Seducing the Darkness by Shiela Stewart #Paranormal #Romance

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: Champagne Publishing

 

Trinity was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince changed her. Discovering him in the arms of another woman changed destiny. Alone, she’s learned fast how to be tough, how to survive, and how to protect the people in her city from the evil that lurks in the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier. When a prophetic dream makes him realize Trinity’s life is at risk, he decides the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy. Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, will ever love, and he can’t seem to let her go.

When rumors arise of a plan to raise the king and blot out the sun, both Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it means working together. Despite betrayal and threats, they find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries, especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the ritual before it’s too late?

Or will the darkness capture them both?

 

Excerpt

 

That damn itch she’d been having lately was back, and it was driving her nuts. Rolling her shoulders, she watched two redheads staggering from the bar’s exit and towards a dimly lit street.

Here we go again, She kept to the shadows as she followed after them. Uneventfully, they made it to their car and drove off. She hoped the cops were out tonight and those two were hauled in to sleep off their drunk.

Turning back to the club, she waited and watched for the next two hours and was glad nothing had happened. So far. But the night was still young.

“Can you smell it?”

She didn’t jump, but slowly looked over at Basil who appeared next to her. She hated when he just appeared out of thin air, but she knew he loved that entrance the best. “Your stink? Always.”

He didn’t sneer at her but slowly lifted his hand and lit the cigarette between his fingers. “The blood of a human. Does it still draw you in, make you hunger, make you want?”

“I’ve got a strong will.” Deliberately, she shifted away from him. It wasn’t only the smoke that bothered her—and always had—but his scent. It pissed her off that he could still make her ache.

She waved the smoke away annoyingly and shifted just a bit farther away. “Why are you skulking, Basil? Because if you’re following me, I am going to so kick your ass.”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

She glared at him and growled her response. “If you’re here to drink, let me warn you now that I won’t allow it.”

“Who am I supposed to drink from now that I no longer am nourished by your blood?”

She chose not to answer that. “Why does it seem that you’re always around, lurking in the dark, around places that aren’t your usual hangouts? Unless….there’s a reason?” The thought stabbed into her, and though she didn’t want to believe it, she had to ask. “Are you trying to take more females of your own? Are you the one abducting young girls?”

With one quick and easy flick, he tossed the cigarette into the darkness. The red tip glowed as it flew through the air before landing on the gravel to bounce and spit out a cloud of red sparkling fireworks. “I will not even dignify that with an answer.”

“It’s so obvious, now that I think about it. I was young when you took me, made me yours. Is that what you’re doing, Basil, making another mate?”

His icy blue eyes narrowed dangerously as he stepped closer. “I have a mate and to think you would even have such a thought sickens me.”

“You don’t have me, Basil.” Her voice grew dangerous. “If I’m so wrong, then do explain to me why you’re always out in the darkness, skulking near all these young girls?”

“The very same reason you are, my dear.” He ran a finger along her face, making her scowl.

She snorted, stepping away from him before he decided to do something stupid, like kiss her. “Please, I hardly think you’re out here looking to find the person or persons responsible for taking four innocent girls.”

Leaning against the building behind them, Basil looked off into the direction of the bar and the people waiting in line to be allowed inside. “You think so little of me and that’s a shame. But I suppose I’ve done it to myself. Yes, Trinity, I am looking to find out who took those young girls, as you are. And why you might ask?” He shifted towards her, sliding in nice and close and making her pulse speed up. He laid his fingers on her cheek, then slowly slid them along her face. “Because I have a feeling I am connected to the reason they’ve been taken.”

She had all but a moment to open her mouth to respond when he closed it with a mind numbing kiss, then pulling away, turned into a dog and scampered away.

Now what the hell did he mean by that?

About the Author

Shiela Stewart is a paranormal suspense author with a writing history that stems back to her youth.  Always a dreamer, wondering if her stories would ever reach an audience, she was finally published in 2006 and hasn’t stopped since.  It is rare to find a stand-alone book as she prefers series stories. Her longest running series to date is her Darkness series, which is a vampire romance.

Her joy for scary suspense is evident in each of her books. She has had several accomplishments, including fighting for the top spot in the rankings with author Stephanie Myers, receiving glowing reviews as well as interviews on local television and reviews and interviews in The Romantic Times Magazine.

When not writing, Shiela spends her time with the love of her life, William, and their children and grandchildren.. Her strong affection for animals is evident in the many cats she cares for.

Her favorite time of the day is at sunset.

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The Art to Online Dating by Fleur Lamot #NonFiction #Giveaway

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Fleur Lamot will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A step-by-step guide to navigating dating and finding love on the World Wide Web, written by someone with firsthand experience on the topic, and who has also tested the theory on a number of case studies and through research. Authored from a female perspective, directed to a female audience, although potentially an eye opening and helpful read for a male reader too.

This book is not about making you a better person, nor is it a self help book. It is about changing your mindset when embarking on singledom and internet dating to not fear it, by equipping you with the understanding of people's actions and motives.

Throughout the book you will be guided in setting up your online profile, picking your match, the all important art and the do's and don'ts through every step of courting someone, all the way to going forward with your ultimate love match!

Reading this book will bring you confidence and or at least clarity. It will make you think about your past experiences and open your eyes to see where they may have gone wrong, and more importantly to ensure the same mistakes don't happen to you on future experiences.

Read an Excerpt

Long gone are the days of meeting a potential partner in a bar or at a music festival or at parties. You might be lucky enough to do so, but as time goes on and you get older, or as you and your potentials rely more on technology to meet someone, or as you lose the skills to do so by becoming accustomed to technology, the chances are getting thinner. There will be fewer parties with fewer single people, or there will be more awkward interactions at these parties, or your friends will grow old and become tired of attending music festivals and going to bars. Also, let’s face it: as we get older, the music at venues become too loud and we simply just want to have a good conversation, good food, and good wine which brings on more occasions like dinner events and dinner parties. These are the least likely type of events to meet someone, unless you are lucky enough to be set up by a mutual friend.

So, you might find yourself single and at a loss. Maybe it simply might be that all your friends are in relationships and you have no one to go out with. This is where online dating comes into play. Online dating has such a bad stigma, but if you look at it at another way, whilst your friends are becoming old and boring or are in relationships and/or just don’t want to go out anymore for whatever reason, you have an infinite number of potential new people to meet and play with who are in the exact same boat as you.

About the Author: I successfully found love online using historical principles, understanding people's motives and actions, listening to the right people, as well as trusting my own instincts. I am now married and a mother. I am a business woman with a very successful business, built from extensive networking and relationship management experience. I have received professional mentoring and coaching, which has helped me achieve all of this.

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Saving Yukon by Bryan Burnell #paranormal #suspense

 

Paranormal Suspense

Date Published: May 20, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Matteo Ferrari has always been different. Gifted with unsettling clairvoyance, he sees shadows where others see light and hears whispers from the unknown. But when he fails to protect the ones he loves, his abilities vanish, leaving him lost and desperate. To reclaim his powers and find a new path, Matteo abandons his old life and ventures into the Alaskan wilderness.

Gabriella Valentina knows the pain of loss all too well. Once enchanted by the spotlight, she now flees from her past, seeking refuge from fear and sorrow in the same wild expanse.

When Matteo and Gabriella’s paths cross amidst the eerie beauty and hidden dangers of the Yukon, they must confront not only the shadows of their pasts but also the dark forces that lurk in the forest, waiting to claim them.

 

About the Author

A graduate of UCSC and UCSB, Navy brat Bryan Burnell majored in creative writing and English literature. After selling his successful office furniture business, which he ran for three decades, he started paying more attention to the story ideas that had accumulated in his mind over the years. Free time allowed him to finally bring life to his first book, Saving Yukon. This long-time Santa Barbara resident loves the meditative aspects of swimming, gardening, golf (despite his high handicap), and an occasional shot of good bourbon. He is married with two grown children and a spoiled Labradoodle named Nelli

 

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Emergency Date by Harley Wylde #MCromance @changelingpress

 

(Swift Angel MC)

Motorcycle Club Romance, First Responders, Suspense

Date Published: February 28, 2025

 

 

Loyalty runs deep and secrets simmer beneath the surface in this tale of forbidden love.

 

Akira -- I’m the daughter of a Dixie Reaper, but this isn’t the life I want. I’m tired of being overprotected, and forced to follow rules I don’t necessarily agree with. The moment I laid eyes on Logan, I knew my life was about to change. I also knew I was in for a rough ride. Why? Because he’s a paramedic and part of the Swift Angels MC, and let’s just say my dad’s club functions more in the gray area. Logan is everything I’ve ever wanted in a guy. I knew we couldn’t sneak around forever, but I also didn’t count on the series of storms about to hit us head-on. Not only is my dad’s club dead set against my relationship with Logan, but my instincts are telling me something bigger is going on.

Logan -- Forbidden fruit. That’s exactly what Akira is. My VP has warned me away from her, but what can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants. No matter what obstacles we face, I’ll make Akira mine! I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I’m not about to start now. But when a string of troubling incidents seems to target both of us, I have to wonder am I the one in danger or is my sweet Akira at risk? Either way, I refuse to let them get away with it… even if it means the Swift Angels and Dixie Reapers have to work together, because there’s nothing I won’t do to keep Akira safe.

Are you ready for a suspenseful journey filled with passion, betrayal, and a fight for a love that could change everything?

WARNING: Emergency Date is Book 2 in the Swift Angels MC series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but you may enjoy the story more if the series is read in order. This is a slow-burn romantic suspense set in a small town. Guaranteed HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger for the main couple! For readers 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and violence.

 

EXCERPT

The muggy, humid air hung heavy as I pushed my way through the oak doors of the bar. The din of conversation, the rhythmic clink of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter washed over me like a wave. The air was thick with the scent of stale beer, sweat, and desperation, a cocktail that clung to the back of my throat.

I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky interior. The bar was a labyrinth of wood and shadows, crammed with mismatched furniture and a motley crew of patrons. A middle-aged couple argued over a half-empty bottle of wine, their voices rising above the din. A group of young men, faces flushed and eyes glazed, cackled over a game of darts, their laughter laced with forced bravado. A lone man sat hunched over a glass of whiskey, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid swirling within.

My gaze drifted from face to face, searching for a familiar haven in this sea of strangers. Was I wasting my time? Akira had said she’d be working tonight. I still didn’t like the fact she’d chosen this place for employment, but I also knew her family hated it -- which was why she’d done it. There were times I liked that defiant side of her. Hell, if she didn’t act out, we probably wouldn’t be together.

I caught a glimpse of movement across the room. She was there, a vision of grace and confidence, expertly weaving through the throng of bodies with a tray of drinks balanced effortlessly on her palm. I could sit here and watch her forever. Well, maybe not. That might come off as creepy.

The way she moved was mesmerizing, each step fluid and purposeful. Her dark hair flowed around her face, bouncing with every step. I had yet to find anything about her I disliked. Okay, not entirely true. Her family left a bit to be desired, but she couldn’t control that. Besides, one of my club brothers had grown up with her in that same environment and he’d turned out just fine.

I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame, instinctively guiding my steps toward an empty table in her section. As I slid into the chair, she turned, our eyes meeting for a fleeting moment. In that instant, the world around us faded away. It was just her and me, locked in a silent dialogue that resonated deep within my soul. A spark ignited within me, a spark of curiosity, of desire, of something I couldn’t quite define.

“What can I get for you?” Her voice was a low, melodic murmur, a stark contrast to the raucous symphony of the bar.

I fought back a smile. Even in this place, we had to be careful. The last thing I needed was word getting back to the Dixie Reapers that a Swift Angel was sniffing around one of their girls.

“A beer, please,” I said.

“Coming right up,” she replied, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

As she turned to leave, I couldn’t help but watch her every move, memorizing the way her body persuaded with each step, the way her hips swinging in a subtle rhythm speaking of a hidden sensuality. There was something about her, an aura of mystery and resilience that captivated me. I’d seen countless people in this line of work, but there was something different about her, something that set her apart from the rest.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a glass being placed before me. “Here you go,” she said, her voice soft yet assertive. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my gaze locked on hers. I saw a glimpse of the woman beneath the surface, a woman who was both strong and vulnerable, confident yet enigmatic.

She held my gaze for a moment, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. In that one look, I could almost hear all the things she wanted to say, but didn’t dare. Not while we were in public. With a slight nod, she turned and walked away, leaving me with a head full of questions and my heart pounding with a newfound rhythm.

I took a long sip of my beer, the bitter liquid doing little to quench my thirst. Probably because I hadn’t really come here for the beer.

As I watched her work, I felt a pull, an inexplicable connection drawing me to her, a sense of destiny I couldn’t ignore. Which was why I’d come here looking for her. I couldn’t take her on an official date, so I’d content myself with drinking a beer and watching her work. Even if my club brother, Dawson, had warned me away from her.

Akira.

From the first moment I’d laid eyes on her, I’d been captivated. Not a day had gone by without me thinking of her. It had only taken a few conversations before we’d exchanged phone numbers. Now we talked pretty much every day and met when we could.

My nape prickled, as if some sixth sense was telling me something was about to go horribly wrong. My gaze swept the room and landed on a man at the bar. He wore his too-many-drinks like a badge, his movements jerky and voice too loud.

I watched Akira approach, her steps measured, her voice a low murmur lost in the rising tide of noise. The firmness in her stance spoke louder than words. His lips twisted into a snarl as he leaned closer to her.

I’d seen these situations turn on a dime, and I wouldn’t let her become collateral damage. I braced myself, ready to jump to her defense at any moment.

But Akira stood her ground, chin jutting out in defiance. Her voice, though quiet, held an edge. The man’s face twisted, hand rising like a hammer about to fall. I was already moving, my feet eating up the distance.

Then, the unexpected happened. His hand, a fleshy claw, clamped onto her backside, digging in like a tick. Better than him hitting her, but… a red haze flooded my vision, as fury I didn’t know I possessed boiling over.

I was there before I registered it, pure instinct propelling me forward. The need to protect, to shield, eclipsed everything else. My path through the crowd was a blur.

As I reached them, I saw the fire in her eyes, the tight set of her jaw as she turned, ready to unleash her own storm. In that moment, I knew she could handle this, but the primal urge to intervene was a tide I couldn’t hold back.

My hand clamped onto his wrist, my grip like iron. I’d promised to heal people, to help, but right now all I wanted to do was beat him senseless.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” I narrowed my gaze at him.

He stumbled back, eyes widening. My face must have been a mirror reflecting the inferno inside. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come, my expression seeming to silence him.

“Get out,” I said. “Now.”

He hesitated a moment, then thought better of it. A muttered curse, a toss of bills onto the bar, then he turned and walked away.

I turned to Akira, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. “Are you okay?”

Her eye held a spark I couldn’t decipher. “I had it under control.”

“I know,” I said, the adrenaline receding. “But I couldn’t just stand by.”

Something flickered across her face. She studied me, a long, searching look.

“Thank you,” she whispered, the words barely audible over the bar’s murmur.

I nodded, the tension slowly draining from my limbs. “Anytime.”

The music and chatter resumed at its previous volume, but I blocked it all out. Akira turned back to her work, her movements jerky and tense. I could see the way she held her breath, the way her shoulders were hunched.

I wanted to just leave her be, but my feet moved toward her.

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

 

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Infernal Delights ~A Dragon Soul Press Anthology #PsychologicalHorror

Psychological Horror

Date Published: January 16, 2025

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

 

Zombies, reapers, and more monsters.

In a world where so many dark things go bump in the night, terror awaits around every corner as these authors take horror stories to the next level. Discover ghosts, demons, and your worst nightmares. Read at your own risk.

 

Featured stories by C.L. Hart, Mae Thorn, S.E. Reed, Kristen Argyres, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Demi Michelle Schwartz, Adele Liles, C.L. Storm, Benjamin Kurt Unsworth, Desirae Gracyn, Rob Nisbet, Anwen Redlake, Kat Craig, Gabriella Balcolm, Lianne Robinson, David O'Mahony, Andrew J. Lucas, Binod Dawadi, Daniel DiQuinzio, Arwyn Sherman, Stephen Johnson, Kelly Barker, and J.E. Feldman.

 

The Darkness Within

When does the time come to give up the fight?

 

When her husband leaves their hardscrabble homestead in the remote Arizona territory to pick up their daughter and granddaughter from the train station in Tucson,  Kine Šimonis is left alone to deal with the ghosts of her past. She knows from experience that humans are the worst of monsters, capable of committing actions with lifelong repercussions for the victim.

This story is based on a real incident in the author’s family.

 

Excerpt

 

“I’ll be back this afternoon, mijn liefje. Back home with our daughter and granddaughter. You and Hema will comfort one another, and spirited Miss Emina and I will enjoy adventures together. Things will be good now, you will see.”

Kine Šimonis regarded her husband standing near the door with an expectant look in his forest green eyes. Though time had weathered his face and turned his once-thick rusty brown hair silver, he still stood tall and powerful. Tygo Šimonis had an adventurous spirit and tended to look on the bright side of things. This rugged land was an ideal match for him. Although she was a sturdy woman with the physical stamina of someone half her age, Kine was not as well suited to her environment and circumstances.

A smile turned up the corners of Kine’s mouth but didn’t reach her eyes. She embraced her husband. She still loved him deeply. She didn’t blame him for the darkness inside her.

About the Author

C.L. Hart had a stormy start to her life. She was born at 6 A.M. the morning after Valentine’s Day in 1965 during a raging blizzard.

She has been a fan of horror and weird fiction for as long as she can remember. She used to read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight as a child.

She started reading Edgar Allan Poe when she was six years old. In her early teens, she discovered H.P. Lovecraft. She pretended to lose the copy of At the Mountains of Madness that she borrowed from the school library and paid the fine so she could keep the book.

Ms. Hart blames the team at Chaosium Role-Playing Games for renewing and strengthening her obsession with Lovecraft’s writing. She lives in a small town on the northeastern plains of Colorado in an appropriately old and storied house with her son and cats. She enjoys watching the normal people pass by as she records the happenings in the weird worlds of her imagination.

C.L. Hart writes poetry and nonfiction as Cara Hartley, and erotica as Lil DeVille.

http://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

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The Murder, The Baker, The Handsome Heartbreaker by Alex August #Romance #Mystery #Giveaway

 

Romance and Mystery

Date Published: 01-07-2025

 

 

When Catherine Greene moved back to her tiny home town, she never expected to meet a man like Derrick Walker. Then again, she didn't plan on opening her patisserie next to a dive bar, either. No matter Cat’s plans, there are fireworks the night they meet. Turns out those fireworks were gunshots, and when Derrick is arrested for murder, Cat takes it upon herself to do what the police and prosecutors haven’t done — find the real killer.

About the Author

Alex August is a romance writer extraordinaire!

 

Contact Link

Instagram: @astragalex

 

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Earth's Craving by Emily Carrington #LGBTQ @changelingpress

 

LGBTQ, Dark Fantasy, Steamy

Date Published: February 21, 2025

 

 

When werewolf and dragon meet, will their need for each other defeat all their well-intentioned plans?

Tom, a land dragon, is so large he’s earned the nickname “Earth.” His dragon herd takes advantage of him until he’s sold to a pair of basilisks. Unfortunately for them, Tom’s mating plans don’t include repopulating the basilisk species. Time to make his escape…

Kailee, psychic disaster and frightened “rehabilitated” werewolf, is new to adulting, but she’s been through enough to make her a force to be reckoned with. Transgender, she is burdened with not one, but three psychic abilities. The overabundance of power tends to make her a little off-balance…

Will Kailee be able to protect Tom from those hunting him? Can Tom learn to trust? Or will their need for each other defeat all their well-intentioned plans?

 

 

EXCERPT

Tom fled through the forest, staying low to the ground, or as low as a person who stood over six feet could manage without crawling. He needed to keep his feet because --

He flashed back to when the matriarch had cut off his left foot to keep him from escaping again. It had grown back, of course. He was a dragon. Still, it had hurt, and he sometimes woke in the middle of the night with phantom pain reminding him how he’d suffered.

He didn’t have a very good sense of direction, but it was a sunny day, early in the morning, and the sun came up in the east. So, just as long as he kept the sun on his left, he’d assumed he’d be generally heading south. Out of Canada. He’d grown up here but all he knew about the country where he’d been imprisoned was that it was north of the United States.

He was grateful his shedding was over for another six months. His escape would have been impossible while he was struggling through the twice-a-year loss of his scales.

He heard other dragons flying above him and huddled against a tree, hoping the darkness of his skin would blend with the shadows. He wasn’t exactly dressed for a late December winter when the temperatures around Nova Scotia lingered just above freezing most days. He wouldn’t freeze to death… probably. As long as he kept moving, he’d be all right. Just now, though, stillness was required. He shut his eyes, fearing that his anxiety had turned his irises yellow-green. They might be spotted by someone with a searchlight.

He wondered briefly if the female dragons had employed some of their males to help. Most of the males were treated better than he was, although not equal to the females. The large majority would do as they were told because they weren’t required to stand stud all year, just when the females wanted them.

Probably most of the other male dragons were grateful for his existence. He was an anomaly, but one that the females liked. Bigger and stronger than any other dragon he’d ever met, he’d been conditioned since birth. He’d been born larger and the hopes for his future progeny had been high. Hell, they were still high even though only about one third of the dragons he sired were of greater size when they were born. He’d only been at this enslavement stud service for a year and a half, so none of his children were more than a year old.

It was as if, when the dragons and werewolves had split off from their basilisk parentage, they’d been cursed to all stand at the exact same height in either human guise or scaly form. Five feet, ten inches was the height of almost every other dragon he’d heard of when they walked on two feet. With their talons and tails, they stood eight feet tall.

Tom was six-two sometimes, and others, he was ten feet tall. Being larger than most dragons should have been an advantage. Having increased strength could have helped if there weren’t so many damn males and females alike ready to take him down.

The sounds overhead faded and he hesitated, not wanting to leave his hiding place. Yet, what good would it do him to stay here? They’d send out hunters on foot if necessary.

So, biting his lips almost hard enough to draw blood, he crept away from the tree and started running again. He skirted around a meadow and kept going, adrenaline making him thirsty even as it lent his muscles endurance.

The sun had been up for an hour before he judged it safe to stop and drink. He’d been hearing a river nearby for about the last ten minutes and that burbling, overly cheery sound made him long for water.

He broke from the game trail he’d been following and found an offshoot that led in the correct direction. When he came upon the river, he was relieved to see a rocky bank where he could get right down close to the water and drink his fill.

He crawled to the edge of the river, listening hard. He heard nothing except the twittering of birds and the chittering of squirrels. Well, and the rushing of the water, of course. It was a deep stream, not quite the river he’d been envisioning based on the amount of noise it was making. He slipped his hands into the icy cold water.

Hands seized him roughly by his hair.

Without thought, he shifted to his scaly form to lose that grip. His clothes, rags now, fell away as he tried for the sky.

Three dragons, brown and orange, like him, male, like him, each two feet smaller, crashed into him. From below came a howl of triumph and something sharp sliced through his wing’s membrane.

He screamed as he fell.

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.

Contact Links

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ARCHANGEL by Marteeka Karland #MCromance @changelingpress

 

(Black Reign MC 11)

A Bones MC Romance

 

Motorcycle Club Romance

Date Published: February 21, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

Archangel is always perfect. In complete control. Which makes him a challenge I can’t resist…

Sonya: Just because I put a blow-up doll in the neighbor’s holiday yard ornament, or send various embarrassing items up the flagpole occasionally, doesn’t mean I’m a bad person. But my father doesn’t see things that way. So he sends me to a man he thinks can help me “find my inner self.” Otherwise known as get some kind of job. Just my luck, the man he sends me to is the man I’ve had a crush on forever. Archangel is strong, soft-spoken, always in control, and the most perfectly made man I’d ever seen. He’s unflappable. I can’t resist, even knowing the price I’ll pay. I just hope I can slink the walk of shame back home before he knows I’m gone. That might be the only chance I have of protecting my heart.

Archangel: I don’t know what Thorn was thinking when he sent his daughter to me. Sonya has plagued my every filthy fantasy since the first time she came home from college to visit friends at my club. I’d known then I needed to stay away from her. Not only am I way too old for her, but her daddy is the president of their club. Which puts me and Black Reign MC in a delicate position. What I could never have predicted was Sonya taking matters into her own hands. Sonya running isn’t a surprising. Kinda expected that. What wasn’t on my Bingo card was my forgotten past catching up with me.

 

 

Excerpt

Copyright ©2025 Marteeka Karland

 

Two blocks down, I saw a big, black Harley heading our way. Even from this distance the roar of the pipes was distinctive. And I knew the sound well. A dense trail of smoke had covered the four lanes from where one of the residences was burning a small pile of brush. Just like in the movies, the big Harley I’d known was attached to that rumble parted the haze with smoke circling behind him like a jet trail. The man sitting on the bike was just as intimidating as the machine. All the scene needed was a slow-motion sequence and it would be perfect.

Archangel. He was the most unflappable man I’d ever met. There was an eerie calm surrounding him most of the time. Sure, he laughed and had a good time like anyone else, but he was the peacemaker. The person everyone called when they didn’t want El Diablo or El Segador to take up the cause. More than once, I’d heard Archangel make the statement you knew when you had a successful negotiation because neither party was completely satisfied. He didn’t play favorites, and he was always fair, but the man had a giant stick up his ass the size of a telephone pole.

He crossed across two lanes of traffic at the corner to pull into the parking lot of the courthouse, not even hesitating at the light as he did. Brazen, considering where he was, and that three deputies and two city cops were sitting close by. He parked the bike in front of Lawdawg’s truck before turning it off and putting down the kickstand. A long, thickly muscled leg was lifted over the seat as Archangel dismounted and walked toward the truck and Lawdawg.

I knew there was drool dripping from the corner of my mouth, but I didn’t fucking care. Archangel was the most perfectly built man I’d ever had the pleasure of viewing. No matter how many times I saw him, he was still awe-inspiring. If anyone saw me, all I had to do was point at the man and any red-blooded woman on the planet who looked would understand. He wore snug, black jeans. The material clung to his hips and thighs in all the right places. He didn’t have on a shirt, but his plain, leather vest covered most of his rippled torso. Which left his arms bare, and a sliver of chest and abdomen showing when he walked. Muscles and thick veins roped his arms. Tattoos peeked from his vest and crept up his arms. His salt-and-pepper hair was over his collar but artfully shaggy, and his beard was full and neatly trimmed. Mirrored aviator sunglasses rounded out his outfit. The man rocked it like the ultimate bad boy.

“Hoooooly shit. Are you seeing this?” Linnie sounded in awe and I glanced at her sharply.

“What the shit, Linnie, you whore!” I wasn’t really mad. This was how we communicated.

“What?” She didn’t take her gaze from Archangel and the question was more of a demand. “Tell me you weren’t eye fucking him too and I’ll be ashamed. Or something. OK. No, I won’t be ashamed, but look me in the eyes and tell me you weren’t eye fucking him. Besides, we always eye fuck him together.”

“I’d love to. But I’m too busy eye fucking him to look you in the eyes and tell you I’m not eye fucking him. Because I’m eye fucking him like crazy. Also, I’ve changed my mind. We can’t eye fuck him together anymore.”

“You sure know how to pick ‘em, Sonya. If you change your mind and decide he’s too much work, let me know. I’ll give it a shot.”

“Like hell.” I turned and hissed at my friend. “Mine.”

“You know he’s so much older than you as to not be believed, right? The man is practically ancient!”

“Red and Rosana have more of an age gap than me and Archangel.”

“Right. Use their successful age gap relationship to justify your own. I’m sure it will go over with your dad as well as it would with my own father.” She had a point.

“Why’s he here, I wonder?”

“Don’t know, Sonya, but if the look on his face is any indication, the reason can’t be good.”

Whatever was being said between Archangel and Lawdawg seemed to have gotten under Archangel’s skin. He snatched his glasses from his face and leaned into Lawdawg’s space. His lips moved, but I couldn’t tell what he was saying. Mainly because Archangel had his teeth clenched. Lawdawg shrugged and jerked his head toward the truck where we sat and watched them from the back seat.

Archangel turned his head to look at the truck and us. Lawdawg spoke, gesturing with his hands a couple of times while Archangel continued to stare.

Finally, he nodded, and stepped away from Lawdawg, moving toward the truck. Archangel came to my side and opened the door. “Come on. Out with ya.” When I hesitated, he added. “Or I’ll haul you out over my shoulder. Choice is yours.” Though his eyes looked like he was furious, his face was relaxed and his voice was calm.

“What crawled up your ass?” The only person in the world I loved pushing more than Lawdawg was Archangel. Probably because both men were so naturally uptight yet unflappable. Anyone who followed the rules so close to the edge should feel anxious at least some of the time. Neither of these men were. Both of them stayed true to their consciences, but when the shit hit the fan, they were the calm, driving force behind fixing the fan and cleaning up the shit.

“When I’m called an hour and a half away to take a young woman in hand who’s acting like a spoiled teenager, it tends to eat away at my social niceties.”

“Look, you don’t want my company, I’ll happily catch a ride back with Linnie and Talia. I’m not sure why anyone called you to begin with. I don’t belong to your club.”

“No. You don’t, thank God, but your daddy thinks you need a come-to-Jesus meeting about what you’re gonna do with your life. I owe him one, so I got drafted.”

I blinked. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Afraid not, Sonya. Now, come with me. We’ve got a long ride ahead. You can rest tonight, but tomorrow we’re going to sit down and figure out your next steps in life.”

“Oh really.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “What if I don’t want to talk with you about my future? I happen to like my life the way it is.”

“And that’d be great. Except for stunts like this.” When I would have continued to argue with him, Archangel snagged my upper arm and pulled me with him to his bike. His hold wasn’t painful, but it was clear he wouldn’t tolerate me trying to get away from him.

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author 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, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

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The Orchestrators by Donald Hricik #ScienceFiction @rabtbooktours

 

Pre-Apocalyptic Science Fiction

Date Published: January 15, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

 

The year is 2360. A select group of a half million humans, the only survivors of global warming and the "Race Wars", are living a Spartan lifestyle and exhibiting loss of memory and emotions resulting from mind-altering drugs created by world leaders known as the Orchestrators. The drugs markedly slowed metabolism and aging, making them ideal for prolonging the lives of humans requiring long periods of travel in space. Henry Shannon is being groomed as the next Orchestrator who will lead a mission to Jupiter, hoping to find an inhabitable moon that can accommodate the humans remaining on Earth. After discovering that the moons of Jupiter are uninhabitable, Henry reluctantly agrees to return to Earth, ultimately bolstered by news that global warming somehow has given way to global cooling. During the return trip home, his wife is killed when an asteroid collides with their spaceship. Depressed and increasingly concerned about survival of the human race, Henry presses on and successfully lands his group back on Earth, which bears little resemblance to the planet they remembered. The returning passengers encounter strange new animal species and are stunned to find that Earth has been repopulated by a group of humans previously known as Tunnel People because of their subterranean lifestyle. Their Supreme Leader, Lillian Goodman, a long-time opponent of the Orchestrators, somehow alters the Tunnel People who now have advanced technologies, an above-ground life of opulence, and apparent immortality. As Henry unravels the nefarious means employed by the Supreme Leader to create this Utopian state, he discovers why these new humans remain desperately dependent on his passengers for maintaining their immortal status, and must decide whether to cooperate or resist and face his own mortality.

About the Author

Donald Hricik is a physician who was born in Ohio, currently living in the Cleveland area. He is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and the former Chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He has authored or edited over two hundred medical manuscripts or medical text books. He has published six novels: Racing to Pittsburgh (2010), Nothing to Confess (2013), and Escape from Cleveland (2016), Our Great Escape; Part 1: Dumbers and Part 2: Return to the Tunnel People (2017, 2018), Toxic Affairs on Hidden Lane (2021), a memoir about his wife - Lynne's Last Christmas: A Battle with Dementia (2021). All of his books have medical themes. Aside from writing, Dr. Hricik is a painter (mostly acrylics and oil) and enjoys cycling, gardening, and occasional attempts at deep sea fishing

 

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The Treasure of Loon Lake by Rachelle Paige Campbell #Romance

 

Wholesome Romance

Publication Date: 02/11/2025

Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC

 

 In a few hours, MOLLY MAGUIRE’s life implodes. After her apartment burns down, a lawyer shows up at her office informing her that a distant relative left her a home in Loon Lake, Wisconsin. Then she’s fired. With nothing holding her back, and nowhere else to go, she heads to the small town.

Young retiree, GRANT REEM sold his tech start-up and was contacted by the owner of his family’s favorite vacation spot with an interesting next act: buy a tour boat company in Loon Lake. With nothing stopping him, and always putting his trust in the universe, Grant buys the business and moves across the country. When he bumps into the one who got away, his college girlfriend Molly, he’s thrilled, but she’s not the same go-getter who dumped him.

Molly’s new home floods the first night, and she escapes to the Inn with a few dry belongings. She bumps into Grant and learns of the local legend about her family’s curse. When she uncovers a treasure map, she decides to take a chance with Grant’s encouragement. As they search for the treasure, however, they met unexpected opposition, learn about local superstitions, and have to decide if fate—or some other force—wants them to win or lose.

About the Author

Rachelle Paige Campbell writes bestselling contemporary romances filled with heart and hope. She believes love and laughter can change lives. No matter the location—big city, small town, or European kingdom—her feel-good stories always end with a happily ever after. She’s grateful for the support of her family, her robot floor cleaner, and her reluctant writing partner (her dog).

 

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