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  • First Kiss Friday with Aurrora St. James & a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing

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    Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog! Let’s welcome today’s guest, Aurrora St. James who has an excerpt from her contribution The Earl’s Haunted Heart in the boxset A Wraith at Midnight. Aurrora is also offering a giveaway today so be sure to read all the way to the end to enter! Happy reading and good luck, my lovelies!

    Excerpt:

    The ballroom was larger and grander than Lady Levinson’s, with its tall windows and gilded columns, though somehow sad in its disuse. Next, Ambrose showed her the library lined with bookshelves, with plush chairs and sofas to read upon.

    “Did you live here as a child?” Eve asked. They’d been speaking only of books until now. Nothing personal, and she very much wanted to know Lord Stamford.

    He hesitated. “No. In fact, I hadn’t been here at all until I inherited the title. This was once the family seat, but it hadn’t been used in some time.”

    “Did it fall into disrepair?”

    “No. There were tragedies here. After that, my family chose to never return.”

    Eve thought about the man in the attic. Something had happened to the woman he loved. Something tragic. “Why did you choose to live here?”

    “I had no choice,” he murmured.

    She turned to him. His dark blue eyes appeared haunted, then the emotion was gone. Buried behind a stony expression.

    “Tell me about yourself, Eve. You’ve yet to share even your last name.”

    “Eve Langley,” she replied softly.

    He tilted his head. “I believe there is a Baron Langley. Your father?”

    She nodded.

    “Yet you fled unattended into a snowstorm. Is your father unkind?”

    “Not precisely.”

    Lord Stamford stepped closer. His eyes glittered down at her. “Abusive?”

    “No. He…” She crossed her arms over her stomach, unable to meet his eyes. “He has drawn up a marriage contract for me with a man older than himself, who intends to use me for an heir, then lock me away somewhere so that I do not embarrass his family.”

    “You are free to decline the arrangement though. That is your right,” he growled.

    “My father said he’d force me to agree to the match if I refused. I feared he would, so I fled.”

    He tipped her chin up, studying her face. “You’re afraid of him.”

    Her throat grew tight. “I’m afraid of being locked away, forgotten, until I die. Like my grandmama,”

    Pain etched his features, and the earl closed his eyes. When he opened them, he asked, “Where had you intended to go?”

    “There is a church that shelters women near here.”

    He was silent.

    Fear bubbled up her throat. Eve gripped his shirt. “Please, Lord Stamford. Please don’t make me return. I’ll leave once the storm is over, only please don’t send me back.”

    One of his warm hands covered hers and the other stroked her jaw with gentle fingers. “You may call me Ambrose.” His thumb traced her lower lip.

    Butterflies took flight in her stomach at his tender touch and the sound of his husky voice. She’d never felt this way around a man. No one had ever evoked the flutter of her heart or the warmth in her chest.

    “I’ll not send you back, Eve. It is enough that one of us is imprisoned for life. A beauty as bright as yours should shine for all the world to see.”

    Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

    Eve melted under his tender kiss, lost in the feel of his lips against hers. It was her first kiss, and it was more wondrous than she’d ever imagined.

    Ambrose moved his lips gently over hers, as he pulled her close to his chest.

    When he lifted his head, he traced her lower lip one last time with his thumb, regret already flashing through his eyes. He stepped away.

    “Forgive me, Eve.”

    Before she could protest, he strode out the library door, leaving her quite alone.

    A Wraith at Midnight Anthology Info: 

    When spooky manors and or ghostly specters call, this stunning collection of haunted Historical Romance novellas is sure to answer, leaving you breathless with ethereal, romantic tales…

    A derelict old castle? A spectral lady wandering the forests? These tales will give you a chill, a thrill, and have you reading them over and over. From the moors of Devon to the ballrooms of Regency London, and far north into the Scottish Highlands, these stories will bring you wistful dreams of legendary and haunting romance.

    Contains 11 all new short stories by bestselling Regency romance authors.

    Blurb: 

    The Earl’s Haunted Heart by Aurrora St. James

    Her secret can save his sanity, but revealing it will destroy her future…

    An innocent woman fleeing an arranged marriage is stranded in a snowstorm at an imposing manor with a reclusive earl who is brooding, mysterious, and far too attractive. He’s also going mad. She should fear him, but as the snow continues to fall, his loneliness makes her ache for him, and his every touch sets her on fire. To claim his heart, she must break the curse bound to his bloodline. But in doing so, she’ll be forced to reveal her own secret and risk being sent back to the man she’s running from.

    Note to readers: The Earl’s Haunted Heart is near the end of the anthology. Don’t miss it! 

    Link: https://geni.us/ASJ-Wraith

    Author Bio:

    Aurrora St. James writes passionate heroes, sizzling heat, and unforgettable romance. Whether it’s in time travel, magic, action, or shapeshifters, she loves to write about heroes with deep wounds fighting to be the heroic man his woman needs and women finding the strength within to face anything that comes her way. You’ll always get a touching love story, an HEA, and a bit of humor. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, making her own journals, and drinking coffee. But really, what’s better than coming up with the magic of a happily ever after?

    Social Media Links:

    Website:  http://www.aurrorastjames.com

    Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AurroraStJamesAuthor/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurrorastjames/

    Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/ladyaurrora/

    Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aurrora-st-james

    Giveaway Opportunity!

    Aurrora is offering a giveaway where the winner can choose one of the books from her website: https://www.aurrorastjames.com/books. To be in the running, just answer this: What’s your favorite trope? That’s it! Aurrora will pick a winner on Sunday. Good luck, fabulous Readers!



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  • Sunrise on the Reaping – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis

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    Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    I went into this book with a bit of trepidation. The Hunger Games series is still one of my favorites ever and I didn’t want to be disappointed. Collins writes such impactful stories, I admit I was a little scared this book would let me down. The prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, was not my favorite. The writing was excellent, the story still strong with well-developed characters and a great lookback at President Snow’s background. But it WAS about Snow and I couldn’t make myself like it too much, lol.

    However I did love this prequel. It was hard to read with well-placed moments of levity and heart wrenching ones. Toward the end I actually had to close the book at a moment when I realized what was about to happen… not many books make me do that.

    Well written, wonderful characters, awesome social commentary.
    Highly recommend it.

    View all my reviews

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  • Sapphic books set during your favorite season

    Sapphic books set during your favorite season

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    Sapphic book set during your favorite season

    This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category features sapphic books set during your favorite season.

    For this square of the bingo card, read a sapphic book that takes place during your favorite season. For example, if spring is your favorite season, read a sapphic book that is set (mostly) in spring.

     

    5 sapphic books set in spring

    Below, you’ll find 5 sapphic books that are set in spring:

     

    When Dreams Change by Violet Morley

    As another softball season begins, Coach Lennox Clementine is juggling many balls in the air. With so many upperclassmen returning, she feels confident about Sitka High School’s chances, but only if she can manage to keep the girls in one piece. Outside of the softball field, Lennox has to keep up with the challenges of her job at the hospital. Everything would be easier if she could keep her mind from drifting to her boss, Jenna.

    After separating from her husband, Jenna Macintyre is suddenly looking at the lonely blank page of her new life. She’s trying hard to keep herself from being crushed by the quiet, especially since her daughter, Wren, is finishing her senior year and is busy not only with her friends, but also softball. Left to her own devices, Jenna finds herself seeking out Lennox.

    As Lennox and Jenna navigate a blossoming friendship, the two women stumble over feelings both old and new. Lennox does her best to keep her feelings hidden, but she can’t ignore the way Jenna makes her feel. All Jenna has to do is look past everything she’s known, and maybe she’ll find everything she’s been looking for.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Floral Arrangement by Elizabeth Luly

    Roz Kennedy has dedicated her life to a high-powered consulting career. That is, until she’s passed over for a promotion and learns that Red Tractor Farm—a place close to her heart—is on the brink of financial ruin. Fuming and ready for a change, Roz leaves her corporate life behind and buys the struggling business. But to keep the farm afloat, she needs to find an investor willing to fund some crucial changes—and get rid of those dreadful flower fields.

    When Olivia Mitchell discovers the farm’s new owner plans to stop supplying flowers to her beloved flower shop—jeopardizing everything she’s worked so hard to build—she’s outraged. She’s even more shocked to find that the new owner is Roz, the stunning but infuriating woman she met at a lesbian bar six months ago.

    When a potential investor mistakenly assumes Olivia is Roz’s girlfriend, the two play along, each hoping to further their own agenda. But as sparks fly, they begin to wonder: just how fake is this blossoming relationship?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Eve Falls First by Fiona Zedde

    Teacher Eve Marshall has just crawled out of a bad relationship and has no plans to get twisted up in another romantic mess. Except, she never counted on meeting the jaw-dropping Scarlet Hunt.

    Yoga instructor Scarlet has been focused on raising her daughter since her ex-wife ditched them both to pursue her Hollywood dreams. The last thing she expects is to stumble into Eve’s adoring gaze. The teacher at her daughter’s school is too young, too cute, and far too interested, so it’d be wildly inappropriate to ask Eve to tutor her daughter. Right?

    As the risk of catching feelings hangs over them, a certain sexy Hollywood ex swaggers back into Scarlet’s life, needing one hell of a favor… How much more complicated can life get?

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    In Bloom by Kat Jackson

    Nicole Callahan is certain she has endured the worst heartbreak possible, and she’s in no hurry to dive back into the tumultuous waters of love. She insists that she’s absolutely fine being alone, but a part of her still wonders…

    To Avery Pullman, owner of a flower shop filled with thorns less prickly than her exes, the idea of love is just a disaster waiting to happen. She sees no reason to invite pain in, especially when she’s still tending to fresh wounds on her heart.

    Neither expects—nor wants—the tiny spark that ignites the moment their eyes lock. If they get too close to it, they might each have to face an uncomfortable truth—that they’ve never really known true love before. And that might be more terrifying than any heartbreak.

    Available at:

    Bella Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Striking Gold by Tiana Warner

    When nature lover Ivy inherits a plot of land in the rugged interior of British Columbia, she sets off to escape city life and build her dream homestead. She instantly clashes with her beautiful but frosty neighbor, Annie, who wants to buy Ivy’s land to solve a centuries-old Gold Rush mystery.

    Ivy instead offers to help Annie finish her grandfather’s lifelong quest if Annie will help her build her off-grid oasis. But as they draw closer, Ivy is caught between protecting her land and falling for the ice queen determined to dig it up.

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    5 sapphic books set in summer

    Below, you’ll find 5 sapphic books that are set in summer:

     

    One Golden Summer by Clare Lydon & TB Markinson

    Would you trade fame for love?

    Saffron Oliver is the golden girl. Golden hair. Golden skin. Golden movie career.

    Only one problem: she hates it.

    She flees to her sister’s seaside town – where she meets the confident & charming Kirsty McBride.

    Kirsty is everything Saffron wants to be. Perhaps also, everything she wants.

    But Saffron can’t have it all. So now, she has to decide: does she crave Kirsty enough to blow up her golden life?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Because You Can by Leigh Landry

    Animal rescuer Molly Hebert is set to catch her cheating boyfriend mid-date and kick him to the curb. But once she spies his famous country singer companion, her plan dissolves and a new one emerges. She’ll make him think twice before hurting anyone else ever again…if she can peel her eyes from his gorgeous date long enough to form that plan.

    Josephine Broussard would do anything for her bandmates. Even hide her true identity to appease their fans. But she can’t hide her feelings for Molly or resist the woman’s vengeful crusade. She’ll need to tame her unyielding sense of responsibility while Molly battles destructive insecurities to create their own love song for the ages.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Infinite Summer by Morgan Lee Miller

    Remi Brenner will one day see the world. Literally. She’s one summer away from starting her degree in aerospace at MIT, but then her dad cuts off her college tuition until they repair their estranged relationship. Remi has no choice but to spend her summer with him and her annoyingly famous stepmom in resort town Gaslight Shores, South Carolina.

    Harper Hebert wishes her life didn’t revolve around her family’s restaurant, a staple in Gaslight Shores for more than seven decades. When a new restaurant is opened by a famous chef and business begins to decline, Harper’s dreams of ever making it on her own are threatened.

    The more Remi and Harper’s friendship blossoms into something deeper, the more Remi becomes tangled in the intense restaurant rivalry between her stepmom and the Heberts. She knows she has to tell Harper, but the truth could scare away the only person who can capture her summer and her heart.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Strawberry Summer by Melissa Brayden

    Just because you’re through with your past, doesn’t mean it’s through with you.

    Margaret Beringer didn’t have an easy adolescence. She hated her name, was less than popular in school, and was always cast aside as a “farm kid.” However, with the arrival of Courtney Carrington, Margaret’s youth sparked into color. Courtney was smart, beautiful, and put together—everything Margaret wasn’t. Who would have imagined that they’d fit together so perfectly?

    But first loves can scar.

    Margaret hasn’t seen Courtney in years and that’s for the best. But when Courtney loses her father and returns to Tanner Peak to take control of the family store, Margaret comes face-to-face with her past and the woman she’s tried desperately to forget. The fact that Courtney has grown up more beautiful than ever certainly doesn’t help matters.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Summer Love by Gemma Addison Dove

    Samantha is a reclusive mountain woman, and that’s just fine with her. But Samantha’s sister, Mallory, drags the stoic mountain woman out of her cabin and forces her to attend Camp Pride’s staff party. Samantha’s old high school sweetheart has returned to the tiny mountain town to work at the summer camp as an art teacher. Sparks fly between Samantha and Caroline, their old flame quickly rekindling. But Caroline will only be in town for two months, so they agree to have a no strings attached summer fling. No one’s ever had problems with that arrangement, right?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    5 sapphic books set in fall/autumn

    Below, you’ll find 5 sapphic books that are set in fall (autumn):

     

    Something in the Wine by Jae

    All her life, Annie Prideaux has suffered through her brother’s constant practical jokes. But Jake’s last joke is one too many, she decides when he sets her up on a blind date with his friend Drew—neglecting to tell his straight sister one tiny detail: her date is not a man, but a lesbian.

    Annie and Drew decide it’s time to turn the tables on Jake by pretending to fall in love with each other.

    At first glance, they have nothing in common. Disillusioned with love, Annie focuses on books, her cat, and her work as an accountant while Drew, more confident and outgoing, owns a dog and spends most of her time working in her beloved vineyard.

    Only their common goal to take revenge on Jake unites them. But what starts as a table-turning game soon turns Annie’s and Drew’s lives upside down as the lines between pretending and reality begin to blur.

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Blood Remains by Cathy Pegau

    Butcher and Blood Mage, Callie Payne, once left a city behind for a different life. But when she is forced to return to the streets of Seattle, the woman and the things she thought she left behind come to reclaim her.

    Callie Payne once ran with the Jackson Street Roses, but she left Seattle—left the Roses—to marry a rancher. After his death, she returns to take over the family butcher shop; a fitting career for an out-of-practice blood mage. When the leader of the Roses, Eileen “EJ” Jordan, stops by, Callie knows it isn’t just to buy T-bone steaks. What does the suave gangster really want after all these years?

    EJ needs Callie’s magic against rival gangster Paul Underwood, who is horning in on Rose territory. Callie refuses to get involved; she won’t risk violating the Laws of the Covenant forbidding intentional harm. Then EJ tells her Underwood was responsible for the death of one of the Roses years ago. Callie is compelled to get revenge however she can.

    A three-day incantation to repel Underwood re-establishes and strengthens Callie’s connection to the Roses, particularly EJ. Old feelings return, but EJ worries a personal relationship will endanger Callie. Their desire, however, proves impossible to ignore.

    Days after Underwood threatens them, he’s found dead in an area awash in magic residue. The cops and the Covenant Investigation Office are eyeing EJ and Callie for the crime. Whoever is responsible knows magic well enough to be a step ahead, and they’re setting up EJ and Callie to take the fall.

    EJ is determined to find the culprit, no matter the cost, and Callie is willing to bend the Laws for her. Can they catch the killer before more blood is spilled?

    Available at:

    Bywater Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard

    Nicki Russell has never been smooth. More like a bumbling, awkward mess always falling short of her dreams. Good college? She never had the money. Post-grad? She’ll get around to it someday. Happy ever after with the perfect woman? One major heartbreak is enough to have her swearing off love forever. Current life plan? Avoid all unnecessary human contact. That goes double for Carter, the hot new butch in town.

    Unfortunately, Carter works at the town’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch and Nicki’s niece is obsessed with Halloween. So obsessed she ropes her favorite aunt into organizing the school Halloween festival, hosted by Carter Farms. Volunteer weekends are scary enough, but Carter seems to be everywhere Nicki goes, and it’s just a matter of time before she discovers Nicki’s more likely to trip over a chair than successfully flirt.

    But Carter can’t seem to get enough of her company, and as their accidental encounters slowly simmer into romance, Nicki begins to believe she’s not a complete disaster after all. The date of the festival is fast approaching, and this pumpkin spice season is turning out sweeter than expected.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    A Calculated Risk by Cari Hunter

    Detective Jo Shaw has it all worked out. She’s good at her job, she has loads of mates, and she likes being single. She doesn’t need complications, but an emergency call to the stabbing of a young woman brings plenty of those. Jo has to risk her career to save the woman’s life, and a bad night gets worse when the trauma surgeon turns out to be Isla Munro, Jo’s only real love, who walked out on her fifteen years ago and never came back.

    With the victim’s children missing and the husband the prime suspect, Jo’s investigation is stonewalled by a community living in fear. As one dead end leads to another, she and Isla are forced to put their differences aside and work together. But the case is far more dangerous than Jo realizes, and her determination to sort the truth from the lies may put her own life on the line.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Not Just Gal Pals by Elizabeth Luly

    Jenny Lynton never planned to be an influencer. It just sort of…happened. When an unfortunate post results in Jenny being “almost canceled,” she extends her stay in her hometown, Sapphire Springs, New York, to wait out the storm. Jenny’s agent suggests a fling with a flannel-wearing lumberjack might be just the thing to distract her. But after a string of disastrous dates, Jenny has sworn off flings. And lumberjacks are in short supply in Sapphire Springs. Lumberjanes, on the other hand…

    Blake Mitchell is Sapphire Spring’s only doctor. She’s also had a crush on Jenny since high school. A crush that makes her a socially awkward mess whenever she’s around Jenny. Blake moved back home to avoid being hurt by another relationship–there’s not exactly a lot of dating options for lesbians in Sapphire Springs–but Blake can’t stop thinking about Jenny now she’s back in town.

    When Jenny and Blake are forced to work together to save a friend’s bachelorette party, sparks fly. But with Jenny’s return to LA a ticking time-bomb, is it wise for them to explore their feelings for each other, or do they risk being hurt yet again?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible
     

    5 sapphic books set in winter

    Below, you’ll find 5 sapphic books that are set in winter:

     

    When It’s True by Barbara Lynn Murphy

    Happily married couple Beth and Kelly get a last-minute visitor for the holidays in the form of Beth’s womanizing ex-girlfriend Jackie, who boldly announces that she plans to walk away from this visit with more than just good memories.

    When Kelly’s sister Paige arrives a day later, the sparks fly with Jackie. Kelly is determined to convince her sister that Jackie is not to be trusted. But Paige sees a different side of Jackie and puts her past heartache aside to give Jackie a chance.

    Meanwhile, Beth and Kelly rely on the strength of their love to support each other through an unimaginable ordeal.

    Available at:

    Desert Palm Press

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Incendiant by Virginia Black

    War witch Joan Matthews wants little more than to build a life with Leigh Phan. Their hometown is rebuilding under Joan’s protection, but not everyone is happy with her solution to the most recent vampire crisis.

    Meanwhile, Leigh’s bloodling powers lead to unforeseen consequences, and Joan is forced to honor a favor owed to a dangerous foe. Neither knows a greater threat lurks behind seemingly unrelated attacks across the land.

    Together, Joan and Leigh once saved the town of Calvert. Now that they are separated, each must learn to save herself, or all their gains will be forfeited—and everyone they know will pay the price.

    Available at:

    Bywater Books

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Christmas, Pursued by a Bear by Ryann Fletcher

    Andie is on the hunt for the perfect photograph. She’s broke, her career is stalled, and her friends keep ghosting her. Winning the Christmas wildlife photography competition is her only chance to change her life – but stumbling into a bear in the woods might end up changing more than she bargained for. Cat has a secret. A big, furry secret. She’s working sixty hours a week to keep her sister and the rest of her found family safe, when the terrible news arrives in the morning paper. Syndicorp, the huge multi-national company, is about to tear down half of their local wildlife reserve! To make matters worse, poachers find a cub in the woods, and Cat barely manages to save it. With the bulldozers waiting to rip apart the forest they both love, sparks fly between the two women. But will Andie discover Cat’s secret, putting them all into even more danger?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Blessed by the Cupid Distribution System by Robin Jo Margaret

    Local loner and hopeless romantic Iris Clarke is single, again, on Valentine’s Day. During the annual Cupid speech before the grand lover’s day, Jaya comes across Iris’s file. Unable to look away from those beautiful brown eyes, Jaya chooses Iris for her imminent mission.

    When the winged woman shows up at Iris’s house and tells her she is going to find her a partner for the day, Iris can’t believe it. With some tweaks to their official agreement, the two find themselves wandering the city to complete Iris’s list of dream dates, so that she can get the opportunity to finally experience the romance she always dreamed of.

    But what will happen if the feelings between the two of them become a little too real, and their agreement is only supposed to last one day?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Nochebuena by Stephanie Shea

    Camila Morales is a hopeless romantic. Not that she thinks every couple is meant to be—she is a divorce lawyer, after all. But when her happy, married-thirty-years parents announce their own separation three weeks before Christmas, Cami’s world is turned upside down, especially since she’s been trying to feel her way through her own marital slump for months.

    Sutton Davies is an imposter. At least, that’s what her therapist says. Or was it that she may have imposter syndrome? Same difference. With a promotion she’s not sure she deserves, a wife who’s definitely too good for her, and a best friend who’s always been in her corner, she should be fine. Perfect, even. But maybe that’s the problem—this unattainable quest for perfection—which is why she’s decided to focus on something she can control. Proving to Cami that this bout of spotty communication and dwindling intimacy is nothing but a blip.

    Every couple goes through it, right?

    Will Sutton’s attempts to reconnect over the holidays reignite sparks, or is it all too little too late?

    Available at:

    Amazon
     

    Leave a comment

    What book will you be reading for the “sapphic books set during your favorite season” category? Let us know in the comments!

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  • First Kiss Friday with Enchanted by the Lyon! – Sherry Ewing

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    Hello, my lovelies, and welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog! I’m always excited to share with you my latest releases and this one was a long time to wait. Today I have an excerpt from my next Lyon’s Den novel, Enchanted by the Lyon that releases on October 1st. We finally have Cassandra Vaughn as the heroine after she made certain her lady friends were all settled. I hope you enjoy this first kiss scene and happy reading!

    Excerpt:

    She had no time to think when Lucius took hold of her hand bringing her fingertips to his lips. After a quick kiss, he tucked her now quaking limb into his elbow and began escorting through the crowded room. Her feet flew in an attempt to keep up with his longer stride until he noticed she was all but running to keep up with his pace. He slowed, pulled her through an arched

    doorway, through a narrow hallway meant for the servants, and into the first empty room he came to. Peering inside, he swiftly pulled her forward before closing the door behind them. There wasn’t much to this room. A small couch, a table, and several boxes sacked against the wall told her this was used as a storeroom. She was completely alone with this man, and she had to admit she didn’t mind one bit!

    “My lord—”

    He took both of her cheeks into the palms of his hands. “Lucius,” he urged softly. “Say my name, Cassandra.”

    He pulled her into his embrace and Cassandra swore her heart all but beat right out of her chest in excitement. Still holding onto her face with one hand, he rubbed one thumb across her cheek as he silently implored her to say his given name.

    Cassandra finally gave in to his demand. “Lucius…” His name lingered on her lips, making her slide her tongue across the seam. It was almost like she could taste his kiss upon her mouth and she stood on the tips of her toes reaching for what she knew he offered.

    His head dipped downward until his mouth was but inches from her own. And still, he only continued to stare into her face. Green eyes to green eyes and she was certain hers shone with all the longing she felt for this man.

    Cassandra at last realized that he was waiting for her to continue this moment that was being shared between them. She could easily step back. Nothing held her from doing so since Lucius only lightly held her now. He would not take what she didn’t offer willingly, and she had to commend him for making sure she consented to their first kiss. She needed to remember she wanted a marriage and he might only want her as his next mistress. The reasonable part of her head told her not to give in to temptation that would surely be like a drug. Once tasted, there would be no going back.

    But to hell with reason! Instead of listening to the small voice screaming inside her head, she stepped closer before she wound her arms around his neck and pressed her body intimately into his muscular one. It was probably a huge mistake on her part when she heard a sound come from him that proved to her that Lucius had barely been holding on to whatever self-control existed within him. But when she went to place a small chaste peck on those sensuous lips, her world suddenly spun out of control.

    His arms swept around her as he pulled her close and his mouth took possession of her own. There was nothing gentle about this kiss and it certainly wasn’t anything like the quick one she had just given him. No. This kiss was filled with a passion Cassandra didn’t even know could exist as all the longing for Lucius Ford came bubbling up and overflowing from the depths of her soul.

    A low moan of pleasure left her as she followed this man’s lead while he kissed her senseless. How many times had she dreamed of his kisses? How many nights had she laid awake wishing she could be in his arms? He certainly didn’t disappoint the fantasies she had held dear inside her head. Her heart was beating so fast she swore everyone at the Lyon’s Den would be able to hear what this man was doing to her. And still, he continued to kiss her as though he was starving, and she was the only person who could satisfy his hunger.

    Enchanted by the Lyon: Lyon’s Den Connected World
    By Sherry Ewing
    Releases October 1, 2025
    Preorder for $0.99

    She’s fallen in love and wants marriage, something he’s unwilling to give.

    Lucius Ford, Earl of Blackthorn is content in his bachelor lifestyle, though the only lady to catch his attention this Season is looking for marriage. This lady of the Wicked Widow’s Club intrigues him.

    Mrs. Cassandra Vaughn was widowed at a young age. After years of hardship, she seeks more than a superficial relationship. But the man who has enchanted her only wants her in his bed.

    Who will change whose mind is still in question when Lucius loses a bet at the Lyon’s Den. To pay his debt, he must right a wrong done to none other than Cassandra Vaughn. Amidst societal expectations and personal histories, their lives entangle, challenging their beliefs about love and relationships.

    When past enemies endanger her life, Lucius will risk everything to protect her.

    Tropes you’ll love:

    ✔️ Widow Heroine

    ✔️ Rake / Bachelor Hero

    ✔️ Marriage vs. Affair Conflict

    ✔️ The Wicked Widow’s Club

    ✔️ The Lyon’s Den Connection

    ✔️ Debt of Honor

    ✔️ Protective Hero

    ✔️ Opposites in Desire

    ✔️ Second Chances at Love

    Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited or purchase a copy at these buy links:

    Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon BR | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon ES | Amazon FR | Amazon IN | Amazon IT | Amazon JP | Amazon MX | Amazon NL | Amazon UK

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  • Happy Release Day to Enchanted by the Lyon! – Sherry Ewing

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    You know this author is one happy lady when she can introduce a new book baby into the world! Thank you to all the wonderful readers who have purchased a copy of Enchanted by the Lyon that released today. You can blame me for your next book hangover you have the next morning! And thank you all for your continued support. It means the world to me!

    She’s fallen in love and wants marriage, something he’s unwilling to give.

    Lucius Ford, Earl of Blackthorn is content in his bachelor lifestyle, though the only lady to catch his attention this Season is looking for marriage. This lady of the Wicked Widow’s Club intrigues him.

    Mrs. Cassandra Vaughn was widowed at a young age. After years of hardship, she seeks more than a superficial relationship. But the man who has enchanted her only wants her in his bed.

    Who will change whose mind is still in question when Lucius loses a bet at the Lyon’s Den. To pay his debt, he must right a wrong done to none other than Cassandra Vaughn. Amidst societal expectations and personal histories, their lives entangle, challenging their beliefs about love and relationships.

    When past enemies endanger her life, Lucius will risk everything to protect her.

    Tropes you’ll love:

    ✔️ Widow Heroine

    ✔️ Rake / Bachelor Hero

    ✔️ Marriage vs. Affair Conflict

    ✔️ The Wicked Widow’s Club

    ✔️ The Lyon’s Den Connection

    ✔️ Debt of Honor

    ✔️ Protective Hero

    ✔️ Opposites in Desire

    ✔️ Second Chances at Love

    Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited or purchase a copy here at these Amazon links:

    Buy Links:

    Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon BR | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon ES | Amazon FR | Amazon IN | Amazon IT | Amazon JP | Amazon MX | Amazon NL | Amazon UK

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  • Sapphic books with mental health rep (Sapphic Book Bingo #21)

    Sapphic books with mental health rep (Sapphic Book Bingo #21)

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    Sapphic books with mental health rep

    This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo square features sapphic books with mental health representation.

    Read a sapphic book with accurate, authentic, and respectful representation of people living with mental health conditions. For example, the main character could struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health issues.

     

    15 sapphic books with mental health rep

    Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic books that highlight mental health:

     

    Waltzing on the Danube by Miranda MacLeod

    Jeanie Brooks is a small town history teacher who sometimes leaps before she looks, but when she books a last minute river cruise for lesbian singles, she knows she’ll have no regrets. Two weeks of beautiful women and glorious adventure against the backdrop of Europe’s most famous cities—what more could she want?

    Eleanor Fielding is an actuarial accountant from Manhattan, and an expert at assessing risk from every angle. Analytical and reserved, the only thing worse than spending the summer floating around with a gaggle of desperate single women is the prospect of her sister nagging her for all eternity if she refuses to go.

    But thanks to a ticketing error, Jeanie and Eleanor unexpectedly find themselves the only two eligible women on the Danube. What starts as an awkward alliance to salvage some enjoyment from the trip soon transforms into something more.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Strap In by Lou Morgan

    Jean is married to her job and there is no room in her life for romance. Until she meets someone who takes her breath away.

    There’s just one catch. Ava’s a woman. And Jean’s straight… isn’t she?

    The chemistry’s scorching but there’s no place for Ava in Jean’s world. But free-spirited Ava is irresistible. And open to a purely physical relationship. This way Jean gets to have her cake and eat it too.

    Yet spending time with Ava makes Jean question everything she thought she knew.

    Is it time to start again?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Warmer, Colder by Alexia Onyx

    There’s nothing more dangerous than the truth, except the pretty little lies we tell ourselves.

    Stasi

    Becca Murphy was always meant to be mine. She betrayed me and buried her love for me deep within her deceptive heart, but she never anticipated me digging myself out of that grave with a singular desire: her. Now that I’m back, I’m determined to drag her demons into the light. I might be dead, but I’m not letting Becca go. This time, she’ll see the truth: it’s always been me.

    Becca

    One drunken night shattered my carefully crafted facade, leaving me suffocating beneath the wreckage of my so-called perfect life. I thought death would grant me peace, but instead, I’m haunted by the woman who knows my deepest secret. As I cling to the crumbling illusion of perfection, Stasi sees me for what I truly am—a goddamn mess. Do I cling to my web of lies, or do I dare to free fall into her tempting embrace?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Don’t Quit Your Daydream by Adrian J. Smith

    What happens in the elevator doesn’t stay in the elevator.

    When Laura Finch’s business partner hires Skylar to bring their company to the next generation, Laura sees red. An obnoxious millennial isn’t someone she wants to work with—they’re known for failing their side hustles. Since Laura gave up everything for Solace Inc to succeed, including her dreams of marriage and family, she’s not willing to risk it on just anyone.

    Skylar Ross vies to succeed in her first big contract and won’t let Laura’s sour personality get in her way. Each day she finds something else intriguing about Laura and all the fronts she puts up. With a dash of humor and hope, Skylar bets on her sunny disposition winning Laura over. What she doesn’t expect is her growing crush on a straight woman to go anywhere.

    Dreams are meant to be scary. What will they risk to make theirs come true?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Hot Honey Love by Nan Campbell

    Chef Stef’s passion for her profession is being severely tested. After a disastrous appearance on a cooking competition show, she has become a meme. The entire Internet now knows her as the Kitchen Bawler. Her ascent through the fine dining kitchens of New York City has been thoroughly derailed, but she has a plan to get her career back on track. She’ll make cooking videos on YouTube to foil the algorithm and overhaul her search engine results. One problem: she knows nothing about creating video content.

    Enter Mallory Radowski. She’s a talented filmmaker currently earning a living as a wedding videographer, with complicated reasons of her own for her reluctance to help Stef. Mallory lives with anxiety, and is the pickiest eater imaginable. Food—Stef’s love language—is untranslatable to her. How can she make Stef’s food look delicious if she won’t eat any of it?

    Stef has to trust that Mallory’s videos can get her cooking food she’s proud of again, but it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire when she starts to fall for her.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    The Storm Within Her by Ami Spencer

    When Kate and Seph met it was flirting at first sight, but with Kate being married it was never meant to be.

    Until the two meet again under the worst possible connection, and Kate is forced to re-evaluate what is most important to her. Especially since Seph is a shadow of the person she knew before.

    Can Seph fight back against the impending darkness that is consuming her to find her way back to Kate, who is devotedly waiting for the woman she knew to return to her?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Battle Scars by Meghan O’Brien

    Returning Iraq war veteran Ray McKenna struggles with battle scars that can only be healed by love. Ray McKenna returns from the war in Iraq to find that she has attained unwanted celebrity status back home. As the only surviving American soldier of a well-publicized hostage crisis, she is the center of attention at a time when all she wants is solitude.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Partly For Love by Anne-Marie Pellow

    Life can change in a heartbeat.

    It happens to Kezia Pope when she comes face to face with a woman who reminds her of Hannah, the only girlfriend she ever had.

    Hannah was the one person who understood her. Hannah never judged her and always looked out for her. Until one night when a prank goes too far.

    Events of the past come flooding back to Kezia, and old addictions she thought she’d laid to rest creep up on her again.

    Olivia Cruz is eleven years older than her wife, Emma. At the end of a working day, all Liv wants to do is put her feet up or go to bed, exhausted and fragile. But Emma has other ideas, and the thought of a night out is too tempting after months of all work and no play. After all, you’re only here once, and life’s for enjoying, right?

    The downward spiral begins. A chance meeting. A wrong decision. A sequence of events turns three women’s worlds inside out.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Lancelot: Her Story by Carol Anne Douglas

    A young girl sees a man rape and murder her mother. She grabs a stick and puts out his eye. Her father raises her as a boy so she will be safe from men’s attacks. She practices and practices until she becomes a great fighter – Lancelot. She wants to protect women, and she does.Lancelot hears about King Arthur, a just king across the sea, and journeys to earn a place at Camelot. She vows to serve him, but fears that Arthur and his men will discover that she is a woman and send her away. Lancelot is shocked to realize that she is falling in love with the king’s wife, Guinevere.Guinevere is a strong woman who would have preferred to be queen in her own right, not through marriage. Saxons attack Arthur’s kingdom, and Lancelot finds out that fighting a war is far different from saving women in single combat. The savagery of war devastates her.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Allure by CEON

    Hannah has an open relationship with her boyfriend, and it’s never been a problem.

    Until she hooks up with the mysterious Morana via a phone app and wakes up the next morning with an insatiable taste for blood.

    Araceli enters Hannah’s life and helps her come to terms with her new status. She has become a vampire, and there is nothing she can do to change that.

    However, if she does not take a life, she will get to keep her soul.

    But how long can Hannah resist her urges, living on tastes from blood-bags, the odd stolen bite from a willing arm?

    When Morana comes back into her life, Hannah finds it harder and harder to resist her allure.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    A Holly Jolly Christmas by Emily Wright

    Holly hasn’t been home for two years. Ever since her brother died, Mistleberry is a haunting ground full of history she’s tried to escape. Her family are grieving, her ex won’t stop calling, and bumping into Vicky Castleton puts the cherry on the crumbling Christmas cake.

    Because Holly’s first love and biggest regret looks better than ever.

    Holly tries to heal the holes in her heart as her family—and persistent best friend—keep pushing her to confront her past. But the more time she spends with her old flame, the more she’s hit with the undeniable truth: her heart has never let go of Vicky. Time’s running out, and years of hiding away and shielding herself have left her with the question: can she conquer her ghosts this Christmas, and risk it all for love?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Love You However by Katherine Blakeman

    This is a statement that I have always tolerated about myself. Except now… it seems to be getting harder.

    My gender has never felt right, but I’ve been able to overlook it. I’ve always been okay with being Jean: retail worker, choir leader and wife of Petra. Our idyllic little life in Cornwall has given me the stability I’ve needed ever since my sister died, and everything’s been ticking along just fine.

    Up until now.

    A blast of menopause hormones has brought my gender to the front of my mind. When Petra is suddenly hurled into the role of ‘headteacher’ at work, it becomes harder and harder to share it with her. With work taking over her life and gender taking over mine, how can we keep our marriage alive?

    And can I realise my true identity before it’s too late?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Fairfield Frightless and the Midnight Murders by Kay Solo

    Anastasia Graves and her friends travel to the quaint tourist town of Bellshire nestled high in the mountains to celebrate their high school graduation. During dinner at an old inn they are told a legend of an ancient creature that sleeps within Bellshire Lake, one that feeds off anger and could spell the doom of the world if it were ever to reawaken.

    At first, Anastasia appreciates it for the tall tale it is. But when strange things start happening around the cozy lake town, she starts to fear the story might be more than just something used to scare tourists. To complicate matters further, her attention is divided between two mischievous sirens who seem a little too interested in her, as well as a surly necromancer who watches her from afar.

    As the lake becomes more agitated and the bodies of missing townsfolk start to wander the streets at night, Anastasia steels herself to solve yet another mystery. But when the truth of the legend finally comes to light, she realizes she might be up against something far more deadly than she ever imagined.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Kotov Syndrome by S. Morgan Burbank

    Erika Edens is panicking. Behind on her bills and stuck in a crappy job, she’s blindsided when ex-love-of-her-life Abby shows up needing a place to stay. This is the perfect situation for a second chance… …except that Abby is a computer simulation in the body of an android. Battling the rising hostility of her world and the demons in her head, Erika struggles to come to terms with living in a country increasingly hostile to non-human entities. Can Erika adapt to life with her new roommate? Or will her troubles end any chance at reconciliation before it gets started?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Project O.R.C.A. by Serena J. Bishop

    Kari’s telepathic abilities have made life challenging for her. At eighteen and a recent university graduate, she’s desperate to leave home and work in neuroscience. Will a position at inCog help her explore where her abilities come from and how to better control them? She doesn’t know.

    But she’s going to find out.

    A new job, a new life, and a fresh start on a cruise ship turned business park await her. It’s a thrilling time. But little does she know the excitement will not stop until the ship’s owner’s goals are met. Henry, a billionaire with an interest in unusual sciences, has unique plans for her. Neuroscientist by day, telepathic spy by night. It’s not all bad, though; her clandestine work allows her to see more of the world, receive funding for ORCA, and expose the injustices committed by the affluent.

    But the more she delves into the thoughts of the super wealthy, the more dangerous her new life becomes. Soon she has to ask herself, is the money for ORCA worth the risk?

    “Now the real science begins . . .”

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    American Superstar: Drop the Mic by Shay Paris

    After the disastrous final American Superstar show, Lennon’s world is plunged into darkness. Camila had left her, her parents disowned her, and the online smear campaign had her locked inside her apartment. Struggling to keep her head above water, Lennon realizes she has to fake it until she makes it—no matter how hard that would be.

    Still reeling from the abrupt dumping by Camila and trying her best to move on, Lennon throws herself into reviving her career and writing a hit album, all the while trying to hold together the heartbreak at the rejection of her parents and the loss of Camila.

    Shattered by her decision in New York to save Lennon’s career, Camila continues to battle the fallout while trying to come to terms with her own demons, all while struggling to decide if the life of a performer is something she wants anymore.

    Realizing she made a grave mistake in leaving Lennon, Camila sets out to win back the one person who understood her most in the world while healing the darker parts of her soul.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Leave a comment

    What book will you be reading for the “sapphic books with mental health rep” category? Let us know in the comments!

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  • First Kiss Friday with Sherry Ewing – Sherry Ewing

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    Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog! With the last of my wicked widows having her happily ever after in the release of Enchanted by the Lyon next week, I thought I’d bring this around full circle to remind you of the first kiss scene from To Claim A Lyon’s Heart. I loved writing my first book for the Lyon’s Den Connected World including creating all brand new hero’s for you to fall in love with. I hope you enjoy this first kiss scene between Vincent and Moriah. Happy reading, my lovelies!

    Excerpt:

    “Would you care to come in for a night cap?” Moriah asked while she ran her fingers over the sleeve of his coat.

    Vincent took her hand, bringing it up to his lips. He was afraid to answer yes, knowing where the night might end up. They were only just now beginning to right the wrong that had been done to Moriah’s reputation. He would hate for all that they had accomplished to unravel because he couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

    “I’m not certain that is wise, my dear,” he whispered, but when she bent forward and placed her lips upon his own, a part of him sprang to life and he could do little to calm the beast within him.

    “It’s just one drink,” she murmured while reaching for the handle of the door. “You wouldn’t want to disappoint a lady now, would you?”

    A chuckle left Vincent as though his mind had been made up for him. “Never!”

    “Then please come in, my lord. I promise I won’t bite,” she said, laughing.

    Challenge accepted, considering he never saw this playful side of Moriah, and Vincent followed her into her townhouse. She dismissed her butler Barlowe after bidding him a good night. Her swaying hips caused Vincent to follow Moriah’s every move as she made her way into her library. A fire in the hearth warmed the room lined with bookshelves, and a writing desk stood off to one side. Near the fire was a comfortable-looking settee, but Moriah made her way to a sideboard where several crystal decanters awaited her pleasure…and his.

    “Brandy? Port? Or maybe whiskey? What is your preference, Vincent?” she asked as she picked up one of the bottles and waved it in the air.

    You, he thought, but for the life of him he couldn’t voice the word aloud. One would think the way his heart was beating a rapid staccato in his chest that this was the first time he had been alone with a beautiful woman. He was hardly fresh out of the schoolroom and his friends would laugh if they knew one of London’s renowned rakes was having a hard time remembering to be a gentleman.

    “Whatever you are having is fine, Moriah,” he said, taking a seat near the fire.

    “Brandy it is,” she said, pouring two draughts into glasses.

    She gracefully slid onto the seat next to him and handed him his glass. “Cheers,” she said, clinking her glass with his before taking a sip. She set the glass down and took his hands. “I wanted some privacy between us so I could express my thanks for all you have done on my behalf. Without your help, I’d still be sitting here alone in this house with a tarnished reputation instead of being on the brink of being accepted again. How can I ever thank you?”

    “There is nothing to thank me for, Moriah. I would do it all over again to ensure your happiness. But we are not done until we have your grandfather’s blessing. I must admit he will be hard to convince, but I am determined it shall be done.”

    “You’ve done more for me than any other I have known,” she stated, once more running her fingers up the lapel of his jacket, “and you’ve asked nothing in return. Are you certain you are real and not just a figment of my imagination?”

    “Your companionship has been more than I could hope for. Certainly, you must know I have come to care for you, Moriah.” Tears glistened in her eyes and Vincent brushed her cheek to wipe one that fell.

    “Vincent…I care for you, too.”

    The words rushing from her lips were like the sweetest sonnet and, before he could rethink his actions, Vincent bent over to claim her mouth in a searing kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his mouth took possession of hers. The kiss was as if they had been starved for one another their entire lives and perhaps, in Vincent’s case, this was true. He had never wanted a woman in his life as much as he wanted Moriah. Not for just a night of pleasure but as his wife for all time.

    A moan left her lips and Vincent continued his exploration of this beautiful lady. Their tongues danced together in a common accord and he had to wonder how Moriah suddenly ended up in his lap. That she would feel comfortable with him to stay there told him much, but reason took over before they went too far. He took hold of her hands when she began tugging at his cravat.

    To Claim A Lyon’s Heart
    By Sherry Ewing

    A gambler’s bet. A widow’s burden. Will one game of chance change their lives?

    Vincent St. John, Marquis of Saxton, knows full well his duties to the duchy. His responsibilities have been drilled into him since his birth. He has no chance of finding a bride who will see him for who he truly is; they only see the title, not the man. A bet with Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the Black Widow of Whitehall, is just a diversion. Losing may win him everything.

    Mrs. Moriah Henshaw has known her fair share of despair. The death of her parents and later her husband left her destitute with no option but to become a man’s mistress. Years later, her tarnished reputation outweighs her excellent birth, and keeps her from being accepted back into society. When her friend pays an outrageous sum to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find Moriah a husband, Moriah cannot believe she will win anything.

    When Vincent meets Moriah, he becomes determined to return her to her rightful place in society. But one accident after another threatens Moriah’s life, and neither of them will win in the game of love unless he can find out who is out to harm her.

    Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited or purchase a copy here:

    Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon BR | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon ES | Amazon FR | Amazon IN | Amazon IT | Amazon JP | Amazon MX | Amazon NL | Amazon UK

    Learn all about the men of my contribution to the Lyon’s Den Connected World in the above tab or here: https://sherryewing.com/regency-books/

    And don’t forget that Enchanted by the Lyon releases on October 1sr. You can still purchase it for $0.99 so grab a copy soon before the price goes up!

    Buy links or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited:

    Buy Links:

    Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon BR | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon ES | Amazon FR | Amazon IN | Amazon IT | Amazon JP | Amazon MX | Amazon NL | Amazon UK

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  • Through Water and Stone GIVEAWAY!

    Through Water and Stone GIVEAWAY!

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    Through Water and Stone: A Zion National Park Novel by Karen Barnett

    Through Water and Stone has officially splashed into the world, and I’m celebrating with a book giveaway! Since Amazon’s taking its sweet time shipping copies, this is your chance to snag one early—and without the wait. Who’s ready to dive in?

    To enter, fill out the form below. It will ask you to subscribe to my newsletter, COMPASS. Are you a new subscriber? You’ll need to hop over to my subscription page first, and then come back to fill out the entry form. Already a subscriber? No problem—just enter the email address where you receive the newsletter.

    📚 Don’t miss out—your early copy could be on the way soon!

    The giveaway closes on October 2, 2025, at 12 pm Pacific Time.

    What’s COMPASS?

    COMPASS is my monthly newsletter where I share behind-the-scenes peeks at my writing life, stories from our national park adventures, encouragement for your own faith journey, and the first scoop on new books and giveaways. Think of it as a little dose of inspiration and adventure delivered straight to your inbox.

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  • Teaching the other character a skill (Micro-Trope #9)

    Teaching the other character a skill (Micro-Trope #9)

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    Micro-trope - Teaching the other character a skill

    It’s time for another Micro-Trope category. This one features sapphic books in which one character teaches the other character a skill.

    It could be a practical skill such as cooking or fighting, a sport, or a craft such as pottery, woodworking, or knitting.

     

    15 sapphic books with the “teaching the other character a skill” micro-trope

    Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic books that include at least one scene in which one character teaches the other a skill.

     

    Just for Show by Jae

    What happens when a perfectionist, overachieving psychologist and an impulsive, out-of-work actress start a fake relationship?

    Claire Renshaw thought she had it all: a successful career as a couples therapist, a publishing contract for her self-help book, and a happy relationship. But her perfect world falls apart when her fiancée calls off their engagement. Because of that, even her book deal might be off the table. After all, readers don’t want relationship advice from someone who can’t even make her own relationship work.

    So Claire sets out to hire herself a fake fiancée.

    Lana Henderson, the actress who shows up to audition for the role, is not exactly Claire’s ideal woman. Her frankness and the messes she leaves everywhere drive Claire up the wall. At least she won’t fall in love with someone like Lana.

    But soon, Lana starts to win her over with her big heart, tickle fights, and—gasp!—carbs after six. The longer they pretend to be a love-struck couple, the less fake their kisses feel and the more the lines between reality and role begin to blur.

    Once the book contract is signed, will they walk away or is their relationship no longer just for show?

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey

    For Audrey Lind, working with clay still evokes memories of her favorite professor. The woman’s zeal for art history ignited Audrey’s own academic career—and her tweed blazers and British accent kindled her first female crush. After fate brings Audrey back to Northshire University to teach, she’s thrilled to be working alongside her former mentor, but the grumpy woman she encounters upon her return is nothing like the dynamo she remembers.

    Divorce and a stalling career have turned Dr. Michelle Thompson bitter and guarded. When Audrey swoops in to teach the Women in Art class Michelle’s been pitching for years, she longs to hate her. But her young rival is too kind, too enthusiastic, too irresistible. And her passion for life slowly reawakens Michelle’s own.

    Wary of age gaps and workplace politics, they suppress their smoldering attraction—until one wine-filled night at the pottery wheel puts their romantic truce to the test. Will they keep things on the tenure track or risk it all for love?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    No Shelter But The Stars by Virginia Black

    Kyran Loyal is the last heir to the lost throne of a forgotten planet, the figurehead of a nomadic people fleeing the galactic tyranny of a brutal regime. Davia Sifane is the unrecognized daughter of an imperial despot. When happenstance pits them against each other in battle, neither expects the outcome: they are the only two people to survive. Marooned on a barren moon, their only hope of survival is to rely on each other, but what they learn will either kill them or change the galaxy forever.

    Available at:

    Bywater Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Just Marry Her by L.R. Martiny

    Missy Greenwood moves to St. Croix to take on her dream job as the assistant to famous television dog trainer Quincy Adams. She’s long harbored a crush on her hot boss as she watched her from the mainland. But now she’s face to face with her idol, and the young protégé is lost in lust.

    Quincy’ new assistant landed on her set just in time. Quincy’s ex is trying to weasel her way back into her life and the press is hounding her about her non-existent dating scene. Her solution: ask Missy to enter into a fake marriage that will get everyone off her back.

    It all seems simple enough, but Missy wants more than a marriage of convenience with her boss. And when the honeymoon gets super steamy, she wonders if can she manage to train Quincy’s hardened heart.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Holy Water and Whiskey Scars by Ali Spooner

    Faith Wilson and Logan Bronson have family secrets to protect and a legacy to uphold to support their small rural Appalachian community. Their commitment to each other is strong, and their desire to aid the struggling families however they can, lead them both down an exciting but dangerous path. Will their love continue to grow and be the glue that binds the community together, or will they flee the withering community?

    Available at:
     Amazon

     

    Sour Grapes by Eliza Lentzski

    At this stage in her life, June St. Clare never imagined she’d be starting all over again—a new job, a new city, a new love? Looking for a fresh start after tragedy, June finds herself the unexpected owner of Lark Estates—a micro winery in the heart of Napa Valley. There, June is determined to learn the business and do her best, even if she’s convinced that her assistant winemaker, the beautiful but elusive Lucia Santiago, wants to see her fail.

    Lucia Santiago grew up on vineyards, almost like a grapevine herself, working her way up from cellar rat to assistant winemaker. When the property where she works is suddenly sold to a woman with no prior experience, she can’t help but feel resentful of the winery’s lovely but inexperienced new owner. It’s too bad June’s helplessness is almost endearing, stirring up emotions Lucia didn’t quite expect.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Sister Matthew and Sister Rose: Novices in Love by Carol Anne Douglas

    Maureen Collins, recently named Sister Matthew in the novitiate at St. Euphrosnye’s convent in Western Maryland in 1962, doubts the existence of God. She entered the convent for several reasons: she thinks being surrounded by believers might help her believe; she knows she’s attracted to women and wants to avoid pressure to date men and marry; and she feels guilty about something that happened when she was in high school.

    She quickly falls in love with Rose Clancy, now Sister Rose, another novice who also is attracted to women. Rose is more religious, but she reciprocates Sister Matthew’s feelings. She grew up with an alcoholic mother and found a refuge among the nuns who taught her.

    As the two move through postulancy and the novitiate, they encounter many challenges from the strict rules to memories of their respective pasts. The memory of an old murder intrudes in the present.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Out at the Plate: The Dot Wilkinson Story by Lynn Ames

    “Dot Wilkinson was the greatest female catcher ever to play softball. A bold, pioneering athlete, she refused to let others define her and instead defined herself. Her story is an inspiration to people everywhere.” —Billie Jean King, Sports Icon and Champion for Equality

    It’s not simply that Dot Wilkinson was one of the most decorated women’s softball players, bowlers, and athletes of all time and one of the original players from the three-time-world-champion PBSW Phoenix Ramblers softball team (1933–1965). Nor was it the length of her time here on Earth—over a century—although any of these things by themselves would be impressive.

    The magic of Dot’s story is in the details. It’s the tale of a childhood spent in poverty, an indomitable, unbreakable spirit, a determination to be the very best to play whatever sport she undertook, the independence to live her personal life on her own terms, and her tremendous success at all of it.

    Over more than a decade of countless conversations and interviews, Dot shared all of it with her dear friend, author Lynn Ames. Dot held nothing back. Out at the Plate, told through the lens of Dot and Lynn’s friendship, is the story of a forgotten era in women’s history and sports, and one extraordinary woman’s place at the center of it all.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Hot Honey Love by Nan Campbell

    Chef Stef’s passion for her profession is being severely tested. After a disastrous appearance on a cooking competition show, she has become a meme. The entire Internet now knows her as the Kitchen Bawler. Her ascent through the fine dining kitchens of New York City has been thoroughly derailed, but she has a plan to get her career back on track. She’ll make cooking videos on YouTube to foil the algorithm and overhaul her search engine results. One problem: she knows nothing about creating video content.

    Enter Mallory Radowski. She’s a talented filmmaker currently earning a living as a wedding videographer, with complicated reasons of her own for her reluctance to help Stef. Mallory lives with anxiety, and is the pickiest eater imaginable. Food—Stef’s love language—is untranslatable to her. How can she make Stef’s food look delicious if she won’t eat any of it?

    Stef has to trust that Mallory’s videos can get her cooking food she’s proud of again, but it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire when she starts to fall for her.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Moon Over Cape Cod Bay by Renn Loraine

    Marion has been discovered in a locked room, covered in blood, next to the lifeless body of her father – a man she hated. She knows she’s in trouble. She knows what it looks like. And what’s worse, no one believes her when she tells them she saw his killer.

    Intent on protecting her young niece from a threat she knows still exists, Marion hires a woman to watch over her – the attractive and engaging Sena. But things get complicated when Sena awakens something in Marion that she has long suppressed.

    Marion knows that the investigators are targeting her, and she’s running out of time. Because they’re going to find her guilty of murder – unless she can find the killer who walks through walls.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee

    Jessica Jae-un Miller came to Peach Blossom, Georgia, for a visit, not a breakdown. But when her rental car dies on the outskirts of town, mechanic Lavenia ‘Vini’ Williams provides a tow — and a very welcome jump start to Jessica’s heart. It’s been a minute since Jessica’s last fling — her relationship specialty — and Vini checks all the right boxes. If only the sexy car whisperer seemed interested…

    Vini knows herself and what she wants. She loves her job, her family, her hometown — but she’d love to fall in love. Jessica stirs up all the right feelings, but the city girl has no intention of staying in Peach Blossom. Why sign up for a broken heart?

    But the temptation is real as Vini goes out of her way to drive a carless Jessica around town. The pair can’t seem to keep their distance — or their hands to themselves. With only six weeks to figure out where their red-hot chemistry might lead, Vini and Jessica will have to decide if home can be where the heart is when the heart only knows how to run.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    The Lily and the Crown by Roslyn Sinclair

    Ariana “Ari” Geiker lives an isolated life on an imperial space station commanded by her father. The skilled, young botanist rarely leaves her living quarters, where she maintains an elaborate garden. When an imperious older woman is captured from a pirate ship and given to her as a slave, Ariana’s perfectly ordered life is thrown into chaos. Her nameless slave is watchful, intelligent, dangerous, and sexy, and seems to know an awful lot about tactics, star charts, and the dread, marauding pirate queen, Mir. What happens when the slave also reveals an expertise in seduction to her innocent mistress?

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Straight Girls Don’t Cry by S.E. Chandler

    Canny, well, she goes by her last name because Rose never fit her anyway, is getting by week to week–and sometimes, table to table–after dropping out of art school. So what if she’s talented. Life isn’t supposed to work out for the daughter of an addict and get-rich-quick (get-broke-quicker) schemer.

    Still Canny believes in humanity and helps out an overwhelmed mom of three, Ella, struggling to enjoy a meal out with a useless husband, Callahan. Ella offers Canny a nanny job, but she has reservations–and no idea what a nanny does. Of course, she falls in love with the Three Amigos, and can’t believe her luck with Ella’s generous offer.

    She soon finds herself falling for Ella too. Useless Husband’s philandering pushes them together…but then drives them apart. Will her lost chances and found family go the distance or end in agony ever after?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Witchbound: Book One by Sable Cross

    A forbidden book…

    A forbidden spell…

    A forbidden love…

    Strawberry has always struggled for recognition, among her magical superiors, hindered by her unconventional talents and her family’s disgraced legacy. Seeking the opportunity to prove herself, she takes an ancient and prohibited tome written in mysterious runes, and strikes a dangerous bargain with the formidable Eris Divine, the seductive and coldly regal vampire queen who rules the city’s supernatural underworld.

    As Strawberry delves deeper into her magical studies under the irresistibly aloof Eris, forbidden passion blossoms, and an undeniable spark ignites between the optimistic witch and the immortal queen.

    Eager to gain Eris’s approval, Strawberry performs a forbidden spell so powerful it almost kills her, and binds the unsuspecting vampire queen to the witch priestess.

    Overcome with guilt, Strawberry struggles with the knowledge and subsequent result of the binding spell. And with the supernatural factions on the brink of war, how will she confess to the already overworked Eris what she’s done?

    How does she face the woman she loves more than life with a secret and a betrayal so devastating?

    And how will the supernatural factions react when they learn of Strawberry’s reckless disregard for the most powerful of all magic?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Rand by Silvia Shaw

    Three hundred ago, Rand’s most powerful talisman, a medallion called the “Circle of Sheda”, was taken through the portal into Earth and lost. When Dr. Savannah Cole is on an archeology dig in Algeria, she takes shelter from a violent sandstorm and discovers the mysterious artifact under a Berber ruin. She soon learns unknown forces are at play, powerful secret forces beyond her control.

    Compelled to wear the medallion, she is swept through the portal into Rand. There, she must forge a new life and embrace her role as the wielder of ancient magic. Never before has someone from the “other world” been chosen to bear the medallion, someone not a warrior. It’s a puzzle Savannah must solve before it’s too late. Why has she been chosen? As she battles demonic creatures and dark sorcery, she fights to take her place as the rightful bearer in the long line of warrior women. But, the question remains; what is coming that the lost medallion must resurface after so many years?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

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  • Sapphic books that include an epilogue (Sapphic Book Bingo #20)

    Sapphic books that include an epilogue (Sapphic Book Bingo #20)

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    Sapphic book that includes an epilogue

    This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo square features sapphic books that include an epilogue.

    An epilogue is a section at the end of the novel that typically takes place months or even years after the main events of the book have concluded. Epilogues are common in genres such as romance, historical fiction, and speculative fiction.

     

    15 sapphic books that include an epilogue

    Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic books that include an epilogue:

     

    Just a Touch Away by Jae

    Hannah Martin has an unusual job: she’s a professional cuddler. While she has a big heart for her clients, she hasn’t found someone special to snuggle up to in her personal life.

    Winter Sullivan isn’t looking for love. She’s an aloof workaholic who’s built walls of ice around herself. She would rather drive toothpicks under her fingernails than cuddle, and she certainly doesn’t want to share her space with anyone.

    When Winter’s estranged father dies, he leaves her one last surprise: she and Hannah, a perfect stranger, will inherit a building together. But there’s a catch: first, they have to live together for ninety-two days.

    Winter is determined to dislike her rival, but soon finds Hannah isn’t what she expected at all. Thanks to a hilarious doormat war, a cuddle dare from Winter’s half sister, and a kiss in the most unusual of places, the frosty fortress around her heart begins to melt.

    Will she be able to accept that love might be just a touch away?

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    The Promise by Addison M. Conley

    When the world keeps pulling you under, who do you reach for?

    Life was stupidly hard enough, but when tragedy strikes Mika’s life, her high school world is flipped over and stepped on, hard. Aunt Val moving in sucks even more than she thought it would too. There’s just no way forward. Until the right girl shows up, that is.

    Willow has it all. Popular, pretty, and perky, she’s got senior year wrapped up in a hot little bow. Mika can’t imagine why Willow not only wants to be her friend but is also determined to have her back. When feelings start to bloom between them, Mika wonders if just maybe things will be okay…

    The world doesn’t work like that though, and when Mika is betrayed by her family and learns secrets that upend everything yet again, she isn’t sure how to get through. Can she find the strength to overcome and be the person she wants to be, or will she end up being forced into being someone she doesn’t recognize?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Finding Molly Parsons by Alyson Root

    Faith Parsons is finally 18 and eager to make her lesbian debut. But before stepping into this new chapter, she must escape the only world she’s ever known. Faith’s journey is not just a physical escape but a courageous leap into self-discovery, navigating uncharted territories with a heart full of hope. Guided by fate on a journey to find her long-lost Aunt Molly—the Parsons family’s sapphic secret—Faith is driven by a deep desire to break free from her toxic past and find a new familial embrace.

    As Faith unravels a series of cryptic clues, she meets Carmen, a steamy self-made woman with a penchant for avoiding commitment, Mateo, her sequin-covered counterpart, whose life is a perpetual red-carpet event, and Enid Butcher, the cannabis-loving and self-appointed neighborhood watch. This motley crew navigate family, friendship, and love in this uproarious journey to find Molly Parsons.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Binding Bricks by Ami Spencer

    When your lost chance reappears…

    Grace Khan is disappearing.

    Ten years ago, burdened by the devastation of losing her best friend to a life which didn’t include her, she got swept up in a marriage she should never have agreed to. Now, with the relationship barely more than a contentious cohabitation, she dedicates all her energy to her son, the only light in her otherwise dull and uninspiring life.

    Until across the crowded school playground she sees Mica Davenport. The lost love which has haunted her life with ifs and maybes is back, and their presence relights a fire in Grace that she thought was long extinguished.

    While Grace and Mica navigate the potential of rekindling their friendship, they both also have to face the hand those missing years has dealt them. While Mica argues with themself about getting close to Grace again, Grace has to rediscover who she is outside of being a mother. Quieting the voice of self-doubt which has become her constant companion proves harder than she anticipated, especially when the person offering their unwavering support also reminds Grace of her biggest regret…

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Others by Annette Mori

    As a seer and brilliant scientist, Em convinces her wife, Lise, to prepare for the inevitable conclusion, after the chaos caused by foreign countries attacking the United States. Leaving behind a wake of destruction and a new world order. Forcing them to navigate a frightening reality. After ten months in their cozy bomb shelter, they emerge to a world where the vegetation is surprisingly unaffected. Should they band together with other survivors or try to make it on their own? There are others in this unknown world. On the first day outside of their shelter, they meet members of an alternate society. Are they friend or foe? Change is inevitable. But will they change in ways Em and Lise can live with, or will this altered world change them into something unrecognizable?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Wolf Killer by C H Clepitt

    “Honey, it’s the ’80s. You need to find yourself a woman who can hold your hand in public, not one who calls you her ‘friend’ and keeps you away from her boss. You don’t need that kinda heartache. You think it’ll be OK, but it won’t, trust me. It starts to eat away at you.”

    FBI Agent Clara Hunter might not be girlfriend material, but as Red soon discovers, if you have a serial killer on your heels she is just the woman you want in your life!

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Just Kiss Her by Clare Lydon

    When Brooke’s best friend Noah asks her to pose as his girlfriend for his sister’s resort wedding, she can’t refuse. Sure, she’s a lesbian, but it’s a free holiday. How hard can it be to fake it for a few days?

    Harder than Brooke imagined when she meets Noah’s mum, Jen. Sophisticated, confident, and utterly gorgeous, Jen is everything Brooke wants. With each sizzling glance, casual touch, and chance encounter, an irresistible attraction pulls Brooke towards the one woman she can’t have.

    As their holiday in paradise unfolds, this scorching love triangle is about to reach its breaking point under the hot Mexican sun. Jen is strictly off-limits, but Brooke’s heart doesn’t care for rules. Can she keep her feelings buried, or will she just kiss her?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Bittersweet Homecoming by Eliza Lentzski

    They say you can never go home again, but sometimes you have no choice. A phone call in the middle of the night and news of a death in the family has Abigail Henry catching the next flight out of Los Angeles and traveling back to the small hometown she hasn’t visited in a decade. Nearly everything and everyone looks untouched by time, but it’s Abigail herself who has changed.

    A love story by genre, Bittersweet Homecoming grapples with the basic question: Can you really ever go home again? You might never be able to go home again, but it’s Charlotte, the beautiful bartender at the local pub, who can tempt Abigail into staying.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Saving Summer’s Santa by Elle Armstrong

    Ettia’s world is thrown into a spin when she is asked to go to the South Pole, to fill in for her uncle, the summer Santa, who has been taken ill. Upon arriving in Antarctica, Ettia is met with talking kangaroo’s and a sleigh that doesn’t like sand.

    When Cherri gets a call to rescue a stranded vehicle, she doesn’t realise that she may end up saving far more than the cute woman dressed in a mini Santa suit. But can Cherri risk leaving the security of Australia for her damsel in distress?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Sleepless Nights by Iona Kane

    Rock singer Alex Knight is at the top of her game, dazzling fans and selling out stadiums worldwide on her most electrifying tour yet. Her life may be shrouded in secrecy and loneliness, but her meteoric success leaves everyone wanting a piece of her.

    Tyra MacLean knows all too well the dark side of fame. Once a rising star herself, she’s scarred and disillusioned by the celebrity lifestyle, and just wants a quiet life. But when Alex insists on having Tyra and her band join the tour, Tyra has to sacrifice her peace and support her bandmates by returning to the relentless world that nearly broke her.

    As they tour America, can Alex and Tyra overcome their fears and differences to forge a deeper connection? Amid the glitz and chaos of the music industry, love might just be the ultimate encore.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    A Perfect Fifth by Jaycie Morrison

    Two divides perfectly into four, not five.

    Zara Keller is a survivor turned piano phenomenon living for a big dream. When she’s invited to spend the weekend with four long-time friends outside of London, she has little use for luxurious Fullerhill Manor—but Lady Jillian Stansfield might be a different story.

    The obligations thrust on Jillian Stansfield as Lady of the Manor center on home and family. Even her best friends expect her to put aside the desire for a meaningful life and carry on her legacy through marriage and children. Will the arrival of a fifth person be enough to tip the balance of their “gang of four” in her favor?

    Zara challenges Jillian to pursue grander plans and stirs something new and profound, compelling Jillian to be true to herself and make the hardest decisions of her life. But when tragedy strikes, saving Jillian may cost Zara the goal of a position at the Royal College of Music, and the chance at love.

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Frosting on the Cake 3: Still Crazy After All These Years by Karin Kallmaker

    From the cold winter dark of Alaska to the warm summer breezes of Hawaii, take a calendar year’s journey through the lives of women you already love.

    Love finds its full bloom during a Simply the Best May. The glamour of Hollywood combines with a Because I Said So Halloween. Making Up for Lost Time serves up delicious cookies–and lots of kisses. All kinds of family are welcome at the Car Pool Thanksgiving table.

    Inspired by classics like Wild Things and Painted Moon, as well as bestsellers and award-winners like Captain of Industry and Above Temptation, Karin’s third volume of follow-up stories shows the love, tenderness, and romance that stands the test of time.

    Karin Kallmaker’s delightful and moving short stories have won Lambda Literary and Golden Crown awards and are sure to have you falling in love with her characters all over again.

    Available at:

    Bella Books

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Love Never Dies by Laura G. Wiser

    Long before their lives in Cornwall, Julie and Hilary lived in London where they met and fell in love. This is a story of new beginnings; one in which Julie discovers who she is without depending on anyone or any label to define her.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Pursuing Pandora by Maggie Brown

    Corporate Lawyer, Winter Carlyle has become jaded with romance after a messy public breakup.

    When her aunt asks her to visit a high-end nightclub to check on her younger cousin, Winter reluctantly agrees. Poking her nose into his love-life is the last thing she wants to do. So what if he has a crush on Pandora, a lounge singer thirteen year his senior. The cougar might just teach him a thing or two.

    For Pandora, the sultry siren in the low-cut gown facade is all an act. She dislikes adulation and the numerous advances, especially from the Russian gangster and the aging playboy. She has her reasons for being at the club and romance is definitely off the agenda.

    But uptight, reserved Winter is a complication she hasn’t foreseen. And love has a way of striking at the most inopportune moments.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Embers by Tiffany E. Taylor

    If fairy godmothers truly did exist, the only thing in this world Embry Novak would wish for would be the freedom to be herself and live authentically. Her conniving and “fragile” stepmother, however, has Embry’s father convinced he is destined to lose a second wife to illness and death unless Embry does what she says daughters should do: give up their own lives to take care of their parents. Knowing she will be cut off from her butch identity—but racked with guilt at the thought of leaving her still-grieving father to the mercy of her scheming stepmother and her two mean, selfish sons—Embry moves back into his house and bears her hellish life in silence for her father’s sake, dreaming of the day she can finally escape the toxicity.

    Sapphire Keene is the incoming chief executive officer of Crunch, an organically sourced produce subscription box service headquartered locally. With one flagship brick-and-mortar store and thousands of online members, Crunch is wildly successful and Sapphire is looking forward to taking the reins from her retiring dad. But her socialite mother nags at her constantly to forget about this stupid career business and find a suitable man to marry—unaware that it has always been masculine of center females who have piqued Sapphire’s femme interest instead. While avoiding males as best she can, despite her mother’s strident efforts to find her a husband, Sapphire indulges in small, secret trysts whenever she has the opportunity—even though she knows those superficial connections have done little to satisfy her deep longing to find a butch mate with whom she can openly live and love.

    When Embry—a trained chef—meets the store manager of the Crunch physical location while on a shopping trip, she is unaware that the gay, flamboyant matchmaker smells a probable match between Sapphire and Embry, and sets out to do everything he can to make sure the two of them have their happily ever after. But conniving stepmothers, selfish stepbrothers, nagging mothers, business and family obligations, and a rocky path to love seem determined to put a stop to any potential relationship, even though Sapphire and Embry are falling hard and fast for each other. It’s anyone’s guess if they can circumvent the obstacles the universe keeps throwing in their way.

    Unless you have Marlow Matheson on your side, that is. Never underestimate the power of a gay fairy godfather with fabulous sequined sneakers who’s on a mission.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Leave a comment

    What book will you be reading for the “sapphic books that include an epilogue” category? Let us know in the comments!

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