Renewed Hope

Renewed Hope By Carmen Peone
Publication date: February 6, 2024
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Western
Summary:

Can they find her son in time?

Sophie Cayes is on the road to success as an artist. Until her ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their son. Upon learning of a guest ranch in Eastern Washington that keeps a room open for women in need, she grabs her son and bolts.

Although Chad Davis loves starting colts on the Seven Tine Guest Ranch, his goal is to have his own spread. Everything’s on course until a woman and her preschool son show up. He’s not thrilled about helping out. Until the boy comes up missing. On his watch.

Along with a tribal cop, they head back to Montana in search of the boy, knowing his dad was the one who kidnapped him. Sophie prays they find him before her ex-husband and his new wife go on the run. Taking her son with them.

—

EXCERPT:

“What’s wrong?” Chad took her shoulders and moved her aside. “Oh, crap. That’s not good.”

Her paintings were strewn over her worktable. Every single one—the meadows, deer, rivers, wolves and coyotes, mountains, birds—had been marked up with a black, permanent marker. And each of her nine-by-twelve-inch canvases appeared to have been sliced with something the
size of a Buck knife, like the one Matt packed around. Oh, and there was the buffalo she’d been working on, a gash across his face. Tears pooled in her eyes. “How could he be so evil?”

With quaking fingers, she made a call. “No way.” Her face and ears turned red.

“What’s the matter?”

She shook her head and made another call. “I can’t believe this.”

Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness)

Shadows of the Past (The Unfinished Business of Eliot Ness) By Pamela McCord
Publication date: December 14th 2023

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

A copycat serial killer and the ghost of Eliot Ness. Can two amateur sleuths, with the help of the famous ghost, stop the murderer before he kills again.

A ghostly figure surprises India Bennett in her study. That’s unnerving enough, but said ghost leaves a book open to a page showing a mutilated body, a body which looks just like the body in a case Indy’s homicide detective boyfriend, Danny, is currently investigating. 

Standing next to the body in the picture in the mysterious book is a man Indy recognizes as the ghost she saw in her study. Danny points out to her that it would be impossible for her to have seen the man in the picture, the legendary lawman Eliot Ness.

Despite Danny’s insistence, Indy knows what she saw, and she and her best friend Cara become friends with Eliot’s spirit. With ghostly assistance, the amateur sleuths begin their own investigation. 

After their discovery of what appears to be a journal describing the original victims from the 1930s, and with two murders already committed by the current serial killer, Indy and Cara rush to find the copycat murderer before he kills again.

In “Shadows of the Past,” a thrilling fusion of historical crime and supernatural suspense, the spirit of Eliot Ness becomes an unexpected ally, guiding Indy and Cara through a treacherous maze of secrets and hidden motives. With their lives on the line and the body count rising, they must navigate the shadows of the past and confront the malevolent force that seeks to perpetuate the sins of history.

The past and present collide in this captivating novel, unleashing a bone-chilling tale of danger, redemption, and the enduring power of justice. Prepare to be captivated by this gripping page-turner.

—

EXCERPT:

The man bent over, hands on knees, breathing in deep, ragged breaths until his heart rate slowed to a more normal level. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. Standing, he wiped his hands on his pants, brushed off the dirt and weeds clinging to the denim overalls, then gazed down at the body laid out in the field near the railroad tracks.

In the Shadow of a Dream (Fareview Fairytales, #3)

In the Shadow of a Dream (Fareview Fairytales, #3) By Maci Aurora
Publication date: January 30th 2024

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

With the promise of finally learning her mother’s secrets, Brinna Fareview and her family gather together. Only somewhere between the truth and lies, Brinna wakes to find she’s trapped in a space in between the world awake and the nightmares of her family. 

All of them are asleep. Learning she has the ability to move from dream to dream, Brinna tries to find a way out of the dream world, but she’s stuck, unable to fix what’s ailing her family. But then an unexpected thing happens, Lucian Uraiahs, god of day and light, walks into her dream.

While Lucian decided a long time ago that Brinna Fareview was a blight on his peace, he can’t seem to avoid her. She pops up at every turn, all because his brother is god-yoked to her sister. All Lucian wants is to disappear into the oblivion of the cosmos amidst his shame and guilt, but the unbidden feelings he has for Brinna can’t be contained. 

When Lucian is stripped of his powers for refusing to bend to his father’s will, he is imprisoned with only his guilt to keep him company. Except when he falls asleep, he dreams of Brinna and somehow becomes the only link to saving her, her family, and his brother from a spell that could destroy them all.

Brinna and Lucian must work together to uncover the secrets they need to break the sleeping spell, but the longer they share their dreams, the more they realize time is against them.

Join the Fareviews in book three of the Fareview Fairytales series, In the Shadow of a Dream, to discover the truth that has them trapped behind the hedge.

—

EXCERPT:

Luc grumbled and turned back to look at the hedge once more, walking its length when he heard women’s voices—sweet and lilting—coming from inside. He stepped back, searching for the elusive entrance.

“Remember when we were talking to Tarley the other day? About the man in the woods?” Aurielle—he knew her voice—replied.

“So romantic…” the other said, her voice soft and whimsical. Which left only two possibilities: Luc’s woodland fairy or the other sister, the one with the dark, soulful eyes. “Why are we doing this again?” she asked.

He wondered which one was with Aurielle and suppressed any hope it might be his singer.

“Well, I’ve met someone.” Aurielle snapped the words, because the other one seemed to be antagonistic about being dragged out into the woods.

He grinned at their bickering. Relatable.

Bride of the Mountain King (Kings of Starfall, #1)

Bride of the Mountain King (Kings of Starfall, #1) By Misty Malkasian
Publication date: March 29th 2024
Buy Link: Pre Order
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Summary:

She must wed a powerful ally to save her kingdom. But a terrifying ghost king steals her instead.

Princess Liosa keeps half of her face hidden under a curtain of hair. She must wed to save her kingdom from the looming threat of attack by the Rose Court, but if a future husband ever found out the truth of her face, she could lose both her kingdom and her life.

But on the day she’s supposed to choose from a room full of suitors, a terrifying king arises from underground and steals her away to the Hollow Deep—and he may be worse than all the other suitors combined. He may not even be alive.

Liosa, now a queen of a strange kingdom she’d never known existed, must navigate its perils as she struggles with her terrifying new surroundings and marriage. Unsure of herself and petrified beyond what she’d ever imagined, she grapples with the same question she’s asked herself her whole life: why has the Great One chosen to inflict so much suffering on her? Hasn’t she suffered enough?

As she finds herself drawn deeper into her husband’s world, she learns of deadly goings-on in the Hollow Deep, plans that could set into motion a chain of cataclysmic events in Starfall. She must decide if she wants to remain terrified and useless, or if perhaps the Great One brought her to the Hollow Deep for a reason after all.

She only wonders—why did the Mountain King choose her? And can she ever love a creature made of mist?

With a new take on fae fantasy and an undercurrent of faith, Kings of Starfall is a connected series of clean standalone romances with their own happily-ever-after, leading up to a single cataclysmic event that must be stopped before the entire world falls to ruin.

Perfect for fans of Beauty and the Beast and Sylvia Mercedes’ The Moonfire Bride, prepare to be swept into the dark and glittering world of Starfall…

Pity Pact (Pity Series, #3)

Pity Pact (Pity Series, #3) By Whitney Dineen
Publication date: January 24th 2024

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

I always wondered who was crazy enough to apply to those reality dating shows…

Turns out, I’m that person. Paige Holland here—lifetime resident of Elk Lake, Wisconsin, and dedicated seventh-grade math teacher.

Unfortunately, if I don’t fall for one of the two guys who live right in Elk Lake I might have to move. This limits my choices to a substitute teacher I can’t stand or Tim, a guy I went through school with. It’s not that I can’t see being with Tim—he’s totes my type—but he’s so wounded from his divorce, he’s made it clear he’s only on the show to make his ex-wife jealous.

With one disaster after another being broadcast around the world, I’m seriously questioning why I thought a reality show was a good way to find love…

—

EXCERPT:

Paige

Who in the world is the new woman walking into the ballroom? She must be someone special because all the cameras, except for the one pointed at Tim, turn in her direction. Staring at her, I realize she looks kind of familiar, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I don’t generally hang out with highly polished and glamorous people, and this chick looks like she just walked off the pages of Vogue magazine.

Trina glides back across the ballroom with Tim trailing behind her. “We have a guest!” she announces with so much excitement, you’d think Jesus was here to bless the bread and wine.

On impossibly long legs and stilettos high enough to impress any of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the new woman glides toward the host. “Trina …” she croons.

“Thank you for coming tonight, Eva.”

The Night Ride

The Night Ride By Anya Summers
Publication date: June 25, 2024
Buy Link: Pre Order
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Summary:

No amount of military training can prepare you to fight for love.

Beautiful. Intoxicating. Utterly forbidden.

Years ago, when I first laid eyes on Beth, I wanted her more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. But she’s my best friend’s little sister, and there are some boundaries even I won’t cross. I forced myself to spurn her advances, even though I hated doing it.

And I never forgot her – or the hatred blazing in her beautiful eyes when she walked away from me.

I didn’t expect to see her again. Nor was I prepared for the desperate desire she’d ignite in me. I crave her. Want her. Need her.

I can’t stay away from her this time. Not when her touch mends all my broken pieces.

She doesn’t trust me to stick around but I’ll do whatever it takes to prove my devotion. After all, I thrive on adversity. And I’ll draw on every ounce of strength I possess to win her heart because now I’m convinced:

She was always meant to be mine.

Grab this steamy, forbidden, stand-alone romance where a Navy SEAL falls for his best friend’s sister, as they face an attraction they cannot deny.

Foul Play in Franklin (An Erin Baily in Franklin Paranormal Mystery, #1)

Foul Play in Franklin (An Erin Baily in Franklin Paranormal Mystery, #1) By Pamela McCord
Publication date: December 6, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Summary:

Erin Baily never expected her Good Samaritan act would lead to a whirlwind of secrets and otherworldly adventures. When she saved the elderly Alice from muggers years earlier, little did she know that she’d inherit Alice’s estate in picturesque Franklin, Tennessee. But when Erin steps into her new home, she’s in for a shock—both the charming house and a mysterious cat hold secrets that will change her life forever.

A near-death experience leaves Erin with an uncanny ability to converse with the enigmatic cat and opens the door to an unexpected ghostly roommate—Alice herself. Together, they embark on a supernatural mission to unearth the truth behind Alice’s murder.

With her trusty best friend, Susie, now by her side in Franklin, Erin starts digging into a web of suspects, each with their own motives and dark secrets. Sparks fly when she crosses paths with the dashing and determined homicide detective, Ryan, who’s assigned to Alice’s case. Romance begins to simmer even as danger looms.

As Erin and Susie unravel the threads of deception, they inch closer to a shocking revelation that will send shivers down your spine. But when danger rears its head, Erin finds herself in a life-or-death showdown with the cunning killer. Can she outsmart a murderer and save herself, all while helping Alice find the peace she deserves?
“Four Play in Franklin” is a delightful mix of supernatural suspense, heartwarming friendship, humor and a touch of romance.

Join Erin Baily on a thrilling journey as she navigates the living, the dead, and the mysteries that bind them together. Will Erin unveil the truth, or will she become the next victim? Prepare for a spine-tingling, heart-pounding adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

—

EXCERPT:

Elsie had brought Weeds home before she picked me up, so I wasn’t surprised to see gold eyes peering at me from around a doorframe. “Hi, Weedsie,” I said. I thought I heard a growl but ignored her as I made my way to the den and sank onto my sofa. Before I could turn on the TV, I felt her hop up beside me. I looked at her and reached out a hand to pet her, but she backed up just enough to let me know petting was currently off-limits. Such a typical cat thing to do.

She sat stone-still and stared at me, and I stared back. I had no idea what was going on in her little cat brain, but it seemed like she had something on her mind.

“Aw, did you miss me?” I baby-talked to her.

Viscount Overboard (Ladies Least Likely, #1)

Viscount Overboard (Ladies Least Likely, #1) By Misty Urban
Published by: Oliver Heber Books
Publication date: December 5, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance, Romance
Summary:

When the war-scarred Viscount Penrydd washes up in 1799 Newport minus his memory, Gwenllian ap Ewyas decides not to tell him he owns, and threatened to sell, the property she’s made a refuge for her and other lost souls.

Gwen found healing from her haunted past by making St. Sefin’s into a sanctuary for the hurt and abandoned, and she’ll do anything to preserve the place—including lie to the English lord who owns it until she can win him to her cause. 

But making Penrydd her stableboy is a dangerous game, especially when he’s a target for an outside menace moving into Newport. Even more unsettling for Gwen, under the scars and arrogance is a man she can admire and possibly love. 

But as shadows from both their pasts appear at St. Sefin’s, Gwen risks losing her livelihood, her home, and her heart when Penrydd learns just how far she’s gone to deceive him.

—

EXCERPT:

In which Gwen approaches the viscount to offer to buy his property, and he thinks she’s soliciting something else.

“Lord Penrydd?”

Pen’s boots hit the floor as he sat up. Speaking of pleasure. His capricious God had consented to smile on him for once. The most exquisite female-shaped creature he had ever beheld stood at the parlor door.

She wasn’t dressed like a lady of the night. Her petticoat was clean and white, over it a gown of buttermilk muslin trailing vines of red flowers. It was a quaint style, quite outdated, but one that followed a woman’s curves. A delicate lace crossed her bodice, tied at her back. He wanted to unwrap her, like a present.

An absurd cap of lace and silk roses covered curls of a dusty brown, the color of the paths at his favorite hunting property when they had baked in the sunlight on a summer afternoon. Her face was extraordinary. She didn’t have the pasty complexion of a woman who never went about in the sun, rather a healthy glow and the tiniest dusting of freckles along a nose that suggested a personality both strong and pert. Independently the wide thick-lashed eyes, high cheekbones, lush lips, and arrowed jaw were pleasing yet unremarkable, but put together, the effect was mesmerizing.

Slightly Delayed and Somewhat Haphazard

Slightly Delayed and Somewhat Haphazard By Amber Laura
Publication date: November 16, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Summary:

Miranda Monroe’s world just imploded. Not only did she just get dumped by her long-time boyfriend, but she got dumped in the most humiliatingly painful way imaginable. Very suddenly single, homeless, and heartbroken, she runs to the only person she knows will always be there for her.

Sam Church. Her best friend (and the man she’d once secretly been madly in love with).

Which is how she finds herself, emotionally spent and financially crippled, somehow agreeing to his outrageous offer: that she move into his guest bedroom. Temporarily, of course. Just until she gets back on her feet.

There’s only one problem. In the midst of mending her shattered heart, in the process of trying to find herself again (just who is Miranda Monroe?), her thoughts keep getting distracted, wandering in the most confusing and forbidden of ways…just down the hall from her.

Which is ludicrous. The most commitment-phobic person she’s ever met, Sam is off-limits to Miranda for all kinds of reasons. But mostly, because he’s her best friend—and she loves him too much to lose him. So why, suddenly, can’t she seem to stop fantasizing about him? Why can’t she stop hoping for something more?

Slightly Delayed and Somewhat Haphazard is a best-friends-to-lovers romantic comedy underscored with notes of healing fiction and the echoing sentiments of an adult coming-of-age novel.

—

EXCERPT:

The story was outlandish.

At turns, both unbelievable and absurdly awful.

All the same, the story was true.

Leaning forward in her chair, her body braced as if for impact, Miranda Monroe watched as her words sank in. She canvassed the face before her. The high cheekbones tautening, those green eyes narrowing, clouding with confusion, with disbelief as they stared so questioningly back at her.

Waiting, Miranda carefully studied the face of Sam Church.

Her best friend and emotional benefactor. Her anchor.

The Vampire

The Vampire By Jack Townson

Publication date: January 23, 2023

Buy Link: Amazon

Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Thriller

Summary:

Trade your entire life for fame, fortune, and eternal beauty. The only thing have to lose is your soul… Magic is real. And real damn scary.

A man down on his luck trips and stumbles into a world of bloodthirsty monsters hidden among the precipices of New York City. A chance encounter with illustrious vampire Alexander LaMont ensnares the clumsy yet hopeful James Donovan in shadow and treachery, thrusting James into his new identity, The Vampire Jack Townson. Will Jack survive the vampiric politics of Manhattan, or will final death come to claim him at the next sunrise?

Welcome to New York. We bite.

Jack Townson’s contemporary fantasy series, The Vampire Jack Townson, is a perilous tale about the dangers of love, deception, and vampiric grit where the action of Jay Kristoff meets the decadence of Anne Rice.

 

—

EXCERPT:

Onto the landing we danced, Alexander’s blonde hair bouncing as he brought me closer to the railing, edging dangerously near a fatal fall. All it would take was a wrong step or playful push to seal our fates.

“Jack. I have to tell you something,” he began softly. “I have not been entirely truthful, you see. There is something more I need to show you.” His voice was barely a whisper, his eyes falling to the stone beneath us.

I couldn’t imagine what he was about to divulge. My thoughts wheeled over possibilities like the mafia, or perhaps he was something of a Russian spy. My pulse thumped violently in my chest, the anticipation making my sternum ache.

Lavender Moon

Lavender Moon By Natalie Parker
Publication date: December 4, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Summary:

Kaleb 

I was always the bad boy.
The kid from the broken home and the wrong side of the tracks. 

But in her eyes, I hung the moon.
The girl from my summers who I thought I’d never see again. 

Finding her now right before I’m due to deploy is like a gift, one I’m not going to waste. 

She was always meant to be mine and I’m going to make it official. 

My silly girl is now my spirited wife, giving me someone to come home to. 

Little do I know I won’t be coming home – at least not as the same man.

Luna
I never thought of myself as a good girl… but he does.
The boy I used to see every summer has grown into a brave soldier that I now get to call my husband.
Getting married so quickly was supposed to be a way to protect us both and keep us together for good.
But we both take on demons while he’s away, and when he comes home, it’s his that try to tear us apart.
Someone has to fight for us while he’s weary and wounded.
And now it’s my turn to go into battle.

From the author of the Turn it Up Series, comes an all new standalone about young love, and two people’s harrowing journey to save it -as well as each other.

—

EXCERPT:

The Penance of Valentine Cash

The Penance of Valentine Cash By Rebecca Rook
Publication date: January 16, 2024
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Summary:

Neil Gaiman’s American Gods meets Jennifer Mason-Black’s Devil and the Bluebird in this modern adaptation of the Greek legend The Twelve Labors of Hercules for young adult fantasy readers.

Valentine Cash is dead.

When she dies in an accidental collision she caused on the cusp of musical fame, Valentine is offered a deal: Complete a series of difficult tasks to get her life back. Fail, and she dies a final, everlasting death. Guided by Route 66 the Mother Road of America on her quest, she tackles one herculean task after another, giving up a piece of herself with each trial.

Valentine begins to understand that the fame she once sought won’t bring her happiness or belonging – and if she fulfills the penance, she must decide what’s more important: Her old life or restoring the lives of the strangers who died alongside her.

The young and the ancient, the tangible and the mythical, collide as Valentine learns the true meaning of redemption, connection, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

—

EXCERPT:

The Huntsmen had arrived.

They were all large, dressed in furs, leathers, and thick boots. The men had thick beards and braids; the women either wore braids or had shorn hair. All of them wore armor of some kind, with runic designs upon their crests. Ghost green flames danced and kissed across their skin. As Valentine watched, she saw that their skin flickered and faded in the moonlight, alternately translucent and opaque. During the translucent phases, she saw their skeletons underneath.

She shivered.

Then, beyond the Huntsmen, she saw the mounts.

The Vessels

The Vessels By Anna M. Elias
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Supernatural
Summary:

The Vessels is a supernatural sci-fi trilogy by screenwriter Anna M. Elias. In this thrilling and emotionally captivating novel series, police detective Tallulah Davis loses everyone that was ever important to her. 

Ready to end her life, she is saved by a secret Vessels program in Reno, Nevada and leads a diverse group of equally broken strangers who become human Vessel hosts for spirits that return to seek forgiveness, restore love, and right wrongs from their past. 

By doing so, the spirits elevate humankind and earn their place in Elysium. But — not every journey goes as planned, not every spirit seeks redemption, and not every Vessel survives. Especially when the spirit of a serial killer returns and goes rogue in his quest for revenge.

In The Coin: Book 2, the Vessels brave their most life-threatening journeys yet. Tal is forced to the brink of death and a new Vessel arrives with a shocking surprise. Meanwhile, Eric’s spirit fights to come back through one of the ancient Vessel coins.

In The Return: Book 3, Eric is back and bonds into a new Vessel whose vicious desire for power and revenge equals his own. Until a new and powerful Spirit Guard arrives to help stop Eric’s rising tide of evil for good. But doing so will come at a price that pits spirits against Vessels, love against hate, and father against son in a war only one side can win.

—

EXCERPT:

Excerpt from “The Vessels” (Book 1) — Chapter 27, The Rogue

(Eric is the serial killer spirit that returns and goes rogue for revenge. He is the primary villain throughout the series.)

Flesh and mist swirled together until they painfully regrouped into Matheus’s sick and weakened body. He collapsed on a filthy sidewalk just off a back alley, organs sliding back into place, heart struggling to beat. Horns honked and traffic flew past while Eric waited for Matheus’s scrambled brain to fire up his parasympathetic nerves and bring things back online. Transport was as easy as breathing in a Vessel, but in an average human, especially one this feeble and infirm, it was like trying to hurl a tornado.

The nearby dumpster dribbled foul juices. Homeless people and prostitutes walked the dirty streets of gang-tagged stores, and a pawnshop’s neon sign flashed advertisements for slot machines.

Blood Sacrifice

Blood Sacrifice By Q. Turner
Publication date: November 18, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Summary:

Welcome to the Isulum Empire. Inflation is high, trust in the government is low, and unrest is growing. Here, oligarchs live offshore on superyachts with their pleasure androids, far from tax obligations and the crumbling, crime-ridden city center. 

The rest of the population retreats into the digital world of Parallel, a sanctuary that offers daily respite from the real world.

Many of Parallel’s users have rallied around the speaker Rita Shor, who challenges the empire’s class division and the injustices faced by women. 

Shor and her followers adamantly oppose the radical ideologies of another charismatic speaker, Doctor Gagarin Sokolo, who promotes extreme misogyny in an effort to address the empire’s declining birth rate.

Neither Shor nor Sokolo realizes that in the depths of Parallel, a team of hackers is working hard to unite their disparate followers under a singular purpose: to dismantle the Isulum Empire.

As Shor and Sokolo’s lives become further intertwined, the empire’s fate rests in their hands. But the price of victory may prove far greater than they ever imagined.

—

EXCERPT:

The stars look like dull old diamonds now, not like when we were young and would lie on the high desert dunes, feeling the chilly northern winds sweep the day’s heat away.

We could trace the swirling ribbon of the universe across the sky, asking each other why God would care about this hot little world on the edge of the Milky Way. How easy it used to be to find the star that, even in total darkness, could guide us back to the Ishti capital, far across the barren sand.

Since the forced migration, since entering the walled, foreign Empire of Isulum, I’ve lost sight of the stars we used to know. All I can see when I look up is an odd, murky hue, darkness saturated with artificial light, arid dust, and smog.

The Buffalo Butcher: Jack the Ripper in the Electric City

The Buffalo Butcher: Jack the Ripper in the Electric City By Robert Brighton
Publication date: October 8th 2023

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Historical

Has Jack the Ripper returned?

Summer 1901, and the great Pan-American Exposition welcomes the world to Buffalo, New York—Queen of the Lakes . . . the Electric City. Eight million visitors throng the bustling boomtown—all of them looking for a good time.

While the Pan-American blazes bright, in its shadow lies a zone of darker pleasures: the Tenderloin District, a rabbit’s warren of saloons, brothels, and ask-no-questions hotels. In this sprawling vice quarter, fully as large as the Exposition itself, fairgoers can indulge their less innocent appetites.

As heat and swarming crowds choke the city, the bodies of prostitutes begin turning up, slashed and mutilated by a pitiless hand—their flesh carved with strange symbols. Their gruesome murders are a final indignity worked on once-hopeful young women.

Some say the killings are the work of the Devil himself. Others hint that the Whitechapel Murderer, Jack the Ripper, has crossed the Atlantic to resume his bloody career. Yet the city’s power brokers—afraid of any publicity that would harm the Exposition—turn a blind eye to the victims.

As the bloody summer wears on, only one thing is clear: it’ll be up to the working girls themselves to stop the carnage. And in The Buffalo Butcher, five of them will stand together to confront the killer . . . and to reclaim their humanity.

An important new novel by Robert Brighton, acclaimed author of the Avenging Angel Detective Agency™ Mysteries.

—

A NOTE TO THE READER:

From The Author…

Those of you who have read some, or all, of my Avenging Angel Detective Agency Mysteries will find this book both a departure and a return.

As a departure, the Avenging Angel Detective Agency doesn’t figure in this book. But as a return, we travel back to 1901, and again (as we did all too briefly in The Unsealing) make a visit to Buffalo’s historical high point—the Pan-American Exposition.

Since The Buffalo Butcher is an off-series book—distinct from the Avenging Angel Detective Agency™ Mysteries—so you’ll find in it all new characters and the horrifying notion that in 1901, thirteen years after concluding his bloody career in London—Jack the Ripper comes to the Pan-American Exposition and begins killing prostitutes. But there’s a lot more to the story.

Utopia

Utopia By Marie-Hélène Lebeault
Publication date: January 15th 2024

Pre-Order: Amazon
Genres: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Young Adult

A Clean YA Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Adventure

Three extraordinary teenagers, each an outcast in their worlds, unite to reshape the destiny of a utopian society. 

Ryn, who couldn’t adapt to life under the sea, Eira, born above the clouds but unable to breathe the thin air, and Aiden, rejected by the subterranean civilization, embarks on a thrilling journey to Vancouver’s utopia. 

They’ll challenge the elders, confront hidden truths, and discover the power of unity in a fast-paced young adult sci-fi adventure that explores the boundaries of human resilience, and the promise of a better world.

Utopia is a What Happens Next? novel developed from the Under the Ice short story.

Dirty Plans (The One Night Stand Club)

Dirty Plans (The One Night Stand Club) By Carissa Knight
Publication date: January 5th 2024

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Summary:

Who knew finding true love would mean juggling a secret club’s rules, rethinking marital boundaries, and a best friend you suddenly want to kiss?

Lily’s life was predictably pedestrian: side-step her husband’s aloofness, indulge in racy novels with her audacious book club, and dream about feeling that kind of passion in her own life. 

But a surprise run-in at a cheeky adult toy shop flings her back into the orbit of London, her endearingly rogue-ish childhood best friend, now the manager of Club Nocté—a nightclub synonymous with whispered secrets and sexy encounters.

Dazzled by the nocturnal allure of Nocté and the undeniable chemistry with London, Lily’s once-staid world gets a titillating shake-up. He’s not the boy she once built forts with, but a man with seductive depths that pull her in. And the kicker? London’s not-so-subtle feelings have the urgency of a flash sale—tempting, fleeting, and impossible to resist.

But in a world of impromptu one-night stands, it’s the long-standing emotions that prove the most scandalous. London fell first, and hard. Lily, still tethered to her crumbling marriage, finds herself torn between the nostalgic sweetness of the past and the thrilling promise of a passionate future.

Brace yourself for a joyride of giggles, gasps, and ‘oh-my-god’ moments, as Lily and London navigate a dance of friendship and flirtation, underpinned by the most tantalizing question: Will they dare to cross the line between friendship’s safety for a chance at true love?

EXCERPT:

If it wasn’t for these dirty bitches, I don’t know how I’d make it through the week. I’d probably end up one of those lonely, drunk ladies who has way too many cats and an impressive collection of yarn.

“Hey, Lil, can you flip the open sign off for me?” Tasia asks as she stumbles into the reading alcove of her adult bookstore with two dark brown folding chairs tucked under her arms. They almost look like extensions of her body since the color is nearly a perfect match to her beautiful, dark skin.

Beside me, Anna calmly sets her phone in her lap, then pushes her large-framed glasses up her face. Without missing a beat, she raises her right hand and flips the bird toward the front of the building. “Got it.”

Tasia’s expression deadpans. “Hilarious, Chang. Ever think of going into comedy?”

An Heir Made in Hawaii

An Heir Made in Hawaii By Emmy Grayson
Published by: Harlequin Presents
Publication date: December 26, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Summary:

Tough negotiations turn to tempestuous nights in this surprise-baby romance by Emmy Grayson.

Claiming his baby…
after one hot Hawaiian night!

Anika Pierce refuses to have her family hotel swallowed into tycoon Nicholas Lassard’s property portfolio, despite his offers. Their heated negotiations in Hawaii lead them to his penthouse. One electrifying encounter won’t change Anika’s mind…but discovering she’s pregnant might!

Nicholas never planned to be a father. Yet, on hearing Anika’s bombshell, he vows to give his child the happy upbringing he never had—which means winning over the woman who challenges him at every turn. Except to do that, he must admit that their connection runs far deeper than their scorching passion…

From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

—

EXCERPT:

She missed home, missed the crispness of fall sliding into winter as snow danced down from the Alps and dusted the town and the adjoining lake. Lake Bled was becoming better known as a travel destination, although it had held on to its small-town European charm.

But Hawaii had rekindled a wanderlust she hadn’t felt in years. She hadn’t even known she’d needed to get away from Slovenia until she had stepped out of Kauai’s airport into tropical heat that had slid across her skin like a lover’s caress. Palm trees had provided shade, mountains covered in velvety green instead of snow had stood proudly against a turquoise sky and, perhaps her favorite part of all, were the chickens that had run about with carefree glee.

Determined to relax before she walked back up for the conference’s opening session, she lay back on her towel. Slowly, she focused on relaxing her body, tension seeping out of her muscles as the sun gently wiped away her worries and lulled her into a dreamlike state. Schedules and overdue bills and marketing plans slipped away. For once her mind was completely, blissfully clear of everything except where she was.

The Sweetest Obsession

The Sweetest Obsession By Nicole Snow
Publication date: December 19, 2023
Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Summary:

Falling for the best thing that never happened brings sweet mayhem in this steamy, gripping, and heartfelt small-town grumpy-sunshine standalone romance by Wall Street Journal bestseller Nicole Snow.

My brother’s best friend owned my heart until the day he drenched it in kerosene and burned it down. 

Grant flipping Faircross is so not the reason I’m coming home. 

I don’t care if he’s gotten bigger, meaner, and grumpy enough to flash freeze the sun. 

So what if he’s up in my business the second I arrive?

I’m smarter now.
I’m only back in Redhaven for my sick mother and to talk some sense into my sister before she marries a toad.
Grant ran me off once and I’m not running back.
I can handle the drama, the messy secrets, and an unexpected stalker just fine.

…or maybe not so fine.
When Prince Anti-Charming charges in to protect me, it’s kinda hard to say no.
When I find out he’s a single dad with a heart bigger than a prune, it gets harder.
And when his lips storm mine with a growl that says “stay,” oh God.

Are we really doing this again?
Especially when an old tragedy resurfaces with hard truths, stinging tears, and one brutal question.
Will our sweetest obsession finally deliver us or destroy us forever?

The perfect blend of small-town romance, furious spice, and jaw-dropping thrills that will keep you guessing. Batten down your heart as a stone-hearted giant wakes up and fights to keep the girl who got away—if she’ll ever admit she wants to be chased.

—

EXCERPT:

All of me freezes as I meet his eyes, stare at him, stare into Grant, into that quiet solemness and raging gruffness that hides a heart so true.

He never stopped.

He really never stopped looking for my brother all this time.

He still thinks there’s a chance he’s alive, even if deep down, that seems completely ludicrous. The hope was starved out of me without anyone finding a single clue.

“You… you asshole,” I strangle out. My mouth moves automatically. I don’t know what I’m saying, why I’m saying it, or why my eyes are welling up and I just can’t take anymore. “You overly loyal giant donkey. You… you…”

Geordie (The Scotsman’s Kilt, #2)

Geordie (The Scotsman’s Kilt, #2) By Pax Sinclair
Publication date: December 20th 2023

Buy Link: Amazon
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

MacTavish Distilleries, my family’s centuries-old company famous for its premium whiskey, sent me to California to craft wine to extend our legacy into America. My family, what’s left of them, remain in Scotland. Even thousands of miles away, my heritage and traditions continue to shape my life.

Despite losing my parents at a young age, I’ve always strived to follow their example—seeking love, marriage, and a brood of wee bairns. I envision this same perfect life, sprinkled with flirtations along the way, but in the end, I will have my own family. However, in a matter of minutes, a brutal dirt bike accident has shattered my life and reset my timeline.

Lying in my hospital bed, with only the sterile hum of machines for company, it’s clear that I must start my family now. With no solid relationship at present, the need to fill this void gnaws at me, urging me to find a solution before desperation leads to rash decisions.

Then there’s Lily, the vibrant chef I recently encountered. When we met, sparks flew, the heat between us intense. Yet, a couple of wee concerns stand in the way of a brilliant relationship. Lily doesn’t think much of me, and from what I could tell, she’s married.

Read “Geordie,” book two of the Scotsman’s Kilt series, a sexy, touching enemies-to-lovers, pregnancy romance. Discover how starting a family can also lead to romance. This is a standalone story.

—

EXCERPT:

The old manor house, or the residence, as Geordie calls it, is out of a period piece from PBS. Portraits of ancestors trimmed in gold, heavy, ornate furniture in plush velvet, a fireplace the size of a wall. I expect to see Robert Burns and his friends walk in at any minute. I try not to gawk like a tourist at the place or the countless celebrities Geordie introduces me to.

After leading me away from the last group, we walk into a dark passage to another section of the house. The hum of the guests is not as noticeable here. He stops, turning to me, my back against the wall, and I’m looking up at him.