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Monday, March 23, 2026
Available Now!! Snap Decision by Lisa Suzanne
Book Blitz for Maiden Tomb by Cynthia Sally Haggard with a GIVEAWAY
Maiden Tomb
Cynthia Sally Haggard
(Twelve Cursed Maidens, #1)
Publication date: February 5th 2025
Genres: Adult, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Historical, Retelling, Romance
Follow twelve princesses down a dark tunnel into a grove of jeweled trees to a too-placid lake, where a prince will row you across to a gleaming castle to dance the night away. This historical fantasy—a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses folktale—drifts backwards in time from the Early Middle Ages of Sicily to the Bronze Age of the Trojan War. It is perfect for fans of Circe and Spinning Silver.
Sixteen-year-old Justice wants to release her sisters from the jaws of Father’s imprisonment. But what can she do? The easiest way would be to find suitors for them.
However, that is not so easy, for Justice’s elder sisters are strange. What with All-Gifted’s madness, Protectress’s hair writhing with snakes, Death-Bringer’s grief (not to mention her strange name), Shining’s scandalous doings, Maiden’s tart tongue, Shadow’s crippling shyness, no sensible man would want her sisters as wives. Which leaves Justice, the seventh daughter, the one who possesses a quiet authority.
Maiden Tomb, Book One of the Twelve Cursed Maidens series, is a clean enemies-to-lovers romance.
The original fairytale—about twelve young ladies dancing all night—sounds so jolly doesn’t it? But I don’t think Twelve Dancing Princesses is about dancing at all.
I think it is about death.
Why do I think that? Well there appear to be some elements to the tale that go back, way back, hundreds, no, thousands of years, back into the Ancient World.
First of all, being rowed across a body of water sounds like a thread of Greek Mythology found its way into this tale. It is very reminiscent of Charon the boatman rowing the souls of the newly dead across the River Styx.
Then there are those jeweled trees. Where do they come from? Several scholars believe that element of the story comes from the Tale of Gilgamesh, which may have been originally composed around 1800 BCE. It tells the story of Gilgamesh, a King of Uruk a city-state in Sumeria, who is grieving for the death of his best friend. According to scholars, Gilgamesh ruled the Kingdom of Uruk in around 2700 BCE.
Then there are the princesses themselves. Have you ever wondered why their are twelve princesses? Again, the answer points towards the ancient kingdom of Sumeria, which existed in what is now present day Iraq, beginning in around 6,000 BCE. The Sumerians were renowned astronomers who used a base-12 numerical system, unlike the base-10 or decimal system we use today.
And so, there you have it. When you dig below the surface, a charming story from Europe has roots in the Middle East and seems to be thousands of years old!
And so, when I came to write Maiden Tomb, a piece of women’s fiction that explores the all-too-often captivity of women, I put back all those elements. We have the Gilgamesh epic, and elements of Greek Mythology, complete with snakes, ancient gods, and powerful goddesses. And far from being a jolly novel about young people dancing, as the title suggests, I made it a book about death.
I hope you find this coming-of-age novella as enjoyable to read as I found it fascinating to write.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
In the past week or so since we’ve arrived, life has taken on a predictable rhythm. I spend the mornings entertaining the ladies of the castle, with the lyre, my singing, playing knucklebones, and listening to their gossip. Truth to tell, nothing they say is particularly interesting as high-born ladies spend their time inside. When they are not diverting themselves with such pastimes as I provide, they are spinning, weaving, running the household, and caring for their children. They talk incessantly about their children. They know little of the outside world.
I escape after the midday meal, taking advantage of the ladies’ habit of resting as the sun’s chariot crests at the highest point of the day. While they sleep, I head out into the scorching countryside looking for Father.
We sit together in the shade, while Father does some task, usually repairing something, while I tell him everything I’ve learned the evening before. It is not that hard. Because I am small, and people are now familiar with my face, no one pays me any mind as I take my seat at the bench that runs along the side of the huge table where all the working folk of the castle eat their meals.
Father has told me never to be inquisitive, but I am dying to know more about the twelve mysterious ladies locked up in the castle tower, the ones people whisper about behind their hands when they think no-one is noticing.
As the light of the sun drains from the sky, as the king’s men sink lower onto wooden benches eating dish after dish, quail, pheasant, peacock, duck, eggs, bread, olive oil, wine, and olives, the noise of seven hundred men sharing jokes, laughing, and swilling wine reverberates around the hall.
Finally, I can take it no more.”Is it true what they say about the King’s daughters?”
The grizzled stranger on the bench next to me wipes the grease off his mouth with the back of a hand and spits out an olive pit.
“Where’ve you popped up from? You shouldn’t be here. You’re only a young lad.”
I am used to these remarks. After I left home I took a ship that was blown off course, taking me west to the land of the Italoi. I had to beg for money in the streets and in the taverns and it was not long before I heard news of Father, who was sailing to the west of this land.
And so I made my way across steep mountains before coming down to a lush plain. Playing my lyre to entertain strangers I followed their directions to the sea, to a wide bay within sight of a simmering, high, conical-shaped mountain.
And there, in a tavern, I met Father.
Now we are traveling home together. But Father is not here on the bench beside me, as he should be, but outside at a nearby farm pretending to be a stable hand.
This is one of Father’s clever strategies. He is a master at extracting information. He calls his strategy “divide and conquer” and it means that I have to use my lyre to find a berth for the night in some local chieftain’s house. This is not usually difficult, especially if there are ladies around because for some reason they always want to pet me.
Meanwhile, Father finds work on the outside as a shepherd, farmhand, or stable boy. By concealing his origins and pretending to be dumb, drunk, or both, Father is able to overhear a great many things. We have a plan to meet every day at noon, I escaping the blandishments of the ladies to visit the local farm for milk, cheese, eggs where I could happen upon the new stable boy, farmhand, or shepherd.
The only fly in the ointment is my age. I am only twelve years old and to my great annoyance, I look it. So Father made me memorize some phrases to offer when this issue arises.
“Father is here with me, but is suffering with an ache to his belly.”
One sentence is usually enough for most people. Father has instructed me never to offer explanations that are not asked for as it only makes people more curious.
But the fellow is staring at me, waiting for more.
I turn my eyes down. “Father told me to eat supper and then berth with him in the stable yard.”
“He’s the new stable hand, is he?”
I nod.
“Much good he’ll be with a bellyache.”
I look up. “Do you have a remedy for that good sir?”
Father always stresses the importance of asking for advice when a conversation turns sour, as it flatters the vanity.
The fellow hawks and spits, rising from his seat. “You’ll have to go to the kitchens for that, son.” He ambles off.
Author Bio:
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 40 years ago, she surfaced in the United States, inhabiting the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
Her first novel, Thwarted Queen, a saga set in 1400s England with a Game of Thrones vibe, won the 2021 Gold Medal IPPY Award for Audiobook. Her second novel, Farewell My Life, a dark historical about a hidden murderer, won the 2021 Independent Press Award for Women’s Fiction and was the 2019 Distinguished Favorite for the New York City Big Book Award.
Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA, in June 2015.
When she’s not annoying everyone by insisting her fictional characters are more real than they are, Cynthia likes to go for long walks, knit something glamorous, cook in her wonderful kitchen, and play the piano.
GIVEAWAY!
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Friday, March 20, 2026
Book Blitz for Secrets of the Midwife by Ann Ormsby with a GIVEAWAY
Secrets of the Midwife
Ann Ormsby
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: March 18th 2026
Genres: Women’s Fiction
Anabel Leigh has spent years pouring herself into her career, polishing her image, and protecting her fragile heart after too many losses. But everything changes when a stranger presses a baby into her arms in a crowded New York park and vanishes. The child’s golden hair and trusting eyes stir a deeply personal longing Anabel thought she’d buried forever.
What begins as a surreal moment unravels into a storm of headlines and police questions.
Savannah Maas knows the truth. She’s hiding on a farm in Georgia, living by a different code—one forged from secrets, desperation, and choices that blur the line between compassion and crime.
As the world closes in, each woman struggles to keep her dreams from crumbling. For one, receiving the baby is a miracle. For the other, the handoff is a devastating mistake.
Heart-stirring and suspenseful, Secrets of the Midwife is a story of hope, resilience, and the unexpected ways love finds us.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo
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EXCERPT:
I am sitting in the little park situated between the town clerk’s office where happy couples come rushing down the steps, laughing and kissing after tying the knot, and the family court where some of them will end up, when things go badly. As I eat my lunch, I chuckle to myself at the irony of these two tall, brick buildings facing each other like powerful gods who already know our fate, providing what we need when we need it.
The thick scent of the candied hazelnuts cooking in a nearby vendor cart wafts over me in the cool April breeze. I pull the collar of my trench coat up around my neck and tighten the knot in my silk scarf. Collecting the wrapper from my sandwich, I put it back in the brown paper bag as my eyes catch a stooped old woman pushing a double stroller with two girls in it.
The one closest to me is a baby with golden blonde hair. Maybe a little more than a year old. I can’t take my eyes off her. The other girl has thick brown hair and looks to be about four years old. They make their way down the path to me, and then, without warning, the older girl unbuckles herself, jumps out of the stroller, and runs into the crowd.
The woman yells at her to stop, but the girl keeps running, weaving between the people walking through the park. After unbuckling the smaller child, the woman picks her up and thrusts her into my lap.
“Hold her,” is all she says before she runs after the other girl, leaving the stroller behind.
I look down at the small face staring up at me. The child does not seem afraid, relaxed even. She explores my face as a growing tension rises in my chest. Groaning in frustration, I stand up, holding the baby in my arms, shifting her weight to my hip, and desperately search the crowd for the woman or the other little girl. They’re gone. My first inclination is to go after them, but after a few steps I stop. What am I doing? I’m holding a child who isn’t mine in the middle of a public New York City park. My armpits grow wet with sweat, and I loosen the scarf around my neck.
Wondering what to do, I go back to the bench and sit down. Without thinking, I smooth the girl’s wavy blonde hair, tucking a piece behind her tiny ear. Time passes and the woman does not return. Panicking, I’m afraid to leave the bench because I want the woman to know where to find me. Assuming she’s coming back. The baby rests her head on my shoulder, and her beautiful blue eyes study me. Without disturbing her, I raise my arm, pull up the sleeve of my coat, and look at my watch. It’s getting late. I have to go back to work.
Twenty minutes pass. Without hope, I stand up again and look for the woman. The lunchtime crowd is starting to grow thin, and I am beginning to feel desperate. After pulling my cell phone out of my bag, I call 911 and the operator says she will send a patrol car.
The minutes tick by slowly. The wait is agonizing. Finally, a squad car pulls up, and I watch as two officers get out, walk to the gate, and scour the park. A man and a woman. They look so young, fresh-faced with heavy equipment hanging off their belts. They see me, and I stand up with the girl who is starting to feel heavy in my arms.
When they reach me, the male officer asks, “Did you call 911?”
“Yes. I was just sitting here, and a woman wearing a scarf and a long skirt gave me this baby.” I stammer knowing how incredulous it sounds.
The officers stare at me, then at the baby.
Finally, the female officer takes a pad out of a box on her belt. “What’s your name?”
“Anabel Leigh.”
“Where do you work?”
I tip my chin in the direction of my building. “Right there.”
“No. What’s the name of your employer?” she asks with annoyance.
“Oh, sorry. C&W Communications.”
“Okay. So, what did the woman look like? Where did she go?” She continues to question me.
“Yes, I need to go back to work. Will you take her?” I try to peel the baby away from my shoulder.
Author Bio:
"Ormsby has a wonderful eye for character and detail, as she fleshes out a keenly observed portrayal of small-town life." ~ Kirkus Review
"The Recovery Room" was a winner at the 2014 Paris Book Festival.
Ann Ormsby is a freelance writer with a master's degree in journalism from New York University. Her writings on reproductive freedom and other public policy issues have appeared in The Newark Star-Ledger, The Huffington Post, njspotlight.com The Westfield Leader and The Alternative Press. Her short stories have appeared in The Greenwich Village Literary Review, Every Day Fiction and hackwriters.com.
GIVEAWAY!
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Thursday, March 19, 2026
Children's Book Review for Helo Girls®: The Air Ambulance Pilot by Kodey Bogart
Helo Girls®: The Air Ambulance Pilot by Kodey Bogart
Published: February
24, 2026 by Blue Balloon Books
Assist Zuri and her air ambulance team as they save lives!
As an air ambulance pilot, Zuri must respond swiftly to locate patients in
remote areas and transport them to the hospital. All the while, her team,
including a skilled medic, works urgently to keep the patient stable during the
journey until they can connect with the ground medical team. In this
interactive and educational story, discover what it takes to work on a medevac
helicopter, from preflight safety checks to securing the patient in the aircraft.
In Helo Girls®: The Air Ambulance Pilot, board
MED Flight One and support Zuri and her team on their critical mission to
deliver a patient to safety. As the observer, you will find the patient,
identify a safe landing zone, and be part of an urgent rescue. With engaging
illustrations and exciting activities, The Air Ambulance Pilot is
perfect for daring young readers eager to learn something new. Transport
yourself into the world of aviation and STEAM (science, technology,
engineering, arts, and mathematics) and get ready for an air ambulance
adventure!
My Thoughts: Helo Girls is a great series that empowers
young girls (and boys) to look at careers that they may not be aware of. An ambulance air pilot is not a job that is
common. I love that it tells of the
responsibilities from before takeoff, getting a call, and handling the helicopter.
The illustrations in the book are large and easy to look at
and see what is being told in the story.
The adventure of the story will keep young readers’ attention.
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to sharing with
young girl readers.
Thank you Blue Balloon Books for a copy of the book in
exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Kodey lives with her husband and children in Merritt Island, Florida. She loves to share her passion for aviation, especially with her daughter and sons, by showing the diversity in the mission. The sky is not the limit!
Book Review for Show Me Forever by Jennifer Sucevic
Chicago
Railers Hockey #3
Show Me Forever by Jennifer
Sucevic
Published: March
19, 2026
Genre: Hockey
Romance
I thought I had Oliver Van Doren all figured out.
The Railers’ star forward with the charm of a devil, the discipline of a
toddler, and a talent for creating messes I always get stuck cleaning up. We’re
barely friends and definitely better off pretending the sexual tension humming
between us isn’t combustible.
It’s the only explanation for how one moment of weakness
turns into a night I can’t forget.
And the worst part? I can’t stop.
It’s too damn good.
Two pink lines change everything.
Suddenly I’m living with the one man who knows exactly how
to get under my skin. Only Oliver isn’t who I thought he was. He’s patient.
Attentive. Protective. And somehow, day by day, he makes it impossible to
pretend he’s not everything I’ve been too terrified to want.
Now I can’t help wondering if what started as a mistake…
Might just be the beginning of forever.
My Thoughts:
Hockey romance is my jam. I
devoured this book. Show Me Forever is
the third book in the Chicago Railers Hockey Series but I have not read the
first two. I do not feel that I missed
anything and love that I could pick up book three and jump right in.
Oliver, Big O, is a star hockey player with a player history
when it comes to women. Until Rina
entered his world. He claims her right
away and never let’s go. She pushes him away;
he pulls her closer. Two pink lines
telling Rina she is pregnant only makes Oliver want her more and Rina more
scared to commit. I like that he was
persistent in his chasing of her and did not let her give in to her fears.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I will be thrilled to get to know a new
couple and catch up with the characters that I have already met.
Thank you Valentine PR for a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list in Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Guest Post from Kelli A Wilkins, Author of Loving a Wild Stranger
Love Historical
Romances? Try Loving a Wild Stranger
By
Kelli A. Wilkins
www.kelliwilkins.com
Today I’m sharing an inside look and an excerpt from my historical
romance, Loving a Wild Stranger. This full-length pioneer-wilderness
romance is set in the Michigan Territory and blends adventure with a sensual
love story.
Here’s the summary:
A woman running from her past…
straight into the arms of an untamed man
In a moment of desperation, Kathleen Stanton
flees her pampered life in Kingston, New York and ends up stranded in a small
town in the Michigan Territory. Out of money and forced to rely on her
instincts, she impersonates a handsome stranger’s mail-order bride.
Committed to her deception, Kathleen calls herself Michelle
and starts her new life with Luther in an isolated cabin in the wilderness. Luther can’t believe his luck when his beautiful bride
arrives, but something doesn’t feel right about his new wife. Michelle has
terrifying nightmares involving a man named Roger and is reluctant to talk
about where she came from.
Luther’s friend, Redfeather visits and tries to convince Luther to send
Michelle back east. Distrusting Michelle, he warns Luther that his bride is not
what she seems. But Luther is in love with Michelle, and he is harboring a
secret of his own—one that might force Michelle to reject him when she learns
the truth.
Michelle falls in love with Luther and adapts to her new way
of life. Together, they face off against brutal townspeople and overcome harsh
living conditions. When they finally give in to their desires and agree to
become a proper man and wife, a dark figure from Michelle’s past resurfaces and
threatens to destroy everything.
***
The idea for this book started with a simple premise: a
woman on the run impersonates a mountain man’s mail-order bride and lives in
his cabin in the woods. From there, I thought about the characters and how they
would interact, learn to live with each other, and naturally, fall in
love.
But before I started writing, I went to the library and did a
lot of research. First, I had to decide on the time period. When and where I
set my story would determine all the necessary details that bring the
characters to life—and also influence the plot.
Once the time period was finalized, I needed to learn
aboutmail-order brides, fur trapping and trading, Native Americans, and get an
overall feel for what life was like back then. As I wrote the book, I
incorporated my research as background information. This gives the story a rich
historical feel without going overboard with details that might bog down the
book or bore readers.
I had a lot of fun creating the characters and all the
conflicts that take place between them. Michelle and Luther are very different
people—sort of like a city mouse and a country
mouse—and I played on their differences in
lifestyles, clothing, expectations, etc. throughout the book. When Luther’s
friend Redfeather arrives, Michelle realizes how far she is out of her comfort
zone and begins to see her situation (and Luther) in a new light.
As Luther and Michelle get to know each other (and fight for
each other) they realize they have a lot more in common than they once thought.
They both had to fend for themselves to survive in a rough world, with little
or no family support. This brings them closer together and makes their love
stronger.
I enjoyed writing this book, and I hope readers will fall in
love with the characters the way I did.
Here’s an
excerpt:
Kathleen’s knees shook as she strode down the
sidewalk toward the livery. She had to get out of the store before there was
trouble. She felt sorry for that man, Luther. He’d seemed nice enough when he
gave her back her glove.
The coach waited near the livery, and her
trunks still sat on the sidewalk. She had some time left. What should she do?
She didn’t dare get back on the coach, but this town was awful and she didn’t
want to stay here. Perhaps she could throw herself on the mercy of the church.
There had to be one somewhere and the reverend would take her in. Or would he?
Kathleen crossed the street and entered the
livery. A round-faced man slouching behind the counter straightened up.
“You must be from the stage,” he said, gazing
at the front of her dress.
She folded her arms across her bosom and
looked him square in the eye. “How did you know?” she asked, her voice dripping
with sarcasm.
“Because I’ve been with all the women in town
and you ain’t one of ’em. You Clyde’s new girl? I’d pay two dollars for a night
with you.” He winked.
“How dare you! I’m looking for the church.”
The man spit a stream of tobacco juice on the
floor next to her brown boots. “We ain’t got a church. If you ain’t the new
whore, then what are you doin’ here?”
She spotted the newspaper the man had open on
the counter in front of him. An advertisement for wedding lace gave her an
idea. “I’m a mail-order bride.”
“That so?” He scowled. “Who’s the lucky man?”
Kathleen twisted her skirts and tried to
stall for time. “There’s a problem with the papers you see…”
She glanced out the window. The driver stood
near the coach, scratching his head. A second later, she heard the familiar
clomp of boots on the sidewalk. This was her one chance. It had to work. She
had always trusted her instincts, and now she could only think of one answer.
Her gut told her to take the risk. “Luther’s his name and—”
“Luther?” The liveryman’s eyes widened.
“Well, you’re in the right place.” He arched an eyebrow. “You sure it’s
Luther?”
She nodded as the coach pulled away. All hope
of escape left town in a swirl of dust. Her trunks lay abandoned on the
sidewalk. There was no going back now. This man thought she was a mail-order
bride. She tried to remember what she’d read about them. It sounded simple, a
man sent money to a company and they sent a wife.
She tensed as the livery door opened.
“Hey, Karl. I pulled the wagon—” Luther
stopped as he spotted her.
She averted her gaze and smoothed her skirts,
suddenly ashamed of her appearance. What man would accept her unwashed and
dusty?
The liveryman laughed. “Hell, Luther, looks
like ya got more than you thought goin’ home with ya.”
“What’s that mean?”
Kathleen closed her eyes. What had she done?
This wasn’t a game anymore.
“Seems your wife came special delivery on the
coach.”
“My
what?”
***
Order
Loving a Wild Stranger here:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6M551H
All
other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4N1DGN
Read
5-star reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/loving-a-wild-stranger
I hope you enjoyed this inside look at the making of Loving
a Wild Stranger.I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure
to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media!
Happy
Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 9 mystery/thriller/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror, mystery, and thriller fiction.
Her latest book, The Route 9 Stalker, was
published in January 2026. This mystery/thriller is set in Central NJ and
follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Meet him for the first
time in The Route 9 Killer.
Kelli’s 24th
romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy
romantic adventure, was published in 2025.
In 2024, she
released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7
speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list, social media links, and more.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Book Blitz for Nerdy Girl Nell by Lindsay Gray with a GIVEAWAY
Nerdy Girl Nell
Lindsey Gray
(Nerdy Girl Novels, #2)
Publication date: March 17th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports
Nell De Lacy loves small things like story time, a well-stocked bookshelf, and evenings with friends. Relearning how to date after grief was supposed to be the hardest thing.
Enter professional wrestler Chance Robicheaux. Towering, tender, and utterly relentless about keeping her safe. The two become friends first, spending nights learning each other’s quirks. Between hospital rooms and poker nights, the two find something electric and real.
Nell’s life suddenly fractures with a violent assault, a cache of stolen images, and a blackmailer who won’t be denied. As the threat tightens and the press draws near, Nell’s voice, literally and figuratively, fails her at the worst possible time.
With the De Lacy family company’s December board vote approaching, Nell faces a critical challenge that threatens to upend her life. The outcome of the vote carries the risk of awarding a coveted contract to the wrong people, forcing Nell to balance family loyalty, legal danger, and a secret that could change everything.
Nell and Chance’s is a story about rebuilding, of finding courage in therapy and friendship, and discovering there’s strength in asking for help. Nell’s fight becomes Chance’s fight, and soon they choose to fight evil together. Will justice arrive before the quiet she loves is gone forever?
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks
—
EXCERPT:
“This honey pot just got a whole lot sweeter.” Chance Robicheaux licked his lips and tossed in a few plastic chips. The cards in his hand were the best he’d held the entire night.
He peered around the table of friends as they partook in their newly minted Wednesday poker night. Rob Breyer, Chance’s closest friend and wrestling tag team partner, concentrated on his hand. Rob’s girlfriend, Emma MacLean, rolled her eyes at Chance’s comment, then winked at him when she glanced his way. The dealer and his new sidekick, Seamus De Lacy, took a sip of his drink while the rest of the players made their decisions.
Chance’s eyes landed on the last member of the table; he bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from moaning. Emma’s roommate, Nell De Lacy, stared at him with a slight look of awe mixed with determination, which he found fucking irresistible. The woman had driven him mad since their first meeting over a bowl of potato salad to his crotch. No matter what the situation, one glimpse of Nell, her auburn hair in those cute as hell space buns and perfectly pouty lips, had him hard in three seconds flat.
“I fold.” Rob placed his cards on the table and slumped in his chair.
“I’ve got nothing.” Emma tossed in her cards, then slid her arm around Rob’s shoulders. “This isn’t our night.”
Chance lifted his eyes to Nell’s. “What about you, Nell?”
The corner of Nell’s lips that Chance spent hours fantasizing about curled upward. “I’ll see you.” She tossed in enough to match Chance’s bet. “And I’ll raise you.” She counted out the rest of her chips and placed them in the pot.
Chance could tell she was confident about the hand she possessed. She had her tells as much as anyone else did. The smirk she wielded always made him pull out of the game. Not tonight, though. She’d gone all in, but he’d go a bit more.
“All right.” He determined the required chips to call but decided to raise to find out what she had to offer.
“You can’t do that!” Her confidence turned to anger.
“I sure can. I’m willing to make a deal if you think your hand is still as worthy as it was a moment ago.” Chance’s heart thumped in his chest while he stared her down, praying she would give in.
“What kind of deal?” she asked.
Chance grabbed the pad of paper and pen beside him and wrote down what he wanted. He slid it to her.
She picked it up and read his chicken scratch. “This…” The words clogged her throat as heat moved up to color her face.
“You place that in the pot. I win; you deliver. You win; you can rip it up.”
Nell opened and closed her mouth, then pressed her plump lips in a firm line. She pushed the slip across the table. “I call. Show me what you’ve got.”
Chance peered into her brilliant emerald eyes as he laid each card down one by one. Her face paled. “Royal flush.”
“Damn,” she murmured, and she laid her cards down face up.
“Full House. Not bad, but not good enough tonight.” Chance licked his lips in anticipation of his winnings.
Emma glanced between the two. “What did he win?”
Nell placed her palms on the table, her cheeks tinged pink. “A kiss.”
Author Bio:
Lindsey Gray is a writer, an over-thinker, and a chronic list-maker, but her passion for writing stories you'll love always tops the list. Her author journey began in 2010 with the publication of her first novel, and she has spent the last decade creating worlds for readers to play in. In addition to her own work, Gray utilizes her skills formatting novels for other authors and hosts the weekly show, Gray Matters, on TMV Cafe Internet Radio. She lives and writes fueled by iced tea, her handsome hubby, and the beautiful chaos of mothering her children.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / X / Instagram / Threads / TikTok / BlueSky / StoryGraph
GIVEAWAY!
Nerdy Girl Nell Blitz
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Book Review for The Trouble with Empaths by Elke Feuer
The Trouble with Empaths: A Soulmate Second Chance
Paranormal Romance by Elke Feuer
Published: March
17, 2026 by Elke Feuer LLC
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Rule Don’t hide your spiritual gifts from your fated mate.
Rule Don’t walk away from a soul-deep connection.
Connor never planned to fall for Regan, but their pull is undeniable, the kind of fated mates romance that feels written into the soul. Burdened by a secret empathic ability his family calls a curse, Connor believes loving her means risking everything… so when tragedy strikes, he walks away without the truth.
Heartbroken but stronger for it, Regan rebuilds her life—even with their soul bond connection.
Now he’s back, ready to claim his second chance and reveal the truth, even if it costs him his closest friendships and her trust.
This book is for you if you love stories about second chance love, forbidden love, steamy chemistry, and spiritual gifts that cause family drama and pushes characters on a journey to personal healing and creating the life of their dreams with the one they love.
My Thoughts: Oh,
my…I devoured this book. I could not
get enough of Connor and Regan. The
whole world is working against them while they just want to be together. The only part that frustrated me was the fact
that there were times they went at life alone when they could have been
stronger together. Yet I knew that they
had to get over their own issues before they could be together.
Both Regan and Connor have grown up privileged with parents
that expected a lot out of them. Those expectations do not make it easy for them. I liked watching them figure out life, both life
together and what would give them happiness.
They are both strong and smart with so much to offer each other. I love them together and as individuals.
I highly recommend The Trouble with Empaths. It is book two in a series and it is better
read in order.
Thank you to the author, Elke Feuer, for a copy of the book via BookFunnel in exchange for my honest
review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
A mother of two, she loves superhero movies just as much as
romance and thrives on structure, deadlines, and systems. Without them, her
overactive brain tends to run wild.
Elke writes for readers who believe love is powerful,
intuition is real, and hope can exist even in the darkest moments. Her stories
blend romance, mystery, suspense, and spiritual depth—where love is tested,
truth is uncovered, and healing is always possible.
She lives in Tampa with her family that includes two cats
who enforce the writing and editing of her books, so they remain in their lap
of luxury.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys connecting with readers
at book events and sharing her love of storytelling.
As a kid, she devoured Nancy Drew mysteries before
graduating to historical romances in her teens. There was never a time in her
life she didn’t want to write, and why her parents gave her a typewriter for
her ninth birthday.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Cover Reveal for Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol by Bianca Rowena
Arranged Marriage to a K-Pop Idol
Bianca Rowena
Publication date: April 28th 2026
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult
He who controls the media, controls the world.
In a world where a young woman only has two choices, marry by age 18 and procreate naturally, or be thrown into a fertility prison, AnAn finds herself in an arranged marriage to K-Pop Idol Taejung, who is running from the paparazzi and his government.
Can Taejung and AnAn stop the One World Nation’s plot to use K-pop concerts and fans, to win the world election, or will Taejung be pulled back into the K-pop world he left behind, and AnAn lose her first love?
Author Bio:
Bianca Rowena was born in Romania, Transylvania and has enjoyed writing from a young age. She now lives in Canada, which is the setting and inspiration for her novels. Bianca studied Cinema/Television/Stage/Radio at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
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Release Blitz for Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams
Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams is now live!  One mission. One curse. No escape. Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon. To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive. Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation. He promises to help. He might even mean it. But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins. She just doesn’t have a choice.  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon: https://a.co/d/4DwW0Pq Other Retailers: https://mybook.to/8cSl Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4l8xHgn Audible: https://bit.ly/4s9ab6r Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt |