Wistful Ascending by JCM Berne

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2022 SPSFC 2023

A superhero space opera for grownups. For fans of Invincible and Marvel Cinematic Universe films who like a little hard science fiction in their superheroes.
If Thor and Harry Dresden combined in a transporter accident.

Isoldesse by Kimberly Gruenbacher

SPSFC

Friendships are tested, new alliances are made, and the truth of one woman's actions from over a millennia ago are revealed. Kenna and Meegan are college students dealing with upcoming finals, needy parents, boy drama, and what to do with their lives after they graduate in a few weeks. What they weren't expecting was for Kenna to receive a powerful stone necklace that ultimately changes their plans for a relaxing summer. Strange things begin to happen to Kenna, like being the only one who can see and talk to the mysterious old woman with a golden aura. Or how in her dreams, a man with vibrant orange eyes keeps appearing who may or may not be real. Though, not all of Kenna's mysterious encounters are pleasant as she's haunted by massive beings carrying long swords and wearing armor covered in black scales. Besides solving the mystery of where the stone necklace came from, Kenna, Meegan, and their friends are taken to another world for a routine evolutionary assessment. The assessment gets sabotaged and causes more chaos for Kenna and her friends, especially for Meegan who is forced to open up and reveal her true identity and the magic she hides. There's one name that Kenna, Meegan, the Sendarians, and the monsters who've been hunting Meegan and her family for over a century all have in common-Isoldesse.

Queen of Poison (The Venatrix Chronicles Book 6) by Sylvia Mercedes

Betrayal surrounds her. Doom beckons her. Yet she will hunt one last time. Captured, heartbroken, shackled in torturous iron mittens that keep her shade deeply suppressed, Ayleth knows Fendrel keeps her alive for one purpose: She is his only remaining weapon against the resurrected Dread Odile. Once her task is complete, she will be executed. It’s as simple as that. But Ayleth isn’t about to give in that easily. Meanwhile, Gerard is held prisoner in his own castle by his uncle's orders--Fendrel must keep his nephew alive in order to force the ancient prophecy into completion. However, Gerard sees a different path before him, and he is resolved to follow it to the end. As the forces of the Witch Queen wreak havoc across the land, can Ayleth and Gerard come to terms with the truth of their pasts . . . and face their destinies with courage? Don’t miss the penultimate adventure in the breathtaking Venatrix Chronicles!

How We End by LM Juniper

Review by livingnormally on 2025-05-25T01:14:27Z

The Concealed by SK Horton

Review link will be live 5/24.

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Review by jlhines78 writer / book blogger on 2025-05-23T13:18:32Z

Worthy of Fate by A.N. Caudle

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Review by jlhines78 writer / book blogger on 2025-05-23T12:34:55Z

How We End by LM Juniper

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Review by quirkybibliophile on 2025-05-20T23:16:36Z

Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland

Cursed Cocktails is a slow, feel-good story with minimal stakes. It was a nice mental reset from the emotional highs and lows of more intense reads.

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Review by Shrike on 2025-05-19T20:23:45Z

Applied Leverage by Aaron Sher

Connor Rourke is one of the little people, supernaturally speaking: a psionic in a world of mages. He's happy being the top—okay, just about the only—supernatural locksmith in the Boston area. He doesn't aspire to adventure or heroism, but he's about to get pulled in whether he likes it or not (spoiler: he doesn't). When he stumbles across a secret that was never meant to be known, he gets in trouble with forces far beyond him. Mixed up in a conflict between factions he can't match or understand, he'll have to find a way to survive for himself and those he loves. Along the way, Connor will learn secrets hidden for centuries, face and defeat threats to his life, and ultimately tackle an enemy who could annihilate him with a thought—and wants to. Applied Leverage is an award-winning urban fantasy novel set in an innovative world full of action and vivid characters. It’s a first-person story with a side of snark, on paperback, Kindle, KU, and Audible.

Bites on Bourbon by Ellen B. O'Brien

A spring romance with teeth. When Nathan gives in to his brother’s pleas to spend his last ever Spring Break in the Big Easy, he thinks he’s agreeing to a week of jazz and jambalaya, maybe a drink or two while he keeps Peter out of trouble. Just like he always has. But then he meets Jennifer, a Bourbon Street shopgirl with sparkling hazel eyes, a great ass…and a pair of sharp white fangs. He should run for his life, but for some reason he can’t stay away. Jennifer’s done with love. Who can blame her, when her last boyfriend turned her into a vampire? But no matter how much she tries, she can’t resist pushing—and ripping open—all of Nathan’s buttons. Even when it puts her unbeating heart at risk. Can their Cajun-spiced fling under the neon lights (not to mention plastic mannequin feet) of Bourbon Street become something more?

Circle for the Earth by Daphne Singingtree

When a mysterious thunderclap transports a 30-mile circle of South Dakota—including a casino resort, small towns, and two Lakota reservations—back to the year 1791, a new nation is born. Rooted in Indigenous values and armed with 21st-century knowledge, the people of the Circle must navigate a world of colonial empires, ecological collapse, and the threat of genocide. As leadership falls to Rose Chasing Hawk, a hospitality manager turned head of state, the survivors face impossible choices: How much technology should they share? Who can they trust? And how do they protect the Earth while rewriting history? A time-travel saga of survival, sovereignty, and reimagined futures.

Blood & Whiskey by Meredith Allison

Murder and bootlegging were never part of a 1920s It Girl's plans for stardom. But when gangsters destroy her family, she'll put on her greatest performance yet as she exacts revenge, one man at a time. Mia Angela Scalisi lives a cushy, luxurious life as the headlining act at a popular, gangster-owned Chicago supper club. But it's not the silver screen, and all she wants is to be the Italian Lillian Gish. With her big brother Nick on the cusp of securing a huge bootlegging deal guaranteed to make him rich, he'll be able to use his contacts and influence to make Mia's dreams a reality. But in an instant, life as Mia knows it and all her dreams shatter forever. Now, the only thing that matters is finding the men responsible and teaching them a lesson in the power of blood... By spilling theirs. Set against the backdrop of the glamorous 1920s, Blood & Whiskey is the first thrilling installment of the Scalisi Family Saga. Other books in this series include Book 2, Princes of the Lower East Side and the prequel novella collection, Blood Comes First.

Of Blood & Light by Camilla Monk

Arthuriana, Victoriana, And Capybaras: Welcome To Thule! A girl with a secret . . . In the back of an ambulance, River Greer counts each breath her little sister takes until the final one: Sage’s body is giving up, ravaged by a mysterious illness. The late-night rush to the ER, however, turns into a surreal nightmare when River is abducted and ferried across the universe to the fabled Thule: a world beyond worlds, where Victorian mores collide with magic and Arthurian legend. . . . meets a knight on a mission. There, His Grace Hadrian Landevale of Caid is fighting losing battles of his own: to recover Isolde, his runaway wife, and against the blight that threatens the ichor, the source of all life on Thule. To add insult to injury, the captured fugitive Thule’s pathfinders just brought back from Earth is not his duchess but an eerie doppelgänger. When it becomes clear that someone will go to any length to silence River, Hadrian offers his protection to this enchanting, obstinate stranger . . . whose secrets might be the key to saving Thule’s most precious treasure: the light in its blood.

The Gloaming by Melanie Finn

In rich, compelling prose, Melanie Finn perfectly captures a world of consequences, and the characters who must survive them. Pilgrim Jones' husband has just left her for another woman, stranding her in a small Swiss town where she is one day involved in a tragic car accident that leaves 3 school-children dead. Cleared of responsibility though overcome with guilt, she alights for Africa, where she befriends a series of locals each with their own tragic past, each isolated in their own private way in the remote Tanzanian outpost. Mysteriously, the remains of an albino African appear packaged in a box, spooking everyone—sign of a curse placed by a witch doctor—though its intended recipient is uncertain. Pilgrim volunteers to rid the town of the box and its contents, though wherever she goes, she can't shake the feeling that she's being followed. The Gloaming is a thrilling, haunting new work of guilt, atonement, and finally, hope.

Strange as This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake

Set in present day West Virginia, this debut novel tells the story of a coal mining family—a couple and their four children—living through the latest mining boom and dealing with the mountaintop removal and strip mining that is ruining what is left of their hometown. As the mine turns the mountains “to slag and wastewater,” workers struggle with layoffs and children find adventure in the blasted moonscape craters. Strange as This Weather Has Been follows several members of the family, with a particular focus on fifteen–year–old Bant and her mother, Lace. Working at a motel, Bant becomes involved with a young miner while her mother contemplates joining the fight against the mining companies. As domestic conflicts escalate at home, the children are pushed more and more frequently outside among junk from the floods and felled trees in the hollows—the only nature they have ever known. But Bant has other memories and is as curious and strong–willed as her mother, and ultimately comes to discover the very real threat of destruction that looms as much in the landscape as it does at home

Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair

Fifteen years after climbing the beanstalk, giants are the least of Jack’s concerns… Twisted fairy tale figures roam our world in this deliciously dark, exhilarating new Urban Fantasy series, featuring familiar characters from mythology and fables clashing and conniving in a metropolitan cesspit that runs on chaos. Surrounded by corruption, depravity, and dark magick, down-and-out Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD is at his lowest. With nothing left to fight for, he finds himself winding up in the same grimy bars every night, nearly drinking himself to death and relying on mysterious magick beans to pick himself back up. Until one night, he stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene that will change the course of his life dramatically. When he finds the shattered corpse of egg-shaped media mogul Dick Dumpty, Jack finds himself reluctantly teaming up with the notoriously cold-blooded outlaw Goldilocks, and together they spiral into the horrifying magickal underbelly of New York City, caught in the middle of a war between the corrupt and the even more corrupt. Coming up against forces such as the grizzly gang leader Papa Bear and the crooked giant-descendant head of the NYPD Chief Cole, Jack and Goldilocks set in motion an explosive chain of events that will change the world, for better or for so much worse…

Blood Ties: A Collection of Three Covenant of Blood Shorts by J.S. Living

Liz is trapped in a mind prison. Dmitri wants to marry the girl of his dreams. Angelo wants to keep his research from being destroyed. Blood Ties is a companion collection to The Covenant of Blood, and answers questions like how Liz came to exist in Elizabeth Bathory Tepes's subconscious; how Dmitri became the PI; and why Angelo agreed to a marriage he didn't want. If you loved The Covenant of Blood, this short story collection will be a perfect addition to your library.

The Covenant of Blood by J.S. Living

What would you do if someone granted your deepest desire for one tiny favor? What would you give up to gain your freedom? And, if it came down to it, who would you save: yourself, or a loved one? Elizabeth Bathory-Tepes wants to find the mother that abandoned her. She wants to find her father's soul. And she wants to know why she blackouts from time to time. But getting what you want comes at a cost. And, sometimes, the cost of blood is too high.

Kawokee Right to Belong by Reid Minnich and Stacy Bender

Born to human parents, Max has never seen another Kawokee. Hungry for acceptance, he steps out into a world where he is seen as a dangerous animal because of his foxlike appearance and the virus he carries. Encouraged by finding a friend, he ventures into a public place and is almost killed. The incident thrusts him into the social spotlight where he becomes both villain and a hero. Between these violent titanic forces, he must fight for the right to belong.

Kawokee by Reid Minnich and Stacy Bender

Jasmine Char is infected with the Kaw virus spreading through humanity on all inhabited worlds. For her, the desperate mission to the Kawokee world to find a cure is a one-way journey. While the other scientists look for a chemical cure from the safety of orbit, Jasmine believes the cure is in the culture of the primitive, fox-like natives. But the Kawokee have been decimated and their culture all but lost due to human interference. Can Jasmine discover a cure before the Kawokee disappear along with the entire human race

Freedom Pancakes for Ukraine by Dr. Janice Cohn

Young Artem lives in Ukraine and, when war breaks out, his father stays to fight for freedom while Artem and his mother take the train to safety in neighboring Poland. Sad and confused, Artem worries about his father and his own future. But warm meals served by Paolo, a volunteer with World Central Kitchen, and the kindness of Paolo and others give him strength and hope. In an interconnecting storyline, Hannah, a girl in the United States, worries about the plight of Ukrainian children and finds a way to counter her own feelings of helplessness and take action. As children today often absorb narratives of violence and fear from the news, it is important to offer them stories about the powerful antidote of goodness and courage, and to inspire them—no matter how overwhelmed they may feel—to create change in the world around them one step at a time.

Shadow of the Elders by Will Elm

When a drought strikes the continent of Bas, family and friends are ripped apart, ancient grudges are revived, and a strange magic is sought that threatens to plunge the world further into chaos. Three people—Savique, Vaten, and Ajeau—search for a way back to each other. But each step they take casts them deeper into a world of mystery and danger. To survive, they will be forced to partner with old enemies, escape imprisonment, and fight against evil. Little do they know, their journeys are being watched by a powerful force. One that promises a reunion. And so much more.

The Jehzydak Prophecy by A R Morgera

"I know what you did. I know what you are." A burst of lightning and a mysterious death. The attack of a dragon in a world without magic. At eighteen years old, all Zaiden wanted to do was get married, begin a family, and become a master woodworker like his stepfather. But when circumstances become deadly, Zaiden is forced upon a desperate journey to discover the unwanted truth about who--and what--he really is. Fueled by anger and determined to discover Zaiden's true identity, his stepbrother, Rayder, follows close behind ready and eager to exact justice for murder. But neither is prepared for what they will discover and reality cannot be ignored. Events are already set in motion, and lives hang in the balance. According to prophecy, a choice must be made: Cast down or be cast down; Surrender or be conquered. They say Truth will set you free, but how do you know Truth when your whole life has been a lie?

Sapphire by Sage T. Greene

As an Etheri, Mari lacks physical strength and mana control. She feels destined to play the supporting role for her partner Rhu (a natural talent and future Lord of Newhaven) and her cousin Junie (the confident and beautiful one). But when Mari learns that Junie is a member of the Blaze—a mysterious criminal organization—she isn’t sure what to think. Mari starts learning about the Blaze and finds herself embroiled in their misadventures. By the time Junie’s identity is leaked to the Etheri villages and the Blaze comes under attack, Mari is no longer convinced that she can pick a side, but failing to do so begins to endanger not just herself, but the people she loves. Mari must choose where her loyalties lie: with her village, with her friends, or with herself. From author Sage T. Greene, ETHERI is an earnest, often-humorous quest for self-determination. Fans of reluctant protagonists and character-driven narratives will enjoy this series.

Don't Make Noise Lose With Poise: A Child's Guide To Losing by David Farkas

Don't Make Noise Lose With Poise is a book for kids ages 6 - 10 about how to deal with losing in a positive and constructive way. It's okay to feel disappointed if you don't win, but it's not okay to throw a fit and quit. This book teaches kids to be resilient, to be able to learn from their setbacks, and to continue to practice and move on to the next game. By fostering mental toughness we can teach our kids that a loss can help fuel us to be better and stronger. In that way, we can take something positive from a painful defeat.

Delilah and the Missing Curtains: A Child's Guide to Gratitude and Happiness by David Farkas

Delilah the Ant has everything she could ever want…except one thing, pink curtains! Will these curtains make her happy, or will she just want something else after she gets them? This sweet story with a wise message teaches that gratitude and perspective are powerful tools in the pursuit of happiness. Winner of the Book Excellence Award, Delilah “…invites kids to name what they’re grateful for. It gives parents a moment to breathe and recalibrate. And it does all this without a shred of condescension or preachiness.”

INKED by J. J. Jackalope

"That's it. That's all I had. I kept pulling the lever of the slot machine in my mind to come up with another word, but all I could think was charred charred charred, as if it was the jackpot. Billows of steam ascended from the black rubble of the dining hall. The carnage of the building littered the snow in a perfect little half-circle around the foundation." After being in online school for the last four years, Scottlin Vincino starts his Junior year at a new private boarding school an hour from home. It should have been similar to any other in-person school-- but alas, they had everything Scottlin didn't. A mark. He'll have to keep it a secret, but it gets tricky when you have a knack for ending up in the infirmary... Whether it be for the hot boy you just met, or you're swept up in one of the freak accidents at the school that seem to just keep happening. Scott will have to juggle his sexuality, his grades, and his new friends all while solving the mystery of what is happening to his new academy.

My Irresistible Demon by A.D. Craig

Leland As an incubus, I feed on desire—slipping into dreams by choice, taking what I need without a trace. But this time, something's different. I’m not choosing her… she’s summoning me. Night after night, I’m drawn to the same woman. Instead of feeding, I find myself helping—building her confidence, soothing her fears, waiting for her to tell me what she really wants. But two things complicate everything: 1. I’m not supposed to care—and yet, I’d burn the world to protect her. 2. She won’t tell me why she called me… or what it is she truly needs. Maisie My dreams have always been my refuge. A quiet place to escape the noise of real life. But then he appeared—Leland. Mysterious. Comforting. Addictive. He’s become the one constant in my life. My friend. My lover. My secret. Our time together is magic… but dreams end. And I know he isn’t real. Still, part of me wishes he was. Because if he were, I’d choose him—in a heartbeat.

My Silent Demon by A.D. Craig

Magdalene For months, one face has haunted my dreams—familiar, comforting… but completely unknown. A man who feels like a guardian, a presence I crave in the quiet. Then one day, I meet him. In real life. The same eyes. The same energy. My dream savior, standing right in front of me. Just as I begin to unravel who he is—and what he could mean to me—everything is ripped away. Osian I don’t speak. Can’t. Won’t. The world is quieter that way. But then Magdalene walks in, and somehow… she hears me. She doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t push. Just stays. And I find myself needing her in ways I don’t understand. But just as she starts to get close—she’s taken. And now, silence isn’t an option. Because I’ll do anything to bring her back.

My Guardian Demon by A.D. Craig

What happens when a demon gets assigned a guardian angel's job by mistake? Wynn I thought I was free. After leaving my toxic ex-boyfriend and my old life behind, I moved to a new town, enrolled in a new school, and kept everything under wraps. No one knew where I was. Turns out, I wasn’t as far away as I thought. Onyx When Wynn’s guardian angel retired, someone had to step in—but a clerical error landed me the job. A demon assigned to protect a human? That’s... new. I’m stuck with this job until they sort it out, and honestly, I’m not sure how a demon is supposed to look after a human like Wynn. I wonder how a guardian demon will work out for her?

Jade by A.D. Craig

Jade lives for the drums and the stage— but fame comes with a dark price. A stalker is closing in, getting bolder by the day. When her record label hires elite protection, Jade expects bodyguards. What she doesn’t expect… is him. Ryker is everything she shouldn't want— stoic, controlled, and frustratingly off-limits. As her new bodyguard, he’s sworn to protect her—not fall for her. But the closer the danger creeps, the harder it becomes to ignore the tension building between them. Ryker’s clinging to the rules to keep her safe—but she’s the one making him question them all. Can he protect her life… without losing his heart?

the drowners by David A. Anderson

For Aaron, this world is an unfathomable puzzle. Haunted by disturbing dreams, he drifts through empty days, shielding himself behind sarcasm and cynical wit. After being expelled, he sees an opportunity to rewrite his future at a new school. Connecting over a shared love for De Niro films with Robbie, an aspiring actor of Jamaican descent, he unexpectedly finds his companion piece, one person who truly understands him. Together, they navigate the chaotic waters of adolescence, from dramatic first dates to sociopathic bullies, iconic concerts, drugs, and a dead body. With adulthood fast approaching, can their unique bond survive the crushing weight of societal pressures and devastating revelations? Confronted by the ghosts of his past, Aaron must choose whether to blaze bright or fade away. A funny and poignant meditation on the forces that shape us, The Drowners transports us back to a time when our tolerance for hypocrisy was zero and life seemed infinite. An early draft of this novel won a 2021 YA Watty award.

Unspoken: A Dust Novel by Jann Alexander

"The novel reminds me, in tone, of Texas classics like The Time it Never Rained and Giant. I loved it. Alexander is a great new talent in the genre of Texana." —W.F. Strong, author, Stories From Texas, and radio commentator for NPR Texas _________________________________ A Farm Devastated. A Dream Destroyed. A Family Scattered. And One Texas Girl Determined to Salvage The Wreckage. Ruby Lee Becker can’t breathe. It’s 1935 in the heart of the Dust Bowl and the Becker family has clung to its Texas Panhandle farm through six years of drought, dying crops, and dust storms. On Black Sunday, the biggest blackest storm of them all threatens young Ruby with deadly dust pneumonia and requires a drastic choice—one her mother, Willa Mae, will forever regret. To survive, Ruby’s forced to leave the only place she’s ever known. Far from home, wondering why she’s been abandoned, she’s determined to get back. Through rollicking adventures and harrowing setbacks, the tenacious Ruby Lee embarks on her perilous quest for home—and faces her one unspoken fear. Even after twelve years, Willa Mae still clings to memories of her daughter. Unable to reunite with Ruby, she’s broken by their separation. UNSPOKEN shines a light on women driven apart by disaster who bravely lean on one another, find comfort in remade families, and redefine what home means.

A Dagger in the Ivy by Dorothy Dreyer

** First Place Winner of the BookFest Award in the category Romance - Fantasy ** ** Best Book Winner of the PenCraft Award in the category Romance - Fantasy/Sci-Fi ** With a kingdom in peril and magic awakening in her blood, Celeste is thrust into a deadly game of power, secrets, and forbidden desires. In a world plagued by darkness and deceit, half-fae Celeste Westergaard is torn between her duty as the Commander of the Royal Regiment and her station as the next in line for the throne. On the rise are attacks from supernatural creatures, the carnivorous beasts sent by the Shadow Tsar to claim the lives of third-born fae throughout the realm of Terre Ferique.. But as Celeste’s homeland of Delasurvia faces turmoil and unrest, she is thrust into an arranged marriage to the Prince of Hedera, the Land of Ivy. While the destiny of her kingdom rests on Celeste’s shoulders, she must also face the threat of madness, a fate which could befall her if her fae powers do not manifest. And to make things worse, the prince’s brooding half-brother carries a hatred for her she can’t understand. As Celeste unravels the mysteries hidden within Hedera, she must navigate a treacherous path to protect her kingdom and uncover the truth hidden within her own bloodline. A Dagger in the Ivy is a gripping tale of intrigue, danger, deception, and unexpected alliances. "Dorothy Dreyer delivers a richly woven fantasy filled with political tension, romance, emotions, and a heroine who balances her fierce strength with inner vulnerability." — Readers' Favorite

Dark Prophet by Wick Welker

I am the one of the end, the world maker, and the god breaker. Time is unraveling and Earth is doomed to wander the dark of space, unmoored from the galaxy itself. Galiaro’s plan for humanity’s escape to another dimension has failed and his dark matter robot creations, Beetro and Curse, were imprisoned in a nanoscopic black hole. Now, the entire planet is blighted by drought, the oceans heave beyond their bounds, and thousands are dispossessed. The end of the cosmos was foreseen by an ancient Alchean prophet named Othel. Thousands of years ago, Othel left behind the Dark Earth prophecy for the planet to survive the calamity. Now, the fellowship of Dark Theory—the drunken astrocyst Galiaro, Arym of the underground cult, thief Miree, time traveler Hawera, and the street rat Ribcage—must pick up the breadcrumbs of the ancient prophet’s quest to save Earth. Separately, they traverse the dying world and learn alarming news—the dark matter robots, Curse and Beetro, have escaped their black hole prison. Once parallel world enemies, the two robot brothers now have an uneasy alliance, and with an advantage… Curse already knows the prophecy. He has seen it before, used it before, and destroyed his own world with its power. Now on the cusp of annihilation, whoever wields the Dark Earth prophecy will unleash the cosmic power that could save—or doom—reality itself.

Dark Kingdom (Dark Law Book #2) by Wick Welker

Warrior at birth. Warrior at death. Dark Theory is real. The universe is expanding without Earth, dooming it to wander the void alone. Resources are dwindling and war festers across the blighted planet. Ria, a cyborg slave, is commanded by an implanted governor chipto track down dark matter, which may hold the key to restoring Earth's place in the cosmos. Ria travels with Haldane, a hardened warrior from a parallel dimension. Together, they traverse the horrors of the wastelands, finally reaching the fabled Fifth Kingdom. There, they find a nightmarish prison state of dark matter mines ruled by an iron-fisted despot. To achieve their goal, Ria and Haldane must fight to not only win the key to the dark matter mines, but also the hearts of an enslaved people. The fate of the universe, and Ria’s freedom, rests on who wins the Fifth Kingdom—and what they do with it.

Community Witch by Ash Kreider

Aspen Fahey is a non-binary aspiring community witch and failed witchfluencer living in downtown Toronto. When their aunt dies and leaves them her house and witching practice on beautiful, idyllic Vancouver Island, their life unexpectedly turns into a Lifetime movie: early thirties enby leaves the big city (including their toxic partner and the job they hate) to move to a beautiful small town, has meet cute with beautiful stranger before running into The One That Got Away. But can they navigate the hard work of building healthy relationships while juggling their responsibilities as town witch? Or will the trauma of their ex’s emotional abuse ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to them?

Relic Hunter by L.A. McBride

I’m a shifter with a checkered past and sticky fingers. I like my new life. I’ve got good friends, cheap barbecue, and weekly karaoke. Sure, I live in an apartment with more deadbolts than functioning windows. And yeah, I earn just enough tips as a mediocre bartender to buy name brand ramen noodles. But I can be as flamboyant and fun as I want—as long as I keep my hands clean. When a mysterious stranger strolls into my bar with tales of a magical dagger so rare it’s guaranteed to start a bidding war, that old itch is back. One last heist…for old times’ sake. At least, that’s what I tell myself. With a sexy alpha werewolf muscling into my business and a demon after my prize, this job could be my downfall. One wrong move, and the pack of werewolves I ran from eight years ago will come looking for payback. Only this time, they won’t leave me breathing. Hopefully, my survival skills are better than my bartending. Relic Hunter is the first book in the Riley Cruz series about a goat shifter who steals magical artifacts. If you like fun, fast-paced urban fantasy with quirky characters, found family, and an opposites attract, slow-burn romance, this is the book for you.

Chasing Phantoms by Inna Tamir

After what happened that night in the forest, Vera knew her life would never be the same. Healer or not, there’s only so much a human mind can grasp. It was another encounter, though, that truly turned Vera’s world upside down: Adrian Gordon. Her high school crush. The one love she could never get over—perhaps because that’s how unrequited love works… He was looking for a flatmate. She was looking into his blue eyes, forgetting everything around her. She was sure it was fate—what else could have brought her to his doorstep at that late hour? Unfortunately, fate is a seasoned player, always keeping its cards close to the chest, and the road to Adrian's heart was more complicated than she ever imagined. Obstacles had never scared Vera. Arguing with spirits, visiting her past incarnations—her life was too full of miracles to believe anything was impossible. But what happens when all the obstacles seem to be gone? When it all comes down to a single choice—her chance to be happy… or his? A time- and space-crossing love story that dances on the thin line between what is possible and what most people think isn’t.

Zoi by Jane Mondrup

At the age of five, Amira watched footage of the first zoi specimen arriving in our solar system, and she became instantly fascinated with the huge, cell-like creature floating among the stars. Decades later, she and three other astronauts have taken residence in a zoi as it continues its voyage through space. They have no way of steering its course. Communicating with their non-sentient host is limited to signals of physical needs. And while the zoi meets those needs, it also exposes its passengers to hormonal and even genetic alterations. Now, as masses of biological material start growing on each astronaut, their interstellar journey begins a new stage--one with far-reaching consequences both for the humans and the zois.

Interviewing Stephen Haggard by Faith Jacobs

Born March 21st, 1911 and killed in the line of in duty in February 1943, Interviewing Stephen Haggard invites its readers into the honest and most profound thoughts and viewpoints of a Father, a poet, an author, and a Soldier's memoir to his children, I'll Go to Bed at Noon: A Soldier's Letter's to His Sons, published 1940 in the Atlantic Journal. Here, his most poignant and candid of words are thoughtfully and respectfully reimagined in the form of a fictional Radio Interview with a fictional interviewer, in June of 1940. Taking nothing away from the real thoughts of the actual man called up to face the darkness of Hitler's Nazi regime, the play before you asks questions of which you may be compelled to answer: Will you remember Stephen Haggard and What does it mean to carry the weight of a legacy that has largely been forgotten by time? "And time, more time, give me more time!" Cries Fastidious. --- The Story: Enter BBC journalist, Edith Thatcher, a young late twenty some American who finds herself caught in the crossfire of London on the verge of rationed food, chaos, evacuations, and bombings, in the summer of 1940; her task a simple one, following a grand performance of a play in New York in the early 30's, she wishes to find and interview the co-star of Ethel Barrymore's Whiteoaks, Mr. Stephen Haggard, a London local, and what a piece of luck at that. In a race against the clock; and with time running out, Mr. Haggard awaits his turn to be called to the frontlines for training, what might our ambitious interviewer find as she gets to know the charming and ever elusive, Stephen Haggard? --- The Author would like to note that this is a work of fiction based on real words and letters left behind by a complicated personality, Stephen Haggard was not interviewed in actuality in the year 1940, Edith Thatcher is entirely fictitious, the settings and the characterization of some individuals, are inspired by real people, real places, and the interactions are based on surviving personalities from written literature of those who lived in such tumultuous times. With that, the meeting, the radio interview and subsequent situations, etc, is entirely fictitious and a product of the authors imagination. --- PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS!

Faithfully Yours Mozart: Love's Everlasting Courage by Faith Jacobs

The wedding bells have rung, it's 1783, and the deepest of love thrives in the hearts of darling Frau Constanze Mozart and her darling Wolfgang! Although their courage is sound and their strength to persevere beyond all odds immense, when looming shadows of unforeseen illness, familial conflicts, and pain threaten their beautifully imperfect paradise, will they survive the tides of life's trials and tribulations?

Blackblood by Kree Sullivan

A grieving smuggler. A fugitive mage. A turncoat Huntsman. The heist of their lives. Teenage smuggler, Armina, never intended to inherit the Blackblood, a truck loaded with illegal magical artifacts. But when tragedy strikes, leaving her in charge with only her irritable ex-girlfriend for company and with the magic-hating Huntsmen on her tail, she's determined to follow in the footsteps of her murdered Captain. When Armina discovers a fugitive mage hiding aboard her truck, dripping their black blood, she can't ignore their pleas for help. The mage desperately wants to rescue their mother from the Huntsmen's headquarters in the Western mountains, a mission Armina knows is doomed to fail, but one she can't ignore. As they tear across a dust bowl wasteland toward the dark spires in the west, secrets from Armina’s past come into view, lit by the blinding headlights of the roaring truck. Secrets that could endanger the mission, the truck, and her splintering found-family.

Everlasting | Legacy of Blood And Hope by Melanie Frome

The legacy of her blood has always come with a price. "Please just let me finish my final year of high school, preferably drama-free. And alive?" Sady Smith sends her plea up to the sky, already knowing it won’t be answered. Another year, another town, another fresh start. Her family does what it always does—packs up, moves on. Every home is temporary. Every friendship a risk. The rules are Don’t get attached. Don’t let anyone in. Start over. This year should be no different. Only… it is. First, there’s Greyson Black—her history teacher, of all people—who stirs up something she’s never felt before. Feelings she definitely shouldn’t be having. Before she can even start to unpack that little existential crisis, along comes Kelsey—a human wrecking ball of friendship, completely uninterested in the concept of boundaries. One day, she’s just a girl at the lunch table. The next, she’s there to stay. Effortless. Unshakable. Normal. Which means it’s doomed. Because mythical creatures? Yeah, they’re real. Her parents included. And Sady? She’s changing—fast. Power she can’t understand, or control. No rulebook to follow. And when her new friend, her only friend, is attacked—the storm inside her finally unleashes. And when the dust settles—it’s time to confront the demons of her bloodline and choose her own legacy. And then? Darkness takes her.

Her Shadowed Destiny by Rowena Aiello

"...a very strange book...in a magical land where odd things happen." They didn’t want to let her into their world. Now, she might just be their only hope. It takes a lot of guts to be a practicing witch in Lilaville. Then Aurora shows up, and Reine’s best friend goes missing at her house party. Now Reine’s powers might be the only thing keeping everyone safe. Without them, the true danger ahead of them can’t be stopped, and Reine could lose her best friend—forever. She just hopes her magic will be strong enough…

Among Wildflowers and Starlight Powers by Rowena Aiello

A romantic young witch. An enigmatic older woman. An opportunity of a lifetime…left in the hands of a hopeful and nervous wreck. All Violet wants is to get permission to attend the Priestess’s Birthday Ball. What she doesn’t plan on is running into a beautiful stranger…or the Priestess herself. The holy woman is so impressed by Violet’s dancing, she tasks Violet with putting together yet another Grand Ball, this time in Violet’s hometown. Violet’s never done anything like this before, but she can’t very well say no to the Priestess, much less in front of the beautiful stranger Violet now wants to also impress. As challenge after challenge mounts in front of her, Violet is left having to decide if she’s capable of pulling this off after all…and if walking away is worth doing, even if it means both her beautiful stranger, and the Priestess, end up disappointed.

Kill Seeker: Confessions of a pyschopath by Harlan Porter

Cole Cummins was just a kid when he killed his best friend. Then he took over his life. And just kept killing. Can a father's love help him overcome his compulsion? Will confession cleanse his soul? Or will a dogged detective catch up to him? This is a fast-paced novel. Its tone is intimate, confessional, disturbing, and quietly suspenseful, pulling the reader deep into the protagonist's mind — a mind that is calculating, traumatized, and increasingly unstable.

Golden Hour by Kat Jackson

Lina Ragelis prides herself on her bravery and strength, two traits that have served her well in her career in the US Army. Having been disconnected from her family since she turned eighteen, Lina has learned to rely solely on herself--and her slightly overbearing best friend--and she swears she prefers it that way. It's an easy lie for someone who has spent her entire life dodging love. Lina's pretty certain that she's damaged goods. But the truth is, she's the kind of person everyone wants in their corner, and the kind of woman many women want to love. Having had more than her fair share of challenges and hardships, there isn't much that scares Lina. Life would be so much easier if she were afraid of something basic--like spiders--instead of something significant. Something like real, true, healthy love.

The Shanghai Assignment by Karl Andrews

After more than two decades on New York's crime beat, reporter John Moore is enjoying semi-retirement in Vermont, writing up wire reports, hiking in the woods... and trying not to think about the story that ended his career. But when his former intern Samantha Fellows is murdered on the campus of Shanghai’s Fudan University, Moore agrees to cover the investigation for her local newspaper. As the killings spread, Moore finds himself tracking the city’s ambitious mayor, probing a suspicious property development - and uncovering a political intrigue that could change China forever.

The Other Place by Elizabeth Roderick

Living in Justin Flaherty’s mind has never been easy. Unfortunately, things are about to get much worse... At eighteen years old, most guys are chasing girls or dreams. Justin, on the other hand, wants to draw and be left alone. He’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it’s more than that. He's in tune with the Dark Energy that surrounds us all, and can see how it controls people’s actions. Sometimes, the Dark Energy will give him visions, to help him on the road to enlightenment. When his mother hooks up with a Baptist preacher named David who believes Justin’s schizophrenia can be cured with prayer, Justin knows he has to get out—or risk involuntary commitment in a religious facility. After a brush with incarceration, Justin takes off to San Francisco, where his drawings are not just noticed, but admired... Justin’s bizarre and beautiful drawings create a stir in the art world. Meanwhile, he’s homeless, couch surfing, and trapped in a continuous battle with his mental illness. His salvation is a girl named Liria Czetski with a shady past. They’d met a year ago, and she’s appeared in his visions ever since. It turns out Liria has been sharing those visions, something that is a surprise to everyone but Justin... When secrets surface, Justin is forced to realize that being a genius has a downside. Surrounded by people who want to exploit his talent, he must fight not only for his career and freedom, but perhaps for his life...

Hoodlum Army by Elizabeth Roderick

A Robin Hood for the Modern Age… Robin never thought she’d meet the girl of her dreams in a bank, much less when they were both robbing it, but her mother always said to find someone who shares your interests. Maryann wants to start a cooking school for disadvantaged kids, Robin to save her parents’ farm from repossession. It's natural that they team up to make the world a better place through crime. Their job experience as a barista and a hotel maid doesn’t transfer to grand larceny, however. Some clumsy mistakes mean it’s not long before the FBI is hot on their heels. The agents seem to have criminal motivations of their own, so going to jail might be the least of Robin and Maryann’s worries. Worst of all, Robin is falling in love. She doesn’t think Maryann has ever dated a woman, but sometimes it seems like maybe, just maybe, she feels something deeper than criminal conspiracy. Will they find a happily-ever-after this side of prison…or the grave?

Gracie & Zeus Live the Dream by Elizabeth Roderick

Grace Morgan has been on the music scene long enough to know the life of sex, drugs & rock & roll is just a dream. But after a messy divorce, Grace wants to give her dream of being a music journalist one last shot. She moves to LA with her 21-year-old foster son, Zeus. They live in a motel on cup noodles and hope, until Grace finally gets a break: a story about Inez Carter, hot-mess frontwoman of the popular band Karma Korn. The story delivers more sex, drugs and rock & roll than Grace bargained for. Karma Korn's drummer, Nelson, has Grace rethinking her post-divorce vow of celibacy. And after they're invited to an elite Hollywood rave, where they mistakenly drink the electric Kool-Aid, Zeus is scouted to be the lead guitarist for another star band. However, the story soon goes sideways, and things aren't adding up. Someone is spreading rumors about Grace, trying to sabotage her career and reputation. Then someone tries to kill her. Grace is left frantically trying to connect the dots in the dwindling hope she'll be able to salvage the story, her relationship with Nelson, and her life.

The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna

“This is a nice, quiet town. Things like that don’t happen around here.” But they do. In THE TARNISHED SON, a tourist’s death, an alluring young teacher, a father’s carnal desires, and a stepdaughter’s vendetta ultimately destroy a village dynasty. The respected Clark family has governed Williams Bay since 1837. On a hot August day, seventeen-year-old Liam causes a tragic boating accident. What happens next—infidelity, drugs, theft, and more—deepens long-hidden cracks in the family’s façade, exposing their secrets and tarnishing their golden image. Meet the family: * William Sr., the grandfather who rules the family and the village with an iron fist * Hank, the father who lets temptations lead him on a path of self-destruction * Liam, the shining son who gets away with everything * Rose, the stepdaughter who has had enough and pushes the whole house down Grab some popcorn and watch the destruction unfold in Elizabeth McKenna's unpredictable family drama!

Shadows Lost by B.K. Cavaleri

A curse that drove a queen mad. A heroine that failed to stop her. A shifter that refuses to give up. A world that needs them both again.

Everlasting by Sara Fanfarillo

Immerse yourself in a captivating fantasy novel written by a talented young author with a vivid imagination. Step into a world of enchantment and adventure, embarking on an exciting journey through the pages of this compelling tale. With rich world-building and engaging characters, the author weaves intricate plots that keep readers hooked as they follow the protagonist's quest to uncover deep mysteries. The main character unknowingly sets out on a challenging and emotionally profound path, guided by a force capable of creating evocative settings. This journey of discovery seeks to reveal the truths of life, with references to the past and signs inherited from ancestors weaving the story together. Remote bonds, seemingly unconnected, ultimately converge in a stunning revelation. Despite the wise old master's guidance, the truth remains obscured by unfolding events. The realignment of entrenched realities heralds a new beginning and a fresh start. Don't miss this enchanting adventure from a promising new voice in fantasy fiction.

Lady Hell by Alyssa Page

Ushered into an arranged marriage with Bramwell Hellthorne, the lonely Lord of Valen, Belle finds herself wandering the wicked walls of an eerie, gothic manor on a cliffside far from the shores of home. When Belle's sister experiences a demonic possession and slips into insanity following her visit to the mansion, Belle's beliefs of religion, spirituality, and the unknown are suddenly tested, and Hellthorne Manor begins to haunt both Belle's dreams and her reality. With walls that weep tears of blood, pipes that whisper an untold tune, and a haunted portrait that dances between different locations, daily life within her new home shifts into a waking nightmare. By the time Belle realizes that both the manor and her husband may have a bit more than just a few bones hidden away, it's too late, and her remains may just rot away with the rest.

Ripple the Mesh by Sam LaRose

Harper Wyatt has had a celebrity crush for Misha Levin since she was a teenager and he was drafted to the Minnesota Northern Lights. She never expected to fall in love with a hockey player, or marry one. Not to mention, that hockey player being friends with the great Misha Levin? Impossible! Yet, she finds herself not just friends with but girlfriend to the hockey legend and is visiting him on his home turf in Edmonton for the first time. With busy travel schedules for everyone in the polycule, it's a wonder any of them have time for themselves much less each other. Hard topic discussions involve tough to hear answers, but also keep an open flow of communication, holding their relationships together.

Dirty Dangle by Sam LaRose

The Osprey season is coming to a close. Pietr's past is coming back to affect his current relationships and he seeks help after having trouble with Harper wanting to experiment with a woman. Harper is reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Finding her place within the WHOOSH has been a journey, but the welcoming nature of Marie, Becca, and Helen in particular maybe finally be getting through to her. While Pietr and Misha's husband, Cecil, are busy on their separate play-off runs, Misha comes for an extended visit. He and Harper do a bit of traveling to extend their tattoo collections and enjoy some time alone together before the final big game.