Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix (Rescued From Ruin) by Vala Stone

Have I just stumbled from one monster, straight into the clutches of another? Ava I have a habit of doing what people tell me I shouldn’t. Like eating that extra cookie, or you know, dating the bad boy. When I try to get out of this latest pickle, running is my only option. A dark gloomy mansion in the middle of the woods, surrounded by an ominous fence. Yeah, that’s not where you expect to find salvation. But the man that swoops down on me, pulling me from the snapping jaws of danger… He sets my blood on fire and makes my heart melt with his care and his cute pet cat. Lucius I just want to be left alone. The world is a dangerous place and I want nothing to do with it. But when pretty Ava stumbles onto my doorstep, I can’t help myself. Parts of me ignite that I thought had long ago turned to ashes. To keep her safe, to keep us both safe, I must let her go. I should send her away. To break my curse, to rescue her from ruin, I might have to break all my rules. I might have to ignite all the flames and make the ultimate sacrifice. Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Rescued From Ruin shared author series. It features one sexy, cursed Phoenix, a plucky damsel in distress, and a very wise matchmaking cat.

Balarr (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #9) by Sue Mercury

He's honor-bound to claim her, but he never expected love. Trapped in a cold, sterile laboratory, Luna longs for a normal life, complete with adventure and romance. When she sees an ad for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides, she steals a laptop and signs up for the program, believing it's the answer to her prayers. She's thrilled when a massive otherworldly male named Balarr storms into the laboratory looking for her, but his stern, intimidating presence quickly gives her second thoughts. Has she made a terrible mistake, or is there a gentler side to the fearsome alien warrior? Balarr lost everything the day his mate and offspring were killed during an attack on his homeworld. He never anticipated moving on and claiming a human female, but then an old friend enrolls him in the VAMOB program. Honor-bound, he travels to Earth to take possession of his assigned mate—a stunningly beautiful female named Luna. Despite the unexpected spark between them, expressing his feelings doesn't come easily, and he struggles to show Luna just how precious she's become to him. But as their bond finally deepens, a shadow from the past returns, threatening the entire VAMOB program. Balarr is only certain of one thing—he'll do anything to keep Luna.

Holly and the Hunter: A Post-Apocalyptic Alien Romance (Xarc'n Warriors) by Lynnea Lee

Deck the halls… or die trying. I’ve spent months preparing for the holidays. Gifts for the children, hand-knit stockings, and enough decorations to cover New Franklin in Christmas cheer. It was going to be perfect. Then the raiders came. They didn’t take food. Or medicine. Or anything remotely useful for surviving winter. No, they stole the crate full of holiday magic. Everything is gone. Even the star for the tree. Now the settlement’s focused on repairs and defense, and no one has time to recover what was lost. Except me. And the only person available to help? A grumpy, battle-hardened Xarc’n warrior who thinks tinsel is a tactical hazard. But grumpy protector or not, we’re going to make this work. He’s got the blade, I’ve got the sparkle, and together, we are going to save Christmas. This is a standalone novella-length holiday story set in the Xarc’n Warrior universe. Get ready for a sweet and steamy adventure with a HEA guaranteed!

Downhome Little Planet Vol. 3 by Joey Daiba

The gang’s all back for another eight chapters of city-collapsing antics! Hell-bent on avoiding the inevitable, Twitch is finding all sorts of new, brain-damaging ways to try and hold off the wedding day! If he keeps this up, Leuki will be changing his diapers before they graduate from school... Maybe she’s into that sort of thing, but frankly, the author would rather not entertain the idea! Regardless, our star-crossed lovers are up to no good in all sorts of hair-raising new ways!With the discovery of subspace, Leuki has some plans for Acies Gemma and sets the planet on it’s edge by bringing back the global network! Of course, this only means trouble once she tries to dive in. Can Twitch keep her from becoming an unsavory internet celebrity? Hopefully Leuki knows better and never winds up performing an image search of herself! In the meantime, a new threat lurks in the shadows of Yokaro. Something terrible has happened to F.P.U. Division 194 and Agent Willis is at a loss at how to keep the happy couple of Acies Gemma safe! Not that the F.P.U. was doing a bang-up job anyway, but it’s the thought that counts! Can the group survive another slew of catastrophic happenstances?

Downhome Little Planet Vol. 1 by Joey Daiba

WriteHive Book Club

Backwater planet Acies Gemma is barely a glowing dot on the galactic map these days due in part to the fact that it resides at the redneck ass-end of the galaxy... and the fact that its rotation is slowing. The planet has only a few years left before it becomes uninhabitable and the bulk of the population dies horribly. Tragically. The dire situation has caused everyone who is anyone to flee, leaving the "lower class gutter trash hicks" stranded to fend for themselves. Government has broken down. Society has come untethered. Fire and brimstone raining down from the sky. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave. Human sacrifice. Dog and cats living together! - Mass hysteria! In the middle of all of this is a cyborg street peddler known to his friends and family as Twitch who must uphold a promise he never made and finds himself engaged to a troublesome alien princess... and boy is his girlfriend pissed! Can he really hold it together? Or will his literal and figurative world come crashing down around him? We honestly do not know the answer to that question yet, but here's to hoping you want to find out and like the story and tell all your friends about it! Because for every negative comment received the editor will be giving the author a very harsh jab to the kidney! And Joey is very fond of both of his.

A Swift and Sudden Exit by Nico Vincenty

SPSFC 2024

An immortal, doomed to die. A time traveler, desperate to save her. When Zera travels back in time to 2040, she aims to investigate the geomagnetic storm that scorched the earth. Instead, she finds the beautiful Katherine, who speaks of past storms and asks with her dying breath, “Is this the first time we meet?” From WWII-era New York to early 2000s New Orleans and everywhere in between, Zera chases both storms and Katherine, thinking her immortality is the key to fixing the future. But as the immortal goes from a reluctant ally with a deadly hunter to a romantic complication, Zera wonders if the past is really set in stone, or if she can still save the world—and Katherine.

A Third Kind of Madness by Christiane Knight

When Denny isn’t working as a photographer, they spend their time at the local coffee shop mooning over one of the regulars, the mysterious and beautiful Peri. No one’s more surprised than Denny when she asks them out on a date. What happens that night throws the couple into a world where nothing is as it appears and everyone wants to get their hands on Peri and her powers to inspire artists – especially Joolie, the controlling and egotistical leader of Denny’s art collective. If that wasn’t enough, the powerful, capricious water elementals known as Nyxen have inexplicably taken an interest in Denny. They warn that Peri’s gifts bring nothing but trouble to those around her. It’s hard to argue with them when the magic starts to go wrong; paintings greedily come alive with grasping tentacles, an obsessed ex-lover returns to threaten the couple, and Denny begins to wonder if their grip on reality is beginning to slip…

Downhome Little Planet Vol. 2 by Joey Daiba

A glimmer of dubious hope flickers in the distance for the backwater planet of Acies Gemma. A powerful race known as the J’sarri is on route to save the dying world and ensure the safety of their runaway princess. But even with the political marriage of Twitch and Leuki promising an alliance, things aren’t getting much better for the planet’s abandoned populace. If anything, you’d think nobody had even noticed the events of the last couple of months! What the hell is wrong with everyone?! To make matters worse, things have only gotten more problematic for our favorite cyborg degenerate! His blushing bride has a knack for attracting enough trouble to bring entire government branches crashing down. And don’t think Twitch’s girlfriend Scarlet has given up on the man of her dreams. Her schemes are adding even more thorium to the fire! Behind all this chaos, a mystery is slowly unraveling. There’s something more to the Fyx family than meets the eye. Even more, the planet itself holds secrets, haunting just beneath its surface. Can Fix hold his life together before all hell breaks loose? Can Leuki win him over and finally have the simple life of her dreams?

Windward by S. Kaeth

SPFBO7 SFFOasis Indie Recs Indie

When dragons fight, mountains weep. In nests high in the mountains, dragons and dragonbonded share their lives, thoughts, feelings, and ambitions. Palon and her partner, the dragon Windward, are renowned among their nest for their flying skill. Their days are filled with everything she loves, especially riding the wind. Even being tasked with teaching their way of life to Tebah, a rebellious newly bonded teenager, can’t bring her down too much. But when treasures from the dragons’ hoards are found in Palon’s collection, her idyllic life comes crashing down. She battles to prove her innocence, while her every move is cast as further evidence against her. Tebah’s suspicion, homesickness, and defiance would be frustrating even in easy times. With Palon in the spotlight while her rivals smear her name at every turn and stir up plots of revenge, her teenage charge’s behavior proves dangerous. Dragon tempers shorten, and challenges and disputes shake the ground. Palon will have to trust more than just herself if she hopes to once more own the sky.

Orc The Halls: A Snowed-In Christmas Romance (OrcFire Book 9) by Alana Khan

Some Christmas gifts come with muscle, tusks, and a promise you’ll never be cold again. Laney My plan to cover next semester’s vet school tuition—holiday pet-sitting at my late grandma’s snowy mountain sanctuary—is going down in flames. The exotic animals are staging a revolt, a blizzard’s closing in, and failure means losing everything. Then he shows up. Ryder six-foot-eight of green-skinned, musclebound orc firefighter with a voice that could melt snow and hands that promise ruin. He’s calm with the animals, gentle with me—and when he calls me sunshine, my icy walls start to melt. But I’ve been left behind too many times to believe in happy endings. Ryder I came here to do a quick pet-care favor. What I found? A fierce, brilliant woman holding her world together with grit and hope. Laney thinks I’ll walk away like everyone else. But this orc? I’m not going anywhere. I’ll earn her trust. Melt her defenses. And prove that I love hard, protect harder, and know exactly how to heat up a snowbound cabin. Escape into a snowed-in mountain romance where Christmas miracles come with fierce devotion, possessive growls, and the kind of dominant orc who brings the fire. Scorching scenes guaranteed, along with your new green-skinned book boyfriend. For readers 18+ who love their holidays hot, their heroes huge, and their monster romances equal parts heart and heat.

Reverting Scales: Clawing Eyes by The Illogic

Naydrus and her mate have a lot of work to do to take their hatchlings back home. However, the golden hatchling seems to bring about the ire of the world, awakening things mindless or long since dormant. As the dragoness' family tries to return to their haven, monstrous, mutating horrors and greedy hominids come after them. Naydrus can only depend on her mate to get them home safely when the entire continent seems intent on devouring them.

Never Kiss a Krampus: A Cozy Holiday Monster Romance by Honey Phillips

Noelle Green needs a miracle. The town of Mistletoe Hollow is being devoured by a Grinch-like developer, and her beloved Christmas shop is next to the list. Fueled by peppermint schnapps and desperation, she performs a ritual for Yuletide aid. She gets a miracle, all right—just not the kind she expected. She accidentally summons a Krampus, all towering muscle, wicked horns, and glowing eyes. Bound to her until Christmas, Bastian is ancient, annoyed, and very sure she owes him for dragging him across realms. Noelle's attraction to her grumpy, imposing houseguest is as undeniable as it is terrifying. But between magical punishments, enchanted tinsel, and kisses that melt snowflakes, this holiday season is about to get very, very naughty.

Ghost: A Small Town Age Gap OTT Instalove Biker MC Steamy Short Romance (Steelwood MC Book 1) by Julia Stone

He stole her to save her. Now he can’t let her go. I found her by accident—just a glimpse during a job finished a few months back. One little discovery turned into an obsession. I told myself to forget her, but that was a lie I never stood a chance of keeping. When I learned her father planned to trade her to another club’s bastard, I couldn’t let it happen. So I took her. Now she’s here, hidden away in my world of smoke, leather, and scars. She looks at me like I’m her captor, and maybe I am. But I’m also her only chance. Every day she’s near, I lose another piece of the restraint I swore I’d keep. I can’t let her go—but I can’t let myself have her either. Because if I touch her, there’s no coming back from it. My whole life has been planned for me—every breath, every choice, every future moment dictated by my father. I never questioned it until Ghost tore me from that life and dropped me into his. He’s chaos made flesh—scarred, and dangerous—but somehow, he feels more honest than anyone I’ve ever known. He says he took me to protect me. Maybe that’s true. But the way he looks at me burns hotter than any lie. The longer I stay, the more I see the man beneath the rough edges—the protector, not the villain. Somewhere between fear and fascination, I start to fall. Ghost may have stolen my freedom... but he’s the first person who’s ever made me feel free. Each story in the Steelwood MC series is part of a shared storyline that is best enjoyed read in order. Each couple ends with a HFN ending that will result in their HEA by the end of the series!

Cold from the North by D W Ross

SPFBO7

Driven by the promise of an ancient prophecy which will bring the dark ways of an old god back to power and prominence, an army of invaders swarms Ogulf Harlsbane’s homeland slaughtering all those who oppose them. Along with his people, Ogulf must seek refuge from this savage force. In his search of sanctuary, he is tasked with finding the one person who can put a stop to the onslaught. Doing so will send him across lands and seas, have him and his closest friend navigate the intricacies of a civil war, and try to win the help of the princess fighting for her throne. If he fails, darkness will prevail and the reign of the Onyxborn will begin.

Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

The bones of the dead hold stories. On the fringes of Errigal, Morana longs to exchange a life of hiding for a peaceful one with her husband, Percy. While Percy's bloodgift lets him grow plants and heal broken bodies, Morana's a boneweaver, despised and feared because she can hear bones and raise the dead. Morana doesn't want to be seen as a villain from the old stories and instead spends her time gardening, writing the stories of the dead, and fending off a spiteful chicken. Morana and Percy's lives are shattered when a group of Failinis tasked with capturing boneweavers and rogue bloodgifted find them. On the run and battling the elements, ancient creatures, and the loss of all they called home, Morana and Percy search for any sanctuary left in Errigal. Morana must choose between the call in her blood or the family she holds so close to her heart if she and Percy are to survive. Please be aware that this book contains some scenes of violence, death, depression, mentions of miscarriage, birthing scenes, suicidal thoughts, suicide, and cannibalism.

This Christmas by Monique Fisher

THIS CHRISTMAS is about two former high school friends, Crispin Thomas and Sierra Williams who have been estranged for nine years. After being reunited due to Crispin—once again—needing Sierra's help, they work together in order to make sure the desserts for the Thomas' holiday gathering are ready and in the process, old wounds are healed and new love blossoms. This second chance romance features forced proximity, opposites attract, and of course an HEA.

Warrin (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #10) by Sue Mercury

The fierce alien warrior is finally taking a mate. After getting jilted at the altar, heartbroken Elora flees town, determined to make a fresh start somewhere far away where no one knows her name. But traveling through the war-torn countryside is harder than she imagined, and during a sudden air raid, she loses everything. Destitute and scared, she reluctantly signs up for the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides program, believing it's her only shot at survival. When a handsome, green-eyed warrior named Warrin arrives to claim her, she finds his directness both refreshing and disarming. His kisses leave her breathless, and in his arms, she finally feels safe. But is she falling too fast for a male she barely knows? Warrin has longed for a mate and a family of his own, and he's overjoyed when the VAMOB program finally matches him with a human female. Elora. The first time the fierce warrior lays eyes on the young woman, he's captivated by her beauty and the quiet strength of her spirit. Every time he holds her close, the darkness that's plagued him for ages retreats, and he starts to believe she's a gift from the Star God. When an unexpected air blockade prevents their departure from Earth, they're forced to seek refuge and wait out the conflict—alone, with growing desire. But just as he prepares to claim her, they receive shocking news that could tear them apart before their mating union has even begun.

How to Flaunt Your Chains and Surrender a Vein by D. N. Bryn

‘What else is this shed for, if not torturing unsuspecting vampires?’ Rahil Zaman has good reason to keep his distance from the world—and his fangs are only part of that. He hides in his crumbling home, acquiring blood through the risky one-night stands he finds on hunter-infested hookup apps. After one such fling turns sour, Rahil ends up trapped in the work shed of the one match he wishes would respond to his flirtations. Finding the hot twink he’d been ghosting inside his work shed was not on Mercer Bloncourt’s agenda. Between his work as a craftsman and his tumultuous relationship with his chronically-ill daughter, he doesn’t have the time or heart for a relationship. But Rahil is not the only intruding presence in Mercer’s life. A hostile hunter and a manipulative research scientist both insist—on threat of his daughter’s life—that he recreate versions of his ‘holy silver’: a vampire-killing metal forged in the wake of his wife’s murder, bound up in all the grief and destruction he’s striven for years to overcome. To complicate matters, Rahil is the rare vampire who’s immune to the deadly silver, providing Mercer the perfect lab rat to test a kinder vampire-affecting metal. As Rahil and Mercer rush to the forge, they must face their past wrongs once more, and in time, discover that no mistake is worth the sentence of eternal loneliness.

Diamond Wishes: An Aladdin Retelling (All That Glitters #12) by Abigail Manning

A mute guard, a chatty parrot, and a diamond ring that could change it all... Few people have heard the legend of the wondrous wishing diamond, and even fewer have wasted their efforts searching for it. Kya could care less about jewels unless they can sell for enough money to feed her and her mouthy parrot. Her chronic fainting spells make it impossible to hold down a real job, and difficult to escape the guards when a charming stranger interrupts her heist. Caught and caged, Kya admits defeat as she wastes away in the palace prison. Not even befriending a royal guard can get her out of her chains, but a deal with a smooth-talking nobleman might... It would seem that the boy from the market isn’t the only person on a diamond hunt. If anyone can find a diamond ring in a cave full of treasures, it’s a jewel thief, but that doesn’t mean she knows how to use it. Wishes gone wrong and a power struggle between royals quickly trap Kya once again, but this time as a fake princess. Even a counterfeit diamond can sparkle, but can it fool a treasure hunter? Life as a royal sure does have a nice ring to it, if you can live long enough to wish for a crown. Diamond Wishes is a standalone, no-spice, fairy retelling and is a part of the series "All That Glitters." A collection of 12 treasure-themed fairy tale retellings full of adventure, romance, and glittering gold.

Warmed Up by the Firefighter: A Second Chance Instalove OTT Steamy Short Romance by Julia Stone

One bad breakup. One unexpected firefighter. One second chance she never planned to take. Reese: They say I’m crazy. That’s the story my ex told after our breakup—loud enough that the whole town believed him. So maybe breaking into his house to get my things back doesn’t help my case, but I refuse to let him keep pieces of my life hostage. I don’t expect to be caught. I definitely don’t expect his new roommate—naked, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly calm about finding me trespassing in the middle of the day. Jaxon isn’t what I’m ready for. He’s heat and safety and everything I swore I was done believing in. One look at him makes me want to risk my heart all over again. But I’ve already loved once and paid for it. No matter how much my body betrays me, I can’t cave. Not again. Jaxon: I step out of the shower and find a woman breaking into my house—and just like every fire I’ve ever run into, I know I won’t walk away unchanged. Reese is sharp-tongued and wound tight, carrying scars no one ever taught her how to heal. The second our eyes meet, something in me locks into place. I don’t question it. I never do. I’m a firefighter. I run toward danger for a living. And Reese is danger in the most tempting form. She doesn’t fall into my arms the way women usually do. She fights it. Pushes back. Keeps her distance. That only makes me want her more. She’s running from something, and I’m not the kind of man who lets someone burn alone. She thinks love is a mistake she can’t afford to make again. I think she just hasn’t met a man willing to fight for her. Mature Novella Romance Short Story Short Romance Second Chance Steamy Quick Read Small Town Instalove Note from the Author: This short read will take 1-2 hours to read.

The Briar Crown by Helen Rygh-Pedersen

SPFBO9

They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror? Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear. Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers. Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?

Hot Wolf in the Country - A Cozy Monster Romance (Monster Mate Mayhem) by Honey Phillips

Working late has never been this dangerous! Tech genius Harper moves to Monster Island for a fresh start, hoping to escape her workaholic tendencies. She doesn’t expect to fall even deeper into her old patterns, or to accidentally run into the most infuriatingly attractive man she's ever met. Adrian Moonstone isn't just the Alpha of the Moonstone Pack; he's a growly, dominant force of nature. Adrian wants nothing to do with big city girls, but Harper, with her pink hair, defiant attitude, and tantalizing scent, proves impossible to resist. He knows a tiny human female can't be his Luna. He knows she'll never truly belong in his world. Yet, his wolf’s need to claim her grows with every encounter. When a vicious cyber-attack threatens his pack, Adrian needs Harper's genius more than ever. But as they fight together to defeat this new threat, their undeniable passion ignites. Can Harper find her happily ever after, or will love prove to be a code that even she can’t break? smart heroine, possessive hero, fated mates, forced proximity, shifter romance A sweet and spicy monster romance! Each book can be read as a standalone romance. Intended for mature readers.