stories in and

And Then He Kissed Me

And Then He Kissed Me by CM Daniels

Britain is booming. The winds of change are blowing. But for some, love is still illegal. Tommy Kent lives a boring, unfulfilling life and canā€™t see any way out. He does the same thing over and over again, hundreds of times a day in an unbearably loud, hellishly hot, acrid-smelling factory. He lives for the weekends, when he can lose himself in the music, fashion and nightclubs of the mod scene. His friends and family love him unconditionally, but heā€™ll never have the one thing he truly wants: someone to share his life with, someone to grow old with. He decided long ago that itā€™s easier - and safer - to be alone. Even if that means a life half-lived. That is, until Eric Greene rides into his world on a beautiful blue Lambretta, making Tommy want things heā€™d long since given up hoping for. Eric has his own demons to fight. He was born into wealth and privilege but heā€™s never known love or affection, not even from his family. All heā€™s ever wanted is to belong somewhere. Are they brave enough to risk falling in love? What have they got to lose? Only everything. Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1960s London, And Then He Kissed Me is a story of forbidden love and found family accompanied by a soundtrack of American Soul and British Beat music.


Where Willows Weep

Where Willows Weep by Luna Fiore

If these walls could talkā€¦ Years ago, Jess ran away from her small Southern town and vowed to never return. But when her mother needs a caretaker, Jess is forced back into her childhood home with its rotting floors and growing stains. Reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, Sam, is the bright spot as Jess is haunted by disembodied cries, malicious shadows, and sleepwalking episodes. Will she survive the specters that haunt her home or will the house drown her in its secrets?


By the Pint

By the Pint by Jemma Croft

Dima Black might be the richest, most successful vampire in all of Borderlands, but all he wants to do is sew his quilts. Dima enjoys a quiet life in his inner-city Remy apartment with his flatmates, a fridge full of B+, and his fluffy bunny slippers. At least, as quiet as things can be for a mind-reading vampire. He definitely doesnā€™t need some gorgeous telepathic human ex-athlete showing up and upside-downing his undeath. But when Dima is summoned to present the keynotes speech at the Bloodsuckerā€™s in Business conference, thatā€™s exactly what happens. Disgraced former wingball star Casey ā€˜The Temperā€™ Freckleman wants only one thing, immortality. Luckily for Casey, his master has promised to turn him into a vampire if he can telepathically extract business secrets from the famous Dima Black. Should be easy, right? Caseyā€™s never struggled with this sort of thing before. Unfortunately for Casey he canā€™t seem to break into Dimaā€™s mind, and the vampire himself turns out to be the most distractingly distracting man alive ā€¦ or undead. By the Pint is the third book in the Fantasy Flatmates series but can be read as a standalone. The book features spicy content, grumpy sunshine, a vampire/human pairing, and a HEA


The Gifted

The Gifted by S T Geeves

Power. Who has it? Who wants it? Who fears it? Betrayed by a friend and pursued by a brutal warlord who massacred her people, Einna seeks to fight back. Her headstrong actions only make things worse. Women aren't supposed to be gifted with magic, and weapons are forbidden. In the fight for her life, and with everything gone, can a girl barely of age make a difference? Across the Daymocle Sea, King Ahronā€™s magic is a secret he must hide at all costs. With war inching closer the Peasant King must act. A powerful alliance seems a solution, if only his bride didn't detest him. In distant lands far north, the Fury is unstable. Could the perpetual storm fall? What happens if a host of cruel predators escape their magical prison? For Einna the Fury is a story, less real than visions of impossible flying lizards. Ahron knows the Fury intimately but has other concerns. Who is the flame-eyed girl spying with magic? Can he unravel a plot and protect his realm without revealing his true face?


The Way It Would Become

The Way It Would Become by Amena Jamali

Before the rise of the Quest of Freedom, their mothers and their fathers witnessed the darkening of the skies... Riqeta, Princess of Zahacim, is the most powerful warrior to stalk across eastern and southern Icilia. Both her skill and her honor in war are legendary, and her defection to her new husbandā€™s nation is an upheaval of their worldā€™s political balance. Yet beneath her fierce veneer is a woman unsure of how to love. Naman, Prince of Koroma, is renowned for his compassion and good heart, and his wedding to Riqeta renders him a political force to behold. Yet there is one flaw to his happiness ā€” he cannot be sure whether Riqeta loves him. Not long after their wedding, the king gives Riqeta and Naman a mission of dire importance: resolve the growing insurgency in the south before it poses a true threat to the crown. Riqetaā€™s martial prowess and Namanā€™s benevolent voice surely can resolve anything. So they set out, thinking success will not be too difficult to achieve. But the evil festering in the south is unlike anything they could ever imagineā€¦ Will they even be able to see it to survive it? Amena Jamali continues on her literary career with a sweet yet haunting new adult fantasy tale of romance, home found through love, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders at what it means to have courage in the face of evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of staying strong in dark times.


The Reverence Chosen

The Reverence Chosen by Amena Jamali

With the reconquest of the nation of Nademan, some light has returned to the world of Icilia. The Quest of Freedom has been victorious in the first part of their war against the Blood-soaked Sorcerer, and now they look to the second. But just as Lucian, Malika, Elian, Arista, and Kyros finally finish their preparations, a scream echoes through the night. A sign that the protections around Iciliaā€™s most sacred places, the athar mountains of Asfiya, are breaking. And soon after arrives the news that the Blood-soaked Sorcerer is coming ā€” with an army vast enough to blacken the plains. Rushing west, the Quest finds a nation on the brink of madness. The hallowed cities are too filthy to endure, and the people they have come to save are more than lost ā€” they are cruel themselves. Yet the Quest must save them ā€” all of them ā€” before the enemy reaches Asfiya. For, if they fail in the least degree, the cost will be in the currency of souls. With such high stakes and such little time, they cannot escape the Does even the Divine truly possess the power to defeat the encroaching darkness? Amena Jamali continues on her literary career with a haunting new adult fantasy tale of found family, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders the meaning of human dignity amid a clash of absolute good and absolute evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of redemption, mercy, and hope in the darkest of times.


The Bell Tolling

The Bell Tolling by Amena Jamali

The Blood-soaked Sorcerer tyrannizes the land of Icilia with every form of cruelty imaginable, dyeing his armor red in the blood of innocents. Crushed to pieces under such savagery, the people of Icilia abandon hope and forget the gifts of civilization that had once been their dearest blessings. Amid this darkness comes light in the form of Lucian, the divinely-appointed hero of Icilia and the Leader of the Quest of Freedom. Educated in all of the ancient arts, Lucian has the virtue and power necessary to cleanse evil from the land. But not aloneā€”answering the call of his sacred destiny, Lucian gathers together his four divinely-chosen companions and embarks on a journey to free his world. He is determined to restore the forgotten laws, heal the tormented, and unite the land behind his banner. Yet his companions seem too shattered to save anyone, while his people might be too blind to see the light. And above all he must confront the question: Are there some evils even the Divine cannot conquer? Amena Jamali embarks on her literary career with a haunting new adult fantasy tale of found family, strong heroines, and gentle heroes that ponders the meaning of freedom amid a clash of absolute good and absolute evil. Fans of The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon will savor this story of light springing forth from dark places.


Cross the line

Cross the line by Lucky hart

Alexander King: Handsome, popular and a D1 soccer star, Alexander King appears to have it all. Heā€™s just hiding one (or two, or three) little secrets, like the fact that heā€™s still in love with his older brotherā€™s best friend Theo, he doesnā€™t actually want to play soccer anymore, and that at twenty-one, heā€™s still a virgin. When unexpected circumstances bring him and Theo together, itā€™s a recipe for heartache, but Alec is sure that he can handle it. He just needs to make sure the jenga tower of secrets heā€™s been keeping doesnā€™t topple over and ruin everything. Theodore James: At twenty-nine, Theodore James has the kind of stable life his childhood self could only dream of. Sure, the only person he lets into his life is Jason, the best friend heā€™s had since he was seven, and his sole form of companionship is one-night stands, but heā€™s content. Mostly. When Jason requests his help, Theo doesn't hesitate, even when that favor involves Jasonā€™s feisty, smoking hot little brother whoā€™s all grown up now. Theo can definitely handle Alexander King. Maybe.


Offset: Book 2- Children of the Gulf

Offset: Book 2- Children of the Gulf by Delvin Howell

Magic is violent. No one understood this more than Kyle Harding, a young stick-licker from the Caribbean island of Bimshire, where miracles are sold every day. The problem is, each one comes with a burdensome debt. As an obeah witch, Kyle's mother has built a massive debt which was passed on to her sons upon her death. And now Gulfsyde, a duo of brutal assassins notorious for leaving carnage in their wake, has come to collect. With a past drenched in blood, fire and bodies, Gulfsyde aims to retire with one final kill. But Kyle has a little brotherā€”Damienā€”to protect, and he will not lose any more family to the obeah trade. Though bus stops ignite, and devastating magical weapons form against him, Kyle defends his home with only the lowly sugarcane his mother left behind.


Offset: Book 1- The Mask of Bimshire

Offset: Book 1- The Mask of Bimshire by Delvin Howell

Magic is Expensive. An underground obeah trade lies within the Caribbean island of Bimshire, where miracles are sold every day. The problem is, each one comes with a burdensome debt. As a child, Kyle Harding thought Bimshire a frightening place. Bus stops glow. Flute music haunts the air. And the shadows themselves stalk him. With his mother dead, and a baby brotherā€”Damienā€”to raise, Kyle had much to endure growing up. But when a serial killer attacks his home, Kyle is forced down a bloody path where he discovers the history surrounding his family and the massive debts his mother left behind.


The Antagonist's Prison

The Antagonist's Prison by DJ Jones

ā€œNo one deserves Critch.ā€ It is said by heathens and oligarchs. Heard in the darkest alleyways of Indigo Bay. Whispered by those who donā€™t know. And as a warning in The City Beneath the Bay. Itā€™s been three years since Aaron Bennett banished Critch to the corners of his mind. But that smile still gleams, waiting in its cage. Aaron is stable until Jaslynn Phillips offers him a human connection for the first time. Unfortunately, just as Jaslynnā€™s true intentions emerge, a monster trudges out of the harbor and kidnaps her. Critch seizes this opportunity and explodes from his mental cell. Despite Aaronā€™s meticulous control over his past, his future, and his own mind, his control was more fragile than he believed. In order to rescue Jaslynn from The City Beneath, he must revive his old life of violence, fear and the wealthy beyond measure.


Fool's Fortune

Fool's Fortune by S.A. McClellon

Months after leaving the Abbott Estate, Emily Adcock has decided to aspire for bigger and better things. With the assistance of William Abbott's former wife, Beatrice Kettle, she takes private lessons to become a tutor like her mother was. For a moment, all seems well. However, the peace and harmony she established for herself and her family is disrupted when a darker past unknown to her resurfaces and history begins to repeat itself. What secrets will be unraveled? How will the past stunt her in the present? Is her dream of living a normal life too far beyond her reach?


Fool's Gold

Fool's Gold by S.A. McClellon

After breaking and entering into the home of one of the richest men in London, a poor young woman must now work in his house as a maid to pay off her debt while caring for her younger brother and elderly father. As she observes the man's lifestyle and befriends the rest of the staff, she soon learns that her master is not the highly-respected figure he paints himself to be. What does this new and sudden position have in store for her? What secrets will she uncover about her employer and colleagues? Will she and her family be able to live the normal lives they always dreamed of?


Brown Sugar Divineā€™s Cafe & Bakery

Brown Sugar Divineā€™s Cafe & Bakery by S.A. McClellon

She's made of sugar, spice, and everything nice! Please welcome the delicious... the delectable... the succulent... Brown! Sugar! Divine! A cafe and bakery run by a drag queen in Denton, Texas? That's insane! But Brown Sugar Divine never steps down from a challenge, and her pretty pink business is all the rage! The brains behind the sugary-sweet operation, Jonathan Issacs, serves his fiercest looks every day for his love of baking, drag, and community. However, when Jonathan's shady landlord plots to shut down his business and loops her socially anxious son into her homophobic mess, Jonathan calls on the help of his crew to sashay his way to victory while confronting his complicated past.


Spells & Spices ; a very witchy novel

Spells & Spices ; a very witchy novel by Kay Clancy

Hold on to your broomsticks and get ready for a magically delicious ride in "Spells & Spices," a tale brewed in a Caribbean cauldron! Join Aditi Crawley, a spirited young witch of Caribbean descent, as she teams up with her crafty grandmother, an eclectic coven of six, and her trusted corgi familiar to unravel ancient secrets and face off against a dark evil threatening Ravenā€™s Peak, Georgia. Amid whispered hexes and magicked cupcakes, Aditi's path entwines with Alexander, a mysterious celestial witch with secrets as potent as the strongest potion. Together, they brew up a slow-burn romance sparked by a shared desire to do what is right and an exploration of each otherā€™s cultures through food. But watch out ā€“ danger lurks in the shadows, ready to cast a spell on their newfound love. Get ready for a spellbinding adventure brimming with intrigue, laughter, self-discovery, and family bonds, all seasoned with Caribbean flavors. It's a witchy delight that'll leave you craving more magic and mystery!


Fabulous, Tx

Fabulous, Tx by Michelle MonƔrrez

A lonely gas station and a sheriffā€™s department. Thatā€™s all thatā€™s left of Fabulous, TX. Officer Anita Padmore stands at a crossroads in her law enforcement career. Should she move up north to work under Ft. Worth PD with the hope of a new career? Or should she stay in the town she loves at a job that promises no future? Before she can decide, her last case walks into town with a bang. A violent shooting at the local gas station has left heaps of bizarre evidence behind and a wounded witness fighting for her life. The case keeps unfolding and Anita soon has more questions than answersā€”but when Agent Caio Batista with his FBI unit steps in to take over her investigation, itā€™s clear this case is bigger than she bargained for. Anita is drawn to the agentā€™s sharp intellect and suave charm, but heā€™s hiding a secret that could change everything. Can the tale of Anita Padmore and Caio Batista shine some light on what happened to Fabulous?


Plagued Lands

Plagued Lands by Nikki Brooke

In a dystopian future, cities surrounded by glass bubbles promise safety from deadly diseases. Martina, a resilient sixteen-year-old from Colombia, struggles to support herself and her younger brother after the death of their parents. Especially with the rising cost of the mandatory medications. But when Martina spots a lone figure outside the safety of the bubble without a hazmat suit, her steadfast faith in their refuge is thrown into disarray. She worries for her brotherā€™s safety. She canā€™t bear to lose him too. Sheā€™s determined to find the truth lurking beyond their sanitized sanctuary and ensure his protection. Martina encounters unexpected allies on her mission. Among them is Nathan, a nomad whose unconventional ways intrigue her, and Persephone, a determined pharmacy student with a shared desire for truth. As their paths intertwine, Martina finds herself drawn to both. Will Martinaā€™s quest for answers unveil the salvation she seeks, or lead her into deeper peril? Can she protect the people she cares about?


The Dragon and the Butterfly

The Dragon and the Butterfly by Abby Simpson

You know his name. Now, learn hers. One thousand years ago, a nobleā€™s daughter came of age in the county of Flanders. Intelligent and ambitious, Maud would rise to become queen of England at the side of her husband. Driven by love and loyalty, destined to alter the course of history, her life was charmed by faith and circumstance, but not without sacrifice. Abby Simpsonā€™s The Dragon and the Butterfly follows Matilda of Flanders, wife to William the Conqueror, as she navigates court life, motherhood, and their shared ambition of claiming the English throne. An epic historical saga that sweeps warmly over decades and featuring a cast of dozens, Matildaā€™s world has never before been so richly realized.


NeurodiVeRse

NeurodiVeRse by MJ James

Jupiter Jā€™nell just wanted a place to belong since their own family kicked them out while they were still in high school. They thought they had found their place in Long Beach, CA, working as an educational consultant on games designed for autistic kids. Being autistic themselves and an avid gamer, it was their dream job. Instead, they were too autistic, and the West Coast was not as accepting as they had hoped. Would they ever find a place they could belong? Fired and more uncertain of themselves than ever, they were contacted by a mysterious individual, Stanley, who offered them a job at Austin School District (ASD), an elusive school system that was founded by the openly autistic tech genius who had built the biggest tech company ever - Austin Technology. To get the job, all Jupiter had to do was pass one test. What they received was a virtual reality headset that was an urban legend of the internet. It was said that this device made virtual reality nearly indistinguishable from the physical world. Only a few influencers had ever gotten their hands on one, and even fewer had gotten it to work. Holding the device in their hands, Jupiter knew they had to make the biggest decision of their life, and either way, things would never be the same. NeurodiVeRse is a story of self-acceptance celebrating autistic and trans joy. But even as Jupiter learned to love themselves, the world fought to take it away. Except Jupiter now had more than themselves to fight for, and they found there wasnā€™t anything they wouldnā€™t do to protect the students of ASD.


Wrongful-A true Story

Wrongful-A true Story by Brandy Wilson

Brandy Wilson's junior literary work, Wrongful, offers a poignant exploration of her journey as a mother entangled in the complexities of a biased legal system. The book delves into her personal experiences, highlighting the emotional and systemic challenges she faced. Through raw and reflective storytelling, Brandy illustrates how her love for her children became the driving force behind her perseverance. Wrongful is not only a memoir of motherhood but also a commentary on justice, resilience, and the strength required to navigate a system stacked against fairness.


Consecrated Ground

Consecrated Ground by Virginia Black

Consecrated Ground is a multiracial lesbian paranormal tour de force that will leave you wary of the shadows and absolutely breathless. Like her father before her, Joan Matthews is a witch. For generations, their family of binder witches has protected Calvert, Oregon from vampires by strengthening the land with spellcraft. Pushing back against tradition, Joan defied her father and left town to become a war witch, one who fights the monsters hand-to-hand. But when her father dies, Joan returns to find her hometown assailed by a vampire lord's endless attacks--and the answers lie with the one woman who chose a rival over Joan. Leigh Phan once believed her heart was safe and her future was set. When Joan left town, Leigh's choices led to ruin and unintended consequences. Now Leigh harbors a dark secret forcing her to live a moment-to-moment existence. Her only hope of survival lies in trusting the war witch who left her behind. Now it's up to Joan to fight for a town she left behind, while Leigh faces a destiny she never imagined was possible. With Calvert on the brink of total destruction, Joan and Leigh join forces and face inconvenient truths in order to save their town--and each other.


All Hookers Go To Heaven

All Hookers Go To Heaven by Angel B.H.

All Hookers Go To Heaven follows Mag: an East Coast girl raised in a conservative Christian home where she is urged to preserve her purity at all costs. Obsessed with earning a place in heaven, Mag rejects the hyper-sexual youth culture of her small townā€”that is, until she falls for a sophisticated, fun girl while attending a program designed to usher young people into Evangelical Missionary work. Spiralling into shame and regret, Mag breaks away from the Church and launches herself into the world of sex for hire, attempting to shed her repressive past and become an anti-virginā€”the exact opposite of what her religion raised her to be. As she hustles across continents, Mag finds her obsession has shifted. Instead of heaven, now she is focused on chasing the elusive, ever-shifting concept of financial security. In the process, she finds it harder and harder to differentiate the money she earns from her self-worthā€”and her own identity from that of her sex worker alter ego.


Colin

Colin by Grae Bryan

Colin has spent his whole life waiting for something. He doesnā€™t know exactly what it is, or how to find itā€”all he knows is that he wants more. When the existence of vampires gives him hope for exactly that, heā€™s determined to find one for himself. And when he finds out Tucson holds two vampires without mates of their own, heā€™s willing to do whatever he can to get close. Fox has spent his whole life looking out for his brother. So when his twin shows signs of bone-deep boredom and ambivalence, who can blame him for wanting to grab on to anything that could bring him back to himself? And if that something happens to be the pushy, prickly blue-haired human on their doorstepā€”asking to stay, demanding to be fed onā€”then so be it. Dane has spent his whole life feeling different. Even as a vampire, he doesnā€™t quite fit the moldā€”too attached to his brother, for one, with a platonic, fated bond that canā€™t be broken. So when a strange human comes into their lives and seems to accept them exactly as they are, who can blame him for starting to hope, just a little, for somethingā€¦ more? Colin is a heated, fated-mates MMM paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a grumpy, vampire-addicted human and the twin vampire brothers who are hungry for anything and everything he has to offer. It also contains steamy scenes and the moderate violence (and mentions of blood) one might expect from a vampire romance. While each book focuses on a different couple, the series is best enjoyed in order.


This is Not a Vampire Story

This is Not a Vampire Story by Simon Doyle

Seventeen-year-old Victor Callahan holds a secret as ancient as the shadows.Employed as a night porter in a quiet Irish nursing home, the teenager watches over a group of men he once knew a long time ago. Victor has orchestrated their reunion for a final farewell, a goodbye to those whose lives have shaped him through the years.But can he keep his secret from Lakeshore Manor's oldest resident, James O'Carroll?As he cares for these remnants of his past, memories of a bygone era haunt him - of wild adventures on the rugged Irish coast, of forbidden love hidden beneath the threat of eternal night, and of a shipwreck that changes everything...Gloria Pinto, the night nurse, doesn't like him. But maybe she has her own secrets.THIS IS NOT A VAMPIRE STORY weaves a tale of timeless bonds, the cost of immortality, and the lengths we go to for love.But is love more important than life? Victor is about to find out.


Love At Second Sight

Love At Second Sight by Ayoka B.

Shane's life is full...of poetry, motherhood and friends. She is a Single Mom who is pensive, passionate and generous and loves her family. Having experienced loss and heartache, her trust must be earned. Enter Mike. He is talented, complicated and guarded. Their powerful connection changes their hearts and lives. A beautiful and layered story of artistry, relationships and love, this novel spans generations. Love At Second Sight will make you laugh, cry, and cheer and inspire you to rethink what it means to love.


The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation

The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation by Omari Richards

Three siblings of noble heritage. A great land under threat by an unknown enemy and secrets with the power to destroy everything built. One choice looms over all who walk the land of Nahwalla: Tradition or truth? Kamau Kimoni believed his future was set in stone: kill the Crowned Eagle, and return a man of the Kimoni clan. However, on the Kitwana Savanna, the future lies in the wind, not stone. A sabotaged ritual brings Kamau face-to-face with an ancient enemy and a creature beyond the world he knows. His only hope is a power deemed forbidden by his people. Raziya Kimoni prefers the company of her ancient tomes and longs to expand her knowledge. But when an old betrothal and a mutilating ritual threatens to end her education, Raziya seeks an escape. It comes in the form of a coded plea for help that sets Raziya on a path rife with riddles, deceptions, and danger. Masilo Kimoni has been a man since he first led his fatherā€™s army against their enemies. Since then, he has had one sole duty: protect the land. An obligation that has cost him dearly, a dead wife and a missing son. A routine skirmish reveals a plot that threatens to send his homeland back into the throes of war. Answers only reveal more questions. Every exposed secret unleashes a new threat to their people and way of life. To find their true enemy, what will remain? Follow Masilo, Kamau, and Raziya on their journey for truth, independence, and honor in The Kimoni Legacy Book 1: Initiation.


Samurai Reborn: The Black Samurai

Samurai Reborn: The Black Samurai by Jalen Tellis

JALEN TELLIS GOES INTO HIS IMAGINATION iN HIS NOVELLA ABOUT A MAN WHO IS A SAMURAI AND GOES ON A VENGEFUL MISSION TO AVENGE HIS VILLAGE AND HIS DEAD FATHER. Genji Sato is an African-American samurai raised in the Japanese culture. He has a tragic past, which leaves him feeling hopeless and lost as a child. But now, as an adult, he tries to forget most of it. Growing up in Koawa, his father, Ken Sato, the protector and leader of The Majo Clan, helped guide him to become a samurai when the time was right. Years later, a tragedy happens between them and the enemies " The Rudo Clan" and Takashi Kuri, the ruler. The tragedy led to the death of Ken Sato, making Genji go through a journey of vengeance. Genji is now a vicious, blood-lusted, rageful human being who seeks revenge for his people and his father's death. He wants to honor his father's legacy; he feels that going through this vengeful mission will help achieve that.


Off Balance

Off Balance by Tiffany Costa

Juliette had plenty of love in her life. She owned and operated a a ballet studio bursting with students, parents, and staff that she adored. Sure, there was a gaping hole in the romantic love department, but she was happy. Everything was going right. Until her teenage student, Kelsey Delgato, revealed that she had been abandoned by her mother and needed a place to stay. With a birth certificate in hand naming a man Kelsey didnā€™t recognize as her father, Juliette tracks him down and makes the call. Only to find out that Caleb Ramirez didnā€™t know Kelsey existed either. After the shock of a lifetime and a move across the country, Caleb Ramirez is thrown even farther off balance when his alliance with Juliette begins to feel a little more like friendship. Then a bit like attraction. And then a lot like love. Thrown together by circumstance, the three navigate the unknown together in this heartfelt, raw story about whether genetics really does play a role in family and whether or not we can choose who we love.


Them Bones

Them Bones by A. Atkins

"Gritty, dark, tense and intensely emotional" - Sage Kafsky, Watchdog Right guy, wrong time. Laney Hawton has a difficult life. She takes care of her younger brother, Dustin, because honestly? Who else will? Her older brother Cary is... Well. Anyway. When Laney meets Shane, her whole world is turned upside down. But what do you do when you meet your soul mate at fourteen? Right girl, wrong life. Shane Mathers is chronically between couches, scraping by on the unexpected charity of a ten-year-old boy named Dustin. Through a violent twist of fate, Shane meets Laney and can't decide if the universe has finally given him a break, or just offered him his total demise all wrapped up in an irresistible four-foot-something package that makes his knees buckle. Fate is a cruel mistress and she has it in for Shane. He knows nothing this good comes without a price. The question is, will he survive it? Full of angst, drama, and dripping with 90s nostalgia, cozy up for some emotional devastation with Them Bones, Book One in the To The Grave Duet.


The Sneaky Lass

The Sneaky Lass by Kennedy Sutton

Jane has been many things in her life. A wife. A widow. A thief. A prostitute. Most recently, a woman seeking any means of escape from Grand Port. Flying no colors and desperate for crew, Sneaky Lass is a damaged brig in no position to look too closely at any volunteers, no matter how ill-suited to sea life they may be. After a series of decisions Jane canā€™t turn back from, she commits one final act of desperation; she dons stolen boots, shorn hair, and the name Dixon Ables to take up with the crew of Sneaky Lass. Now she finds herself in a position where she must keep up her boyish disguise or be thrown into the briny deep. Concrete plans to leave the ship at the next port turn fluid as Jane becomes enamored by the mystery of the ropes, the lullaby of waves against the hull, and the wind in the sails. That the crewmen are far from the salty rogues she expected doesn't help her resolve. Among the filthy men, the roar of cannons, the critical eye of a whip-wielding quartermaster, and beneath the weight of her own lies, Jane finds something she long believed a fantasyā€”Family. Even the frequent gaze of the fine and fair-minded captain isn't enough to send her towards shoreā€¦ yet. She doesn't want to sacrifice everything until she is sure he knows her secret, or perhaps his attentions are something else, something more. The problem is her new life belongs to the man called Dixon, not the woman called Jane. The longer she stays aboard Sneaky Lass, the closer she grows to losing everything she's come to value; new friends, the only home she's ever known, her life. Deceptions are difficult on land, but in the close quarters of a pirate ship, they can be deadly.


Us, Et Cetera

Us, Et Cetera by Kit Vincent

A captivating LGBTQ fantasy that blends the enchantment of Cinderella with the futuristic world of The Matrix, delving into questions about the nature of life, the pursuit of freedom, and the price one must pay for love. Eke lives in a nice house, in a wealthy neighborhood, with an upstanding family: Mr. and Mrs. Kensworth and their three children. But Eke is not family; Eke is property. Heā€™s an AI whose job is to keep the house clean and organized, and no matter how much Eke secretly wishes to be allowed outside to see the stars or to make a real friend, heā€™s either ignored or bullied by the family that owns him. To make things worse, the Kensworths purchase a shiny new AI named Kyp, who quickly becomes everyoneā€™s favorite, leaving Eke feeling more isolated than ever. That is until a terrifying party incident brings the two AIs together, sparking a chain of events that forces them to commit the unthinkable: defy human orders and run away. With AI hunters hot on their trail, Eke and Kyp set out on a perilous journey across the country, fighting for their lives, searching for the true meaning of freedom, and even daring to fall in love.


My Heart is Human

My Heart is Human by Reese Hogan

A single father fights to retain control as he shares his body and mind with an evolving AI. Itā€™s been nine years since the government banned all technology. So, when Joel Lodowick, a young transgender father struggling to support his five-year-old daughter, has an old bionic upload itself into his head, he is faced with a decision: Go to the cops and risk prosecution? Or use the robotā€™s skills to turn his life around? Scared of losing his daughter, Joel chooses the latter. Heightened intelligence and physical enhancements quickly land him a better job and a brighter future. But things take a sinister turn when Joel realizes his uninvited companion has an agenda of its own, which may or may not include leaving him in control. Unable to approach the government who covered up the truth about AI sentience, Joel finds himself on the run. With his daughterā€™s life on the line and his own body turning against him, he must find a way to convince the bionic in his head to value his human life before he loses the chance forever.


Space Station X

Space Station X by A.Z. Rozkillis

Will the space station bring them together or destroy them? Engineer Jax ran away to the farthest space station from Earth in the galaxy. Itā€™s nothing more than a pitstop, frequented only by those looking to get away, and there she wanted to live in peace. Itā€™s a mess, but itā€™s her Station. But peace was not in the cards once Saunders came on board, a chipper security officer with an infuriating habit of sneaking up on Jax and being friendly. Jax has no interest in attractive security officers reminding her of her stupidest mistakes. Now residents are being killed. There are sounds coming from the walls, ghostly footsteps and murderous, ravenous threats that canā€™t possibly be there. Can they? Deep space is unforgiving. The Station is dying. The residents are going bonkers. Jax discovers there are some problems that canā€™t be fixed by swinging an absurdly large murder-wrench.


Empress of Dust

Empress of Dust by Alex Kingsley

There are monsters outside the city walls. Harvard is small, anxious, and plagued by a constant tremor, which is not an ideal combination for a desert scavenger. He and his crew are under constant threat of desertwalker attacks, and Harvard is nearly useless against them. When the biggest mistake of Harvardā€™s life separates him from his crew, he must learn the secrets of the desert beasts in order to survive the dangers of the dusts. Returning to Bastion with a surprising ally, Harvard is forced to choose between saving his crew or allying with the ā€œmonstersā€ who rescued him. Harvard never saw himself as a hero, but when the beasts of the dusts implore him to aid their rescue mission, he holds the lives of crabs and humans alike in his trembling hands.


The Rosewood Penny

The Rosewood Penny by J.S. Fields

*2023 Queer Indie Award Nominee!* The dragons of Yuro have been hunted to extinction. On a small, isolated island, in a reclusive forest, lives bandit leader Marani and her brother Jacks. With their outlaw band they rob from the rich to feed themselves, raiding carriages and dodging the occasional vindictive pegasus. Thanks to Maraniā€™s mysterious invulnerability, this mostly works out wellā€¦until Marani and her quirky band of outlaws plunder the carriage of the very bossy princess Nuria. The princessā€™s carriage contains not just gold, but a dragonscale comb that belonged to Maraniā€™s murdered mother. Worse yet, Princess Nuria seems to know exactly who Marani is, maybe more than Marani herself. Marani hatches a plan to retrieve her motherā€™s comb, seduce the princess, and make her entire bandit crew rich in the process. But island politics and the island of Yuro itself have other things in mind. Marani and Jacks quickly find themselves caught between warring monarchies, trade disputes, feral pegasi, and a very old, very concerning family lineageā€”all bound within an old penny, a mouthy princess, and a stolen comb.


The Immortal Part of Myself

The Immortal Part of Myself by MJ James

Riley has lived her whole life as an elite daughter of one of the five ruling earthen corporations. She was supposed to be a beautiful figurehead working behind the scenes to help her husband. But the dresses they stuff her in are uncomfortable, social situations leave her confused, and she never really has been a woman. When she was diagnosed with autism, her fatherā€™s only hope was to marry her off. As she aged, her usefulness to her husband has diminished, and he plans on trading her for someone younger. Divorce isnā€™t legal, but murder is. . . as long as you donā€™t get caught. Except Riley has never been as helpless as they believed. She has a gift for navigating technology, one that has let her lead her own rebellion. But to see her ultimate plan succeed, she needs to survive long enough. Her only solution is to get off the planet. When Matty, a Martian ambassador headed home, sees Riley for the first time, she knows her life will never be the same. Riley needs help, and Matty wants to step in to save her even though she doesnā€™t know what she is saving her from. The more the two women come together, the more Matty falls in love. But what happens when the person you love cannot love you the same way?


Phoenix

Phoenix by MJ James

When a rogue vampire threatens to expose vampires to humans, Phoenix has one week to prove sheā€™s the alpha her pack needsā€”before her father hands over her birthright to someone else. Phoenix is heir to the werewolf pack, even if her father will not formally acknowledge her inheritance. The alpha has concerns about her leading the pack because she is autistic. Phoenix is ready to show him that she may be different, but she is more than capable of keeping her pack safe. Now, she has a deadline to track down the rogue vampire and make peace with the vampires before the town of Ember goes to war. She also has to prove that she is capable before her father adopts a new heir. Jared may look the part of an alpha, but he can't fight and he can't think strategically. Giving up the pack to him would be giving up on her family. She has to take down the vampire in a city full of bright lights, loud noises, and more people than she has ever seen. However, Phoenix learned young that an alpha does whatever they need to for their pack.


Lucas

Lucas by MJ James

With nothing left, Lucas arrives in Ember, Coloradoā€”a town that holds the only clue to his past and the parents he lost at a young age. Taken in by Rocko, the compassionate local bar owner, Lucas dedicates himself to saving money for top surgery and building a new life. Everything changes when Veronica walks into the bar. Unbeknownst to Lucas, she is a vampire sanctioned by the council to take his blood. Neither of them realizes that Lucas carries a hidden legacyā€”his parents were vampire kin, genetically predisposed to being turned. Forced into a vampiric existence against his will, Lucas faces an eternity in a body that can never change. Desperate for answers, he finds an unexpected ally in Jeffrey. As Lucas's transformation upends the balance in the magical community, the prospect of war looms over the vampires. Will Lucas find the strength to embrace his new future and navigate this treacherous world?


The Three Worlds: The Valley of Kings

The Three Worlds: The Valley of Kings by Eve Lorenzo

A fleshed out fantasy world, with the focus on three mains moving through the same worlds in very different ways, They are thrust into often harsh situations and forced to learn more about themselves and grow - interspersed with much needed breaks for them to take care of themselves and each other when they're taking themselves too seriously. Yet unseen enemies are the cause for a lot of strife and death around them, and with the tools at their disposal in this magical world, they have to fight to bring the enemies out into the open. A queer fantasy with a more mature tone and deep interest in character psychology.


Season of Dragons

Season of Dragons by Nikki Mitchell

What would you do if you found a dragon egg at your bus stop? Ichabod Surname never imagined heā€™d be spending a Friday afternoon cross-country skiing with a grandma dragonā€”but thatā€™s exactly what happens when he finds a giant egg on the way to school. For as long as he can remember, he has been at war with his siblings because he thinks outside of the box. He stays invisible at home and school, but for the first time in his life, he may be the key to restoring the weather and happiness in the village of Hasir. Can Ichabod and Gran fix what has gone awry and end the sibling war before Ichabodā€™s science teacher notices he is gone? --an enchanting fantasy about finding family, unexpected friendships, and the importance of being true to who you are.


TEETH TALON TONGUE

TEETH TALON TONGUE by Lee Eirinn

"You are set to be bound in the mountains tomorrow. Lord Zeus has called all of my brethren for a meeting. I am too scared to think of why. Why He would call us now, on the eve of your exile? Everyone on Olympus knows of your transgressions, that you will be punished but no one will tell me how. Even the most loosed of lips will not speak of it. Lord Zeus has not told anyone, it would seem. I pray to the fates. May they be kind. My hands shake. My mouth feels dry. My stomach aches." TEETH TALON TONGUE is a dark, queer retelling of the Prometheus Myth. What if Zeus wasnā€™t the one to set Prometheusā€™s punishment, but his avian lover, a vulture? More importantly, a proud beast of Zeus? This is a story about obsessive love, and the measures taken to keep hold of it. TEETH TALON TONGUE is a 4.6k word short story featuring dark subject matter. Please refer to content warnings before reading. This story is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.


By Dust & Duty

By Dust & Duty by K.C. Phillips

By Dust & Duty is the moody yet enchanting first installment of Forgotten Heirsā€”a dystopian sci-fantasy romance spanning multiple realities. At 28, Ereta still hasnā€™t found her footing in life. She stumbles through it as an anxious tangle of insecurities, finding solace only in banter with friends and the strange comfort of recurring dreams. Along with her best friend Leelinā€”a shameless flirt whoā€™s far too handsome for his own goodā€”she passes long days as a Runner on the cold desert planet of Veirbos. When a bizarre supernatural encounter brings her to the brink of death, Ereta realizes she has a choice: to remain a victim of her miserable circumstances or to shed her long-held helplessness and actively create a future she can believe in. Her foray into boldness begins, as many good things do, with a kiss. But this world was not made for romantics. As Ereta's hope leads to new and troubling questions, her circumstances grow ever more dangerous, until she's finally forced to stare down cruel truths about a society that would sooner see her dead than curious. But when everything seems set in stone, maybe, just maybe, she can find a way to save herself. By Dust & Duty is the first in a four-book series where nothing is as simple as it seems. We begin with a lost woman on a barren planetā€”but stick with her, and you might just find yourself in an epic romance spanning worlds and time, defying your every expectation along the way...


Black Widow's Bite

Black Widow's Bite by Bella Reves

Addison has resigned herself to the fact that sheā€™ll be alone forever, thanks to an unfortunate ā€˜giftā€™ that drives anyone who touches her to the brink of insanity. When a vicious attack sends her tumbling down a staircase, Addison stumbles upon four reclusive men who are just as troubled as she is. Wyatt, whose tortured soul screams for relief as he takes pain from everyone around him. Austin, whose affinity with snakes has left him stuck inside for fear of cruelty. Piper, whose ability to see the future comes at a terrible cost, leaving his mind fractured and his clarity waning with each passing day. Cain, the terrifying protector of this group of misfits, would gladly burn the world - Addison included - to keep them safe. Addisonā€™s world is turned upside down as fate keeps pushing her towards these four men, and she begins to wonder if maybe this den of monsters is exactly where she belongs. On the heels of her arrival, the group receives a terrifying warning, and Addisonā€™s dreams begin to look more like dark omens as they prepare to fight an unknown threat. What could be so evil that it would scare the monsters lurking in the dark?


Holland, My Heart

Holland, My Heart by Jennifer J. Coldwater

You know that stress inventory you can take? You get one point each for a long list of disastrous life events? Letā€™s just say I have lost count. In the last year alone Iā€™ve lost my husband (and his brother), sold our home, moved across the country, quietly quit my job, watched my closest friend-slash-sister-in-law move out of the country, andā€¦ well, I guess thatā€™s it. Could be worse, right? So, here I am. My name is Holland Gallagher and I'm a twenty-seven-year-old MBA with no job and a broken heart. Which, of course, is when my best friend-slash-mother-in-law Naomi introduces me to her oldest and dearest friend, Kai Ipu. Heā€™s the empirically attractive Black-slash-Samoan CEO of a corporate consulting firm (think a started-in-his-dorm-room company with an eye to making corporations better citizens of the world). But Iā€™m a mess and heā€™s significantly older than I am. So, I donā€™t have to worry about that, right? Youā€™d think. He just invited me to join his company. Iā€™m never one to turn down a challengeā€¦ so, here goes everything. Loosely based on the Bible book of Ruth (but with f-bombs from Kai, Hollandā€™s drunken confessions of adoration, and one spicy sex scene), Holland, My Heart is the first in a collection of biblical womenā€™s stories retold as contemporary romance. Holland, My Heart is an MF, dual POV, love-after-loss, slow burn, witty standalone romance.


When Ivy Met Adam

When Ivy Met Adam by Jennifer J. Coldwater

When I met Ali, I thought Iā€™d won the girlfriend jackpot. She was not only tall, dark, and hot AF, but also charming, funny, and kind. We met at first-year student orientation in our dorm. Four years later, Ali broke my heart when she determinedā€”without consulting meā€”that we should go our separate ways. ā€œYouā€™re going to law school and Iā€™m going to medical school. Weā€™ll both be so busy for the next eight years, Ivy. I donā€™t want to hold you back.ā€ Now, more than a decade of single status later, my internal alarm clock has started going off every nine minutes. ā€œI think Iā€™m going to get back on the apps,ā€ I tell my sister Iris. The first person I match with is Adam. Heā€™s everything I never knew I wanted: snarky, biting humor, super serious. And his photos are steamyā€”heā€™s built like a swimmer, all abs and arms. We set our first date for New Yearā€™s Eve. (Because who's afraid of Cuffing Season?) As fate would have it, it won't even be that long before I fall into his arms... And learn we have a truly heartbreaking history. Loosely based on the Bible story of Eve, When Ivy Met Adam is the second in a collection of biblical womenā€™s stories retold as contemporary romance. When Ivy Met Adam is an LGBT+, dual POV, second chance, forced proximity, love-triangle standalone romance.


My Shy Alpha

My Shy Alpha by River Kai

With 10 enchanting illustrations, My Shy Alpha is the first book in an empowering, steamy fantasy series that leaves readers swooning for a shy Alpha Lycan while rooting for an abuse survivor as she rediscovers what it means to be loved. Aliya Matsuoka meets ā€œhimā€ in her dreams - a regal yet unexpectedly shy man. But strangest of all, he always meets her in the forest, where their instant bond escalates into a sensual night beneath the stars. In waking reality, a monstrous ex blurred Aliyaā€™s judgment on whom to trust. She wonā€™t even kiss most dates, let alone ā€œget down and dirty in the leavesā€ with a gorgeous stranger. When Aliya follows an uncontrollable urge to retrace her dreamā€™s steps, reality surpasses her wildest imagination; sheā€™s living amongst Lycans, shapeshifters who can morph into wolves at will. Outspoken for his ā€œuntraditional valuesā€ that Lycan sexes should have equal rights, shy Alpha Noah Greenfield faces constant pushback from other Alphas who thrive on dominance. Aliya, however, finds his social defiance alluring. As Aliya and Noahā€™s fated love transcends all bonds, Aliya unleashes her desires. But diving into this paranormal fairytale isnā€™t enough to erase Aliyaā€™s trauma; thereā€™s always a chance another monster could follow her home. Equal parts heartfelt and steamy, the My Shy Alpha series follows an epic love story for both seasoned werewolf lovers and new readers dipping their paws into the shifter universe


Cupid Calling

Cupid Calling by Viano Oniomoh

Ejiro Odavwaro wants to fall in love. Obiora Anozie wants a free vacation. Both hope theyā€™ll find what they want on the upcoming reality dating show Cupid Calling, where theyā€™ll be competing alongside twenty-eight other bachelors for the heart of one bachelorette. The very last thing they expect is to fall for each other.


To Wield The Darkest Night

To Wield The Darkest Night by Beau Van Dalen

Every night, I see that manā€”that lovely strangerā€”in my dreams. So strong, mysterious, gentleā€¦ but a stranger all the same. Until one day he shows up at my doorstep, and promises me adventureā€¦ As a closeted trans man and apothecary to a small town, Sol is numbed by his uneventful life. Stifled by his neighbors' expectations, he only finds comfort in his sleep, where he is haunted by visions of a mysterious lover: a man too perfect to be real, yet too vivid to be a dreamā€¦ At first, Sol makes nothing of these strange nighttime apparitionsā€”until the lover from his visions, Yohan, walks into his potion shop years later asking for him personally. Tall, darkly mysterious and handsome, Yohan is a knight cursed by forbidden magic whose King has fallen ill. And Sol just happens to be one of the rare people able to craft a cure. Now, Sol finds himself with the perfect excuse to leave his small town behind, and just the perfect man to do it with. A sensual tale of self-discovery following a trans man MC and his gay lover in a darkly supernatural yet cozy romantasy world.


The Multiverse- Amnesty

The Multiverse- Amnesty by R. Sims

Max's life on Marzolie, the ancient world of Mars, was marked by its deep-seated misogyny and internal conflict. Just as Mephistoā€™s forces launch a devastating invasion, Max is deceived into escaping to Gaia (Earth) by none other than his younger sister. Unbeknownst to him, he is the UnMaker's oldest, and likely most evil, son, with a destiny intertwined with darkness. Kalion Amarys, former Yaragru princess and a formidable immortal, is tasked with escorting Max back to the war-torn planet. As she grapples with Max's disdain for her gender and him going through maturity, she now finds herself conflicted by her own emotions. Max's demands for her to abandon her immortal duties and bear strong sons challenge everything she stands for. Max, meanwhile, has grand plans. He wants to save his planet, marry Kalionā€”despite bizarre racial quirks, such as growing flowers from her head and being yellow. Yet, heā€™s determined to make a few changes to her, including overcoming her pre-selected mate, and starting a family immediately; since motherhood would make her forget her friends and obligations and her independent adventuring ways. As Max and Kalion clash over their differing goals, their journey becomes a test of endurance and trust. With Mephisto's threat looming, can they overcome their differences and find a way to return to Gaia together? Or will their quest end in ruin, like so many before them?


The Moon, The Stars & Everything In Between

The Moon, The Stars & Everything In Between by Wendi B. Dennison

The Moon, The Stars & Everything In Between is the second book in the Seeing Stars Series. David Vernon couldnā€™t be worse with relationships. Every romantic encounter he ever faced left him feeling hollow or unfulfilled, somehow wrong or misplaced in the world. He had nearly given up on love altogether, until the Spring of 2003 when David met Andrew Braiden, a sweet, shy artist just trying to put beauty out into the world without derision. Andrew Braiden never thought he would see David Vernon again after he broke his heart the year before his twentieth birthday. But four years later, fate had other plans, as did Davidā€™s exuberant little sister and Andrewā€™s best friend, Amy. Despite fear and distrust and a torrid history of heartbreak and longing, David and Andrew have found each other once more, and this time, they have no intention of letting each other go. But long-distance relationships arenā€™t easy, especially when the one you love is states away, leading a life you could only imagine. Whether ghosts from the past come back for haunting or new demons arise that threaten to force a wedge between them, David and Andrew learn what it means to love another person unconditionally, as well as the importance of loving yourself just as much.


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