Bearly Free: A Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears (The Emerald Realm Book 2) by Abigail Manning

A runaway bride finds her way into an abandoned manor... A Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Lady Aurelia Lockly has finally turned sixteen and hopes that her parents may finally loosen the reins on her position as a proper lady. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case; instead of gaining respect, she gains an arranged marriage with a complete stranger. Despite Aurelia’s lack of consent, her parents pursue the engagement, anyway. After all, it would benefit the family business fabulously... Not wanting to be forced into the role of a pretentious wife, Aurelia makes a run for it. Luckily enough, she comes across an abandoned estate that would be perfect for hiding in... That is, it would be, if it was actually abandoned. Can Aurelia escape without being sent back home? Or will her mysterious new hosts send her running for other reasons? With the aid of a young lord and a rather fluffy new companion, Aurelia will hide, race, and fight her way to freedom. But can she escape what she was born into? This book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but is best enjoyed when read in order due to potential spoilers. For more information on The Emerald Realm sign up for my free monthly newsletter at: Abigailmanningauthor.com

Balarr (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #9) by Sue Mercury

He's honor-bound to claim her, but he never expected love. Trapped in a cold, sterile laboratory, Luna longs for a normal life, complete with adventure and romance. When she sees an ad for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides, she steals a laptop and signs up for the program, believing it's the answer to her prayers. She's thrilled when a massive otherworldly male named Balarr storms into the laboratory looking for her, but his stern, intimidating presence quickly gives her second thoughts. Has she made a terrible mistake, or is there a gentler side to the fearsome alien warrior? Balarr lost everything the day his mate and offspring were killed during an attack on his homeworld. He never anticipated moving on and claiming a human female, but then an old friend enrolls him in the VAMOB program. Honor-bound, he travels to Earth to take possession of his assigned mate—a stunningly beautiful female named Luna. Despite the unexpected spark between them, expressing his feelings doesn't come easily, and he struggles to show Luna just how precious she's become to him. But as their bond finally deepens, a shadow from the past returns, threatening the entire VAMOB program. Balarr is only certain of one thing—he'll do anything to keep Luna.

Planted by the Mountain Man (Spring in the Mountains Series) by Annee Jones

FLORA: 🐝 I had a plan. A good plan. Insemination, positive test, baby on the way — all on my terms. Nowhere in that plan did it say “drive to Montana to stalk your sperm donor.” But his profile kept rattling around in my head. I just wanted to see him. Quietly. Like a normal, well-adjusted person. Instead I tripped over a hive box and landed at the feet of the grumpiest, hottest beekeeper in the mountain west. Then I panicked and told him I was a landscape designer. At least that part is true. Now I’m planting pollinator gardens I invented on the spot while he drizzles wild honey over everything he cooks and looks at me like I’m trouble he wants to taste. 🍯 The longer I stay — swallowing his honey, feeling his hands, watching spring crack this mountain wide open — the harder it gets to remember I came here to observe. Not to stay. And definitely not to fall. He’s starting to suspect I’m not here for the flowers. I’m starting to realize he might be right. 🌸 🔥 Grumpy-sunshine • Breeding kink • Forced proximity • Who-falls-first • Guaranteed HEA Quick, hot, and bingeable in one sitting. 🐝

A Filling of Fables and Firelight: A 1,001 Nights Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Sarah Beran

A slice of bridal competition A dusting of mistaken identity And a whisk of love that might be nothing more than a fable. Rana Schehera is fully content with her simple life. Newly employed as a seamstress under one of the most sought-after tailors in El Huram, she’s paid enough for her beautiful creations to both provide for her aging grandmother and keep a steady supply of her favorite sweets. That simple life is threatened, however, when the new Sultan decides to select his bride the traditional way—through competition—and Rana is one of the lucky seamstresses chosen to attend the competitors. Still, it should all be fairly straightforward…until the Sultan mistakes her for one of the princesses he’s meant to be courting and inexplicably keeps coming back. Kamaran knew the throne was inevitable, but he wasn’t prepared for it to be his so soon. Now, reeling from loss and weighed down by the crown he never wanted and the responsibilities he never cared for, his council of viziers has added insult to injury by arranging for him to select a bride. His plan is Go through the motions, eliminate a prospect each week, and hope that by the end, the last one standing will be at least tolerable. What he didn’t plan for was the pragmatic princess with an obsession for needlework and stories that capture his imagination. With each evening that passes, Rana begins to see that Kamaran is more than the fickle, irresponsible Sultan he pretends to be, and she wants to be the one to fill the empty spaces in his heart. But as the end of the competition draws near, it becomes all too clear that the story she’s weaving may never have a happy ending. A Filling of Fables and Firelight, a retelling of 1,001 Nights, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as Mistaken Identity, Commoner x Royalty, and Forbidden Love. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth.

Smoke: A MC Biker Fake Dating OTT Reverse Age Gap Short Dark Romance by Julia Stone

He agreed to be her fake boyfriend to protect her. Now he won’t let anyone else touch her. Bunny: Unwanted love letters began showing up in my work locker, increasing in frequency the longer I ignored them. I’m not interested in the man leaving them. Not even a little. There is only one biker I’ve ever wanted. Smoke. He’s gruff, gorgeous, and he looks at me like I might be trouble he can’t afford. Which is ridiculous, considering I’m the one asking him to pretend to be my boyfriend to deter this stalker of mine. It should be simple. A little convincing touch, a few possessive glances, maybe a kiss or two if we have to sell it. Except Smoke doesn’t touch like he’s pretending. He treats me like I’m really his. The longer I stay by his side, the more I find myself unable to decide what I fear more: my stalker or the end of this act. Smoke: Bunny is sunshine in a world that runs on sin. She flirts like she was made to ruin men, laughs like she doesn’t know the damage she does, and looks at me like I’m the one thing she can’t resist. That should scare me less than it does. I’ve spent my life gambling, taking risks, playing games I know I can win. But Bunny is different. She gets under my skin and makes me want things I never planned on wanting. So when she asks me to play her boyfriend, I say yes before she can ask another man to sweep her off her feet. Now her stalker thinks she’s taken. The problem is, I’m not sure I know where the game ends anymore. When Bunny is cornered, and I finally decide to claim what’s mine, everyone will learn the truth. I’ll never let anyone take her from me. Steelwood MC - Meadow Falls features darker themes throughout. Each book can be read in any order, and all conclude with a happily ever after guarantee!

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 Coronation Ball: A Four Kingdoms Cinderella Novelette (The Four Kingdoms) by Melanie Cellier

Hanna knows all about hard work. For years she’s labored to complete her apprenticeship and become a pastry chef. Driven from her home once before, she’s willing to endure whatever it takes to keep her position in the palace kitchens of Northhelm. But when she finally has a chance for all her dreams to come true, everything goes wrong. In danger of losing both her future as a pastry chef, and the man she’s loved for years, Hanna will have to decide if she’s ready to fight for herself, as well as for Stefan. The Coronation Ball is a novelette of approximately 15,000 words that follows Hans’s sister after she flees Rangmere to build a life in Northhelm. If you enjoy clean romance, adventure and intrigue, then try the books in The Four Kingdoms series now! Each book can be read as a standalone story, however, for greatest enjoyment, they should be read in order. The Four Kingdoms Reading Order: The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (Book One) The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood (Book Two) The Coronation Ball: A Four Kingdoms Cinderella Novelette Happily Ever Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red (Novella) The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin (Book Three) A Midwinter's Wedding: A Retelling of The Frog Prince (Novella) The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (Book Four) The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling (Book Five)

Code Red (Side Hustle) by Lilah Hart

She lost a cat. He found his forever. I've been a good girl my whole life. Followed the rules. Obeyed my father. Kept my head down and my heart locked up tight. One day in Wildwood Valley changed everything. It started with a cat. A diabetic escape artist named Snowball who bolted from my clinic on my very first day flying solo. Desperate and panicking, I ran to the fire station next door for help. I didn't expect to find a man in nothing but black boxer briefs, singing into a spatula like he owned the world. Devon Carlisle was grumpy, gorgeous, and completely off-limits. A rugged construction foreman with callused hands and a volunteer firefighter's heart. He had no business looking at me the way he did—like I was trouble he wanted to get into. I had no business letting him. But somewhere between chasing that cat through the woods and sharing drinks at the new honky-tonk in town, I stopped being the pastor's dutiful daughter. I stopped playing it safe. I started playing with fire. Code Red is a short and steamy instalove romance set in the small mountain town of Wildwood Valley, North Carolina. This 1-hour read is part of the Side Hustle series. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Side Hustle series! About the Series: From broke beginnings to business dreams, the real hustle begins after hours. Whether it’s garage startups or late-night gigs, these blue-collar heroes and heroines are chasing goals bigger than the next bill. When love throws them a curveball, they learn that building a future means risking their hearts. Side Hustle is a multi-author series of short, steamy instalove stories with guaranteed happily-ever-afters. Each one delivers open-door heat, real-world grit, and chemistry that burns hotter after midnight.

Callie and the Pumpkin Seed: A Cinderella Retelling (Autumn Fairy Tales) by Sarah Beran

She’s a baker struggling to support her stepfamily. He’s a prince running from the biggest decision of his life. Can their friendship result in something sweet, or is it a recipe for disaster? Calliope Cendrillon wants nothing more than for her bakery, “Sweet Pea’s Pumpkin Perfections,” to start turning a profit. After her father’s sudden death left her family in dire financial straits, Callie’s infamous pumpkin treats are the only thing standing between protecting her father’s legacy and losing it all. When Ever, one of Callie’s new regulars, presents her the chance to cater treats for the prince’s Choosing Ball, it’s an offer she can’t refuse. But Ever has secrets he’s been hiding, and when her attendance and premature exit catches the eye of the prince, Callie finds herself participating in a series of unconventional tests. Trying to find a girl using her slipper was unbelievable enough, but finding a worthy princess using a pumpkin seed? That takes the cake. When a single pumpkin seed has the power to change Callie’s future, will she be able to cater to her heart? Or will her dreams of true love burn to a crisp? “Callie and the Pumpkin Seed” is a retelling of Cinderella with a side of Princess and the Pea and is part of the “Autumn Fairy Tales,” a collection of eight cozy retellings of your favorite fairy tales. Each book can be enjoyed in any order, so grab your favorite pumpkin treat and “fall” in love with the romance, pumpkin spice, and everything nice of these sweet and clean novellas!

Curse of Silence: A Retelling of The Goose Girl (The Roumaterra Chronicles) by Erin Halbmaier

A princess with a magic handkerchief. A flirtatious baron’s son. The maid who turned their world upside down. As the possessor of her family’s handkerchief, Princess Daphne should be uncovering the truth behind her father’s murder. But she lacks confidence as a spy, and her mother is sending her off to a neighboring kingdom to look for a husband. It means months lost from her mission, but at least her faithful dog and best friend will be with her. Raoul has been Daphne’s best friend since they were children. But she always laughs off his attempts to confess deeper feelings, and now his father has given him an ultimatum. She’s always been out of his reach, but if Raoul can’t change her mind in the next six months, he’ll lose what little chance he had. When a kitchen maid catches Daphne alone, she steals the handkerchief and uses it to swap their appearances. The only way to undo it is for Daphne to tell someone who she is, but the curse prevents Daphne from both speaking and writing. Will Daphne find a way to free herself from the curse? Or will the maid win, leaving Daphne a mute shepherdess forever? Curse of Silence is a clean, no-spice retelling of The Goose Girl. It is part of The Roumaterra Chronicles, a series of interconnected, standalone fairy tale retellings perfect for readers of Brittany Fichter, Celeste Baxendell, and Annette K. Larsen.

Operation: Temptation (Cupid City Security Romance) by Annee Jones

💕📸💕 She hunts scandals for a living. He's the one secret she can't expose. I'm Cupid City's most notorious paparazzo, and I've just pissed off the wrong person. My apartment's trashed, someone tried to run me off Lock & Key Bridge, and there's a bullet hole in my window. Problem is, I have no idea which story triggered it—the corrupt politician, the CEO's mistress, or the mob-connected developer I exposed last month. My editor's solution? Hire me a babysitter. Dominic Knight is six-foot-three of former Marine who thinks I'm reckless, irresponsible, and in desperate need of a keeper. He's not wrong. But Valentine's week is my busiest season, and I'm not hiding while someone else gets the shots. If he wants to protect me, he'll have to keep up. The only problem? I can't stop thinking about what his handcuffs would feel like when they're not for suspects. Charlotte Collins is a nightmare assignment. She climbs balconies, hides in linen closets, and has more fake IDs than a CIA operative. She's fearless, brilliant, and completely out of control. My job is keep her alive for seven days without letting her get us both killed. But she won't listen. Won't stay put. Won't stop putting herself in danger. And every time I catch her—pressed against me in the dark, breathless and defiant, looking at me like she's daring me to do something about it—I want to pin her against the nearest wall and make her understand exactly who's in charge. She thinks this is a game. She has no idea how badly I want to show her what happens when she pushes me too far. 📖 CONTENT INFORMATION 🔥 SCORCHING forbidden bodyguard romance with guaranteed HEA! 💋 High heat with explicit D/s dynamics, handcuffs, blindfolds, and a hero who knows exactly how to make her surrender 🎭 Perfect for readers who love paparazzi heroines who take no prisoners, dominant ex-military heroes, forced proximity that ignites, and Valentine's week danger 📸 Features adrenaline-fueled desire, closet quickies, kink negotiation, power exchange, and a commitment-phobe about to discover some risks are worth taking ⚠️ Contains creative uses for tactical gear, public temptation, and a Marine who proves protection can be very, very personal 💕 The only thing more dangerous than her job is falling for the man hired to save her. **************************************************************************** In Cupid City, Valentine’s means glittering galas and dangerous secrets. Heartline Security keeps the city breathing between fireworks and threats. That is, until each protector meets the one person worth breaking protocol for. Fall in love this February where these standalones serve high heat, high stakes, and heart-melting HEAs. Guards up. Hearts open. Valentine gives love the last word.

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.

A Taste of Tea and Tenderness: A Cozy Fantasy Thumbelina Retelling (Enchanting Confections Series) by Gabrielle Landi

A pinch of fake dating, a dash of fundraiser mayhem, and a love that rises when their future is on the line. Running the Cozy Cat Café while its owner is away would have been enough work, but apprentice Linnea added another complication: catering the local school’s fundraiser. Surviving the week seems debatable…until the quiet schoolteacher she might be falling for offers to help her. Faking a relationship to avoid one of his students is only the icing on the cinnamon roll. Conrad hasn’t been able to take his eyes off Linnea since he first saw her, and the fact that she’s on her own with the cafe for a week seems like the perfect opportunity to show her how much he cares. But with more suitors vying for her hand, an encounter with a hive of bees gone wrong, and clingy students that he can’t shake, proving that he’s the man for her is turning out to be more work than he expected. Between batches of pastries and mugs of tea, can Conrad and Linnea's fake relationship rise to the occasion, or will they both end up burned? A Taste of Tea and Tenderness, a no spice fairy tale retelling of Thumbelina, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as fake dating, he falls first, and wound tending. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. Perfect for fans of whimsical fairytale romance, cozy Hallmark vibes, and sweet & swoony heroes.

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!

Once Upon A Cat: A Cozy Fantasy Frog Prince Retelling (The Galamere Chronicles) by Gabrielle Landi

A café owner, her former love, and the curse between them. Thea Greene has no time for nonsense—especially not from her overly charming landlord who delivers flowers “for the building” and thinks a smile can fix anything. She’s too busy running her business, finding an apprentice, and reminding herself that falling for Nat again is only asking for him to break her heart once more. Nathaniel Alder wants nothing more than to fix his relationship with Thea, which is difficult when she won’t talk to him. When a wand-wielding maniac turns him into a cat—whiskers, tail, and all—in front of the Cozy Cat Cafe, it’s a blessing and a curse. Being with Thea as a cat isn’t what he planned, but it's more time and attention than she gave him before. Can Nat break the curse he’s under and convince Thea that he’s worthy of her trust, or will their second chance at love turn out the same as the first? Once Upon A Cat is a Frog Prince fairytale retelling and the fourth book in the Galamere Chronicles. Each standalone book is a retelling of a beloved story or fairy tale, with the swoon-worthy sweet romance of a Hallmark movie, the wholesome and heartwarming feeling of cozy fantasy, and the comfort of a found family of friends, with a sprinkling of danger and a dash of magic.

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.

Warmed Up by her Brother's Best Friend: A Small Town Age Gap Curvy Girl Short Romance by Julia Stone

Training her body was easy. Resisting her was impossible. I’ve been in love with my brother’s best friend for two years. Which is exactly why my New Year’s resolution is to finally get over him. Lose a little weight. Gain a little confidence. Stop staring every time Cash he crashes at our place. Simple. Achievable. Easy. Thanks to my overprotective brother, Cash decides he’s the perfect person to help me “work on myself.” Morning workouts. Close proximity. Lot’s of hands-on activities. Getting over Cash was supposed to be the goal. Falling harder was never part of the plan. I’ve noticed Adelia since the day she became off-limits. She’s sweet. Curvy. Innocent in a way that makes me want to protect her from men like me. Especially from me. She’s Toby’s little sister. I don’t cross that line. Can’t. But when she asks for help learning how to catch a man’s attention, I can’t say no. Not when I know no one will ever be good enough for her. If she’s going to belong to someone, it should be a man who knows her worth. A man who wants her completely. A man like me.

Mission of the Ro'arck by Ericka Evren

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Archaria has stood for millennia. But nothing lasts forever. The Archarian Alliance is under attack. A merciless enemy has emerged with technology and weapons that rival their own. Their vendetta is destroy the Alliance. The Archarian council selects Kaytrix to command their best starship, the Ro’arck , to defend the Alliance, but there’s another reason they chose him. During the rising chaos, Kaytrix uncovers a deadly secret, one that could destroy Archaria and the Alliance before the enemy has a chance to. Kaytrix is eager to prove his worth, but can he sacrifice his morality for his dream? This novel contains scenes of violence and language not suitable for young audiences. Readers be advised.

The Death Made Prince by Lisette Marshall

A runewitch on the run has only one option left: join forces with the sarcastic, unpleasantly gorgeous necromancer she loathes The man Thraga loved is dead, and her future is in shambles. When she's sentenced to the gallows for killing her lover's murderers, it's a relief more than anything… until, the night before her execution, a necromancer is thrown into her cell. Escaping with him is her only chance to bring Lark back to life - and also the start of all her troubles. Because her new almost-ally is not just any man returned from death. Fire mage, rogue prince, and son of the man who killed her mother, sharp-tongued Durlain Averre is everything Thraga hates. Worse, he won't revive her lover unless she joins him on a mission of his own first, using her forbidden rune magic to free his sister from the dungeons of an enemy king. But their quest turns into a deadly chase when Thraga's violent past catches up with her. And as the net of court intrigue and old fears closes around them, she begins to find out Lark was not at all the man she thought he was… And neither is Durlain. The Death-Made Prince is the first book of the Runewitch Saga, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring two morally grey leads, OCD rep, and a Norse mythology-inspired world. While it is a slow burn romance, the first book does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers

Mountain Man's Winter Sunshine (Wildwood Valley Firehouse, #6) by Lilah Hart

A grumpy firefighter. A fake romance that burns real. I came to Wildwood Valley to disappear. To escape a controlling mother, an ex who wouldn’t take no for an answer, and a life that felt suffocating before I was even living it. Slipping behind the bar at a mountain town roadhouse was supposed to be temporary—just long enough to breathe again. Then he walked through the door. Not the man I was running from. The one who watched me from the corner booth every night. Silent. Intense. A grumpy firefighter with dark eyes and a permanent scowl that made my pulse trip every time they lingered on me. I told myself I didn’t notice him. I lied. When my past catches up with me at the Roadhouse, panic takes over. I need protection—fast. And the most dangerous-looking man in the room is Briggs. Six feet of muscle, bad attitude, and barely contained heat. So I climb into his lap and beg him to play along. One whispered please changes everything. He calls me his without hesitation. Puts himself between me and the world like it’s instinct. And suddenly, the man who’s been watching me for weeks isn’t pretending anymore. But I’ve spent too long being someone’s project. Someone’s sensible choice. Trust doesn’t come easy. Briggs has one night to prove that he doesn’t want to save me. He wants to keep me. Tropes: 🔥 Grumpy Firefighter Hero 🎭 Fake Relationship Turns Real 🛡️ Protective “Touch Her and Die” Energy 🍻 Small-Town Bar & Roadhouse Romance 💥 Instalove with High Emotional Stakes 👀 Brooding Hero Who’s Been Watching Her 💋 Fast-Burn Chemistry & Open-Door Heat 🏔️ Mountain Town Escape Romance 🖤 Woman on the Run Finds Safety ❤️‍🔥 Alpha Protector Who Claims Her Publicly Mountain Man's Winter Sunshine is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity firefighter romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

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?

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.

A Sea of Cinders by Adam R. Bishop

SPFBO8

In Cellagor—a land segregated between humans and Elves—fear, manipulation and war are inevitable. Nearly one hundred years have passed since the War of the Fallen, a cataclysmic battle between human and Elf which left both races teetering on the brink of extinction. Now, the Age of Tranquility is finally nearing its end, and the northern King of Havelmir is hungry for power and revenge. The Elven peace of mind remains unchanged—that is, until the Kingdom of Rhan is threatened by unknown forces. Soon it becomes clear that the tranquil Elven existence is once again at risk of crumbling. However, even with the element of surprise, the road to victory is not as smooth as it may seem. Ulterior motives are afoot, ancient magic is resurfacing, and an unlikely friendship between two young men may just pose the biggest threat of them all.

Alien Song: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #5) by Honey Phillips

A grumpy alien single dad, a fearless diver, and a bond stronger than the tide. Ariella was born to dive. Modified to withstand Cresca’s alien oceans, she’s always been at home in the deep—until the day she saves a drowning child and meets the girl’s father, a huge, brooding Vultor warrior with eyes like molten gold. Suddenly she wants more than just her isolated waters. Valrek has spent years alone on the sea cliffs, shunned by both humans and Vultor. He’s devoted himself to raising his daughter in solitude—until a human female crashes into their world like a storm tide, fearless, bright, and far too tempting. She challenges him. She tempts him. And she makes his beast want something he swore he’d never have. A mate. But Ariella’s past is surfacing—and if she doesn’t choose between her future and her heart, she could lose both. Because when a Vultor warrior loves, he doesn’t let go. Each book in the Alien Wolf Tales series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and spicy fairy tale retelling is intended for mature readers.

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.

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.

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!

Last Dragon on Mars (Dragons on Mars Book 1) by Honey Phillips

She was looking for answers. She found a legend. Dr. Alina Falkner is a scientist. She believes in data, in logic, in the cold hard rock of the Martian landscape. So when impossible energy readings lead her deep into a newly-opened cavern, she expects a geological anomaly, not the last echo of an ancient world, awakened by advanced human technology. He is dangerous. He is impossible. And he is her secret to keep. He was born in darkness. She was his first light. Born from a fusion of cyborg blood and the planet's dormant DNA, Rhyx is a newborn in a warrior's body, and the brilliant, gentle human who found him is the first thing he has ever known. Trapped together by a raging dust storm, she becomes his fierce, consuming passion. He will do anything to keep her, even though the world outside their sanctuary threatens to tear them apart. A ruthless scientist, obsessed with both Alina and her secrets, is pursuing them both. As the hunt intensifies, Alina must choose between the career she's dedicated her life to and the impossible male she's fallen for. But when you’re hiding the last dragon on Mars, the price of discovery isn't just loss—it's extinction.

Black Table by Anttimatti Pennanen

SPSFC 2022

Jon and Gus, science fiction fans from Finland with a penchant for fist bumping and pop culture references, travel to the Portland Comic Con where tragedy strikes. Their hero, Dr Wells, suffers a heart attack. With his dying breath, the doctor exhorts Jon to “find the …” as he pushes a book into Jon’s hands. Following clues inscribed in the book, Jon and Gus discover an alien structure with a mysterious Black Table which they accidently activate, transporting them to an alien world. Jumping from world to world via the Black Table galactic transportation network, Jon and Gus embark on the adventure of a lifetime where they encounter monsters, alien tech, giant vessels made of water and make new friends. But those friends are facing an unstoppable and mindless enemy. An enemy that is destroying the galaxy, and Earth is next in its path. Can two fans from Finland save the day? Black Table is a rollicking yarn of two likeable, wise-cracking friends who like nothing better than pranking each other. That is, except when they are not doing something more serious, like saving the universe. JOIN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE BLACK TABLE NETWORK!

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?

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!

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.

Runaway for the Mountain Man (Veterans of Willowbrook Ridge, #3) by Julia Stone

I live on the mountain for a reason. Out here, it’s quiet. Safe. No attachments, no risk of losing anything—again. Then she comes tearing through the woods in a storm, soaked to the bone, wedding dress ripped and clinging to her curves. Too young. Too innocent. Too tempting. I should send her away. But with the thunder rolling in and the roads washed out, she’s stuck in my cabin. With me. She ran from a man who didn’t deserve her. She ran straight into the arms of the one who will ruin her. I was supposed to marry a man who only cared about my last name. Instead, I bolted—straight into a thunderstorm, down a mountain trail I barely understand, and into the path of the grumpiest, roughest man I’ve ever seen. Bentley doesn’t smile. Doesn’t talk much either. But he watches me like I’m the only thing that’s ever made him feel something. He’s a reclusive veteran with a beard, an axe, and eyes that make promises without saying a word. I should be scared. But in this cabin—stranded with lightning outside and heat crackling between us— I’ve never felt safer… or more wanted.

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.

Her Injured Biker (Broken Heroes Love Harder Series) by Annee Jones

🩺 Whitley: The most dangerous man I've ever treated just tried to climb out his hospital window. Again. Scorch — Road Captain of the Devil's Backbone MC — took a bullet meant for his president and landed in my trauma bay looking like trouble wrapped in leather and tattoos. He's built like a weapon and absolutely done being stuck in a hospital bed while his club needs him. I know this because he tells me every single time I catch him trying to leave. He flirts. I don't flinch. He turns up the charm. I use his real name. He goes so still it should scare me — and somehow that became our game. Every escape attempt. Every slow smile. Every time he says "come on, sweetheart" and I plant myself in his doorway and cross my arms. 💀 The problem isn't that he keeps trying to escape. It's that I'm starting to want him to stay. 🔥 Steamy, fast, and impossible to put down — a standalone in the Broken Heroes Love Harder series. 🏍️ Enemies-to-lovers • Forced proximity • MC romance • Military hero • Guaranteed HEA Binge it in one sitting. 🖤 He takes bullets for his brothers. She's the only one who's ever brought him to his knees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grumpy Hearted Cowboy (Not Looking For Love Series) by Julia Stone

A brooding cowboy, an innocent heart, and heat that builds fast and fierce. Cyrus: I agreed to let her stay for the summer, offering a spare room for a few weeks, helping around the ranch while she figures out her future. What I didn’t agree to was Millie walking back into my life as a grown woman—soft smiles, curious eyes, and a body I have no business noticing. She’s my friend’s daughter. She’s younger. She’s here to learn, not to tempt the hell out of me every time she steps into my space. Living under the same roof makes distance impossible. Every shared meal, every long day working side by side chips away at my self-control. I know better. I should stop this before it starts. But wanting her feels inevitable—and once I give in, there’s no going back. Millie: Spending the summer on Cyrus Kane’s ranch is supposed to be simple. Hands-on experience. Early mornings. All while learning what kind of veterinarian I want to be. Instead, I’m sharing a house with a gruff, intimidating cowboy who barely speaks—and somehow says everything with a single look. He’s bigger than life, rough around the edges, and completely different from anyone I’ve ever wanted before. I tell myself to focus, to keep things professional. But the longer I stay, the harder it is to ignore the tension crackling between us. The way his eyes linger. The way my heart races whenever we’re alone. We’re crossing lines we shouldn’t. With the promise of leaving in the future, one push may risk everything falling apart.

Out on a Limb by Luis Paredes

"How many perverts d'ya think sucked on those toes before the police rolled in?" With that question, Out On a Limb kicks off an irreverent, foul-mouthed, and horrific urban fantasy noir series following the exploits of private occult investigators Rebecca Suarez and Peyton Marx. In this fast-paced novella that readers can devour in an afternoon, Rebecca and Peyton are stumped by their strangest case yet—a tree growing human legs. The dangling gams become the least of their concerns when nearby trees start consuming more than just carbon dioxide. Now the investigators must use their powers and the NYPD's magical tech to find the mage responsible for this heinous crime and stop a bloody disaster from creeping across the Empire State.

Snow Merry Red by Nadya Frank

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This book pulled me out of a month-long reading slump!" Facebook reviewer How do you survive the holidays when someone from your family is trying to kill you? Holidays have always been hard on Viola: the scrutiny of her family members, their comments about her parenting, her drinking, her failing career… She expects all this as she arrives to yet another Christmas dinner. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself locked in a basement of the family’s country house in Moscow exurbs without memories of how she ended up here. Clearly, someone from her family attempted to get rid of her. But who? After freeing herself, Viola is committed to find the answer. As the family members arrive into the house for the New Year’s night—Russia’s most important winter holiday—Viola knows she can’t trust anyone. She recruits a con artist Zoya Volkova to help her. Together, they untangle the web of the family’s darkest secrets, malicious lies and heartbreaking betrayals. But as the year changes and Viola’s memory returns, she and Zoya aren’t looking for the truth anymore. Now, they need to survive. This dark page-turner with unpredictable twists is perfect for fans of Laura Lippman, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Engaging and fast paced” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I never saw the twist coming!" Advance reader

Elemental: Shadows of Otherside Book 1 by Whitney Hill

Enter an urban fantasy world where elves, vampires, weres, djinn, and fae maintain a precarious balance of power in North Carolina. Welcome to Otherside. Private investigator and sylph Arden Finch is determined to come out of the shadows and practice her forbidden magic. There's just one problem: the elves have a bounty on elementals like her. When an elf hires Arden without realizing what she is, she seizes the chance to gain leverage in the dangerous world of Otherside⁠—even if it means risking exposure. But as the case grows more perilous, Arden draws the attention of the region's deadliest power players. Fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden. Content warnings: swearing, light consensual sex, physical violence, death, slurs (not toward any real racial or ethnic group/identity), threat of sexual violence.

Path Of War by David Green

The Banished have made their move, now Haltveldt answers back. Reeling from the events at Solitude, Calene Alpenwood embarks on a journey to find meaning in all that she's seen, and discover the answers she so desperately seeks. Finding herself more alone than ever, Calene is trapped between doing what's right, and doing what needs to be done. Meanwhile, Kade Besem continues his search for his son, Arlo, and the strange warrior-monk Tilo. His hunt takes him deep into Banished territory and into the jaws of danger. Revelations are revealed, ancient secrets are uncovered and those who stand in the Empire's way can't hope to win when Haltveldt walks the Path of War.

To Spy a Star (Agent Renault Adventures) by Jonathan Nevair

SPSFC 2024

Agent Renault plays cloak and dagger against her most formidable opponent yet in the second installment of this fun and fast-paced spy-fi adventure series. One star can break a galaxy. Lilline's secret agent skills are put to the test when she faces off against a ruthless and cunning expert at cards and more deadly arts besides. Her mission: retrieve a stolen asset known as the Star Eye. Aided by her eccentric agency team and armed with state-of-the-art gadgets, she races to solve a devious conspiracy and bring down her elusive foe. But a specter haunts the agency's halls, whispering secrets from its past. Allies and enemies alike wear masks in the espionage game. Lilline must decide who to trust if she hopes to take down a sinister and vengeful mastermind before a wave of terror crashes across the stars.

The Iron Crown by L L Macrae

SPFBO7 SPFBO Finalist SFFOasis

Fenn’s first and only memory is finding himself in the middle of a forest, face to face with a dragon spirit mocking him, all knowledge gone apart from his own name. Lost and confused, his only hope for answers is Calidra—a woman living on the edge of the world with her partner. Forced to return home when her father dies, Calidra has put off facing her estranged mother for seven years, and she begrudgingly helps Fenn, forging papers for him so he can avoid the Queen’s Inquisitors. But her mother is the least of her worries when they discover an ancient enemy is rising again. It should be impossible with the Iron Crown in power—and Fenn is terrified he might unwittingly be playing a part in the war’s resurgence. Surrounded by vengeful spirits and powerful magic, Fenn’s desperate attempt to find his way home might well alter the fate of Tassar, and every power in it. A new high fantasy series bursts into life with the DRAGON SPIRITS who reign supreme in the magic-drenched world of Tassar. THE IRON CROWN is the first novel in this brand new trilogy and will be available in May 2021.

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.

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.

The Orc's Captive Bride (The Five Kingdoms #5) by Honey Phillips

The Five Kingdoms are poised to fall into eternal darkness. All hope lies in a forgotten prophecy—and a woman from another world. Dr. Thea Monroe knows nothing of prophecies. She only knows she's been transported to a strange new world, kidnapped by a terrifying orc warrior, and is being dragged toward the heart of an enemy's empire. Her only chance at survival is to outwit her captor, a male taught to be a monster. But his reluctant care and fierce protection tempt her to believe he could be so much more. Khorrek was bred for one to obey. But his beautiful new captive, a brilliant woman with fire in her eyes, challenges his every command and sees through the lies that have defined his existence. He was sent to deliver the final piece of his master's puzzle, but Thea may be the one person who can help him destroy it. In the final battle for the future of the Five Kingdoms, a monster must become a hero, a captive must become a queen, and two souls from different worlds will have to risk everything for a love that could save them all… Although each book in the Five Kingdoms series can be read as a standalone romance, there is an overall series arc which concludes in this book. This sweet and steamy 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.