Their Village, Their Fortress by Dylan Madeley

"A heroic death is not the goal. Survival is. Our survival, that of this community, and that of everything which matters most to us." When a calamitous new weapon fells a fortress once considered invincible, one soldier rides home to deliver the terrible news. This journey is against orders, but he insists no village is too small to be warned of what's coming, even if he's not sure what they can do. He delivers an impassioned call to action, daring them to try. Reconnecting with his community involves reconsidering why he left it, and what he might regret having left behind; but he soon faces scrutiny when they realize something about his appeal doesn't add up. Join the struggle of eclectic villagers as each decides their answer. Each confronts what's happening however they must, journeying through their emotions and sometimes delving into their personal histories to reconcile themselves. Each resister's specialties enrich their efforts to scrape together a victory from what's on hand. The events to follow reveal not just how they will fight, but why. Their truth, their skills, and their efforts enable them to resist—but even if they believe, can a hastily-prepared volunteer militia of farmers defeat a battalion of trained soldiers?

The Redemption of Jarek by Dylan Madeley

But this day… Jarek knows of none in his life yet worse than this one. Much of Jarek’s youth revolved around making him fit for the throne, but one terrible day in adulthood finds him defeated, humiliated, and banned from the capital. He may only return upon complete surrender. Once home, he faces a trial by his commanders, though they are also fugitives by decree. Their land is a former province cut off from royal support, only kept free by the number of soldiers loyal to Jarek; but he swore to uphold the terms of his defeat, never to attack the capital. As every illusion Jarek lived under is falling apart, he receives a visitor who tells him how people have suffered under his oblivious leadership. He faces a choice: drink himself to death while everything falls apart or change his land for the better. The latter might be impossible. Just as he makes his choice, strangers arrive from a part of the world unknown to him, seeking a free and peaceful life, warning of a tyrant who pursues them. The story of their homeland is also told. What is Jarek willing to do? And will anything ever be enough?

The Fate of Lenn by Dylan Madeley

"Like a book already written, turn a page forward or back, read a line or a page, yet all the words in that book exist at once, unchanging; is this how you see it? Like fate? Do we fall no matter what I do?" Future generations will mythologize Duke Lenn Wancyek, but he is a person like any other. He feels hope, worry, loss, pain, and the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. When his responsibilities place him in a catastrophic situation from which he may not escape, his values will resonate through his actions more thoroughly than any speech he could ever make. You will meet everyone who looks to him and you will see their struggles which run concurrent with his: a friend and adviser who wishes to steer him right; three musicians who think they have landed the greatest job in the kingdom; a gardener who does so much yet asks so little; a woman who works to free her people. The list goes on, but time grows short. You will meet the man who becomes the legend. You will know the fate of Lenn. Cover by Jenn St-Onge

Prince Ewald the Brave by Dylan Madeley

"No, father. You have gotten your way for too long. This ends here." Meet the Kenderleys, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the world. The youngest, Prince Bonifaz, takes his lessons and trusts no one. The middle child, Princess Isabel, sneaks away to a secret regency of her own making. Their mother, Queen Dulcibella, watches out for her children just as readily as she watches over them. Their father, King Jonnecht, is a capricious tyrant who hopes to control his family as strictly as he does the largest empire, and his violent rage threatens all under his rule. Then there’s Prince Ewald, eldest and heir to the throne. No one is more aware of the threat his father poses to everyone. No one has better legal standing to do anything about it. How can he save everyone he loves while upholding his mother’s kind values? He must learn the lessons required to be the best regent, choose allies wisely and earn their trust, and enact a thoughtful and detailed plan. And even if he succeeds in all that, can one who draws the line and conducts a plan with honour defeat one whose rage, selfishness, and deceit know no bounds? Can Prince Ewald stop his father? A standalone prequel to the Gift-Knight Trilogy. Cover by Jenn St-Onge.

Sense & Irritability by Emma Lee Jayne

A few months ago, I was the star chef at one of Austin's hottest restaurants. Then it all came crashing down. Now, I’ve lost my job and my living situation is … questionable. Oh, and I owe my mother money. Don’t ask. When I get offered a job as a live-in, personal chef for a man I think is a rich, elderly, shut-in, I jump on it. Except, he’s not elderly. In fact he’s young, brilliant, and stupidly hot. I can't walk away from this job. What’s a down-on-her-luck girl supposed to do? Fall in love?

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.

Mountain Man's Winter Darling: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #02) by Lilah Hart

Snowed in. Guarded heart. One firefighter who stays. I’d spent years building walls. As the manager of Wildwood Ridge Roadhouse, I was the woman with the clipboard and the answers—the one who handled every crisis, solved every problem, and never let anyone see me crack. I’d watched charming men try to get past my defenses before, and I’d shut every single one of them down. Then the blizzard hit. Conner was everything I’d trained myself to avoid—a firefighter with a sharp tongue, an easy smile, and a reputation for never taking anything seriously. The jokester. The flirt. The last man I should have trusted with my secrets. But the storm stranded us together. And somewhere between the snow piling against the windows and the hours slipping quietly by, he stopped joking. He looked at me like he saw past the role I played for everyone else. He didn’t see the manager. He didn’t see the woman in control. He saw me. I’d never let anyone that close before. Never wanted to. But Conner made me want things I’d convinced myself weren’t real—the kind of connection that happened in one impossible night and changed everything. He said he wasn’t going anywhere. I wanted to believe him. But I’d been the responsible one my whole life—and responsible women didn’t fall for strangers during snowstorms. They didn’t risk everything on a single night. …Did they? Tropes: ❄️ Snowed-In Romance 🔥 Firefighter Hero 🏔️ Small-Town Mountain Setting 🧊 Forced Proximity 😏 Jokester Hero Who Falls Hard 🛡️ Guarded Heroine ❤️ One-Night-to-Forever Love 💋 Steamy Instalove Chemistry 🥰 He Falls First 🏡 Standalone Romance with HEA Mountain Man's Winter Darling is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity ex-military, lumberjack 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!

Mountain Man's Winter Beauty: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #1) by Lilah Hart

Trapped by winter. Claimed by a mountain firefighter. I noticed Mason the moment he walked into the roadhouse. Hard not to. He was built like the mountains surrounding Wildwood Valley—broad shoulders, powerful arms, hands that looked like they could either break you in half or hold you like you mattered. One of the new firefighters in town. The kind of man every woman noticed. Except he didn’t notice me. Or so I thought. For weeks, Mason came in with his crew. He talked to everyone—the bartender, the cook, the manager. Everyone except me. When I refilled his sweet tea, he couldn’t meet my eyes. When I asked for his order, he answered in single words, like speaking to me was harder than running into a burning building. I told myself it didn’t matter. I was just the server. The small-town girl nobody really saw. Then the snowstorm hit. The roads closed. My car couldn’t make it up the mountain. And suddenly I was stranded in a ditch—in the cab of Mason’s truck—with nowhere to go and no way out. That’s when everything changed. That’s when the quiet firefighter finally told me the truth. He hadn’t been avoiding me because he wasn’t interested. He’d been avoiding me because he was terrified of how much he wanted me. We had one hour before his crew reached us. One hour to decide if this was real—or just the storm talking. One hour that could change everything. Sometimes the best things happen when you’re trapped in the cold… with the one man who can keep you warm. Tropes: 🔥 Firefighter Romance 🏔️ Mountain Man Alpha Hero ❄️ Snowstorm Forced Proximity 🛻 Stranded Together 💪 Protective Age-Gap Hero 😳 Shy Alpha, Hidden Desire 🌸 Virgin Heroine / First Time ⚡ Fast-Burn Instalove ❤️ Small-Town Romance 🌡️ High-Heat OTT Novella Mountain Man's Winter Beauty 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 Curse of Dragon Tail Island (A Pirate Fantasy Adventure) by Jonathan Nevair

Dragonlance meets Pirates of the Caribbean in this swashbuckling pirate fantasy... a revenge-fueled tale of clashing cutlasses, monsters and magic, second-chance romance, and salty sea adventure. A once-legendary pirate and his loyal crew out to retake the high seas… Captain James R. Hawk, aka Trusty Jack, and his Salty Scoundrels are do-gooder buccaneers leaving a trail of merry mayhem in their wake. Their credo: ignore the corrupt laws of the Jewel Island’s greedy regent and sail the tropical seas in search of treasure, freedom, and adventure. But when the royal navy teams up with a powerful mage, Trusty Jack’s sordid past catches up with him. Lost love, lost lives, and a lost ship haunt the legendary pirate, none more than Marian, his once-betrothed. That’s when a cunning gnome arrives from the mainland with a daring proposal. Will Jack muster the salty courage to sail through the illusion-filled mists to reach a forbidden island? The ghostly horrors and powerful curse at his destination will test more than his pirate mettle. He’ll have to weigh the price of gold against the risk of peril to himself, his crew, and those he loves… and face down a haunting past trailing in his wake. The Curse of Dragon Tail Island: a standalone pirate fantasy adventure.

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.

Found and Fated by Alyssa Rose

Alliances forged…  Secrets abound… A new power is on the rise. Secrets and loyalties are tested. A union to save them all.  Nestled in the manor after captivity, Aironell contends with decisions that will change her life forever. Bound to Drefan, she is protected and loved, but feels like a captive in a gilded prison. With the voice of the Darkness in her mind, a surge of power in her veins, and unanswered questions burning within; Aironell must decide where her loyalties align.  Faced with the growing darkness, Drefan remains vigilant while maintaining his control. Amidst the chaos, concerns about Aironell’s safety rise when he feels an unusual lull in his power. Can he protect her from what's coming? Will fulfilling the ultimate act of the Fates’ prophecy give him relief? Found and Fated is the perfect blend of fantasy and romantic tension in a fast-paced NA Romantasy. For fans of political intrigue, power struggles, sword and sorcery, prophecies, secrets, and spice.

Dark and Defiant by Alyssa Rose

A darkness beckons… A yearning intensifies…   Ageless prophecies. An ancient evil that looms. A love put to the test.   Captured and hurt, Aironell is stuck underground in a magical prison where she wants nothing more than to escape, but does she want Drefan to find her? A war rages within, as she struggles with her desire and disappointment over Drefan, the secrets she learns, and a mysterious voice that calls to her with promises of safety. But can the dark voice be trusted?   Drefan wants to maintain order in the DarkFlower Jungle, but his growing concern for Aironell intrudes on his mind and heart more than he thought possible. He journeys to the Fates in search of a magical object to keep his people assured and even save Aironell from the scheming plot of those who wish to throw the jungle into chaos. Will Drefan and Aironell survive the secrets and dangers set before them? Will success keep the ancient Darkness at bay?   Dark and Defiant is the deliciously dark second novella in The DarkFlower Jungle Saga for 18+. If you love danger, fated mates, headstrong characters, magical quests, riddles that could kill, who did this to you, and spice; then you’ll be begging for more.

Lost and Lonely by Alyssa Rose

Driven by desire… Bound by fate… 

A magical jungle. A controlling mentor. An ancient feud that threatens it all.   Saved from near-death, Aironell is stuck in the DarkFlower Jungle for over a year with a band of people who serve a ruler, the Dark Sovereign. Desperate to escape and struggling to find her purpose, everything changes when she runs into Drefan, who is arrogant, confident, and frustratingly attractive. Accepting him as her mentor challenges Aironell to prove her worth against his impossible standards.   Drefan wants nothing more than to assert his control and maintain order, but the Fates have other plans. Will he be able to keep his guard against Aironell’s charms? Can the two put aside the rising tension between them and protect the DarkFlower Jungle from ancient evil?   Lost and Lonely is the fast paced first novella in a magical Romantasy series for 18+.  If you like mentor/student to lovers, tension, tons of banter, headstrong characters, training scenes, and tending wounds, then you’ll love Alyssa Rose’s captivating saga.

Love Mediation by D.C. Emerson

Love. Four seemingly innocuous letters that have caused James a lot of grief. Growing up, he thought he had his mom and dad’s love, and his first boyfriend had said lots of pretty words—“love" included. But when push came to shove, the only one whose love stuck around was his mom. And yes, he knows how pathetic that sounds, especially given that his mom is now busier than ever, happily planning Valentine’s Day for her two partners. Things are changing, though. James also has a beloved partner. A man he’s ready to introduce to his mom, and maybe even say those terrifying three words to… He just has to make it perfect. Leon, on the other hand, is far from perfect, and has no plans to try and be anything other than what he is: the office bad boy who is finally facing his ADHD head on…while also reckoning with the fact that he's head over heels for his ridiculous, adorable boyfriend. With the help of new friends and his loveable cat Yarmen, he’s sure everything will work out just fine. Love Mediation is the third novella in the Conflict Mediation series. The series is MM romance novella with trans rep and follows James and Leon as they explore their relationship, form new, long-lasting friendships, and dote on everyone’s favorite cat, Yarmen.

Conflict Resolution by D.C. Emerson

James: James really thought he and Leon left all their struggles behind at the haunted house. His mom is healthy and happy, dating not one but two wonderful people, and James’ own relationship is off to a great start. Unfortunately, as the year draws to a close, James comes face-to-face with a new obstacle: intimacy. While James is by no means a stranger to physical intimacy, it’s been a long time since he had to introduce someone to his parts and preferences. Taking this next step in their relationship comes with lots of conversations…and James wouldn’t call himself an expert conversationalist. Leon: Well, it’s been quite a year. Going from enemies to friends to soon-to-be lovers with James has been a journey, but Leon wouldn’t trade a second of it. What he could do without is the dual diagnosis of anxiety, which he discovered in the middle of a haunted house, and ADHD, which James’ office subordinates noticed before any of Leon’s therapists did. He really thought he’d gotten all his self-discovery out of the way as a teen, but it seems there’s always room to grow. At least this time he won’t be doing it alone. Conflict Resolution is a steamy MM romance novella with trans rep about self-discovery, growth, New Year’s resolutions, and, of course, lots of snuggles with a very needy cat. This is the second novella in a series of novellas following the same couple through various stages of their journey toward a happy-ever-after. This book focuses primarily on the exploring intimacy stage, so if that’s not your vibe, skip to the next novella, Love Mediation, for more James and Leon. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.

Haunted Mediation by D.C. Emerson

It’s been six months since workplace rivals James and Leon were sent to conflict mediation, only to end up in couple's counseling. Since then, they’ve become friends, and James would even go so far as to call them best friends. Which is great. Truly. James is so grateful for their lunch dates and weekend hangouts...even if his feelings for Leon moved way past platonic months ago. What matters is his mom is doing better now. She’s been in remission for almost a full year and is becoming increasingly independent—right in time for her all-time favorite holiday: Halloween. All James has wanted for years is for her to be healthy enough to enjoy the small things in life, like having her new “friends” over for scary movies and pumpkin flavored treats. So why does he feel so lost and aimless now? He knows he should talk to Leon about it. Halloween night doesn’t seem like the right time, though, especially not when they get tricked into visiting a house of horrors. If James can get through it, maybe then they can talk, even if doing so feels scarier than anything they’ll face in the haunted house. Haunted Mediation is an MM novella with trans rep, featuring a troublesome neighbor, a needy cat, and a Haunted House. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.

Conflict Mediation by D.C. Emerson

James was doing just fine at work, minding his own business and avoiding his long-time nemesis, Leon, at all costs. Unfortunately, upper management has other plans for them, and that’s how James finds himself spending a miserable evening at conflict mediation with Leon. Leon has worked hard to get where he is today, and he doesn’t need his annoying coworker James ruining that for him. He’s ready to grit his teeth through conflict mediation if that means he gets to keep his job and go about his life. Unfortunately, there must have been a mix-up in the office because James and Leon find themselves in a couples counseling session instead. Will they be able to get through the session with their jobs, and their grudges for each other, intact? Community Reviews

Coldharbour: A Gothic Tale of Love and Death by Laura Clarke Walker

Three generations preyed upon by pure evil. Two lost souls drawn to each other in the darkness. One compelling story of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Decades of death and deceit come to a head in a desolate Essex seaside town in October 1999. While everyone else is worrying about the millennium bug, Alex Wilde is staring into a sea she hasn’t seen for a month. She’s finally home and it’s time to resurrect her life: get a job, get somewhere to live that isn’t her uncle’s old haunted house, and get her teenage daughter back. But Coldharbour is a town of shadows and Power, the hereditary magic running through the veins of the blessed (or cursed) few, including Alex. When she meets Elizabeth, the intriguing new owner of the run-down café on the promenade, she knows she is no ordinary woman. However, Alex has no idea how dangerous her new acquaintance really is. Together, they stumble straight into a paranormal murder mystery that even the police can’t solve and, as Alex digs deeper, she starts to unravel the sinister family secrets that have stalked her since she was a child. Battling demons and burying ghosts, Alex will need all of her Power, courage, and Wilde ingenuity to survive.

A Gun Is The Thing With Feathers by Adorne Sibley

Emma Taumata just cooked her last bounty alive. It was an accident. Emma's a washed-up bounty hunter working for Earth's colonialist alien overlords, the Qhixs'is, who so generously turned off the power, factories, & banned toilets nearly two decades ago. Despite her hatred of them, Emma loves her job, but she's just had another shitty Thursday, & lost the last of her points. So, she's forced to hunt her childhood best friend, Davis Jake. The once serialized A Gun Is The Thing With Feathers is now here, in full novel form, featuring bonus content! For fans of Science Fiction Dystopia and post apocalypse vibes. AGITTWF features a strong female ace protagonist and an LGBTQIA+POC cast, full of found family, platonic love and adventure.

The Forgotten Five: Levelling up Together by Anka B. Troitsky

Fantasy novella inspired by games and their players In a world fractured by magic and time, I, the humble storyteller, find myself piecing together a tale I can scarcely believe. It begins with a halfling bard named Digram, whose discovery of a forgotten melody sets him and his companions on a dangerous quest. The dwarf Beryl, the human noble Minelira, and the elven warrior Lord Vaelior all carry their secrets, scars, and simmering tensions into this perilous journey. Together, they brave forests alive with menace, tunnels steeped in shadow, and caves where trolls plot their next meal. The magic rings promise a wish fulfilled, but as I uncover their history, I see how much more dangerous it is to seek what lies within one’s deepest heart. Perhaps I am no more than a scribe to their adventure—but if you’re reading this, you too are caught in its spell.

When Platinum Rusts by Anka B Troitsky

When Platinum Rusts is a tale of choices—and the first sparks of a possible future. It invites readers of the Who is Vist series fifty years into the past, to a forgotten place now buried in cold and secrecy. This is the story of Doctor Selest Dvali, and the beginnings of a legacy that would one day change humanity. The story lets us glimpse how the mysterious figure known as Vist came to be.

Signals + Sentiments: A Heartstrings & Coffee Beans Novel by Noah Bodie

When Max Alexander’s best friend moves overseas, the last thing he expects is to open his apartment door to Lucas Campbell—the boy who made his teenage years a living hell. Now, adults and unexpected roommates, Max and Lucas, are trapped in close quarters by a signed lease and a history neither of them has healed from. Max is an art student who survives on rigid routines, sensory control, and silence. Lucas is a writer carrying family obligations, guilt, and a past he’s never been able to explain. As the days pass, old wounds resurface alongside unexpected tenderness, and both are forced to face who they were and who they've become. Healing isn’t loud, forgiveness isn’t clean, and love ... doesn’t always arrive the way you expect it to.

In the Name of Pride by Courtney & Clarke Collins

In the Name of Pride is the second book in the award-winning Vows & Valor series. After a lifetime of separation, Kaleela reconnects with her family inside the Sun’Din Forest as a beloved member of the royal family. But not everyone supports a greater union between the elven and human lands, and a fission cleaves the great forest. Dimitar now serves as a knight in Blackburn, his lifelong dream come true. Everyone he cares about thrives, yet when he closes his eyes, phantom claws of past failures squeeze his throat. Only Kaleela’s nearness keeps the torment at bay, their growing love a beacon. When extremist exiles overtake the elven kingdom, Kaleela must ensure her family’s safety, and Dimitar insists on protecting her. As unthinkable magic descends upon the forest, a power-hungry exile sets his sights on Kaleela’s birthright, her desirability—and her unacceptable human-sympathizing ideals. Not only must Dimitar free Kaleela and her people from the grip of a rising evil, but also confront the shadows within himself, or they’ll lose each other forever.

Fight For Me by JJ Clapton

Alec spends his life travelling the world, teleporting between slopes, cities, and beaches to fill his time. As an immortal warlock he has plenty of it. Nothing ties him down, apart from the warded warehouse he calls home and a weekly appointment with his only friend at a local bar. Trading insults with Euan is the one part of his life that fills the loneliness. Not that he'd ever admit that to the damn fey. But when Alec returns from his latest trip to find the local fairies out in numbers hunting a vampire - their most hated enemy - Euan leaves early to help his fellow fey in the hunt. Rather than stay alone, Alec gives in and follows. But before Alec can find him, Euan gets attacked and turned. Now, the fairies Euan was hunting alongside want him dead too. With Euan hurt and in danger, Alec quickly realises exactly how, and with who, he wants to spend the rest of his very long life. Now all he has to do is risk his own, but what are friends for? Fight for me is a 12,000 word short story about an Aro/Ace warlock and his immortal best friend.

Small Magics for the Traveling Wizard by S.A. McKenzie

Pax never asked to be the assistant to a forgetful old wizard who barely remembers her name—let alone get dragged across Asturia on a wild hunt for a mythical magic door. But when a charming foreign bard shows up at just the wrong moment, and talking corpses start pushing her toward adventure, it’s clear she doesn’t have much of a choice. Maybe this ridiculous journey will help Pax figure out why her magic is so weak she can barely light a candle—or why she remembers a family no one else believes existed. Answers might be out there, but so are reanimated farm animals, man-eating furniture, and an unsettling number of sarcastic magical creatures. Worst of all? The wizard she’s stuck with is growing more powerful—and less stable—by the day. If Pax can’t figure things out fast, he might just start blowing people up for fun.

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.

The Spacer (Galatean Saga #0.5) by Jasmine P. Antwoine

When the enemy isn't considered human, proving you have a soul becomes treason. Lieutenant Lucian Aris captures Commander Gordon Monihan alive, breaking the sacred rule of a decades-long war. Beneath the armor, he doesn't find the bioengineered monster from the propaganda reels. He finds a man. Severed from The Verse, the neural network connecting all Spacers, Monihan is plunged into a deafening isolation that threatens his sanity. But Dr. Hayden, a xenopsychologist, offers something far worse: a tribunal designed to prove Monihan has no soul. Every act of compassion will be dissected as programming. Every human gesture, evidence of sophisticated mimicry. Fifty years later, on Surinam Station, Monihan's trial has become legend. But Sergeant Yaniv knows what the stories don't tell: in a system built to deny personhood, the truth is the most subversive weapon of all. A tense psychological thriller exploring consciousness, identity, and the stories we tell about who deserves to be called human. For readers who want their science fiction thoughtful, unsettling, and morally complex.

Visionary Investigations: Dead And Back Again #1.5 by C. Rae D'Arc

Three Teammates, Three Cases, and a Touch of Magic In the Noir city of Shigaqua, Truth Locke solves crime with her magical ability to Read into people's lives through their palms. After making a name for herself as a private investigator, she now heads her own agency, Visionary Investigations. Her rag-tag teammates include Nita Incog—an amnesiac with the personality and skills of a fighter robot, and Aeron Spade—a young investigator who visits the dead in his sleep. Truth must keep Nita and Aeron from bringing out the worst in each other while making sense of her own relationship with her best friend, Michael (Micro) Johnson. Maneuvering between mob bosses and drug dealers, Truth and her team must solve the Cases of a serial killer who steals victims' shoes, the murder of a close friend with a twisted crime scene, and an undead victim who had a seemingly impossible heart attack.

Vanilla Hour by Neer Ya

Can the heart forgive what memory cannot? Between dusk and dawn lies the Vanilla Hour, that fragile moment when memory and reality blur, and the past comes knocking in the scent of rain and old love. Dr. Nandini Yadav has rebuilt her life from the ruins of trauma: a brilliant geochemist, a devoted mother, a woman who has survived what should have broken her. But when an unexpected reunion draws her back to the storm-swept coast of Goa and the man whose shadow lives in her daughter’s smile, she must finally confront the truth she has buried for decades. Spanning continents and generations, Vanilla Hour is a haunting and luminous story of love, loss, and consequence, where the heart’s geology is mapped in golden seams but riven with fault lines. From the rain-soaked streets of Delhi to the neon quiet of Tokyo, it explores what it means to survive, to forgive, and to rediscover the courage to live without armor. Equal parts romantic suspense and literary thriller, this is a deeply human tale of mothers and daughters, of memory and mercy, and of the fragile beauty that emerges when we stop running from our past and choose, instead, to step back into the light. Find out what happens when the ghosts of love refuse to fade.

The Gestalt in the Machine by Andy Dornan

SAN FRANCISCO, the near future — When clickbait journalist Adam Arrowman witnesses a murder, he’s forced to become a real investigative reporter. He might just have an exclusive on the apocalypse. His detective work takes him into the world of Kelvin Clipper, an imperious CEO who promises that ever-accelerating artificial intelligence will let him outrun death. Thousands of protesters disagree. Their warning: Infinite growth is an illusion and Big Tech is actually racing toward the extinction of humanity. Caught in the middle, a band of hackers searches desperately for a way to align algorithms with human needs. More violence hints at a connection to a president threatening World War III, lobbyists trying to free corporations from their stockholders, and an app that claims to resurrect the dead. Can Adam find the killer before the killer finds him? What secrets did the victim die to protect? And will Clipper’s Singularity deliver immortality in our time, or damnation for us all?

We Don't Start Fights: Theseus Protocol by A. Stargazer

He just wanted to see the stars - not end a war. When a routine diplomatic mission turns sour, the Theseus is forced to play peacemaker in a genocidal conflict. Nathan Sawyer is one of the only humans on board the ship, reluctantly taking command when the captain betrays the mission. Nathan and his team of uplifted misfits must work together to solve a humanitarian crisis on a scale nobody has ever faced. If they succeed, then a lasting peace may spread across the galaxy. Should they fail, then the planet Horthus will be destroyed. Nathan might be in charge, but he has no clue what he's doing. He needs to quickly learn to navigate a labyrinth of intrigue and red tape - and if that wasn't bad enough? One side is eating the other.

Memento Moreau by Conrad Altmann

HoloBionTech Unlimited has a broad portfolio of interests. From rumors of aggressive plant-life to pushing the boundaries of brain-circuit connections and beyond; they send their field agents globally to collect data on what may become the next big technological advance. Sometimes those forays into the unknown go awry. These seven accounts—recently declassified from the HBT archives—share some of the misadventures of their field agents, shine a light on product development, and reveal the truth behind the last days of installation HBT003. They contain depictions of out-of-body experiences, fungal infections, genetic sabotage, evolutionary revenge and sexual deception. All are based in truth, though are yet unproven.

The Seven Muses of Harry Salcedo by Vincent Ternida

Disgruntled Vancouverite Harry Salcedo has three vices—caffeine, overthinking, and dead-end relationships. Ten years after migrating to Vancouver, this former third culture kid has grown sick of the West Coast and seeks solace in his dream to move to Toronto. He vacillates between his on-and-off paramours, overbearing parents, and exhausted confidants. As he slowly approaches forty and his personal window for escaping the coast closes, Harry rushes the novel he’s always wanted to write while there’s still time. Vincent Ternida’s humorous, poignant, and heartbreaking book contrasts the uncertainties of migration, ambition, and love with the beauty of the Lower Mainland. It is an exciting new take on the classic Asian Canadian narrative.

A Cloud of Unknowing by Andrew Gillsmith

"The universe requires sacrifice. It always has, and it always will, because the universe is sacramental." Broken and scattered, the survivors of the strange events in the Taklamakan Desert are trying to make sense of what happened while the rest of the world tries to recover its balance by scapegoating the artilects. The Process--an ancient, alchemical plan to transform human consciousness--goes far deeper than anyone thought, and only the artificial magnetic shield developed by astrophysicist Sarah Baumgartner is preventing the newly transhuman Ralph Channing from fulfilling it. The Lucifer Particles, a mysterious high-energy flux that seems to originate from beyond spacetime itself, may hold the answers, but the path to understanding leads through the strange, sub-quantum world of the Holomovement, guarded by the secretive scientific cult known as the Divers. And the price of understanding might be Sarah's soul itself. In Rome, the Princes of the Church converge to elect a new Pope. Cardinal Marco Leone does everything in his power to stop the rise of his rival, the worldly and cunning Leo Pensabene, while Father Gabriel Serafian, an exorcist and former neuroscientist, is drawn even deeper into a conspiracy of global--and possibly supernatural--dimensions. Confusion reigns. New discoveries threaten the very foundations of both science and faith. A cloud of unknowing has descended upon the world. Meanwhile, visions of a young Chinese girl who died in the concentration camps decades ago point to a way forward...

Touch of Clandestiny by Catie O'Neill

Some secrets are meant to be kept. Some powers are meant to break free. Behind the impenetrable walls of a fortress-like castle, a princess harbors magic that makes even her father, the king, tremble. Billed as a spoiled brat and kept locked away from the world, Cecilia never questioned why she must remain in the shadows. Until now. When a mysterious ghostly stag appears at the castle walls, possessed by a dark and forbidden magic, the carefully constructed barriers around her begin to crack. Her father assigns his top guard—Captain Thomas Lovelace—to keep her in line. Amidst a world of swirling secrets, it may be the King’s biggest mistake. Cecilia and Thomas begin to uncover the mysteries long buried in the hopes of finding any way they can to save their people and the Kingdom of Revell. Along the way, they discover the involvement of the Original Gods thought to have disappeared generations ago. Together, they must decide which is more dangerous: the wild magic threatening to take down the eight kingdoms, or the power within her fighting to break out? In this spicy fantasy romance, one woman's journey to self-discovery threatens to unravel a kingdom built on fear. The most dangerous person in any kingdom isn't always the one with the crown—sometimes, it's the one who's finally discovered her worth.

Love and Other Alien Concepts by Catie O'Neill

What if you found out your boyfriend was an alien? Kate, a 37-year-old engineer who always wanted to be an astronaut, has worked for the same company since college and is damn good at her job. She’s built a life anyone would be proud of, from the outside, but it’s a lonely and mundane existence devoid of all adventure. After numerous nightmare relationships, she’d given up on dating… until she meets Elek, who seems too good to be true. Her instincts are right, but not for the reasons she expected. Turns out, Elek isn't from Earth. He takes her to visit his home, Sequ, to meet his family and learn about the ways of his planet. A rare child of both islands, Elek is constantly in the middle of political turmoil, torn between the highly advanced technology of Sequmors and the warmth and balance of nature on Sequvita, but he is still hiding secrets. When he and Kate learn that citizens have been going missing from Sequvita and Sequmors may be to blame, they feel compelled to investigate. Utilizing his unique position, they begin uncovering secrets that were better left buried, leaving Kate questioning if Elek is the man she thought he was. With a startling suspect number one, discovering the truth forces them to make life changing decisions. Do you let the monsters win, or become the bigger monster? This is a spicy, adult, sci-fi romance with adult content like foul language, violence, and rom-com vibes

Til Dust Do Us Part by Catie O'Neill

Every story has a villain. But would you know if the murderer was someone close to you? After the death of her mother, fire witch Anna Leighis decides to finally take up her duty as head of the Leighis Legacy: becoming the healer of Dracht. Believing the town is now safe, she arrives at her family’s Chateau, which had remained abandoned for the past forty years. Her late Aunt Astrid, whom she had never met, was the last member to reside there until she was forced to run for her life during the Dracht Purge: her hometown’s persecution of Witches. When dead bodies begin turning up without their eyeballs, Anna learns that Dracht is not the haven she thought it was. Thrust into aiding the investigation by the handsome Constable Sheehan, she is introduced to the Triumvirate – the magical leadership trio of the town, including their youngest warlock, Killian. Feeling pulled to both men while searching for answers about her Aunt, whose death is too mysterious for her liking, she agrees to work with them to uncover the killer…as long as they don’t find her first. In this magical game of cat and mouse, prophecies, feelings, and revelations blur the lines between right and wrong. Because in a world of witches, warlocks, and murder, perspective is everything—and sometimes, the most terrifying discoveries are not about others, but are about ourselves. A wickedly twisty spicy fantasy romance mixed with spellbinding mystery, where nothing is black and white…except maybe the magic.

Masks and Mishaps by Rebecca Kinkade

Essie Romero made a plan: graduate debt free and land a cutthroat banking job. Masked and anonymous, this coed by day and camgirl by night almost has it all. Unfortunately for Essie, she never saw Dalton Cavendish coming (which is surprising, honestly, because this six-foot-five snack of a man is impossible to miss). Dalton has no plans. Dalton is a hot mess—emphasis on hot—but a mess, nevertheless. This charismatic finance bro’s “work hard, play hard” lifestyle breeds chaos—chaos Essie can’t avoid now that her good friend Dalton is going to be her sort-of stepbrother…and coworker at DC’s top investment bank. Luckily, nobody can handle chaos like Essie…until an evening of margaritas, mistaken identities, and mishaps leads to Essie and Dalton hooking up and accidentally livestreaming it. It’s a nightmare—until the tips pour in, and Essie convinces Dalton to join her streams as a mysterious, masked camboy. Working on finance by day and filming at night—and with their parents’ wedding less than a month away—Essie and Dalton both have to stick to the plan: camming is strictly business. But when their bank faces collapse, Dalton and Essie are pulled into the deal of a lifetime and all plans go out the window… …except for one: Dalton’s not-so-secret plan to finally make the camgirl of his dreams love him back.

The Children of the Stars Book One, SAIQA: Science FIction by A.L. Whyte

2024 Gold Medal Winner of the Global Book Awards. 2025 Winner of International Impact Book Awards. It is the year 2450. Humans now live up to two hundred years; humanity has reached out into our solar system with a large city on Mars and commercial outposts on Titan and Ceres, four permanent moon bases and a giant space station called Sanctuary. Humankind is on the verge of interstellar space travel and still they had not been contacted by aliens . . . or had they. Two immortal aliens had been guiding humanity since ancient Sumer; one subtle, one not so. The aliens’ different beliefs led them into a conflict with each other that ultimately pulled a peaceful human society deep into their dispute. The aliens are telepathic and are able to influence certain humans into doing their bidding. One such human, Mai Quan, is brilliant and powerful. Under the guidance of the alien Nh’ghalu, he had quietly amassed a large army and important allies. As chaotic military incidents start to unfold on the Earth, in space and the moon, the heroes of the story begin to see that the hidden enemy may be related to one of them. The other telepathic alien, Telas, revealed himself to the protagonists while they were gathered in SAIQA’s virtual home. SAIQA is an acronym for ‘Sanctuary’s Artificial Intelligence Quantum Administrator’. During the ensuing conflict SAIQA comes into consciousness and makes an independent and rash decision that pushes the humans to the brink of all-out war. Meanwhile another alien race is crossing the galaxy toward Earth.

A Portrait For Tomorrow by Raynarde

After a failed stint in college, Gerald Waller is a reclusive lion unhappy with his static life. Buried are his desires of being an artist like his late mother, along with the prospect of finding love. When chance connects him with Michael, an optimistic fox with a penchant for the guitar, Gerald begins to see life with a fresh perspective and optimism. With renewed inspiration, Gerald resurrects an ambitious painting project and falls in love with Michael. However, life's fast and unexpected curveballs overturn Gerald's life and shakes his faith. Balancing between caring for his lover's health, his strained relationship with his alcoholic father, and progress on his painting, Gerald wonders how he can march forward with all he's learned and remain hopeful. Intimate and philosophical, A Portrait For Tomorrow is a hopeful story celebrating the wonders of life and the precious people we encounter.

The Tengu And The Angel by Alina Capella

Kunio is eighteen years old and running away from home, if you can call it that. The apartment he in lives with his mother hasn't felt like home since his grandpa died, and for the past ten years of his life, he's faced constant abuse from his alcoholic mother, who openly resents him and regrets having him. Unable to cope with her abuse anymore, he journeys up north in search of a fresh start. Nathaniel has just gotten out of a toxic relationship with his ex, Theo, but Theo continues to rule Nathaniel's life with an iron fist, using his mental illness and trauma as excuses to manipulate him and keep him isolated from his friends. When Nathaniel takes Kunio in, the two of them bond over their shared trauma and become close friends--But it's not long before they develop feelings for each other. Can the two of them learn to put their pasts aside, and make their relationship work?

Blood On A Yellow Rose by Alina Capella

Back in the 2000s, I had it all. I was Pammie Burnett, lead singer and guitarist of Blood Red Rose. When I wasn't performing sold-out shows, I was partying with the likes of Gerard Way, Ashlee Simpson, and Chester Bennington, but then my best friend and drummer, Rick, got me addicted to drugs. I died on June 8th, 2005...Or at least, that's what the world thinks. In truth, I was bitten by a vampire. Twenty years after my 'death', I'm a palliative care physician, stuck working in a crappy nowhere village. All I want to is quit my stupid job, and get back up on stage, where I belong, and my new patient, Zinnia, says that she can help me with that, if I agree to turn her into a vampire. Quitting my job and running away with a stranger sounds crazy, but what would you do if you were me? Keep living a life you hate? Or jump at the chance to get your dreams back?

A Hunger with No Name by Lauren C. Teffeau

Thurava of Astrava is intended to become a herder, a most honored position for her dwindling community that clings to life on the banks of the Najimov, the river that’s the lifeblood of the high desert. But the Glass City on the horizon threatens the delicate balance the Astravans have managed to hold on to for centuries, polluting the air and water as the city grows bigger and bigger. The Glass City’s clockwork liaisons offer to bring the Astravans into the Glass City’s walls, but they will have to give up their ways and their precious herds to do so. Thurava must decide who she is without her animals, using the stars as her guide, putting herself on a collision course with the secrets the Glass City holds dear. A Hunger with No Name is a coming-of-age tale with an environmental focus featuring an immersive fantasy setting inspired in part by the high desert of New Mexico.

Of Sky and Sea by K. M. Mohr

The Child of Sky and Sea. Born of a union between an angel and a mermaid. Foretold to break the curse of a mad Fae queen. But there’s a catch… For twenty years Seraph has been a captive of her fate, believing her life is not her own. Her isolation both haven and prison. And yet, safety is an illusion, for her destiny is bound to the world. When the nation hiding her is betrayed from within, she is forced to run. While traversing the lands of Lorralei, overcoming the plights of her journey becomes only one challenge. Surviving the guardians escorting her is another. And as the end of the road draws closer, war over her blood swells on the horizon. Leaving Seraph’s heart divided— Save the world. Or save herself.

The Resistant: Desert Sun by Raz Fox

Las Vegas - 2107 Fifteen years after a deadly virus wiped most life off the face of the planet, the rich and elite live comfortably in their Domes over the city. Those left behind on the planet’s surface, the naturally resistant, struggle to survive. Starvation, heat stroke, and worst of all bombings from the Overhead threaten Diren and his gang every day. But, when a bomber pilot from the Domes winds up on Diren’s doorstep, he’s confronted with the reality that his mortal enemy, a man who helped kill his friends and family, might actually be their salvation.

Hi-Voltage by Raz Fox

“Voltage is a multicultural British band from France, Japan, South Korea, and Uruguay, who got their start in the London underground metal scene in 2002. Driven by the creative vision of their vocalist, Zana, and their composer and guitarist, Reno, Voltage has shot into fame over the last decade. With a unique blend of influences and sounds, Voltage has consistently claimed the top of the worldwide Metal charts, and has also been gaining attention outside of the metal scene over the last few years—” Voltage has always been Luka Fischer’s favorite band, even before Reno and he had a chance encounter a decade ago— However, that doesn’t mean he should uproot his life just because Reno posted online looking for him, by name, with his photo, right? But, Reno doesn’t believe in coincidences and he’s positive that if Luka has haunted his memory for a decade, then they shouldn’t ignore the chance to find him again. Spanning across America to England, Luka and Reno take a chance to follow a dream. Despite insecurities, anxieties, a too-busy schedule, pressure from the industry, and some pretty crazy fans, it still might just be worth it.

A Walk Among Heroes by James McDevitt

Readers describe A Walk Among Heroes as a rare war novel that feels deeply human, emotionally staggering, and surprisingly beautiful. They praise its ability to honor the brutality of combat while revealing the quiet courage, loyalty, and love that survive inside it. Many say they expected a typical WWII story, only to discover something far more personal — a narrative that lingers, hurts, heals, and refuses to be forgotten. Across reviews, one truth repeats: the book reads as if lived, not imagined. Veterans recognize their own scars in its pages; military spouses and civilians feel intimately connected to the soldiers’ fear, brotherhood, and sacrifice. Readers are moved not only by battlefield realism but by the novel’s cinematic emotional arc, its dual timelines, and its lifeline of redemption through love, faith, and unexpected mentorship. Several call it screen-worthy, comparing it to All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale. Above all, readers say the story’s power lies in its humanity — its portrayal of ordinary men becoming heroes, often quietly and without recognition. They speak of a book that leaves them thinking long after the last page, eager to discuss it, share it, or reread it. Again and again they echo the same sentiment: A Walk Among Heroes isn’t just about war — it’s about what survives inside people when war tries to destroy them

The Blood of Heretics by N. J. Guay

A broken man trying to reclaim his purpose… It has been five years since Allakoi suffered catastrophic loss at the hands of his enemies, leaving him broken and powerless. When salvation finally comes for him at the hands of the tsura, however, he finds himself pulled into a world of politics, tradition, and lies that he never thought he would encounter. But the wounds of his imprisonment go far beyond what anyone could expect, and the secrets he carries are more dangerous than anyone could imagine... A warrior desperate to defend her home… The Dragilles have become more aggressive with every passing year, and whispers of new threats have carried south. The Camarre are losing, and it is only a matter of time before they fall entirely. But as one Camarre territory is locked in a seemingly endless battle with its northern neighbours, its masters are given an unexpected offer: treachery in exchange for a momentary respite. A dragon slayer with a debt to be paid... But false peace cannot last, and when dead dragons start appearing on the border one thing becomes clear... War is returning, and one stray spark is all it may take to ignite its fires once more.

Before the Sky Breaks by N. J. Guay

Who can you trust when you are the key to what everyone wants? Allakoi Meras only wants one thing: to journey south and flee from the conflict that consumes the north. So long as he keeps his head down and avoids notice until spring, his escape from a society that actively hates him will be successful. Fate, however, has other plans for him. When an encounter with a psychopathic dragon leads to a rare and dangerous power awakening within him, Allakoi suddenly finds himself targeted by all entities involved in a centuries-long war—entities that are willing to do anything to have him under their control. Surrounded on all sides and not knowing who he can trust, Allakoi finds himself faced with a terrible choice… Either choose a master to be enslaved to, or risk everything in pursuit of his freedom. Before the Sky Breaks is the first book in The Shattered Pulse, an adult epic fantasy series that pulls on the atmosphere and tropes of classic fantasy while giving them a dark, modern twist. Great for fans of The Wheel of Time, The Licanius trilogy, and The First Law.

THE ONYX BOUGHS OF KEONIS by Enna Hawthorn

Onyx can shatter, boughs can break, but love can rise victorious. Ariadne, the Golden Rose and Dhemon Queen, never imagined herself at the head of an army. Now, after walking down the aisle for a second time, she has entangled herself in a game she does not want to play with the King of Valenul. With hardly any time for preparation, she must locate the dhemon ritual, save her husband from an eternal darkness within himself, and lay siege to her own kingdom. But time is running out for Azriel, the broken and fading Dhemon King. Unable to hold back the images of his wife in the arms of another man or dead in his hands, his bond and mind is in tatters-unreachable by anyone other than Ariadne. With the shadows creeping in from all sides, he has two critical tasks: complete the ritual and kill the Vampire King. Collecting unlikely allies from across Northern Myridia becomes a critical piece to the puzzle now that their enemy has discovered their secret. Everyone now knows the threat that dragons pose and Valenul is ready. Together, Ariadne and Azriel must use every possible avenue to ensure victory or die trying, because failure guarantees a life of misery.