Grumpy Hearted Cowboy (Not Looking For Love Series) by Julia Stone

A brooding cowboy, an innocent heart, and heat that builds fast and fierce. Cyrus: I agreed to let her stay for the summer, offering a spare room for a few weeks, helping around the ranch while she figures out her future. What I didn’t agree to was Millie walking back into my life as a grown woman—soft smiles, curious eyes, and a body I have no business noticing. She’s my friend’s daughter. She’s younger. She’s here to learn, not to tempt the hell out of me every time she steps into my space. Living under the same roof makes distance impossible. Every shared meal, every long day working side by side chips away at my self-control. I know better. I should stop this before it starts. But wanting her feels inevitable—and once I give in, there’s no going back. Millie: Spending the summer on Cyrus Kane’s ranch is supposed to be simple. Hands-on experience. Early mornings. All while learning what kind of veterinarian I want to be. Instead, I’m sharing a house with a gruff, intimidating cowboy who barely speaks—and somehow says everything with a single look. He’s bigger than life, rough around the edges, and completely different from anyone I’ve ever wanted before. I tell myself to focus, to keep things professional. But the longer I stay, the harder it is to ignore the tension crackling between us. The way his eyes linger. The way my heart races whenever we’re alone. We’re crossing lines we shouldn’t. With the promise of leaving in the future, one push may risk everything falling apart.

Brownies for My Grumpy Bunny: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls #10) by Honey Phillips

She’s sweet, stubborn, and far too tempting. He’s big, grumpy, and determined not to fall. Sara Cartwright came to Fairhaven Falls for a fresh start—quiet mornings, kind neighbors, and maybe a few furry friends hopping through her garden. She wasn’t expecting her next-door neighbor to be six-foot-plus of scowling muscle and twitching ears. Ben Hollowell likes his peace, his pub, and his solitude. The last thing he needs is a relentlessly cheerful kindergarten teacher moving in next door with flower boxes, laughter, and curves that make his pulse race. But when Sara’s warmth starts melting his defenses—and her brownies start showing up at his door—Ben finds himself craving things he swore he didn’t need. Will spring in Fairhaven Falls turn out to be mating season for the most reluctant of bunnies? Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone. This sweet and steamy small town romance is intended for mature readers.

Alien's Bargain: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #6) by Honey Phillips

One lie. One bargain. One debt she can’t escape. Jessa is the most talented weaver in her village, but when her ruthless uncle claims she can spin legendary goldthread, he traps her in a lie that could cost her everything… including her little sister. Desperate to save her sister, Jessa flees into forbidden Vultor territory in search of the rarest plant of all. Instead she finds Tarek, a gruff, solitary alien feared by humans and shunned by his own kind. Tarek has been alone for too long, so when a pretty little human strays into his territory, he can’t resist offering her a bargain—his help in exchange for a promise to be fulfilled later. What begins as a reluctant deal turns into something far more dangerous, because Tarek is more than he seems. And the price he asks might be her heart. Sometimes love is the most dangerous bargain of all. Grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, reluctant protector, hidden identity, found family A sweet and spicy sci-fi fairy-tale retelling!

Tempted by the Alien Mercenary: A Steamy Alien Sci-fi Romance (Monster Mercenary Mates #07) by Robin O'Connor

He was built to feed on fear, but I’m the only one who ever tempted him to feel. Frederique I woke in a shattered stasis pod, centuries too late, on a world drowning in water and secrets. My mission? Gone. My crew? Dust. And the only being who’s kept me alive since then is an alien mercenary wrapped in living silver and danger. He’s not just terrifying, he’s mesmerizing. I should keep my distance. I know better. But every time his dark gaze settles on me, every time that shifting symbiont flows over his skin like armor and art, I forget who I was supposed to be. His power should terrify me, but it tempts me. He tempts me. Even when I discover the truth about my mission. Even when enemies rise and survival hangs by a thread... I still look at him and wonder what would happen if I let myself fall. The Sineater She calls me mercenary. Monster. But she doesn’t run. I was sent to kill, not to feel. My symbiont craves agony like air, but her emotions, bright and tangled, taste like hope. I want her. Not just her body, but the calm in her thoughts, the fire in her fight. I want to protect that light, even as I know I’ll destroy it. But I am always hungry. Always feared. And if I take what I want, I may never let her go… Even if loving her is the one thing that could break me. This is a standalone novel and the seventh book in the Monster Mercenary Mates series. This sci-fi monster romance features a darkly sinful ancient warrior, a plucky, bossy FMC, a mysterious animal sidekick, and a steamy HEA.

Claimed by the Alien Mercenary: A Steamy Alien Sci-fi Romance (Monster Mercenary Mates #08) by Robin O'Connor

She’s the mission. He’s the monster everyone fears. His claim might destroy them both. Dani I came to Radin chasing a miracle cure hidden in a flower. I never expected to become prey. Days of captivity leave my empathic senses burned out, my power little more than an ache beneath my skin. Then Jaxin arrives, silent, shark-eyed, built for violence. When the rescue goes awry, he hauls me over his shoulder and runs. Alone in Radin’s humid jungle, survival means pressed bodies, shared breath, and heat that has nothing to do with the heat of summer. As my empathy recovers, I feel what he hides. Control layered over hunger. Possession strangled by discipline. A truth he refuses to face: he feels more than he’s allowed. Jaxin Emotion is forbidden. My people, the Rummicaron, suppress it for a reason. But the jungle strips restraint bare, and my true nature claws its way to the surface: to claim, to protect, to possess a mate. Dani doesn’t just tempt me, she awakens something ancient and dangerous. As Radin’s giant closes in and a crime lord tightens her grip, I must choose between duty and instinct. And if I choose wrong, Radin will kill us both. This is a standalone novel and the eighth book in the Monster Mercenary Mates series. This sci-fi monster romance features a not-so-emotionless, shark-like alien mercenary, a gifted empathic scientist, and a steamy HEA.

Bittersweet Nightshade by Shelley Crowley

Ainsleigh Harper is one of the Gifted. Unlucky enough to manifest strength too immense to control, she spends most of her time drinking and avoiding her fraught relationship with her mother. There’s only so many times she can handle being called a monster. The dream is to escape. To run away and start a new life with her best friend and famous fellow Gifted, Cassidy ‘Healer’ Drake. But when Cassidy disappears without a trace, something within Ainsleigh finally snaps. Drunk and bleeding out after a savage wolf attack, Ainsleigh is found by a mysterious stranger and learns that she's not as stranded and alone as she feared. Now Ainsleigh has three questions; Where is Cassidy? Can her secretive saviour really be trusted? And why does whiskey taste so good?

Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe

Under the lights, they are gods. Behind the curtain, they are ghosts. Silas Reed made the impossible choice: break Cal Kincaid’s heart to save his career. But the grief followed him to the ring. One botched move later, Silas was exiled with a shattered shoulder, leaving Cal alone to become the ruthless King of the industry. Seven years later, the exile is over. Silas returns to a world that moved on without him. But the man waiting for him isn’t the boy he left behind. Cal is now the untouchable Heavyweight Champion of the World, and he hasn’t forgiven a damn thing. Scripted rivals. Real life strangers. Inescapable lovers. The hatred turns to heat. The rivalry turns to obsession. While the cameras roll, they tear each other apart. But when the locker room clears, the dynamic shifts. Their collision is violent, desperate, and anything but scripted. Silas wants his legacy back. But the only way to the top is through the man he destroyed. Ring the bell, the main event is underway.

The Name and the Key by Kristina Elyse Butke

Some doors are sealed for a reason—and some names should never be spoken aloud. At thirteen, Lily Bellamy finds her mother’s body in the marshes. What haunts her afterward is worse. A corpselike spirit that looks like her mother follows Lily through every reflective surface—mirrors, glass, still water—whispering for Lily to open the door and let her out. Lily has no idea what the door is, how to stop the visions, or whether saving her mother is even possible. The haunting stretches into her young adulthood, eroding her sanity and dragging her closer to a breaking point she can feel but cannot escape. When Lily is eighteen, Andresh Zatavier returns—the boy who once knew her better than anyone, and perhaps still does. Changed by years overseas, Andresh confesses his study of dark magic and forbidden knowledge beyond human limits. He believes he knows the key to Lily’s curse—and how to end death itself. But every secret Andresh carries comes at a cost. As Lily is drawn deeper into a world of dark gates and dangerous names, she must decide how far she is willing to go to save the woman she lost… and whether opening the door will free her mother—or unleash something far worse. Kristina Elyse Butke launches a chilling new dark fantasy series with The Name and the Key, weaving grief, forbidden magic, and aching connection into a story where love tempts fate—and some doors should never be opened.

Blood & Blarney by Noah Bodie

What happens when you look death in the face, and it stares back? When a charismatic stranger steps into Hugh King’s classroom, desire and danger follow. Rory is beautiful, calculated, and hungry in ways that have nothing to do with food. Their charged encounters begin to unravel into ritual, blood, and myth, and Hugh discovers that being claimed is not the same as being seen. Blending queer gothic erotica with Irish folklore, Blood & Blarney is a dark, intimate novella about hunger, consent, and what it means to touch death without being consumed.

Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted by Briar Somseret

A Victorian Gothic Paranormal Romance Novella by Briar Somerset In a town where health is currency and longing is lure, a reluctant investigator and seamstress must uncover whether hunger will anchor a man already slipping into the dark. Behind the decrepit doors of an Infirmary said to offer miraculous cures to London's ailing elite, people are vanishing. Private Investigator and estranged heir to French aristocracy Jacques Valmont is summoned across the channel to sleuth, despite the lingering sickness of his own—one of grief that stirs in his blood and shadows his mind. Amidst the fog and fever, he finds an unlikely ally in Annie, the quick-witted seamstress working next door to Beecham's Infirmary, whose presence seems to quiet the storm inside him. When she suggests the only way to breach the infirmary's guarded walls is becoming a patient himself, Annie's grandmother warns them both of curses that fester with longing. Unnatural aches that transform a person entirely, if not quelled. As Jacques nears the truth, desire and dread twist together. Annie may be the last tether holding him to his humanity—or the final thread that unravels it.

Dangling High by Kaycee King

After suffering an intensely traumatic loss at the hands of Jesse "Snake Eye" Musslin, the eccentric, queer, and legendary outlaw Ezra "Two Shots" Smith embarks on a lifelong quest for revenge, eventually crossing paths with Alexander "Good Times" Davis, who stubbornly refuses to let him be. Dangling High is a gripping Western adventure that turns the genre’s typical, problematic tropes upside down for a more progressive rhetoric. It is a fresh, politically driven take on what the United States has stood for in the past, the danger of the current moment, and the potential to embrace a future that is based on entirely different systems of power and ways of life.

The Sorrow of Bees by Andie Holman

Dark magic comes at a cost, one that Jelly, warrior mermaid, must pay. After enduring a brutal ritual to give her Fae powers, a vital piece of her soul goes missing. She must abandon everything and everyone to find it. It is her journey alone. If she fails her mission, her lover’s brother will never again see the sun, trapped in a horrifying dimension called the Hellhole. If she fails, her lover Mako may not forgive her. If she fails, she will never be whole. She’s sent to a queendom so foreign she can barely breathe, transformed into a body she can’t possibly understand. Grappling with the enormity of her task, she struggles to appreciate the sorrows of the pollinators. But she must if she wants to succeed. Kirkus reviews: "The intricate details and person growth of major and minor characters make for a welcome continuation of this saga... The detailed depth of the fantasy world will delight those who enjoy all-consuming magical realms that integrate cleanly with contemporary, nonmagical locales... An often rousing personal quest that will have audiences looking forward to the next book."

The Mermaid's Wrath by Andie Holman

The ocean is dying. A mermaid vows to save it. The Mers are barely surviving in a magical marine bubble, isolated from the rest of the world. Jelly, warrior mermaid and champion of sea life, battles against the choking, accelerating pollution, living beneath the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When Jelly's mind opens to terrifying premonitions, she must leave the ocean, collaborating with estranged magical beings on land. She’s seen one of theirs in a vision, a woman abducted for the power in her veins, and Jelly is the key to this woman's freedom. The black pearl at her throat holds a secret. When it wakes, it sends Jelly on a tumultuous journey, changing her life forever. Kirkus review: “A lighthearted novel that simultaneously features heavy environmental themes, multifaceted characters, and lots of charm. Holman weaves elements of humor, magic, romance, and environmental activism in a quirky ocean-set romantasy.”

Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie

A woman who betrayed her family A rogue hiding a hairy secret And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives she’s never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesn’t care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of “goodies” to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother. Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, he’s not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence. What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With lives–and possibly their hearts–on the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal? Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

A Tangle of Iron and Feathers (Tales of Eukarya #4) by Sarah Beran

Mulan meets The Goose Girl... Malana never aspired to wear a crown, but after years of war have decimated the royal family of Brisia, she finds herself in the unexpected position of being the closest thing to a princess her country has left…and also the chosen candidate for the marriage treaty that will finally seal the peace between Brisia and Cabriole. If only she weren’t keeping a secret that could ruin everything. After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expected—a fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes she’s met her fiancé before. On the battlefield. Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war?

Cursed Climb (Displaced Fairytales) by Sarah Beran

A swan, a bird catcher, and the plot they both intend to keep from hatching… Working under her father as the Assistant Keeper of the Menagerie, Odessa Rothchild has always believed two things to be true: animals are much better listeners than people, and Boris Rothchild is the most brilliant man in all of Kovskia. All of that changes when an unfortunate discovery in her father’s workroom leaves her the recipient of a curse. Stuck in the body of a swan until the sun sets, Odessa begins to think that her search for the truth is hopeless—until, that is, a mysterious man crash-lands in the middle of her lake. If there’s one thing in life that Jax should understand, it’s birds. As the fourth generation of a family of bird catchers, his future nest egg should be secure—and it would be, if he didn’t have his sights set on a different kind of winged creature. But after his search for a rare and elusive dragon egg goes wrong, Jax wakes up to find himself in the company of the one kind of bird he can’t seem to understand. She needs his help to break her curse. He needs her to get his dragon. But as they work together, secrets are uncovered that create ripples bigger than either of them could have imagined, and they both must decide whether or not a happy ending is worth the climb…or the fall. Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors. CURSED CLIMB is Jack and the Beanstalk meets Swan Lake with He Falls First, Found Family, and a dragon companion who doesn’t understand why he can’t be a swan.

Alien Song: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #5) by Honey Phillips

A grumpy alien single dad, a fearless diver, and a bond stronger than the tide. Ariella was born to dive. Modified to withstand Cresca’s alien oceans, she’s always been at home in the deep—until the day she saves a drowning child and meets the girl’s father, a huge, brooding Vultor warrior with eyes like molten gold. Suddenly she wants more than just her isolated waters. Valrek has spent years alone on the sea cliffs, shunned by both humans and Vultor. He’s devoted himself to raising his daughter in solitude—until a human female crashes into their world like a storm tide, fearless, bright, and far too tempting. She challenges him. She tempts him. And she makes his beast want something he swore he’d never have. A mate. But Ariella’s past is surfacing—and if she doesn’t choose between her future and her heart, she could lose both. Because when a Vultor warrior loves, he doesn’t let go. Each book in the Alien Wolf Tales series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and spicy fairy tale retelling is intended for mature readers.

Mountain Man’s Winter Treasure: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #4) by Lilah Hart

He watched her for weeks in silence. Now they're snowed in together. I was freezing to death in someone else's house when he showed up. The power was out. The snow had buried the doors. I'd already accepted that this house sitting gig might be the last decision I ever made. Then headlights cut through the storm, and a man climbed out of a truck like he'd driven straight out of my darkest, most desperate fantasy. Broad shoulders. Dark beard. Eyes that looked right through me. He didn't say much. He got the fire going, checked the pipes, made terrible instant coffee. And when I asked his name, he gave me one word. Wolfe. He told me he was staying. Protocol, he said. He couldn't leave me alone with no heat and no way out. But the way he looked at me had nothing to do with protocol. I didn't know he'd been watching me for weeks. I didn't know he'd memorized my schedule at the roadhouse, that he'd stared at his menu every time I came to take his order because he couldn't trust himself to look at me. I didn't know that when my name came through on that emergency call, his heart stopped. But I was about to find out. 🔥 Forced Proximity ❄️ Snowed In Romance 🐻 Grumpy Hero / Sunshine Heroine 👀 Secret Pining 🌸 Virgin Heroine 💘 Instalove 😍 He Falls First Mountain Man's Winter Treasure is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity firefighter romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

Mountain Man's Winter Sweetheart: A Steamy Instalove Romance ((Wildwood Valley Firehouse #3) by Lilah Hart

Snowed in with a rugged firefighter. Falling wasn’t optional. I don’t do distractions. I have a plan. A timeline. A future that doesn’t include this tiny mountain town—or the firefighters who pack into the roadhouse every night, loud and charming and impossible to ignore. Especially him. Hux is six-foot-three of trouble wrapped in flannel. A smile built to break hearts. A laugh that fills the room. I’ve watched him flirt his way through every shift, and I’ve kept my distance for a reason. Then the snowstorm hits. He stumbles through the door half-frozen, collapses on my counter, and wakes up to find me standing over him with a bowl of soup I don’t remember deciding to make. Now we’re trapped. The roads are impassable. The power’s flickering. And somehow, Hux has ended up in my kitchen—following my rules, watching me like I’m something worth seeing. He’s not what I expected. Under the jokes and easy charm is something steady. Something real. Something that makes me forget why I was so determined to leave in the first place. The storm won’t last forever. Neither will the forced proximity. Neither will the heat that builds every time he looks at me like he’s already chosen. He says he’s serious about me. And that terrifies me more than the storm ever could. ❄️ Snowed-In Romance 🔥 Firefighter Hero 🏔️ Small-Town Mountain Setting 🍲 Caretaker Moment 🧣 Forced Proximity 💕 Instalove Sparks 🛡️ Protective Hero Energy 🌨️ Winter Storm Isolation 💫 Opposites Attract 🏡 Found Family Vibes Mountain Man's Winter Sweetheart is an OTT age-gap firefighter romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity ex-military, lumberjack romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

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

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

The Lunar Quartz Library by Melanie Steele

At thirty-five, Esme thought her life was set—until a magical book offered her a whole new chapter. Esme has lived the same quiet, bookish life for as long as she can remember—mornings spent sorting rare tomes at the beloved Goldsteins' Bookshop, evenings sipping tea in her tiny flat, and weekends buried in classics and comfort reads. Then a curious delivery arrives: an oversized book with a lock, but no keyhole. It doesn’t appear on any inventory list—and it doesn’t seem to belong to this world. When the Goldsteins' bookshop, where Esme has worked for half her life, suddenly shuts its doors, she finds herself adrift. Her routine is gone, her future uncertain, and the quiet, bookish life she’s always known begins to unravel. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming the book belongs to another realm—and that Esme is the only one who can unlock its secrets—she’s offered a chance to start again. But stepping into her new role as Librarian of the Quartz Falls Library won't be easy. Esme must learn to wield magic, confront enemies who want the library sealed forever, and—most daunting of all—believe that she’s worthy of a life beyond the quiet edges of the world. A heartwarming, whimsical tale of transformation and quiet courage, this low spice cosy fantasy is perfect for fans of The Spellshop, Legends & Lattes, and The House in the Cerulean Sea. 🌙 Tropes & Themes You’ll Love 🙋 Midlife Protagonist ✨ Sweet romance 🏡 Found family 📚 Light academia 💐 Strong female friendships 🌈 LGBTQ+ rep 🧠 Neurodivergent rep ❤️ A comforting, low-stakes fantasy full of heart

The Throne of Ash: A thrilling Tudor-esque fantasy with all the deceit, politics and Courtly romance of the Tudor era by Lissy Porter

A Queen. A Princess. And a Consort who must be chosen to ensure the future of the Throne of Ash. The Queen's Face masks all—even the woman who wears it. None may see her without it, not even her Consort responsible for ensuring she brings forth a healthy daughter to succeed her. If he fails, being cast aside is the most favourable of outcomes. When Queen Cecily unknowingly determines on her sister's lover as her Consort, ambition, jealousy, and the demands of courtly etiquette threaten the stability of the Throne of Ash. Princess Bess knows only too well her responsibilities towards her sister, the queen, but when one of the powerful noble families attempts to ensnare both sisters with one lover, there can only ever be one winner. The Throne of Ash is a Tudor-esque fantasy in which women rule, and men are kept in the background, of little use, aside from when a Consort must be chosen. Then, court intrigues, and politics come to the fore in a deadly game of politics and etiquette that sets sister against sister. The Throne of Ash has never been more on fire.

Snowed In With the Ice Dragon: A Small Town Christmas Romance (Monsters and Mistletoe Series) by Vala Stone

His touch is ice. His kiss, fire. And I can’t walk away. Bianca Kevin ditching me in the middle of a blizzard should’ve been the worst night of my life. Then I stumbled across a trail of glittering ice sculptures, each one more breathtaking than the last, until I found the man who made Ísarr. He’s rough edges and frostbitten silence, a dragon wrapped in a human form that barely hides his power. He warned me to leave. I should’ve listened. Instead, I stayed… and now every glance, every brush of his cold hand, melts something inside me I didn’t know was frozen. Ísarr I’ve kept the world at bay for years, locked in exile where no one could see the monster beneath the ice. Until her. Bianca crashes through my walls like sunlight breaking over a frozen lake, filling my silence with warmth and defiance. She should fear me, run from me. Instead, she tempts me past control. Her lips taste of fire, her body fits against mine as though she was made for me. Every kiss cracks the armor I’ve built around my heart. The storm outside is fierce, but the one between us is unstoppable. And if I claim her, if I give in to this hunger, I may never let her go. Snowed In With the Ice Dragon is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Monsters and Mistletoe shared author series. It features one grumpy ice dragon and an optimistic lost hiker searching for shelter against the coming storm.

Bound to the Vampire: A Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (Hillcrest Hollow Shifters #4) by Vala Stone

He’s charming, undead, and totally off-limits. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Jade Jade Whitaker only came to town to restore a crumbling library, not lose herself in a man with a voice like velvet and eyes like midnight. Luther runs the general store, always has what she needs, and somehow makes dusty archives feel like foreplay. She tells herself it’s just the isolation, the mystery of the town, but her pulse says otherwise. There’s something unnatural about too smooth, too still, too good at disappearing after dark. And when Jade stumbles across forbidden texts and records that don’t match reality, the spark between them threatens to ignite something far more dangerous than lust. Luther Luther has spent centuries mastering restraint. But Jade tests his limits from the moment she walks into town; sharp-tongued, soft-hearted, and smelling faintly of old books and temptation. He knows the risks of pulling her exposure, bloodshed, the unraveling of a delicate peace. But one taste of her laughter, one flash of those curious eyes, and he’s already losing control. He was never supposed to fall. She was never supposed to stay. But in a town built on secrets, desire might be the deadliest one of all. He’s not just drawn to her—he hungers. She’s not just uncovering history—she’s waking it. And neither of them is ready for what’s about to rise. This is Book Four in the Hillcrest Hollow Shifter series, but each book can be read as a standalone. Bound to the Vampire delivers a mysterious ancient vampire, a curious human librarian, a bat familiar who prefers gossip to upside-down naps, and a sizzling HEA that will leave you breathless.

Warmed Up by her Brother's Best Friend: A Small Town Age Gap Curvy Girl Short Romance by Julia Stone

Training her body was easy. Resisting her was impossible. I’ve been in love with my brother’s best friend for two years. Which is exactly why my New Year’s resolution is to finally get over him. Lose a little weight. Gain a little confidence. Stop staring every time Cash he crashes at our place. Simple. Achievable. Easy. Thanks to my overprotective brother, Cash decides he’s the perfect person to help me “work on myself.” Morning workouts. Close proximity. Lot’s of hands-on activities. Getting over Cash was supposed to be the goal. Falling harder was never part of the plan. I’ve noticed Adelia since the day she became off-limits. She’s sweet. Curvy. Innocent in a way that makes me want to protect her from men like me. Especially from me. She’s Toby’s little sister. I don’t cross that line. Can’t. But when she asks for help learning how to catch a man’s attention, I can’t say no. Not when I know no one will ever be good enough for her. If she’s going to belong to someone, it should be a man who knows her worth. A man who wants her completely. A man like me.

Sense & Irritability by Emma Lee Jayne

A few months ago, I was the star chef at one of Austin's hottest restaurants. Then it all came crashing down. Now, I’ve lost my job and my living situation is … questionable. Oh, and I owe my mother money. Don’t ask. When I get offered a job as a live-in, personal chef for a man I think is a rich, elderly, shut-in, I jump on it. Except, he’s not elderly. In fact he’s young, brilliant, and stupidly hot. I can't walk away from this job. What’s a down-on-her-luck girl supposed to do? Fall in love?

Code Red (Side Hustle) by Lilah Hart

She lost a cat. He found his forever. I've been a good girl my whole life. Followed the rules. Obeyed my father. Kept my head down and my heart locked up tight. One day in Wildwood Valley changed everything. It started with a cat. A diabetic escape artist named Snowball who bolted from my clinic on my very first day flying solo. Desperate and panicking, I ran to the fire station next door for help. I didn't expect to find a man in nothing but black boxer briefs, singing into a spatula like he owned the world. Devon Carlisle was grumpy, gorgeous, and completely off-limits. A rugged construction foreman with callused hands and a volunteer firefighter's heart. He had no business looking at me the way he did—like I was trouble he wanted to get into. I had no business letting him. But somewhere between chasing that cat through the woods and sharing drinks at the new honky-tonk in town, I stopped being the pastor's dutiful daughter. I stopped playing it safe. I started playing with fire. Code Red is a short and steamy instalove romance set in the small mountain town of Wildwood Valley, North Carolina. This 1-hour read is part of the Side Hustle series. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Side Hustle series! About the Series: From broke beginnings to business dreams, the real hustle begins after hours. Whether it’s garage startups or late-night gigs, these blue-collar heroes and heroines are chasing goals bigger than the next bill. When love throws them a curveball, they learn that building a future means risking their hearts. Side Hustle is a multi-author series of short, steamy instalove stories with guaranteed happily-ever-afters. Each one delivers open-door heat, real-world grit, and chemistry that burns hotter after midnight.

Mountain Man's Winter Darling: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #02) by Lilah Hart

Snowed in. Guarded heart. One firefighter who stays. I’d spent years building walls. As the manager of Wildwood Ridge Roadhouse, I was the woman with the clipboard and the answers—the one who handled every crisis, solved every problem, and never let anyone see me crack. I’d watched charming men try to get past my defenses before, and I’d shut every single one of them down. Then the blizzard hit. Conner was everything I’d trained myself to avoid—a firefighter with a sharp tongue, an easy smile, and a reputation for never taking anything seriously. The jokester. The flirt. The last man I should have trusted with my secrets. But the storm stranded us together. And somewhere between the snow piling against the windows and the hours slipping quietly by, he stopped joking. He looked at me like he saw past the role I played for everyone else. He didn’t see the manager. He didn’t see the woman in control. He saw me. I’d never let anyone that close before. Never wanted to. But Conner made me want things I’d convinced myself weren’t real—the kind of connection that happened in one impossible night and changed everything. He said he wasn’t going anywhere. I wanted to believe him. But I’d been the responsible one my whole life—and responsible women didn’t fall for strangers during snowstorms. They didn’t risk everything on a single night. …Did they? Tropes: ❄️ Snowed-In Romance 🔥 Firefighter Hero 🏔️ Small-Town Mountain Setting 🧊 Forced Proximity 😏 Jokester Hero Who Falls Hard 🛡️ Guarded Heroine ❤️ One-Night-to-Forever Love 💋 Steamy Instalove Chemistry 🥰 He Falls First 🏡 Standalone Romance with HEA Mountain Man's Winter Darling is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity ex-military, lumberjack romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

Mountain Man's Winter Beauty: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #1) by Lilah Hart

Trapped by winter. Claimed by a mountain firefighter. I noticed Mason the moment he walked into the roadhouse. Hard not to. He was built like the mountains surrounding Wildwood Valley—broad shoulders, powerful arms, hands that looked like they could either break you in half or hold you like you mattered. One of the new firefighters in town. The kind of man every woman noticed. Except he didn’t notice me. Or so I thought. For weeks, Mason came in with his crew. He talked to everyone—the bartender, the cook, the manager. Everyone except me. When I refilled his sweet tea, he couldn’t meet my eyes. When I asked for his order, he answered in single words, like speaking to me was harder than running into a burning building. I told myself it didn’t matter. I was just the server. The small-town girl nobody really saw. Then the snowstorm hit. The roads closed. My car couldn’t make it up the mountain. And suddenly I was stranded in a ditch—in the cab of Mason’s truck—with nowhere to go and no way out. That’s when everything changed. That’s when the quiet firefighter finally told me the truth. He hadn’t been avoiding me because he wasn’t interested. He’d been avoiding me because he was terrified of how much he wanted me. We had one hour before his crew reached us. One hour to decide if this was real—or just the storm talking. One hour that could change everything. Sometimes the best things happen when you’re trapped in the cold… with the one man who can keep you warm. Tropes: 🔥 Firefighter Romance 🏔️ Mountain Man Alpha Hero ❄️ Snowstorm Forced Proximity 🛻 Stranded Together 💪 Protective Age-Gap Hero 😳 Shy Alpha, Hidden Desire 🌸 Virgin Heroine / First Time ⚡ Fast-Burn Instalove ❤️ Small-Town Romance 🌡️ High-Heat OTT Novella Mountain Man's Winter Beauty is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity firefighter romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

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

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

Forged in Ruin & Turmoil by Kiana I. Alexandria

Fans of Powerless by Lauren Robert’s, Throne of Glass by Sarah j Maas & Crave by Tracey Wolf will love this thought provoking, fast paced romantasy novel. Strength. Heartache. Betrayal. Reyna was born a drudge—voiceless and invisible in the ruthless Blood Kingdom, where power is everything, and love is a dangerous weakness. Where she’s spent her life enduring cruelty, but when the High Council commits an unforgivable act, Reyna finally breaks. Escaping with nothing but her pain and determination, she flees into the unknown. Welcome to Ellyshia—a land full with power, danger, and fractured alliances. Reyna struggles to survive in a land that feels just as cruel as the one she left behind. But fate isn’t done with her. Captured by a cold, duty-bound fae prince with emerald eyes and a brooding temper, Reyna finds herself torn between fury and something far more dangerous—hope. While her heart still carries the scars from a love ripped from her grasp, new feelings begin to spark where she least expects them. As war brews and ancient enemies rise, Reyna must confront the truth about who she is and what she’s willing to fight for. Loyalties will be tested, blood will be spilled, and secrets buried in the shadows will come to light. Will she rise and answer fates call—or be consumed by the vengeance she’s carried for too long?

Love Mediation by D.C. Emerson

Love. Four seemingly innocuous letters that have caused James a lot of grief. Growing up, he thought he had his mom and dad’s love, and his first boyfriend had said lots of pretty words—“love" included. But when push came to shove, the only one whose love stuck around was his mom. And yes, he knows how pathetic that sounds, especially given that his mom is now busier than ever, happily planning Valentine’s Day for her two partners. Things are changing, though. James also has a beloved partner. A man he’s ready to introduce to his mom, and maybe even say those terrifying three words to… He just has to make it perfect. Leon, on the other hand, is far from perfect, and has no plans to try and be anything other than what he is: the office bad boy who is finally facing his ADHD head on…while also reckoning with the fact that he's head over heels for his ridiculous, adorable boyfriend. With the help of new friends and his loveable cat Yarmen, he’s sure everything will work out just fine. Love Mediation is the third novella in the Conflict Mediation series. The series is MM romance novella with trans rep and follows James and Leon as they explore their relationship, form new, long-lasting friendships, and dote on everyone’s favorite cat, Yarmen.

Conflict Resolution by D.C. Emerson

James: James really thought he and Leon left all their struggles behind at the haunted house. His mom is healthy and happy, dating not one but two wonderful people, and James’ own relationship is off to a great start. Unfortunately, as the year draws to a close, James comes face-to-face with a new obstacle: intimacy. While James is by no means a stranger to physical intimacy, it’s been a long time since he had to introduce someone to his parts and preferences. Taking this next step in their relationship comes with lots of conversations…and James wouldn’t call himself an expert conversationalist. Leon: Well, it’s been quite a year. Going from enemies to friends to soon-to-be lovers with James has been a journey, but Leon wouldn’t trade a second of it. What he could do without is the dual diagnosis of anxiety, which he discovered in the middle of a haunted house, and ADHD, which James’ office subordinates noticed before any of Leon’s therapists did. He really thought he’d gotten all his self-discovery out of the way as a teen, but it seems there’s always room to grow. At least this time he won’t be doing it alone. Conflict Resolution is a steamy MM romance novella with trans rep about self-discovery, growth, New Year’s resolutions, and, of course, lots of snuggles with a very needy cat. This is the second novella in a series of novellas following the same couple through various stages of their journey toward a happy-ever-after. This book focuses primarily on the exploring intimacy stage, so if that’s not your vibe, skip to the next novella, Love Mediation, for more James and Leon. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.

Haunted Mediation by D.C. Emerson

It’s been six months since workplace rivals James and Leon were sent to conflict mediation, only to end up in couple's counseling. Since then, they’ve become friends, and James would even go so far as to call them best friends. Which is great. Truly. James is so grateful for their lunch dates and weekend hangouts...even if his feelings for Leon moved way past platonic months ago. What matters is his mom is doing better now. She’s been in remission for almost a full year and is becoming increasingly independent—right in time for her all-time favorite holiday: Halloween. All James has wanted for years is for her to be healthy enough to enjoy the small things in life, like having her new “friends” over for scary movies and pumpkin flavored treats. So why does he feel so lost and aimless now? He knows he should talk to Leon about it. Halloween night doesn’t seem like the right time, though, especially not when they get tricked into visiting a house of horrors. If James can get through it, maybe then they can talk, even if doing so feels scarier than anything they’ll face in the haunted house. Haunted Mediation is an MM novella with trans rep, featuring a troublesome neighbor, a needy cat, and a Haunted House. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.

Conflict Mediation by D.C. Emerson

James was doing just fine at work, minding his own business and avoiding his long-time nemesis, Leon, at all costs. Unfortunately, upper management has other plans for them, and that’s how James finds himself spending a miserable evening at conflict mediation with Leon. Leon has worked hard to get where he is today, and he doesn’t need his annoying coworker James ruining that for him. He’s ready to grit his teeth through conflict mediation if that means he gets to keep his job and go about his life. Unfortunately, there must have been a mix-up in the office because James and Leon find themselves in a couples counseling session instead. Will they be able to get through the session with their jobs, and their grudges for each other, intact? Community Reviews

Falling For the Trickster: A Villainous Twist on Rumpelstiltskin & The Goose Girl by Lucy Tempest

Rumpelstiltskin meets The Goose Girl. An opportunistic maid. A manipulative faerie. A gilded deal that binds them both. Ottoline has had enough. After years of enduring Princess Gertrude’s cruelty, the maid’s patience snaps during their voyage to the foreign kingdom of Orcage, where the princess is to marry the crown prince to settle a royal debt. There, she crosses paths with a silver-haired, silver-tongued man with a penchant for deals and deception. Cunning and Ambitious, fae nobleman Lord Roderick von Ravenstock offers Ottoline the opportunity of a to switch places with her tormentor and claim the life of a princess. With a snap of his fingers, she is set to live the life she had dreamed of at the glimmering court of Orcage...until its superstitious king demands she fulfill her kingdom's debt by turning everything into gold. Trapped by her own masquerade, Ottoline turns to Roderick again, and he offers to save her, in exchange for a kiss. One kiss. One favor. One step closer to ruin. As the king’s demands escalate, so do Roderick’s bargains, each adding another layer to his plot against the royal family, and drawing her deeper into a deadly game of magic and court intrigue. But when the king’s greed spirals beyond control, Ottoline has no choice but to escape into Faerie where she falls from one monster’s grasp into the next. Risking his plans, Roderick saves her and, as she recovers under his watchful gaze, the forced proximity begins to crack their defenses, revealing who they are underneath their roles as the trickster and the fraud. Villains in the lives of others, but heroes of their own stories. Together, they plot one last con to bring the king to his knees. But nothing ever goes to plan, especially when hearts are on the line.Falling For the Trickster is the first book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

The Forgotten Five: Levelling up Together by Anka B. Troitsky

Fantasy novella inspired by games and their players In a world fractured by magic and time, I, the humble storyteller, find myself piecing together a tale I can scarcely believe. It begins with a halfling bard named Digram, whose discovery of a forgotten melody sets him and his companions on a dangerous quest. The dwarf Beryl, the human noble Minelira, and the elven warrior Lord Vaelior all carry their secrets, scars, and simmering tensions into this perilous journey. Together, they brave forests alive with menace, tunnels steeped in shadow, and caves where trolls plot their next meal. The magic rings promise a wish fulfilled, but as I uncover their history, I see how much more dangerous it is to seek what lies within one’s deepest heart. Perhaps I am no more than a scribe to their adventure—but if you’re reading this, you too are caught in its spell.

Signals + Sentiments: A Heartstrings & Coffee Beans Novel by Noah Bodie

When Max Alexander’s best friend moves overseas, the last thing he expects is to open his apartment door to Lucas Campbell—the boy who made his teenage years a living hell. Now, adults and unexpected roommates, Max and Lucas, are trapped in close quarters by a signed lease and a history neither of them has healed from. Max is an art student who survives on rigid routines, sensory control, and silence. Lucas is a writer carrying family obligations, guilt, and a past he’s never been able to explain. As the days pass, old wounds resurface alongside unexpected tenderness, and both are forced to face who they were and who they've become. Healing isn’t loud, forgiveness isn’t clean, and love ... doesn’t always arrive the way you expect it to.

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

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

Visionary Investigations: Dead And Back Again #1.5 by C. Rae D'Arc

Three Teammates, Three Cases, and a Touch of Magic In the Noir city of Shigaqua, Truth Locke solves crime with her magical ability to Read into people's lives through their palms. After making a name for herself as a private investigator, she now heads her own agency, Visionary Investigations. Her rag-tag teammates include Nita Incog—an amnesiac with the personality and skills of a fighter robot, and Aeron Spade—a young investigator who visits the dead in his sleep. Truth must keep Nita and Aeron from bringing out the worst in each other while making sense of her own relationship with her best friend, Michael (Micro) Johnson. Maneuvering between mob bosses and drug dealers, Truth and her team must solve the Cases of a serial killer who steals victims' shoes, the murder of a close friend with a twisted crime scene, and an undead victim who had a seemingly impossible heart attack.

Vanilla Hour by Neer Ya

Can the heart forgive what memory cannot? Between dusk and dawn lies the Vanilla Hour, that fragile moment when memory and reality blur, and the past comes knocking in the scent of rain and old love. Dr. Nandini Yadav has rebuilt her life from the ruins of trauma: a brilliant geochemist, a devoted mother, a woman who has survived what should have broken her. But when an unexpected reunion draws her back to the storm-swept coast of Goa and the man whose shadow lives in her daughter’s smile, she must finally confront the truth she has buried for decades. Spanning continents and generations, Vanilla Hour is a haunting and luminous story of love, loss, and consequence, where the heart’s geology is mapped in golden seams but riven with fault lines. From the rain-soaked streets of Delhi to the neon quiet of Tokyo, it explores what it means to survive, to forgive, and to rediscover the courage to live without armor. Equal parts romantic suspense and literary thriller, this is a deeply human tale of mothers and daughters, of memory and mercy, and of the fragile beauty that emerges when we stop running from our past and choose, instead, to step back into the light. Find out what happens when the ghosts of love refuse to fade.

Touch of Clandestiny by Catie O'Neill

Some secrets are meant to be kept. Some powers are meant to break free. Behind the impenetrable walls of a fortress-like castle, a princess harbors magic that makes even her father, the king, tremble. Billed as a spoiled brat and kept locked away from the world, Cecilia never questioned why she must remain in the shadows. Until now. When a mysterious ghostly stag appears at the castle walls, possessed by a dark and forbidden magic, the carefully constructed barriers around her begin to crack. Her father assigns his top guard—Captain Thomas Lovelace—to keep her in line. Amidst a world of swirling secrets, it may be the King’s biggest mistake. Cecilia and Thomas begin to uncover the mysteries long buried in the hopes of finding any way they can to save their people and the Kingdom of Revell. Along the way, they discover the involvement of the Original Gods thought to have disappeared generations ago. Together, they must decide which is more dangerous: the wild magic threatening to take down the eight kingdoms, or the power within her fighting to break out? In this spicy fantasy romance, one woman's journey to self-discovery threatens to unravel a kingdom built on fear. The most dangerous person in any kingdom isn't always the one with the crown—sometimes, it's the one who's finally discovered her worth.

Til Dust Do Us Part by Catie O'Neill

Every story has a villain. But would you know if the murderer was someone close to you? After the death of her mother, fire witch Anna Leighis decides to finally take up her duty as head of the Leighis Legacy: becoming the healer of Dracht. Believing the town is now safe, she arrives at her family’s Chateau, which had remained abandoned for the past forty years. Her late Aunt Astrid, whom she had never met, was the last member to reside there until she was forced to run for her life during the Dracht Purge: her hometown’s persecution of Witches. When dead bodies begin turning up without their eyeballs, Anna learns that Dracht is not the haven she thought it was. Thrust into aiding the investigation by the handsome Constable Sheehan, she is introduced to the Triumvirate – the magical leadership trio of the town, including their youngest warlock, Killian. Feeling pulled to both men while searching for answers about her Aunt, whose death is too mysterious for her liking, she agrees to work with them to uncover the killer…as long as they don’t find her first. In this magical game of cat and mouse, prophecies, feelings, and revelations blur the lines between right and wrong. Because in a world of witches, warlocks, and murder, perspective is everything—and sometimes, the most terrifying discoveries are not about others, but are about ourselves. A wickedly twisty spicy fantasy romance mixed with spellbinding mystery, where nothing is black and white…except maybe the magic.

Masks and Mishaps by Rebecca Kinkade

Essie Romero made a plan: graduate debt free and land a cutthroat banking job. Masked and anonymous, this coed by day and camgirl by night almost has it all. Unfortunately for Essie, she never saw Dalton Cavendish coming (which is surprising, honestly, because this six-foot-five snack of a man is impossible to miss). Dalton has no plans. Dalton is a hot mess—emphasis on hot—but a mess, nevertheless. This charismatic finance bro’s “work hard, play hard” lifestyle breeds chaos—chaos Essie can’t avoid now that her good friend Dalton is going to be her sort-of stepbrother…and coworker at DC’s top investment bank. Luckily, nobody can handle chaos like Essie…until an evening of margaritas, mistaken identities, and mishaps leads to Essie and Dalton hooking up and accidentally livestreaming it. It’s a nightmare—until the tips pour in, and Essie convinces Dalton to join her streams as a mysterious, masked camboy. Working on finance by day and filming at night—and with their parents’ wedding less than a month away—Essie and Dalton both have to stick to the plan: camming is strictly business. But when their bank faces collapse, Dalton and Essie are pulled into the deal of a lifetime and all plans go out the window… …except for one: Dalton’s not-so-secret plan to finally make the camgirl of his dreams love him back.

A Portrait For Tomorrow by Raynarde

After a failed stint in college, Gerald Waller is a reclusive lion unhappy with his static life. Buried are his desires of being an artist like his late mother, along with the prospect of finding love. When chance connects him with Michael, an optimistic fox with a penchant for the guitar, Gerald begins to see life with a fresh perspective and optimism. With renewed inspiration, Gerald resurrects an ambitious painting project and falls in love with Michael. However, life's fast and unexpected curveballs overturn Gerald's life and shakes his faith. Balancing between caring for his lover's health, his strained relationship with his alcoholic father, and progress on his painting, Gerald wonders how he can march forward with all he's learned and remain hopeful. Intimate and philosophical, A Portrait For Tomorrow is a hopeful story celebrating the wonders of life and the precious people we encounter.

The Tengu And The Angel by Alina Capella

Kunio is eighteen years old and running away from home, if you can call it that. The apartment he in lives with his mother hasn't felt like home since his grandpa died, and for the past ten years of his life, he's faced constant abuse from his alcoholic mother, who openly resents him and regrets having him. Unable to cope with her abuse anymore, he journeys up north in search of a fresh start. Nathaniel has just gotten out of a toxic relationship with his ex, Theo, but Theo continues to rule Nathaniel's life with an iron fist, using his mental illness and trauma as excuses to manipulate him and keep him isolated from his friends. When Nathaniel takes Kunio in, the two of them bond over their shared trauma and become close friends--But it's not long before they develop feelings for each other. Can the two of them learn to put their pasts aside, and make their relationship work?

Night Of The Blue Moon by Alina Capella

Some people live double lives. Ariel Gianapoulou lives a triple life. By day, she’s a meek, unassuming nobody who lives alone in a messy apartment. On the internet, she’s SeleneDev, the smash-hit indie game developer whose RPGs about magical girls have taken the world by storm. By night, she’s Blue Moon, a magical girl chosen by the titan Phoebe to retrieve Hades’s bracelet from Orpheus and Eurydice, supervillains who are killing people in the hopes of buying their son, Brooklyn, back from the dead. Aided by her partner, Red Sun, Ariel will stop at nothing to defeat the villainous duo. Ariel knows better than anyone that Brooklyn doesn’t deserve a second chance at life—Three years ago, he raped her at a party, and crushed her dreams of becoming a police officer. There are a lot of people on Orpheus’s hit-list, and things get especially complicated when Ariel’s crush, Solana, turns out to be one of the people he wants dead. Will Ariel be able to stop Orpheus and Eurydice, win Solana’s heart, and keep her triple life secret?

Faithfully Yours Mozart: Kindness & Compassion (audiobook) by Faith Jacobs

From indie Author Faith Jacobs (Head creative of the Audiodrama Chaotic Idiots, Tir Na Noc Brotherhood, and of Faithfully Yours Mozart: The Courtship) comes a prequel to the mainline love story that would one day define Wolfgang Amadeus’s life as he knew it. Come along dearest listeners, before his time in Vienna, one night would shift the tides of his life as he knew it forever, long before the courtship, long before Vienna, there was the journey to breaking free that didn’t quite go as planned.... --- 1777, Young Mozart has been in Mannheim for some time now, yet without any success to his name, he finds himself in a city without a patron, without close friends, and only the best support from his mother. Whilist attending a grand autumn ball given by his Father’s companion, Herr Marchand, Wolfgang encounters an unexpected light amidst much strife and youthful tides of growing pains.

Of Sky and Sea by K. M. Mohr

The Child of Sky and Sea. Born of a union between an angel and a mermaid. Foretold to break the curse of a mad Fae queen. But there’s a catch… For twenty years Seraph has been a captive of her fate, believing her life is not her own. Her isolation both haven and prison. And yet, safety is an illusion, for her destiny is bound to the world. When the nation hiding her is betrayed from within, she is forced to run. While traversing the lands of Lorralei, overcoming the plights of her journey becomes only one challenge. Surviving the guardians escorting her is another. And as the end of the road draws closer, war over her blood swells on the horizon. Leaving Seraph’s heart divided— Save the world. Or save herself.

Hi-Voltage by Raz Fox

“Voltage is a multicultural British band from France, Japan, South Korea, and Uruguay, who got their start in the London underground metal scene in 2002. Driven by the creative vision of their vocalist, Zana, and their composer and guitarist, Reno, Voltage has shot into fame over the last decade. With a unique blend of influences and sounds, Voltage has consistently claimed the top of the worldwide Metal charts, and has also been gaining attention outside of the metal scene over the last few years—” Voltage has always been Luka Fischer’s favorite band, even before Reno and he had a chance encounter a decade ago— However, that doesn’t mean he should uproot his life just because Reno posted online looking for him, by name, with his photo, right? But, Reno doesn’t believe in coincidences and he’s positive that if Luka has haunted his memory for a decade, then they shouldn’t ignore the chance to find him again. Spanning across America to England, Luka and Reno take a chance to follow a dream. Despite insecurities, anxieties, a too-busy schedule, pressure from the industry, and some pretty crazy fans, it still might just be worth it.