The Garden of the Golden Children by Ashley Hutchison

We all live somewhere. The children of Somewhere attend a prestigious Academy with a spectacular garden that celebrates its finest pupils. The history of the Academy is rich as chocolate, but things are not as they seem. Experimental and emotional, Ashley Hutchison delivers a somber, enchanting, and dark journey in this must-read literary fantasy.

Rising Ember (Children From Sacrifice - Vol. 1) by Arleta Rae

Fire is destruction. Fire is rebirth. When Thea Knight is involved in a fatal car accident, she falls victim to the sinister shadows looming in the darkness who change her life forever. She wakes up . . . craving blood. Thea is immediately thrust into a dangerous immortal civil war between the Essites and the Brais. Cole Moretti is an Essite who has killed, saved, and endangered Thea. Her transition to vampire by his hand awakens a rare elemental magic within that marks her as the rogue Brais’ next target. She must resist being consumed by their need to destroy humanity before they kill Cole and all those she cares for. A magical and suspenseful contemporary dark fantasy perfect for fans of Vampire Academy and The Vampire Diaries.

The Briar Crown by Helen Rygh-Pedersen

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They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror? Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear. Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers. Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?

This Too Shall Burn by Cat Rector

Engaging writing alongside intense character development and a setting rife with tension. I could hardly put down this novel of feminine rage and the anger of dealing with the hypocrisy of both powerful men and the religions they stand behind. Very, very good.

Review by catfacegargoyle on 2026-04-27T20:29:44Z

Alien Tower: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #8) by Honey Phillips

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Review by ChelseaK on 2026-04-22T13:54:41Z

How to Survive This Fairytale by S. M. Hallow

Honestly, this book is just objectively GOOD. In a world full of regurgitated pandering and lifeless slop, this story is richly human. Human made and human felt. It’s exactly why art NEEDS to exist, and it succeeds with every one of its purposes.

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Review by WaywardSky on 2026-04-21T23:28:01Z

Demon Engine by Marten Norr

This novel carried a well written and easy to follow prose, with deeply imaginative characters, and world building to match.

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Review by CJDaley writer on 2026-04-21T22:23:31Z

A Goblet of Guises and Gooseberries: A Goose Girl Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Abigail Manning

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Review by ChelseaK on 2026-04-21T00:54:54Z

Blessed is the Link by Sheri Singerling

Lenore lives in the shadow of her parents, Fenrir and Sophie. It’s been twenty years since they destroyed the Linkrot virus and, in doing so, restored the Link. A new world order has emerged with Fenrir and Sophie at the helm as wardens of the Link, dead set on protecting that enigmatic connection to other worlds. But Lenore doesn’t believe the ideology her parents spout. She defies them by joining revolutionaries determined to destroy the Link. After the rebels’ attempt fails, Fenrir and Sophie learn that the Linkrot virus isn’t wholly gone. It gnaws away at other Link nodes in other cities. As punishment for her involvement with the rebels, Lenore is forced to help her parents bolster the Link. They must travel into a land of unknowns and cleanse the nearest node of its Linkrot virus. Lenore doesn’t believe in their mission until she gets her first glimpse of the horrid creatures the Linkrot virus breeds. Were her parents right after all? Doubts consume Lenore, but there’s one thing she’s certain of—she’s not going to have her future decided for her. Can Lenore carve her own path and, what’s more, survive the deadly task ahead? Blessed is the Link is a dark science fantasy novel, the second in the Bit trilogy and part of the Alfom shared universe. It is highly recommended that readers complete book 1 in the Bit trilogy, Blessed is the Rot, prior to reading Blessed is the Link.

Our Ways Unmasked by C.B. Lansdell

Return to Knyadrea, a world of sea-born people shaped by tumultuous forces. Nearly a year after the events of Far Removed, the resourceful Oklas and guarded Prismer face a unique set of challenges in their socially stratified society. Knyadrea’s sovereigns grow ever more paranoid. Armed enforcers patrol Apidecca’s streets, and tensions escalate. With nothing to lose, Oklas Sayve turns to resyn for solutions. Could the mystical substance that unravelled his life also prove to be his salvation? There is no room for doubt. Too many are relying on his expertise. The knyads he once considered charities are now close friends and allies … and one of them might even be something more. New threats stand between Prismer and the dreams she’s only beginning to open herself up to. Venturing out from under the shadow of the Pentarchy, can she recover her faith in the knyad god, in herself, and in the people who see past her mask? In Our Ways Unmasked, the second book in the Apidecca Duology, Oklas and Prismer are not the only ones with an eye on the city’s future. Rebels, traitors, and scumbled outcasts have a myriad of reasons to seek change. Together, can they overcome an oppressive regime that has stood for hundreds of years? No Gen AI was used in the production of this book.

The Tidelings of Dras Sayve by C.B. Lansdell

Maverick diplomat Emis Rindar travels to the northernmost clan in the Dras Channel, seeking the assistance of an old friend. After a lifetime of adventures across Knyadrea, a large moon, his next planned endeavour will be unlike anything he has attempted. Isolated and enigmatic, the knyads of Dras Sayve keep even their neighbours at a distance, and few welcome the unorthodox ideas Emis brings from abroad. But all his breakthroughs happen here, and the Sayvians are the most technologically progressive knyads on the moon. Can Emis convince them that he will make a worthy mentor to one of their more curious juveniles? This story is set 30 years before the events of Far Removed (C.B. Lansdell’s debut sci-fi novel).

Together is a Distant Star by A.J. Calvin, V. Carvajal Leiva, Nancy Foster, Andrea Marie Johnson, Natalie Kelda, C.B. Lansdell, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse N. Steves, Delilah Waan, Isabelle Wagner

How far would you go to find where you belong? A shapeshifting alien changeling raised by humans. The “wicked” child selected as the village sacrifice. People trapped in rigid belief systems, oppressive regimes, well-intentioned families, complicated relationships, and their very own bodies. Is it better to succumb and survive, or escape by staking everything on a slender hope? What triumphs in the end, love or vengeance? And if all that remains is ashes, is it still worth it? Grapple with these questions by diving into twelve new science fiction and fantasy stories. Together is a Distant Star is a collaborative anthology that encompasses authors hailing from Europe to Australia, South Africa to South America, and celebrates a kaleidoscope of perspectives—female, nonbinary, BIPOC, queer, and more. Featuring stories from: A.J. Calvin, C.B. Lansdell, Nancy Foster, V. Carvajal Leiva, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse Steves, Delilah Waan, and Isabelle Wagner.

Alien Tower: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #8) by Honey Phillips

The tower was never meant to keep her safe. It was meant to keep her hidden. Locked in a lonely tower where the jungle meets the sea, Liora has spent her entire life under the protection of a watchful AI guardian. She has never left the tower. Never met another person. Until a massive Vultor warrior appears at her door. Baylin came south to investigate an almost forgotten structure mentioned in an old colony record. He never expected to find a beautiful female living inside. Curious, brave, and far too trusting, Liora is fascinated by the dangerous warrior who has suddenly entered her carefully controlled world. But when Baylin discovers she carries a powerful secret, he must decide if he can break the tower’s hold before the world discovers she exists. Because the moment Liora steps outside the walls… everything will change. A spicy standalone sci-fi fairytale retelling featuring an isolated heroine, a protective alien wolf shifter, and a tower that was never meant to be opened.

The Nature of Shadow by Emma.R.Schofield

Will she be cast out of the one place she has left to go? Anhame, the Hall under the six point star, is the only place Lia can learn how to use her terrifying powers. But to take the oath, and to pass through the trials, she must conceal the darkness that is her nature. How long can she hide her dark secret from the Masters of her craft? And if they find out, what will they do to ensure she is not a danger to everyone around her? The Nature of Shadow is the first book in a literary high fantasy series of five. It is for people who love myth and magic, dragons and sword bearers, and walking the path of story with a frighteningly powerful protagonist who nevertheless faces entirely human struggles. Low on sex and violence, but rich in character development, atmosphere and world-building, it is suitable for fantasy lovers from young adult to long-retired elder.

Shadows We Cast by James Chance

After their return from the Underworld, Vincent, Henry, and their pack find themselves with a new mission: break open the portals to Heaven and Hell, so every spirit can find their way to a peaceful afterlife. The catch: figuring out how to do it without a human sacrifice. The second catch: Vincent’s hellhound kin also have a new mission–to hunt him down, and kill anyone who gets in their way. With hellhounds and Shadowhand closing in fast, they need all the help they can get–even from some old friends they would rather have left behind. But together, they might be able to carve out one last chance to right the wrongs of history. To do it, they must travel across the ruins of Heaven, back through the depths of Hell, and even to the deepest crevices in the mind of a vengeful god. But they may just find that the doorway to saving mortalkind resides not in the mind, but the heart…and Vincent and Henry’s love could be the only key.

Turtle Journey and Other Silent Comics by Keilani McConnell

Five heartwarming, traditionally drawn comics following different animals on their journeys A turtle travels to a mountain, meeting friends along the way; a seagull finds a group of students attending a magic class and decides he wants to try it, too; a brachiosaurus guides the stars to their places in the night sky; a mouse makes their way through a snowy forest; a dragon and dragonfly fly together to different islands. Each comic is appropriate for all ages and reading levels, with uplifting and wholesome stories. Includes five comics: Turtle Journey Seagull Magic Dino Stars Snow Mouse The Dragon and the Dragonfly

The Heart of The Dawn by Joseph Moro

A love meant to unite a world is shattered before it can begin. On the day their lives were supposed to become one, Joe is torn away from Cheri by a force neither of them understands. What was meant to be a beginning becomes a fracture that echoes across everything they believed was certain. Separated by a mystery that refuses to stay buried, both are forced to confront more than distance. Truths long hidden begin to surface. Power moves in ways it was never meant to. And the deeper they search, the more they realize their story was never just their own. Because some bonds are not broken by distance. They are tested by it. And some truths, once uncovered, change everything.

The Inescapable March by Hana Carolina

Arran, a widely feared warrior-mage who can manipulate time and space, and his best friend, Hyacinth, an almost-famous actor and talented singer adored by (too) many, find themselves trapped in a recurring nightmare ending with their deaths. Separated amid a blood-soaked war, they keep meeting again, lost in a hazy space between winter and spring, dream and reality, friendship and love.

The Storm and the Rose by T.L. Johnson

Obsession leaves marks deeper than any wound. Arden Rivers has rebuilt her life brick by fragile brick, determined not to be defined by the shadows of her past. But when roses begin to appear at her door—perfect, blood-red, deliberate—so do the notes. Intimate. Intrusive. Written by someone who knows her too well. Each gift is beautiful. Each gift is a threat. The stalker who calls himself her admirer isn’t the only man watching. Gideon Blackwell, heir to a powerful legacy, is as relentless as he is protective. Calculated where others are reckless, he offers her safety—but at a cost: letting him past the walls she’s built. Torn between the protector who sees her strength and the predator who worships her fire, Arden must decide which man holds the greater danger. Because obsession doesn’t always hide in shadows—sometimes it comes wrapped in devotion. In book one of this slow-burn romantic suspense duology, passion and peril entwine. Love may be her refuge or the deadliest trap of all.

God's Scar by Ivy Margriette

"I was born from love, yet I am heaven’s greatest heresy." Born of angel and demon, the half-breed is raised in captivity until the day he escapes, carrying only a single forbidden tenderness from a healer angel who defied Heaven to hold him for a single night. When the healer is taken into the Demon Realm as a sacrificial offering, the half-breed tears through demon arenas, claims a throne he never wanted, and crosses the void where souls face eternal erasure. He encounters angels of all ranks, demon lords and fallen beings, all to reach that one love that he was never allowed to want. This is a journey that asks whether a soul born as heresy can claim the right to love, and to be loved in return. “Let them see it. Let them feel the weight of everything I was never allowed to be. I will not cower.” God's Scar is a slow-burn, emotionally intense, M/M dark fantasy romance of forbidden devotion, visceral worldbuilding, and the quiet violence of choosing to love in a cosmos built to destroy you. “I just want you. Painfully. Desperately. Endlessly. You are the only reason worth living for. The only thing that makes this world bearable.” - Slow-burn, non-explicit M/M romance. - Gritty, lyrical storytelling. - The ache, yearning, and grief that love demands. - Touch him and die. - Who did this to you? - Forced proximity. - Found family. - Vivid, immersive, theological worldbuilding. - Epic fantasy grounded in philosophy and emotional depth. - Character-driven saga - Morally grey demons and angels. - Not a fast read. A lasting one. “Because love was not the warmth they sang about in hymns. Love made you vulnerable, exposed to the sheer, naked terror of caring enough to lose everything.” For readers who love 'Angels Before Man' by Rafael Nicolas and 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. For readers who want prose that reads like prayers. For readers who want vivid, epic Heaven and Hell. For readers who need love to cost everything, but then cost more. For readers who choose to be emotionally devastated. For readers who want an ending that will leave them quiet.

Amity in the House of Her Enemy by Hiyodori

It was an undeserved hatred, but she knew one day she would earn it. Amity already got her revenge. Since childhood, she's secretly worked to bring down the wealthy mage who destroyed her family. After succeeding, she runs away to start a new life under a stolen identity. Years later, she turns thirty, and the mage’s daughter—Juniper—tracks her down. Amity (a born servant) and Juniper (heir to a magical lord) have a long and unpleasant history. They clashed as children, and again in college, while Amity pursued vengeance against Juniper's clan. Amity shamelessly wielded every weapon at her disposal: her wits, her looks, her healing abilities, and her fearlessness. In those days, lying and sabotage were her bread and butter. Icy, uptight Juniper couldn't be more different. She’s always been a stickler for the law. But now the government wants to make an example of Amity for her crimes, and Juniper steps in to protect her. This can't possibly be an act of compassion… yet, given the choice between going with Juniper or going to jail, Amity chooses Juniper. A dangerous gamble. Juniper still has the legal right to claim her as an indentured servant. By trapping Amity in the desolate old mansion where it all began, perhaps Juniper can finally start to exact her own long-awaited revenge. Amity in the House of Her Enemy is a twisty and extremely slow-burn f/f romance featuring childhood enemies, hurt/comfort, family drama, and the very tentative beginnings of a movement against the greatest foe of all: the mageocracy itself. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.

Usurper's Might: Book Six of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III

The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. As the Usurper's darkness rises, will Natharr and the scattered Rilari stay the path when hope becomes dire? The Rilari are scattered, each forced down a different path as the Usurper’s power spreads across the continents like a growing storm. The Guardian of Maarihk, Ellis the Elder, Thair, and the remaining Knights of Ril fight to preserve the last fragile remnants of peace — yet even survival becomes uncertain as the darkness foretold in Natharr’s Sight draws ever closer, shadowing their every step. Meanwhile, Nathan endures the unforgiving mentorship of one of the Empire’s greatest warriors. Driven by a hunger for ultimate vengeance, he is pushed to the edge of his limits. But as his strength grows, so does the question that haunts him: how far will he go to claim the justice he seeks — and what will it cost him when the moment finally comes?

Battle Calm: Omega Message by W.D. Kilpack III

Badger was bred to lead soldiers to victory. What will he do when he must question everything to save those who follow him? When Badger led his Keepers to Base Resurrection, he thought it was to a fresh start, a new Base from which to face the enemy. He did not know that the fighting would not end when leaving the trenches. He has to teach Red Skin’s Laws and relearn them himself, as the relentless combat with an enemy that never stops takes its toll, even affecting his closest bonds with Trinity and Korry. Those changes pale when lifelong truths are challenged by the discovery of the Omega Message. They were still Keepers. They fought, they killed, they lived to kill another day, but even that reality was unraveling. Life was war, they knew nothing else. So what do they do if even the promise of endless combat is not upheld? The remaining Keepers put their faith in Badger to lead them and find the answer ... but time is running out. • 5/5 Stars —"Omega Message is the second book in W. D. Kilpack III's Battle Calm Cycle. Set in a dystopian wasteland where the battle between the Keepers and the Reds is the only reality, the story picks up after Battle Calm. Badger and his Keepers are uncovering forbidden truths about the war they are sworn to fight. Badger's new borg parts can integrate with their automated systems. When the Reds force the Keepers from their base, they use their knowledge of the less lethal storms to mask their movements. The journey to find a new base becomes a journey of discovery as hidden truths unfold, and Badger's new ability allows him to contact other groups and open a new front against the Reds. The world the Keepers thought they knew has changed. Omega Message offers readers fresh insights into the Battle Calm universe while keeping a steady pace for the action!" — Kurt D. Springs, author of the Dreamscape Warriors Series • 5/5 Stars — "Omega Message dives into the emotional toll of endless war through Badger’s eyes [as] a leader burdened by responsibility and haunted by unraveling truths. Kilpack doesn’t just write action; he writes the weight behind every blow, every choice.As the Keepers struggle with fading purpose and shifting loyalties, the discovery of the Omega Message forces them and us to ask what happens when the only life you've known begins to fall apart. This is more than military sci-fi. It’s a raw exploration of identity, loyalty, and the quiet unraveling of belief. Powerful stuff!" — Luna Ray

Outskirts of Oblivion by A. Q. Adams

Under the iron grip of The Keep, the world is fractured, each piece ruled by a tyrant. In Xeon Eleven, peasants huddle near the throne for their daily bread—but every morsel comes with a price. Rebellion is nearly impossible, yet a few gifted dreamers dare to challenge the regime. Phaidon Tteldran is one of them. Forced to flee the city with his friends, he trades the suffocating streets for the run-down outskirts, where freedom is a dangerous gamble. Kale Vess, overlord of this realm, could use his precogs to detect crime before it happens—but he prefers a crueler game, purging the guilty and innocent alike at random. Colonel Grant “Brimstone” Brim is a prisoner in a remote facility, moved from the battlefield to a deadly game of wits. Freedom is the ultimate gambit—but Dr. Volkov and her subordinates are already reaching for checkmate. As Phaidon and his companions fall under Vess’s predatory gaze, the horizon looms with a climactic showdown. Do they have what it takes to stay uncaged? This story is only the spark. Beyond it stretches a universe of monstrous intricacy—humming, coiled, and waiting to explode.

The Tenant: A Novella by Odella Howe

Marvin Hoeff never thought he was a selfish bastard. Unfortunately for him, the universe begs to differ. After surveying the grim aftermath of tenant Colette Finch’s death, all petty, miserly landlord Marvin Hoeff wants is his evening takeout and a long, hot shower. The problem is, something has followed him home… something sopping wet, sharp-tongued, and absolutely furious with him. Before he can say “lease violation,” Marvin finds himself the newest guinea pig of a cosmic bureaucracy’s experimental reformation method. Colette claims the purgatorial punishments are all for his “character development,” which would be easier to believe if she didn’t look so delighted at his misery. But as her relentless haunting begins peeling back the rot he’s spent a lifetime ignoring, Marvin can’t help but wonder: What if she’s not trying to destroy him… but save whatever’s left? Twisting together dark comedy, supernatural suspense, and a sharply absurdist edge, The Tenant delivers a haunting that’s as unsettling as it is unexpectedly heartwarming. Perfect for readers who enjoy morbidly funny horror stories with a philosophical twist, morally gray heroes, and ghost stories wrapped in social commentary, this thought-provoking satire offers a fresh take on the paranormal—equal parts eerie, bizarre, and delightfully human.

How to Build a Champion: A Novel by Dylan Cody

How to Build a Champion is a picaresque story of courage, resilience, quick wit, and joy, which follows Cassandra, a bright, outspoken young woman, through a British summer in a multi-cultural, working-class neighbourhood, peopled with personalities, where the inner-city skyline changes in 'fits and starts'. Living among artists, musicians, trade-unionists, bohemians, students, writers, and educators defining what it is to live 'successfully' in the face of 'progress' in their shared city, Cassandra works with her uncle, Bobby, and his partner 'Toria, in their community-minded osteria. All is well, until their landlord, Harry, throws their lives into a tail-spin when he considers an offer from speculators, gentrifiers, and property developers who seemingly know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Raising their voices in opposition, Cassandra and her friends, street artists Mc, Pat, and Teddy, band together in a fly-by-night adventure, making mischief in their fight for the osteria, while a cunning lifestyle journalist 'helps' their cause. Learn to question your first impressions; to look twice at what you see. Learn to live life, fully, whatever your circumstances. Discover How to Build a Champion.

Tied to Life (Monsters of Brimrey Island #3) by Vee Debras

He has the keys to save her…and me. When I get the news that my cat Melody is dying, I know there’s nothing I can do but watch her suffer… Until one night I wake up to a hand reaching for me from inside a tomb. Oliver St. James should not be alive, but he is here and begging me to get him out of the mausoleum that’s been his prison for the past twenty years. I will—with one condition: he has to tell me how he came back to life. The problem is that he doesn’t remember what happened to him, and his family has put their millions behind keeping it a secret. Press-backed lies, bought silence, NDAs. All to pretend their heir never existed. The more time I spend with nerdy, charming Oliver, the less I understand what he could’ve done for his family to hate him like they did. And the more pieces of the puzzle I find, the more scared I get of the price I will have to pay to save Melody. Tied to Life is an MM monster romance with a trans main character, a couple of nerds falling in love, lots of angst, and bad science. Though best enjoyed as the third book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series, it can be read as a standalone and has a HEA. Check out the rest of the series for more queer characters finding love in this small town on a haunted island.

Shades of Onyx by TJ Williams

Medusa’s story didn’t end. It went on, and on and on… Now her time is up. The gorgon of mythical infamy now goes by Onyx; the latest in a long line of reincarnations. She gets by, avoiding attachments that make immortality more unbearable. She wouldn’t have chosen this life. But gods have never cared what she wanted, not even the ones who saved her from Athena’s wrath. Now, sinister whispers about the vengeful goddess and a sudden change in circumstances have Onyx spooked. Perhaps, if she tracks down something Athena wants, she can earn a reprieve. Blake Mihara’s research skills are important, but so is the way they look at Onyx. She should be focused on the task at hand, not how they make her feel after centuries of loneliness. When they both end up stuck in the Underworld, Onyx’s choices narrow to almost nothing. The Goddess of War wants to kill her, and now the Lord of the Dead wants to keep her. But with Blake stubbornly at her side, hope isn’t entirely lost. Maybe there’s a way out of this hell. The question is, which one? The one inflicted on Onyx, or the one she inflicted on herself? Shades of Onyx is a single POV, sapphic romance containing reimagined elements of various Greek and Roman mythologies—it is not a retelling. There are content warnings in the book and at www.tjwilliams.uk

A Myth of Ancient by T.M. Baylor

Goddesses. A dead king. A long lost people. Old stories long thought to be myth that now walk free through Eterin. After a devastating battle, Andyse is in shambles and the Davegu kingdom, Lupegi province, and the forgotten mountain city are not far behind. The once-strong foundations of the things that used to be believed are shaky and cracking more with every day. With new, unsteady alliances and shifting motivations, no one knows who or what to trust. Long buried secrets have been revealed and the world itself is changing because of it. Something dark is coming… After the gods of Lupegi learn the truth of the vicious battle and a new king in Davegu is crowned, a war is brewing. One with the power to change Eterin forever. ​​--- A Myth of Ancient is the second book in The Secrets of Eterin, an epic dark fantasy series that follows multiple POV characters from across the broken world of Eterin. It centers themes of power, the nature of resistance, erased histories, and the importance of knowledge to fight hatred. Features LGBTQIA+ and women characters. Intended for mature audiences, please check the content warnings.

The Land of Flames and Other Stories by Riley Taylor

Book two in The Kingdoms Set Ablaze contains nine short stories following the characters of Into the Fiery Woods and a prequel to book three, set in the neighbouring kingdom of Ithesha. Two years after saving Ailon, Gwen and Stark are forced to return to the legendary Land of Flames to discover why the fire is spreading and stop it. But when Gwen’s magic is blocked, and they find more than ancient ruins in the castle of Zivisea, their mission grows much harder. If they don't succeed, the flames will never stop. Sakda of the West was an elusive soldier travelling the kingdom to protect those in need. Kaew Chayanan was a lonely woman who wanted nothing more than to return home to her love, but had been gone so long, she worried she’d no longer be welcome. While Kaew is busy as one of the king’s most trusted knights, Eliza grows closer to Queen Guinevere. When the day finally comes to bring their child into the world, the midwife is nowhere to be found. Prince Erebus never thought he could love a boy and everything turn out okay. And though he was wrong about that, he’s not sure everyone will appreciate his new sense of fashion. Lucien was once willing to give up everything for their love to bloom, and now has a very important question to ask. Lady Sonya Blackwater knew becoming Queen of Ailon would take away many freedoms she enjoyed, such as swordfighting, but she never expected to both love and hate her husband. Solace came with her children, her two dear sons and the sweet princess who lost everything when Beihaal fell. Though Adrastos’ father was cruel and strict, that didn’t stop him from sneaking into closets with a pretty serving boy. Sent in disgrace to the castle, he meets the most beautiful girl to have ever existed, so beautiful she could be a goddess; he’ll do anything to protect her. Thomas cannot wait for Adrastos, finally his husband, to meet his parents, but, when they get there, their smiles are strained and the town is quiet, hardly the place he remembered from his childhood. Lady Divya won’t take Lord Donovan’s cruelty any longer, so she escapes to the castle with shocking news for her stepson. Once upon a time, Lilith loved a boy. Finn, the baker’s son, was as sweet as the pastries he snuck to her when they met in the woods. But one day, her father caught them and sent her off to wed a miserable Baron to preserve the family’s honour. When she finally escapes, innocent child in tow, she meets Sylvan. A mysterious man with dubious ideas, but working with him might just give her the power she craves. And more...

Dream the Deep by Clara Ward

You don’t need to reach Mars to reach your dreams. Robbed of their chance at leaving Earth to pursue green-energy innovations, Ryn embraces new dreams—fighting deep sea threats in conjunction with a giant cephalopod. It’s 2139 in the Cali-Coastal Corporate Zone, and Ryn struggles with their own body and brain as they fight to survive five days locked up with academic rivals and the military-backed billionaires who’ve misled them all since their teenage years. Ryn needs an exit strategy but doesn’t know whether to trust Akira, the hacker-spy who may have saved their life, or Jay, the geeky military rebel with a secret stash of hot chocolate. Not to mention, Jay keeps falling asleep in their bed, and Ryn’s not sure if either of them is interested in more—but at least they like the same shows! Five Days. One Ocean. Unlikely allies connect to Dream the Deep.

Be the Sea by Clara Ward

In November 2039, marine scientist Wend Taylor heaves themself aboard a zero-emissions boat skippered by elusive nature photographer Viola Yang. Guided by instinct, ocean dreams, and a shared birthday in 1972, they barter stories for passage across the Pacific. Aljon, Viola’s younger cousin, keeps a watchful eye and an innovative galley. Story by story, the trio rethink secrets, flying dreams, and how they experience their own minds. When they reach Hawaiʻi and prepare to part ways, opportunity and mystery pull them closer together. Both scientific and personal discoveries take shape as they join with ex-lovers, lost friends, and found family. Wend must navigate an ever-shifting future, complicated by bioengineered microbes and a plot to silence scientists, entangled with inexplicable dreams and a calling to Be the Sea.

Never Trust The Number 13 by Evelyn S.L

After her marriage collapses, Adalyn Domenico rents a flat in the heart of London, a place that calls for those looking for somewhere to start their life over. Every night at 3.13am, she hears footsteps pacing above. Whispers. Scraping. Someones up there. She notices flat 13 is missing. Adalyn finds evidence that someone is up there: a shoeprint, a note slid under her door, a light flickering behind a bricked up window. Then the messages begin ‘I know you hear me.’ ‘Look in the walls.’ In an attempt to piece together the evidence she discovers the tenant in the ‘non-existent’ Flat 13 may be connected to a disappearance from years ago - and someone in the building is desperate to keep the truth buried. But the biggest secret is the one Adalyn has been hiding herself. However, Flat 13 knows everything. And the truth always comes out

Hunter's Promise: A Post-Apocalyptic Alien Romance (Xarc'n Warriors: Mountains #3) by Lynnea Lee

GABBY A good girl gone awol I knew when I Ex-Laxed our leader’s food that they’d send me to the arena if they caught me. It was worth it to get some of my friends out of this dump. What I didn't expect was the seven-foot-tall Xarc’n hunter who has come to my rescue. My horned and fanged savior isn’t like any other alien warrior I’ve heard about. He dresses in furs, lives in a cave, and there isn’t a shuttle in sight. Every word sounds like a growl, but my body reacts to him like we belong together. But I can’t just hide in his den forever. I have to get back to my friends! TAL’N A hunter on the run When I found out about Earth and the compatible females living here, I abandoned my mission to come to this blue-green planet. Hunted by my own kind, I did all I could to stay hidden. Now I’ve found the female whose scent called to me all through the cold season. Gabby is mine, and I’ll stop at nothing to claim her. Her people are searching for her, and mine now know I exist, but I will level this entire mountain if they try to separate us. This post-apocalyptic alien romance is filled with action, adventure, and tons of steam. Can be read as a stand-alone or as a part of a series. HEA guaranteed.

Mountain Man’s Lucky Kiss: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Rescue #5) by Lilah Hart

A shy animal rescuer. A confident mountain man. A St. Patrick’s Day dare that becomes everything. I was the last one left. One by one, my roommates fell for the mountain men of Wildwood Valley. One by one, they stopped coming home. I stayed focused on my work—early mornings at the rescue site, long days caring for animals that depended on me to show up. Love was something that happened to other people. People who were chosen. Then a stranger walked up to me at a St. Patrick’s Day adoption event and told me he was going to kiss me. I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know why. I only knew the way he looked at me—like I was the only person in a crowded parking lot. When Stetson kissed me, everything changed. I was twenty-three years old. Never kissed. Never held. Never chosen. After losing my parents at eight, I was raised behind locked doors and strict rules meant to keep me safe—but never free. By the time I escaped that life, I didn’t know how to begin another. Stetson did. He was steady. Patient. Certain. From the first kiss on, he showed up and stayed—just like he did with everything that mattered. But I’d spent my entire life learning one hard truth: People leave. And when I discovered that our first kiss began as a dare between his friends, every old fear came rushing back. He had one chance to prove I was wrong. He didn’t waste it. Tropes: 🏔️ Mountain Man Romance 🐾 Animal Rescuer Heroine 🌸 Shy / Overlooked Heroine 💋 First Kiss / Never Been Kissed 🍀 St. Patrick’s Day Meet-Cute 🎯 Dare That Turns Into Love 🔥 Instalove Chemistry Mountain Man’s Lucky Kiss is a steamy instalove mountain romance featuring a capable heroine, a protective blue-collar mountain man, a high-stakes animal rescue, and a fast-burn, single-day love story where instant attraction turns into undeniable forever.

Mountain Man's Lucky Bride: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Rescue #6) by Lilah Hart

Runaway bride intervention. Best friend rescue mission. Stranded in a mountain town with a silent protector. I drove to Wildwood Valley in a wedding dress that wasn’t mine, determined to stop my best friend from making the biggest mistake of her life. Ten steps across the parking lot. That’s all I made it. Then he stepped into my path. Cormac. Towering build. Folded arms. Locked jaw. Grumpy mountain man energy with zero intention of moving. He didn’t argue. He didn’t smile. He simply informed me that Chelsea was happy. And when I pushed past him anyway… he let me. Only he didn’t leave. He was there when I learned he was right. There when my car refused to start. There when the adoption event closed down, the sun disappeared, and I was stranded in a town I didn’t know—wearing someone else’s wedding gown with nowhere to go. I’ve always been the dependable one. The fixer. The woman who carries everyone else. Needing someone was never part of my story. Cormac didn’t chase. Didn’t persuade. Didn’t pressure. He simply stood steady and offered the one thing no one ever had before— Stay. I came to Wildwood Valley to rescue my best friend. I never expected the grumpy mountain man who blocked my path to become my safe place. Tropes You'll Love: 💍 Fake Bride Chaos 🏔 Grumpy Mountain Man 🛻 Stranded in Small Town 🛡 Silent Protector Hero 🤍 Strong Heroine Breakdown 🧸 Adoption Event Setting 🔥 Emotional Rescue Romance 🌲 Wildwood Valley Mountain Town Mountain Man’s Lucky Bride is a steamy, standalone instalove romance featuring a grumpy mountain man, a runaway bride in over her head, and a small-town rescue that heals more than just a broken-down car.

Treasured by the Hunter (Xarc'n Warriors #12) by Lynnea Lee

ZOEY Years after the end of the world, my life is falling apart again. This time, I know exactly how to survive in the bugpocalypse. What I don’t know is what to do with the brawny purple alien following me around. Harb’k isn’t just big and strong, with a protective streak a mile wide, but he’s funny as hell too. I agree to partner up with him at least until I get to my destination, a settlement called Sanctuary. But before we get there, we come across something that could make or break humanity’s future. Will we be able to contain the threat? Even if we do, will Harb’k still want me if he finds out my secret? HARB’K Almost every hunter in my group found his mate but me. Desperate to get away from all the love in the air, I volunteer to scour the region for signs that the scourge—the abominations that brought us to Earth—are evolving. Instead, I discover a lone female navigating the ravaged landscape with enemies at her back. I convince Zoey to travel with me. She doesn’t know it yet, but she is my mate, and the mate bond is never wrong. I will move planets for her, but first, I must save this one. Can I convince her to love me before a deadly mutagen destroys everything? This is a sweet and steamy alien romance with plenty of action and adventure. Please check author's site for content details. Happily ever after, guaranteed.

Hunter's Valentine (Xarc'n Warriors #08.5) by Lynnea Lee

Food and water? Check. Shelter? Check. Weapons and ammo? Check. Check. I thought I was ready when the apocalypse came, but I wasn’t prepared for dirty bunker politics. Realizing I’m no longer welcomed, I step foot into a hostile landscape, ready to face down the deadly space bugs in search of a new home. It’s just my luck that I run afoul of a massively muscular, horned and fanged Xarc’n warrior on my very first day out. Mur’k carries me back to his hideout, claiming that I owe him for messing up his hunt. Nope! No way! I didn’t survive the bugs just to become some cocky warrior’s plaything. I don’t care if he’s hot as sin and purrs like a big cat. I’m going to make it to New Franklin on my own if it’s the last thing I do! A Hunter’s Valentine is a standalone novella-length story set in the Xarc’n Warriors universe featuring a protective hero with alien anatomy. It takes place between Book 8 and 9, but there’s no need to read in order. HEA guaranteed!

Love & Leave: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (MoonLIT Matches #01) by Kristeen Groth

What happens when a runaway celebrity bride lands in the arms of the man she left behind—without either of them knowing they’re being set up? Exactly what you’d expect. Ava Sinclair was supposed to be marrying Hollywood’s golden boy. Instead, she escapes her made-for-TV wedding and ends up in the wilderness... with Joe Mahoney, her ex—the first love she ghosted without a word. Now she’s torn between two lives: one of flashbulbs and fame, the other of pine trees and the man who knew her before the world did. Joe’s charming, flirty, and emotionally unavailable on purpose. It’s a system that works—until Ava crashes back into his life via the back of his pickup truck. Add one matchmaking book club of meddling grandmas, and a suspiciously on-theme book of the month (One True Loves), and things start looking less like fate... and more like a trap. Some love stories don’t end. They just wait—for the ending they were always meant to have. Love & Leave is a closed-door romantic comedy featuring a runaway celebrity bride, a firefighter first love, and a second chance neither of them planned on. When a matchmaking book club inspired by beloved romance novels gets involved, expect laugh-out-loud humor, small-town hijinks, and swoony five-alarm kisses you won’t want to put out.

The Grilled Cheese Paradox by Andrew D. Bale

Alan, the god of atheists, has had enough. Tasked with reconciling the ever-growing pile of contradictory scientific theories humans believe in, he decides the job is no longer possible. His solution is simple: wipe out humanity and end the problem at its source. Standing in his way is Jesus, who—assisted by Ganesha and Stan, a militant atheist and engineer—attempts to stop Alan before belief itself collapses. Their plan relies on a dangerous truth: belief doesn’t need to be true to be powerful. Things spiral out of control when an errant computer program begins killing belief-based beings altogether, threatening gods, demons, and reality itself. The Grilled Cheese Paradox is a satirical novel about belief, certainty, and what happens when humanity’s ideas become powerful enough to destroy the very gods they created.

Her Recluse Mountain Man: A Small Town Forced Proximity Age Gap OTT Instalove Short Romance (Mountain Men of Willowbrook Ridge #2) by Julia Stone

She rented a cabin. She got a recluse with rules. Tatum: I didn’t come to the mountains for adventure; I came for an escape. The rental cabin is supposed to be mine for the week—paid in full, nonrefundable, more money than I should’ve spent. I need the quiet that comes with nature and all the fresh air I don’t know what to do with. Instead, I find him. Abel. Broad shoulders. Heavy stare. A man who looks like he was carved straight out of the mountain and would rather bite off his tongue than make small talk. He says the cabin is his. Always has been. He makes it very clear he doesn’t like strangers stepping on his property. But the rain won’t stop. The roads are washing out, and I have nowhere else to go. He tells me I can stay until the storm passes, but accommodates me like I’m more of his guest than a burden. At this rate, I won't ever want to leave. Abel: I like my quiet, peaceful solitude. No one bothers me but the birds and squirrels. Then she shows up. Tatum. Soaked to the bone with tear-brimming eyes. Falling for some online scam, it’s trouble I don’t want to be mixed in. I should send her back down the mountain. Should tell her to figure it out. The storm is vicious, and the roads are slick. Doesn’t help that she looks at me like she’s one step closer to hovering over the edge. Against my better judgment, I let her stay. I keep my distance. I keep my rules. I remind myself she’s too young, too soft, too temporary. Being alone with a beauty I’ve got no right stealing glances at? It tests a man’s control. The longer she’s here, the more I realize something dangerous— I want her to stay.

Her Grumpy Mountain Man: A Small Town Grumpy/Sunshine Forced Proximity Age Gap Instalove Short Romance (Mountain Men of Willowbrook Ridge #1) by Julia Stone

Stranded, injured, and stuck in a broody older man’s cabin? Worst decision of my career… best decision of my life. Emery: I scaled a mountain in search of the ultimate wildlife shot to elevate my portfolio, but all I gained were torn clothes and an injury that left me questioning my career choice. Then he finds me. Callan. Older, silent, and carved straight out of the wilderness itself. He comes across my sorry state, drops to his knees, and looks at me like I’m something that shouldn’t be out here alone. He doesn’t offer to take me to town, but to his remote cabin, where he tends to my wounds with rough, careful hands… and watches me like I’m an inigma. He’s grumpy. Broody. Intense. And above all? Demanding. Every time he tells me to “hold still,” I want to disobey. Being stuck in his cabin should make me nervous. Instead, it makes me curious. Callan: I noticed the blood trail before anything else. Then I see her, scraped up and all alone in need of a savior. For whatever reason, she gets me. The smile she sends my way, like I’m everything she’d been hoping for, hits harder than any fall. She’s too young. Too bright. Too good for what I’ve done in my past The second I touch her, something in me locks in. I’ve spent years wanting nothing but nature and solitude. Now I want her. She thinks I’m helping because she’s hurt. She doesn’t understand. I’ve already decided. She’s going to be mine.

Fated to the Hunter: A Post-Apocalyptic Alien Romance (Xarc'n Warriors #13) by Lynnea Lee

KIERA Running the first-ever Trader’s Market is chaotic enough; I don’t need a horned, purple alien with fangs, claws, and zero chill crashing my party. Bael’k says he’s here to help, but so far, all he’s done is scare away the one person I need to see. When I finally track down the elusive nomad and snag the map I’ve been hunting for, guess who volunteers to be my protector on a quest I never planned to take? It’s my first time out of the settlement walls in years, and I’m woefully unprepared. But with my knight in shining loincloth by my side, I might just survive. BAEL'K They say the mate bond is absolute, eternal, and chosen by fate. But I don’t believe in fate. I believe in my blades, my shuttle, and the war I was bred to fight. I never wanted a mate… until I met Kiera. She’s fragile, stubborn, and maddeningly fascinating. When she sets out to recover lost tech in a dangerous Dead Zone, I volunteer, thinking it’ll earn me glory. But the moment she steps into danger, every protective instinct I’ve got flares to life. I soon realize she’s not just a mission. Kiera’s mine. And I’ll burn the stars down before I let anything take her from me.

Chosen by the Hunter: A Post-Apocalyptic Alien Romance (Xarc'n Warriors #14) by Lynnea Lee

I blame the moonshine. AKA, I kissed a Xarc’n warrior and I liked it. One moment, I’m strolling home, midnight snack in hand, and the next I’m smooshed against a broad, purple chest, tongue tangled with a Xarc’n warrior. “Drunkenly Taste-test an Alien” achievement unlocked! What follows is a flirty game of cat and mouse that makes me feel young and ready to make questionable life choices again. Ror’k wakes up a part of me I thought I buried right next to my divorce papers. Wanting the horned and fanged silver fox is easy. Trusting again? Not so much. But New Franklin has bigger problems than my accidental alien make-out session. Supplies are disappearing, people are getting jumpy, and someone in our cozy little settlement is up to no good. We need to get to the bottom of this before the summer swarms or New Franklin’s in serious trouble.

Chameleon’s Gambit by Babette Durso

Trust is a dangerous game. And someone is playing to win. Nothing about this world is what it seems—and neither are the people in it. Behind every move lies a hidden motive. Behind every face… another identity. As deception tightens its grip, the line between ally and enemy disappears. Every choice becomes a risk. Every truth could be a lie. And someone is always one step ahead. In a high-stakes game of manipulation, power, and betrayal, survival depends on seeing through the illusion before it’s too late. But when the masks start to slip… who can you really trust? 👉 Step into the game today.

Breaking the Cycle: Understanding and Escaping Financial Abuse by Babette Wilson

It doesn’t start with control. It starts with trust. A shared account. A “helpful” partner. Small decisions that slowly become restrictions… until one day, you realize you can’t access your own money—or your own freedom. Financial abuse is silent. Invisible. And devastating. This book exposes the patterns most people miss: The early warning signs you were never taught to see The subtle manipulation that keeps you trapped The emotional and financial toll no one talks about And more importantly—it shows you a way out. With clear insight and real-world guidance, Breaking the Cycle helps you: Recognize financial control before it escalates Reclaim your independence step by step Protect yourself from falling back into the same patterns You are not powerless. And you are not alone. The moment you see it clearly is the moment everything can change. 👉 Start taking back control today.

Quiet Suffering: The Tangled Web of a Functional Addict by Babette Wilson

She looks like she has it all together. A respected paramedic. A loving marriage. A future full of promise. But behind closed doors… she’s falling apart. Samantha Taylor is living a double life—saving others by day while silently battling a devastating addiction by night. What began as an escape from trauma has become a prison she can’t outrun. The lies are getting harder to hide. The cracks are starting to show. And one wrong move could destroy everything. This is a raw, unflinching look at the reality of addiction—the kind no one talks about. The kind that hides in plain sight. How far can someone fall before there’s nothing left to save? 👉 Start reading today.

Winter of Traitors by Violetta Brooks

Aislinn, crushed by Daegyn's death, returns to House Woodthorne to mourn. Vulnerable and frightened, the demons of her past have her in a chokehold. But someone is there for her through it all—Landyn. Even though she harbors a secret... Lines are crossed, and lives are forever changed. But can Aislinn truly move on from the one her soul craved? The one who was twistedly perfect for her in every sense? Does death really stop true love? The final journey of the House Woodthorne trio comes to a resting place in Winter of Traitors.

Stranger In The Mind by J R Berrywood & S L Aspen

Mystery and murder swirl around a dangerous doctor. One detective vows to unravel the truth. A supernatural thriller blending history, mystery, and the unexplainable. Liverpool, 1920. Detective Amelia Dei uncovers a string of unexplained comas in Liverpool’s most notorious workhouse infirmary. As she digs deeper, she faces a sinister psychiatrist and a truth darker than anything she’s imagined. "‘Stranger in the Mind’ quickly draws you in and does not let you go till the last word." Reader Views - ★★★★★ 5 stars

Chronicles of the Forever Land: Whitehaven by Simon Howard and Perri Corbett

Whitehaven is a home for the homeless and a sanctuary for the oppressed in the highly magical world of the Forever land. When Tate is invited to the island to study dragons, he finds mystery, danger and romance… Hopefully, he’ll live long enough to uncover the isle’s darkest secrets!

The Villains Club: A Delightfully Devious Anthology by Janina Scarlet and E. M. Noller

Welcome to The Villain’s Club! Here, chaos is mandatory, caffeine is non-negotiable, and every meeting starts with a complaint about heroes who get in their way. Inside this delightfully devious anthology, villains finally get their own POV. That means no oversight, no interruptions, just pure, unfiltered rebellion. On the surface, these villains may seem like ordinary scoundrels, delinquents, bandits, and baddies. Scratch the surface (preferably with a dagger-shaped, impeccably manicured pinky nail), and you’ll find all the complexities, contradictions, impossible choices, and longing for connection that make even villains human. You’ll get to know misunderstood monsters, overworked overlords, demons with major Inhuman Resources issues, and even a few villains who might actually be heroes (but we didn’t have the heart to tell them). There are no tidy lessons or shiny trophies here. Sometimes we’re the hero, sometimes the villain. And sometimes, it just feels good to be bad. So grab a chair, pour something bubbly, and settle in.

Mountain Man's Lucky Charm: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Rescue #4) by Lilah Hart

A matchmaker heroine. A protective mountain man. A rescue-dog meet-cute that changes everything. I was always the matchmaker heroine— the supportive friend, the emotional observer, the woman cheering from the sidelines while everyone else risked their heart. It was safer to believe in secondhand romance. I’d seen what real love could do. I’d watched vulnerability get punished. I’d learned early that emotional self-protection mattered more than happily ever after. So I stayed guarded. Careful. Alone. Until a seven-pound rescue dog charged toward traffic… and a protective mountain man in a Navy shirt caught him before disaster struck. Micah wasn’t part of the plan. He was steady strength. Unshakable certainty. The kind of man who looked at me like I was the missing piece to a life he’d already chosen. The kind of man who made falling feel inevitable—and terrifying. He asked me to dinner. I said yes. He took me to the mountaintop overlook, all open sky and quiet promises. I let myself believe. When he told me he’d known from the first moment—known I was the one— I realized the most dangerous thing wasn’t loving him. It was wanting to be loved back. I’d spent my life creating perfect love stories for everyone else. It took one stubborn little dog and one man who refused to let me run to show me I deserved one of my own. Sometimes the matchmaker romance becomes the love story. Tropes: 🏔️ Protective Mountain Man 🔥 Steamy Instalove Romance 🐶 Rescue Dog Meet-Cute 💪 Capable, Independent Heroine 🛠️ Blue-Collar Hero ⚡ Fast-Burn Attraction 💕 Instant Emotional Connection 🌄 Small-Town Mountain Romance Mountain Man’s Lucky Charm is a steamy instalove mountain romance featuring a capable heroine, a protective blue-collar mountain man, a high-stakes animal rescue, and a fast-burn, single-day love story where instant attraction turns into undeniable forever.

Reclusive Mountain Man (Iron Peak Mountain Man Series) by Lilah Hart

A grumpy mountain man romance where silence shatters, walls crumble, and love refuses to be ignored. I came to Iron Peak for one thing: silence. Three roommates. Paper-thin walls. Constant noise. Between law school pressure and a life that never slowed down, I was unraveling—and I needed a place where the world would finally leave me alone. House-sitting in a remote mountain town felt like the answer. No distractions. No interruptions. Just textbooks, solitude, and miles of untamed wilderness. I didn’t count on him. Kai Slater was everything I wasn’t looking for. Grumpy. Reclusive. All sharp edges and silence. His cabin backed up to mine, and from the moment he caught me doing yoga on the deck, he looked at me like I was a complication he didn’t ask for—and didn’t want. Except his eyes followed every stretch. His jaw tightened every time I moved. And he kept showing up to fix things I never asked him to fix. He wanted me. He just didn’t want to want me. Kai carried secrets carved deep into his silence. A past that convinced him he didn’t deserve softness… or happiness… or love. He thought pushing me away would protect us both. He was wrong. I didn’t come to Iron Peak searching for a brooding mountain man with a heart of gold buried under all that gruff solitude. But now that I’ve found him? I’m not leaving without a fight. Welcome to Iron Peak, where rugged hearts meet small-town charm in a world of wild beauty and instant passion. Tucked deep in the Colorado mountains, each story follows a gruff, loyal man who finds the woman he never knew he was looking for—and will do anything to keep her. These are fast, steamy, happily-ever-after tales packed with devotion, wilderness, and a whole lot of heat. Fall for your next favorite mountain man as 12 authors bring you new instalove stories full of warmth, wild hearts, and the kind of love that strikes like lightning.

Beastly Dreams: A Cozy Fantasy Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty Fairy Tale Retelling (Displaced Fairytales Series) by Gabrielle Landi

A grumpy tavern owner, his sunshine barmaid, and the curse that traps them together. Running his grandfather's tavern is all Roan ever wanted--though the failing budget wasn't part of the dream. But when a rogue sorcerer curses him, sending everyone into a magical sleep except Roan, his too-cheerful barmaid, and his loyal dog, his priorities shift fast: break the curse before he loses everything. Abigail has never felt safer than she does at the Lucky Goat, despite how miserable Roan is at times, and she'll do anything to keep her found home intact. At first, an opportunity to tackle the never ending to-do list without distractions seems almost like a blessing, but the pressure of hiding her own magic--and pretending she isn't falling for her grumpy boss--is a whole different kind of trouble,. Trapped together in the tavern, Roan and Abigail begin to discover that opposites attract...but when the magic unravels, will breaking the curse also break the spark between them? Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite clean and closed door young adult romance authors. BEASTLY DREAMS is Beauty and the Beast meets Sleeping Beauty with clean and wholesome forced proximity, a grumpy sunshine boss romance, and an adorable dog companion.

The Naga Shaman's Pregnant Mate (Serpents of Serant, #8) by Robin O'Connor

Stranded. Pregnant. Hunted. Falling for a deadly alien shaman was not in my birth plan. Nala I woke in a glowing coffin, belly heavy, panic clawing at my throat. Then he appeared—white scales, golden eyes, and a voice like velvet over steel. He saved me… but I don’t know if I can trust anyone, not after what the Krektar did. I just want to protect my baby. That’s it. But the Krektar aren’t gone—they survived the crash, and they want me back. Artek says I’m his fated mate. I say I need a weapon. But when his strange little beast curls up beside me and he treats me like something sacred… I start to wonder if I’ve found something I didn’t know I safety. Maybe even family. Artek She is not of this world, yet the bond sings in my blood. I am Shaman, warrior and scholar, one of the last keepers of my people’s truths—and she is mine. The Krektar have survived. They will not take her. I will kill for her, die for her, and live only for her. But this world holds more than beasts and ruins. Ancient secrets stir. Nala and her child are part of what’s to come—and I will stand between them and every shadow that rises. This is Book Eight in the Serpents of Serant series. This steamy sci-fi monster romance features a mysterious Naga Shaman, a plucky pregnant human, a cute pet side-kick, and a sizzling HEA.

The Naga Scout's Daring Mate (Serpents of Serant #9) by Robin O'Connor

He stole me from my jailers. Now I’m not sure if I want him to let me go. Jolene I only meant to save lives on Earth. Instead, I’m trapped on a hostile alien world, protecting the women in my care from Krektar brutes who want to break us. I can’t afford to falter. Then he appears. Scarred, massive, a Naga scout with a broken soul. When the Krektar push too far, it’s his arms I fall into…and his protection I can’t resist. Khawla is danger and salvation in one. He says he’s broken, a father with too much to lose. When he looks at me, I feel wanted, cherished, even as every warning tells me to run. Maybe I should. But my heart is already his. Khawla I was sent by the new Queen to scout for danger, to observe but not interfere. The moment I saw Jolene stand fearless against the Krektar, I knew she was mine. Standing by idly is no longer an option. I’ve lost once before. My mate. My heart. My peace. All I have left are my three younglings, and I’d burn the world to keep them safe. But this female… she sparks something fierce in me, something I thought long dead. I took her to shield her. Now I’ll fight my clan, my past, and even the gods to keep her. Because a warrior only mates once, and I choose her. This is Book Nine in the Serpents of Serant series. This steamy sci-fi monster romance features a scarred single-dad Naga scout, a protective human nurse, three adorable Naga younglings, and a sizzling HEA.

The Witch's Journey by Keith Miller

In a town beset by demons, from which the children are disappearing, redheaded Mira grows up wild and willful. When she’s around, soups boil over and flowers catch fire, and one night in her sleep she unwittingly turns the house around. The morning of her thirteenth birthday, Mira receives a gift from the river: a gold key. It will lead her on a journey, to seek the door the key will open. The Witch’s Journey is a dark fairytale embroidered with fairytales, full of sorrows and terrors, heartbreaks and delights, chocolates and mayhem and magic.

Vacation with the Vampire: A Steamy Paranormal Romance (Monsters and Margaritas Series) by Vala Stone

I came to Paris for croissants, not coffins. Susie After my ex ran off with his secretary, I decided I’d take our nonrefundable dream trip anyway. Paris was supposed to be my rebound romance with the city itself, late-night wine, a fling or two, and definitely no strings. Then I got lost in the catacombs, tripped over a cracked marble slab, and woke up… him. Pale. Perfect. Arrogant as sin. Raoul. He looks like he stepped straight out of a history book, or a very expensive fever dream. And somehow, he thinks I owe him for disturbing his beauty sleep. He’s infuriating. He’s magnetic. And when shadows start stirring in the tunnels, I realize Paris might not just steal my heart, it might devour it. Raoul Three centuries of slumber, and I wake to a woman who smells like sunlight and heartbreak. She babbles, she insults me, she fascinates me. Humans used to tremble before my name. Now this one waves a “phone” in my face and tells me I’m “mansplaining.” I should compel her to forget me. I should go back to sleep. But something else woke when I did. Something ancient, hungry, and vengeful. Suddenly, I find myself protecting this stubborn mortal as if she were my last breath. She says she doesn’t want another man. Unfortunately for both of us, I’m not a man. I’m temptation wrapped in eternity, and I never lose. Vacation with the Vampire is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Monsters and Margaritas shared author series. It features one ancient vampire and a vacation goer looking for distractions, not romance.