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  • Sapphic sloth-burn romance (Sapphic Book Bingo #14)

    Sapphic sloth-burn romance (Sapphic Book Bingo #14)

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    Sapphic sloth-burn romance

    This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category features sapphic slow-burn romance novels!

    “Sloth burn” is a tongue-in-cheek term for a very slow slow-burn romance in which the romance between the main characters develops at such an excruciatingly slow pace that it makes a sloth look speedy in comparison! I heard the term for the first time when I was working on my latest duology, Enemies by Nature and Shifting Nature, in which it takes the characters two entire novels to turn from enemies into lovers!

     

    15 sapphic sloth-burn romance novels

    Below, you’ll find 15 sapphic sloth-burn romance novels:

     

    Damage Control by Jae

    An actress practically since birth, Grace Durand has finally made it in Hollywood. When a photo of her in a seeming compromising situation with another woman is plastered all over the tabloids, she fears for her career as a lead in romantic movies.

    Desperate for a publicist who’ll convince America that she’s straight, Grace hires Lauren Pearce, one of Hollywood’s leading PR agents, not knowing that she’s a lesbian.

    Lauren has dealt with PR nightmares for years, so doing damage control for one more rich, spoiled client shouldn’t be a problem—or so she thinks. But the more time she spends with Grace, the more she realizes how different she is from her television persona.

    Getting involved with her client is not in her game plan, especially since it would confirm the rumors and ruin Grace’s career, but the attraction between them is growing as they run the gauntlet of the paparazzi together.

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    The Love Project by TB Markinson & Miranda MacLeod

    Joni Fisher is facing economic ruin. The once successful advice column she runs with her mother is on the brink of cancellation, and it’ll take a miracle to turn things around. Joni’s last-ditch effort to save her job and preserve her mother’s legacy is The Love Project, a web series she’s developing to bring the Help Me Henrietta franchise alive for a new generation. All she needs is a willing victim…er, star.

    Hope Alvarez dreams of falling in love, but she’s always suspected she’s different. Physical attraction is a foreign language to her. After her only prospect for a meaningful relationship falls through, Hope has to face the fact that she’s completely hopeless when it comes to love. Can her favorite advice columnist, Henrietta, save her from a lonely future?

    As the series gets underway, fans swoon for the lovable yet unlucky Hope, and they’re not the only ones. Joni is smitten, too. But she’s been down that road before, vowing never again to fall for a straight woman who will keep her forever in the friend zone. Except, what if she’s been reading the situation all wrong? Helping Hope make sense of her identity might save Joni’s job, but will it also bring her love?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    The Blank White Page by Ali Spooner

    Tatum Chastain, Corporate Officer of Chastain International, her family’s real estate empire, accepts the challenge her father, Charles, has set forth. Charles has tasked Tatum and her brother, Charlie, to survive in the wilderness for six months to prove their skills in taking over the family business once he retires. Charles fails to realize that Tatum would fall in love with the southeastern Alaska cabin he has chosen for her to test her resilience and creativity. Tatum prepares for life in the bush, and shortly after she arrives, Poe, a beautiful raven, becomes her companion and guardian. When River Foster, a designated hunter for her village, crosses Tatum’s path, she finds a different kind of love awaits her.

    Available at:

    Affinity Rainbow Publications

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Only Mostly Dead by Alli Temple

    No one tells you how much paperwork there is after you die.

    I expected to wake up on a cloud where angels played harps and fed me grapes. Instead, I’m a ghost stuck in suburban Toronto. The only one who can see me is an unemployed grim reaper who’d rather play video games.

    Turns out the business of dying is a train wreck. But if there was ever a girl boss who could get it back on track, it’s me. All I need is a little help from my new undead roommate, whether they want to be involved or not.

    Nothing at Afterlife Incorporated moves quickly and if I don’t find a way out soon there won’t be anything left of me to cross over. They say death can be easy, but being only mostly dead sucks.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Meeting Millie by Clare Ashton

    Oxford – celebrated city of dreaming spires and class warfare – is an ambition come true for lesbian, geeky, upper-middle-class Charlotte and straight, charismatic, working-class Millie.

    Against the odds, theirs is an instant, best friendship. Forever.

    Exuberant Millie is a breath of fresh air for polite Charlotte and a force of nature within the university’s hallowed walls. And they are going to be the best lawyers of their year and change the world.

    But their world changes instead when things go queerly sideways, and they haven’t seen each other since.

    Ten years on and Charlotte returns to where it all began. She has a new job at a prestigious law firm and Oxford is as beautiful as ever. She’s a safe distance from her overbearing barrister mother Nicola and three office floors from her snappy college mentor, Olivia.

    Then Millie bounds around the corner wanting to be friends again and it’s as if the last decade never happened. Will it be different the second time around? Can they be friends again? Or will love and attraction change things?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Remember Me by Del Robertson

    Sarah Lindley followed her brother into the untamed Wild West in search of adventure. She found it – in the form of a woman unlike any she’d ever met before.

    Buckshot Bailey Bowen thought she had settled down as a ranch hand. That was until a chance encounter with a feisty, Irish redhead turned her world upside down.

    Sarah and Bailey meet again in San Antonio in an old, crumbling mission. As the infamous thirteen-day siege rages about them, they fall hopelessly in love. Surrounded by enemy forces, their future looks uncertain. Will they – and their love – survive against such insurmountable odds?

    The cry “Remember The Alamo” has long echoed throughout history. Now, the women that were at the Battle of The Alamo ask you to Remember Me.

    Available at:

    Affinity Rainbow Publications

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Lighthouse Keeper by Eliza Lentzski

    In 1874, in the quaint coastal town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, the ocean’s waves echo with tales of lost love. Lizzy Darby, a resilient young woman with a heart marked by past sorrows, seeks refuge in the familiarity of her parents’ general store. Scarred by the loss of her first love to the unpredictable sea, Lizzy strives to find solace in the routine of her daily life.

    Joana Maria Pascoal is a spirited immigrant from the Azores Islands. In her quest for a brighter future for her family, Joana adopts the guise of a man to secure a lucrative position as the town’s lighthouse keeper. As Lizzy and Joana’s lives become intertwined, an undeniable connection forms, one that transcends the boundaries imposed by their society.

    Haunted by the wreckage of her past romance, Lizzy grapples with the fear of opening her heart again. Joana, trapped by a disguise that shields her from prejudice but endangers her livelihood, battles the urge to succumb to a forbidden love. Her dual identity hangs in the balance, a secret that, if exposed, could shatter the financial support crucial for her family’s survival.

    Clandestine meetings, stolen moments, and the heart’s yearnings collide with the harsh realities of a world bound by tradition and familial expectations. Will the secrets that Lizzy and Joana harbor tear them apart, or can their burgeoning relationship overcome the circumstances that threaten a promising new love?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Speak EZ by Elle E. Ire

    On New Year’s Eve, in 1923, someone walked into Michelle “Mickey” McFadden’s queer speakeasy hidden beneath the Big City Little Theater and shot her and her dog, EZ, dead. Or . . . sort of, mostly, kind of dead, maybe? Because instead of crossing over, they become trapped within the bar’s cinderblock walls. And though EZ eventually manages to wriggle his way free, Mickey remains, her spirit frozen in time.

    In 2022, employees of the Big City Little Theater begin encountering a stray dog sneaking in and around the premises. When Ciara, the theater’s bookkeeper, saves the dog from being hit by a truck, she begins to suspect there’s something odd about the mysterious canine and makes it her mission to catch him and either return him to his owners or keep him as her own.

    That is until Ciara and her friends happen upon the sealed-up speakeasy in the theater’s subbasement —and find the dog inside. But how did he get in there when the door was locked? And why are there bullet holes in the otherwise beautifully preserved bar? Their discovery launches them on the investigation of a lifetime, complete with an ancient murder to solve, strange occurrences to explain, and a missing person to find.

    When Mickey’s spirit, which has been trapped in the mysterious in-between for the past hundred years, begins to find her way out, she and Ciara finally come face-to-face. And it’s more than the speakeasy’s old wiring that makes sparks fly. Ciara’s falling hard for Mickey and Mickey for her. Can they solve the murder and figure out how EZ returned to the world of the living before the clock strikes midnight on the next New Year’s Eve?

    Because if they don’t, they’re pretty certain Mickey’s time will finally be up—this time for good.

    Available at:

    Bywater Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Disconnected by Annette Mori

    Vanna has always felt like something was off with her parents, leaving her feeling oddly disconnected. She decides to move across the country and establish a new and independent life after college. On the way to her new position in Flagstaff, Arizona, Vanna meets out and proud Trey, who loves to flirt.

    Trey has never forgotten the beautiful young woman she met briefly and is determined to ensure their paths cross again.

    Thousands of miles from home, Vanna finds out more about herself, but not her feeling of being disconnected from her parents. Will Vanna ever form the connection she desperately seeks? Does Trey’s determination work out?

    Available at:

    Affinity Rainbow Publications

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Thunder by Barbara Winkes

    She wants her, but she has a job to do.

    Get it done, and get out of town. Kelli Jameson is tasked with finding a missing teen accused of a crime he’s never been held accountable for. Neither the town’s authorities nor the residents are forthcoming with information.

    She finds a reluctant ally in teacher Merin Burke, but Merin has secrets of her own. Attraction flares between them, but giving in to it would come at a cost.

    Will they make it through the storm that’s about to break lose?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Unexpected Entanglements by Angela K. Crandall

    Vela’s life has always been relatively mundane. Working at the pharmacy wasn’t exactly her dream come true, but it paid the bills. And Brant… she’s lucky to have such a doting husband who supports her views and sexuality. When Vela goes out for a night on the town with her best friend, she isn’t looking for any prospects, mysteries, or intertanglings. It’s supposed to be a fun girls’ night with no strings and no dilemmas —until she awakens with a stranger in her bed.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    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

     

    46 by Lynn Ames

    It’s November 3, 2020, and Emma McMasters has just been elected the 46th president of the United States. She’s facing a divided Congress and nation, allies that no longer trust America, enemies that have been emboldened, and the legacy of destruction left by the last administration. She must rebuild and reestablish trust in government, in the media, and in the electoral system, all the while carrying the mantle of first female president, and along with it, the hopes and dreams of millions of women and little girls who need her to prove that a woman can get the job done.

    Palmer Estes has devoted her life and her career to the military, rising to become the highest-ranking female officer in the US Army. An enigmatic, battle-tested hero, she’s the perfect choice to brief the new president on one last, urgent, highly sensitive mission before she retires.

    Two strong women, both driven to serve the country they love, neither prepared for the sparks that fly between them.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Holiday Hostage by Rita Potter

    Life for Chicago’s rebellious rich girl Cassidy Kavanaugh isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks. She’s miserable and can’t work out why, given all her privilege.

    While Christmas shopping for her pseudo-girlfriend at the trendy Graffiti Chic, her whole world changes in a split second.

    Meeting an intriguing woman amid the colorful graffiti art is just the start. Then she’s caught up in a terrifying botched robbery with the stranger.

    As police close in, tempers fray, and chaos reigns, Cassidy is forced to face who she really is, deep down. And what she stands for.

    But can love ever come from such an adrenalin-charged meeting? Or is it just an illusion spun from high stakes and danger?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    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

    Leave a comment

    What book will you be reading for the “sapphic sloth-burn romance” category? Let us know in the comments!

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  • First Kiss Friday with Anna St. Claire – Sherry Ewing

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    Hello, my lovelies, and welcome to my First Kiss Friday Blog! Today’s guest is my friend Anna St. Claire who has an excerpt from her upcoming novel Tempting the Lonely Lord that releases July 27th. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading!

    Excerpt:

    “I… I want to apologize for my outburst the other day,” Bella said. “I had no right to say what I did.”

    “You said nothing that my valet didn’t tell me five minutes later,” William said with a sheepish grin. “I smelled terrible. “What did you call it… An illicit rendezvous?” He chuckled. “I rectified the situation of my questionable scent. But I need to explain what I was doing.”

    “N-no, you don’t have to explain yourself to me—”

    “Yes, I do,” he interrupted. “I want to explain. The truth is… I met a colleague, someone I knew when I was working for the Crown, and he wanted to meet at a tavern in town, for anonymity purposes. In my line of work, in the past, meetings in such places offered greater protection. I know it sounds strange, but one can blend in easily in a dark tavern. But there was no tawdry perfume… at least not on purpose. Our discussion took longer than anticipated. But there was nothing illicit. I promise.”

    She believed him—at least the part about the perfume—which she was sure meant there was no woman. She had to wonder about this friend of his, though. Was William still working for the Crown? If so, was he engaged in something dangerous? She hoped not. She could not bear to think of him in peril. 

    “So, you forgive me?” he said with a charmingly crooked grin.

    Bella felt her cheeks heat with a blush, and she glanced down at the carpet. “There is nothing to forgive, William,” she said softly. “It is I who must apologize for what I said. It was rude and unlike me. I’m not sure why I spoke that way to you.” She glanced up. “Please forgive me?”

    “Of course,” he said in a low voice. 

    “We’re friends, still?” she blurted. Lordy, I sound like a silly girl.

    “Yes. Of course we are.” 

    She nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat. She was feeling like a silly girl, too.

    “Good! Because Baron Darkmoor’s ball is in a week, and if I attend, I want to be certain I can count on a dance.”

    Her face heated. “O-of course. Yes. I would enjoy that very much. We are friends… are we not?”

    “Yes. Yes, we are.” He paused and then said, “Would I be out of line to ask what you had wanted to speak with me about?” 

    She was silent for a moment. Finally, she looked up and said, “I’ve thought a lot about what Michael said. He’s very wise.”

    “Yes, he is rather insightful, especially with animals.”

    “Well, perhaps you… I mean, I wanted to ask you if you would ride with me. I haven’t ridden Winterborne in such a long time, I’ve developed a…”

    “Fear? I would think that is normal. I saw men go through the same type of thing during the war. Considering how your father died… I’ve been wondering, was there an investigation?”

    Bella thought about it. “They ruled it accidental, but I don’t recall any type of official investigation, other than the magistrate taking a look around where my father fell.” 

    “I believe Michael is right. It would do Winterborne a world of good for you to ride him.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you still have your father’s saddle and tack from that day?”

    She wrinkled her brow and thought for a moment. “I heard a groom ask Uncle Stephen where to put it, but I never heard what he said. He was so distraught over my father’s death—we all were—that it was more than any of us could handle. I suppose it was eventually forgotten. We were fortunate that Winterborne had no more than a simple sprain. Why do you ask?” 

    “I suppose I am merely being overly thorough. Just the hazards of many years working for the Crown. But would you mind if I examined it? Perhaps there is something that the magistrate may have overlooked. Or perhaps there was some logical reason for the horse to rear up as he did,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “That horse loves you—as I’m sure he loved your father. And if I can do anything to reassure you, before you take Winterborne out for a ride, that is what I would like to do for you.”

    “That is most kind of you, William. And yes, of course, you may look over the saddle and tack.” She smiled. “So… is that a yes? You’ll ride with me?” 

    “Yes. I would love to ride with you. But right now, I would like to do this,” he said, pulling her close. He covered her lips with his. It was a slow and unhurried kiss, as if they had all the time in the world. Bella felt a sudden release of the tension that had coiled through her over the past few days, to be replaced by a rush of warmth. 

    Her senses were filled with the scent of him, sandalwood, citrus, and leather mingled together, and she relaxed into him, her arms curled around the back of his head, fingering his golden curls. 

    William’s hands slid to her waist, steadying her, while the other lifted a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. The world fell away as he kissed her again.

    How many times had she dreamed of this moment? And now she was living it. William was kissing her. Her very first kiss. And it was glorious.


    Tempting the Lonely Lord: The Rakes of Mayhem, Book 6
    By Anna St. Claire
    Release Date: July 27, 2025

    A determined viscount…

    William Dudley never expected to inherit the title of Viscount—or the neglected estate in Kent that came with it. But duty is something he has never shied away from. Now responsible for his spirited young brother, William is juggling guardianship, estate matters, and his ongoing secret work for the Crown. Though he has officially resigned as an agent, he still deciphers coded messages and remains relentless in his pursuit of a criminal smuggling ring wreaking havoc along the coast. Marriage is the last thing on his mind—until fate quite literally drops into his arms.

    A fateful fall…

    Lady Bella Conolly’s search for her mischievous dog, Lacey, leads her to the newly inhabited neighboring estate. But when her chase ends with a misstep down an embankment, she finds herself swept into the arms of a stranger. A golden-haired Adonis with striking blue eyes, a devilish grin, and the kind of effortless charm that could make any woman weak in the knees.

    Yet beneath his easy smile and godlike beauty, there’s something else—something elusive. A quiet intensity that speaks of secrets carefully guarded. Bella should know better than to be drawn in by mystery and charm alone, yet she cannot deny the pull of curiosity… or attraction.

    A dangerous dilemma…

    Yet Bella’s troubles are far from over. Her uncle is determined to marry her off to a ruthless earl with sinister motives and a chilling hold over her family. As danger tightens its grip, Bella must decide whether she can trust the debonair and dashing viscount who has unexpectedly entered her world. Together, they must navigate secrets, schemes, and the undeniable pull of a love neither of them expected.

    Can William unravel the web of deceit before it’s too late? Or will Bella be lost to the shadows of a perilous plot?

    Preorder for $0.99 or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

    Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Lonely-Lord-Regency-Historical-ebook/dp/B0F9R5GBX8

    About the Author:

    Who knew I’d become an author? Not me. But when the opportunity knocked, I answered the door and welcomed it in. I approach life with as much positivity as I can—celebrating the hits and laughing at the misses. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and that includes everything in my life. But I have much to smile about—my lovely mother, a beautiful daughter, two precious granddaughters, my adorable dogs, and my sweet husband of over thirty years. He has always supported me—including uprooting to move to the other side of Charlotte, N.C. for a life change, just when we thought we were settled.

    If settled means not going after my dreams, then I never want to be settled. I give my all to things I enjoy—and that includes writing. In 2021, I hit the USA Today Bestselling Author list, and recently, two of my books were named RONE Finalists

    I love to express myself to the point that my daughter avoids going to the movies with me because I’m that woman in the row in front of you who gleefully munches her popcorn and laughs at every hilarious scene. Loudly. Besides my family, I love chocolate, popcorn, laughter, and animals. I love animals so much that I frequently sprinkle them in my stories as secondary characters. They usually steal the show! British and American history have always interested me, so writing historical romances set in the U.K. and the US is where my passion is. 

    When I was barely three years old, my parents divorced, and my mom moved my sister and me from New York to South Carolina to live near her parents. Juggling a full-time job and full-time school, my mother became my first genuine hero—she never waved the white flag when things were tough. And things quickly got tough. My grandmother, who helped care for my sister and me while my mother worked, became ill with cancer, and didn’t survive the surgery, dying before I was seven. Losing Grandma devastated me. She read to me and taught me to read before I started first grade. I credit her for inspiring my love of reading, and I credit my mother for encouraging me to turn my ideas into stories.

    When I was ten, my neighbor gave me her book club copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and it remains one of my favorite books. But it was Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna and Ashes in the Wind, that hooked me on historical romance and sparked my dream of becoming a published author.

    While I primarily write Regency Romance, I enjoy almost any period in American and British history. 

    I love hearing from readers. To get in touch, email me at annastclaireauthor@gmail.com.

    To keep up to date on my new releases, special promotions, contests, giveaways, and more, sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

    You can also follow me on BookBubAmazonFacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

    https://www.annastclaire.com
    https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-st-claire
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    https://amazon.com/Anna-St-Claire/e/B078WMRHHF
    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17419205
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  • Sapphic books with only one bed

    Sapphic books with only one bed

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    Enemies by Nature by Jae

    Ever since shape-shifters revealed their existence to the world, tensions between humans and Wrasa have been dangerously high. To improve their public image, the Wrasa council comes up with a bold plan: a fake relationship between one of their own and Faith MacAllister, the human daughter of their most vocal enemy.

    Tala Peterson, an aloof fox-shifter with the attitude of an alpha wolf, is anything but thrilled to pose as Faith’s mate. She doesn’t trust her one bit—and rightfully so, as Faith has her own agenda. Their flirty banter is strictly for show, and if Tala finds Faith’s scent annoyingly irresistible, it’s only because of the mate scent their scientists concocted.

    But when the wolf pack that raised Tala insists she bring her new mate home for a visit, the fake lovers are forced to not only share a bed but also to confront old prejudices. Soon, Faith faces a difficult choice: Should she keep spying on the Wrasa for her father, or can she trust Tala and her kind?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Ylva Publishing

     

    The Love Project by TB Markinson & Miranda MacLeod

    Joni Fisher is facing economic ruin. The once successful advice column she runs with her mother is on the brink of cancellation, and it’ll take a miracle to turn things around. Joni’s last-ditch effort to save her job and preserve her mother’s legacy is The Love Project, a web series she’s developing to bring the Help Me Henrietta franchise alive for a new generation. All she needs is a willing victim…er, star.

    Hope Alvarez dreams of falling in love, but she’s always suspected she’s different. Physical attraction is a foreign language to her. After her only prospect for a meaningful relationship falls through, Hope has to face the fact that she’s completely hopeless when it comes to love. Can her favorite advice columnist, Henrietta, save her from a lonely future?

    As the series gets underway, fans swoon for the lovable yet unlucky Hope, and they’re not the only ones. Joni is smitten, too. But she’s been down that road before, vowing never again to fall for a straight woman who will keep her forever in the friend zone. Except, what if she’s been reading the situation all wrong? Helping Hope make sense of her identity might save Joni’s job, but will it also bring her love?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    The Wilding of Em’s Path by Ana K. Wrenn

    Untamed and wild, Cynda is an outdoorswoman holed up in the Appalachian backcountry. Her solitary existence is shattered when Kadija, a fierce freedom fighter, tracks her down.

    Kadija demands Cynda return to civilization to face the consequences of an out-of-control project Cynda worked on years ago. But how can she take on the destructive research institute preying on vulnerable, sensitive people when it almost destroyed her once? How can Cynda face the outside world again, now it’s awash in so much fear and violence that it suffocates her?

    As the warring pair reluctantly journey into an oppressive world, the ties that bind them slowly draw them closer. But what happens if those delicate ties ever break?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Stars and Soil by Dax Murray

    Caitlin Peddigree faces a dire choice: accept a loveless marriage to the crown prince, or die as a traitor to the throne. While Caitlin still grieves the death of her wife, a rebellion simmers in Fayn, the streets filled with cries for the monarchy’s fall and the rise of democracy. When Caitlin unwittingly befriends a rebel leader, she believes she may have a way out of her unwanted relationship.

    Marrying the prince would protect her family’s fortune, but can she also be an informant for the rebellion? Caught in a tangled web of political intrigue and court gossip, Caitlin treads a treacherous path, made more dangerous when a spirited new lady arrives at court and ignites a new fire in Caitlin’s heart.

    But power in Fayn is ever-shifting. Whispers of magic and long-forgotten gods stir beneath the surface. Religious orders conspire against each other. New nobles scramble for power and old bloodlines seethe with resentment. The rebellion fractures into factions as they bicker over strategy. But underneath it all and unbeknown to most, dark and ancient forces are waiting, watching, and plotting. Surrounded on all sides, Caitlin finds herself a pawn in a deadly game.

    But she must decide for herself: remain a prisoner of her circumstances—or reclaim her own life. And she must decide fast, otherwise the flames of revolution may be put out by a force far darker than a tyrannical king.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Until We Weren’t: A Story of Destiny and Faith by Jamey Moody

    Destiny and Faith were living and loving the life they’d created. They worked side-by-side at a thriving landscaping company by day and spent their nights together in a lavender haze of love. It was a happy life or so Destiny thought.

    One day Faith not only moved all her things out of their apartment, but she quit her job and opened her own landscaping company. On top of that the only explanation Destiny ever received was: you know what you did.

    Three years later, Destiny now runs her own landscaping company and has an opportunity to bid on a huge, career-defining project. She knows her company is too small to secure the bid, but if she can convince Faith to team up with her she’s sure they could win.

    The only problem is that Faith can’t stand to look at Destiny and Destiny still doesn’t know what she did wrong. Can these two talented landscapers bury their past long enough to let their companies flourish?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Wild Love by Gemma Addison Dove

    Cupcake baker Nelly needs to make it to her sister’s cabin for her birthday, but grumpy mountain woman Lora is the only one available to drive her. When a storm causes a tree to fall and block their path, they’re forced to take shelter in Lora’s cozy cabin. And there’s only one bed.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Orc and Her Bride by Lila Gwynn

    RUGA KARRSDAUGHTER, dutiful orc princess with a heart of gold, has spent the years since her sister was elected queen serving the orc country of Torden. Her duties now include marrying an elf princess for a much-needed alliance against an outside threat.

    ELKETH CERIDWEN, rakish elf princess with a penchant for chaos, has never lifted a finger in her life. Now that an engagement is sprung upon her by the stern elvish king, she has to fulfill a fifty-day betrothal period in Torden surrounded by strangers…unless she can wreak enough havoc to get sent back home.

    These poor orcs don’t know what they’re in for.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Outlaw Hearts by Lori G. Matthews

    Outlaw Elle Barstow spends her days robbing stagecoaches and her nights bedding women—all while keeping her heart safely locked away.

    But everything changes when Isabella “Izzy” Collins enters her life. Banished by her family, the fiery suffragette from Boston is reluctantly traveling west to marry a man much older than herself.

    When Elle rescues Izzy during a stagecoach robbery gone wrong, she plans to ransom Izzy for a hefty reward. But Elle soon finds herself drawn to the captivating woman who challenges her every instinct.

    As Izzy insists on learning how to survive in the wild, Elle’s plan begins to unravel, and she faces a new peril—the growing attraction that threatens to melt her hardened heart.

    Available at:

    Bella Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    An Inappropriate Affair by Lyn Denison

    Gian Crane, youngest of six, the family underachiever, started out with reasonable goals, but now, at thirty-two, the sum of her life is an uninspiring job and one major broken heart. If it wasn’t for her best friend, Maddie, she’d have no joy in her life.

    Then a management shuffle elevates Gian to the new boss’s Personal Assistant, a boss who is reserved, icily attractive, and older. Just Gian’s type. No, Gian will not complicate her life by foolishly allowing herself to be wildly attracted to her new boss. That can’t go anywhere, can it?

    Flynn Fox finds her fortieth birthday looming and what does she have to show for it? A failed marriage. A son who doesn’t seem to care if she’s part of his life or not. And she’s still allowing family pressures to leech the colour from her life, while her supposed ‘unnatural tendencies’ have seen her moved out of the limelight in the family company.

    She’s under no illusions about why her father suddenly wants her to take charge of the struggling Kingstone branch of Fox and Sons. If it fails it won’t be on him. Is this her chance to show her worth, even if it means going against her father’s instructions?

    Into Flynn’s life steps Gian and attraction flares. But Gian is younger, and unlike any of the women Flynn is usually attracted to, and she’s Gian’s boss. If she acted on this attraction it would be totally inappropriate. Wouldn’t it?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Benefactor to the Baroness by Melissa Kendall

    Plagued by survivors’ guilt after escaping her impoverished childhood selling matchsticks, Fontaine Shepherd, the Dowager Lady Kerry, uses her position on the board of a charitable foundation to relocate starving orphans to the new world—until contact with the new office is abruptly lost. Fearing the foundation will discover she’s been clandestinely using funds to bribe workhouse owners to release children, she decides to travel across the ocean and re-establish communication herself.

    Except the only captain who can transport her in time insists that she not travel alone.

    Facing a lonely life after marrying off her nieces, Rosemary Summersby reluctantly agrees to attend a ladies’ charity group. There, she meets the vivacious Lady Kerry, who challenges her long-held beliefs of how a lady should look and act. Compelled by a desire to experience the excitement of which her niece often speaks, Rosemary accompanies the dowager baroness to a workhouse and witnesses the cruelty of poverty firsthand.

    Then Lady Kerry stumbles into Rosemary’s cottage one night with an outrageous request: to travel across the ocean as her companion and help her uncover the mystery behind the missing orphans.

    Unable to convince the dowager baroness of the dangers of her plan and remembering the sense of responsibility that drove her to accept three orphans into her life fifteen years prior, Rosemary decides to join Lady Kerry on her trip. But as the vast ocean and a noble mission stretches before them, a shared purpose and a single bunk ignite an unexpected passion that makes both women question what they truly want for themselves.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    In Too Deep by Rachael Sommers

    Lucy Holloway is dying for an escape. The high-flying lawyer’s life has just spectacularly imploded so it’s time to hit the reset button and soak up some sun, sea, and relaxation at a swanky hotel across the Atlantic.

    Laid-back physical therapy student Elena Garcia is home for the holidays. Picking up a few shifts as a lifeguard at Sol Plaza, the hotel her father manages, sounds like fun. Speaking of fun…there’s also that sweet summer flirtation she’s having with a smoking hot American lawyer. But when their sizzling romance slides into real emotions, everything gets complicated.

    Also complicated? Wild accusations against Elena’s father about how Sol Plaza’s being run. Teaming up with Lucy, Elena’s determined to clear his name.

    But will working together bring the two even closer? Where do flings end and feelings begin, anyway?

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    The Sorceror’s Lament by Sam Dogra

    Ever since the restoration of magic, Magicians and Enchanters have been in an uneasy alliance. The Magicians’ power maintains peace, while the Enchanters’ potions prevent magic’s dangerous side effects.

    But the Enchanters have become increasingly evasive, and the High Magician suspects foul play. Thus eighteen-year-old Jessie Balthanders, a Magician prodigy, is recruited to investigate. If she can expose their possible treason, she’ll be hailed a hero.

    She finds herself apprenticed to Lahara Redford, a powerful but jaded Enchanter who deeply mistrusts Magicians. With tensions running high, the two must learn to work together as they are dragged into a dark conspiracy.

    But Jessie needs to find answers soon, and if Lahara discovers her true nature, she’ll have far more than the High Magician’s wrath to fear.

    The cost of success, however, may be far greater than failure.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Nero by Valden Bush

    Stele Hosun has been banished. On Nero, gem shards match people’s eyes and give them their special powers and purpose. But Stele has completely black eyes, and although legend recorded that she could be the chosen one to touch the legendary black shard, fear of her potential power makes her an outcast.

    Exiled to Alton, she’s torn from Ariane, her one and only love, who has always accepted Stele for who she is. She drowns her sorrows and wallows in her loneliness until Colonel Kian Ray of the Alton Defense Force offers her the chance to join the ADF and make something of herself. Begrudgingly, Stele accepts, and with the help of new friends, Questa and Domino, she finds new purpose and perhaps even a home.

    But Ariane remains the woman Stele wants, the one she needs. When pirates invade Nero to find the fabled and all-powerful black shard, putting Ariane in danger, Stele must lead a rescue that will either destroy them all or fulfil her ultimate destiny.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    A Lady to Treasure by Marianne Ratcliffe

    Louisa Silverton is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman, brought up to believe a healthy profit is the only route to happiness. With the family company over-leveraged and in need of a capital injection, she travels to England to find a rich husband. The Honourable Miss Sarah Davenport has no time for romance. The family estate of Kenilborough is mired in debt and only she can save it. Unconventional and outspoken, Sarah is dismayed that somebody as intelligent and attractive as Louisa is willing to sacrifice herself for financial gain. As Louisa pursues her campaign, Sarah realises her objections to the project run deeper than mere principles. At the same time, Louisa finds herself captivated by Sarah’s independent spirit. Yet to indulge their unexpected passion would surely mean the ruin of both their families. Bound by duty, will they ever be free to follow their hearts?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    There’s Magic Between Us by Jillian Maria

    A diehard city girl, 16-year-old Lydia Barnes is reluctant to spend a week in her grandma’s small town. But hidden beneath Fairbrooke’s exterior of shoddy diners and empty farms, there’s a forest that calls to her. In it, she meets Eden: blunt, focused, and fascinating. She claims to be hunting fae treasure, and while Lydia laughs it off at first, it quickly becomes obvious that Eden’s not joking—magic is real.Lydia joins the treasure hunt, thrilled by all the things it offers her. Things like endless places in the forest to explore and a friendship with Eden that threatens to blossom into something more. But even as she throws herself into her new adventure, some questions linger. Why did her mom keep magic a secret? Why do most of the townspeople act like the forest is evil? It seems that, as much as Lydia would like to pretend otherwise, not everything in Fairbrooke is as bright and easy as a new crush…

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    A free ebook for you

    Free ebook A Shape-Shifter's Guide to Romancing a Human

    As a thank-you to my readers, I’m offering my new novelette “A Shape-Shifter’s Guide to Romancing a Human” for free. It’s a sequel to my latest novels, Enemies by Nature and Shifting Nature. 

    Download the free ebook here

     

    Leave a comment

    What book will you be reading for the “only one bed” category? Let us know in the comments!

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  • The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association- Review – Author Natalina Reis

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    The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher AssociationThe Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    I was at Barnes & Noble shopping for another book (or two. Or three) and I saw this one. I was immediately attracted to the cover and title (it’s a paperback with an amazing cover and spray-painted edges). Then I read the back blurb and couldn’t resist. I bought it.

    I had just started reading another book (an overly hyped cozy fantasy) and listening to another one a friend recommended, so I started reading this book when I had a moment or two (I call this my waiting-rooms book), but as I got more and more disappointed with the hyped-up book and more and more in love with this one, it became my main read. I finished it in record time.

    This is such a fun read. A rather sarcastic view of what it’s like to be a parent of a school age child who doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids. Rozakis totally demolishes all the preconceived ideas readers may have about magic and magical creatures by setting them in situations very familiar to anyone who has a child in today’s schools. Except with magic.

    There are hilarious moments, heartbreaking ones, and others that will make the reader (specially female readers) go, “I totally get that” or “I know how that feels”.

    I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to make fun of life in general as an armor against–well, everything that is wrong in the world.

    I liked it so much, I immediately bought her other book and began reading it. I have high hopes…

    View all my reviews

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  • First Kiss Friday with C.H. Admirand and a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing

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    Welcome back to my First Kiss Friday blog! I’m happy to have my friend C.H. Admirand back to give you an excerpt from her next release, The Duke’s Champion. You can preorder it now for only $0.99 for a June 24th release. She’s also offering a giveaway so be sure to read all the way to the end to enter. Happy reading, my lovelies, and enjoy!

    Excerpt:

    “Ye wanted to see me, lass?”

    Her head whipped around so fast, he was afraid she’d be dizzy from the movement. “I was not sure that you’d come.”

    “And why wouldn’t I come when the lass I’ve been courting summons me?” Mary Kate rose from her seat, and he motioned for her to sit back down. “No need to stand up. I’ll join ye, if ye don’t mind.”

    She met his gaze and settled onto her chair. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

    He did not say anything when his orders had been to come “at once.” Surely she remembered making that demand. Didn’t she? 

    She lifted the teapot and held it poised over his cup. “Er…tea?”

    “Aye, thank ye, lass.”

    “No sugar, just cream?”

    Ah, so she did remember, though they hadn’t taken tea all that many times together. Not trusting his voice to give away the emotions colliding inside of him at his being this close to her, he nodded.

    “Mrs. Romney made lemon and lavender scones. Would you like one of each?”

    Flaherty’s stomach chose that moment to announce itself. He shrugged as Mary Kate giggled. 

    “I’ll take that as a yes.” She served him his tea and scones before pouring herself a cup.

    “Are ye not having anything to eat?” He wondered if she was suffering to the same extent as he had been. Plagued with lack of sleep, awake and replaying a scene he had no memory of, so he was not certain if he really had barked at her, or if his voice had been stern. Why in the bloody hell could he not recall?

    “Lass?” When she did not look up right away, he sighed and said, “Mary Kate, how are ye feeling today?”

    Her teacup rattled against its saucer until she set it on the table and placed her hands in her lap. 

    “Ye look pale to me. Are ye not sleeping?”

    The emotions in her gaze tugged at his heart and heaped a pile of worry onto his head. He had caused her to fall into this melancholy. ’Twas his fault she was despondent and not carrying on her half of the conversation. 

    This shite had to end. Now! He rose to his feet, reached for her hand, and pulled her into his embrace. “Lass? What’s wrong?” She trembled against him. “Can ye not tell me?” He felt her shake her head against his chest. He nearly chuckled, then remembered what he was supposed to do and the need to laugh evaporated. “Mary Kate, will ye accept me heartfelt apology? I do not recall telling ye to leave, nor saying such terrible things to ye.”

    Her trembling slowed until she was eerily still in his arms. “Never would I willingly hurt yer tender sensibilities, lass. Ye mean too much to me.”

    Still she did not speak, and thereby refused to accept his apology. What could he say to convince her? He racked his brain until it ached, and then it hit him—he’d respond in kind. 

    Easing back, he gently placed his knuckle beneath her chin and lifted her beautiful face so he could gaze into her blue-violet eyes. She blinked, and he claimed her lips, pouring every ounce of regret that she’d suffered because of him into the kiss. When her mouth softened beneath his, he coaxed her to kiss him back with a quick nip of her lips followed by his tongue soothing where he’d nibbled.

    Her soft sigh was music to his ears. Not wanting to risk conversation yet, when she still hadn’t responded, he continued to kiss her. Pleading his case without words, he placed a hand to her waist, encouraging her acquiescence with the pressure of his lips and heat of his body.

    Drawn to him like a moth to candle flame, she burrowed into his arms until he groaned with need, as every bit of her curves molded to the hard planes of his body, awakening the desire he felt for the lass. Her soft gasp had him easing his hold on her. Rather than point out the obvious, not willing to have that particular conversation with her until she’d forgiven him and until after they said their vows, he brushed an errant curl from her cheek, tucking it behind the tiny shell of her ear. 

    Needing her to be the one to speak first, as she had yet to reply verbally, he waited. ’Twasn’t as awkward as he thought it might be, the waiting. 

    Finally she drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “I do.”

    “Do what?”

    She frowned, then sighed. “I forgive you, Seamus.”


    The Duke’s Champion (TDG, Bk 13)
    By C.H. Admirand

    Release Date: June 24, 2025
    Preorder for $0.99

    The Duke’s Guard: The men in black who have sworn an oath to protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family from those who would stop at nothing to destroy him!

    Flaherty asks permission to court Mary Kate, but his jealous reaction to her gregarious nature stalls their courtship.

    Mary Kate Donovan has had Flaherty tied up in knots from the moment he pulled her free from the duke’s overturned carriage. But the lass hasn’t been saving her smiles only for Flaherty—and worse, she seems to have forgotten his rescuing her, telling everyone of Garahan’s earlier rescue when she was kicked to the curb by Lady Kittrick’s cook.

    Mary Kate is abducted—twice—and a misunderstanding has Flaherty leaving his position and resigning from the duke’s guard!

    A suitor who cannot take no for an answer, despite Mary Kate’s insistence that she and Flaherty are courting, causes a rift between the two, leaving Flaherty to doubt Mary Kate’s feelings, until he regains consciousness bound hand and foot next to her…in a burning barn!

    It will take the patience of a saint—which Flaherty isn’t—and the understanding of the woman he loves to straighten out the situation that threatens the very fiber that holds the men in the duke’s guard together.

    Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past the Duke’s Champion before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.

    The Duke’s Champion (TDG, Bk 13) Buy Links:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9QY519S
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F9QY519S
    https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F9QY519S
    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0F9QY519S

    Tropes & Themes You’ll Love:

    ✔ Historical Romance
    ✔ Regency Romance
    ✔ Hero to the Rescue
    ✔ Hardheaded Heroes
    ✔ Feisty Heroines
    ✔ Marriage of Convenience
    ✔ Second Chances
    ✔ Happily Ever After
    ✔ Forced Proximity
    ✔ Different Social Classes

    Read in Kindle Unlimited!
    The Duke’s Guard
    Book 1 – The Duke’s Sword
    Book 2 – The Duke’s Protector
    Book 3 – The Duke’s Shield
    Book 4 – The Duke’s Dragoon
    Book 5 – The Duke’s Hammer
    Book 6 – The Duke’s Defender
    Book 7 – The Duke’s Saber
    Book 8 – The Duke’s Enforcer
    Book 9 – The Duke’s Mercenary
    Book 10 – The Duke’s Rapier
    Book 11 – The Duke’s Man-at-Arms
    Book 12 – The Duke’s Lance
    Book 13 – The Duke’s Champion
    Book 14 – The Duke’s Sharpshooter
    Book 15 – The Duke’s Cavalier
    Book 16 – The Duke’s Blade

    C.H. Admirand Bio:

     If we have not met yet, I’m delighted to meet you! Here’s a little bit about me…

    I have been writing romance novels for almost half my life, well at least for the last 30 years. I’m a diehard romantic and have to confess the broad shoulders and wicked glint in the brilliant green eyes of a stranger had my breath snagging in my breast, my heart beating madly, and my future flashing before my eyes. At the age of seventeen, I’d met the man I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

    I write Historical & Contemporary Romance featuring characters that I know so well: hardheaded heroes and feisty heroines! They rarely listen to me and in fact, I think they enjoy messing with my plans for them. Over the years I have learned to listen to them! I have always used family names in my books and love adding bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in them, too! 

    C.H.’s Social Media Links:

    Website:

    https://www.chadmirand.com

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.-H.-Admirand/author/B001JPBUMC

    BookBub:

    https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-h-admirand

    Facebook Author Page:

    https://www.facebook.com/CHAdmirandAuthor

    GoodReads:

    https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/212657.C_H_Admirand

    Dragonblade Publishing: https://www.dragonbladepublishing.com/team/c-h-admirand/

    Instagram:

    https://www.instagram.com/c.h.admirand

    YouTube:

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRSXBeqEY52VV3mHdtg5fXw

    Giveaway Opportunity

    C.H. Admirand is offering a giveaway of the e-book copy of The Duke’s Champion or winner’s choice from her website. To be in the running, comment below on any special plans you have this summer and good luck, fabulous readers!



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  • Stuff Your eReader Freebies! – Sherry Ewing

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    A super fabulous one day sale of over 1,600 FREE eBooks ready to be filled on your eReader. You’ll find my novel Knight of Darkness: The Knights of the Anarchy (Book One) there along with authors who will bring you a new book boyfriend to love.

    Just head over to Romance Bookworms to find your next great read! https://www.romancebookworms.com

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  • The Ragpicker King – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis

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    The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane, #2)The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare
    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    I have to admit that I am upset. I was convinced this was a duology, so when I got toward the end of the book and things were looking pretty unresolved, I googled it. It’s a trilogy!!!!!

    This series is so good. Definitely a departure from what we were used to from Cassandra Clare, but just as brilliant in a more mature way.

    The world building is fantastic with all its parallels with reality and all the lore that goes with it. The characters have been developed in true Clare’s fashion, tridimensional and complex and the relationships between several of her characters are believable and often heart wrenching.

    There were a few totally unexpected plot twists at the end and I am now left with the awful knowledge that it will be a long while until I can read the conclusion to this fabulous story.

    Highly, highly recommend it.

    View all my reviews

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  • Happy Release Day Dukes All Summer Long! – Sherry Ewing

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    It’s a busy day today when you have a new release along with a FREE book blast from RomanceBookWorms.com! But I had to take a brief minute to welcome my newest book baby, The Dukes Secret Wager, out into the world in the Dragonblade Publishing boxset Dukes All Summer Long. Read on to learn more about the my contribution and the set!

    He expects to win the wager. He does not expect to fall in love.

    When Laurence Palmer, Duke of Stonehaven accepts his friend’s wager, it seems like an opportunity too great to refuse and too easy to win. Though he’s tired of attention from women who only see him as a title and a fortune, all he has to do is accept an invitation to yet another house party full of marriage-minded misses—and steal of kiss from his host’s daughter, the elusive Lady Georgina. Except this lady isn’t like the others, and she isn’t supposed to win his heart.

    Is the man she’s meant to love the man she’s sure to loath?

    Lady Georgina Norwood realized long ago that suitors were only interested in her fortune. Her parents see it differently. They’re holding a house party with the goal of choosing a husband for her if she doesn’t choose one on her own. She’s certain none of the men invited pique her interest or fill her requirements to love her and to treat her as an equal–the rakish Duke of Stonehaven least of all.

    All bets are off when their kiss becomes more than a chance to win a bet. Can one secret wager change both their lives for the better or will they lose their chance at love?

    All it takes is one wagering duke, one stubborn lady, and a chance encounter at a lake.

    Excerpt:

    Georgina thought back to that moment. Even now her stomach twisted at the memory. She’d been so foolish, with a head full of girlish dreams, completely unaware that most men—all men, really—saw her as a means to great wealth and nothing more. She’d never make that mistake again. And she never had. Instead, she believed, she’d become adept at spotting those who angled for her fortune and nothing more. She hoped that her parents had the same skill, since if she wasn’t able to choose any of these men, they would make the choice for her.

    She turned to look at the castle beyond; thoughts of Wymar and Ceridwen occurred to her once more. Why couldn’t finding love happen for both of them the way it had for her ancestors? “You’d think our future husbands would know where to find us,” she said. “Like a handsome knight coming to our rescue as in days of old.”

    “As appealing as that thought is, it’s unlikely to happen. Instead, you’d best get your head out of the clouds, dearest Gina, and find a man you could come to love from those who will attend your parent’s house party so that your father doesn’t find one for you. That’s as close to a knight in shining armor as you’re going to get, I’m afraid.” Honoria stood and shook her parasol open. “We should go in before we’re missed.”

    Georgina stood to follow her and they began to walk the garden paths toward the castle. Her gaze fell on the stranger, who’d stopped to smell one of the budding roses. His tawny-colored hair fell forward, covering his cheek, but when he returned to his full—rather impressiveheight, he turned and their eyes met.

    If Georgina’s arm wasn’t linked with Honoria’s she was certain her knees would have buckled. Her stomach somersaulted as his gaze captured hers. Georgina was overcome by the desire to push that rakish lock of hair from his forehead. He swept it back into place with his fingertips before giving her a brief nod. He then turned back to his companion as they walked away as though something monumental hadn’t just occurred.

    Never before had she ever had such an experience in her life. Her head reeling, she could only continue to wonder who this gentleman was and why he had had such an astonishing effect on her from first sight.


    Welcome to Dukes All Summer Long…

    One of the most epic Historical Romance collections yet!

    Enemies to Lovers – grumpy sunshine – wallflowers vs. rakes – and more!

    Over a thousand pages of Regency Romance adventure with never-before published stories.

    What are dukes good for? Romance all summer long. Be a fly on the wall for a romantic adventure, or peer into a ballroom as the dancers choose their partners. Enjoy this delectably romantic summer collection with your favorite Historical Romance authors because summer lovin’ has never been so passionate!

    Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

    Buy Links:

    Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

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  • The Love Haters – Book Review – Author Natalina Reis

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    The Love HatersThe Love Haters by Katherine Center
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    Another great book by Katherine Center.

    The humor mixes with the seriousness of the themes perfectly. I loved the characters (including the side characters like The Gals, clueless Cole, and Beanie) and who wouldn’t love an overly friendly and rumbustious Great Dane?

    I devoured the book (audio) and I only have one complaint which is the same I had with Center’s last book I read: she has the tendency to overextend the ending.

    She has a great ending–or what I think should be the ending–and then she goes on with more stuff that however interesting is kind of superfluous to the plot or enjoyment of the story. Just my opinion and the only reason I am giving the book four stars instead of five.

    Really enjoyed it and can’t wait for more books by Center.

    View all my reviews

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  • Sapphic suspenseful books (Sapphic Book Bingo #13)

    Sapphic suspenseful books (Sapphic Book Bingo #13)

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    Sapphic suspenseful books

    This week’s sapphic book bingo category features sapphic suspenseful books. For this square of the bingo card, read a sapphic book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, filled with tension, twists, and high stakes. Typically, you find most suspense in genres such as mystery, thriller, crime fiction, or romantic suspense.

     

    15 sapphic suspenseful books

    Below, you’ll find a list of 15 recommended sapphic suspenseful books:

     

    Murder, Mayhem and Sex on the Beach by Alicia Gael

    Probation Officer Riley Reynolds has never been good at staying in her lane. Her reckless determination both infuriates and captivates Detective Tate Walker, whose professional cool is constantly tested by her impulsive girlfriend’s knack for finding trouble.

    When a stolen vehicle incident collides with Tate’s arson investigation, their carefully balanced personal and professional worlds collide. As evidence points to a vengeful arsonist targeting Riley, the stakes climb higher with each new blaze. Now Riley must juggle her demanding caseload, her complex feelings for Tate, and a killer determined to make her his final victim.

    Available at:

    Bella Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Strange Attractors by Ana K. Wrenn

    Fierce and frosty high achiever Professor Sonja J. Storey is on the verge of seizing power in her department. She has exacting plans to remake her backwoods North Carolina university, just as she has painstakingly remade herself.

    Sonja’s perfectly ordered life takes a dramatic turn when she meets laid-back, magnetic junior professor Crystal Byrd.

    But then come threatening notes, sinister emails, and shadowy nocturnal figures, and suddenly, Sonja’s controlled world starts to tremble like a butterfly in a storm.

    Is someone out to get her? Is it a specter from Sonja’s past? It’s hard not to be suspicious of everyone, even intoxicating Crystal with her temptingly warm presence.

    Seeing danger everywhere, Sonja must hunt down the source of the chaos before she loses her brilliant mind, and her chance at the one thing she’s never known—love.

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Bury Me When I’m Dead by Cheryl A. Head

    Charlene “Charlie” Mack is a PI in Detroit.

    Born and raised in the city that America forgot, Charlie has built a highly respected private investigations firm through hard work, smart choices, and relentless ambition. Her team of investigators is highly skilled and trustworthy, but she secretly struggles with her sexual orientation and a mother with early-onset Alzheimer’s. When Charlie and her crack team head to Birmingham, Alabama, following the trail of a missing person, what should be a routine case turns into a complex chase for answers. Shady locals and a southern patriarch with dark secrets dating back forty years obscure their path. It seems like everyone has something to hide, including Charlie.

    When the case turns deadly with a double murder, and Charlie is attacked on a quiet neighborhood street, everything suddenly becomes personal. Who can Charlie trust, and will she ever solve the riddles of the Magic City?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Bywater Books

    Audible

     

    Awakening the Path by Angela K. Crandall

    I inherited Wiccan books, candles, and tarot cards from my mother, who left in an unexpected rush three years ago. Faced with many questions since her departure, I’ve sought wisdom in the craft alongside my best friend Lily, who informed me today that she’s moving to Oakland. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Despite that, I’m intrigued my father has sobered up enough to feign interest in what college I should attend. The moment I mentioned Evermoire, he acted like it didn’t exist. Therefore, I must discover the truth for myself.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Cutlass Cadaver: The Morelville Mysteries – Book 13 by Anne Hagan

    Called to investigate a body found in her brother-in-law’s long lost classic car, Mel digs in to ID the victim and find his killer. Then a family spring break trip turns deadly when Mel’s nephew is accused of murdering a young woman at a haunted house convention.

    Using her seasoned investigative skills, Mel uncovers scandalous secrets and puts herself at risk to protect her family and close both cases. But the job is taking an increasing toll, making Mel question how much longer she can continue as sheriff.

    For now, justice won’t wait – and Mel won’t rest until the truth is revealed. But the challenges are mounting, forcing Mel to ask herself what matters most – her career or her family?

    With two shocking murder mysteries to untangle, only Mel can uncover the cold-blooded killers and bring closure to the victims’ families. But her own family may need her even more in this gripping new tale of secrets, lies, and murder.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Love Sins by Annette Mori

    Jessica Green’s life is predictable and boring. As the chief engineer for Solar Flair, her career is right on track. Her love life, not so much. Special Agent Amanda Forrester is perplexed by a call to join a homicide investigation. To Amanda’s increasing irritation, the daughter recognizes a picture of the last target and insinuates herself into the investigation. Amanda must join forces with a mysterious organization and the persistent woman she finds increasingly hard to resist. Her instinct to protect the alluring and vulnerable Jessica Green kicks into high gear, taking the reader on a roller-coaster journey for the last book in The Next Generation series.

    Available at:

    Affinity eBooks

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Matrimony in Murder by Edale Lane

    On a lovely spring day, Jenna enjoys a walk in the park with her fiancée, Randi, and their dog when she’s called to investigate a fatal car crash. More than suspicious, the circumstances point to murder—a case the lieutenant detective has a week to solve before she and Randi’s marriage and honeymoon.

    As if Jenna’s emotions weren’t already overwhelmed enough, wondering if her parents would attend, she now has the added stress of discovering her victims were a newlywed couple. It will take all of Randi’s empathic skills to hold Jenna together as she dives deep into the investigation, reawakening old demons and fears.

    While the list of suspects in the case grows, Jenna puzzles over a clue that doesn’t seem to fit any of them. All the while, her wedding day creeps nearer. Can Jenna solve the murder in time, or will an unknown killer in the wind cast a harrowing shadow over the happiest day of her life?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Harsh Reality by Elle E. Ire

    After demon elementals kill the good folks Sheriff Cali McCade has sworn to protect, the last place she expects to find herself is the future.

    Cali McCade is happy being the only female sheriff in the West until evil destroys her town of Oblivion and everyone in it. But when a magical creature sends her forward in time, Cali gets a chance for justice—and to stop history from repeating itself.

    Now, on the set of Harsh Reality, a television show that challenges average people to survive in historical settings, Cali isn’t just the sheriff of Oblivion—she also plays herself on TV. It isn’t easy to find her path in this new world, but at least she knows what her “character” would do… even if it’s a little strange to be navigating a blooming romance with the woman playing Arlene, her long-lost love.

    When the elementals show up to destroy Oblivion all over again, can Cali find a way to defeat the demons, keep her cover, and still ride off into the sunset?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    The Songbird’s Refrain by Jillian Maria

    When a mysterious show arrives in town, seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Brighton is both intrigued and unsettled. But none of the acts capture her attention quite like the blue-eyed woman. Locked in a birdcage and covered in feathers, the anguish in her voice sounds just a little too real to be an act—because it isn’t. The show’s owner, a sadistic witch known only as the Mistress, is holding her captive.And she’s chosen Elizabeth as her next victim.After watching the blue-eyed woman die, Elizabeth is placed under the same curse. She clings to what little hope she can find in the words of a fortune teller and in her own strange dreams. The more she learns, the more she suspects that the Mistress isn’t as invulnerable as she appears. But time is against her, and every feather that sprouts brings her closer to meeting the blue-eyed woman’s fate. Can Elizabeth unlock the secret to flying free, or will the Mistress’s curse kill her and cage its next victim?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Ghost Walk by Kay Solo

    When mysterious ghosts begin killing the people of her town, Maaya discovers she’s the only one who can stop them. Aided by the ghost of her best friend, and later a beautiful pirate captain, she goes on an epic journey to save her town… and unveils the deadliest secret of the century.

    Maaya is used to life in a small town where she’s feared and distrusted because of her ability to see the dead. When she’s forced from her home, she pursues the mystery of what’s causing people across the world to vanish forever.

    As she pursues this mystery while trying to stay ahead of those who want her dead, she falls into the unexpected company of a stunning ship’s captain who commands a crew of pirates… but that’s only the first of her many secrets.

    Helped by ghosts and magic alike, Maaya crosses the world to keep herself alive and solve the world’s most dangerous riddle… before it threatens to wipe out all life on earth.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    V.A.M.P. Book Four—Origins by Kimberly A. Todd

    With her wedding put on hold, a council seat still to be claimed, and a vampire army on her doorstep, can Katerina fulfill her quest to find something ancient, save her future wife from death, and overcome her fears of becoming a vampire leader?

    Heartbreak takes its toll and living for eternity carries it with you forever. Can Serena watch the love of her life face death on a daily basis, battle an evil vampire menace, and learn to leave her past worries behind in order to focus on a future together that may or may not be?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Secret of Matterdale Hall by Marianne Ratcliffe

    Susan Mottram lives an idyllic existence until her eighteenth birthday, when her father’s sudden death plunges the family into penury.

    To support her mother and younger sister, Susan takes employment as a teacher at a remote Yorkshire boarding school, Matterdale Hall, owned by the radical Dr. Claybourn and his penny-pinching wife.

    Susan soon discovers that all is not as it seems. Why is little Mary so silent? What really happened to Susan’s predecessor? Is anyone safe in the school’s draughty halls? Through a life-changing meeting with the beautiful and mysterious Cassandra, Susan begins to uncover the truth about Matterdale Hall, and discovers the cruelty, and love, that can lie within the human heart.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    The Flourishing by Merlina Garance

    When Andy Campbell, Detective Inspector in Leicester, gets assigned the case of Mr Parry’s disappearance, she expects to find nothing else than an umpteenth marriage ruined by a husband taking off with his mistress.

    Instead, she ends up investigating a murder case, and struggling to fight her attraction for the wife of the missing man. When she realises the feelings are mutual, things definitely get complicated…

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    The Faberge Egg by Mia Kazi

    The second of the Jo Brigg’s novels, The Faberge Egg follows Jo and Izzy’s relationships after “An Unusual Year”, as they try to learn to live together, they get drawn into a world of Russian money laundering involving a lost Faberge Egg and a Russian teacher with a lot of secrets and surprises. Will Jo and Izzy manage to survive their next adventure and end up together?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Venus’s Power by Reese Quinn

    Shane has been looking for love in all the wrong places because the woman who makes her skin tingle lives just a few miles from her.

    Shane’s work allows her to visit many places, but it’s her love for horses that brings her face to face with the woman of her dreams–shy and sweet Miller.

    Too bad that Miller’s heart is guarded with reinforced walls, and she doesn’t want to be more than friends.

    As a hired assassin, Shane needs to keep her work a secret, which also doesn’t help her score points with her crush. Or the fact that she’s pregnant and plans to be a single mom.

    When a twist of fate brings Miller and Shane closer than ever, will Miller allow Shane and her children to be her new family?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Whispering Oaks by Stephanie Shea

    Nothing ever happens in Whispering Oaks.

    The air is clean; uncorrupted by a tawdry downtown. Birds twitter. Crime is nigh non-existent. It’s the picture-perfect suburb with all the effects of classy restaurants and diverse nightlife. Not to mention block parties marked by face-forward flattery and back-biting.

    Cassidy Linden hates it. Rather, the false mystique of it all disturbs her.

    Nothing ever happens in Whispering Oaks.

    So, when Cassidy’s younger sister vanishes one night, it’s not just surprising, it’s unfathomable—the only trace of her disappearance a trail of red petals and her cell phone left in the grass of her backyard.

    No witnesses.

    No suspects.

    A police department who claim to be doing everything they can, and the poorly-timed return of a family friend.

    When a one-night stand with the charming, enigmatic Ashlyn Castille reveals an unforeseen connection, Ashlyn and Cassidy realize they have more in common than either expected.

    But one thing is certain, seventeen-year-old girls don’t just disappear. Someone must have taken her. Can Cassidy prove it in time to bring her little sister home? Or is she a fated anomaly?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

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