Yes, you read that right. It stunned me when Sourcebooks emailed me with the news.
So, I’m passing it on to you.
At the moment, the ebook sale is available on these retail sites:
Apple Barnes & Noble GooglePlay
It’s supposed to be available on Amazon and Kobo.
Maybe if you give them a nudge, they might speed up the price lowering.
Just click the retailer of your choice listed above to download Meet the Earl at Midnight.
Please, tell a friend.
Your in the love of books!
Gina
A SWEET LOWCOUNTRY PROPOSAL is the second book in the Brides of Lowcountry series and the only one I’ve read. I do plan to read the first book in the series, A LOWCOUNTRY BRIDE. This is Marcus and Jaslene’s story. (Marcus lovingly calls her Jazz.) They have a history and planned to be married, but the wedding never took place due to a sad event that happened on their wedding day. Will they find their way back to each other as friends or more?
I love stories written by Black authors whose books are culturally rich. This book did not disappoint and has an Afro-Filipino twist. Set in the lowcountry of South Carolina, this story has Marcus as an archivist at the Lowcountry African American Heritage Museum.
Marcus and Jazz work well together. She’s a wedding and event planner and is starting to make a name for herself. She also helps with a fundraiser for the museum, which exceeds everyone’s expectations.
The story has a nice flow and held my interest from the first page to the last. Especially interesting are the ancestral tales and traditions. There are highs and lows to the story, and Marcus and Jazz make a good team. Jazz’s niece is a nice addition to the plot along with her love of the violin. There is satisfying closure on several fronts and the happily ever after is presented nicely. I love the cover.
Sweet Savage Flame’s book haul for January includes rare historical romance novels and insightful non-fiction books.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Sweet Savage Flame earns a small percentage from qualifying purchases.
Welcome to our January book haul, where we showcase the latest additions to Sweet Savage Flame’s romance library. This book roundup is a new feature on our blog, and we’ll be posting it once every month.
Typically, we aim to release the roundup on the last Saturday of each month, although this particular one posted on a Sunday.
Our purchases change from month to month, so in one month, we may only purchase a couple of books, and in another month, we may win an e-bay lot of dozens of old paperbacks.
Believe it or not, we read more than just romance. But we’ll keep this list limited to romance-related books, including both fiction and non-fiction.
This month, we only got eight romance-related books, four historical novels, and four non-fiction books useful in researching the history of the romance genre.
We were lucky enough to stumble upon some hidden gems that we couldn’t resist adding to our collection.
Now, we’ll share with you why these particular books caught our attention.
As always, our love of beautiful cover art is a driving force behind most of our book purchases.
Charles Garvice was a prominent romance novelist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This hardcover first edition of his 1905 novel Only One Love, or Who Was the Heir? is notable for its original condition and Art Nouveau design.
Charles Garvice wrote prolifically, with over 150 romance novels published, using the pseudonym Caroline Hart for some of his works. Despite poor critical reception, Garvice was highly successful commercially, selling millions of copies of his books.
The cover of my edition of Only One Love features hunter-green cloth boards with white titling and a picture of a woman. The dust jacket, although worn, is present, which is rare for early printings. This 120-year-old book has 304 pages with well-preserved binding, but some discoloration on the flyleaf.
I came upon this stunner of a cover while scouring the internet. The original George A. Bush artwork is for sale on eBay for under $900.
I’m taking a break from purchasing original artwork. Luckily, however, I was able to find a very rare edition of this Pinnacle-published romance. Wild Texas Winds has been republished and is available on Kindle for Amazon.
I already own the original Harry Bennett illustrated edition of Velvet Angel by Jude Deveraux.
However, I had to get the UK’s Arrow edition for the great cover art. The same artist created all the Arrow edition covers for Deveraux’s Velvet series.
These are incredibly hard to find, so I’m glad I finally have one.
This is another “case” of having to purchase a book for the cover art alone. Savage Heart by Cassie Edwards has been published and republished several times.
This 1985 Zebra edition features stunning artwork by Don Case.
Our haul was light, but these are all valuable collector’s books, hard to find, and pricy if you do. We won’t reveal how much we paid for them. Luckily, as a small business, we can claim them as work-related purchases and enjoy the sweet, sweet benefits of tax write-offs.
This book is only tangentially romance-related and deals with a very sensitive topic.
In 1977, Cathleen Crowell, a 16-year-old from Homewood, Illinois, claimed she was abducted and raped while walking home from work. She identified a suspect through a sketch and photo lineup, leading to the arrest of Gary Dotson.
In 1979, Dotson was convicted based on Crowell’s testimony and fraudulent forensic evidence. He received a 25–50-year prison sentence for kidnapping and rape.
In reality, Crowell lied, citing passages from Rosemary Roger’s Sweet Savage Love in her false account. After Dotson spent years in prison, Crowell recanted her story. However, the courts would not release him until years later.
I’m curious to see how the romance novel issues are relevant to the case, so I’ll let you know once I find out.
This pictorial archive is an essential aid for any artist or historian researching romantic images from the past.
Carol Belanger Grafton sifted through books, magazines, and romance ephemera from the 19th century to find drawn images of men and women in various stages of courtship, kissing, embracing, and holding hands. Some are more erotic: nudes. Others are sweeter: cupids and hearts.
If you were alive and aware at any time from the 1950s to the 1990s, you should be familiar with the face: Steve Holland. With his intense expressions and exaggerated poses, Holland was on all the covers—be they books, comics, or magazines.
He was a doctor, spy, firefighter, lover, and superhero.
Holland was Flash Gordon, Conan the Barbarian, Doc Savage, and the Avenger.
His face and body were on the covers of pulps, action-thrillers, science fiction, men’s magazines, comic books, and, yes, romance.
Holland passed away in 1997 at the age of 72.
Celebrating a bygone era in a heartfelt tribute, Agonizing Love: The Golden Era of Romance Comics is for fans of modern love stories, comics, and romance history.
Renowned pop-culture expert Michael Barson delves into the captivating stories that captured the American imagination during the 1950s and 1960s. This was the heyday of melodramatic romance comics
After a lavish December filled with holiday celebrations, we were more mindful and discerning in our purchases this past month. Although our haul was more modest compared to December, we believe that our choices reflect careful and thoughtful selection.
What are your thoughts on the books we got this month? We would love to hear your opinions.
As always, please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance.
Let Us Know Your Opinion!
In 1898, Swedish immigrant Olof Ohman unearthed the stone pictured above in Douglas County, Minnesota. Ohman found the stone tangled in tree roots while clearing a field. The farmer’s son was the one to point out the strange markings.
Named the Kensington Runestone for a nearby settlement, the unusual finding caused a sensation. Yet, it was debunked almost as soon as it caught the world’s attention.
Consider this. The 220 lb. stone appeared at a tense time between Sweden and Norway. Norwegians wanted to break from Swedish rule (they did, eventually gaining independence in 1905). But, the road to freedom was a rocky one.
In 1893, Norway had sent a replica of the Gokstad ship to Chicago for a world expo, a move which caused friction between Swedes and Norwegians. Many wondered if the Kensington runestone was a Swedish “one-upmanship.” Others called it a bid for unity.
Norwegians went as far as to point out that a Swedish immigrant found it.
Was the runestone a gambit to keep the countries together? It does recount long ago Swedes and Norwegians adventuring together. People accused Ohman of chiseling this tale for attention and for political reasons.
One head-scratching facet is the mix of runes etched on the stone. There are Early Old Swedish letters (a 14th century language which kept 4 Old Norse “Futhark” letters) and Late Old Swedish (a 15th century language with no Old Norse).
With all the uncertainty, the Kensington runestone soon faded from world attention.
Farmers of northern and central Minnesota have been finding Viking artifacts for over a hundred years. The historic pieces typically show up when fields are plowed. A few have been found by children playing on riverbanks—and everyone knows Vikings loved exploring rivers.
Now you tell me, what interesting Viking facts can you share? Tell me below. I’d love to read them.
P.S. Next week, Part 2 will feature credible theories with dates and evidence for Viking excursions in North America.
I’m happy to share that #HistoryThursday is back!
Just like my How to Eat Like a Viking blog series, we’ll dive into new and interesting places in Viking history. Get ready for How Far into North America did Vikings go? I promise a fun ride into the past.
My Guardians of Hades paranormal romance series is having a flash sale at Chirp, Barnes and Noble, Apple and Google Play. The first four books in this complete series are currently only $4.99 each until July 5th!
Ares
➡️ Chirp
➡️ Barnes and Noble
➡️ Apple US
➡️ Apple UK
➡️ Apple Canada
➡️ Apple Australia
➡️ Google Play
Valen
➡️ Chirp
➡️ Barnes and Noble
➡️ Apple US
➡️ Apple UK
➡️ Apple Canada
➡️ Apple Australia
➡️ Google Play
Esher
➡️ Chirp
➡️ Barnes and Noble
➡️ Apple US
➡️ Apple UK
➡️ Apple Canada
➡️ Apple Australia
➡️ Google Play
Marek
➡️ Chirp
➡️ Barnes and Noble
➡️ Apple US
➡️ Apple UK
➡️ Apple Canada
➡️ Apple Australia
➡️ Google Play
I’m a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In my books I create detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will love my books too.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you for participating!
Mallori N is the winner of my bonus giveaway and has been contacted by email. Congrats!
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
I’m a former park ranger, a nature nut, and a total history geek, and I like to write historical fiction that sweeps you off into national park adventures without ever leaving your home. You can learn more about me and my books here on my site and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. With eight novels under my belt (four set in our national parks), I’m excited to announce that I have a new book releasing this August! My upcoming release is a dual-timeline story—Where Trees Touch the Sky: A Redwood National Park Novel.
In the early 1920s, the accelerating destruction of the California redwoods is more than Marion can bear. Throwing herself headlong into the work of the Save the Redwoods League, she is shocked to learn that the man she’s grown to love is the son of one of the area’s worst timber barons. Though devastated by the betrayal, she realizes this could also be an opportunity–if only she can convince him to help preserve her favorite grove from his father’s grasp.
Nearly fifty years later, in 1972, polio survivor June Turner is deeply proud of the legacy her great aunt Marion has left as a redwood warrior. And despite her disability, June is determined to prove herself capable as a ranger at the recently established Redwood National Park. When aspiring film student Adam Garner approaches June to help make a documentary about Marion’s life, she swiftly grabs the opportunity to spread her aunt’s worthy reputation. That is, until they unearth a secret that might shatter the family legacy.
If you’ve had the opportunity to visit the California redwoods, you know how life-changing an experience it can be—the beauty, the size, and the age of these trees quickly put our everyday concerns into perspective. But if you haven’t been there, here are a few things these incredible giants can teach us.
You’re probably familiar with the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” When one visits the redwoods, it’s easy to get swept up in looking at individual trees. My daughter and I spent an entire hike pointing them out to each other. (“Look at this one. No, wait, how about THAT ONE?!”) And though each tree is marvelously unique, their mighty strength comes from the forest around them.
A coastal redwood’s size is mind-boggling. The tallest on record measured over 380 feet tall (116 meters)—that’s higher than a 30-story building. You would think a tree this large would need roots that dig nearly that deep into the earth just to keep from toppling over in a light breeze.
Would it surprise you to learn that redwoods have relatively shallow root systems?
How does a tree that’s significantly taller than the Statue of Liberty keep from getting blown over in storms?
Instead of reaching deep into the soil, each redwood tree extends its roots outward and intertwines with the roots of its neighbors. The trees support one another, deriving their strength and stability from those around them. A single redwood tree would be vulnerable to life’s storms and floods, but by living in community, they are strong.
I tend to struggle with self-sufficiency and pride, finding it difficult to rely on others for anything. I want to be like a redwood, admired for my strength. But God also designed me to live in a community—my family, church, friends, and neighbors. As much as I try to serve those around me, there are also times when I need to rely on others to hold me strong and accountable when the storms of life are trying to knock me flat.
Galatians 6:2-3 reads, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
So I hope you’re living like a redwood–sharing God’s strength with those around you and learning to accept their help in return.
The release date will come fast, so, I encourage you to pre-order Where Trees Touch the Sky on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Baker Book House, or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: choose
Link to Stop #25: the next stop on the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt is T.I. Lowe’s site!
But wait! Before you go, I’m giving away an additional book to one entrant—the winner can choose any one of my books (even the new one if you’re willing to wait until August). All you have to do to enter my giveaway is sign up to receive my COMPASS CLUB newsletter (top right of this page) and then let me know in the comments below that you’re a subscriber. [Current subscribers can note that in the comments]. And to make this even more fun, while you’re commenting about being a subscriber, tell everyone which national park you dream of visiting! [This paperback giveaway is open to US addresses, only. For international winners, I can arrange to send you an ebook. The giveaway begins on 3/14/2024 at 12:01 am Mountain, and I’ll accept entries through 3/18/2024 at 12:01 am Mountain. The winner will be announced on March 22, 2024.] THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU!
Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Scavenger Hunting!
Love comes easily to some. Others have to fight for it…
Purity Mayfield doesn’t entertain romantic notions. She knows marriage isn’t a possibility and has accepted her lot in life is that of a governess. She’s good at her job, too. So, when she sees a little girl being mistreated by her so-called caretaker, Purity doesn’t hesitate to step in and help. Unfortunately, the girl’s cynical and entirely too attractive father is neither grateful nor impressed by her intervention…
Theran Rutland had—and lost—one great love. He has no intention of seeking another. So, romance is the last thing on his mind when the beautiful Purity accuses his sister-in-law of abusing his daughter. But when her allegations prove true, Theran offers Purity a governess position. Imagine his surprise when he starts to develop actual feelings for her…
When all is said and done, Purity and Theran might have a shot at happily ever after. But only if a jealous, vengeful rival and a shocking revelation about Purity’s past don’t ruin everything first…
Free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers
Sometimes you have to take a few risks on the road to happily ever after…
Purchase A LADY, A KISS, A CHRISTMAS WISH for only 99¢ here!
Offer good though April 4, 2022
She was only supposed to care for his wards…not fall in love with him.
Download NO LADY FOR THE LORD for FREE here!
Offer good though April 4, 2022
Yielding to their hearts’ desires would be oh-so-sweet…and oh-so-dangerous…
Purchase LOVE LESSONS FOR A LADY for only $1.99 here!
Offer good though April 4, 2022
It’s time for another Micro-Trope category of the Sapphic Book Bingo! This week, we’re covering sapphic characters with unique nicknames.
For this category, read a sapphic book in which the main characters have special nicknames for each other that no other character uses. It has to be a nickname that is unique to their relationship, not a common endearment like “honey” or “baby.”
Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic books in which the characters have unique nicknames for each other:
Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
A single text message can change everything!
Flirting has never been Denny’s strong suit, but so what if she’s too shy to ask women out? She’s content with her simple life, working as a cashier and helping her sister raise her niece.
But then she gets a wrong-number text message from a stranger named Eliza, asking her of all people for dating advice! Eliza is Denny’s total opposite: witty, outgoing—and straight. Despite their differences, the accidental text sparks an unlikely friendship. Soon, Eliza—self-proclaimed queen of disastrous first dates—would rather banter back and forth with Denny than to keep trying her luck at online dating.
When they meet in person, there’s an instant connection. But what Eliza is feeling can’t be attraction, right? It doesn’t mean a thing that she’s starting to wish the guys she dates would be more like Denny. Or does it? Can the wrong number lead to the right woman after all?
Available at:
Ylva Publishing
Amazon
Apple Books
Audible
Mother of Pearl: A Sapphic Sugar Baby Romance by A.A. Fairview
The summer has never been so sweet.
Lydia hadn’t planned to spend the summer poolside. She was supposed to get an internship in the city and spend nights with her girlfriend. Instead she’s single and making minimum wage as a country club lifeguard. Chlorine might dry out her scales, but it’s not all bad.
At least she can flirt on company time.
Stephanie is a bombshell mom with a fortune five-hundred job but without a wedding ring. She might have baggage, but it’s designer–and she’s happy to share the wealth with Lydia in exchange for some lessons in fishfolk biology.
Lydia isn’t sure she’s ready to navigate exes, kids, or even a proper relationship. But summers never last forever. Will this situationship be any different?
Available at:
Amazon
Apple Books
Don’t Quit Your Daydream by Adrian J. Smith
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?
You Are My Sunshine by Anne-Marie Pellow
Sid’s New Year plan is to hide away in her late mum’s house, finishing the Christmas chocolates. After she’s taken the dog for his early morning walk. In her pyjamas. Who’s to see? It’s a tiny village, and it’s only a quick whizz around the block.
Julia has a new job working for an estate agent. She’s suited and booted, on her way to a viewing when she turns the corner, and sees a face from the past. The face of the woman she hurt thirty years ago.
It’s a small community and their paths cross again. Julia wants to explain herself. Sid doesn’t want to listen. But memories of the past won’t go away.
From enemies to band mates, and icebergs to palm trees, life was a rocky road to negotiate. Three decades on, it’s still a learning curve. But have they mellowed enough to navigate a relationship second time around?
Available at:
Amazon
Synchronicity by J.J. Hale
While running the dance program at a summer camp for neurodivergent kids, Haley Tyne bumps into the mysterious woman who ghosted her after a life-altering date two years ago, and their connection is undeniable. Cal O’Shea took a job at the camp to watch over her sister. She never anticipated seeing the woman who left a beautiful mark on a terrible night in her past.
When Haley’s dance partner is injured and their end-of-summer show is in jeopardy, Cal steps in, reviving memories from the past better left behind. With passion igniting in stolen moments, their dance becomes more emotional than anticipated. As past and present intertwine, their dance of destiny may bind their hearts or become just another fleeting step in their separate journeys.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple Books
Wish Upon a Rainbow Star by Jamey Moody
Celeste Starr is about to begin a career-defining research project in astronomy when she has an overnight layover in Dallas. Full of too much excitement to sleep, Celeste finds herself in the hotel bar.
There, the notoriously single, Celeste meets Esse Perkins who has a sweet southern drawl that enchants Celeste with each sultry syllable. The two unlikely strangers find themselves entwined in a night of passion neither will soon forget.
The next day as Celeste begins a long day of travel to the remote mountains of west Texas, she knows she’ll never see Esse again, but is nonetheless irritated with herself for not at least getting her number.
As the weather turns this never ending day into a treacherous journey Celeste finds herself not thinking of her beloved stars, but wishing she was once again in the arms of Esse Perkins. At times Celeste doubted she’d make it through the blinding snowstorm when she finally arrived at a rural hotel where the manager’s smiling face welcomed her inside the warm haven.
Celeste blinked and couldn’t believe her eyes. Esse Perkins! Here? How could it be?
Available at:
Amazon
A Marine Discovery by Jax Meyer
In more than five years together, Marines Cameron Warren and Sharon Rodriguez have weathered every challenge thrown at their relationship — including “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
But the world changed on September 11, leaving Cam to face civilian life on her own while Sharon deploys to Iraq.
For seven months, Cam reluctantly faces new challenges: making new friends, supporting those left behind, and realizing for the first time that she’s autistic. Life is hard, but everything returns to normal when Sharon comes home. Right?
Available at:
Amazon
The Golden Trinity by Robyn Nyx
Rayne Marcellus knows what people want, and she’s damn good at getting it. Antiquities is her game, and she’s the best there is, moving in the shadows even as she trades in the light. When an ambitious criminal approaches her to take on a deadlier game than even she’s willing to play, she knows she has to stop him. But she’ll need help… After a previous betrayal, Chase Stinsen doesn’t want anything to do with Rayne. Chase believes archeology is a tool to understand the past in an effort to help the future and has no use for profiting from the finds of history. But when Rayne proposes they track the legendary Golden Trinity, with the added benefit of helping indigenous tribes, she’s hooked. Danger lurks around every corner, and their defenses crumble as they have to depend on one another to survive. If Chase can finally trust Rayne again, she might just end up with more than the gold.
Available at:
Amazon
The Shattered Path by Maggie Brown
Vanessa Templeton, the formidable head of a global media empire, has it all. Until she doesn’t. Her world changes in an instant, tumbling her into the unknown.
Eden Ford, a renowned photographer, has been travelling the world in her quest for the perfect pictures. She thought she was past finding love, especially on an isolated island in the middle of the sea. That is until Vanessa falls into her world.
When they meet, the attraction is powerful, but is it real?
The Shattered Path is a poignant story of love, loss, and the enduring hope that even the most fractured memories can find a way back to the heart where they belong.
Available at:
Amazon
On My Way There by Jaycie Morrison
Maxine Terrell lurches into adulthood madly in love with a woman and her child. Unfortunately, Daphne Polk is someone else’s wife, and her daughter Lena is someone else’s child. But Daphne’s been there for her ever since Max and her father weathered a terrible tragedy, one that’s still whispered about in their small Texas town. After years of hope and heartbreak, and too many lies to count, Max seems poised to settle for the various “friends with benefits” she encounters.
Unexpectedly wealthy after her father’s death and emotionally adrift with no idea what she really wants from life, Max decides to take to the road and signs up to become a truck driver. During her training in Lubbock, she meets Trillian—“Thrill”—and manages to screw things up from the start. After another chance encounter and a sweet kiss she can’t forget, Max begins to rethink not only what, but who she really wants.
As Max traverses the open road, her journey of impossible love, loss, and courage mirrors her voyage of self-discovery. But before she can look to the future, she must come to terms with the history she’d rather forget.
Available at:
Bold Strokes Books
Amazon
Apple Books
Traveller by Caitríona Page
Ríona isn’t out yet. After her mother passes away, she wants nothing more than to leave her small, rural life but when she finds her perfect escape, she finds the perfect reason to stay.
After she meets Tomi, the strong, handsome mechanic with a tragic past of her own, she is forced to confront the secret she’s kept to herself, the same secret she’s trying to escape from. Reeling from a brutal heartbreak, the loss of her mother, and the end of a friendship she once thought unbreakable, Ríona has to learn to live her truth.
A coming of age story about learning to love yourself, and to trust those who call you family.
Available at:
Amazon
The Piano in the Tree by Jo Havens
Sixteen years ago, something terrible kept Polly from meeting her girlfriend at a train station in Berlin. Dreams were shattered. Hearts were broken. Two women continued through life alone.
Now, Ksenia Tokarycz is obliged to come back to Australia. Sure, she does it in triumph and she does it in style, but a tardy delivery sends her in search of her piano – back to her childhood home, back to the place where Polly Paterson is still just next door.
High on the escarpment where the summer storms beat their way up the coast and hurl their fury against the sandstone cliffs, a love that never truly died forces two women to come to terms with their scars.
But there is a curious sound on the breeze. There is music on the breath of the wind. And when Toks sees what has happened to her piano, she fears there is a very strong chance her darling Pearl might be utterly mad.
Available at:
Amazon
My Aunt, The Vampire by Autumn Wolff
Vedalia’s coming out didn’t exactly go as planned. Instead of living the queer life of her dreams, she wound up being kidnapped by a cult run by her grandfather. And after being chained in a basement for a month, things look pretty grim. That is. . . until a mysterious woman breaks her out.
The woman turns out to be a vampire, and she introduces herself as Vedalia’s estranged aunt Becky. The vampire offers to take her niece in and give her a new life. Eager to escape her grandfather, Vedalia accepts Becky’s offer and soon finds herself the new daughter of a vampire and a witch.
Starting fresh in Maine, Vedalia meets Becky’s wife, Jazmine. With the help of her new monster family, she begins to put the pieces of her life back together: starting her senior year of high school, making new friends, and even dating a mysterious girl with a few secrets of her own.
Jazmine and Becky give their niece the free, queer life she’s always wanted. And it isn’t long before she’s fully immersed in a life of supernatural adventure.
But the shadow of Vedalia’s grandfather stretches far across the country. Between monster hunters and the cult Vedalia narrowly escaped, the teen soon realizes she’ll have to fight to keep the new life she’s been given. Of course, she won’t be alone. And she might not be entirely human once everything is said and done.
Available at:
Amazon
Apple Books
Audible
Unworthy by J.A. Vodvarka
Nyssa Blacksea is eager to silence her doubters. The only warrior in her guild without magick, she’s forced to rely solely on her martial arts mastery, unwavering confidence, and charisma. When given the chance to hunt down a mysterious woman named Quinn, and earn the coveted title of Ashcloak, Nyssa seizes the opportunity. Track down a fugitive? An easy task.
There’s just one problem—Quinn isn’t receptive to Nyssa’s charms and refuses to go down without a fight. Dangerous secrets swirl around Quinn and a treacherous guild leader, rattling Nyssa’s faith in the very system that raised her.
Though troubled by the sinking feeling she’s not meant to survive the mission, Nyssa confronts the dangers awaiting her, clashing with pirates, assassins, and undead horrors. Duty pulls her in one direction, but a strange, undeniable spark of connection draws her towards Quinn. With only her heart and code of honor to guide her, Nyssa risks death to stay true to herself.
Clean by Simonetta Pastorini
Pop star Sydney Grant has it all—money, fame, and a long line of gorgeous exes. Yet beneath the polished facade lies a woman haunted by a lost love and increasingly consumed by lies, mistakes, and loneliness. Fame demands everything from Sydney—her privacy, peace of mind, and, it seems, her very soul. Struggling to reconcile the public’s image of her with her true self, she drowns in a dangerous cocktail of drugs and self-loathing.
Then she meets Haley Butler, a rising actress with a heart still unscarred by the darker side of fame. Haley’s honesty and warmth shake Sydney in ways she never expected, sparking a rare, electric connection. But Sydney’s terrified of letting anyone in too close. Pushing Haley away seems the only way to keep her safe from Sydney’s darkness, even if it means giving up the only chance at love and happiness.
Can Sydney break free from her destructive habits and open herself to a real love she’s always doubted she deserves, or will her demons destroy everything she holds dear?
Available at:
Amazon
What book will you be reading for the “sapphic characters with unique nicknames” category? Let us know in the comments!
THE HEART OF A HERO is the second book in the Global Search and Rescue series and it did not disappoint. My adrenaline was high and my heart was racing as the story unfolded in different locales. Set in Minnesota, the Florida Keys, Russia, and Italy, there were many plot lines woven nicely together. The descriptions made me feel like I was there.
In THE HEART OF A HERO, Aria and Jake take one step forward and many more back as their paths cross over and over again. They never seem to be on the same page at the same time as they deal with many perils, including hurricanes, people they befriend, injuries, illnesses, escaped inmates, and more.
There are so many twists and turns to the story, and every detail is important—whether currently or sometime in the future. We meet up with many of the characters we met before in Alaska (in the previous book) and even when they’re not at the forefront, their stories are important. It was nice seeing how their lives were panning out once they left Alaska. The ending, while surprising, leads us into the next book in the series, THE PRICE OF VALOR, and I can’t wait to read it.
If you like action and adventure stories with mystery and romance set in various locales, pick up this book. You’ll be glad you did.
Comanche Cowboy by Georgina Gentry follows the captivating journey of a man and a woman against the backdrop of the Old West.
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Comanche Cowboy by Georgina Gentry
Rating: 
Published: 1988
Illustrator: Diane Sivavec
Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram
Book Series: Panorama of the Old West #3
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Western Romance
Pages: 512
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
MILD SPOILER ALERT
This is a review of Comanche Cowboy, book #3, in Georgina Gentry’s “Panorama of the Old West” series.
A reminder: although the books in the series are in numerical order, they are not in chronological order. Seeds of storylines that begin in this book will be picked up in future novels, but not necessarily in the following book.
Comanche Cowboy begins in Wichita, Kansas, in late June 1874. This book’s heroine, Cayenne Carol McBride—or, as her younger sisters call her, Cee-Cee—is trying to return home to Texas as her family is in major trouble.
The problem is that the simmering tension between whites and Indians is reaching a boiling point, and it’s very dangerous.
She decides to hire Maverick Durango, the hero of the book, to accompany her. Cayenne offers him all her money: $18.25. Maverick refuses.
She offers him herself. Maverick takes her up on that offer! Cayenne thinks Maverick is going to marry her; he doesn’t see things that way. He rapes her, but then they become lovers.
Cayenne doesn’t explain to Maverick the real reason she wants to hire him, but once he discovers her father is Jim McBride, Maverick agrees to escort her. As they make their way to Texas, they face many perils: bandits, Comancheros, and Indians. We also learn what trouble Cayenne’s family is in and why Maverick is so interested in going to see Jim McBride.
The scene then shifts to McBride, Texas (the town is named after Jim, who is considered a local hero).
Final confrontations happen, and truths are revealed. In the end, Cayenne and Maverick marry and have a daughter. And as the book closes, the seeds for future stories are planted as they have their “Happily Ever After” ending.
The best books make me feel like I’m watching the characters’ lives play out in front of me rather than reading words. This is the case with Comanche Cowboy.
Like Rosanne Bittner, an author whose work I admire, Ms. Gentry has written a highly complex, emotional book centered around three primary characters: Cayenne, Maverick, and Jim.
Unusually, the characters with the most depth are Maverick and Jim, two men who don’t meet until the end of the book but who have many threads that connect them to each other. Both men made–and are making–decisions that will affect their lives as well as Cayenne’s. The result is a very emotionally rich book.
Ms. Gentry does a great deal of research into her subjects. She also includes a list of some of her source material in the back of the book. Ms. Gentry’s research shows as she seamlessly weaves her fictional characters with real-life figures from history.
Like Ms. Bittner’s work, Ms. Gentry’s is both violent and misogynistic. I found myself having mixed feelings toward Cayenne and Maverick. Cayenne because I didn’t agree with some of her views. As for Maverick, he was an unheroic hero because he raped Cayenne twice.
There are multiple love scenes between Cayenne and Maverick. Some are fairly hot and different (different positions and acts than typically found in romance novels, which I like).
In addition to Maverick’s violations of Cayenne, there are multiple scenes of assault, battery, rape, shootings, and killings. While most of the violence is not graphic, there are some scenes that would be at home in an adult Western.
In many ways, Comanche Cowboy by Georgina Gentry is reminiscent of classic Western movies. Even though Westerns aren’t “in” right now, this would be a great novel to adapt into a film.
Comanche Cowboy won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love books with depth and a somewhat anti-hero hero will find much to like here.
| Rating Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
4.5 |
| Characters |
4.5 |
| Writing |
5 |
| Chemistry |
5 |
| Fun Factor |
4.5 |
| Cover |
4.5 |
| Overall: | 4.7 |
REDSKINNED SNAKE
Feisty, stubborn Cayenne McBride just had to get to her sick daddy’s Texas ranch where some lowdown outlaws had holed up. And after she met the big, fearless half-breed Maverick Durango, she knew he’d be the perfect guide. But when the towering trail-boss demanded her innocence in exchange for his protection, the Lone Star lovely agreed, plotting all along to use him as bait for the gun-toughs at the end of the road. Then Cayenne fell in love with her tormentor–with no way out of sacrificing his life so she could save her Pa’s!REDHEADED SIREN
Onyx-haired Maverick Durango could’ve whooped with joy when he discovered that the spirited, sexy gal who’d hired him was his old enemy’s daughter. The hot-blooded ranchhand would slake ins lust with the wench, then do in her father to complete his revenge. But Maverick never figured that way before they reached their destination he’d become obsessed with the supple spitfire–yet have no choice but to fulfill his lifelong plan. All he craved now were Cayenne’s lips, Cayenne’s laugh, Cayenne’s love…and all he ever wanted to be was her everlasting Comanche CowboyComanche Cowboy by Georgina Gentry
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