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Once Upon a Dark October by Jessie Thomas All curses made in blood must be broken with blood. Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite. Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformationârealizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath. While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal. But Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken. |
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Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin To break the thread of weaverâs fate, those who witness must weave anew⊠Mael Nguyen doesnât believe in fate, but he does believe in magic. His entire life revolves around the study of the arcaneâspells and rituals, potions and illusions. As far as Mael is concerned, all he needs is a book in one hand and magic in the other. Anything outside of his bookshop, hidden away in the streets of New Orleans, isnât worth his attention. But when a strange human stumbles into his life and hires him for a job, bringing along his blinding smile and curious magic, Mael finds that Fate is just as dangerous as Magic. Leo Greyson refuses to believe in fate, but he desperately wishes to believe in magic. As a small time rockstar, full time radio host, Leo has never been one to shy away from experience and adventure. Heâs always lived his life on the edgeâalways moving, never standing still. But when his twin sister is murdered, and he gains custody of her strangely magical daughter, that constant motion comes to a screeching halt. Instead, he is launched into an entirely new world hidden right beneath his nose, and Leo finds himself wondering if Fate really does exist, and if sheâs led him right where he needs to be. A queer take on magic, murder, and romance, fans of The Dresden Files, Howls Moving Castle, and A Marvelous Light will find family, acceptance, and a fantastical new world to get lost in within the pages of Under the Dragon Moon, the first book in the Belamour Archives Saga. |
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Of Blood and Aether by Harper Hawthorne A rare conduit of Light, drawn to the Shadows. A spymaster who canât seem to stay away. For as long as she can remember, Arken Asher has been searching for answersâdriven by an insatiable hunger, a need to understand the meaning behind her dangerous arcane secrets. Sheâs finally taken that leap into the unknown, leaving her simple life behind to attend the Arcane Studium: a prestigious college of magickal arts & sciences nestled in the heart of Sophrosyne: the City of the Gods. As the Scouting & Reconnaissance Captain of the Elder Guard, Kieran Vistarii deals in Shadows, blood and subterfuge. Scarred by his past but dedicated to safeguarding Sophrosyneâs future, Kieranâs self-imposed isolation is easily masked by charm and cocksure energy. Strange disappearances have kept his cadre busy as of late, and yet the captain finds himself sidetracked, distracted by the inexplicable allure of a certain golden-eyed Conduit and her curious mind. They both know better than to get involved, but the Fates have other plans. The dark threads of prophecy were woven long ago, and the ties that bind just might be what it takes to mend these broken, star-crossed souls⊠or what forges a deadly bond that could damn them all. |
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Pray For Him by Tyler Battaglia A psychic priest is thrown headfirst into a battle of faith and love against the forces of Hell when his dearest friend becomes possessed. Father Isaias Flores may not have much, but he has his faithâand his dear friend Hector to keep him anchored when he is mired in self-doubt. But when Hectorâs daughter, Violet, comes to Isaias with concerns that her father is acting strangely, Isaiasâs doubts only increase, now with no one to keep him steadfast. For Hector seems to be possessed by something darker than even the traumas of the past, and Violet has nowhere else to turn to save her only family. This is a problem that may require divine interventionâthe rites of exorcism. Unsure of his place in the church, doubting his gifts from God, and struggling to make sense of his feelings for the man he had thought was only a friend, Isaias isnât sure if he is strong enough to save anyoneâs soul from damnation. For what can one man do against the torments of Hell? |
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The Flowered Blade by Taylor Hubbard Crown Prince, the elf Silvyr Quilen is the family disappointment. His father, High King Keryth Quilen of Athowen, wanted a son to follow in his image. A warlord who rules with no regard for those around him and will do anything to maintain his power, the king finds Silvyr's desire to spend his days in the flowers and libraries to be pathetic and useless. Even so, Silvyr strives to receive his father's approval. On a diplomatic journey to Xeatia, where he was meant to collect taxes and return with a report on their financial situation, Silvyr is suddenly forced to confront the consequences of his fathers actions when the Orcs of Ghizol attack his caravan. Chief Brokil of the Ghizol Orcs has been tasked with leading and protecting his people. For years he sacrificed and waged war to ensure the people who voted for him to lead could live in peace. For that reason, the risk was worth the reward. With the approval of the Ghizol council of Elders, Brokil executes his plan: Kidnap the Prince of Athowen, Silvyr Quilen, and send their ultimatum to the King. Leave Ghizol alone, or have his heir be killed. Keeping Silvyr as his ward, Brokil finds that while the prince was the most annoying person he's ever met, he is also nothing like his father who carries the name Tyrant King. Absolutely bewildered and exhilarated, Silvyr and Brokil are forced to confront themselves and each other while the looming threat of Ghizol's demands hang over them. |
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The Stars Want Blood by Morgan Lawson When a summer's wind whips through the spring gardens, when air meets earth, a fate that has long since been written amongst the stars will unfurl itself⊠There was only so long that anybody could handle living while disregarding every single piece of advice from their psychiatrist, and Hazel Culhane was reaching their breaking point. Hoping to recharge themself enough to handle the challenge of getting better, they tuck themself into a hidden cabin for a week. It wasnât a bad idea, but they couldnât have predicted that something would be waiting for them in those woods, something significantly more frightening than their own crumbling sanity⊠All of the Constellites â the celestial gods borne from the stars of the zodiac constellations â knew what fate had planned for them. It was the same in each generation of them. And as the Virgo god, Ezra Thompson should have been no exception. He doesnât know why his Gemini counterpart came along so late, or why their newfound divinity doesnât fit them, but it doesnât take him very long to figure out that the quirky and unstable Hazel â the Constellite of Geminorum â is still his fate. Fate has given them love, but with it, destruction. Will they be able to rewrite fate and save themselves? Or will they get pulled into the event horizon that fate has waiting for them? ... and it will demand blood. |
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The Cat and the Brat by D.T. Brandt What happens when unstoppable grump meets immovable sunshine? Samiel is trying to keep his head down, but the other castle guards are keen to remind him he isn't worthy of the job he'll probably inherit - his father's as captain and royal confidant. Of course, âkeeping his head downâ is not how they'd put it; Samiel's defensiveness is spiky, and keeps even his most likely allies at a distance. When Prince Rapuska of Tyria, a Felien, arrives at the guard corps as a diplomatic envoy to Corniss, his highest priority is getting the lay of the land. His most readily available source of information there is his new the enigmatic Samiel. Even with this chance at a fresh start, Samiel tries to keep Rapuska away so the princeâs reputation isnât tarnished by association with him. Rapuska sees Samielâs fire differently, howeverâas a keenness and conviction that may be exactly why heâs still positioned for the future he is. Their mutual concern starts small, but when Samiel is sent to accompany Rapuska back home to Tyria for the Queenâs birthday they find the whole capital has entered Felien heat season and their feelings for each other are pushed to their limits. The Cat and the Brat is a cisbi M / transgay M fantasy romance novel, with a nonbinary AMAB author. |
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Those Summer Nights by D.T. Brandt Brandon, a fast food worker with a lead in Victoria, BC's Pride production of Hello, Dolly!, has had nothing but swings and misses in the city's dating scene. He's settled for chatting with his former high school crush when he comes around for his breakfast and coffee every morning. Xander is now a history teacher up Vancouver Island in Duncan and assistant coach for a successful local Under-18 baseball program, the Malahat Mashers. His chats with Brandon brighten his mornings, but memories of failing to get signed to a major league team (and his old independent league summer flings) always haunt him on his hour-long commute from Victoria. Living in Duncan might work out if the rent, the roommates, and the accommodations are right. When Xander and Brandon finally meet somewhere other than the drive-thru, they knock the chemistry out of the park and the whole summer lays ahead for them⊠once Pride and baseball season wind down. Even then, real life has a pesky way of always lurking around the corner. As the next school year waits on-deck, is a little summer lovin' enough for Brandon and Xander to become hopelessly devoted? |
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A reluctant Heir. A vengeful King. An alliance that could ruin them both. Adeline never wanted the crown, yet she remains bound by it. A daughter of the Snow Queen, she must uphold the sparkling reputation of her kingdom until she earns the right to campaign for the throne - or the right to concede it. But when royal tensions split the frozen lake at the heart of the kingdom, a dark King claws his way free of its icy depths. And history is rewritten. Kai has spent an eternity beneath the ice, with nothing but his rage to keep him warm. Now his only path to freedom lies in a false alliance with the descendants of his enemy. Deceiving them might be simple, even satisfying - if it werenât for the lovely, roguish Princess Adeline and the warmth in her eyes when looks at him. As though she wants him. As though she trusts him. As though he could want and trust her too. With loyalties divided and secrets buried in ancient ice, Adeline and Kai must decide how far theyâll go to protect the futures of their people. Is a kingdom worth the price of a frozen heart? |
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The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen An autistic necromancer, his undead love, and a covenant that must be broken. Oliver Barlow never knew what happened to his parents. With a note from his mother as his only lead, Oliver had given up hope of ever learning the truth. But when the dead start rising in the town of Aldorhaven, Oliver jumps at the chance to take the case if it means he can investigate the last place his parents were seen alive. Felipe Galvan would like to be anywhere but Aldorhaven. Between protecting Oliver and Gwen, dealing with distrustful townsfolk, and an unexpected letter from his estranged parents, Felipe is already stretched thin. But when he is suddenly plagued by whispers from the woods and nightmares from his past, Felipe fears he is only one misstep away from becoming the monster he was meant to be. Far more sinister things than the dead lurk in Aldorhaven's woods. A centuries old bargain has been broken, and the only thing that can satisfy it is Oliver's blood. Together, Oliver, Felipe, and Gwen must finish what Oliver's parents started or they too will be ensnared by their devil's bargain |
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Tangled in Ribbons by Penny Heart On a trip that goes awry from the start,... Vicky and Michelle, best friends since childhood, rented a cabin for a last hurrah together before Michelle's upcoming nuptials. The day of their trip, Michelle receives an email with proof her fiance cheated on her. The two women head to the cabin anyway to escape the chaos of a cancelled wedding. Neither of them expected the cabin to already occupied by three sexy guys. Vicky's snowed in with three hot guys... When Michelle's ex shows up unexpectedly to set the story straight and asks to meet her at a nearby hotel, Vicky gets snowed in with the three men, where things get even hotter! It starts out as happy fun times, but what happens when none of them want to let go? What else is she supposed to do to pass the time other than them? Read "Tangled in Ribbons" to find out if they salvage their friendships when jealousies, insecurities, and realities intrude in this snowed in, why choose adventure. This is full consensual, why choose erotic romance with MFMM and limited MM action. For a list of sexual activities included in this book, please check out https://www.pennyheartbooks.com/#books This story was previously released on Kindle Vella. This version has been modified to include additional content, including additional spicy scenes and other material to further develop the characters and story. Contains extensive explicit sexual language. |
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Snowed in at The Sunny Day CafĂ© by A.L. Davidson Eli is a fallen angel living his second life in the quaint town of New Eden, where every day is filled with magic and cheer in his bakery, The Sunny Day CafĂ©. Housing a near-obsessive love for the holidays, Eli goes all out with the decorations and cookies as he awaits the arrival of Christmas. This Christmas is anything but sweet, however, as Eliâs tree is lacking presents and his little shop is empty for the second holiday season in a row. To make matters worse, the furnace is on the fritz and a blizzard is on the way. Just when he didnât think his Christmas could be any crappier, in walks Des, his handsome (literal) demon of an ex-boyfriend. Des offers to fix up Eliâs furnace in exchange for a cappuccino and some company, but as the storm picks up and the winds grow stronger, a power outage drapes The Sunny Day CafĂ© in darkness! The exes soon find themselves snowed in and unable to do much more than chat and huddle together for warmth. Eli and Des are forced to face the unresolved issues that drove a wedge between them years prior, and the chilly Christmas Eve may just turn into one hell of a holiday theyâll never forget. |
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Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence by A.L. Davidson Dakota and Ed Hollander have lived quiet, isolated lives deep in the Smoky Mountains for nearly a decade without much trouble â despite the pious locals who scrutinize their way of life. Everything changes overnight when a brutal civil war decimates the United States, leaving behind a wasteland of decay and ruin in its wake... Now, in a world recovering from famine and war, Dakota and Ed fight to prepare themselves for the harsh winter that will soon arrive on their doorstep. But Dakotaâs sense of safety is rattled when lost travelers come knocking, and everything Ed told them about the world post-disaster is scrutinized as the secrets hidden in the cellar desperately claw their way to the surface. The carnage of Edâs devotion is strewn across the snow in blood red streaks, and Dakota finds themself making drastic choices that threaten to strip away their humanity like flesh off a carcass. At the end of the world, love is written with the blade of an axe, and the most haunting plague of all may just be manâs own hubris. |
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In Which a Demon King Does Not Have a Romantic Interest in His Human Gardener by Rori Thornton Demon King Jurao returns from his successful thirty-year Union Campaign and discovers something amiss - the castle gardens have a secret caretaker. Using his authority over the sentient plants, he discovers the gardener is... a human! But after hearing the man out, Jurao decides to appoint Braelin as the official Royal Gardener for all his hard work. Now he just needs to figure out why everyone seems to believe he is romantically interested in the human... |
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2023 Page Turner Book Awards - FINALIST 2023 Wishing Shelf Awards - FINALIST A healer on the run. A rebel knight after her heart. Will she betray him to save the England she loves? Eighteen-year-old healer Aliwyn is consigned to solitude after medical failures leave her alienated from her village. With a rebellion against William the Conqueror rumbling on the horizon, she longs to practice her medicine in peace. But when she agrees to hide an orphaned Norman girl, Aliwyn is plunged into the bloody war over the fate of England â a war sheâs done her best to avoid. A daring escape from enemy arrows entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Faced with the insurgent army, she must make difficult choices about treating those she despises. Worst of all, Tobias's compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down. After she unravels the fiery secret underpinning the rebel army, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands and save England from sweeping destruction. Can she find the courage to fight for what she believes? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man sheâs vowed to defeat? Step into a riveting & magic-free YA fantasy adventure with an authentic historical setting and irresistible slow-burn romance. Set in medieval England rocked by the early introduction of gunpowder and populated by Celtic-inspired tribes, Healerâs Blade is a page-turning read thatâs perfect for fans of alternative history. If you like stories with high stakes, political intrigue, and nail-biting action but prefer them to be free from language and sexual content, grab Healer's Blade today! |
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The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world. |
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Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski The Princess Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass in this Breton legend-inspired fantasy debut brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance. Lilac TrĂ©cesson is a prisoner in her parents' castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father's decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming nobles bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst⊠Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever. She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest BrocĂ©liande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods. With only the protection of her inherited daggerâand unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her questâLilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it. This is the tale of a cursed princess, A crestfallen killer, The town that wants them to burn, And the witch who can save them both. |
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Forty years ago, the last standing city on Earth, known as Wonderland, changed. A corrupt government has taken control of the citizens through fear. Alice has lived quietly, careful to avoid any issues with the Red Party. A single night on the town changes everything. Alice will stop at nothing to save the people she loves. The Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, March Hare, and Caterpillar lead the Resistance, and now Alice must contend with the Red Party and her growing feelings for four men. |
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A Blend of Magic by Kate Kenzie A witch cannot exist on potions and tea alone. Hiding in the shadows, staunch singleton Willow Anderson is content running her successful business, The Enchanted Emporium. With Christmas days away, sheâs eager to exchange selling bespoke tea blends and spells for extended bubble baths and binge-watching festive movies snuggled next to her Maine Coon, Vincent. Nate never usually runs away from his problems, but drunk and disorientated, he finds himself in a small fishermanâs cottage in the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. After discovering his girlfriendâs affair, he is in no rush to return to the City. His wish for time alone in a Christmas-free zone comes true until an uninvited feline guest arrives. Neither Nate nor Willow want company, especially from each other, but they have little choice when concussion means they must spend at least twenty-four hours together. Sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. When darkness from Willowâs past returns and threatens to destroy all she has worked for, pursuing a love affair is the last thing she needs. With meddling ghosts and a teenage apprentice with her own matchmaking agenda, love and change are in the air. But can Willow face her fears, and the past, to capture the happiness she deserves? |
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Take Back Magic (Diamond Universe: Sierra Walker) by Casey Blair Earth's magic was stolen. She's taking it back. All Sierra Walker has ever wanted is magic, but the powerful mage who trained her as a child betrayed her, sending her back from a world full of magic to modern-day Seattle. So when he comes to her a decade later, Sierra glimpses an opportunity: She steals his wand, and with it, she begins to steal back magicâfor everyone. In magical combat Sierra's a force to be reckoned with, but she's still on her own, her access to magic handicapped, with an entire world of mages now trying their best to kill her rather than share power. So when Nariel, a dangerous demon lord, offers his assistance, she can't say no. But she also knows better than to trust her life, and her magic, to anyone else ever againâno matter how he ignites a part of her she'd thought long lost. But as they race around the world to bring magic back while fighting for their lives, Sierra realizes there may now be two things she can't bear to lose. Diamond Universe: Sierra Walker is a fast-paced, action-packed urban romantasy series spanning the modern world and also other worlds full of magic, with a shadow-wielding demon boyfriend and a heroine who never quits no matter the odds and just goes harder as they fight to change the universe for everyone. Expect the heat level to escalate dramatically in each book. |
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Creatures that Breathe (Vengeance and Vows Book 1) by M.L Chambers When prey ensnares predator, everyone burns Burdened with power ... He is known only as the Spymaster. A male with no name, no face, certainly no conscience. He thrives in the shadows as the realmâs foremost secret stealer. Emotion is something he discarded years ago, making him one of the most clear-eyed, ruthless, and least known members of the Kingsguard - a band of deadly warriors cursed to crave revenge. Charged with survival ⊠A lesser creature on the brink of extinction, Leniâs dealt with onerous males her entire life, sold by her father, betrothed to a depraved prince, forsaken by the king. Now, with an enemy hot on her tail, she seeks the only immortal capable of protecting her, not knowing how intensely sheâll be drawn to the steely spymaster. Neither can resist the desire searing between them, but every second spent together edges them closer to a fate far worse than death ⊠Featuring a tormented anti-hero, a cunning heroine, and a tangle of powerful creatures in a world where Zeus and his children are always watching, Creatures that Breathe is the first of an interconnected series with a happily ever after. |
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Motherly Stones by Merlina Garance Rish and Toni have been friends almost all their lives â despite Rishâs life long crush on her. When one day, Toni shows up excited to have been appointed to appraise the abandoned castle on Paicrich Island, off the coast by which Rish lives, he has a bad feeling and offers to go with her. Little did they expect the castle to have a life of its own⊠A dark, mysterious romance with bisexual and a-spec representation. |
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Paris at Nightfall by Merlina Garance In an early 20th century Paris emptied of its population and surveilled by the army, two men are trying to survive. Would that include falling in love? Jules has been surviving off of preserves he scavenges out in the city when he leaves his hideout at night. He never knew why one day, the Army hauled the whole townâs population into vans and evacuated the city. He only knows heâs the only one left behind. Or so he thought. When he runs into a blond aristocrat with nice hands on an outing, his world is turned upside down once again... The ebook is only available, for free, through the author's newsletter. |
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1973 â At 53 years old, Bill, hadnât expected to run into Bobby when he signed up for that medical convention in Houston. Fair to say they didnât exactly part on good terms last time. Twenty years later, is Bill ready to finally admit his feelings, his sexuality, and to gather his courage to conquer his old lover and friend once more? A second chance romance with flashbacks to young love, addressing the struggles of coming out in an unwelcoming environment and building the life you really want. |
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Mending Bones by Merlina Garance Claire, a Detective Inspector in her late forties, has known and worked with Estelle for many years. Ever since they met, it felt like there could have been something more there: Estelle's gentle flirting and compliments have been a constant in Claire's life, but her self confidence never allowed her to truly believe the other woman meant anything by it. Until one day, Claire breaks her leg and finds out soon after that Estelle has decided to retire from the police, at only 56. Something doesn't feel right there, but before Claire can begin to ask more questions, Estelle offers to take her away to her seaside cottage for a week. After all, with Claire on sick leave and Estelle retired, they both have the time. Surely a week of lazy mornings, too much food and wine, and walks through the countryside aren't enough to make Claire fall when sheâs resisted for so long? |
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John, 41, settles in Leicester after his divorce, with hopes of becoming the best version of himself as he builds a new life. He makes friends, starts doing yoga, and joins an RPG campaign. Only one day, he realises he might just have fallen in love with his best friend. Oops. In this slow paced tale of falling in love over time, follow these characters on their journey to self discovery and acceptance, and found family. This is a story about love in all its forms: friendship, romantic, the family we are born with, and the one we end up choosing. |
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The Flourishing by Merlina Garance When Andy Campbell, Detective Inspector in Leicester, gets assigned the case of Mr Parryâs disappearance, she expects to find nothing else than an umpteenth marriage ruined by a husband taking off with his mistress. Instead, she ends up investigating a murder case, and struggling to fight her attraction for Mrs Parry. When she realises the feelings are mutual, things definitely get complicated⊠|
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Of Snow and Sapphire by KC Silver The power of the Snow Court hangs in the balance; will love or duty prevail in the Undertaking? Ludelle, the newly crowned Queen of the Snow Court, is preparing for her first Undertakingâa yearly test from the Weather Gods. If she fails, her courtâs magic will not replenish and their frigid world will melt into a flood zone of starvation and death. Zimyn, Ludelleâs Captain of the Guard, lives with the knowledge Ludelle needs to place her people and her Court first. Though now he wonders if his presence is hurting or helping his Queen. So while Ludelleâs Undertaking looms, and her royal advisor pressures her to pick a husband of noble status, Zimyn considers resigning his lifelong post at his Queenâs side in an effort to make the decision easier on them both. And with the entire Snow Court at stake, Ludelle struggles to decide between her responsibility to her people and a promise kept within her heart. |
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Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton In the distant future of planet cracking , VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with a Synth musician, Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform, weaving their music around his heart. It seems there's a lot more to both Guin and to this case and Ryoma can't help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory. Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk romance with trans leads, inspired by Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell |
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Cleats, Corsets, and the Cutie by Ashish Rastogi One football star, one drag queen, and a pansexual. Eliotâs closet is crowded. Living one life is tough. Living three!? Eliot craves acceptance. He wants to show the world his flamboyance. Most of all, he yearns for a love that accepts the different parts of his life. The floodlights and the spotlights make him wary till he crosses paths with the Indian chef, Raghuvendra, with his âtutti-fruttiâ English, who speaks in the third person. Six months is long enough to make goo-goo eyes from across the stage. Eliot needs to make a move on the cuddle-worthy bear. But? What if he shows Raghu who he really is and all that he has worked for burns down? While his cleats and corsets are stored in the safety of different compartments of his life, Eliot must find a way to keep the cutie. |
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The Gilded Age Promise: Kopp Chronicles by Gregory Kopp The promise of the Gilded Age evokes a worldwide exhilarating time of technological advancement and economic expansion. American society is transforming from focusing on small rural farms to an urban one dominated by large corporations resulting in even more inequality between the wealthy and middle-class. Discriminatory segregation and immigration laws enacted by misguided and corrupt political leaders threaten to tarnish the American dream. Nevertheless, charismatic American women activists are generating a renewed impetus for womenâs rights through the alcohol temperance and womenâs suffragette movements. Meanwhile, turmoil in the Middle East forces the dashing British military intelligence agent, Richard Cordwell, to come out of retirement and embark on a secret mission for Her Majestyâs government. He encounters the beautiful French spy who stole his heart, and makes an astounding personal revelation! Buffeted by these Gilded Age events, an immigrant American family is determined to stand firm in their belief in the hope, freedom, and opportunity, of their adopted country. The words written by poet Emma Lazarus on the plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty express this belief: âGive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!â Enjoy the next volume in the sweeping Kopp Chronicles saga! |
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Wrath of the Never Queen by Storm Lomax A doomed prince with a monstrous curse. A sadistic king with a dark history. And the witch who will be his reckoning. Shivani, a talented witch, has so far avoided the annual Summoning. In her village, women are sent to the King each year and given six months to win the Princeâs heart and break his beastly curse. Anyone who can do so will be named Queen. No one has succeeded. Deep in debt and with the promise of a handsome reward, Shivaniâs father volunteers her for the Summoning. Shivani is drugged to dull her witchcraft and taken to the castle against her will. With no magic and no allies, Shivani attempts a desperate escape through her only window. When she falls, Prince Theo sees her in time to catch her. An unlikely friendship forms as Shivani and Theo realise they are as trapped as each other â Theo cursed to uncontrollably transform into a beast and Shivani with a six-month countdown to an execution. When Shivani finds a long-forgotten tunnel deep in the castle, she could leave the horrors of the Summoning and the cruel King behind. But it wouldnât save the Prince and it wouldnât free the imprisoned servants. Or Shivani could stay â if sheâs shrewd enough to decipher the curse before the executionerâs axe drops. |
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Miners of the Tempest by Penny Moss In the depths of the Tesera Mine, Oliverâs hope of finding Tau again fades with each passing day. Just as despair consumes him, his Sentinel returns, only a shadow of the mighty being he once was. Oliver swears revenge against those responsible, but thereâs no time to plan or savour being reunited, as a deadly mistake forces him and his friends to escape. With no other choice, and a weakened Tau, Oliver traces the steps of his missing teammate to war-torn lands. Heâs wholly unprepared to discover the toll exacted by mining for magic, and itâs worse than Oliver could have ever imagined. His hunger for revenge becomes a desperate need to put a stop to the atrocities committed, even if it means forming an alliance with an adversary. In a sea teeming with horrors and growing distrust among his friends, Oliver and Tau find solace only in each otherâs embrace. |
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Miners of the Mystics by Penny Moss Deep in the mountain where magic and mining coincide, penniless Oliver enlists as a Miner of the Mystics. The dream is unfathomable riches, the risk is injury or even death. A risk worth taking for just a glance at Sentinel Tau, an otherworldly being tasked with protecting the mountainâs inhabitants. Oliverâs luck plummets when he suffers a magical curse. Even a wayward touch could hurt him or his friends, alienating Oliver from everyone but Tau, whose healing magic he needs to survive. Oliver aches for an echo of his feelings behind the Sentinelâs expressionless maskâand discovers it in unexpected ways. When Oliver and his friends unearth a portal, the rarest artefact of all, he is plunged into a world of nightmares. There, he uncovers the gruesome origins of mining for the transmundane. The truth of what they might have unleashed upon their own world is only the beginning of a harrowing road Oliver stumbles down to be with Tau. A slow-burn dark fantasy m/m romance story. |
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Beneath the Indigo Sky by Rayne Hawthorne Namid I may not know where I come from, or who I am, but Iâve done my best to build a life for myself. I know a handful of people in town, I have a nice place to live, and I enjoy my job. I look just like everyone else. But I donât feel like everyone else, because I feelâŠeverything. The emotions of others get tangled with my own as they race through my heart and sink into my soul. They set my nerves on fire and rearrange my cells and spread across my skin until they consume me. Jayce I donât know how to explain what itâs like to lose half of your soul, to fall into grief so dark and relentless that you lose yourself. Thatâs what it feels like Iâve lost. Half of my soul. I donât want to do this. I donât want to try to fill in the gaps. I donât want to walk into rooms that are populated by memories. I donât want to hear the voice of a ghost echoing in my head. When the eccentric, introverted man who was found on the side of the road without any memories a decade ago takes pity on me and offers his help, for some reason, I find myself unable to say no. Even though I don't know him, when he's standing by my side, for one brief moment, I forget to hurt. Beneath the Indigo Sky is a 75000 word, MM, slow burn, contemporary romance filled with angst, grief, found family, longing, forests, road trips, stargazing, sweet dates, and of course a HEA. There are also minor paranormal elements that are left deliberately open to reader interpretation |
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Devil by the Tail by Caroline Lavoie In a small town in the Rockies, a mountain looms: the Devilâs Tail. According to local lore, a wicked trickster haunts its slopes, and whoever glimpses it is cursed to lose someone they love. Alex refuses to believe sheâs been cursed. She only ever saw the beast in her nightmares. Even if itâs real, it canât hurt her because she doesnât let anyone get too close to her heart. That is, until Amka moves to town. In no time, Alexâs carefully built walls begin to crumble. But what if Alexâs fear of loss is a curse of its own? There are a hundred ways to die on the Devilâs Tail, but only one way to break the curse. The path is treacherous, and the beast is waiting. |
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He Hears Death by A.L. Davidson He Hears Death tells the morbid tale of an embalmer who can no longer hear the world as it is, but as Death does. Cursed with the ability to hear the voices of the deceased who linger in his quiet hometown, The Fool finds himself struggling to hold onto his sanity. Reeling from the murder of his Lover four years prior, he spends his days fixing up the dead and the nights sewing up his own damaged soul amidst the anxiety and loneliness in his life. His only safe haven is his apartment - the place where his Lover's spirit still lingers - but the trek home each night is a dangerous one indeed... A violent, malicious entity stalks the halls of the high-rise, and every time The Fool steps through his doorway he risks it being his last. Wrestling with his future, his desire for reunion, and his spiraling anxiety, The Fool's story is one of grief, loneliness, and lost love. His near-obsessive romance with the literal ghost of his past grows ever stronger as his inability to move on throttles his will to live until all hell breaks loose. When an unforeseen crisis hits the neighboring city, The Fool finds himself trapped within the confines of The Tower, forcing him to face not only the hell-bent monstrosity in the hall and Death's presence in the shadows, but the finality of life as he knew it. |
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Blessed by the Cupid Distribution System by Robin Jo Margaret Local loner and hopeless romantic Iris Clarke is single, again, on Valentineâs Day. During the annual Cupid speech before the grand loverâs day, Jaya comes across Irisâs file. Unable to look away from those beautiful brown eyes, Jaya chooses Iris for her imminent mission. When the winged woman shows up at Irisâs house and tells her she is going to find her a partner for the day, Iris canât believe it. With some tweaks to their official agreement, the two find themselves wandering the city to complete Irisâs list of dream dates, so that she can get the opportunity to finally experience the romance she always dreamed of. But what will happen if the feelings between the two of them become a little too real, and their agreement is only supposed to last one day? |
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Crooked Queen by C. H. Jeffrey A spicy enemies to lovers romance fantasy novel! Ever since Celeste's father, the king, has passed away, the kingdom has fell into ruins under her mother's reign. When Celeste learns of her true identity, will she do what it takes to save her people from destruction, no matter the cost? Even if it means losing everything? Find out in Crooked Queen |
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The Shadowbearer's Curse by Jasmyn Morning The first installment of "The Shadowbearer Trilogy"; a tale of courage, love and revenge. A Queer (M/M/M) Dark Fantasy Romance, Book 1: "The Shadowbearer's Curse" In an enchanting forest, Micah crosses paths with a mysterious man, igniting an unexpected romance that challenges all of his preconceived notions about his identity. But as their bond deepens, they face an ominous presence that threatens to change their destinies forever. With each step closer to the truth, Micah finds himself increasingly entangled in a maze of betrayal and forbidden desires, compelling him to grapple with the essence of loving without conditions. |
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Rock Star Romance by Melina Druga A college grad still reeling from an amicable breakup falls for a rock star whoâs given up on love in this contemporary, second-chance romance. A year after she and her now-ex-boyfriend were forced into a devastating decision when life took them â literally â in different directions, Cassandra Economos is done with men. Or so she thinks. Just as Cassieâs getting bored and starting to think she needs to get back out there, she meets Nat, and everything changes. Dramatic Sneezer frontman Nathaniel Hardwick hasnât dated anyone for months, ever since he caught his girlfriend cheating. Weeks away from the launch of the bandâs next tour, however, he finds himself falling for his sisterâs friend. Nat isnât Cassieâs type, but something about him â something more than mere rock star charisma â draws her in. Soon, sheâs breaking all her long-standing relationship rules for him. With tour dates looming on the horizon, Cassieâs already seeing parallels to her last breakup. But what happens if this is more than just a summer fling? Jam-packed with sizzling scenes and post-Y2K nostalgia, Rock Star Romance is a must-read for fans of Scarlett Cole and Christina Lauren. |
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Mr. Right is a Myth by Melina Druga This heartfelt follow-up to Sexual Awakening follows its ambitious diarist to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where her hopes and dreams for the future are further tested by a string of social hiccups. Cassie Economos has rules. If a new boyfriend canât wait two months to have sex with her, heâs not the guy for her. If he refuses to wear a condom, heâs not the guy for her. And if dating him would mean maintaining a long-distance relationship, heâs⊠well, you get the picture. Sheâs got her life planned out, and she knows better than to try to make things work with someone who canât agree on the basics, like where to live and whether to have kids. But Cassie isnât perfect, and the more disappointing situationships she finds herself in, the more she wonders if thereâs even such a thing as a âMr. Right.â But Cassie doesnât have time to worry too much about that. Her four years at U of I are passing quickly, which means itâs time for her to chart her final course: toward Chicago, the city of her dreams. Readers are in for a rollicking ride through college life in the â90s here, as Cassie and her friends wade through continental relationship shifts. |
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Sexual Awakening by Melina Druga This coming-of-age story, set against the backdrop of the mid-1990s Midwest, follows Cassandra, a high schooler whose big dreams clash with her familyâs conservative expectations, as she comes into her own while navigating the complexities of teenage sex and dating. Fourteen-year-old Cassandra Economos doesnât fit the mold of her traditional Greek family. Sheâs always been a good kid, but lately sheâs begun to question how much influence her relativesâ expectations should really have on her life. Cassie doesnât understand why anyone would want to stay in Sterling, IL when thereâs a whole world out there to explore and experience. She wonders why her brother Chris gets showered in love and affection after becoming a father at 25, when she and her sister, Vanessa, arenât even allowed to date before theyâre his age. And sheâd rather go see Nirvana play live in Chicago than attend her homecoming dance. Perfect for fans of Now Is Not the Time to Panic and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this series-starter traces the social entanglements of the Economos sisters and their friends â from bodice-rippers and bad sex to secret boyfriends and matters of consent â through Cassieâs diary entries from 1993 to â97. |
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The Unmarriable Kind by Melina Druga In 1880s Ontario, the arrival of a new, forward-thinking headmaster forces a young teacher to wrestle with her heartâs conflicting desires. Lucretia Goodwin bucks centuries of tradition by refusing to take a husband. She wants no part in the custom that has her best friend keen to marry a man who treats her poorly and whisked a beloved sister off to do missionary work in Barbados. Besides, women lose what few rights they have the moment they say, âI do.â When she suddenly finds herself teaching under a politically outspoken headmaster, Lucretia isnât sure what to do⊠or how to feel. Mr. Steward believes in womenâs suffrage and â perhaps more shockingly â wants to open all classes to students of both sexes. But what do girls need to know about history or geography, when theyâre fated to become keepers of hearth and home? As Lucretia tries to determine where she stands on issues both personal and political, sheâs caught between family and friends convinced sheâs gone radical and the frustratingly handsome headmaster pressing gently against her resistance to change. But when a tragedy strikes that intensifies her anxieties surrounding marriage, will she permanently close herself off to the possibility of courtship? |
