Abominable: A Holiday Monster Romance (Possessive Monsters) by Maggie Mayhem

My holiday plans are simple: drive home, spend time with the family, and avoid conversation about my recent divorce. But fate has other plans. My car breaks down right as a snowstorm blows in, leaving me freezing and stranded in the middle of nowhere. Enter a huge mountain of a man named Axel (totally not an axe murderer), who whisks me away to his giant-sized, yet cozy cabin. My rugged rescuer is sweet and charming, but something is off. Because he’s bigger than any human could ever be, and I swear he just turned furry for a second. And I’m strangely intrigued… But Axel’s not the only beast prowling these woods, and when my past comes back to haunt me—your girl just can’t catch a break—having my very own possessive monster is the best gift I never expected. This is a standalone novella-length holiday story set in the Possessive Monster universe. Get ready for a sweet and steamy adventure with a HEA guaranteed!

Claimed by the Alien Mercenary: A Steamy Alien Sci-fi Romance (Monster Mercenary Mates #08) by Robin O'Connor

She’s the mission. He’s the monster everyone fears. His claim might destroy them both. Dani I came to Radin chasing a miracle cure hidden in a flower. I never expected to become prey. Days of captivity leave my empathic senses burned out, my power little more than an ache beneath my skin. Then Jaxin arrives, silent, shark-eyed, built for violence. When the rescue goes awry, he hauls me over his shoulder and runs. Alone in Radin’s humid jungle, survival means pressed bodies, shared breath, and heat that has nothing to do with the heat of summer. As my empathy recovers, I feel what he hides. Control layered over hunger. Possession strangled by discipline. A truth he refuses to face: he feels more than he’s allowed. Jaxin Emotion is forbidden. My people, the Rummicaron, suppress it for a reason. But the jungle strips restraint bare, and my true nature claws its way to the surface: to claim, to protect, to possess a mate. Dani doesn’t just tempt me, she awakens something ancient and dangerous. As Radin’s giant closes in and a crime lord tightens her grip, I must choose between duty and instinct. And if I choose wrong, Radin will kill us both. This is a standalone novel and the eighth book in the Monster Mercenary Mates series. This sci-fi monster romance features a not-so-emotionless, shark-like alien mercenary, a gifted empathic scientist, and a steamy HEA.

Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie

A woman who betrayed her family A rogue hiding a hairy secret And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives she’s never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesn’t care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of “goodies” to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother. Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, he’s not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence. What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With lives–and possibly their hearts–on the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal? Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

Falling For the Trickster: A Villainous Twist on Rumpelstiltskin & The Goose Girl by Lucy Tempest

Rumpelstiltskin meets The Goose Girl. An opportunistic maid. A manipulative faerie. A gilded deal that binds them both. Ottoline has had enough. After years of enduring Princess Gertrude’s cruelty, the maid’s patience snaps during their voyage to the foreign kingdom of Orcage, where the princess is to marry the crown prince to settle a royal debt. There, she crosses paths with a silver-haired, silver-tongued man with a penchant for deals and deception. Cunning and Ambitious, fae nobleman Lord Roderick von Ravenstock offers Ottoline the opportunity of a to switch places with her tormentor and claim the life of a princess. With a snap of his fingers, she is set to live the life she had dreamed of at the glimmering court of Orcage...until its superstitious king demands she fulfill her kingdom's debt by turning everything into gold. Trapped by her own masquerade, Ottoline turns to Roderick again, and he offers to save her, in exchange for a kiss. One kiss. One favor. One step closer to ruin. As the king’s demands escalate, so do Roderick’s bargains, each adding another layer to his plot against the royal family, and drawing her deeper into a deadly game of magic and court intrigue. But when the king’s greed spirals beyond control, Ottoline has no choice but to escape into Faerie where she falls from one monster’s grasp into the next. Risking his plans, Roderick saves her and, as she recovers under his watchful gaze, the forced proximity begins to crack their defenses, revealing who they are underneath their roles as the trickster and the fraud. Villains in the lives of others, but heroes of their own stories. Together, they plot one last con to bring the king to his knees. But nothing ever goes to plan, especially when hearts are on the line.Falling For the Trickster is the first book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

The Motorcycle Mechanic: A Beauty and the Beast Small Town Romance (Maplewharf Falls Book 6) by Lane Winters

Prim and proper librarian Penelope Hartwell's life is perfectly organized—until her car breaks down and she's rescued by the town's most intimidating resident. Tattooed motorcycle mechanic Dax Ryder is everything she's supposed to avoid: rough, dangerous-looking, and completely irresistible. When her car needs a week of repairs, Dax offers to give her rides on his motorcycle. Penny's terrified, but she accepts. And somewhere between holding onto him for dear life and discovering he's a secret reader with a heart of gold, she falls completely. But small towns talk. And when the library board threatens her job over their relationship, Penny has to choose: the safe life she's always known, or the man who makes her feel truly alive for the first time. Dax never expected the sweet librarian to fight for him. But when she walks into that board meeting holding his hand, he realizes she's the bravest person he's ever met. A beauty-and-the-beast romance about breaking stereotypes, defying expectations, and proving that the best love stories are the ones everyone says won't work.

A Klaus Encounter: A SciFi Alien Warrior Holiday Romance (Horned Holidays #5) by Honey Phillips

Can a cold alien warrior and a struggling woman give a grieving boy the one gift he needs most—a family? When Talia moves to an isolated village to care for her angry, grieving nephew Theo, she quickly discovers that her city-based skills are useless. Her efforts to reach her nephew and save his home are failing. The last thing she needs is another problem, but when she finds a huge, horned alien unconscious in the snow, she’s determined to save him. Commander Klausan D'Kringar's mission has come to an ignominious end. Crashed, injured, and alone, his only goal is survival. But when he wakes up in a primitive cellar, tended to by a fierce, captivating female, his priorities begin to shift. Her compassion is irrational, her living situation is unacceptable, and the unexpected attraction between them is completely outside his experience. Logic dictates he should escape, but a new, protective instinct demands he stay. As they work together to ease Theo’s sorrow, an unforeseen bond begins to grow between the three of them. And when they attract the wrong kind of attention, Klausan will do whatever it takes to protect his new family. A sweet and steamy holiday tale featuring a grieving boy, a loyal alien reindeer, a heroine who rediscovers her purpose, and a hero who learns that sometimes the most logical choice of all is to follow his heart. (Intended for mature audiences.)

Warrin (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #10) by Sue Mercury

The fierce alien warrior is finally taking a mate. After getting jilted at the altar, heartbroken Elora flees town, determined to make a fresh start somewhere far away where no one knows her name. But traveling through the war-torn countryside is harder than she imagined, and during a sudden air raid, she loses everything. Destitute and scared, she reluctantly signs up for the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides program, believing it's her only shot at survival. When a handsome, green-eyed warrior named Warrin arrives to claim her, she finds his directness both refreshing and disarming. His kisses leave her breathless, and in his arms, she finally feels safe. But is she falling too fast for a male she barely knows? Warrin has longed for a mate and a family of his own, and he's overjoyed when the VAMOB program finally matches him with a human female. Elora. The first time the fierce warrior lays eyes on the young woman, he's captivated by her beauty and the quiet strength of her spirit. Every time he holds her close, the darkness that's plagued him for ages retreats, and he starts to believe she's a gift from the Star God. When an unexpected air blockade prevents their departure from Earth, they're forced to seek refuge and wait out the conflict—alone, with growing desire. But just as he prepares to claim her, they receive shocking news that could tear them apart before their mating union has even begun.

Wild Flowers, Electric Beasts by Alina Leonova

Two species of humans — one technologically advanced and one living in nature — have coexisted peacefully on their home planet for over a century. But when an ancient treaty is breached, devastation follows. Balika has always felt like an outsider. When tragedy strikes, she is left without a reason to remain with her tribe. Looking for a place where she can belong, she leaves the familiar forest and ventures into the desert to bond with a mythical animal through music. But her forgotten life calls her back when she discovers an unexpected threat to her land. Sammah works long hours as an experience developer and returns to his tiny apartment alone. He suffers from anxiety and spends most of his time in the virtual world. He opens up to a friendship with a colleague, but just when things start to look up, he gets trapped in a strange and dangerous affair. He might either lose himself, or the only person he truly cares about. Struggling to make the right choices, they get pulled into a brewing disaster. Their worlds are about to collide, and their paths are fated to cross. Caught on different sides of the conflict, Balika and Sammah take up the fight in their own ways. If they want to save what they love most, they must risk everything. Will that be enough?

Baby for the Alien Warrior (Treasured by the Alien Book 14) by Honey Phillips

A warrior with nothing left to give. A woman who’s lost too much. A miracle that changes everything. Dr. Corinne Vale thought her life of quiet study ended the day she was abducted and sold across the stars. Now, she’s on the run with a traumatized teenage girl and a baby she risked everything to save. When she encounters Commander Selik, a huge Cire warrior with haunted eyes, she expects another cage. Instead she finds a hero. Selik has done his best to bury the past and the family he failed to save. He doesn’t expect the fierce, beautiful human he rescues to awaken feelings he thought long dead. But when a night of shared grief leads to a moment of passion, the impossible happens. Now Selik will risk everything for his fragile new family. Because sometimes the most powerful bonds are the ones you never saw coming. Each book in the Treasured by the Alien series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and steamy HEA is intended for adults only.

An Unusual Occupation: Part One of The Journals of Bob Drifter by M.L.S Weech

Bob Drifter is a substitute teacher with a secret. He seems like no more than a polite young man who loves to read and mentor students in his free time. Yet, on the side, Bob takes part in some rather strange extracurricular activities that soon attract the attention of local police. For some reason, people have a way of dying around him. It’s not his fault. Maybe he just hangs around people who are already dying. Maybe he has bad timing. But Bob knows better. The friends he's making are getting closer to learning his secret, but they're not going to like what that secret means. The police are attributing a number of suspicious deaths to him, but they're not going to like the consequences of getting involved. Bob can't do anything but move forward, but he's determined to change the secret world of which he is a part.

Holly and the Hunter: A Post-Apocalyptic Alien Romance (Xarc'n Warriors) by Lynnea Lee

Deck the halls… or die trying. I’ve spent months preparing for the holidays. Gifts for the children, hand-knit stockings, and enough decorations to cover New Franklin in Christmas cheer. It was going to be perfect. Then the raiders came. They didn’t take food. Or medicine. Or anything remotely useful for surviving winter. No, they stole the crate full of holiday magic. Everything is gone. Even the star for the tree. Now the settlement’s focused on repairs and defense, and no one has time to recover what was lost. Except me. And the only person available to help? A grumpy, battle-hardened Xarc’n warrior who thinks tinsel is a tactical hazard. But grumpy protector or not, we’re going to make this work. He’s got the blade, I’ve got the sparkle, and together, we are going to save Christmas. This is a standalone novella-length holiday story set in the Xarc’n Warrior universe. Get ready for a sweet and steamy adventure with a 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.

Thankful for My Orc: A Thanksgiving Firefighter Romance (OrcFire Book 8) by Alana Khan

She’s convinced she can’t be loved. He’s determined to prove she already is. Jordan I’m a divorce lawyer. Victorious in court, hopeless in love. The plan? Swear off dating and bury myself in work. The only reason I showed up at the orc firefighter speed-dating event was because my best friend dragged me along as moral support. I ended up paired with Forge—six-foot-eight of hot green muscle and infuriating patience. One incendiary kiss ignited a night of raw hunger I can’t stop replaying. Then I did what I always I panicked. Forge doesn’t pout. He builds. We each put ten date ideas in a a taco truck crawl, a vintage pinball tournament, even letting me into his workshop—his hands guiding mine over smooth wood until the air between us burns hotter than any fire. With him, every disaster feels like destiny in disguise. The more time we spend together, the more I know his heart, and the harder it is to walk away. Forge She’s guarded. I’m devoted. She’s brilliant. I’m hers. She thinks she’s unlovable; I know she’s my destiny. So, I make it one date at a time. I’ll shoulder the weight. I’ll do the heavy lifting, so she can finally let go in my arms. And I’ll worship what doesn’t need fixing—her. Every kiss, every laugh, every night in my arms proves the same Jordan is mine. This Thanksgiving, I want her at my side—with my brothers at Station 32, and my soulbond etched into her flesh. No cheating. No cliffhanger. Just five-alarm monster romance heat, a fiercely possessive orc, his grumpy heroine, and a firehouse family that always serves up second helpings of love, laughter, and heat. From USA TODAY Bestselling author Alana Khan.

Orc The Halls: A Snowed-In Christmas Romance (OrcFire Book 9) by Alana Khan

Some Christmas gifts come with muscle, tusks, and a promise you’ll never be cold again. Laney My plan to cover next semester’s vet school tuition—holiday pet-sitting at my late grandma’s snowy mountain sanctuary—is going down in flames. The exotic animals are staging a revolt, a blizzard’s closing in, and failure means losing everything. Then he shows up. Ryder six-foot-eight of green-skinned, musclebound orc firefighter with a voice that could melt snow and hands that promise ruin. He’s calm with the animals, gentle with me—and when he calls me sunshine, my icy walls start to melt. But I’ve been left behind too many times to believe in happy endings. Ryder I came here to do a quick pet-care favor. What I found? A fierce, brilliant woman holding her world together with grit and hope. Laney thinks I’ll walk away like everyone else. But this orc? I’m not going anywhere. I’ll earn her trust. Melt her defenses. And prove that I love hard, protect harder, and know exactly how to heat up a snowbound cabin. Escape into a snowed-in mountain romance where Christmas miracles come with fierce devotion, possessive growls, and the kind of dominant orc who brings the fire. Scorching scenes guaranteed, along with your new green-skinned book boyfriend. For readers 18+ who love their holidays hot, their heroes huge, and their monster romances equal parts heart and heat.

A Hex For Hunger by Alistair Reeves

Ambrose, a trans knight serving the medieval witch king, spent his life trying to be a hero. Instead, he died a villain in the name of a love he hungered for in secret. That would have ended his story, except a suspicious necromancer, Emery, resurrects him and gives him two things: a second chance and a job. He needs Ambrose to kill Morcant, a cult leader who is terrorizing a small group of students. Ambrose thought he was done with killing, but this modern world whet his appetite. If he can bring his king back from the grave, they could finally enjoy the love they’d been starved of. The witch king’s voice tells him how it can be achieved: kill Emery. But while Ambrose’s magic might hunger for Emery’s blood, his heart hungers for Emery another way entirely . . . Another delightful MM romantic fantasy from Alistair Reeves, A Hex for Hunger promises to captivate with more magic, wonder, and adventure.

Rose's Untamed Bear by Bella Blair

She touched me, and the beast inside me opened its eyes and chose her ROSE: My life was simple. A cottage in the woods. Warm hearth. Quiet days spent with my mother and sister. Then the bear came. Huge, wounded, and wild. I should’ve been terrified, but I wasn’t. Because when he looked at me, I saw a man behind the beast. A soul trapped in fur and fury. One day, when he changed before my eyes, into a warrior with blood on his hands and fire in his gaze, I knew the truth. This wasn’t fate. It was a curse. And somehow, I’m the key to breaking it. He says I belong to him. But what terrifies me more is how much I want him to be right. ALARIC: Grimbald cursed me out of spite, forcing me to wear the skin of a beast for crimes I did not commit. For years, I lived alone. Forgotten. Savage. Waiting for madness to take me. Then she appeared. A girl with fire in her hair and kindness in her voice. Her touch calms the storm inside me. Her scent drives me to my knees. I told myself I wouldn’t love again. But Rose isn’t just anyone. She was made for me, and now I will prove to her that she is MINE. Even if I have to tear the gnome’s magic apart with my bare hands. Coming this curvy heroines, alpha monsters, and fairy‑tale chaos collide in a whirlwind of dirty declarations, magical matings, and heart‑thumping happily ever afters. For readers who like their fairy tales filthy, heartfelt, and unforgettably fun.

Never Kiss a Krampus: A Cozy Holiday Monster Romance by Honey Phillips

Noelle Green needs a miracle. The town of Mistletoe Hollow is being devoured by a Grinch-like developer, and her beloved Christmas shop is next to the list. Fueled by peppermint schnapps and desperation, she performs a ritual for Yuletide aid. She gets a miracle, all right—just not the kind she expected. She accidentally summons a Krampus, all towering muscle, wicked horns, and glowing eyes. Bound to her until Christmas, Bastian is ancient, annoyed, and very sure she owes him for dragging him across realms. Noelle's attraction to her grumpy, imposing houseguest is as undeniable as it is terrifying. But between magical punishments, enchanted tinsel, and kisses that melt snowflakes, this holiday season is about to get very, very naughty.

Ghost: A Small Town Age Gap OTT Instalove Biker MC Steamy Short Romance (Steelwood MC Book 1) by Julia Stone

He stole her to save her. Now he can’t let her go. I found her by accident—just a glimpse during a job finished a few months back. One little discovery turned into an obsession. I told myself to forget her, but that was a lie I never stood a chance of keeping. When I learned her father planned to trade her to another club’s bastard, I couldn’t let it happen. So I took her. Now she’s here, hidden away in my world of smoke, leather, and scars. She looks at me like I’m her captor, and maybe I am. But I’m also her only chance. Every day she’s near, I lose another piece of the restraint I swore I’d keep. I can’t let her go—but I can’t let myself have her either. Because if I touch her, there’s no coming back from it. My whole life has been planned for me—every breath, every choice, every future moment dictated by my father. I never questioned it until Ghost tore me from that life and dropped me into his. He’s chaos made flesh—scarred, and dangerous—but somehow, he feels more honest than anyone I’ve ever known. He says he took me to protect me. Maybe that’s true. But the way he looks at me burns hotter than any lie. The longer I stay, the more I see the man beneath the rough edges—the protector, not the villain. Somewhere between fear and fascination, I start to fall. Ghost may have stolen my freedom... but he’s the first person who’s ever made me feel free. Each story in the Steelwood MC series is part of a shared storyline that is best enjoyed read in order. Each couple ends with a HFN ending that will result in their HEA by the end of the series!

Wedding for My Werewolf (Fairhaven Falls #9) by Honey Phillips

One runaway human. One frustrated werewolf sheriff. Pretending to be mates is supposed to be the easy part… Robin never imagined she’d be on the run, but after being framed for a crime she didn’t commit, her only option is to disappear. She lands in Fairhaven Falls, a quirky small town full of creatures that should terrify her—but after dealing with real-life villains, a town of monsters is almost a relief. If only she didn’t keep falling into the arms of the town's huge werewolf sheriff… Eric has had it with his pack’s matchmaking schemes. They’ve been sending a steady stream of she-wolves to his door in an effort to tie him down, and he needs a break. The pretty little human with the frightened eyes and the most delectable scent he’s ever encountered seems like the perfect solution—they’ll pretend to be mates, and his pack will finally give him some breathing room. Robin’s not thrilled about cozying up to the law, especially not a bossy, protective werewolf, but when he gives her that hot, hungry look, it's easy to forget she’s a fugitive. With his pack breathing down their necks and her past catching up fast, the only thing scarier than the monsters in town is the fact that their little charade is starting to feel dangerously real… Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and steamy holiday tale is intended for mature readers.

Diamond Wishes: An Aladdin Retelling (All That Glitters #12) by Abigail Manning

A mute guard, a chatty parrot, and a diamond ring that could change it all... Few people have heard the legend of the wondrous wishing diamond, and even fewer have wasted their efforts searching for it. Kya could care less about jewels unless they can sell for enough money to feed her and her mouthy parrot. Her chronic fainting spells make it impossible to hold down a real job, and difficult to escape the guards when a charming stranger interrupts her heist. Caught and caged, Kya admits defeat as she wastes away in the palace prison. Not even befriending a royal guard can get her out of her chains, but a deal with a smooth-talking nobleman might... It would seem that the boy from the market isn’t the only person on a diamond hunt. If anyone can find a diamond ring in a cave full of treasures, it’s a jewel thief, but that doesn’t mean she knows how to use it. Wishes gone wrong and a power struggle between royals quickly trap Kya once again, but this time as a fake princess. Even a counterfeit diamond can sparkle, but can it fool a treasure hunter? Life as a royal sure does have a nice ring to it, if you can live long enough to wish for a crown. Diamond Wishes is a standalone, no-spice, fairy retelling and is a part of the series "All That Glitters." A collection of 12 treasure-themed fairy tale retellings full of adventure, romance, and glittering gold.

Snowed In With the Ice Dragon: A Small Town Christmas Romance (Monsters and Mistletoe Series) by Vala Stone

His touch is ice. His kiss, fire. And I can’t walk away. Bianca Kevin ditching me in the middle of a blizzard should’ve been the worst night of my life. Then I stumbled across a trail of glittering ice sculptures, each one more breathtaking than the last, until I found the man who made Ísarr. He’s rough edges and frostbitten silence, a dragon wrapped in a human form that barely hides his power. He warned me to leave. I should’ve listened. Instead, I stayed… and now every glance, every brush of his cold hand, melts something inside me I didn’t know was frozen. Ísarr I’ve kept the world at bay for years, locked in exile where no one could see the monster beneath the ice. Until her. Bianca crashes through my walls like sunlight breaking over a frozen lake, filling my silence with warmth and defiance. She should fear me, run from me. Instead, she tempts me past control. Her lips taste of fire, her body fits against mine as though she was made for me. Every kiss cracks the armor I’ve built around my heart. The storm outside is fierce, but the one between us is unstoppable. And if I claim her, if I give in to this hunger, I may never let her go. Snowed In With the Ice Dragon is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Monsters and Mistletoe shared author series. It features one grumpy ice dragon and an optimistic lost hiker searching for shelter against the coming storm.

Kiss for My Kraken: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls #10) by Honey Phillips

A lonely woman, a grumpy kraken, and a town determined to bring them together… Nina needs a fresh start. Broke, alone, and desperate to escape her past, she stumbles into the quirky little town of Fairhaven Falls, hoping for a quiet place to rebuild her life. What she doesn’t expect is to nearly drown in the river on the edge of town—or to be saved by the town’s most mysterious resident. Sam has spent most of his life lurking deep in the river, keeping his distance from the humans on shore. As a kraken, he’s used to being feared, whispered about, and left alone. But when he rescues Nina, something in him stirs—an unfamiliar and dangerous longing to keep her. Nina should be terrified of the massive, tentacled creature who rescues her. Instead, she finds herself drawn to him—the gruff protector with bioluminescent skin, a possessive streak a mile wide, and a heart as deep as the ocean. But just as she begins to believe she’s finally found a place to belong, her past comes calling, threatening to rip her new life—and her monster—from her grasp. Sam has spent his life keeping his distance. But when danger comes for Nina, he’s ready to show the town—and the world—just how terrifyingly protective a kraken in love can be. Welcome to Fairhaven Falls, where love is wet, wild, and all together wonderful! Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone. This sweet and steamy small town romance is intended for mature readers.

Gift for My Ghost (Fairhaven Falls, #8) by Honey Phillips

Can a lonely pair create a new path to love? Jessica has always felt as restless as the spirits who choose to appear to her. Then an unexpected encounter in the small southern town of Fairhaven Falls changes everything. Now she leads an ordinary life - or at least as ordinary as a girl with a constant ghostly companion can have. But is simple companionship enough? Leo was trapped in Midnight Manor for many years before a pretty little psychic finally set him free. Now that he’s been released, he’s discovered that freedom isn't nearly as enticing as the woman who freed him. The more time they spend together, the more he yearns for their relationship to be real. Who said that love, laughter, and the afterlife couldn't mix? Welcome to Fairhaven Falls! Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and steamy holiday tale is intended for mature readers.

Splinter: A Diverse Sleepy Hollow Retelling by Jasper Hyde

This Is The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow Reborn… In a small town hidden behind the hills of New York, things are far from ordinary. As Sleepy Hollow’s youngest Medical Examiner, the pressure intensifies for Dr. Drusilla Van Tassel when the headless bodies of her sister Katrina’s friends start surfacing. Meanwhile, Drusilla’s ex-lover Ichabod Crane returns to town, dredging up feelings better left buried. Things take a turn for the worst when Drusilla comes face-to-face with the Headless Horseman, who is back to settle old scores – and she and her sister are the perfect targets. Drusilla can repel the horseman with an unknown power, but her sister isn’t so lucky, and she goes missing. However, when Drusilla discovers Ichabod is a monster hunter, she has no other choice but to turn to him for help. Even if that means working with a man she feels an inexplicable attraction to. Will they find Katrina and banish the headless horseman once and for all?

Brownies for My Grumpy Bunny: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls #10) by Honey Phillips

She’s sweet, stubborn, and far too tempting. He’s big, grumpy, and determined not to fall. Sara Cartwright came to Fairhaven Falls for a fresh start—quiet mornings, kind neighbors, and maybe a few furry friends hopping through her garden. She wasn’t expecting her next-door neighbor to be six-foot-plus of scowling muscle and twitching ears. Ben Hollowell likes his peace, his pub, and his solitude. The last thing he needs is a relentlessly cheerful kindergarten teacher moving in next door with flower boxes, laughter, and curves that make his pulse race. But when Sara’s warmth starts melting his defenses—and her brownies start showing up at his door—Ben finds himself craving things he swore he didn’t need. Will spring in Fairhaven Falls turn out to be mating season for the most reluctant of bunnies? Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone. This sweet and steamy small town romance is intended for mature readers.

Warmed Up by the Firefighter: A Second Chance Instalove OTT Steamy Short Romance by Julia Stone

One bad breakup. One unexpected firefighter. One second chance she never planned to take. Reese: They say I’m crazy. That’s the story my ex told after our breakup—loud enough that the whole town believed him. So maybe breaking into his house to get my things back doesn’t help my case, but I refuse to let him keep pieces of my life hostage. I don’t expect to be caught. I definitely don’t expect his new roommate—naked, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly calm about finding me trespassing in the middle of the day. Jaxon isn’t what I’m ready for. He’s heat and safety and everything I swore I was done believing in. One look at him makes me want to risk my heart all over again. But I’ve already loved once and paid for it. No matter how much my body betrays me, I can’t cave. Not again. Jaxon: I step out of the shower and find a woman breaking into my house—and just like every fire I’ve ever run into, I know I won’t walk away unchanged. Reese is sharp-tongued and wound tight, carrying scars no one ever taught her how to heal. The second our eyes meet, something in me locks into place. I don’t question it. I never do. I’m a firefighter. I run toward danger for a living. And Reese is danger in the most tempting form. She doesn’t fall into my arms the way women usually do. She fights it. Pushes back. Keeps her distance. That only makes me want her more. She’s running from something, and I’m not the kind of man who lets someone burn alone. She thinks love is a mistake she can’t afford to make again. I think she just hasn’t met a man willing to fight for her. Mature Novella Romance Short Story Short Romance Second Chance Steamy Quick Read Small Town Instalove Note from the Author: This short read will take 1-2 hours to read.

Bound to the Vampire: A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (Hillcrest Hollow Shifters #4) by Vala Stone

He’s charming, undead, and totally off-limits. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Jade Jade Whitaker only came to town to restore a crumbling library, not lose herself in a man with a voice like velvet and eyes like midnight. Luther runs the general store, always has what she needs, and somehow makes dusty archives feel like foreplay. She tells herself it’s just the isolation, the mystery of the town, but her pulse says otherwise. There’s something unnatural about too smooth, too still, too good at disappearing after dark. And when Jade stumbles across forbidden texts and records that don’t match reality, the spark between them threatens to ignite something far more dangerous than lust. Luther Luther has spent centuries mastering restraint. But Jade tests his limits from the moment she walks into town; sharp-tongued, soft-hearted, and smelling faintly of old books and temptation. He knows the risks of pulling her exposure, bloodshed, the unraveling of a delicate peace. But one taste of her laughter, one flash of those curious eyes, and he’s already losing control. He was never supposed to fall. She was never supposed to stay. But in a town built on secrets, desire might be the deadliest one of all. He’s not just drawn to her—he hungers. She’s not just uncovering history—she’s waking it. And neither of them is ready for what’s about to rise. This is Book Four in the Hillcrest Hollow Shifter series, but each book can be read as a standalone. Bound to the Vampire delivers a mysterious ancient vampire, a curious human librarian, a bat familiar who prefers gossip to upside-down naps, and a sizzling HEA that will leave you breathless.

The Name-Bearer (Flowers of Prophecy #1) by Natalia Hernandez

For her entire life, the Name-Bearer’s sole purpose has been to receive and deliver the names of the future monarchy from the Flowers of Prophecy. But when the child is finally born and the Name-Bearer is sent to the Flowers, they refuse to name him. Instead they deliver a prophecy; another child was born who is more worthy of the Naming, and if they are found and brought before them it will usher in a reign of peace. Having failed in her duties the Name-Bearer is considered a traitor to the crown, and must hide among an elite sect of warrior women where she experiences friendship, found family, and love. Her training as a warrior helps prepare her to embark on her quest to find the Unnamed Prince, clear her name, and bring peace to her realm. A story of magia, warrior women, found family and love - and not accepting who you are told to be, but embracing who you are destined to become.

Horned to be Wild: A Cozy Monster Romance (Harmony Glen) by Honey Phillips

Big horns. Bigger… heart? When city artist Lila inherits her great-aunt’s cottage she expects rustic charm—not a fixer-upper with a failing roof and a grumpy, reclusive minotaur living next door. Torin is big, brooding, and annoyingly attractive. He might have the social skills of a tree stump, but every time he stomps to her rescue she’s more intrigued. Torin likes his life quiet, his woods undisturbed, and his horns—and his heart—well out of sight. Unfortunately his deliciously curvy new neighbor has a way of bypassing all his carefully crafted rules. She’s sweet, sassy, and impossible to ignore. But Torin has spent years hiding, and Lila’s presence threatens to upend the safe, quiet life he’s built. As the town's art fair approaches, Torin must decide if he’s ready to show more than his carvings to the world! * * * * Though they once lived in secret, “monsters” have inhabited the earth as long as humans. As technology advanced by leaps and bounds, the ability to remain hidden dwindled. Earth’s nonhuman creatures faced a allow themselves to be discovered, or step forward and introduce themselves. Either option could have ended badly for monsters and humans alike—and in some places, it did. But not in Harmony Glen. After The Great Revelation, Harmony Glen welcomed monsters with open arms. This small, lakeside town in Upstate New York is now home to humans and nonhumans! Integration has been so successful in Harmony Glen, the town even changed its motto to “Come for the harmony, stay for the happily ever after.” Welcome to Harmony Glen. We know you’re going to love it here. Each book in the Harmony Glen multi-author series is a standalone cozy romance with a happily ever after! The books can be enjoyed in any order.

A Hired Blade by JC Rycroft

SFINCS

A sellsword's bargain. A burgeoning desire. A future balanced on the point of a blade Sellsword Des is travelling alone in a dry and dusty southern land, after a spectacular bust up with her best friend. She's running low on coin, so when former client Karina offers her a job leading her caravan's security through brigand country, it feels like a gift. Des has done the route before, but she isn't sure about leading solo. She recommends Karina hire Cap, a rugged old mercenary, to head up the crew. Maybe she'll even learn a thing or two about how to lead, in between the delightful distraction of Karina's flirtations and keeping the marauders at bay. As they head off on their long trip across Rescalin, though, the wheels start to come off Des's plan. The crew is drinking too much, even on duty, and Cap is dismissive of the dangers she identifies. Des worries she's made the wrong call by putting Cap as the lead, and Karina is in her ear, wanting her to take over. As brigands close in, will Des back the merc she put in charge? Or will she take over - and risk the caravan's safety resting on her blade alone?

How to Flaunt Your Chains and Surrender a Vein by D. N. Bryn

‘What else is this shed for, if not torturing unsuspecting vampires?’ Rahil Zaman has good reason to keep his distance from the world—and his fangs are only part of that. He hides in his crumbling home, acquiring blood through the risky one-night stands he finds on hunter-infested hookup apps. After one such fling turns sour, Rahil ends up trapped in the work shed of the one match he wishes would respond to his flirtations. Finding the hot twink he’d been ghosting inside his work shed was not on Mercer Bloncourt’s agenda. Between his work as a craftsman and his tumultuous relationship with his chronically-ill daughter, he doesn’t have the time or heart for a relationship. But Rahil is not the only intruding presence in Mercer’s life. A hostile hunter and a manipulative research scientist both insist—on threat of his daughter’s life—that he recreate versions of his ‘holy silver’: a vampire-killing metal forged in the wake of his wife’s murder, bound up in all the grief and destruction he’s striven for years to overcome. To complicate matters, Rahil is the rare vampire who’s immune to the deadly silver, providing Mercer the perfect lab rat to test a kinder vampire-affecting metal. As Rahil and Mercer rush to the forge, they must face their past wrongs once more, and in time, discover that no mistake is worth the sentence of eternal loneliness.

Falling for the Winged Witch: A Villainous Twist on Wild Swans and Jack and the Beanstalk by Sarah Beran

A widowed queen trapped by her past. A giant who just wants to be left alone. A fowl curse that could cost them both everything. Lindy never wanted to get married or have children—especially not seven stepsons old enough to be her brothers and a doddering royal husband. Just when it seems like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the king suddenly dies, and her sinister reputation for casting curses means that all eyes and fingers are pointed at her. Rather than support their new mother, her stepsons seem determined to do everything they can to make her life miserable. When the youngest fills her room with water fowl as a prank, Lindy finally decides to take things into her own hands—and everything goes wrong. Atlas lives with his head in the clouds, and he likes it that way. His ancestral home is hidden away so high in the mountains that it’s practically inaccessible. But somehow the secret has slipped, and he keeps chasing away unwanted visitors. After the latest break-in ends with his prized goose missing, Atlas is forced to do the one thing never wanted: climb down the beanstalk. Unfortunately, the scoundrel who took his goose is now a swan, and the only way to get him to tell Atlas where she is is to help the witch who cast the curse in the first place. The nettlesome woman won’t give him the time of day, refusing to speak until the sun goes down. When she does, it’s to instruct him in the most ridiculous task he’s ever heard of. But Atlas really wants to get his goose and go home, and if knitting is the way to achieve that, so be it. If only the task didn’t threaten to knit his heart to hers in the process… Falling for the Winged Witch is a combined retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans, featuring tropes such as Unlikely Allies, Found Family, and Opposites Attract. It is the third book in the To Win a Dark Heart series, which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

The Alien Warrior's Valentine: A Sci-Fi Valentine (Sci-fi Holiday Specials #4) by Robin O'Connor

On a struggling alien vineyard, the only thing harder than surviving is letting someone get close. Mariska I have two years to make this work, and time is running out. The cozy small town is scary when the Aderians are all empaths who seem to know your innermost thoughts. I came to Llykhe to escape, to find myself again. The vineyard granted to me by the Aderians is supposed to be my salvation, even if it’s rundown and the machines are failing. I have space, but not the privacy I came for. Then there’s Jeltom. Grumpy and silent, he’s not your typical Aderian empath. When I ask him for help, he actually says no. With Valentine coming, I wonder if explaining a human holiday and asking him to share it is brave or foolish. Jeltom I hadn’t come home to fall for anyone. After being shot, I want simple: familiar air, quiet nights, and absolutely no responsibilities. Then Mariska crosses my path, human and shy like a skittish animal. Giving her my help when she needs it is easy. It feels like the purpose I’ve been searching for all my life. When she mentions a custom called Valentine, a strange human ritual, I don’t understand it, but I want to. Not for tradition’s sake, but for hers. This human might just be the one thing my people have forgotten how to find: my fated mate. The Alien Warrior’s Valentine is a standalone Valentine-themed steamy sci-fi romance featuring a scarred alien warrior searching for home, and a traumatized human looking for peace. This is a story of love and redemption. It’s cozy, sweet, with a little action and a whole lot of romance.

Healed by My Hyde: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls #11) by Honey Phillips

He’s the one man in town she’s been warned about. So why does he feel like the only safe place to be? Pregnant and seeking a quiet place to start over, Chloe arrives in Fairhaven Falls hoping for a peaceful sanctuary. What she finds is Dr. Victor Jackson—a male as handsome as he is rigidly controlled. The town whispers about the darkness he keeps locked away, but Chloe sees past his forbidding exterior to the lonely male beneath. Victor has spent his life caging the beast within him. Every emotion is suppressed, every minute scheduled. But the gentle female with the sad eyes and warm heart is a temptation he can’t resist. Her touch threatens to awaken the possessive, primal instincts he has fought for so long. One passionate, reckless night shatters his carefully built defenses, leaving Victor convinced he has to push Chloe away to keep her safe. But when a historic blizzard traps them together in her isolated cabin, the storm outside is nothing compared to the one raging within him. And when disaster strikes, the only thing that can save Chloe is the very beast she’s been told to fear—and his monster has already decided she belongs to him. Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone. This sweet and steamy small town romance is intended for mature readers.

Cursed Climb (Displaced Fairytales) by Sarah Beran

A swan, a bird catcher, and the plot they both intend to keep from hatching… Working under her father as the Assistant Keeper of the Menagerie, Odessa Rothchild has always believed two things to be true: animals are much better listeners than people, and Boris Rothchild is the most brilliant man in all of Kovskia. All of that changes when an unfortunate discovery in her father’s workroom leaves her the recipient of a curse. Stuck in the body of a swan until the sun sets, Odessa begins to think that her search for the truth is hopeless—until, that is, a mysterious man crash-lands in the middle of her lake. If there’s one thing in life that Jax should understand, it’s birds. As the fourth generation of a family of bird catchers, his future nest egg should be secure—and it would be, if he didn’t have his sights set on a different kind of winged creature. But after his search for a rare and elusive dragon egg goes wrong, Jax wakes up to find himself in the company of the one kind of bird he can’t seem to understand. She needs his help to break her curse. He needs her to get his dragon. But as they work together, secrets are uncovered that create ripples bigger than either of them could have imagined, and they both must decide whether or not a happy ending is worth the climb…or the fall. 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 no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors. CURSED CLIMB is Jack and the Beanstalk meets Swan Lake with He Falls First, Found Family, and a dragon companion who doesn’t understand why he can’t be a swan.

Never Text a Minotaur: A Cozy Monster Romance (Wrong Move, Right Monster) by Honey Phillips

She wanted a ladder. She got a minotaur. Clara Bellweather’s professional life is a meticulously organized system of color-coded calendars, perfectly cataloged books, and emergency backup bookmarks. Unfortunately, her personal life is a chaotic mess of tripping over air and failed online dates. In desperate need of a ladder for the annual spring reading event, Clara does what any socially awkward librarian would do—she texts her handsome new neighbor. Or, at least, she thinks she texts him. A series of awkward texts leads to an even more awkward meeting where she discovers that she’s actually been exchanging messages with a massive, horned minotaur. Rion is gruff, reclusive, and intimidating but he's also unexpectedly kind and ridiculously handsome. After recruiting Rion to help with her event, she starts to realize that the grumpy minotaur might be the only male in town who isn't completely and utterly wrong for her. The library needs a ladder. The town needs a festival. And Clara needs to stop having feelings for a minotaur who's probably allergic to sunshine. (Each book in the Wrong Move, Right Monster series can be read as a standalone. These sweet and spicy romances are intended for mature readers.)

Hounded - Ashes to Ashes by Quinn Cameron

Some creatures are born to burn; only a few can rise again. Indy remembers everything now: the failed cross-country escape, the moment he lost Loren, and the demons that are hunting him. His past is less of a mystery, but his present grows more dangerous by the day. Loren’s return is far from the solution to Indy’s myriad problems. The archdemon Nero still wants his tears and is willing to enlist every one of the newly made hellhounds to get them. With his powers fading and the threat on his existence looming larger than ever, Indy is running out of options. Even with aid from a new group of allies, survival is far from guaranteed. In the end, no force in Heaven or on Earth can save Indy except, maybe, himself. If only he knew how.

The Faceless Mage (Legends of Abreia Book 1) by Kenley Davidson

He’ll protect her with his last breath… Until she becomes his next target. Leisa’s ambitions used to be simple. Guard the princess. Hide her magic. Wait for her family to return. But all of that changes when her king demands that she use her unique abilities to spy on the rival kingdom of Garimore. Alone, far from home, and living a lie that grows more perilous by the day, Leisa’s task is complicated by her most dangerous enemy yet—the masked assassin known only as the Raven. Everyone in the Five Thrones knows to fear him, but the Raven is not what Leisa expected. As silent as he is lethal, he provokes her curiosity as much as her fear, and hides secrets she’s determined to learn. When her already precarious mission takes a deadly turn, Leisa must evade the Raven himself if she is to succeed. It’s never been done before, but Leisa is nothing if not stubborn. And if she doesn’t become the first to escape his blade, her entire kingdom will pay the price—in blood.

The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise

SPFBO8

MOST PRINCESSES NEED SAVING. THIS ONE WILL SAVE YOU. She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price. The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel. Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway. Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her.

The Naga Exile's Frozen Mate: A Sci-Fi Monster Romance (Serpents of Serant #10) by Robin O'Connor

Frozen in ice. One touch to wake me. A storm of desire, and a planet that wants to eat us alive. Felicia They said deep space was lonely. They never warned me it could ache. After years in stasis, I wake to a dying ship, a broken world, and a man—or not quite a man—watching me like I’m oxygen after a lifetime of drowning. Levant’s voice slides through me like heat in the cold, his eyes promise sin, and when his tail brushes my skin, I forget how to breathe. He calls me his. Says the bond between us is written in the stars. I should fight him, focus on fixing my ship before it tears Serant apart. But every time he touches me, I want to shatter. The wind howls beyond the hull, but the real storm is the one he’s stirring beneath my skin. Levant I was sent to the pole as punishment. Alone. Exiled. Then I found her. Human. Fire-willed. Fragile in a way that makes my pulse burn. When I found her sleeping in the ice, the bond struck like lightning through my veins. My exile doesn’t matter now. Only her. The Council watches. The ice moans with the waking Revenants below. Her ship is unraveling, and the planet trembles with it. To protect her, I must bind her to me. To save her world, I may have to sacrifice my own. The longer I’m near her, the more I know, I’d let the universe fall if it meant keeping her in my arms. This is Book Ten in the Serpents of Serant series. This steamy sci-fi monster romance features an exiled Naga Shaman, a bold human explorer, and a sizzling HEA.

Voice of War (Threadlight Book 1) by Zack Argyle

SPFBO6 SPFBO Finalist

Chrys Valerian is a threadweaver, a high general, and soon-to-be father. But to the people of Alchea, he is the Apogee—the man who won the war. When a stranger's prophecy foretells danger to Chrys' child, he must do everything in his power to protect his family—even if the most dangerous enemy is the voice in his own head. To the west, a sheltered girl seeks to find her place in the world. To the south, a young man's life changes after he dies. Together, they will change the world—whether they intend to or not.

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.

Alien's Bargain: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #6) by Honey Phillips

One lie. One bargain. One debt she can’t escape. Jessa is the most talented weaver in her village, but when her ruthless uncle claims she can spin legendary goldthread, he traps her in a lie that could cost her everything… including her little sister. Desperate to save her sister, Jessa flees into forbidden Vultor territory in search of the rarest plant of all. Instead she finds Tarek, a gruff, solitary alien feared by humans and shunned by his own kind. Tarek has been alone for too long, so when a pretty little human strays into his territory, he can’t resist offering her a bargain—his help in exchange for a promise to be fulfilled later. What begins as a reluctant deal turns into something far more dangerous, because Tarek is more than he seems. And the price he asks might be her heart. Sometimes love is the most dangerous bargain of all. Grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, reluctant protector, hidden identity, found family A sweet and spicy sci-fi fairy-tale retelling!

Scorching Lies by C.M Nyx

I had everything, a family, safety, comfort, I was the heiress to my fathers empire, but that all came burning down, leaving me scarred and alone. If that wasn't enough, the lies started coming to the surface. The betrayal blindsided me and I was left broken and lying on the ground of my own personal hell. My enemies were now lined up, waiting for the chance to make me bleed. My former friends had their hands wrapped around my throat, trying to snuff out the last of my family's bloodline, all for revenge. Ryker was the most vicious of them all. He wanted to make me hurt, to make me scream, to watch me burn. I just hope I can prove my family's innocence before he takes away every piece of me. I may not be his princess anymore, but I'll bleed to become his queen.

Cold from the North by D W Ross

SPFBO7

Driven by the promise of an ancient prophecy which will bring the dark ways of an old god back to power and prominence, an army of invaders swarms Ogulf Harlsbane’s homeland slaughtering all those who oppose them. Along with his people, Ogulf must seek refuge from this savage force. In his search of sanctuary, he is tasked with finding the one person who can put a stop to the onslaught. Doing so will send him across lands and seas, have him and his closest friend navigate the intricacies of a civil war, and try to win the help of the princess fighting for her throne. If he fails, darkness will prevail and the reign of the Onyxborn will begin.

Dawnstar (Starchaser Saga Book 2) by Renee Dugan

A missing friend. A hunt for answers. A path to vengeance. With her Warden stolen, her hopes of an easy alliance thwarted, and her trust in her own kingdom shattered, Princess Cistine Novacek faces her greatest challenge yet: using wit and steel to bring down a wicked Chancellor and prove herself to the cabal's tentative allies in the Courts. As friendships are tested, bonds broken, and love put to the test, the princess must face the growing threats within the Northern Kingdom – and learn to rise a queen. Locked away in a desert prison, Asheila Kovar faces the struggle of her life: surviving the ruthless Blood Hive, returning to her princess, and avenging a betrayal against the heart of her kingdom. But there are more secrets and schemes than just hers lurking in the catacombs…and the struggle between powerful forces above and below the sands will test Ashe’s loyalty in dangerous ways. Ways that may spell death for people the cabal cannot afford to lose.

Hot Wolf in the Country - A Cozy Monster Romance (Monster Mate Mayhem) by Honey Phillips

Working late has never been this dangerous! Tech genius Harper moves to Monster Island for a fresh start, hoping to escape her workaholic tendencies. She doesn’t expect to fall even deeper into her old patterns, or to accidentally run into the most infuriatingly attractive man she's ever met. Adrian Moonstone isn't just the Alpha of the Moonstone Pack; he's a growly, dominant force of nature. Adrian wants nothing to do with big city girls, but Harper, with her pink hair, defiant attitude, and tantalizing scent, proves impossible to resist. He knows a tiny human female can't be his Luna. He knows she'll never truly belong in his world. Yet, his wolf’s need to claim her grows with every encounter. When a vicious cyber-attack threatens his pack, Adrian needs Harper's genius more than ever. But as they fight together to defeat this new threat, their undeniable passion ignites. Can Harper find her happily ever after, or will love prove to be a code that even she can’t break? smart heroine, possessive hero, fated mates, forced proximity, shifter romance A sweet and spicy monster romance! Each book can be read as a standalone romance. Intended for mature readers.

Upscaled by Joseph John Lee

It begins and ends, as things do, with a girl throwing a birthday party for a dragon. Or it would, if things were ever that simple. Generations ago, the Inquisition of the Priory of the Thrice-Dead Prophet decided that dragons were a great evil and it was their duty to banish them from the land of Nóra. The dragons weren't (they just grew tired of the bother and migrated north), and the Inquisition didn't (they just pretended otherwise), but that's beside the point. Though evidence of dragons still existed, it remained within the realm of smugglers, ne'er-do-wells, and people with too much time and money on their hands . . . until a hatching egg finds its way into the hands of a young girl named Ailís. Now, with the first newborn dragon seen in generations in her company, Ailís finds herself beset by merchants, brigands, Inquisitors, and a greedy governor, and all she wants to do is throw a birthday party for her dragon. And you thought planning a party for your kids was tough.

Paths of Malice (The Venatrix Chronicles Book 3) by Sylvia Mercedes

Poisoned. Trapped. At the mercy of a ghost . . . She can handle this. A month into her competition with Venator Terryn, Ayleth seems no closer to winning the Golden Prince’s trust. Why else would he call Terryn to serve at the castle on some secret mission, leaving Ayleth to manage the borough on her own? No matter. She’ll prove her worth to the prince come what may. Plenty of mysteries plague the land under her protection . . . including the mystery of Terryn himself and the strange, dangerous talisman he’s been keeping hidden in his room. Her search for answers soon finds Ayleth on the trail of her deadliest foe yet. A ghost from the prince’s past has returned to haunt the present, possessed of a powerful phantom shade capable of walking the dark paths of the Haunts. Ayleth is totally outmatched and unprepared to face such an enemy alone. But when has she ever backed down from a fight? Welcome back to a world where enemies and friends can be difficult to distinguish, where angels are deadly and demons desirable, and shadows of the past loom dark across the future. If you like your heroines brave, your heroes tormented, and your action non-stop, try The Venatrix Chronicles today!

Visions of Fate (The Venatrix Chronicles Book 2) by Sylvia Mercedes

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, this romantic fantasy adventure will leave you hungry for more. The hunt is on. But who is the hunter and who is the hunted? Ayleth and Terryn survived the Witchwood, but they’re no closer to solving the mystery of the dead shade hunter. In their quest for answers, they discover that a witch has escaped through the Great Barrier and is leaving a trail of corpses in her wake. A murderous witch is only one of Ayleth’s problems, however. Terryn, her infuriating and intriguing rival, will give his all to win their competition. And Kephan, their Outpost Master, conceals more than one dangerous secret. Worst of all, while pursuing a lead, Ayleth finds herself on the hunt for a three-year-old girl . . . a girl possessed by a unique and powerful shade. Suddenly, Ayleth must question the teachings of her Holy Order. Is it always right to kill humans possessed by shades? Even a child? Return to the world of The Venatrix Chronicles, where deadly spirits lurk in the shadows, good and evil wage eternal war, and secrets threaten to tear a kingdom apart. If you love kick-butt heroines, slow-burn romance, breathtaking action, and stories that leave you with a book hangover for days after you finish . . . you need to discover this dark and deadly series. Prepare to turn pages late into the night!