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Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir. After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren âBloodbaneâ has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage's service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain. And a chance at a fresh start. In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possessionâa book of drink recipes inherited from his father. Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success. Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm. |
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The Desert Heiress by Shoshana Rain Nothing will stop Lis from regaining her family's powerânot even the three tempting men standing in her way. In the desert port of Cenefra, the Sun Rose is life blood. A magic plant with the ability to grant people greater abilities. Sale of the plant is strictly forbidden, its growth restricted only to farms owned by the Empire's shipping company. Liseya Moroeste has only ever wanted one thing: to run the syndicate smuggling it. But her family has been cut off for over a century, forced to advise but never lead. When the government cracks down on all illegal export, Lis is ready to seize her chance. To do so, she must best her three rivals. Filip, Deo and Adrian each want to court her, control her, cajole her into doing what they want. Liseya finds herself drawn into their complicated web, but to survive, she must learn if she can trust them, or if she must cut them down before they can do the same to her. The Desert Heiress is the first book in The Seven Star Empire Series. It is a slow burn, MMMF why choose, second world fantasy with steamy scenes and a guaranteed HEA at the end of the series. It contains both MM and FF scenes, and involves the FMC in a relationship before getting involved with her main love interests. |
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The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids by Stephanie Gillis The Lambros family has never fit in with the town of Pandora, even from the very beginning. Since their ancestors immigrated from Greece with magical creatures in tow, the townsfolk have never trusted them and that hasn't changed in the centuries since. Now, Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia struggle to live their every day lives. When new girl, Asha Singh moves to town, everything changes. Thalia, once determined to escape Pandora upon graduation, finds herself growing closer to the heiress of the new resort in town and puts her plans on hold as their relationship develops. All the while, a man has entered the grounds, sent by their mother to help prepare for the newest creature en route to the house. His intentions come into question as he tries to befriend the distrustful Calliope, whose own abilities with the animals seem something out of a fairytale. With their mother missing, Melpomene struggles to keep the house together amidst the changes in the town, the newcomers to their lives, and the impending threat of their secret life being exposed to the community and the world. As the three sisters deal with their own personal problems, the divide between them grows wide when they need to band together the most or else it may end with one of them in the hands of their greatest enemy. |
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The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage by Hiyodori After years of city life, Tiller is finally ready to revisit the magical forest where she grew up. But the forest has turned deadly, and Tiller has no magic of her own. To survive, sheâll need a bodyguard. Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. Sheâll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest. But she won't do it for free. The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelianâknown far and wide as the mage who no one would wedâdemands Tillerâs hand in marriage as her payment. Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She's horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelianâs magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home. And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife. The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroinesâboth hiding enormous secretsâreluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. |
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In Eldingar, magical ability is a gift granted by the One Above. Those born without it, the ungifted, are sentenced to serve in the church or be executed as heretics. Theodore Tolliver can't cast a spell to save his life, but he'll be damned before he resigns to a life of servitude. When he's conscripted into a shadowy band of ungifted bandits, he begins to make a life for himself as their Sneakthief. At home in the shadows, it's not the life he imagined, but it's better than what he'd been headed for. Nicholas Alcyon watched, helpless, as one of his best friends was taken into church custody two years ago. As the scion of Eldingar's oldest family line, his whole life has been curated to position him for success, and he's intent on using that to make good on his promise to change the world. When the Sneakthief is sent into the capital city of Umbrial to rob the church itself, it should be the heist of a lifetime. Instead, it sets in motion events that could help them both achieve their dreams--if they're willing to work together. And if they can survive. |
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Would you betray your kingdom for your soulmate? Shapeshifter Theodori Hunter Wolfborn must conquer the kingdom of Siacchi to prove his worth. To do so, he kidnaps a man known for his strategic genius â a champion in the much-revered and ancient game of dominance and submission, Cesse. A man who will help Theo secure a clean, bloodless victory. Only, Theo has kidnapped the wrong person. Luka Lockehart, renowned Cesse player, has trained all his life to hide his stigmatized abilities to shapeshift, guided by the unwavering hand of his mother. He never expected he would have to put his training into practice when he is kidnapped by a northern warlord â and he certainly didnât expect to find this man â this monster â so attractive. Now he must hide his feelings and his identity, for if Theo finds out that he is not the man he says he is, it is not only Lukaâs life that is forfeit, but his entire country. Luka and Theo are locked in a deadly game. As the secrets between them only continue to grow, so does the unmistakable pull they feel toward each other, even when such feelings might very well ruin all theyâve ever hoped to achieve. Something has to break. It will be their kingdoms â or their hearts. |
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The world must fall. Sade has always lived in the shadows of the Society, surviving only by risking her life in dangerous dives over the abyss during airship heists. But her time among the street gangs of Vale is coming to an end and she must get hers and get out before it's too late. Seeking an escape, Sade agrees to one last airship heist. When the job goes sideways, Sade finds herself in the refuge of an unlikely pair: a spiraling heiress and the ghost of her violently murdered sister. As Sade is hauled into the underworld of magic, she is thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that runs ages deep and Society wide. Forced to confront the reality of her repressed past and the complexities of her own abilities, she discovers the truth of the gods, and the lengths they will go to maintain a controllable populace. To free the world, Sade must risk all life. |
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The Light Must Hold by Kriss Gallom In a world without stars, divine crystals shield the folk of Esiaga from fiends that prowl the darkness. When Lior, a priest who communes with the crystals, prays to the deities and asks for their guidance, he is met only with silence. Guidance is something he yearns for as he watches his convent brothers either fall to creatures that lurk in the shadows or lose their minds trying to harness the power of the crystalsâ light. That is, at least, until travelers arrive on behalf of the Queen. Sworn to come to their kingdomâs aid in times of need, Lior and his convent brothers must make the hazardous pilgrimage to the capital, Bangol. The guidance Lior has always sought comes in the form of Elouan, the paladin sworn to guide the conventâs caravan. Where Elouan leads Lior, however, deviates from the known path. The Light Must Hold â a classic dark fantasy adventure that combines fanciful prose and sisyphean struggles. |
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A Heart of Bones by Lily C. Strauss Run away to a small coastal town. Leave your dark past behind. Start over. It was a pretty good plan. And Jack Parker is happy living the boring life of a small-town bookstore owner. A life outside of the world of magic. But when a new ghost shows up on his doorstep, followed by an irritatingly attractive detective investigating the murder of his partner, Jack knows his dream of a quiet life is about to magically disappear. Because Detective Richard Zuraw is about to pull him back into the world he hoped heâd left behind. A world of warring magical houses, powerful talismans, and evil cultists who would rather kill a mage like Jack than talk to him. Can Jack and Richard work together to stop the coming apocalypse? And if not, can Jack at least figure out how to get a little action before the whole damn world ends? |
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Clysm Games: Dark Seeds by Dom Sabasti [must be read in *movie guy* voice] In the wake of an arcane cataclysm, in a storm of lust and deceit, swirling in shadows of ancient magic, a brilliant light shines, eager to breed. |
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Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney Their marriage was a simple bargain. Love was not supposed to complicate things. When her reputation-obsessed family issues her an ultimatum â get married or be disinherited â Saria seizes upon what seems like a most convenient solution. She strikes a deal with a stranger â marriage and a child in exchange for freedom and security. That her bride is a sorcerer from the mysterious city of Neeth is not a problem. Or so Saria thinks. Taleysin doesnât expect much from her second marriage. A child and heir to carry on her sworn duty to the city of Neeth, and more importantly, a wife who wonât ask too many questions. The deal with Saria seems to be everything she wants â and nothing more. She will have her heir, and Neeth will remain safe for another generation. But soon enough, their resolve over their practical decision begins to crumble. While Saria grows ever more curious about Neethâs magical secrets, Taleysin finds herself falling for a woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a means to an end. When a mysterious assailant begins to hunt down sorcerers, Saria and Taleysin must find a way to work through this shift in their relationship â to save both their marriage and the city. |
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Counsel of the Wicked by Elizabeth Schechter Matthias has spent his whole life on the edge of a very small world. The bastard child of a fallen woman, he's known nothing but judgment and hatred from the harsh, religious people of his enclave--except for Balthazar. The son and heir of the High Elder, Balthazar shows Matthias kindness, love... and desire. But when the High Elder discovers what his son has been doing, Matthias is arrested and sent to an isolated prison known as the School. There, and in the wastelands beyond, Matthias learns the secrets behind the hypocrisies of the Council of Elders, and his true heritage, true power, and true love. |
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Seeds of Inheritance by Aimee Kuzenski A decade ago, Berenike, adept of the Fingertip Order, conspired to put her son on the throne at the head of a group of rebels who only wanted their futures back. Â She failed. Â Her son and husband dead, her dreams and reputation in tatters, Berenike makes the only bargain she can - she gives her magic-sealed oath to serve emperor Leontios the Unbending in exchange for the life of her young daughter, Evrim. Â Now, after her failure to help the rebels and her years of slavery and humiliation, Berenike is dealt yet another blow. Evrim, frustrated with her mother's dedication to a lost cause, rejects Berenike's plans. She will not fight the battles Berenike cannot. Â Berenike must find a way to unseat Leontios and redeem her promises to the rebels, all while navigating an almost unbreakable oath. Alone and disregarded, she will use any weapon that comes to hand - even if that weapon is her own daughter. |
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Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik Shael lives in a vast prison camp, a monstrosity developed after centuries of warfare and environmental catastrophe. As a young transfeminine person, they risk abject violence if their identity and love affair with Coe, an insurrectionary activist, are discovered. But desire and rebellion flare, and soon Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement attempting to forge a new way of living that counters the campâ s repression. As the complexities of this place unfold before Shael, Disobedience How can a community redress harm without reproducing unaccountable forms of violence? How do we heal? What might a compassionate, sustainable model of justice look like? This is a remarkable work of queer and trans speculative fiction that imagines how alternative forms of connection and power can refuse the violent institutions that engulf us. |
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Vengeance Is Our Legacy by M.C. Burnell The difference between justice and revenge may come down to having a friend. The Tabbaqeran Empire is defended by the Scolate, governed by the Illiumate, guided by the Hakam; its people worship and quarrel with a thousand-thousand gods. But there are none more revered than the masters of martial arts who serve as living cages to the Archetypes of War, primal spirits created by Chaos before the dawn of time to destroy the mortal world. A complex class system holds Qanath back from her chosen career, sitting on one of the senates. Her mother, a Senator herself, could change that with ease; itâs a matter of convincing her. Ink drying on her diploma from Magic U, the next step in Qanathâs perfect plan is to get herself apprenticed to Xar anKebbal, the Embodiment of Vengeance. Everyone thinks they know he stopped taking students several years ago, and she isnât prepared to run up against the prickly, hostile foreigner who is secret heir to Xarâs Legacy. When calamity strikes, she follows her new enemy out the door without a strategy. Havec is determined to go home, to find out who had him disappeared six years ago and punish them. Qanath canât stand in his way; he has become Kebbalâs Embodiment and vengeance is his calling. The border between Tabbaqera and his homeland is restive, though, tensions swelling between their peoples. They find rampaging giants, tight-lipped spies, an unnatural winter season that doesnât want to end. Innocents killed in the name of ambition. The cynical, bitter, frightened, angry person Qanath first met wouldnât have been willing to involve himself. That man refused to care about anyone else. Then he got to be friends with a stubborn young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a pocket full of crystals. Come learn more about the power of an unexpected friendship. Pick up this new adult fantasy adventure now. |
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In the Shadow of Truth (Shadow #3) by J.E. Leak She thought she wanted the truth. Now sheâd give anything to forget it. New OSS trainee Jenny Ryan is brimming with equal parts excitement and fear. She is one step closer to serving her country overseas, but when her ambition costs her dearly, she realizes the fight has come to her and love has turned to lies. OSS instructor Kathryn Hammond is no stranger to sacrifice. But when doing her job means sending the woman she loves into the churn of war, her devotion to duty is tested like never before. When shocking revelations and the cruel march of time threaten their love, will Kat and Jenny embrace the truth and find each other again before itâs too late? |
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Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall Twelve years ago, Edwin Tully came to Oxford and fell in love with a boy named Marius. He was brilliant, an artist. It was going to be forever. Ten years later, it ended. Now Edwin lives alone in the house they used to share. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to build a future from the fragments of the past. Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwinâs quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again. As the two men grow closer in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin learns he canât protect himself from everythingâand sometimes he doesn't need to try. Because love doesnât only leave scars; oftentimes, it heals them too. |
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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall Luc O'Donnell is tangentially? and reluctantly? famous. His rock-star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and someone who has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words, heâs perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust settles. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone...start falling for them...don't ever want to let them go. |
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Evil Omega (Darkstar Pack Book 1) by S. Rodman Gay. Necromancer. Werewolf. Supervillain. Silas Northstar is an omega with plans. Become a supervillain Embrace necromancy Enjoy being a boss in the bedroom Not part of his plans, Being captured the night he goes into heat Liking the stupid alpha guarding him Having way too much fun with him It's all good though, as by the morning he has escaped. He can put the fiery night behind him and forget it ever happened. It's not like Dean, the stupid alpha, is going to come looking for him, is it? Please note this book touches on dark themes, contains strong survivors and emotional growth. It is high heat and knotty. There is no mpreg. HEA guaranteed. Although this book is first in a series that follows the same couple, there is NO cliffhanger and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. |
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A Betrayal of Storms: Realm of Fey by Ben Alderson With the political intrigue and high heat of A Court of Thorns and Roses and From Blood and Ash, A Betrayal of Storms is perfect for readers who enjoy stories full of magic, romance, and adventure... but with added spice. Half-fey Robin Vale has grown up amongst humans, but that doesnât save him from being captured for coin by fey hunters. When heâs rescued by a fey princess, heâs taken to Wychwood, the fey realmâwhere everyone is focused on preparing for war against the humans who hate, hunt, and kill them for coin. Robin doesnât understand how he fits into the feyâs plansâuntil heâs revealed to be the lost heir to the Icethorn Court. Aided by the unclaimed, destructive power of the Winter Court, which had been thought destroyed with Robinâs motherâs death, the fey ready their numbers for complete domination of the human realm. But by claiming the throne with the help of his devastatingly handsome personal guard, Erix, Robinâs very presence opposes the long-planned invasion. Along with his alliesâincluding Althea, a stern princess hellbent on stopping the human hunters from killing her kinâRobin is thrust into a world of betrayal, murder, and lies. He must survive long enough to have the choiceâlisten to fate and claim his familyâs power, or let it wreak havoc on a realm that turned its back on him for becoming who he was truly meant to be. |
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Beast's Mercy (MM Fairytale Retelling) (Iranora Tales) by Rebecca Massey Four years ago, the Kingdom of Creatia closed its doors on the world. Now, the gates are open. Dalvin has returned to fix the wrongs of the past and help Prince Vincent find a worthy bride. But something dark has taken up residence inside the palace, and Dalvin has to find a way to slay the beast before it takes his prince from him. For Dalvin, it was a tale as old as time. For Vincent, it was a dark path to happily ever after. It is time for the beast to tell the real story. *This book contains subject matter suitable for a mature audience. |
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Built on Ruins by Kate S. Toll Generations after The End, there are two ways of living â Gangs of scavengers roam the Wilds and hunt for relics of lost times, while the re-settlers spend their lives building a new civilization on the ruins of the old. Jan Xiaoli is the leader of Ryningare City â one of the largest and most prosperous settlements this side of the Rift. With the purist movement growing stronger, the scavengers getting more hostile, and the incurable disease spreading, ruling the city feels like sitting on a ticking time bomb. When he meets Shi Saxe, the infamous Vulture, who lives alone in the Wilds, Jan Xiaoli feels as though the storm raging around him is sneaking its way into his heart as well. |
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Hurricanes 2007: The Virus of The Extermination by DarĂo Aguilar Peregrina After concluding the Climatic Crisis War, a new illness had appeared on the planet, its name⊠"The Virus of the Extermination." In a matter of weeks, the epidemic began to spread at extremely rapid levels, causing those infected to suffer from various symptoms ranging from a simple flu to severe tuberculosis. In an attempt to halt the infection, Misaki Nami Kisaragi, Akira Mikuni Koizumi, Housen Daisy Gallagher, along with Akane Shizue Koizumi, would try to find those responsible for spreading this disease around the world. Meanwhile, RĂo Pedroza would reunite with her lost girlfriend named Charlotte Raven Brock, who was a possible key to curing the virus. |
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Hurricanes 2007: The Climatic Crisis by DarĂo Aguilar Peregrina One year after the fall of humanity, the war between the "Hurricanes" and the humans continued. In her eagerness to capture Darcy Ember Phoenix and convince Rio Pedroza to stand by her side, Katrina Fernandez began to create abnormalities in the weather, causing irreparable damage to the Earth's ecosystems and creating horrors of destruction that wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted along with the dark intentions of Akane Shizue and Akira Mikuni Koizumi, Misaki Nami Kisaragi along with Housen Daisy Gallagher. Meanwhile, Rio, Darcy, Emily, Frank, Marquinhos and Julieta would try to survive the so-called climatic crisis alongside the people who had endured the attacks of Katrina and her supporters. |
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The Space Ace of Mangleby Flat by Larre Bildeston On paper, things look fine. Sam Dennon recently inherited significant wealth from his uncle. As a respected architect, Sam spends his days thinking about the family needs and rich lives of his clients. But privately? Even his enduring love of amateur astronomy is on the wane. Sam has built a sustainable-architecture display home for himself but hasn't yet moved into it, preferring to sleep in his cocoon of a campervan. Although they never announced it publicly, Sam's wife and business partner ended their marriage years ago due to lack of intimacy, leaving Sam with the sense he is irreparably broken. Now his beloved uncle has died. An intensifying fear manifests as health anxiety, with night terrors from a half-remembered early childhood event. To assuage the loneliness, Sam embarks on a Personal Happiness Project: 1. Get a pet dog 2. Find a friend. Just one. Not too intense. As Sam comes to terms with the shameful family secrets revealed in a series of letters left to him by his deceased uncle, Sam falls in love again: first with his adopted poodle-cross, and then, much more slowly, with a kind and generous trans woman from his tennis club. Reina is so visibly and proudly queer Sam canât imagine the two of them share a single thing in common. If only humans came with a guide book... |
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A Taste of Earth by Nico Silver Facing the reality of life apart, Fionn and Kiernan grab at the chance to be together, if only temporarily. But can they choose their own happiness over the wellbeing of two Monarchies? Kiernan has made the fatal mistake of defying his mother, the Queen of Morven Forest, and in return, she has chosen the one punishment that is worse than death for a Sidhe. Severed from his connection to his beloved forest, Kier must learn to cope without his deepest magic. Fionn, separated from the man he loves, has no choice but to attempt to fit in at the Eyrie. Thereâinstead of fulfilling his true calling as seer and healerâhe is expected to act as a symbol, a figurehead to bolster his Kingâs rule. But his presence is not the only thing his King requires, and Fionn isnât sure he can continue pretending to adore the vain and possessive monarch. When the Vogel Monarchy is invited to send a delegation to Morven Forest, Fionn knows it is his chance to see Kiernan again. What he doesnât know is whether or not Kier still wants him. After all, the half-fey is a Prince, a creature of court and forest, and has surely realized by now that he can have anythingâor anyoneâhe wants. |
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Heart of Outcasts by Nico Silver Change is coming to the Autumn County werewolves, and someone would kill to keep it from happening. Justin thought a nice long run in the woods would help sort out his problems; heâd get some fresh air and exercise, and if he just happened to disappear then he wouldnât need to worry about losing his job, his apartment, and his future. But when he wakes up in the dirt, bloody and confused, with a naked man leaning over him, asking if heâs all right, he suddenly wants very much to live. Because even if Bjarni is way out of his league, he canât deny the spark between them. Bjarni is the asshole of the family. Heâs the middle of three werewolf brothers, and a womanizing, hard-drinking, fight-starting disgrace. So when he finds a newly-changed werewolf in the woods, everyone he knows would have expected him to just dump the young man on his older brother and pack leader. Instead, Bjarni finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Justin. When it comes to light that someone in the Autumn County pack is changing humans into werewolves without their consent, Justin may be the only one who can figure out who it is. But heâs busy trying to cope with his new werewolf abilities and his doomed attraction to his mentor, and heâs messed up everything else in his life anyway, so what can he do? But if he doesnât do something, more wolves will end up dead. |
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Dear Sylvia, Love Jane: Detective Molly Malone by Erin Hall 1943, San Francisco. In a city overrun by corruption, sticking to the shadows is the safest option, especially for patrons of gay bars like Whiskers, Dukeâs, and the Hot Spot. But when city officials have a personal score to settle, even the shadows are dangerous. Join Detective Molly Malone on her first queer noir adventure as she faces deadly stakes that threaten her friends and family. |
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In a galaxy that set her up to fail, Etriaâs journey to capture stars redefines acceptance. Etria, a determined stella, defies expectations and becomes a Star Catcher despite her disfigurement. Teaming up with Maron, her own personal Star Keeper, they set off on a mission to catch stars. Through their partnership, Etriaâs self-perception changes and echoes into her cluster, challenging the stella cultureâs narrow ideals. Join these mesmerizing space mermaids in this short and tear-jerking sci-fi adventure as they defy conventions and ignite the spirit of acceptance, inspiring others to embrace their differences. |
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Song of the Spring Moon Waning by E.E. Ottoman Upon waking up one morning, Wen Yu is surprised to find a note asking him to return the song thrush given into his care while the owner was sick. The only problem is that Wen Yu was never given a song thrush. Though he has no time for distractions from his studies for the palace examination, Wen Yu goes in search of the unknown Liu Yi who left him the note. What he finds is a beautiful imperial eunuch, a talking tortoise, and a collection of mysterious moon poems that force Wen Yu to question what path in life he is truly meant to be walking... |
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The Only Exception by Allie McDermid Izzy Barbour tells everyone sheâs an accountant, little do they know sheâs really a hired companion. Sadly, thatâs where her love life ends. Doomed to be a serial dater, Izzy is close to giving up on finding her one.Lady Ingrid Munro has one focus in work. When a family scandal threatens to dredge up the past, sheâs forced to think quick to save face and the palace.Izzy wants to do her job and keep a low profile. Ingrid needs to uphold the familyâs reputation. Can they keep things professional, or will lines get blurred when it comes to romance?Set in the fictional world of an Ayrshire Palace, The Only Exception is bursting with sexual tension, fake dating, and forbidden love. Find out today if secrets can stay hidden for longâŠor are some things too good to be true? |
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Caroline's Heart by Austin Chant Caroline is dead, leaving her lover with nothing but the clockwork heart that once beat in her chest. But Cecily, a witch of unconventional reputation, is not one to be defeated by the laws of nature. After years of careful assembly, her resurrection spell is nearly complete and grows more powerful by the day. When Cecily meets Roy, a soft-spoken cowboy who shares a strange kinship with Caroline, Cecily thinks she's finally found the key to bringing her lover back-but when Roy is mortally wounded, she finds herself torn between finishing the resurrection spell and saving the life of a stranger. A queer Weird West romance by the author of Peter Darling in a new, expanded edition. |
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Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton Olivia Sachdevaâs life is flawless. With a first from Oxford and as the youngest partner at Bentley lawyers, she expects high standards from everyone. Her only indulgences are eating iced desserts and repeat watching romcoms, especially those featuring Kate Laurence â pure escapism and cinematic perfection. But, when the actor walks into Oliviaâs office with a bag full of divorce and a messy personal life, that perfect bubble bursts. Kate seems nothing like the screen goddesses she plays, and Olivia must put aside her comfort viewing and handle the case like the true professional she is. It requires secrecy, especially with indiscreet friends. Will best-friend Charlotte ever read the room? And will Millie, who instantly reads the room, ever stop commenting loudly? And Kate? She doesnât know what to think about this frosty lawyer. But she needs a quick divorce from a mistake of a marriage, which was over before it started, and Olivia Sachdeva is the best. But little by little, Olivia and Kate glimpse behind the mask, to find someone they werenât looking for, who may not even be perfect, but might be the right person for them. Read as a stand-alone romance or book two of the Oxford Romance series. |
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Under Far Galaxian Skies by Natalie Kelda Balfour has committed the ultimate crime: the murder of his sisterâs boyfriend. It doesnât matter that it was accidental. Sentenced to working as ship labourer, Balfour is convinced he deserves it when he's captured by pirates and forced to a distant galaxy. He barely escapes enslavement, fleeing into a city more deadly than anything heâs ever known. Venomous reptiles hunt him. Iron-fisted tarilla chiefs are on the brink of war. Balfour must adapt quickly or prepare for a slow, torturous death in the hands of people more bloodthirsty than the Star-Eaters of old. But the biggest threat is his lingering self-loathing. If he can't fight through it, nothing else will matter â because he wonât live long enough to see it. |
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Chefâs Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance) by Stephanie Shea Valentina Rosas has always known what she wants. Mostly. Sort of. At least, she does now. And what she wants is the coveted staging role at Gia, San Francisco. With four years at the top of her class in culinary school and enough tenacity to fuel the entire Mission, no one doubts she is about to land the job of her dreamsâincluding the three-person cheer squad made up of her best friend and adorably overbearing parents. Renowned chef Jenn Coleman is not a people person. Her rise to the top of the culinary industry stems from a cultivated blend of top-tier schoolingâfrom her nonnaâand bouts of carefully managed misanthropy. Owning and operating two Michelin starred restaurants doesnât leave time for much else anyway. Just ask her ex. When the new stage at her restaurant trips into her with all the grace of a baby giraffe, itâs a sure recipe for disaster. But for all of Jennâs reserve, Valentina has twice the allure, and the chemistry between them is just⊠chefâs kiss. If only Jenn wasnât Valentinaâs boss with nearly ten years between them. |
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The Misadventures of Callie Compton by Alyson Root Itâs not everyday you find out that your sweet, sweater knitting, church going grandma is the UKâs most prolific crime boss. For Callie Compton, that day became a reality on her eighteenth birthday. Not being criminally inclined, Callie did the only thing she could. She bided her time, stole her grandmaâs little black book of scumbag employees, and ran for her life. Six years later Callie finds herself in a small cafĂ© in Sweden, her Spidey sense is tingling. Someone is watching her. How did they catch her trail? And what is she going to do next? Daisy Simpson knew from the age of sixteen that Callieâs grandma was a bad person, just like her own dad. How she regrets not telling Callie before leaving for university all those years ago. Maybe then Callie wouldnât have disappeared without telling her. Not only was Callie her best friend, and first unrequited love, she was also Daisyâs biggest supporter. Being born deaf into a family like hers wasnât easy. Using skills sheâs not at liberty to discuss, Daisy tracks Callie to Sweden. After a few days of playing hide and seek, Callie and Daisy are finally reunited. The duo set out to bring Betty, aka Queen B, to her knees. Easy, right? Wrong! Callie and Daisy must navigate their growing feelings toward each other, deal with several less than happy women, overcome flooded caves and one raging bull. This is no adventure. Itâs quite the opposite. |
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Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard Welcome back to Herzkirch â a city on top of a hollowed-out mountain, that is in the firm grip of the Reinblut Kirche. They passionately spread the word of the vileness of Blendlings â the offspring of a Biest and a human â and fuel prejudice against them. No wonder, the parents who turn up on the doorstep of Freyjaâs agency are beyond worried that their son has disappeared. Freyja, who is a Blendling incognito herself, doubts that this was an abduction, but decides to investigate anyway. Only when all leads start to point to Lady Hagenâs, her suspicion starts to rise. After all, this woman not only happens to be the pimp of a bunch of half-concubusses, but also is Freya's ex-girlfriend. Goddess knows what she could do to someone as naive as her crush Emilia âŠ? âPrey For The Devilâ is the second book in the âIn Cold Embraceâ series and follows the powerful trans woman Freyja deeper into the heart of Herzkirch. Thereby not only putting a strain on the relationships with her lesbian companions, but also bringing more light to her own past. |
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A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard Discover Herzkirch, a city in the middle of a monster-infested wasteland, on top of a hollowed-out mountain. The Reinblut Kirche, a religious institution, holds it firmly â rallying the people against Blendlings, the half-blood offspring of Biest and humans. Freyja is such a Blendling, that manages really well to stealth between humans. So well that the Reinblut Kirche hires her to slay a Biest in the lower part of the city. This monster has dared to take a nun of the church hostage â at least that is what Freyja is told. But all is not as it seems, and maybe her target isnât as much a threat as a companion to be enjoyed ⊠In this story, powerful women take center stage â foremost Freyja as a homosexual trans woman â, carving their paths through adversity and religious norms. Still, at the heart of this narrative lies a love story that doesnât shy away from showing intimacy between its protagonists â it rather likes to indulge in it. |
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Awakenings by Claudie Arseneault Innkeep, hunter, blacksmith, nurseâHorace has apprenticed for every clan in the domed city of Trenaze, and they've all rejected em. Too hare-brained. Too talkative. Too slow. Ever the optimist, e has joined Trenaze's guards to be mentored. Horace has high hopes to earn eir place during eir trial at the Great Market. That is, until the glowing shards haunting the world break through the city's protective dome, fused together in a single, monstrous amalgam of Fragments. Armed with a sword, a shield, and far too little training, Horace doubts eir ability to defend the market-goers. But eir last stand is interrupted by a mysterious elven figure who can dissipate the Fragments with a single, strange sentence: your story is my story. From the moment it is uttered, Horace knows the sentences holds true for em, tooâand when the elf collapses in the middle of the market, e carries them to safety, to recover away from the panicked crowd and inevitable questions from eir fellow guards. It could cost em eir apprenticeshipâeir last chance to find eir place in eir home cityâbut Horace cannot resist the pull of this mystery elf and the call of a new friend. Aliyah has but one desire: to leave Trenaze's safe boundaries and find the forest that haunts their dreams. After an afternoon of board games in their quiet, sharp-witted company, Horace is ready to follow, confronting Fragments and other dangers of the road to understand what happened that day, hear Aliyah's laugh again and finally feel like e belongs. |
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Guava Flavored Lies by J.J. Arias Allâs Fair in Love and (Pastry) War Sylvie Campos and Lauren Machado have hated each other since before they were born. For generations, the Campos and Machado families have blamed each other for stealing pastry recipes they claim their great-grandfathers originated before fleeing Castroâs Cuba. Having spent their lives as rivals, Lauren and Sylvie are now in their early thirties and primed to take over their respective family bakeries. That means working long, hot, seasons of outdoor food festivals where they are forced to endure each other - albeit with a lot of bantering and barb-trading. After all, no one knows how to get under Sylvieâs skin like Lauren. Sick of dealing with Lauren and her thieving family, Sylvie sets out to unmask the Machados for the traitors they are. But when the truth is not what Sylvie expects, will the fiery exchanges between her and Lauren turn into something hot enough to melt away generational baggage? Could they get the chance to rekindle what they almost had in high school? Find out in this laugh-out-loud hilarious, enemies-to-lovers, romantic comedy featuring plenty of steam, tension, and delicious Cuban food. |
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Vampire hunter Calla has spent her life fighting bloodsuckers, just like all the women in her family before her, and sheâs enjoyed every second. But when vampires come out of the coffin, the Hunters' Council orders her to play nice. Itâs an order sheâd rather not take, but the Council is all sheâs ever known. Though she misses the feeling of a stake in her hand, Calla is willing to accept her new way of life, until sheâs blackmailed by the ancient and annoyingly beautiful vampire Isolde. Urged by the Council to comply, Calla must pretend to date Isolde in a scheme to endear vampires to the human public. Calla promises herself she will do everything she can to undermine Isolde, but the longer she spends with her the harder she finds it. When she learns of a threat to all vampires, she must decide if she will help the woman she swore to hate but never could, or deny her heart and follow her training. |
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Five Lords of Dusk by F. Malbeck The hunt has begun. They will find him. And when they do, he will bring down the Empire from within. The Empire would say the Blooded who ruled the land before them are dead and gone, but those onboard the Oathbreaker know it to be a lie; one look at the captainâs ward will tell you that. Shye is one of them. A Stormborn, Dusk Blooded, Strange . . . an enemy of the Empire. He has spent his whole life running from port to port, hiding behind a hood, on a swift ship, running from the imperials who stole land, capital, and crown from his kind and left them to rot in thinning bloodlines. But when he blows his crewâs cover on imperial docks, he is forced to confront the will of the Empire and the humans who rule it. With newly discovered powers to aid him and whispers on the wind to guide him, Shye knows that the answers to the fading of the Blooded lay in Mistral, the capital of the Empire, and that the imperial bounty hunter dispatched to capture him can take him there. There can be no better coronation gift for the crown prince than a Stormborn. Dorian is an imperial bounty hunter. The best in Emin Rif. But Dorianâs independence is constantly threatened by the demands of their noble father, who wanted a perfect, controllable heir . . . he got Dorian instead. It is only their reputation that keeps them free. The assignment to track down a rumoured Stormborn, a being of legend in tales told to guild children, could destroy that reputation forever if it turns out to be a lie. But, if the rumour is true, Dorian will be untouchable in the eyes of the crown and beyond their fatherâs reach forever. Five Lords of Dusk is the debut queer fantasy novel by indie author F. Malbeck. Featuring a genderqueer lead and a flintlock fantasy setting, this novel takes place in a world partly inspired by the author's home country of Australia. |
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Verona Green by Victoria Raschke In a city where magic and art collide, Verity Green, a skilled witch and art restorer, guards a dangerous secret: she possesses the ability to channel the spirits of deceased artists and breathe life back into their masterpieces. For years, she's hidden her extraordinary gift, but whispers of her talent have reached the wrong ears. Shadowy forces crave her powers, willing to exploit her abilities for their own criminal purposes. When her best friend is kidnapped, Verity's world shatters. A clandestine society emerges, one with secrets darker than any painting sheâs ever done. In her quest to save her friend, Verity must navigate these ancient rivalries and confront a nefarious plot that threatens the integrity of art itself. Amid the chaos, Verity finds an unexpected ally, an enigmatic architect with his own murky past. As they delve deeper into the shadow of the art world, a romance sparks. But time is running out, and Verity must harness her magical prowess to rescue her friend before it's too late. Verona Green is a spellbinding, cross-genre contemporary fantasy, recommended for fans of Alice Hoffman and Neil Gaiman. Within this world where art becomes a conduit for the supernatural, Verity proves that the truest magic lies within the human heart. |
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Stars Like Fire by Marissa Lupe Fighting for their freedom was only the beginning, now they must do the hardest thing of all, they must live. Three journeys and one destination will bring them all together. Despite having never met in person, their years of communicating virtually cemented Eleanorâs love for the woman who has her whole heart long ago. But when her love goes missing, Eleanor leaves the safety of Sandstone Estate to rescue her, and ends up finding more than she bargained for. An entire town has had their children stolen, and itâs up to Eleanor to lead the fight to save them, along with the woman that she loves. Theo canât remember his past, but begins to build his future when a family takes him in as a farm hand. But then the farm is destroyed, a young boy is orphaned, and Theo finds himself slipping into the role of guardian. When the boy receives an urgent message from a mysterious voice through the radio, Theo must guide him across a dangerous and barren landscape in hopes of finding a safe place to call home. TĂ©a and her infant daughter have traveled the continent to restore the land for a grateful nation, but when strangers arrive on her doorstep looking for help, TĂ©a must decide if she can risk opening her heart again. Then tragedy strikes, and TĂ©a is forced to confront her past and meet a new challenge that has the power to rip the Earth to shreds. As Eleanor, Theo, and TĂ©aâs paths collide, the future of mankind is thrust into their hands, and they must work together to save not only themselves, but all of humanity. |
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Falling Through the Night by Gail Marlene Schwartz Audrey Meyerwitz wants to fall in love and have a family. But for this queer 30-something insomniac whoâs struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder since childhood, itâs a goal thatâs far from simple. When best friend Jessica, a recovering alcoholic, helps introvert Audrey with a profile on SheLovesHer, Audrey takes that scary first step toward her lifelong dream. Through online dating, immigrating to Canada, and having a baby with Down Syndrome, she struggles and grows. But when Audrey unearths a secret about her mother, everything about her identity as a mother, a daughter, and a person with mental illness ruptures. How do we create closeness from roots of deep alienation? With humor, honesty, and complexity, Audrey learns that healthy love means accepting gains and losses, taking off the blinders of fantasy, and embracing the messiness that defines human families. |
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Not Like Before by Lily Seabrooke, Jacqueline Ramsden Lola never wanted to be on camera alongside an A-list starâbut maybe Mackenzie is everything she needs. History professor Lola Barnes never cared about celebrities, and filming alongside superstar actress Mackenzie Vale isnât exactly on her bucket list. But there arenât a lot of experts on Mackenzieâs hometown on the remote Celadon Isles, so when the studio filming a deep dive of Mackenzieâs backstory comes knocking, no isnât really an option. This exposĂ© is the last thing Mackenzie wants to do. Sheâs had a good run as an actress without the ravenous press finding out sheâs trans, but keeping it that way when the media is digging around in her childhood and with her gossipy family isnât going to be easy. But it might be her last shot at her dream castingâand her agent doesnât take no for an answer, anyway. And it isnât any easier when Mackenzie is immediately head-over-heels for the gorgeous professor they tapped to film with her. And it isnât any easier when going back to the isles means confronting all the things Lola ran away from there over twenty years agoâand that the only thing comforting her is a bond with the last person sheâd ever expect to fall for. As a tight filming schedule, a nosy agent and a relentless director force Lola and Mackenzie to face the ghosts of their pasts, will they crumble in the face of everything they ran from once? Or can they find strength in one another and be more than they were before? Not Like Before is a 90,000-word grumpy/sunshine celebrity romance with a trans woman lead set on a fictional island where everyone is at least a little gossipy, and is the second collaborative novel between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden. Features a celebrity actress made of pure sunshine and a historian whoâs secretly soft under the surface, a meddling ex, Mackenzieâs meddling family, Lolaâs meddling friend who loves Mackenzie more than she loves life, and Mackenzieâs agent, who is, unsurprisingly, meddling. Content warnings for on-page sex, a toxic ex, parental abandonment, gambling addiction, implicit threats of outing, a panic attack, falling off a boat, Hope being a fangirl, Taron being smug, and of course, the granny bra incident. |
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Prince of Shadows by Camilla Vavruch An avian tournament. A chaotic prince. An unwanted engagement. Assassins out for blood. Crown Prince Orson of Mannerobes is a turbulent young man, desperately trying to live up to his fatherâs impossible expectations. Engaged to Lady Liadan, a woman he does not love, and longing for freedom, Orsonâs life takes a darker turn when the Avian Tournament, where birds and their handlers challenge each other in a variety of contests, begins. When Orsonâs friend and fellow noble, Overster Tristan Arrington, is poisoned as they greet guests, they discover a sinister assassination plot. As the tournament progresses, Orsonâs relationship with Lady Liadanâs deteriorates, while a new and intriguing bond forms with Sir Rorik Ironhold of Chim, a gemstone connoisseur whose true intentions are unclear. As if juggling the tournament, an unraveling betrothal, and his fatherâs ire isnât enough, it does not take long before a second assassination attempt makes everyone question who the real target is. âPrince of Shadowsâ is a thrilling tale of passion, complex conflict, and the fierce pursuit of oneâs true self, set against a backdrop of a vivid fantasy world. The book is the third book in the series Stories of Gereon and contains HBTQ relationships and neurodiversity. |
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A heart-filled space opera about the evils of unchecked corporate power and how fighting for change always matters, Warped State will delight fans of Ann Leckie, Malka Older, and Martha Wells. One wants to fix the broken corporate system. The other wants to tear it all down. Jasper Wilder has a secret gift: the ability to see the relationships between people like physical bonds. Though his gift has served him well as an activist, itâs an unwelcome vestige of the corporate occupation of his home planet. When he learns that Ravel Corporation has revived the same deadly research project that brought tragedy to his generation, Jasper vows to stop it, no matter the cost. Arriving on Ravelâs research planet, heâs immediately drawn to Sowing of Small Havoc, a brilliant local activist who should be an ally, except for his frustrating loyalty to his corporate employer. Havoc, determined to fix Ravel from the inside, knows Jasperâs expertise could be a game-changerâif only he could trust Jasperâs intentions. If Jasper sticks to his plan, Havoc will surely take the blame. But if he doesnât, Havocâs entire planet will suffer. And meanwhile, Ravel security is out to destroy them both. To stop the project, Jasper may have to sacrifice the person heâs coming to care aboutâŠunless they can find a way to team up. |