set the water in front of me.

“Drink,” he said.

I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until the glass was in my hand. I drank half before I could stop myself, the cool water cutting through the dryness in my throat. When I lifted my gaze, he still watched me, and a new intensity in his eyes replaced whatever I’d seen before. Not quite sympathy. Not quite suspicion. Something in between.

“The work’s hard. Long hours, late nights. We get a rough crowd sometimes -- bikers, locals, people passing through. You have to be able to handle yourself.”

“I can handle myself.”

“You sure about that?” The question wasn’t challenging, exactly. More like he was genuinely asking, trying to gauge whether I understood what I was signing up for.

“I’m sure.”

He studied me for another moment, then nodded. “All right. I’ll give you a trial shift. Tonight. Be here by six. I’ll show you the ropes and see how you do. If it works out, the job’s yours.”

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

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

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

Pre-Order Today

{Blitz} The Weight of Dreams

2025-12-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

An Ancient Saga of Myth and Magic

Magical Realism / Fantasy

Date Published: October 27, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

In a time lost to memory, Etana is born with the Sight and a rare gift whispered down through her bloodline: she can speak with elephants. When her father promises her in marriage to an older man, Etana chooses the unthinkable--she flees. Escaping the ritual that broke her sister, she slips into the wilderness under the watchful eyes of the Beastgod.

Alone but guided by ancestral spirits and a bond with a mysterious elephant, Etana journeys into the realm of myth. A powerful ruler summons her to tame a ferocious elephant meant for war. But to claim her future, she must master more than beasts--she must face enemies, survive betrayal, and confront a court that thrives on secrets and blood.

As kingdoms clash and gods murmur in dreams, Etana rises from fugitive to warrioress, from outcast to commander. In a world where loyalty is eternal and power demands sacrifice, who will she become when everything she loves is threatened?

Told through the rhythms of oral tradition and infused with magic, myth, and cultural memory, The Weight of Dreams is a luminous tale of spiritual resilience, feminine power, and the living bond between human and nature.

For readers of magical realism and literary historical fiction who believe the past still speaks--and sometimes, it sings.

About the Author

Nicole writes tales of magical realism while splitting her time between Texas and the rural Midwest observing various species of wildlife and dodging alien cows. An annoying cat (with the highly original name of Kitty) and a four-pound Yorkie (named GiGi) keep her company. Nicole is the author of The Art of Living, a romance mystery series written under the pen name Coline Oseille.

To find her latest releases and upcoming novels, visit www.NicoleSorrell.com.

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[RELEASE PROMOTION] The Madman and His Broken Princess by Author Cora Reilly

2025-12-05T10:00:00.018-05:00

♦♦♦

He hated my last name for everything my father had done to him and his family. But me…

…he hated me for the single act of running away.

Amelia was the light in my eternal darkness.

Until she wasn’t.

Until she betrayed me like every other Lamorgese. I wouldn’t let her escape. I couldn’t, not when she was the only anchor to something I’d lost. My last salvation.

She would become my wife—the unwilling princess at my side.

I never wanted to make her pay for the scars her father had left.

But I would make her pay for breaking my heart.

♦♦♦