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  • First Kiss Friday with Deb Marlowe and a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing

    First Kiss Friday with Deb Marlowe and a Giveaway! – Sherry Ewing


    Welcome to my First Kiss Friday bog. We’re thrilled you can join us today. Today’s guest is Deb Marlowe who a first kiss scene between Niall Kier and Kara Levett, the two main characters in her Kier and Levett Mystery Series—Victorian Mysteries with a Slow Burn Romance. Deb is also offering a giveaway so be sure to read all the way to the end. Leave a comment to be in the running and enjoy this excerpt. Happy reading, my lovelies, and good luck!

    Excerpt:

    When they pulled up before the house, Niall craned to look out, but there was no sign of Turner or any of the other servants. The hour must be late indeed. Gently, he reached out to wake Kara.

    She came awake slowly. Turning her head, her eyes opened. She caught sight of him and gave a sleepy, contented smile.

    It made his heart twist painfully.

    The bond of their friendship ran deep. How much better might it be, if he were he free to take it further? What might it be like, to open his eyes every morning to that smile? To know the day ahead—all the days ahead—would be full of her wit and laughter and talent and beauty?

    He longed to find out. And his urge to follow that thread was growing as strong as the worries that prevented it.

    He climbed down and turned to assist her. The bracing night air prodded her awake, although she gave a great yawn that left him smiling.

    She squeezed his hand. The carriage moved on, heading for the stables. They stood alone in the dark, with the sky full of the sparkling beauty of a multitude of stars and his heart full of conflicting emotions.

    “Thank you, Niall.”

    It was thanks offered for more than his help out of the carriage. He heard the breadth of her meaning in her tone.

    He smiled in answer, returned the squeeze and let her go.

    With a sigh, she began to move toward the house. He watched her for a moment, before turning toward his forge and the loft above.

    The sound of her footsteps in the gravel stopped.

    “Niall?”

    He turned around. She faced him, her hair coming down a little on one side and wafting in the night breeze. He drank in the beauty of her. She was a mad combination of exuberance, stubborn determination, extraordinary vision and the lovely sweetness of her soul. It almost hurt to look at her.

    And suddenly, she was moving. Lifting her skirts and racing toward him. As she drew closer, she let go and reached out—and leapt into his arms.

    He caught her. Staggered back a step. And her lips were on his and he was lost.

    Her fingers were in his hair. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He braced one hand across her back to hold her close and the other beneath the curve of her bottom, to keep her, high and hot and pressed against him, with her mouth locked to his.

    She’d gone soft and pliant. Need sprang to heated life in his chest and he felt the answering sensation in her. Together, their longings rose and combined, whirling between them, spiraling higher and fueling the fervent, dangerous beauty of their kiss.

    She was inexperienced. He showed her subtly, delicately, how it was done. An enthusiastic pupil, she let him coax her mouth open. Their embrace deepened, transforming this encounter into something more demanding and desperate. Something that fought and railed against the cold knowledge of its fleeting nature.

    She moaned, a low sound of aching want, and he clutched her closer still, wishing he could pull her right inside, so that this might never end.

    But end, it did. She pulled away and looked down at him, her face filled with sorrow.
    Slowly, he let her drop, felt the forbidden slide of her down the front of him. But he could not let go, not yet. He bent his head so that their lips hovered close.

    “I wanted to know,” she whispered. “When you are long gone and I am lying awake, making myself miserable with what might have been, I want to know exactly what I will be missing.” She ducked her head, pressing against his chest and gripping him tightly for a moment, before looking back up, her expression gone stern. “Perhaps I wanted you to know, too.”

    She whirled, then, and was gone, running for the house.

    Links:

    The Kier and Levett Mysteries take place in Victorian London. Miss Kara Levett is an artist and creator of automatons and case clocks. Niall Kier is a forge artist from the Highlands with secrets in his past. Follow them to Victorian London as they explore art, science, their own romance . . . and murder.

    www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTRP6LVM?binding=kindle_edition&r

    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22The+Kier+and+Levett+Mystery%22?Ntk=P_Series_Title&Ns=P_Series_Number&Ntx=mode+matchall

    About the Author:

    USA Today Bestselling Author Deb Marlowe grew up with her nose in a book.  Luckily, she’d read enough romances to recognize the hero she met at a college Halloween party—even though he wore a tuxedo t-shirt instead of breeches and boots.  They married, settled in North Carolina and raised two handsome, funny, and genuinely intelligent boys.

    A Golden Heart winner and Rita Nominee, Deb writes Victorian Mysteries, Regency Romance and Regency Fantasy Romance.  A proud geek, history buff, and story addict, she loves to talk with readers!  Find her discussing books, movies, TV, recipes and Men in Boots on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Pinterest.

    Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/deb.marlowe

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

    BlueSky: debmarlowe.bsky.social

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

    Giveaway!

    Deb will give away an autographed copy of A Killer in the Crystal Palace and some fun Kier and Levett swag.  Just comment and tell us:  If you could be a professional artist, what kind of art would you create?

    Giveaway open through the weekend.  Winner chosen on Monday!





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  • Sapphic books with flirting via text messages

    Sapphic books with flirting via text messages


    Flirting via text messages

    This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category covers a fun micro-trope: flirting via text messages.

    The characters might exchange some sexy late-night texts, engage in playful banter, or even confess their love via text messages.

     

    15 sapphic books that include flirting via text messages

    Below, you’ll find a list of 15 recommended sapphic books in which the main characters flirt via text messages:

     

    Eve Falls First by Fiona Zedde

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

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

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

    Available at:

    Ylva Publishing

     

    Telling Lies Online by Miranda MacLeod

    Jamie Richards is a scientist who embraces reason– except when it comes to romance. Tired of her impulsive streak leaving her heartbroken, she’s determined to do everything right the next time she’s in love. But her resolve crumbles when a technical glitch matches her with perfection in Claire, a woman who lives on the opposite side of the country. Who is straight. And under the impression that Jamie’s a guy. But Jamie can’t help being smitten. Would one tiny lie be so terrible if it gets her closer to the woman of her dreams?

    Claire Flores is a dreamer and a believer in signs, but she has a secret that keeps her cautious about love. All she wants is a picture-perfect family of her own, but she’s never met a man who attracts her. Until now. Throwing caution to the wind, she goes from Portland to Boston to meet Jay, her online love. Instead she meets Jamie, his work colleague, who befriends her in Jay’s unexpected absence. Claire’s heart is aflutter. Jamie stirs up feelings Claire never knew possible, but how close can she get without having to admit that she’s been lying to herself about her dreams all along?

    What starts as a simple fib soon snowballs as Jamie fabricates increasingly ridiculous tales to keep her identity as Jay under wraps, until a comedy of errors threatens to topple the whole charade to the ground. Can true love prevail when it’s founded on a lie?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae

    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

     

    All Things Beautiful by Alaina Erdell

    Leighton Vaughn’s prestigious fine art atelier—and her life—appear to be settling down after a messy divorce. She prioritizes her daughter, art, and, teaching—that is until gifted Casey Norford joins the close-knit New York academy.

    Casey didn’t receive the artistic education she expected from her bachelor’s degree, but a spot at Atelier Vaughn will remedy that. Even more than the opportunity to study with the famed Leighton Vaughn, Casey wants to give her son a stable childhood that won’t resemble her own. She’s not sure of the true extent of her artistic talent, but she’s keenly aware of her attraction to her instructor, and that attraction appears mutual.

    Their sticky teacher-student relationship puts the future of the atelier in jeopardy, the needs of their young children are at odds with their dreams, and Leighton’s obsessive ex tracks her down. Will they sacrifice everything to be together?

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    George and Izzie by Charlotte Rowan

    At first sight, George and Izzie couldn’t be more different.

    George is unabashedly queer, filled with confidence and purpose. Her friends are her family, more than most of her blood relatives ever were. She doesn’t need to know where she’s going, as long as she remembers who she is and what truly matters.

    Content with her long-term partner and her loving parents, her cat and her books, Izzie leads a tranquil, quiet life, just as she wanted. She put hard work and determination into getting where she is now, but hopes to go further for the sake of the students she dedicates her days to.

    But when George and Izzie’s paths cross, it appears that things aren’t as they seem.

    Sometimes, it takes one person to change it all.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Unbelievable You by Chelsea M. Cameron

    Hunter: Things had been going pretty well for me. My time was filled with my jobs and friends, and my parents seemed to have finally given up on bullying me to go to law school. Then everything changes in the blink of an eye. One minute I’m teaching a yoga class, and the next there’s smoke and then fire and with it comes firefighters. One in particular.

    Stace: There are only three things that I take seriously—my job as a volunteer firefighter, my work with the animal shelter, and my family. Everything else? Not so much. And then we get a call and I end up carrying an unbelievably gorgeous woman down the stairs and I feel like my entire world has shifted and nothing will ever be the same.

    Hunter: She lifted me like some hero from a romance movie and I couldn’t help but notice how good she looked when she took her helmet off and smiled at me. But that’s neither here nor there. I’ll never pursue someone like Stace. Love doesn’t work out for me, not for any member of my family. It’s just not in our genes. Why would I sign up for the inevitable downfall that will wreck my life? I’ll keep my heart whole and intact, thank you very much. Stace is the kind of person who demands all or nothing, and I have nothing for her.

    Stace: Hunter is…complicated. Closed-off. A challenge, not to mention she’s so beautiful that she’d make angels jealous. I’ve never met anyone who deserves to be seduced and spoiled by affection more than her. So that’s what I’m going to do. Because I have to have her.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    So Not My Type by Dana Hawkins

    Sophie Black has clawed her way up from coffee runs to project manager at a top Seattle ad agency. She’s laser-focused on her career—until the CEO’s daughter, Ella Northwood, joins the team. Forced to work together on a high-stakes campaign, sparks fly as Sophie’s scrappy determination clashes with Ella’s polished privilege. But there’s more to both women than meets the eye, and, over late nights in the office, their assumptions about each other start to crumble.

    When an impromptu hot tub session leads to a steamy night neither can forget, everything changes. The ice-cold chip on Sophie’s shoulder finally starts to melt, while Ella hopes that for the first time, someone might see beneath her trust-fund facade. But as the temperature in the office soars, a shocking revelation threatens to derail everything. Now Sophie and Ella must decide if their feelings are worth fighting for…

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Audible

     

    Temptation at Randy’s by Emily Alter

    New beginnings didn’t usually come with a side of temptation.

    Arlene

    The last thing I would’ve expected when I dared to attend a local munch at my favorite diner was to run into one of my favorite YouTubers. Claude wasn’t part of the munch, as far as I could tell, and they hadn’t posted anything in forever, but they still approached me. Me.

    It was a miracle I didn’t lose it right then and there.

    Claude

    Despite what my friends from LA said, I didn’t regret moving to Boston. It had started as an attempt to run away from a PR crisis I hadn’t known how to handle, but I liked it here. I’d found a safe haven at Randy’s, and people to surround myself with.

    People to surround myself with shouldn’t have included a financial advisor with a sweet tooth and gorgeous eyes, but… Here we were.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Take Two by Stephanie Shea

    Being in love is Whitney Dimaano’s favorite past time. Though lately, she can’t seem to get it right. She’s tried—she is trying—but it just hasn’t…clicked, and maybe her time would be better spent focusing on all the things that are actually good in her life. The gym she all but built with her own two hands, the new-found bond with her brother and sister, her friends… Anything but chasing the ghost of how it felt with the woman who left her behind.

    Award-winning documentarian Andy Vahn dreamed of being an extraordinary filmmaker. Her recipe for success is a fusion of meticulous planning, diligence, and never letting anything stand in her way. Not even love. When a trip to convince a misanthropic celebrity chef to appear in her docuseries leads her home, Andy knows it won’t be easy. Least of all because she hasn’t been back in six years. Hasn’t seen Whitney in six years. Still, it’s true what they say. You never forget your first.

    Maybe Andy’s return is the closure Whitney needs. But what if all it does is reaffirm Andy’s deepest fear?

    She should never have left.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    The Summer We’ve Had by Katherine Blakeman

    After a nightmare couple of years following the death of her celebrity singer mother, Cass Mulligan is moving down to the sun, sea and shingle of Cornwall for a fresh start. But she soon realises that she’s not the only one in need of some TLC…

    Felicia Wilson’s life is one long series of spinning plates. She has Dissociative Identity Disorder, a system of five alternate personalities living in her body, and they all have different hopes, fears and desires.

    When Cass is thrown together with Felicia, some beautiful friendships grow, and soon there is substantial mutual attraction between Cass and dominant alter Heather. But if things go wrong, they could go very wrong. Can they build a relationship AND keep everybody happy?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    V.A.M.P.: Book One—Serena & Katerina by Kimberly A. Todd

    Is it possible to find a second chance at love?

    Being rich, powerful, and thirty years old for eternity has its perks. Being a heartbroken, 800-year-old lesbian vampire, not so much.

    Serena Vanderen is chairman and CEO of V.A.M.P. Global. Advertiser by day; scientist, murderer, and cleanup artist for her pharmaceutical client by night.

    Since her girlfriend was killed thirty years ago, Serena has been going through the motions of running her advertising agency while grieving and trying to armor her heart against any more pain. But when Katerina Davenport attends her company gala, everything changes.

    Can this captivating, gorgeous, sexy redhead help Serena find love again? Will she reignite Serena’s long-dormant sexual desires? Will Katerina be able to accept that she is falling in love with a vampire? What dark secrets does the agency conceal that challenges their love—and Katerina’s safety?

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Back to September by Melissa Brayden

    Building a bridge between two worlds can be tricky.

    Hannah Shephard likes her life, her job, and her perfectly cozy apartment around the corner from her shop. She’s never been one to take big risks and would much rather stay in on a Friday night with a warm cup of decaf and her favorite mystery novel, so why do her friends insist she needs more? Plus, Hannah has bigger problems to focus on. She’s in trouble. Well, her bookstore is, and if she doesn’t find a way to bring in some more cash, she’ll be closing the doors of A Likely Story for good.

    When world famous romance novelist Parker Bristow accepts her request to come in for a signing, Hannah might finally be able to drum up some much-needed attention and save the shop. What she didn’t anticipate was an unexpected evening and a woman she wouldn’t soon forget. A real romance is off the table. Parker is flashy, sought after, and Hannah is just, well, Hannah. But for Parker, it seems like Hannah might be a safe place to fall. The question is, what kind of falling are they doing?

    Available at:

    Bold Strokes Books

    Amazon

    Apple Books

    Audible

     

    Moon Over the Gateway Arch by Renn Loraine

    Sarah knew the elegant blonde in the St. Louis bar was dangerous. She just didn’t know how….

    When the woman pulls Sarah aside on the crowded dance floor to tell her she’s not safe, Sarah doesn’t believe her. But as the events of the evening progress – she’s not so sure.

    Soon, Sarah realizes that in order to escape, she may have to trust this beautiful stranger. But only Sarah’s wits can save her now – and she doesn’t know how deep the rabbit hole goes.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    In Your Hands by Johana Gavez

    After being single for several years, Manuela is eager to end her dry spell. She tries her luck on a dating app where she encounters Sophia, a confident and straightforward woman. Their instant connection leads them from flirtatious messages to steamy exchanges on the app.

    “In Your Hands” follows Manuela as she explores pleasure on her own and later the world of sexting, roleplaying and one-night stands that turn into more.

    Available at:

    Amazon

    Apple Books

     

    Ribbonwood by Ruby Landers

    Lara Bennett is world-famous in Ribbonwood, population 907. She’s the woman you don’t trust your husband with: a real-life femme fatale. If there’s a scandal in town, she’s at the center of it, ruining businesses, marriages, and egos everywhere she goes, with her sharp tongue and that body that makes you look twice. Besides… didn’t she more or less kill a man?

    Ollie Gabrielli left Ribbonwood right after high school, back when Lara was her arch-nemesis. The queen bee and the closeted soccer star: natural enemies. When she comes home for three months it’s to recover from burnout and spend time with her chaotic family, not to reconnect with old classmates. Only somehow, she can’t seem to take her eyes off Lara. How did she only get hotter? And is she really everything they say she is?

    Sometimes, there’s a reason you should never try to go home.

    Available at:

    Amazon

     

    Birthday book giveaway coming up!

    birthday newsletter

    My birthday is coming up next week, and like every year, I’ll celebrate by giving YOU gifts! I’m preparing a big book giveaway with different prizes to pick from (signed paperbacks & book candles, ebooks, or audiobooks). I’ll send out a newsletter to let you know when it’s time to enter the drawing. If you don’t want to miss it, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter.

    Leave a comment

    What sapphic book will you read for the “flirting via text messages” category? Let us know in the comments!



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  • Sapphic characters with unique nicknames

    Sapphic characters with unique nicknames


    sapphic characters with unique nicknames

    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.”

     

    15 sapphic characters with unique nicknames

    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?

    Available at:
    Amazon
    Audible

     

    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.

    Available at:
    Amazon
    Audible

     

    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

     

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