Archive for September 11, 2026

 

My Best Four Years

By Megan Linski

 

Publication date: September 11th 2026
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Young Adult

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Megan Linski paints a hallmark to grief in this story of a heartbreaking best friend break up that’s emotionally unforgettable.

Aria and Lucky are two best friends who managed to survive high school, though not everyone did. They live in a small town that’s determined to destroy everyone’s dreams, but when they’re together, the two girls soar. The adults in their lives swear there’s no way out of their tiny hometown, but Aria and Lucky promise each other they’re going to run away together, believing the music they make is going to change the world.

Until one of them leaves, and the other stays. Aria finds herself looking back on her past, struggling to find where she belongs in a place that wishes to stomp out her light. Lucky’s rise and fall is brighter than a supernova, dazzling and destroying whatever it touches.

Then the unthinkable happens, and their friendship is left in the remnants of what comes after.

Lucky promised Aria forever. But forever turns out to be far shorter than either of them thought it could be.

An honest, endearing novel, My Best Four Years is a devastating portrayal of the power of unconditional friendship, and the loss that is felt when those we love are left behind.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Are you ready for this?” Lucky asked. The rhinestones on her guitar glimmered as she slipped the strap over her shoulder. We were behind a curtain that led to the small stage of a local bar, where a dozen patrons clattered about. We’d been selected as the headlining act for a band that played regularly on Friday nights, and we were so nervous.

Lucky’s face was pale white. I was sure mine looked the same. Our first live show. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“It’s our time,” I said confidently. “Let’s get out there.”

The curtain was pulled aside, and we strode on stage in unison as the announcer introduced us. I took my stance at the keyboard, took a deep breath, and began to sing.

We started off strong, and got an enthusiastic response from the crowd during the first song. The next song was a little shaky, but the longer we played, the more confident we became, until we’d nearly gone through every song we’d created. The crowd was really getting into the music.

As I played the keyboard, somebody caught my eye from the corner of the bar. The most handsome man I’d ever seen was leaning on the counter. He might’ve been a few years older than I was. I was absolutely captivated by his appearance, so much so that I nearly missed a note on the melody.

When I met his blue eyes, he gave me a smile. I bashfully looked down when we finished the song, and we went to take a bow as we wrapped up the show. The applause in the room was so loud, I could hardly hear myself think. The curtain was drawn, and I felt shaky on my feet as I realized we’d actually done it. We’d pulled off our first performance!

“That was amazing!” Lucky cheered. “I loved every minute! The lights, the stage! It made me feel so alive!”

“It was incredible,” I gushed. “I’m so proud of us, Lucky!”

I gave her a squealing hug. We cheerfully hopped off stage, then headed to the bar to get a drink. People clapped us on the back and congratulated us as we walked through the bar, thanking us for the performance.

While we were sipping on virgin cocktails, Lucky’s phone rang. She picked it up, a huge smile spread across her face. “Hello, Carla! Yeah, we just got done! It was amazing. I wish you were here to see it…”

Her words trailed off. The smile slid off Lucky’s face. After a few moments, she nodded, and hung up the phone with a vacant gaze.

“It’s Carla,” she said. “She’s in the parking lot waiting to pick me up. She says we have to talk.”

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About Author Megan Linski:

Megan Linski is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author who lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than sixty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.

Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.

Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.

Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

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GIVEAWAY

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My Best Four Years 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.

 

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She was looking for a fresh start,

but some families hide
dark truths behind closed doors.

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The Au Pair’s Deception

by C.J. Covino

Genre: Psychological Domestic Suspense, Crime Thriller

 

Claire Sinclair knows what it means to survive.

After a childhood shaped by trauma, she’s built a life
rooted in stability—a thriving career, a home filled with love, and a devoted
husband everyone envies.

But when Bella arrives as an au pair, the carefully
constructed world Claire depends on begins to unravel.

At first, it’s subtle. A shift in tone. A look held too
long. A moment that feels wrong—but not wrong enough.

Until it is.

As Grant’s behavior escalates, Claire begins to question
herself—her instincts, her memories, the quiet unease she can’t quite explain.
For the sake of her daughter, she holds on…even as something inside her starts
to fracture.

But Bella sees what Claire can’t. She recognizes the signs.
The patterns. The danger.

Because she’s lived it before.

As the tension inside the house builds toward something
neither woman can ignore, the line between endurance and survival begins to
blur—and the choice Claire makes next could cost her everything.

A layered
psychological thriller told through dual perspectives, The Au Pair’s
Deception
explores what happens when two women—both shaped by their
pasts—are forced to confront the same danger from different sides. Combining
escalating suspense with emotional depth, it’s a character-driven story of
survival, resilience, and the cost of breaking free.

Trigger Warning: This
book contains depictions of domestic abuse and violence which may be triggering
to some readers. Please read with caution.

**NEW RELEASE!**

Amazon * Bookbub
* Goodreads

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The warmth of her home should’ve been comforting, but Claire couldn’t stop
trembling. Every breath scraped her throat. Outside, the storm raged through
the upscale suburban neighborhood of Wellesley, muffling the world in white.
The eerie silence was broken only by the wind’s howl.  

She tried to sit up, but a wave of nausea forced her back into the blood-soaked
sheets. The air held the metallic tang of iron. Somewhere in the house—or was
it the wind?—something creaked. Her breathing grew labored, and something wet
and sticky clung to the back of her long blonde hair.   

A fresh surge of nausea swept over her as she attempted to sit up again.
Squeezing her eyes shut and reopening them didn’t wake her from what felt like
a nightmare. Each failed attempt spiked her panic.  

Rolling onto her side made her wince in pain. How long had she been lying here? Her
mind was foggy. Who else was home? Why wasn’t anyone coming? Someone must’ve
broken in during the storm. She remembered a rattle at the downstairs door
earlier that night.   

A figure took shape in the shadows—tall, or maybe it seemed that way in the
flickering light. His face was hidden, and his slow, deliberate breathing
filled the room. A scream formed in her throat, but what escaped was a broken
whisper, swallowed by the darkness.  

A dull, persistent ache throbbed at the back of her skull. Dizziness and nausea
pinned her in place. Each pulse landed like a hammer. 

She fluttered her eyelids. The figure was gone. Where had it gone?  

This has to be another nightmare,
she thought. 

She wished he were here. He always made her feel safe. Imagining his strong
arms wrapped around her and his deep, comforting voice brought a fleeting calm.
Her dry lips parted, but no name came out—just a hoarse whisper lost to the
wind pressing against the window.  

Claire propped herself up on one elbow and tried to gather her thoughts. She focused,
her vision adjusting to the darkness.   

The figure emerged again, and a familiar voice whispered, “It’s me. I’ve been
looking for you.”    

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By day, C.J. Covino is an online fitness coach helping
people live healthier lives. By night, she channels her devious side into
writing psychological suspense, starting with her debut novel, The Au Pair’s
Deception: When Love Turns to Lies. She resides in sunny Albuquerque with her
husband of 40 years, three grown kids who safely flew the coop, and a literal
zoo consisting of three dogs, a parrot, and a cat. She is powered almost
entirely by coffee, a passion for travel, and the thrill of a good plot twist.
Learn more at cjcovino.com and follow her writing journey on TikTok
@cjcovinoauthor.

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

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Enter The Au Pairs Deception 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.