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Recent Reviews


Bring Her Home

Bring Her Home Reviewed by Menendezbe avatar Menendezbe

Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward
Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down
Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: Did some research after reading
Cover: Matches the story well

Fascinating world as a backdrop for themes of love, prejudice, and redemption. Gripping, well-paced story. Some minor issues that a bit more editing would have resolved.


The Beast of Loughby Island

The Beast of Loughby Island Reviewed by Booksthatburn avatar Booksthatburn book blogger

Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Mostly clear
Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience
Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well

Read Full Review


Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume One

Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume One Reviewed by Booksthatburn avatar Booksthatburn book blogger

Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Mostly clear
Characters: Some more thought out than others
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Satisfying, fulfilling experience
Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well
Content Warnings: Death

Read Full Review


Caroline's Heart

Caroline's Heart Reviewed by Booksthatburn avatar Booksthatburn book blogger

Worldbuilding: Piqued curiosity
Plot: Straightforward
Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down
Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well

Read Full Review


Blind Man's Wolf

Blind Man's Wolf Reviewed by Booksthatburn avatar Booksthatburn book blogger

Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward
Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Balanced
Immersion: Didn’t want to put the book down
Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: Did some research after reading
Cover: Matches the story well

Read Full Review


New Stories


The Beast of Loughby Island

The Beast of Loughby Island by Matt Doyle

A young man named Tom Daniels is kidnapped by a local family and is dropped on Loughby Island in an attempt to 'clean up their streets'. When the family that dropped Tom off is slaughtered by a werewolf-like creature, he soon finds himself banding together with a small group of the island's residents in a fight for their lives against an otherworldly monster.


Caroline's Heart

Caroline's Heart by Austin Chant

Caroline is dead, leaving her lover with nothing but the clockwork heart that once beat in her chest. But Cecily, a witch of unconventional reputation, is not one to be defeated by the laws of nature. After years of careful assembly, her resurrection spell is nearly complete and grows more powerful by the day. When Cecily meets Roy, a soft-spoken cowboy who shares a strange kinship with Caroline, Cecily thinks she's finally found the key to bringing her lover back-but when Roy is mortally wounded, she finds herself torn between finishing the resurrection spell and saving the life of a stranger. A queer Weird West romance by the author of Peter Darling in a new, expanded edition.


Blind Man's Wolf

Blind Man's Wolf by Amelia Faulkner

A night-blind vampire. A werewolf with lousy self-confidence. And a whole hell of a lot of danger... Ellis O'Neill is an art dealer with too many problems: his eyesight has deteriorated to the point of night-blindness; he's estranged from his family, to whom he owes a considerable sum of money; and his guide dog went right off him the night Ellis died. Without his dog, Ellis is trapped in a life bouncing between home and work, dependent on his personal assistant. Werewolf Randall Carter has problems of his own. He loves his pack, he really does, but as their Omega he's always the one to bear the brunt of their rage. It's a role he can't avoid, and Randall isn't sure he can take it for much longer, so he buries himself in his day job. Randall's the best dog trainer in the city, and when he's offered a client who needs him to work evenings he'd be a fool to turn it down. Soon Randall is falling for someone he should despise. Everything about the undead is anathema to his kind, but Ellis is exactly the kind of guy Randall would want to ask out on a date - if he were still breathing. Worse, they may not have too long to figure their feelings out. Someone or something is gunning for Ellis and anyone else who gets in the way; they won't rest until the vampire is destroyed.


Witch's War

Witch's War by A.K. Stuntz

In a world where magic and betrayal intertwine, Tamara's life takes a treacherous turn. When Tamara makes a choice that costs someone their life, she faces the unforgiving consequences of her actions. The Council of Elders banishes her, casting her aside like a forgotten spell. But when news of an impending attack reaches her ears, Tamara will risk everything to save the people she holds dear, even if that means spending her life in prison. Now, Tamara must rise from her choices, wield her magic to protect the gifted and confront the consequences of her actions. In a kingdom where trust is scarce, alliances shift like shadows, and power is wielded with ruthless intent, Tamara must embark on an epic quest where survival is a relentless battle, and she must make the ultimate choice - vengeance or salvation. In Witch’s War, betrayal sets the stage, and courage lights the way as the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance.


The Trouble with Prophecies

The Trouble with Prophecies by Jake Joy

The heroes of old are gone and the world of Feydern has fallen into darkness. With the prophesised Chosen One missing, Feydern’s only hope lies with Derrick, the Last Wizard, but he doesn’t want to help. In his opinion, tracking down the missing Chosen One is an idiotic idea that will get them all killed. But prophecies must come true and despite his best efforts, he’s dragged along on the quest. Bandits, goblins, and warring grannies stand in the way of his freedom, but he finds his greatest obstacle is destiny itself. That’s the trouble with prophecies... They don’t really give you a choice.


The Council of Athyzia

The Council of Athyzia by D. H. Hoskins

The Osseomancer is finally vanquished, but the work has only just begun. When the mage Snorri and his aide Nauveena convene a council to discuss how best to rebuild, all those who fought against the Osseomancer come from far and wide to attend. Nauveena expects such a council to be easy, especially compared to years of war. But soon enough, she learns that politics are more difficult than magic. Differences forgotten during the war are quickly remembered. Each member of the council arrives at Athyzia wishing to build a lasting peace, but each has their own idea of what that peace should look like. Worse yet, the Magic of Order — a mysterious cult growing in the east — wishes for something more sinister. The Osseomancer’s magic devastated the world. The Magic of Order claims to offer protection from such magic, but at what cost? Nauveena assists Snorri in presiding over the council, but soon finds herself bartering votes and forging alliances to protect an already fragile world. Soon, she will need to protect much more than this, as magic itself becomes threatened. How the council votes on these matters will reshape the world, and possibly not for the better… The Council of Athyzia is a high fantasy novel filled with elves and dwarves, politics and intrigue, libraries and magic.


Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas

Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas by Bethany Meyer

Wick the tree messenger is bound for success. His career as a messenger is better than it's ever been, and he's on the fast track to getting an even more important job as a councilor. But before he can succeed, word spreads that a thief is after the most powerful magic in Aro, the Heather Stone, and stealing it piece by piece. To be safe, Wick is entrusted with moving one of the stones to a safer location. On his journey, Wick is overtaken by the thief himself, a seraph named Archer, but Archer's plans as he explains them are nothing like what everyone thinks. Wick doesn't know what to believe, but Archer seems so sure. Wick's options are limited: ignore Archer and keep his piece of the Heather Stone out of potentially dangerous hands, or choose to trust this thief and the warning he brings. Something is coming. An ancient scourge that could destroy all of Aro. All that stands in its way are an uncertain messenger and an untrustworthy thief. If he chooses wrong, Wick could lose everything.


Sing to Me of Rain

Sing to Me of Rain by E.B. Dawson

An innocent naiad. A wounded boy. An adventure that will change their lives forever. Plip is a naiad of the Great Waterfall, destined to one day sing the songs that send rain out into the world. Akino isn’t destined for anything but trouble. His father long gone, his mother working on a plantation far away, he doesn’t really belong in the village below the Waterfall. And the villagers don’t let him forget it. When Akino convinces Plip to travel down the mountain with him, for his own selfish purposes, he launches them into a world more dangerous than either of them could imagine. A world where people are not always what they seem and the rain does not fall evenly across the land.


The Beast of Talesend

The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz

Fairy tales aren’t real. Private detective Nick Beasley knows that. This is 1922 E.A. (Ever After), an age of big cities, automobiles, and airships. Nobody in the Afterlands believes in magic and monsters anymore. Especially not Nick, who’s made a name for himself in the city of Talesend by debunking fraudulent “magical” phenomena. But when a misadventure with alleged enchantress Lady Cordelia Beaumont goes awry, leaving Nick with claws, a tail, and quite a lot of fur, he begins to rethink his stance on magic. There’s only one way for Nick to regain his humanity. He and Cordelia will have to retrieve a powerful magical artifact from a ruthless crime lord—who happens to be Cordelia’s father. Otherwise, Nick won’t be the only monster roaming through Talesend. The fate of the Afterlands lies in the hands of a renegade enchantress and an extremely hairy detective. What could possibly go wrong?


Colors of Fear

Colors of Fear by Faye Fite

One sorcerer. Four assassins. Uncover the stories of the warriors who will one day band together to kill the most powerful being in their world. Fear. It is all around him. Wanderer sees it in the eyes of his fellow desert elves as they set out to fight a war that consumes countless lives. Hears it in his brother’s coughs as black magic slowly kills him. Feels it as strange colors appear in midair, seeking to suffocate him. No matter how he twists it, he can only see two choices: Leave his sick brother and join a war where he will surely perish, or face his brother’s dying days and let his world be destroyed without putting up a fight. To face one fear is to flee from another. Whichever path he chooses brands him a coward, but he cannot run any longer. Wanderer must make a choice: Will he allow fear to control him? Or will he find a way to reclaim his life? Colors of Fear is the first short story in the YA Christian Fantasy series titled The Terebinth Tree Chronicles.


Azalei's Riders

Azalei's Riders by Miranda Marie

It’s the early 3000s and for the Southern Countries, there has never been a better time to live in. Technological advances have made the need for roads obsolete and drastically reduced the amount of earth needed to grow crops. As a result, much of the planet has been plunged back into the breathtaking, unknown wilderness it once was; a fact that has, for centuries, been celebrated. Until now. With the disappearances – thousands vanishing out of the sky every time a transport leaves one of the cities – it is soon becoming clear that the jungle that now separates the islands of civilization is harboring an enemy. Someone is here, in their forests, on their land, hiding somewhere in the vast, impenetrable space. Someone they can’t see or detect. Someone who is making the cities go dark, one by one. How do you fight an enemy who slips passed your radars, is undetected by your satellites, and concealed from your scouts? Turn the tables. Develop your own secret weapon. One just as invisible to them as they are to you. Only this weapon isn’t made of gears and wires. It’s not moving pieces and a quick plug in to recharge. This one doesn’t have a control panel, a comfortable seat, an air conditioned cockpit. This weapon breathes.


Toxic Effects

Toxic Effects by Joel Shulkin, MD

Don't forget to be afraid. Neuropsychiatrist Cristina Silva cannot escape her past. The voice in her head of her former identity won’t let her. Cristina also can’t quite manage to force herself to forget the ex-boyfriend she dumped: handsome police detective Gary Wilson. Soon after beginning her new job at the Longwood Memory Center, Cristina receives a startling phone call from her contact at the FBI: an assassin is crisscrossing the country, killing anyone connected to the now-defunct pharmaceutical company ReMind—people like Cristina. The shadowy criminal enterprise Zero Dark is back. Indeed, an assassin is tracking Cristina, a literal femme fatale known as Dama Branca. Like Cristina, DB’s memory was robbed by Zero Dark. Transfixed by the brilliant doctor, DB’s unsure what’s preventing her from killing Cristina. DB has memory glitches and longs to interpret them. Whether or not these have to do with Cristina, she doesn’t know, but she senses their fates are entwined—with any luck, not fatally. Danger lurks in the shadows. Cristina’s spurned lover, Wilson, is investigating the suspicious deaths of local teens, convinced they’re not accidents. Before their bewildering ends, all the victims exhibit bizarre behavior, and there are now terrified whispers among their friends of a hooded boogeyman called Sack Man. One exceptional young man, Reggie Horne, is clearly in the middle of this bedlam. Wilson vows to prevent Sack Man from claiming Reggie as his next casualty. And when Cristina’s in danger, Wilson is never far away. Just as it becomes apparent their two stories are entangled, the peril shoots sky-high. With at least one killer in their wake, they must quickly determine what’s real and what’s not. Unlocking Cristina’s memories could save many lives—her own included.


Adverse Effects

Adverse Effects by Joel Shulkin, MD

Determined to help her amnesiac patients recover their lives, Boston psychiatrist Cristina Silva is achieving near-miraculous results by prescribing Recognate, a revolutionary new memory-recovery drug now in trials. She understands her patients’ suffering better than most, because she’s lost her memories, too. Desperate to become herself again, she pops the same experimental drug she prescribes to her patients. And, like them, she remembers a little more each day. Until one of her patients, a successful accountant, jumps from an eight-story window to his death. And as Cristina’s memories return, with them come violent visions and an incessant voice in her head. Maybe the drug isn’t safe after all. But discontinuing it would mean forgetting everything she’s recalled and losing herself. Then an enigmatic, possibly dangerous man appears at Cristina’s bus stop. He seems to know more about her life than she does and says she holds a secret that puts her life in danger. Perilously balanced between an unknown past and a terrifying future, if she wants to survive, Cristina must stay on the medication and unlock those memories before it’s too late—even if the adverse effects of the drug could destroy her.


Heroic Measures

Heroic Measures by Joel Shulkin, MD

The medical examiner’s job is to speak for the dead, and protect the living. But what happens when the dead speak for themselves? Stephen Englehart, an Armed Forces medical examiner. dedicates his life to bringing peace to the families of fallen soldiers. Tagged as one of the best, he’s able to spot forensic clues others miss. But when the body of a US Marine, supposedly burned beyond recognition, shows up with hardly a scratch, even Stephen is stumped. Were the bodies switched? Then, in the middle of the autopsy, the impossible happens. The soldier wakes up. Something incredible—and dangerous—is happening to the military’s elite, and Stephen may be the only one who can figure it out. And when Stephen’s sister, a Green Beret, goes missing, the entire military machine seems designed to stop him from finding her. To find the truth and save his sister, one man must stand against an army. Can he be the hero he never thought he could?


The Bones of Prophecy

The Bones of Prophecy by J. Rokusson

Forged in hate. Chained by fate. Azran possesses three gifts that evoke unease in both allies and enemies alike – sorcery to edge his blade, unsavoury virtues, and an ill-favoured, imaginary friend. Yet, even Azran isn’t knowing in carrying the fourth: the Elder blade, glacier-forged, with a will of its own. After fulfilling his master’s latest orders, Azran awakes inside a mausoleum, with both his memories and sorcery gone. Clasped in the hands of a corpse is a centuries-old letter, addressed to him. If Azran is to reclaim what is lost, he must follow a path of puzzles. With each step, a plot unfurls that stretches further beyond Azran’s own troubles, reigniting divine rivalries. A goddess reaches from beyond the grave, and a chained god stirs. To make matters worse, Azran’s fabricated friend sets out on his own, guided by a sinister hand. Unburdened by the remembrance of his former life, Azran has a chance to earn back his humanity … If only he could stifle his simmering rage. And like his anger, so too the secrets of his past refuse to stay buried, giving Azran a glimpse of the man he used to be. What will happen to this earth if he ever regains his memories?


Boomsters: An Unexpected Adventure

Boomsters: An Unexpected Adventure by David Marks

In the heart of Chicago, where shadows conceal secrets and organized crime reigns, one retiree embarks on an extraordinary journey. David Blazen spent 50 years comfortable in his work routine but now is retired and desperately searching for purpose in his life. He ultimately finds it in the most unlikely of by becoming a self-proclaimed detective. Travel through a labyrinth of adventure, where suspense lurks around every corner and laugh-out-loud moments break through the tension. Follow along as David’s search for truth and justice gets him caught in a web of contentious cases, all within his first week on the job. The most puzzling? A murder he witnessed that police are calling a suicide. Will his investigation help identify the killer? It’s up to this amateur sleuth to solve that mystery, prevent a budding turf war between Chicago's two dirtiest crime lords, keep a corrupt candidate out of the mayor's office, and bring peace to a city rattled by crime and violence. The problem is, to succeed, he must become a criminal himself. All net proceeds from this book will be donated to non-profit organizations benefitting senior veterans.


Rising Shadows

Rising Shadows by Daniel Meyer

In saving his city of Williamsport, sixteen-year-old wizard Sam Adams uncovered dark revelations that left him shattered. Abby, the girl he loved, was murdered. His memories of her last day were magically erased. And the person responsible is hiding in plain sight. A new threat emerges when an infamous necromancer appears in Williamsport, with a dark agenda that may be connected to her killer. As the undead threaten to tear the city apart, Sam is forced to ally with the very people he suspects of Abby’s death. With paranoia mounting and violence escalating, Sam has to scramble to stay one step ahead of the necromancer­—and to keep from being the killer’s next victim. Navigating a lethal web of shifting alliances, Sam is trapped between insidious magic, and human enemies even more deadly. But the darkest demons are waiting in his own mind.


The Tigers of Talighati

The Tigers of Talighati by Dave Ryan Haaiski

Deep in the enchanted jungles of Asia live three tiger cubs: Dabbu, Vaayu, and Neela. They are playful; they are rambunctious—each with a personality of their own. Dabbu loves to eat and sleep. Neela is a fast learner who loves conversing with the birds. Vaayu is carefree and loves to think outside the box. All three are raised by Leela, their doting mother, and their powerful father, Tej—who have to often engage in brutal fights with others to protect their cubs. As the cubs develop into extraordinary teens while enjoying a fun-filled, adventurous life, an unknown danger threatens to turn everything upside down. An evil monster, his wicked advisors, some sneaky spies, and a vicious army of blood-thirsty dholes (wild dogs) are marching towards Talighati to capture its territories and destroy everything that stands in their way. Hundreds of bloodied bodies lie strewn across the jungle in wake of their deadly rampage. When a friend brings news of their impending arrival, the family is torn—should they stay and fight, or should they flee? But how can a handful of tigers fight a powerful army? Where will they go? The wicked army is everywhere, and so are the spies. The inexperienced teens and their mother have to embark on a perilous journey through the river, where they can be caught at the next turn. What other dangers await them and their cousin, Yug? Which animals will they meet, and will they help or betray? What will be their fate? Will the evil monster and his army have the last laugh? This nuanced, multi-layered action thriller is for all those who enjoy captivating characters, unexpected twists and turns, intense fights, a few shocks, revenge, a healthy dose of humor, a dash of romance, and an ever changing landscape that will take your breath away.


Breathe for Me

Breathe for Me by Donna B. Comeaux

Less than a month ago, Robert Aaron Jaeger’s wife, Christina, and four-year-old daughter were in a terrible accident on the downtown streets of Seattle. The four-year-old came away with scratches. Christina succumbed to her injuries. Laden with unspeakable guilt for putting his job over family, he can no longer cope with the neglect he imposed on his wife. Under the disguise of rafting through the Glenwood Canyon, Robert sets out to kill himself, but his plan is thwarted when he stumbles upon a woman standing in freezing water aiming to do the same thing. Lilly Radford has been riddled with guilt since the day her baby died and there’s not been a day she hasn’t beat herself up about it. She finally snaps, takes her rent money, and uses it to keep her tank filled until the money runs out. With her car running on fumes, she’s forced to exit off I-70 in Glenwood Springs at the Grizzly Creek Rest Stop where she gives up and falls in the river. After Robert rescues Lilly and later steps off the plane in Seattle, Zachary Butler lurks close to his heels, looking for the first opportunity … for a nice clean shot to kill Robert for getting him fired. Zachary is much more than a typical killer on the loose. His disorder causes him to converse with the good side of himself to collaborate on a scheme for revenge. To complicate his chaotic existence, his wife, Ethel, threatens to derail his plan. As danger looms and a loved one gets tangled in the crossfire, Robert and Lilly are forced to let down their guard and wrestle with their physical attraction to each other. Determined to right past wrongs, their self-centered past haunts them, makes them edgy, and keeps love at bay. But if they aren’t careful, they could miss the beauty lying just below the surface of their pain ... if the killer has his way. Anger. Madness. Darkness. Murder. Obsession. Ambition. How will it all end?


What Grows From the Dead

What Grows From the Dead by Dave Dobson

Morris Drummond is not at his best. Well, he hasn't been at his best for a while now. But having just suffered two crushing losses, he's almost at rock bottom, which for him means driving ride-share in his mom's beat up Chevy, drowning his sorrows in tacos and spray cheese, and avoiding anything related to ambition, self-care, or laundry. Morris is about to learn that he didn't even know what rock bottom looked like, and it's all thanks to his mom. A secret she left behind comes to light, and that brings down a lot of unwanted attention on Morris, the kind that looks likely to send him either to prison or to the hereafter. Blood and treachery from long ago rise to the surface, and Morris has only his lawyer Annie, who's an old high school friend, and a few unexpected allies to call on as he tries to figure out what his mom was up to and why so many people want him out of the picture. A humorous mystery with elements of suspense and thrillers, What Grows From the Dead is set in present-day small-town North Carolina, not far from the mysterious Uwharrie Forest.


The Festival of Hungry Ghosts

The Festival of Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Frame

Once upon a time, there was a wolf. He was a big bad wolf and in 1929 he left Fairyland to go work as a private eye in Los Angeles. He’s got a new case he doesn’t want; finding the kidnapped son of a local crime lord. He’s got a new partner he doesn’t trust; a chaotic female gangster who likes dames, booze, and bullets. Those are just the start of his problems. There are monsters in his way and not all of them are human.


The Ghost in the Garden

The Ghost in the Garden by Alisse Lee Goldenberg

Twelve-year-old Sophie Madison has no idea what she's in for when she moves from the big city of Calgary to Stratford, Ontario. And she misses her friends, her apartment, and all her favorite places. Although her parents found a beautiful house with a bedroom she loves, none of them knew it was full of secrets and surprises. When a young girl keeps lurking in the back garden, she begins to suspect her new home is haunted.


Everly

Everly by Meg Bonney

Madison Rosewood on her 18th birthday is about to graduate and head off toward a big, bright future that any kid would kill for: a full ride on a track scholarship, the world's greatest best friend, and an aunt that has always provided for her. The problem? Madison just wants to find her birth parents, even if it costs her all of the above.

When her Aunt Ruth is kidnapped and taken to a hidden world called Everly, all of Madison's plans are put on hold. Guided by a mysterious stranger, Madison and her best friend follow Aunt Ruth's kidnappers through a portal into Everly. Traveling through fairy lit caverns and towering oak tree forests Madison quickly realizes that behind Everly's beauty is a world of magic, violence, and shocking truths about her family.

There, armed only with an enchanted sword and a sharp tongue, she battles her way past deceptive witches and bounty hunters to attempt a dangerous rescue that changes both her and Everly's future forever.


How to Be the Best Third Wheel

How to Be the Best Third Wheel by Loridee De Villa

A clean teen romance comedy about figuring out where you belong when all the constants in your life begin to change. It’s the last year of highschool, and everything has changed . . . After spending summer vacation in the Philippines with family, Lara returns to school eager to catch up with her close knit group of girlfriends. But within minutes of reuniting with her friends, she learns that not one, not two, but all three of them are now in relationships that blossomed over the summer. And to make matters worse, Lara’s long time frenemy, James, won’t stop bugging her in class and eventually forces her into tutoring him everyday after school. Surviving high school was never easy to begin with, but with occupied friends, a hectic Filipino family, and her annoying childhood enemy pestering her more than ever, Lara tries to juggle everything, while trying to figure out her own place in the chaos.


Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears

Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears by Sarah WaterRaven

It was called the Great Awakening, when magickal kind returned to our world. They live among us now, renting apartments, laboring in the workforce, and paying taxes. Ares is a vampire and doing very well for himself in the modern world. Between teaching at the local university and assisting a paranormal investigator, things couldn’t be better. But when a woman dies mysteriously in her own home, the question isn’t who killed her, but what.

Alexandria is alone in the world. Having lived a complicated life surrounded by mystery and tragedy, she's quickly pulled into the world of paranormal investigating. Can she walk the border between the worlds of man and magick or will she become lost to it?

Vampires. Witches. Ghosts. Demons. Fairies and Gods.

Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tear is an all new Urban Fantasy with a Paranormal Mystery twist.


Undead Redhead

Undead Redhead by Jen Frankel

After her tragic death in a wedding bouquet-toss accident, Sharon Backovic wakes up in a coffin on her way to her own funeral. Is she dead? Is it all a mistake? Or is she actually… a zombie? For the girl who loved animals, her boyfriend, and vegan food, it’s not an auspicious start to resurrection. Her boyfriend is now dating her best friend. She has no home, no money, very little self-respect, and a troubling rumble in her tummy. But Sharon’s innate goodness and resilience have also survived her death. Hunted by a mad conspiracy theorist, mentored by a crack addict, befriended by an Asian grocer and a cute comic book guy, this is one redheaded vegan zombie who’s not going to let being dead stop her from getting the most out of her afterlife.


Saint, Sorrow, Sinner

Saint, Sorrow, Sinner by FreydĂ­s Moon

An exploration of religious mythos, BrujerĂ­a, and spiritual ascension... Sophia De'voreaux never expected to escape Haven, but after a bloody confrontation in the Gideon Preserve, she finds herself under the protection of a rogue witch, her menacing guard, and their cautious friends. Crumbling beneath an onslaught of ancient power, Sophia must put her reservations aside, because the Breath of Judas is no ordinary relic and trusting the strange, dysfunctional group might be her only chance at ridding her body of its dangerous magic. Before it's too late. Guided by Colin, Bishop, Tehlor, and Lincoln, Sophia leaves Colorado, seeking help from a mysterious mystic, Juniper Castle, and enters a race against time, chasing salvation, redemption, and a second chance at freedom.


The Final Shroud

The Final Shroud by Nathan Burrage

The Holy Land, 1099: Jerusalem has fallen. As the Christian factions vie for power, Godefroi de Bouillon and his companions unearth markers to the Keystone, a mystical artefact with the power to shape history. Yet progress has its price: Godefroi's bodyguard lies gravely wounded; the Arabic cabal guiding Hugues is broken; and the forces of Severity are gathering to claim the Keystone. France, 1307: Bertrand de Châtillon-sur-Seine was a knight for a single day before fleeing with the mysterious Salome. After a pitched battle that claims most of his brethren, Bertrand agrees to become Salome's new Shroud, binding his fate to hers. A refuge lies across the English Channel, but will they reach it in time? And when will Salome finally reveal her secrets? The Keystone awaits, but is it meant for mortal hands?


Rifted Hearts

Rifted Hearts by M.A. Guglielmo

Welcome to Moon Star Ranch, Home to Monsters and Mustangs. The Monster Apocalypse is old news, but Remi Gatti has a fresh take—travel tourism to monster portals. Too bad it’s only a cover for his real job as a half-human spy. When he’s sent to Moon Star Ranch to charm a veterinarian with ties to his crime family’s enemies, Remi’s sure this will be an easy seduce-and-run job. How hard can it be to ride a horse anyway? Kaveh Salehi, a world expert on the medical treatment of alien species, has his own secrets. His friends at the ranch don’t know he’s part dragon and the alien entity known as the Matchmaker has chosen a human as his destined spouse. His clan wants the oblivious soulmate located and kept safe, whether that person wants to marry a monster or not. When Kaveh discovers Remi’s also not fully human, he asks for help—and Remi is more than up for the job. How hard can it be to fake date a sexy stranger anyway? For once, Remi doesn’t want to lie to his mark. For once, Kaveh doesn’t want to do the right thing. How hard can it be not to fall in love with the wrong person?


Lose Yourself

Lose Yourself by Vince Wetzel

It’s the final game of the season, and All-Star Brett Austen has a chance to secure the first .400 batting average for a season in more than 80 years. However, increasing pressure and his own hubris threaten the apex of his career. Meanwhile, a sideline reporter wrestles with a choice between her career and her mom in crisis. A retiring usher takes in his final game before moving in with his son’s family. A lanky 15-year-old can’t understand his future stepdad while pining for a girl from school. A lemonade vendor agonizes over a big score to settle gambling debts and fulfill his daughter’s dreams. An adult daughter navigates uncomfortable family dynamics at home while her father lies in hospice. Will their choices meet the moment?


The Hidden Keystone

The Hidden Keystone by Nathan Burrage

July 1099: sweltering in the merciless heat, Godefroi de Bouillon’s desperate army finally breach the walls of Jerusalem. Concealed within their ranks are members of a secret fraternity. The Salt Lines seek a mystical artefact called the Keystone, and they’re willing to sacrifice everything Godefroi values to possess it: the lives of his closest confidants, the only woman he has ever loved, even his very soul. October 1307: when Bertrand joined the Brotherhood of the Temple of Solomon, no one anticipated the brutal suppression of the Order that followed. Forced to flee for his life, Bertrand unwittingly becomes the only person who can lay the Keystone to rest. But can he resist its temptations whilst evading the forces of the French throne? With the veil of secrecy in tatters, truth has become the most dangerous possession of all.


Concerning Decay of The Human Race

Concerning Decay of The Human Race by Massimo Fantini

The small village on the Island of Iguanas is home to three self-contained and interconnected stories. The first story tells of a brilliant young Physics graduate named Mattia, who embarks on a sightseeing trip to the island with his family. Right from the start, the family’s relations with the local native population on the island are strained, due to differences in customs and cultures. When the rapid spread of a lethal epidemic brings everyone face-to-face with imminent death; will this be an opportunity to reconsider their values, or just another situation to divide them further? In the second section, the Resettlement Program brings a new group of people to the village – some seventy desperate families willing to leave their motherland and start a new life away from the trappings of progress. Here, the fate of Riccardo – an introverted young man with suicidal thoughts – is intertwined with that of Luca – an exuberant boy who has just started discovering his own feelings and sexual drives. In the background, there are the contrasts between the adults grappling with a chaotic and deregulated community's life, while trying to build a new social fabric. The settlement grows and consolidates its democratic structure. In the third section, the villagers must deal with one last challenge – the eschatological one. Faced with the fear of God’s wrath, of mortal sins, hellfire and eternal damnation, many consciences awaken; bringing out past and present misdeeds. The adults’ lifestyle reveals its very nature: rotten, immoral, inhuman, exemplifying how low the human race has fallen in its process of decay.


Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race

Concerning Fanaticism in The Human Race by Massimo Fantini

Elijah is a promising young lawyer, in love with his work and confident in the potential of the human race. His law firm’s senior partner gives him his first important assignment. Elijah will have to follow the case of Leonard, an elderly engineer who lives in Montepastore, a small village in Italy’s Bolognese Apennines. Leonard's question concerns the supplementary contribution that engineers enrolled in the professional register are required to pay to Inarcassa, the Engineers’ Pension Fund. At first, the case seems simple. It was the subject of a previous ruling by the Court of Cassation. But Leonard is not satisfied with an institutional response. He wants to know why. He wants to know what hides behind the Supreme Court’s ruling. Through a detailed analysis of the Court of Cassation’s ruling, Elijah and Leonard formulate a hypothesis, according to which the Supreme Court may have been subjected to pressure from advocacy groups aimed at preserving the established order. The Court of Cassation’s ruling, which at first glance seemed like a valid institutional response, ends up bringing out intrinsic contradictions and absurdities which begin to undermine Elijah's trust in Italian institutions. But Elijah can't afford to fail on his first important assignment. He aspires to an accelerated career. He aspires to become the youngest partner in the law firm. Therefore, he is obliged to indulge Leonard's mind-bending lucubrations even when these seem designed to destroy Elijah's trust in justice and jurisprudence. To support his anarchist and non-conformist ideas, the old engineer makes use of examples taken from the real story of his grandfather Alexis, who lived in the second half of the nineteenth century. The concrete evidence brought by Leonard – and Elijah's inability to respond effectively – brings out the prejudices and conditioning to which the young man is a slave. Leonard's demands grow meeting after meeting, and the subject of the dispute widens to include ethical, religious, and historical concerns. Elijah turns to alcohol and becomes stubborn and violent. He insults his friends, abandons his girlfriend, Paola, and moves to Leonard's house with the intention of demolishing his ideas. It's psychological warfare on all fronts. Exhausted and determined to put an end to that agony, Elijah decides to set fire to the old man's house. He gets some cans of petrol, but, at the last minute, changes his mind. Epilogue: A few years later, Elijah finds himself in a notary's office together with the law firm’s senior partner. He has finally achieved his goal: to become the youngest partner in the law firm.


Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race

Concerning Intellectual Suicide in The Human Race by Massimo Fantini

Tommaso is a despondent engineering student at the local university. He has a life which many people would feel satisfied with: he lives with parents who provide him with all the comforts he could wish for, fellow students and colleagues who are interested in him, and pursuits besides education. However, he feels a nagging sense of emptiness and a disconnection with the outside world. Therefore, he makes an appointment at the Institute, a colorless piece of bureaucracy in his town designed to “help” people like him. Tommaso meets with the functionaries, who ask him the bland, mechanical questions on their forms to evaluate if he is a suitable candidate for their “treatment”: assisted suicide. He increasingly finds himself unable to continue with the process, and comes into contact with Diego, a senior employee at the Institute, whose job is to carry out the treatment. One day, Tommaso goes on a trip with a girl, Francesca, to Mahler’s composition house. Tommaso has a passion for classical music, but his feelings of emptiness overwhelm him. He abandons Francesca and returns home to contemplate his fate. At the same time, Diego takes a special interest in Tommaso’s case. In doing so, Diego begins to realize that Tommaso’s feelings dovetail with his deepening disillusionment with his job. Faced with his inner turmoil concerning the ethics of the job he performs, Diego falls ill. His doctor advises him to visit Father Anselm – an old priest who lives in the mountains – where he spends three days resting and recuperating. During this trip, Diego debates ethics and religion with Father Anselm. The result of these debates leads to Diego deciding to rescind his position as Chief Executioner at the Institute. On returning to the Institute, Diego tries to steer Tommaso back toward hope. Tommaso, however, too absorbed in his own feelings, fails to see the light and returns to his pervasive sense of emptiness and disconnection from the world.


Tempting Olivia

Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton

Olivia Sachdeva’s life is flawless. With a first from Oxford and as the youngest partner at Bentley lawyers, she expects high standards from everyone. Her only indulgences are eating iced desserts and repeat watching romcoms, especially those featuring Kate Laurence – pure escapism and cinematic perfection. But, when the actor walks into Olivia’s office with a bag full of divorce and a messy personal life, that perfect bubble bursts. Kate seems nothing like the screen goddesses she plays, and Olivia must put aside her comfort viewing and handle the case like the true professional she is. It requires secrecy, especially with indiscreet friends. Will best-friend Charlotte ever read the room? And will Millie, who instantly reads the room, ever stop commenting loudly? And Kate? She doesn’t know what to think about this frosty lawyer. But she needs a quick divorce from a mistake of a marriage, which was over before it started, and Olivia Sachdeva is the best. But little by little, Olivia and Kate glimpse behind the mask, to find someone they weren’t looking for, who may not even be perfect, but might be the right person for them. Read as a stand-alone romance or book two of the Oxford Romance series.


Under Far Galaxian Skies

Under Far Galaxian Skies by Natalie Kelda

Balfour has committed the ultimate crime: the murder of his sister’s boyfriend. It doesn’t matter that it was accidental. Sentenced to working as ship labourer, Balfour is convinced he deserves it when he's captured by pirates and forced to a distant galaxy. He barely escapes enslavement, fleeing into a city more deadly than anything he’s ever known. Venomous reptiles hunt him. Iron-fisted tarilla chiefs are on the brink of war. Balfour must adapt quickly or prepare for a slow, torturous death in the hands of people more bloodthirsty than the Star-Eaters of old. But the biggest threat is his lingering self-loathing. If he can't fight through it, nothing else will matter — because he won’t live long enough to see it.


Chef’s Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance)

Chef’s Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance) by Stephanie Shea

Valentina Rosas has always known what she wants. Mostly. Sort of. At least, she does now. And what she wants is the coveted staging role at Gia, San Francisco. With four years at the top of her class in culinary school and enough tenacity to fuel the entire Mission, no one doubts she is about to land the job of her dreams—including the three-person cheer squad made up of her best friend and adorably overbearing parents. Renowned chef Jenn Coleman is not a people person. Her rise to the top of the culinary industry stems from a cultivated blend of top-tier schooling—from her nonna—and bouts of carefully managed misanthropy. Owning and operating two Michelin starred restaurants doesn’t leave time for much else anyway. Just ask her ex. When the new stage at her restaurant trips into her with all the grace of a baby giraffe, it’s a sure recipe for disaster. But for all of Jenn’s reserve, Valentina has twice the allure, and the chemistry between them is just… chef’s kiss. If only Jenn wasn’t Valentina’s boss with nearly ten years between them.


The Misadventures of Callie Compton

The Misadventures of Callie Compton by Alyson Root

It’s not everyday you find out that your sweet, sweater knitting, church going grandma is the UK’s most prolific crime boss. For Callie Compton, that day became a reality on her eighteenth birthday. Not being criminally inclined, Callie did the only thing she could. She bided her time, stole her grandma’s little black book of scumbag employees, and ran for her life. Six years later Callie finds herself in a small café in Sweden, her Spidey sense is tingling. Someone is watching her. How did they catch her trail? And what is she going to do next? Daisy Simpson knew from the age of sixteen that Callie’s grandma was a bad person, just like her own dad. How she regrets not telling Callie before leaving for university all those years ago. Maybe then Callie wouldn’t have disappeared without telling her. Not only was Callie her best friend, and first unrequited love, she was also Daisy’s biggest supporter. Being born deaf into a family like hers wasn’t easy. Using skills she’s not at liberty to discuss, Daisy tracks Callie to Sweden. After a few days of playing hide and seek, Callie and Daisy are finally reunited. The duo set out to bring Betty, aka Queen B, to her knees. Easy, right? Wrong! Callie and Daisy must navigate their growing feelings toward each other, deal with several less than happy women, overcome flooded caves and one raging bull. This is no adventure. It’s quite the opposite.


Don't Break Hearts

Don't Break Hearts by Gwen Leonhard

"I don’t have many rules that I follow during my travels here. Don’t fall in love. Don’t get attached. Remember what you came for. But most importantly: Don’t break hearts." ---------- NSFW’s Tales tells the Story of a Succubus named Natt Serene Fiona Williams. With her cold demeanor, it may be hard to believe that she fights for the oppressed and weak, to give them the tools they need to find a new strength to get through their life, but you better believe that this is the case. She may be doing this with some unconventional methods, but the results are just as effective as they are kinky. While this story is definitely “not safe for work.” It focuses on some of its parts on the explicit sexual depiction in some form, but it is way more than just simple porn.


Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace

Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard

Welcome back to Herzkirch – a city on top of a hollowed-out mountain, that is in the firm grip of the Reinblut Kirche. They passionately spread the word of the vileness of Blendlings – the offspring of a Biest and a human – and fuel prejudice against them. No wonder, the parents who turn up on the doorstep of Freyja’s agency are beyond worried that their son has disappeared. Freyja, who is a Blendling incognito herself, doubts that this was an abduction, but decides to investigate anyway. Only when all leads start to point to Lady Hagen’s, her suspicion starts to rise. After all, this woman not only happens to be the pimp of a bunch of half-concubusses, but also is Freya's ex-girlfriend. Goddess knows what she could do to someone as naive as her crush Emilia …? “Prey For The Devil” is the second book in the “In Cold Embrace” series and follows the powerful trans woman Freyja deeper into the heart of Herzkirch. Thereby not only putting a strain on the relationships with her lesbian companions, but also bringing more light to her own past.


A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace

A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard

Discover Herzkirch, a city in the middle of a monster-infested wasteland, on top of a hollowed-out mountain. The Reinblut Kirche, a religious institution, holds it firmly – rallying the people against Blendlings, the half-blood offspring of Biest and humans. Freyja is such a Blendling, that manages really well to stealth between humans. So well that the Reinblut Kirche hires her to slay a Biest in the lower part of the city. This monster has dared to take a nun of the church hostage – at least that is what Freyja is told. But all is not as it seems, and maybe her target isn’t as much a threat as a companion to be enjoyed … In this story, powerful women take center stage – foremost Freyja as a homosexual trans woman –, carving their paths through adversity and religious norms. Still, at the heart of this narrative lies a love story that doesn’t shy away from showing intimacy between its protagonists – it rather likes to indulge in it.


I Tried Calling

I Tried Calling by Austin Abbott

"This book is a collection of the voices you hear after a tape rewinds. The voices from your past you never thought you'd hear again. The voices that wash over the quiet of your apartment when you walk inside from the rain and see a blinking light and press play." Written by Austin Abbott, this is a book of short stories formatted as transcripts of messages left on answering machines. AUDIO VERSION AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE: https://numerochair.bandcamp.com/album/i-tried-calling-the-recordings


The Sapien Empire

The Sapien Empire by Nathan Ogloff

A post-apocalyptic novel where civilization is making a comeback. Shindo Dacan is a socially awkward but gifted engineer who has made the most brilliant machines seen since before the All-Silence—machines that ruler Vibrun Magrite used in his creation of the Domain as he brought all four of the city-states within his iron grip. With the help of a friend of his, Shindo is secretly planning to provide prosthetic limbs to the many victims of the war his machines have waged. When Magrite finds out and slaughters Shindo’s friend before his eyes, Shindo tricks Magrite into funding a warrior mech to wreak revenge and is unwillingly rewarded with a woman from Magrite’s harem, Jarim Alsaedon. With his mech machine and Jarim’s help, Shindo stages a coup d’état that leaves Magrite dead and him and his accomplice as platonic dual heads of state. As Shindo and Jarim work to rebuild their civilization, they’re beset by factions both within and beyond the Domain’s borders. Can Shindo learn how to design a stable peace before the new world he’d envisioned becomes a wasteland of death and destruction?


Hidden Realm (Legends of Lightning Book 1)

Hidden Realm (Legends of Lightning Book 1) by T.R. Slauf

“The next Realm Walker will bring with them a storm. Lightning must fight the Crimson Shadow, or the lands will be cast into eternal darkness.” When she was a child, Esther was plagued with vivid nightmares. Now they have returned to haunt her. Bloodthirsty monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. After waking with fresh wounds from her dreams, Esther searches for the truth about who she is and the Hidden Realm she is destined to save. Join Esther on her journey of self-discovery as she travels into a world long forgotten. Unsure if she can trust her hooded guide, she is hunted by unknown enemies and smothered by expectations of grandeur. Deciphering friend from foe she travels the lands, trying to unite kingdoms torn by pride.


Redemption (Legends of Lightning Book 2)

Redemption (Legends of Lightning Book 2) by T.R. Slauf

“Blood seems to be the only thing flowing in this Realm. The day I found out the truth of who I was, was the day I died.” “Sometimes you must die so you can be re-born.” Esther escaped the horrors of Castle Rose, but at a cost. Believing her lost guide is still alive deep in the bowels of Adam’s dungeons, she aims to save him, but the other Huntsman are not so sure he’s alive… Desperate to rescue Oisin, Esther makes tempestuous allegiances with dangerous foes. Walking a fine line between enemies and allies, life and death, she rages war against the monsters of the Hidden Realm. Esther’s journey continues in this heart wrenching sequel as she navigates the politics and grudges of ageless Queens. By night, she’s haunted by what she’s seen fighting in a war that was never hers. What she’s done to survive in the Hidden Realm will haunt her forever and she’s terrified of losing herself in the darkness without a star to guide her. Will Esther be able to save Oisin and the lands before the shadows of her mind overtake her spirit?


Ancient as the Stars

Ancient as the Stars by Maya Darjani

For fans of Lower Decks, the Expanse, and Firefly: a found family time travel adventure with humor, snark, and lots of heart. One kickass immortal sailship captain. Captain Karenna Yilmaz of the Earth Union Fleet has it all. Adoring husband? Check. The enduring loyalty of her crew? Check. Transformation into a beautiful ageless immortal? Check. Check. Check. But when a dimensional rift brings her low-down, dust-sniffing, no-good younger self hurtling into the present, Karenna's carefully-constructed life wavers. One snarky dust-addicted loser. Flight Officer Ren Yilmaz is pretty sick of the hand she's been dealt. Her supervisor is an idiot. Her ex-husband is vindictive and has ruined her career. And now, here's her perfect future self, who everyone fawns over, while Ren is still ignored and alone. They're the same person, 60 years apart Both their ships are stranded: one in space, one in time. Karenna needs to get her crew home safe and sound. And Ren has to get back to her reality and out of Karenna's shadow. Working together would mean literally facing their past–including old traumas and transgressions best kept hidden. But if they don't, they'll be stuck with each other until the end of time.


The Rabbit Man: A Collection of Short Terrors and Flash Fiction

The Rabbit Man: A Collection of Short Terrors and Flash Fiction by T.R. Slauf

The Fanciful, The Terrible, & The Macabre From killers in masks, to a haunted car wash, to a demon hunting cat, The Rabbit Man is a collection of short terrors and flash fiction. Come along to hunt witches, stalk killers, and exact vengeance in a web of tales befitting your worst nightmares and most haunting daydreams.


Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume One

Tales of Mundane Magic: Volume One by Shaina Krevat

Nothing too strange ever happens to Gertie and Bridget Mallon. The sisters don’t have magical adventures fighting off dark lords or saving the world. Gertie spends her time learning the skill of enchantment, and Bridget has the ability to see things no one else can see with her left eye, which was bewitched in an accident many years ago. Sure, they attend Flories Boarding School, where Gertie takes a potions class and Bridget plays basketball, and the occasional magical anomaly takes place, but who doesn’t deal with the occasional poltergeist or curse? Life is relatively calm for the Mallon sisters, but things might not be quite as mundane as they appear.


Calligraphy Guild

Calligraphy Guild by R.M. Archer

Dragon ink gives calligraphers the power to set history in stone—or to change it. Lai Duyên’s dreams are realized when she’s admitted into the ranks of the calligraphers, authors considered trustworthy enough to defend time from those who would change it. She’s thrilled at the opportunity to record her country’s history, and to work with the other calligraphers in her village. But when Duyên’s guild is set upon by ancient dragons demanding a time-changer be destroyed, her world is flipped upside down. Her guildmates turn on each other, suspicion coloring their every move. To make matters worse, she’s begun hearing the dragons in her head and finds them impossible to block out: a condition that rendered her grandmother insane. With the calligraphy guild in turmoil and Duyên’s ever-present fear of madness clouding her vision, will the group be able to discover which of their guildmates has altered time before the dragons pass judgment on them all?


Head Like a Hole

Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey

When you bury your past, make sure that it’s dead. It’s the mid-nineties. Grunge and flannel are fading as the Spice Girls and Hot Topic conquer the malls. Cherry gloss glistens on the lips of the youth. Modems hiss as America comes online. And in a fog-drenched cove at the edge of New England, something terrible awakens when a fisherman reels in a gruesome catch: the remains of a young woman. Remains still pulsing with furious life. For Megan Monroe and her friends, this is how their nightmare begins: a wet whisper over their shoulder, a dark hand reaching out from the edge of their sight, and a name clawing at the back of their minds. A young woman scratched from their memory. To stop this devouring terror, Megan will need to mend broken friendships and reassemble her fractured past, for what stalks them hungers to remake itself in their image… piece by bloody piece. Dig into the haunted past with Head Like a Hole, a novel of malignant secrets, shattered friendships, and twisted bodily horror. ★★★★★ "This is a brilliant read. A wonderful well-written plot and a story line that had me engaged from the start." ★★★★★ "A quick, fun read that will be enjoyed by true crime, horror, and sci-fi fans." ★★★★★ "A beautiful, gritty tale that engages you to piece it all together while being deliciously entertained at the same time."


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