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A Muzzled Murder:
A Small Town with Buried Secrets Unearthed by an Amateur Sleuth and Her Mischievous Dog
(An Amelia Hartford Cozy Mystery)
by Angie Street


A Muzzled Murder (An Amelia Hartford Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kansas
Publisher ‏ : ‎ BA Reads
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 17, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8995614517
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GVZ2CXL6
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8995614500
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GGZGLGKF

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A quiet Kansas town. A suspicious “accident.” And one determined innkeeper who won’t let a mystery go unsolved.

Amelia Hartford hoped running the Maple Leaf Inn would mean peaceful mornings, friendly guests, and long walks with her mischievous dog Bailey.

But when a grieving mother arrives searching for answers about her son’s death ten years earlier, Amelia finds herself drawn into a mystery Maplewood never fully explained.

With her witty best friend Lila always ready for adventure, Amelia begins uncovering clues hidden in old photographs, secret bank records, and a mysterious safe-deposit key.

The deeper she digs, the more suspicious the past becomes. Former sheriff Hank Ross closed the case far too quickly. Local mechanic Jimmy Dale, once the victim’s closest friend, seems to know more than he admits.

As soon as the case is officially reopened, the threats start showing up. Amelia must find the killer fast before she becomes the next victim.

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Maple Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Amelia Hartford Cozy Mysteries

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Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour

• 1½ tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 Tbsp cinnamon

• ½ cup maple syrup

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup buttermilk (or 1 tsp vinegar in ⅓ cup milk, microwaved 30 seconds)

• ¾ cup chopped nuts

• 2 cups chopped apples

• 2 tsp flour + ½ tsp cinnamon, to sprinkle on apples

Directions

1. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl.

2. Beat the maple syrup and butter. Add the eggs one at a time.

3. Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk; mix just until combined.

4. Sprinkle the chopped apples with 2 tsp flour and ½ tsp cinnamon. Fold the apples and
chopped nuts into the batter.

5. Spoon into muffin or cupcake papers.

6. Bake at 350°F for approximately 20 minutes.

Recipe shared by Angie Street • angiestreetauthor.com

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About Author Angie Street

Angie Street knows a thing or two about putting everyone else first. For decades, she poured her energy into her husband’s business, raised six children, and became the kind of grandmother who never misses an opportunity to spoil her nine grandkids. But somewhere between managing schedules, building a family, and keeping two mischievous dogs out of the flower beds at her Kansas home, Angie held onto a dream that refused to fade: she wanted to write mysteries.

Growing up in Kansas, Angie devoured Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew adventures as a kid, then graduated to Agatha Christie novels and cozy evenings watching “Murder She Wrote” with her grandmother. She’s always loved puzzles—the kind where seemingly random clues suddenly click into place, revealing the bigger picture. That fascination with mysteries, combined with her gift for creative expression through words, made becoming a cozy mystery author feel like destiny. She just had to wait for the right moment to claim it.

That moment arrived when her children grew up and her husband began planning for retirement. Finally, it was Angie’s turn. In August 2025, she made a decision that would change everything: she would stop thinking about writing someday and start writing today. Two months later, she published “A Streamside Murder,” a cozy mystery novella that introduced readers to the fictional small town where her Amelia Hartford series takes place. By April 2026, her first full-length novel, “A Muzzled Murder,” hit the shelves.

Writing what she knows comes naturally to Angie because she’s lived in Kansas her whole life, surrounded by the kind of tight-knit community that makes cozy mysteries feel so authentic. Her small-town setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character in itself, filled with quirky neighbors, local gossip, and the kind of charm you can only find when everyone knows everyone. Her decades of life experience, from managing a business to navigating the beautiful chaos of a huge extended family (her mother was one of eight, and Angie has lost count of her cousins), give her an endless well of inspiration for creating relatable, three-dimensional characters.

Then there are the dogs. Angie has always had dogs in her life, and her current two-dog crew serves as constant inspiration for Bailey, the sidekick dog in her mysteries who has an uncanny knack for finding bodies and clues. While her real-life dogs haven’t discovered any murder victims, they do occasionally leave “presents” at the door—one of the costs of living outside city limits, surrounded by wooded areas and fields. These authentic touches make her stories feel lived-in and real, even when the stakes are delightfully fictional.

When she’s not plotting her next murder (the fictional kind, of course), Angie stays busy with crafts, especially projects with her grandchildren. She’s learning to hand quilt and has promised tee-shirt quilts to two of her daughters—a project made even more meaningful since she inherited a wooden quilting frame from her aunt, the family quilter who passed in 2026. She also creates fake flower arrangements, Christmas wreaths, and maintains vibrant flower beds each season while her husband handles the vegetable garden and berry patches. Their biggest challenge? Keeping those dogs out of the planting beds.

Angie’s second act as an author is everything she hoped it would be—creative, challenging, and incredibly fun. She’s learning the marketing side of the business while doing what she loves most: crafting stories that transport readers to a cozy Kansas town where mysteries unfold, friendships deepen, and justice always prevails. With plans to publish a new book in the Amelia Hartford series every two to three months and a vision that extends well beyond ten books, Angie Street is just getting started. For someone who spent years putting her dreams on hold, she’s making up for lost time—one delightful mystery at a time.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / X

Purchase Links – Universal Link  Author 

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 12 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 13 – FUONLYKNEW – RECIPE

November 14 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 16 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 17 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

November 18 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 18 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 20 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 24 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 25 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

November 25 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

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She escaped him once—and she’s been running ever since.

But
more than fifty years later, he’s about to catch up…

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Nowhere Man

by Rosie Genova

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Thriller, Cold Case Dual
Timeline

She
escaped him once—and she’s been running ever since. But more than fifty years
later, he’s about to catch up…

Allison
Russo knows that older women become invisible, which is exactly how she likes
it—the serial killer she escaped from as a child is out of prison and
determined to track her down.

In the hot
summer of 1966, twelve-year-old Ally loves the Mets, Spiderman comics, and
Diana Ross. But Ally’s quiet existence in her working-class New Jersey town is
shattered when she accepts a ride from teenage serial killer Steven Manning.
Trapped in the car and driven to a desolate wood, Ally frantically fights off
her attacker. Though she manages to save herself, she withdraws inside her
locked house, telling no one about what happened. And despite the disappearance
of two other girls that summer, she stays silent. But when Manning threatens
her mother, Ally turns investigator, playing a dangerous cat-and-mouse game
that ends in a terrifying Halloween night chase.

More than
half a century later, Allison, now a mother and grandmother, gets a visit from
retired police officer Hal Greenwood: Steven Manning was released on early
parole. Greenwood, who arrested Manning years before, seeks her help with an
unsolved murder case of a girl missing since the sixties, and another likely
victim of the serial killer. Allison refuses, planning to change her identity
and flee. Until a find in her attic turns out to be evidence from the cold
case—and Manning begins stalking her daughter. Now Allison must once again face
the demon in the rusty red Chevy. And prepare herself for a reckoning that’s
long overdue…

 A
dual-timeline, twisty story of psychological suspense inspired by a real-life
case and the music of the sixties.

**Releases January 12, 2027- PreOrder Now!!**

Amazon * Goodreads

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Proud
Jersey girl Rosie Genova is a multi-genre author. She is the author of two
standalone suspense novels, Seeing Things, and her newest release, Nowhere
Man
. Her best-known work is a Jersey shore cozy series, The Italian Kitchen
Mysteries, and The Tess Mancini Time Travel Mysteries, set in 1955 Atlantic
City. She has also penned a couple of rom-coms that presently live in her
computer files (but are longing to be released into the wild). A former teacher
and journalist, Rosie’s non-fiction has appeared in a variety of publications,
including Entrepreneur magazine and The New York Times. The
mother of three sons, Rosie still lives in her favorite state with her husband,
too many dusty antiques, and a charming mutt named Lucy.

Website * Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

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Follow the reveal HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Death of a Bad Penny: The Moonlighting Mysteries
by A.M. Loweecey 


Death of a Bad Penny: The Moonlighting Mysteries
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York State and Washington, D.C.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 8, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8898203290
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HJBSRGPL
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0HHSQM492

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College professor Cordelia West loves her life–until her deadbeat husband returns at the losing end of a car chase and gun battle. He dies in her lap in front of a packed restaurant. Powering through the police interrogation and bystander videos going viral, Cory vows no man will ever wreck her life again.

But after finding the cryptic artifact he slipped into her pocket as he died, Cory has a new problem: the killer’s after the artifact. Now she’s stuck with a charming detective who insists on helping her as they go on the run. Dodging the relentless killer and the detective’s suspicious behavior is giving Cory whiplash. She’s seriously considering smashing the artifact over Mr. Charming’s head.

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About Author A.M. Loweecey

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Baker of brownies and tormenter of characters, A.M. Loweecey grew up watching Scooby-Doo mysteries and Hammer horror films, which explains a whole lot. When A.M. isn’t finding new ways to mystify readers and make them laugh, she’s growing vegetables in the garden and water lilies in the koi pond. A.M. writes the Renegade Exorcist series (starting with Demons & Ramen), the Moonlighting Mysteries series (starting with Death of a Bad Penny) has 9 books in the Giulia Driscoll, P.I., mystery series (as Alice Loweecey) and 2 stand-alone horrors as Kate Morgan: Staking Cinderella and The Redeemers. She also has several anthologized short stories.

Author Links: Amazon / Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

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GIVEAWAY

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DEATH OF A BAD PENNY TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 9 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 10 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 11 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

November 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 14 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

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Hunted by an empire, haunted by prophecy—

Auren’s power could
save or destroy the world.

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Shadow Stalker – Episodes 1-6

Shadow Stalker Bundles Part 1

by Renee Scattergood

Genre: Grimdark Fantasy

“This is the first time I’ve read a serial and I
didn’t know what to expect. I was pulled into the story right away. The pacing
was cleverly crafted so that while the action had the pages turning, there was
enough back story to keep you rooted in the plot.”
~ Melissa Barker-Simpson, Author of the Morgan
and Fairchild Series

“Scattergood’s writing style is simple and straightforward and her
characters very believable.”
~
Grant Leishman, Author of Tortured Minds

“One of the best things about the series are the characters, who are
human and sympathetic. The heroine is both a tough, capable young woman, and a
naive and self-centered teenager; the tension between the two sides of her
personality as she is suddenly forced to leave childhood behind and enter into
adulthood is often well-captured, as is her ambivalent relationship with her
foster father.”
~ E.P. Clark,
Author of The Zemnian Trilogy

“Hunted by an
empire, haunted by prophecy—Auren’s power could save or destroy the world.”

The shadows are
calling—and they know her name.

For eighteen years, Auren Trask has lived under the watchful
eye of her foster father, Kado. He’s trained her in combat, wilderness
survival, and strategy, but never explained why. His strict rules and secrecy
have left her feeling trapped, desperate for freedom and a normal life with her
friends.

That all changes the night she sneaks away for a simple
camping trip. When the Galvadi Empire invades, burning villages and capturing
innocents, Auren’s world shatters. She and her friends barely escape with their
lives—thanks to Kado’s sudden appearance and skills that suggest he’s far more
than a reclusive courier.

As the Galvadi tighten their grip on the Serpent Isles,
Auren discovers she is at the center of a prophecy that has haunted the empire
for generations. She is the delohi-saqu,
a shadow stalker destined—according to Galvadi belief—to plunge the world into
darkness. To stop that future, they will hunt her without mercy.

But the truth is far more dangerous than the Galvadi know.
Auren’s powers are awakening, shadows whisper secrets in her dreams, and even
Kado can no longer shield her from the path ahead. To survive, she must
confront the terrifying legacy of the shadow stalkers and decide whether
destiny is a prison…or a weapon.

Shadow Stalker Part 1
(Episodes 1–6)
launches Renee Scattergood’s dark fantasy serial, a journey
through treachery, prophecy, and the struggle between fear and hope. Perfect
for fans of epic adventure, morally
complex heroes, and worlds where light and darkness are never simple.

**Get it FREE!!**

Amazon * Ream
* Books2Read * Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Episode 3 — Shadows’ Betrayal

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Chapter 3 | The council’s secret

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“So, you mean Kado might be listening to us as we talk about this right now?”

Cali paused and nodded. “He can hear you, and possibly me if he chose to, but he likely wouldn’t. He would understand what I was saying through your thoughts, though he might perceive it differently depending on how you interpret my words, not necessarily how you were hearing them.”

That explained a lot. It also made me realise how often he overlooked my sneaking around as I grew up. How many times had I sneaked out without him stopping me? He probably knew but didn’t try to stop me. Still, he was always waiting for me when I returned home. So, technically, I never truly got away with anything.

My anger surged as another realisation struck me. How much had he observed? How much of my privacy was compromised? I spotted Kado through the window of Cathnor’s hut, so I grabbed the tomato I still held and threw it at him. It landed a few meters short.

“You missed,” Cali said, nudging me with her elbow.

“I can’t believe he never told me,” I said, still glaring at him.

Her eyebrows lifted. “Really? That surprises you?”

I rolled my eyes, even though she had a valid point. It wasn’t the first time Kado had concealed something from me. Just a month ago, I found out I was a shadow stalker and that my father was still alive. Since then, I’ve uncovered numerous secrets. I knew I needed to learn more, confront him about everything, and get the truth.

After gathering enough vegetables, we went to the storehouse for dried meat. It was built into the ground, so the visible part resembled an outhouse. However, underground, it was a different story. The dark, cold, enclosed space reminded me of being in the hole, until Cali lit the wall lantern. The room was small, no larger than Kado’s hut, with many shelves for storing food. Cali headed toward one of the shelves at the back.

I didn’t overlook that she mentioned a way to break the bond. Although I had no immediate reason to use it, the information might be helpful when I needed privacy. “So, is there any way we can hide this from them?”

“Well, yeah, if you knew how the bond was formed. But I’m sure he’d sense it and know you were up to something.” Cali gazed at me suspiciously.

Something caught her attention. She picked up what looked like a small log and sniffed it. She held it out, and I stepped towards her. Even in the faint lantern light, I noticed her cheeks flush red, which made me hesitant to smell it. She impatiently waved it towards me, so I took a quick sniff and immediately wished I hadn’t. My nose burned, and tears welled in my eyes. It likely contained a lot of hot pepper.

“What is that?”

“Spiced meat. Cathnor likes it,” she said, grimacing and sticking out her tongue.

“Yeah, I think we can leave it here.”

She laughed. “It doesn’t go in stew anyway. He enjoys slicing it and frying it with eggs.”

I gagged and grabbed some dried red meat that looked close enough to beef. “This should be good. Let’s get out of here.”

She held the meat log high like a sword. “Onward.”

“You’re insane,” I said, heading towards the stairs. The storehouse made my heart pound, and I was starting to feel light-headed, which was odd. I’d never had a problem with small spaces before.

Cali pouted as she followed me. “You’re no fun! I think you’ve been with Kado too long.”

“You mean my whole life?”

“Way too long then.”

I chuckled but held a finger to my lips as we approached Cathnor’s hut. I could have sworn I heard Selyn’s name. Cali took the hint, and we squatted as we inched towards the hut so they couldn’t see us through the window.

“Visualise yourself in the storehouse,” she whispered in my ear.

“What?”

“It’s one of those ways we can be sneaky. If he believes you’re still in there, he won’t realise you’re listening. But try not to get too emotional about anything he says. It’ll be a dead giveaway.”

She spoke so softly I barely heard her, but I got the gist. I closed my eyes, picturing myself looking through the storehouse, and listened.

“…the council thinks your bond with Auren’s mother has corrupted you, and you’re not seeing the danger she poses,” Cathnor said.

Kado snorted. “I’m the one who is corrupt, while they do everything in their power to prevent our people from having a Foramar.”

“I know. Do you know what they are up to?”

“They want Auren incapacitated,” Kado said in a low tone, then hesitated. “I believe some of them may even want her…”

I sneezed. That stupid stick of peppered meat still tickled my nose, and I couldn’t stop myself.

“Good job,” Cali whispered as the door opened.

Kado and Cathnor glared down at us.

“We got the food,” she said, a mischievous grin on her face.

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Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband,
Nathan, and adult spawn (yes, that’s what they like to be called). She has
always loved fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas,
but she didn’t start writing her stories until her late twenties. Now she
enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently working on a novel series, Shadow
Guardians of the Serpent Isles, based on her serial, Shadow Stalker, and a new
series called The Emperor’s Blades. Aside from writing, she loves reading
(fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube
Videos with her spawn. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of
Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): https://reneescattergood.au

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

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Winter Light

By Honey Winters

 

(A Blue Spruce Hills Novella)
Publication date: November 12th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance, Women’s Fiction

For readers who enjoy clean women’s fiction about small towns, new chapters, and later-in-life romance.
***
A small-town librarian, a new neighbor from Colorado, and the brightest Christmas display in the Poconos.

Penny McLauchlin runs the library from a former bank building where the vault is now a reading room. She knows which cart squeaks, which patron wants company rather than a book, and which of the atrium plants needs turning toward the light. What she has stopped knowing is what she wants.

Then a colleague slides a listing for Regional Library Director across her desk — the kind Penny has scrolled past for years — and the thought arrives fully formed: I could.

She applies. And then the quiet season she thought lay ahead turns out to be anything but.

Her sister Jackie moves in. Her daughter is coming home for Christmas with a guest. And Nigel Blake, her new neighbor, has just plugged in a holiday display visible from Mars.

By December, Penny’s street is the brightest one — and the woman who never wanted anything to change has a job interview and is embroiled in a Christmas lights battle that has drawn spectators from across town.

This book is for every woman who has looked around a good life and still wondered whether this was all of it. Winter Light is about wanting things at 55, reaching without wrecking anything, and discovering that contentment isn’t the same as closing the door. Come to Blue Spruce Hills for warm friendships, a Pennsylvania mountain town under snow, a sister who arrives like weather, and a neighbor whose Christmas lights are an argument for joy.

Trope List
Finding yourself at 55
Midlife women’s fiction
Small-town Christmas
Widow opens heart to love again
Neighbors to something more
Sister returns home
Female friendship group
Clean
Low angst
What you can expect:

Heat: clean and wholesome
Tone: cozy women’s fiction, warm and lightly funny
Series: A Blue Spruce Hills Novella, interconnected standalone
POV: third person, past tense, single POV
Content Notes: reference to past spousal loss (off page, years earlier); no violence; no swearing
Comps: Debbie Macomber, Nancy Thayer, Sheila Roberts

Welcome to Blue Spruce Hills: A mountain town that reinvented itself once already and knows something about new chapters. Come for snow, tea, good friends, poetry night at the Tea House, and a holiday season worth remembering.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Two big candles sat square in the middle of the cake—a five and a five.

The lights dimmed, and Penny was treated to an unharmonious Happy Birthday. Then came a chant that the kids had done when they were young and the adults had continued. Luckily, they now counted by fives.

“Are you five? Are you ten? Are you fifteen?” Shannon, Wendy, and Jennifer chanted.

As they counted up, Penny’s mind focused on her “new chapter,” as Jennifer called it. What new chapter? She had no news to share. Shannon had a new gallery showing. Jennifer was trying a new hobby. Wendy was going on vacation to Thailand.

“Are you thirty?”

Penny was simply going about her life. Day after day after day.

“Are you thirty-five?”

It wasn’t that her life was empty.

“Are you forty?”

Nor was she lonely.

“Are you forty-five?”

Nothing was wrong, per se.

“Are you fifty?”

But three words began to form, not quite solid yet, but taking shape.

“Are you fifty-five?”

Is this it?

“Stop,” Penny said, and the women clapped.

“Okay, Pen, blow out the candles and make a wish,” Shannon said.

Penny closed her eyes and did exactly that.

***

After about five minutes of hugging, Penny finally left Shannon’s. Her hands were toasty in her new gloves. Her journal was in her tote bag, and her framed picture was tucked under her arm.

The night was quiet. Her feet crunched on the fall leaves, and she could hear a muffled TV. Penny had walked this walk so many times she knew where the sidewalk tilted because of tree roots and when to expect Mr. Phillip’s dog to start barking.

For the first time, she didn’t find that familiarity comforting. Nothing had changed from yesterday, but everything felt a little different. It was silly. Nothing more than the stress of a birthday.

But that feeling lingered.

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About Author Honey Winters:

I love writing the kind of stories I want to curl up with—heartfelt, uplifting stories about women in midlife navigating life’s ups and downs. My books celebrate the bonds of friendship, the magic of second chances, and the belief that it’s never too late to fall in love.

Whether it’s a cozy lakeside summer, a small-town reunion, or an unexpected romance that catches you by surprise, I believe every chapter of life holds something sweet waiting to be discovered.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Bookbub

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GIVEAWAY

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Winter Light Blitz

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

Murder is Personal by BJ Condike Banner

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MURDER IS PERSONAL
by BJ Condike
October 26 – December 4, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:

  Jake Powell came to Rattlesnake Bend to disappear. The dying North Texas lake town was the perfect place to outrun his past: no questions, no connections, no reminders of the life he left behind in Massachusetts. He kept his head down, worked for a local woodworker, drank beer at the Cock ‘N’ Bull, and tried not to think about April Hunter-the woman he abandoned without explanation years ago. Then April shows up in town wearing a yellow rain coat. Twelve hours later, she’s dead. With the sheriff convinced he’s guilty, Jake starts digging for answers on his own. What begins as a murder investigation spirals into a maze of family secrets, corporate corruption, anonymous threats, and lies buried for decades. The deeper Jake digs, the closer he gets to exposing his own dark secret – plus one more that could destroy him.

Praise for Murder is Personal:

“This fast-paced mystery/thriller where Jake Powell, an amateur sleuth, finds himself the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-girlfriend will keep you turning the pages… Condike’s snappy and sassy dialog made me laugh out loud. His impeccable writing kept me glued to the page. This is one book you won’t want to miss if you like a hard-boiled character like Robert B. Parker’s Spenser or Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane.” ~ ML Condike, Author “BJ Condike has written a brilliant mystery novel featuring a fascinating main character, Jake Powell, whose sarcastic wit keeps the reader captivated through action-packed plot twists. I enjoyed this page-turner and can’t wait to read the next of BJ’s novels in the Jake Powell series.” ~ VL Calder “Totally enjoyed it! From the rugged contemporary West to the polished, secretive East Coast, Murder is Personal plunges readers into a world where danger hides behind almost every new face. When likable, snarky drifter Jake stumbles upon a murder, his troubled past—and more than a few secrets of his own—force him into an investigation that grows more dangerous with every clue. Packed with sharp humor, memorable characters, and suspense that builds to the final chapter. I look forward to Jake’s next adventure!” ~ Ernest Disney-Britton “This book had me at the end of my seat until the surprising ending on the last page. The writing is impeccable, colorful, and witty in a style reminiscent of Nelson de Mille’s John Corey character. You’ll appreciate the dark humor of Murder is Personal and like me, look forward to its sequel, presently in the works.” ~ Joanna Brady “Murder is Personal is such an enjoyable ride! … Jake Powell is a great three-dimensional character: flawed but good-hearted, searching for insight into himself, mistake-oriented but willing to do what it takes to make things right. My favorite kind of protagonist. The dialogue is snappy and clever. The secondary characters are well-developed and interesting. And the plot and pacing kept me turning pages long after I’d planned to stop for the night. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!” ~ Lori Herbst

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MURDER IS PERSONAL Trailer:

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Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Published by: Big Pine Press Publication Date: September 15, 2026 Number of Pages: 347 pages ISBN: 979-8996292103

Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Goodreads | BookBub

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Chapter 1
I’ll take blame for some of it. A lot of it, maybe. But part of it was simply bad karma, or bad juju, or just bad luck. Like how I found myself in Rattlesnake Bend. It had been the perfect hiding place, a backwater Texas town south of Fort Worth and north of Waco. In short, nowhere. Everything was fine until that one odd thing happened. But odd things happen in threes. The first one was working in Red Cloud’s woodshop on my day off. Red wanted to spend his Tuesday catching stripers on Serpent Lake. I had nothing going on, so I said yes. The second was an all-day drizzle, a rarity for North Texas. That was another reason Red wanted to fish that day. He said the weather would improve the bite. The third strolled into our shop wearing yellow. I didn’t recognize the raincoat she wore but knew the face. My ex-girlfriend April Hunter. She was a long way from Massachusetts. And she shouldn’t have been there. But there she was in the viewing window, her L.L. Bean slicker as out of place in our store as a peacock in a chicken coop. My hands shook as I avoided sawing off my fingers. Steeling myself, I braced for a different kind of pain. April and I had been together for ten years, but that was a long while ago. Our reunion was bound to be awkward, or worse, volatile. April tucked wayward strands of blond hair behind her ear. Her face wrinkled in puzzlement, then morphed into surprise. She gestured toward the workshop door. I raised a finger in a “one-minute” mime and shut down the machines. The motors faded from a whine to a whisper to dead silence. My gut tensed as if expecting a punch. I entered the retail area. She stood perfectly still, posed like a cigar store Indian in Birkenstocks and jeans, head cocked, one eyebrow raised. “Well, if it isn’t Jake X. Powell,” she said. Just two old friends in a chance meeting. But it was more than that. “April?” My voice cracked in three places. My middle initial is subject to change, like the “x” in a math equation. That day it was an S as in Jake S. Powell—the S was for “Suave.” I cleared my throat and spoke an octave lower. “What are you doing here, two thousand miles from home? Still combatting corporate America? Saving the gay whales?” She grimaced. “I’m still writing, if that’s what you’re asking.” April was a freelance reporter in Boston. She’d been the local incarnation of Lois Lane when we lived in Rollstone, an aging factory town an hour outside the city. Her passion for reporting bordered on obsession. One day I left a note and took off in my Chevy van. I couldn’t tell her why. She’d never believe me. And never forgive me. Eventually I landed on the Texas prairie, melting into the landscape. Until now. “So what’s the Ghost Queen doing here?” “Ghost? You’re accusing me of ghosting you?” “April, you’re the only person I’ve ever known to ghost someone they’re living with.” I must have raised my voice, because a customer tricked out as a Kardashian cowgirl glanced in our direction. The twenty-something brunette continued to browse but stayed within earshot. This was the reunion I had long yearned for, yet also feared. I had rehearsed it a thousand times. But her sudden appearance had rattled me. And I was blowing it. April bobbed her head from side to side. “Maybe I do owe you an explanation, but…” She paused. “You owe me one too. You skipped town and all you left was a ten-word note.” She stepped closer. “Three years—” She poked my chest with a fingernail. “—and not one call.” The blood-red nail stung like a hornet. “Not one text.” Poke. “Not even a postcard.” Poke. “And your cell. Stopped. Working.” Poke. Poke. Poke. “You mean to tell me you’ve been here the whole time?” Her tone said it was inconceivable anyone would want to visit the tiny town of Rattlesnake Bend, let alone live there. “I’ve been lots of places. This is just the most recent stop on my magical mystery tour.” The music and lyrics sprang unbidden in my head. I almost started singing. “Unbelievable!” She said, her smile gone. “I mean, what the hell, Jake. You disappeared! Even your aunt didn’t know where you went.” I shrugged. “Why, Jake? You never gave me a reason.” I shook my head, offering no explanation. Whatever I said would have been a lie, even if it was better than the truth. Her shoulders sagged and she looked down. “You left right about …you know my dad died, right?” I nodded. Yeah, I knew. I never meant to harm anyone. Only one person knows what happened, but she’ll never tell. And now my three-year disappearing act had been wasted. The one person I had strived to avoid had found me, was standing in front of me. And the right words wouldn’t come. Maybe there weren’t any right words. I closed my eyes and inhaled. The familiar scent of patchouli-laced perfume held hints of rain, mesquite, and prickly pear. Waves of memories flooded in but ebbed away on a tide of regret. I couldn’t get involved with her again. The old Jake had loved her, but the new Jake was with Carlota. Our eyes met, and I exhaled. The brunette cowgirl no longer hid her interest and openly stared. She hovered over Red’s most expensive pieces, jewelry boxes inlaid with turquoise and pipestone. The fringe on her western costume swayed with every movement. Our cashier Rosie squinted at me from the register. She’d give me hell later for distracting a customer. I pulled April behind a display of Texas-shaped cutting boards and dropped my voice. “I can’t explain. I just had to leave.” She rested her hand on my chest. My six-two frame dwarfed her by a foot. “Can’t we go somewhere and talk?” she whispered. “Please?” I must have been overtired because I relented. “Sure. Why not? The store closes in an hour. Let’s meet at the Cock ’N’ Bull.” I pointed in the pub’s direction. “It’s around the corner. Six o’clock.” “Um, I can’t meet you at six. I have a—a thing first. Can we get together later? Say, nine?” I sighed. “What is it this time? Save the horny toads?” “No! I have a reason for being in this one-horse town.” “Prairie chickens?” “Stop it, Jake! I didn’t come here looking for you. I was only killing time before my appointment and there you were.” She paused and bit her lower lip, a sure sign her mental gears were turning. “You know, I don’t know the area. Maybe you could come with me…” “Hmm. Who is this appointment with? And where?” “Some anonymous tipster. We’re supposed to meet at a place called Castro Park.” “That’s on the lake. Why would you want me there—to be, like, a bodyguard?” She responded with a sheepish smile and a small shrug that asked, “Pretty please?” better than mere words could express. There were two reasons to refuse. One of them was Carlota, and I couldn’t mention the other. Besides, April was a professional journalist. She’d done things like that a thousand times. She never needed me before; she didn’t need me then. I could just imagine Carlota’s eruption if she knew I was skulking about at night with my ex. “I don’t think so, April. I’ll meet you later, but you’ll have to make your cloak-and-dagger rendezvous on your own.” “Yeah, right. Thanks for nothing, Jake.” “So, will I see you?” “Maybe. I guess.” She said it without conviction. We exchanged cell numbers, and she left the store wearing an annoyed expression. She raised the hood of her raincoat against the dampness and didn’t look back. That was the last time I saw her alive. *** Excerpt from Murder is Personal by BJ Condike. Copyright 2026 by BJ Condike. Reproduced with permission from BJ Condike. All rights reserved.

 

 

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About Author BJ Condike:

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BJ Condike

BJ Condike learned his writing craft at SMU in Dallas, and has won numerous local and regional short story contests. BJ’s stories have appeared in several anthologies published by Granbury Writers’ Bloc, the North Dallas Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Key West Writers Guild where he serves as vice president. He is active in several writing clubs in Texas and Florida, and is currently marketing his debut novel Murder is Personal. In his spare time he plies the waters of the Florida Keys in his fishing boat Sea-Quel with his wife ML and their Welsh corgi Sophie.

Catch Up With BJ Condike:

www.BJCondike.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @bjcondike Instagram – @briancondike Threads – @briancondike X – @BjCondike TikTok – @rushmore71 Facebook – @BJCondike

 

Tour Participants:

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It’s Time to Get Personal with MURDER IS PERSONAL…
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A gifted psychic, tormented by a serial killer who has the
key to his mind, finds hope in a talented detective with a tortured past.
Together, they will learn what it means to trust again and fall into a love
they never thought they deserved.

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Breathe

A Soul’s Caress Book 1

by Camelia Bennett

Genre: LGBTQ+ Paranormal Romantic Murder Mystery

Zayne Matthews is looking for someone to save him. His
visions of a serial killer are pulling him deeper into a world of darkness he
no longer has the strength to fight against. Detective Bodie Hale is looking
for someone to save. His haunted past isolates him from the people who love and
care about him, imprisoning his heart behind icy walls no one can break
through.

But fate has plans for them. It will bring Bodie and Zayne together in a
collision of emotions, forcing them to face their deepest fears. Their broken
hearts will start to mend as they fight for a chance to have the one thing they
thought they’d never find…LOVE.

And not just any love. A love brought to life through A Soul’s Caress.

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Bodie stood and offered
his hand as if it was the most natural thing to do.

 

“Come on. The
aquarium staff is going home for the night. I’ll walk you back to your
car.”

 

Zayne cocked his head
sarcastically. “You don’t think I can take care of myself,
detective?”

 

“It’s not that.”

 

“Oh, I get it. Porter and Harris told you to keep an eye on me.”

 

“Actually, they told me the opposite.”

 

“Then why are you doing
all this? I mean, the ice cream, the aquarium, escorting me to my car.”

 

Zayne took a step closer
to the young man still holding his hand. A burst of heat erupted in his chest.
His skin felt like it was on fire. The scent of sandalwood swirling around him
tempted him to give in to the undeniable need coursing through his body. Unable
to resist, Zayne leaned even closer to the sexy detective.

 

“If I didn’t know better,
I’d say this was our first date, Detective Hale.”

 

Bodie’s expression
remained unchanged, but he couldn’t hide the lovely shade of pink that was now
coloring the tips of his ears.

 

Zayne’s thumb drew slow,
seductive circles on the back of Bodie’s hand. He daringly slipped his long,
elegant fingers between Bodie’s until their palms touched. When their grip
tightened with a natural ease, his heart stuttered as Bodie’s breathing quickened.
Their intimately joined hands sent the most exquisite tremors rushing through
his body.

 

“What are you doing?” Bodie whispered, his voice ragged.

 

“I don’t know. But it feels right. Doesn’t it?”

 

Zayne’s heart thrashed
wildly inside his tight chest as Bodie lifted his free hand and cupped the side
of his face. He could feel the calloused skin tenderly cradle the smooth skin
of his cheek. Giving in to his body’s demands, he closed his eyes and nuzzled
into Bodie’s warm hand.

 

“Zayne…we…we can’t.”

 

Zayne’s eyes shot open. He
wrenched his hand free and took three quick steps back.

 

“I-I-I’m so sorry! I don’t know what I…”

 

Bodie turned, heading for
the exit, his head hung low. “It…It’s fine. Come on. Follow me.”

 

Zayne couldn’t see the
detective’s face. But he could read Bodie’s body language loud and clear.

 

What the hell came over
him? Of course, Bodie would be disgusted. He’s a man, for god’s sake! A damn
hot man who, even if he was gay, would never be interested in Zayne.

 

This is crazy! I’m not
even gay! I’m not. At least, I’m pretty sure I’m not. I’m just tired, lonely,
and fucking horny. I can’t even remember the last time I got laid. This is
ridiculous. How am I going to look him in the eye after this? He probably hates
my guts. He’ll probably tell the captain he can’t work with me anymore.
Whatever. I didn’t want his help anyway.

 

“Are you coming?” Bodie asked.

 

But Zayne didn’t seem to
hear him. He remained where he was, internally scolding himself for acting like
a complete idiot. It wasn’t until he felt Bodie’s fingers threading through his
that he snapped out of his bubble of self-loathing. He looked into the
detective’s eyes, shocked to see a devilish satisfaction shadowed by a hint of
hope in their golden depths.

 

“I’m not angry,” Bodie
said softly, gently squeezing Zayne’s hand. “You’re tired and, just taking a
guess here, hungry?”

 

Zayne nodded. Well, he may
have read Bodie all wrong, but the detective knew exactly what he was feeling.
It was nice—really nice—to finally be seen by someone. Granted, it was by a
complete stranger, which was the damndest thing. Yet Bodie didn’t feel like a
stranger. How was that possible? Had they met before?

 

“Alright then. We’ll stop
for something on the way back to the station. But nothing greasy or spicy.
You’ll have nightmares.”

 

Zayne gave Bodie a broken smile.

 

Oh, Detective Hale. You
have no idea what a nightmare is. Trust me, junk food is the least of my
worries.

 

Zayne could tell Bodie was
trying to read his thoughts. The way a tiny wrinkle appeared between the
detective’s brows and his pale eyes danced with questions had Zayne thinking
hard about trusting this man with his secrets.

 

“Everything okay?” Bodie asked.

 

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

 

“Well then, follow me.”

 

Zayne shook his head
casually. “Not until you answer my question.”

 

“What question?”

 

“The one I asked earlier.”

 

“Ohhh. The one about why I’m doing all of this. That one?”

 

Giving Bodie an annoyed
smile, Zayne replied, “Yes, that one. I mean, you’re a detective sent here to
catch a serial killer. Shouldn’t you be out looking for clues or arresting
suspects instead of buying me food and taking me to see fish?”

 

A smile borne from honesty
lifted the corners of Bodie’s lips. “What can I say? I enjoy taking care of
you. I like to see you smile. You should do it more often. It’s sexy.”

 

Eyes wide and heart
racing, Zayne gulped down the words taking shape on his tongue. Bodie’s answer
caught him off guard and left him wondering if he was dreaming.

 

“Come on,” Bodie whined,
tugging on Zayne’s hand. “I won’t let you down. I promise.”

 

Of that simple fact, Zayne was now convinced.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“Do you trust me?”

 

Zayne looked into Bodie’s unrelenting gaze and answered from his heart.

 

“Absolutely.”

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Soul Moon: First Encounter 

Soul Moon Book 1

by Camelia Bennett

Genre: LGBTQ+ Urban Fantasy, Norse Mythology

Caden Mitchell, a wolf shifter, thinks he’s on a mission to
stop a deadly weapons exchange. What he finds instead is a pair of silver eyes
and a body carved by sin. Erick Shaw is a struggling bartender whose scent has
awakened Caden’s lonely heart and ignited a fire in his dying soul. Drawn
together by an unknown and inexplicable familiarity, they will search for
answers as to why humans want Erick dead and shifters wish to possess him.

Fate has brought them together for a reason. However, time is against them.
Will Caden be able to save Erick from the people hunting him? Can Erick change
his destiny and survive a horror none have been able to before?

Their hearts will be tempted, their bond tested. Yet, through it all, Caden and
Erick will follow the longing in their souls back to the one their passion
burns brightest for.

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* Goodreads

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Caden Mitchell wasn’t supposed to
be here. It wasn’t supposed to be him sitting in this seedy strip club,
avoiding the advances of women he had no interest in. Initially, his head of
security had been assigned to this location. But, when they got a last-minute
tip about an illegal shipment of drugs arriving tonight down at the harbor,
Caden was forced to take the mission at the club while his associate followed
the lead at the docks.

 

It really was the best plan.
Unfortunately, now he’s the one stuck sitting here in this hell of
overstimulation instead of the quiet of his condo, reading a good book while
enjoying a cup of tea.

 

The flashing, colorful lights
around him make his eyes hurt. The loud music, if you can even call it that,
feeds the headache clawing at the front of his skull. The pungent smell of the
filthy carpet, the ripped vinyl seats, and the smoky air all trigger waves of
nausea that churn his empty stomach. Everything about this place reeks of
desperation and sex.

 

From the moment he sat down over
an hour ago, Caden has kept his head and eyes down. He can’t afford to draw
attention to himself if he wants to complete his mission. However, as he
catches the scent of someone new walking through the doors, his head lifts
slightly so his sharp eyes can follow the man he was sent here to observe,
possibly capture, but most likely, kill.

 

His senses heighten as he watches
his target casually approach the bar and order a beer. The man dressed in a
blue suit too expensive for this cheap club turns to scan the crowd cautiously.
Caden quickly lowers his head again and casually takes the final sip of bourbon
from his glass. A minute ticks by before he looks up to zero in on his target
again.

 

But instead of finding his prey,
Caden is met with a pair of striking gray eyes staring back at him with an
arousing playfulness.

 

He can’t look away. Even though
his breaths remain slow and even, his heart rate accelerates like a racehorse
out of a starting gate. The blood in his veins burns like fire beneath his
skin, yet he keeps his expression shrouded with disinterest. Heated shivers
ripple outwards through his body as his eyes catch the faint, mischievous smile
taking shape on the bartender’s perfectly bowed lips. When the owner of those
mystifying silver eyes begins walking toward him, Caden’s grip on the empty
glass in his hand tightens. 

 

Everything in the club fades to
the background except for the man striding confidently to the small round table
in the corner, where Caden waits, his sensitive ears listening to the steady
beat of the bartender’s strong heart. His cobalt blue eyes catch every movement
of the young man’s sinewy muscles beneath his black, skin-tight jeans and
barely-there crimson red shirt. Everything about the bartender fascinates him.
But it’s the innocent man’s scent that truly captivates him.

 

Caden has never smelled anything
this heavenly before. The bartender’s fragrance is a potent blend of rosewood
and sweat, compelling him to inhale deeply until he can taste it on his tongue.
The combination is exhilarating, yet there’s something else subtly interwoven
beneath it that draws him in like a siren’s song—something Caden believes he
has smelled before but has been lost to him over time.

 

“What can I get you, handsome?”
the bartender asks with a flirty tilt of his head.

 

Caden’s fingers itch to bury
themselves in the man’s soft hair. The urge to pull on the strands at the root,
baring the man’s neck to his teeth, has him clenching his jaw. He swallows
stiffly as the bartender’s large, almond-shaped eyes openly travel up and down
his body. They’re lined with endless rows of black lashes so thick that it
gives the illusion that the young man is wearing eyeliner. It makes Caden want
to see if the barkeep is as dangerous as he looks. His eyes drink in the young
man’s bare arms, his mouth going dry when the sly minx of a man flexes his
biceps. The bartender has veiled them, along with the sun-kissed flesh covering
his exposed collarbones, with some sort of fine body glitter. The seductive
man’s naked skin glistens with every breath he takes, every minute shift of his
lean body, and all Caden wants to do is lick it off him. 

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When I was young, I read books to escape the small town I
grew up in. College, work, and family took me away from the stories I loved.
But in 2020, when everyone was isolated, my youngest daughter introduced me to
Japanese anime, and I fell into a hole I never want to leave. Fan fiction
showed me that anyone can create stories and share them with the world. Three
encouraging words from my best friend gave me the courage to write my first fan
fiction later that year. Not long after, I completed the series, A Soul’s
Caress, my first original story but not my last. At 55, I now understand the
meaning of George Eliot’s quote, “It’s never too late to be what you might
have been.”

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* Goodreads

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

 

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A human servant who sees too much.

A lord cursed in a pitch-black maze.

A throne in crisis with a missing heir.

Welcome to the Courts in Conflict.

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The Unseelie Heir’s Claim

Courts in Conflict Book 3

by Elisa Rae

Genre: Light Fantasy Romance, Romantasy

The Unseelie throne is in crisis, and the whole Wild Wood is
in an uproar as the hunt is on for the missing heir. Kent is aware of the news,
and even the humans just beyond the borders of fae land have heard rumors. He
didn’t think it had anything to do with him. But then he comes home to a
Dullahan in his mother’s kitchen claiming Kent is the lost heir.

Rue doesn’t belong. Left on the doorstep of the foundling home as a baby, she
only knows she has some fae blood. Now an adult, she hides her differences from
the humans beneath a quiet demeanor. But that doesn’t stop her from seeing
magical things, like a glowing crown on the head of her new friend.

The Unseelie Heir’s Claim is a
light, fantasy romance novella about a relationship between an Unseelie and a
fae of mixed blood. It features a reluctant lost heir, fated mates, and a
romance between a noble and a servant, all played out against a backdrop of the
peril, politics, and uncertainty of the Unseelie Court in crisis.

 

Amazon * Bookbub
* Goodreads

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Kent

The young woman started scrubbing the surface of the table
without a word, almost as though nothing had happened between her and Misha.

“How did you know I was here to speak to the tavern keeper?”
I asked.

She froze and hunched her shoulders.

“I didn’t mention it until a moment ago.”

“I guessed.” She resumed cleaning.

“You must be a very good guesser.”

Some of the tension in her narrow shoulders eased, probably
because she thought I had accepted her explanation.

Opening my magical senses, I detected a slight sensation of
power around her. It felt soft and nebulous. She probably had traces of fae
mixed blood a few generations old. Such wasn’t uncommon. There were quite a few
humans of mixed blood among the humans living right outside the fae realm.

Premonitions were common, which were really just unrealized
magical awarenesses passed down through the generations, were common.
Hereditary magic could manifest in an affinity for animals, plants, or trees. I
once encountered a man who could tell with perfect accuracy where to dig for a
reliable well, which was clearly a latent naiad magic that had survived many
generations of pure human matches.

“People call me Kent.”

She made a final swipe at the tabletop before straightening
and leveling a contemplative stare at my face. “Rue.”

“The plant or the feeling?” I asked.

Her eyebrows rose, which I interpreted as surprise. “The
plant.”

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The Fae King’s Labyrinth

Courts in Conflict Book 2

Someone stole Azulin’s true name. Cursed to ride with the
Wild Hunt during each full moon, he is helpless against the Unseelie king’s
will. Over the years, the curse’s grip has strengthened, making Azulin’s magic
difficult to control. Fighting the curse has exhausted his spirit to the point
that he despairs of breaking its hold on him. Then one full moon, the curse
places him in a labyrinth, not a hunt. Perhaps this is his chance, or maybe
just a new form of torture.

Calypso is a shapeshifter who can’t change form. Living as an unpaid caregiver
and laborer in her sister’s household, her presence is barely tolerated in
their insular community. When a strange fae threatens her pregnant sister,
Calypso sacrifices herself. Perhaps an honorable death would give her life
purpose. Instead, she ended up fighting for her life in a pitch-black
labyrinth.

The Fae King’s Labyrinth is a light,
fantasy romance novella about a relationship between a Seelie fae and a mortal
woman. It features fae, found family, fated mates, and a romance between a
noble and a commoner, played out in a perilous maze and an equally dangerous
fae court.

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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The Unseelie’s Wallflower

Courts in Conflict Book 1

Greyson hides many things from the Unseelie Court when they
invade his estate each autumn for the Wild Hunt. During his required appearance
as host, he is surprised to find a human among the glittering fae. She can see
him even when he is using his stealth magic, which means only one thing—they
are soul mates. Can he protect her amidst the swirl of fae politics and a plot
against her life?

Lyra has grown up among the fae. She has been trained to be the perfect
servant. Then her master brings her to the Unseelie Court event of the year and
demands she demonstrate her skills to nobles. With the promise of freedom as a
motivator, she willingly agrees. Then she realizes her master’s true plan
thanks to the intimidating fae lord hosting the event. Though why he would be
invested in her fate is a mystery.

The
Unseelie’s Wallflower
is a
light, fantasy romance novella about a relationship between an Unseelie and a
human woman. It features faes, fated mates, and a romance between a noble and a
servant, all played out against a backdrop of the peril, politics, and
maneuverings of the Unseelie Court.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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A reader of fairytales and folklore, Elisa Rae loves a happy
ending. Noblebright characters, dastardly villains, and chemistry between
characters delight her. When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch superhero
movies and literary dramas.

Elisa Rae is the pen name of Rachel Rossano.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

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 Women’s Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance
Date Published: 11-10-2026

 

 San Francisco, 1967. The Summer of Love promises radical freedom—but for
twenty-year-old Juliette, it becomes a dangerous trap.
Desperate
to escape her conventional family, Juliette shocks her parents by announcing
her engagement to David, a long-haired free spirit. When her father,
Tristan—a famous novelist harboring a tragic past—vehemently
forbids the union, Juliette acts on impulse. In the dead of night, she climbs
out her window and flees with David to the counterculture epicenter of
Haight-Ashbury.
But beneath the cloud of incense and rock ‘n’
roll, independence carries a steep price. As David drifts into a haze of drugs
and broken promises, Juliette’s bohemian dream shatters. Back home, her
flight reopens old wounds. Her fiercely protective mother, Lorna, must help
Tristan confront the shadows of his past as they desperately try to pull their
daughter back from the edge before it’s too late.

 

It’s
All About Love
is a poignant coming-of-age story about the fragile line
between rebellion and destruction and the enduring, messy grace of family.

 

About Author Cynthia Hilston

 

Bestselling and award-winning author of the Lorna
& Tristan Series, Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young
kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has
always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the
world of fan fiction, she has stepped away to do her debut dance with original
works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.
In her spare
time–what spare time?–she devours books, pets her kitties, looks
at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what
other stories she wishes to tell.
Contact Links
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Poetry / Flash

Date Published: 11-10-2026

Publisher: Shanti Arts

The poems and prose of Hunting the Cosmos engage with and interrogate
the art of midcentury Spanish-Mexican surreal artist Remedios Varo, expanding
the absurd dreamwork, surprising realities, and meanings of paintings and
text. The occult, technology, fairy tales, and religion all play roles.
Transformation through alchemy, magic, and science is a significant theme, as
well as the metamorphosis of art and experience into new art. Award-winning
poet Luanne Castle brings Varo’s sensibilities to life on the page in
this beautiful ekphrastic collection of prose poems, lyric poems, and
microfiction.

 

 

About Author Luanne Castle
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 Hunting the Cosmos is Luanne Castle’s sixth book. She has published four
award-winning poetry collections and Scrap: Salvaging a Family, a memoir in
flash. Her poetry and prose have appeared in Copper Nickel, River Teeth, Your
Impossible Voice, JMWW, Grist, Fourteen Hills, Verse Daily, One Art, Lunch
Ticket, Saranac Review, Pleiades, The Ekphrastic Review, The Mackinaw,
Thimble, Flash Boulevard, Cleaver, Moon City, Moon Park, Anti-Heroin Chic,
Bending Genres, BULL, and more. Her mixed media collages have been published
in many journals.

 

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