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We are bringing our love of books and the authors that write them to you!!
Hopefully you will enjoy reading them as much as we did ♥
Cartel romance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, protective hero, unexpected love, independent heroine, he falls first, age-gap, organized crime, morally gray hero, widow heroine, trauma recovery, dangerous romance
As a newly declared lieutenant in the Roríguez cartel, I’m told I need a wife. The cartel allegiance with the Luciano family has mandated multiple matrimonial mergers. However, I’m not looking for a wife in the true sense of the word. Liliana Ruiz has been in my life for years. I’d never before looked at her as a woman to pursue. When I first met her, she was damaged and timid.
Time allowed Liliana to grow into not only a beautiful woman, but an independent soul. She doesn’t want to marry, yet the time will come when it isn’t her choice. Maybe I can convince her to a mutually agreeable solution: marriage in name only.
Everything changes when danger threatens the Roríguez cartel.
Spend the holidays with the familiar characters from the Luciano famiglia and Roríguez cartel in this 34,000-word Brutal Vows novella—complete story with HEA.
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years, they've raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns or her new lighter side, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Some houses beg
to be saved. Others demand justice--no matter the cost...
All renowned
restorer Riggs McClaine wanted to do was renovate his family's long-abandoned
mansion and put Jasper Lake in his rearview. It's just his misfortune
that fate--and the ghost of Gloria Radcliff--have other plans...
Ashlee Radcliff
had heard the gossip about her great-aunt Gloria's mysterious death, but she'd
never believed any of it. Until the distractingly sexy Riggs shows up at her
bed-and-breakfast and makes her rethink everything she thought she knew about
her family...
While Riggs and
Ashlee are drawn together by an attraction as inexplicable as the supernatural
mystery surrounding them, the mansion grows darker, the hauntings more ominous.
In a house built on shattered memories, is love powerful enough to silence the past?
The House of
Shattered Memories, Book 1 in the Jasper Lake Series, is an emotional,
slow-burn romantic suspense/gothic romance with paranormal elements. Grab your
copy today and discover Jasper Lake, where restoration means breaking open the
walls--and the heart--to let the truth in.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle
Unlimited!
Maeve Garner grew
up in a small Midwestern town, where front porches, winding backroads, and
close-knit communities sparked her love for small town romance. When she's not
writing, Maeve enjoys cooking for her family, tending to her flowers, and
planning her next adventure--preferably somewhere with beautiful views and a
cozy place to relax. She has a soft spot for dogs and happily-ever-afters, and
most days you'll find her in her favorite chair, dreaming up swoon-worthy
heroes and spirited heroines who always find their way home.
The Ordinary Bruja: Marisol’s Story Johanny Ortega (Las Cerradoras, #1) Publication date: November 1st 2025 Genres: Adult, Horror, Magical Realism, Psychological
The Ordinary Bruja is a haunting and heartfelt coming-of-age novel wrapped in Dominican magical realism and psychological horror.
Marisol Espinal doesn’t believe she’s special. Not when she’s back in her small Ohio hometown, working as a barista, haunted by grief and the girls who once made her life hell. But when mirrors flicker with strange words, cigar smoke curls where no one is smoking, and voices whisper from Hallowthorn Hill, she realizes something darker has always been watching.
The Espinal family magic was buried generations ago-forced into silence by Salvador, the ancestor who bound their power for himself. Now his ghost feeds on fear and doubt, and Marisol is his next target. To survive, she must reclaim her heritage, unearth the truth hidden in her mother’s journal, and face the hill that has been waiting for her all along.
Atmospheric and emotionally charged, The Ordinary Bruja blends generational trauma, identity reclamation, and queer love with a creeping sense of dread. Perfect for fans of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and Mexican Gothic, this novel asks: What does it cost to embrace every part of yourself-even the parts the world taught you to bury?
“Ten months since she had dropped out and came home, to the place she promised herself she’d never return to. She was bad at keeping promises. That was for sure.”
—
“There is spirituality, magic, ghosts, there is plenty of love, there is loss; and above all there is familia, both genetic and of choice.”
“…An impactful horror story that blew me away.”
“This book . . . pushed me to confront my own assumptions about history.”
“You can absolutely feel the anguish Marisol feels at the loss of her mother.”
“I absolutely enjoyed “The Ordinary Bruja”. It was a perfect mix between horror (with a slight humor – thank you early Marisol and her “nope” moments + Kia) and a story that shows you that you need to find your own way, even if everything is pushing you down.”
Johanny Ortega is a Dominican American author who writes across genres—blending psychological horror, literary fiction, magical realism, and thrillers that punch you right in the gut. Whether writing about haunted hills, generational trauma, or the quiet unraveling of everyday life, her stories center marginalized voices, morally complex women, and the messy truth about survival.
She is the founder of Have a Cup of Johanny, a creative platform where she blogs, podcasts, and advocates for inclusive storytelling. Her award-winning middle-grade and adult fiction has resonated with readers who crave depth, grit, and emotional honesty.
When she’s not writing, she’s raising kids in a blended military family, reading books that wreck her soul in the best way, and saying what others are afraid to.
Behind the Mirror Bridget Budd Publication date: July 1st 2025 Genres: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Behind the Mirror is a powerful, character-driven novel about emotional healing, generational trauma, and the courage it takes to stop performing and start living your truth.
Sometimes, the hardest person to face is the one behind the mirror…
Julie Sloan was shaped by abandonment early in life—left behind by the people who were supposed to love her first. In the absence of emotional safety, she became what the world rewarded: high-achieving, self-sacrificing, and always performing. Through four marriages, she searched for stability while suppressing her deepest fears—that she was unworthy of lasting love, and too broken to be fully seen.
But when her fourth marriage nearly collapsed, something shifted. It wasn’t betrayal that broke her—it was the quiet realization that she had never truly lived for herself.
What followed was a reckoning: with her past, with the roles she had played to survive, and with the parts of herself she had long silenced.
Now, years later, a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist named Laura wants to profile Julie’s nonprofit work—an organization devoted to helping women heal from emotional wounds. But what begins as a success story takes a deeper turn as Julie reveals the story behind the story—the one she’s never shared publicly. The one about how she abandoned herself first.
For readers drawn to novels about inner child work, identity, and spiritual awakening, this deeply personal journey will leave you both broken open and quietly restored.
Julie Sloan had everything she thought she wanted—success, love, stability—but beneath the perfection was an exhaustion she couldn’t name. In this scene from Behind the Mirror, she begins to see the quiet cost of performing her way through life.
I had and have everything I had dreamed of. This gorgeous house, an indoor pool, a home gym, a massage room, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. Plus, I drive a super-fun and sporty Porsche 718 Boxster in Carmine Red … Nothing beats the top down on the glorious sunny days we have here.
But I was perpetually unhappy and had no idea why.
Did you notice that all those things I listed as being everything I dreamed of were external? None of them reflected satisfaction from the inside out. I was living from the outside in. Even as recently as ten years ago, I was stuck in that familiar pattern of thinking that I wasn’t worthy whenever someone did something kind for me.
… I was perpetually chasing the next goal, the next fix, the next thing that might finally make me feel whole. What I couldn’t see then was that the exhaustion I felt wasn’t from doing too much—it was from being someone I wasn’t.
I had mastered the art of performing for love, of polishing every rough edge until there was no “me” left underneath. The burnout wasn’t from my schedule; it was from the story I kept trying to live up to.
It’s strange, really, how easy it is to confuse performing with being alive. But when the performance ends—when the lights go down and the applause fades—what’s left is silence. And in that silence, I finally started to hear something truer than all the noise: myself.
Bridget Budd is the author of Behind the Mirror, a debut novel that blends literary storytelling with therapeutic insight.
After more than twenty-five years in corporate sales, she stepped away to explore the emotional patterns beneath her success—and the cost of always holding it together.
Her work lives at the intersection of fiction and healing, drawing from her background in trauma-informed coaching, somatics, and holistic health. Bridget writes and speaks about identity, self-worth, and the shift from performing to presence.
Often described as “fiction with emotional teeth,” her stories are crafted for deep feelers, recovering perfectionists, and anyone quietly exhausted from chasing “enough.”
She divides her time between Marco Island, Florida, and Marvin, North Carolina, with her husband and two opinionated dogs.
The Bridge Shanna Hatfield Publication date: October 7th 2025 Genres: Adult, Holiday, Women’s Fiction
One Bridge. Five Strangers. A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.
On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.
Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer’s expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.
Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.
Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee’s baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.
Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.
Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian’s running late when his car won’t start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.
The Bridge is the perfect uplifting holiday read and a story of how one frozen moment can thaw even the loneliest of hearts.
He’d just stepped outside when he saw a vehicle roaring up the street. The rideshare logo was clearly visible in the passenger-side corner of the windshield. He hoped the maniac driving the small SUV wouldn’t kill him in a fiery crash before they even made it out of the neighborhood.
He lifted a hand as he stepped out to the curb, and the SUV came to a precise stop beside him. All he had to do was open the door and slide into the back seat.
“You’re the dude heading to Magra? Ian Alexander?” the driver asked, giving him a glimpse over her shoulder.
Ian nodded, then cleared his throat. “Yes. I’m Ian. Do you have the address?”
“Got it right here,” she said, then blew a big pink bubble and popped her gum.
He was in the process of buckling his seat belt when she hit the gas and zipped into the street, barely slowed at the corner, and picked up speed as she headed toward the highway.
Ian prayed he’d survive the trip and wouldn’t be so rattled by the experience he’d mess up his interview. He drew in a long breath and inhaled a fragrance reminiscent of spiced cider and warm fires. He didn’t see an air freshener hanging up and wondered if it was just the driver. If so, she smelled amazing.
Head in the game.
Now was not the time to check out a girl. Besides, this one certainly wasn’t his type even if she appeared to be close to his age. From the quick glance she’d given him, he’d concluded she was into goth with her thick, black eyeliner and dark eye shadow, a nose ring, blood-red lipstick, and a dragon earring that encircled her entire ear. She had on fingerless gloves with leather cuffs and a black leather jacket sporting silver studs around the collar. He had no idea what color her hair might have been because it was all stuffed up under a slouchy black velvet hat.
He wondered what she’d look like if she washed her face and dressed in something less biker chic and more … feminine.
Ian almost face-palmed himself. Good grief! He was starting to sound like his parents. He didn’t care if the woman was dressed as one of Santa’s elves as long as she got him to his interview on time, preferably in one piece.
To distract himself from the fact that goth girl seemed to think she was training for the Indy 500 or perhaps to become a New York City cab driver, he rehearsed what he planned to say at the interview. When it felt as though the SUV went around a corner on two wheels, Ian latched onto the handle above the door and held on for dear life. What kind of crazy person was about to get him killed?
“Ever think about becoming a race car driver?” he asked as she barely slowed at a stop sign and took a right onto the highway.
She glanced back at him and smirked. “Only every other day. Unfortunately for you, today is an even day, and I’m practicing.”
Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.
Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield
In a kingdom ruled by angels, falling for a demon is treason.
Blurb
As an angel prince of Heaven, Raphael has spent his youth fighting for demon rights. His efforts are fruitless until he meets Dante, a demon with dangerous powers.
Seeing potential, Raphael recruits him as his royal guard, scandalizing the court, and turning a demon into his closest ally in a mission to dethrone the King of Heaven.
Dante has always hated angels, but after Prince Raphael saves him from execution, he couldn’t help but follow him. Being the only demon among the angel elite is unbearable, but for the first time, he has hope for the future.
But a coup is a dangerous game. Can Dante protect Raphael long enough for him to ignite real change? And what does it mean for the Kingdom of Heaven when an angel and a demon dare to fall for each other?
Finalist of the 2023 Indies Today Awards.
BOOK 2
Book Title: The Secrets of Heaven
Cover Artist: MiblArt
Length: 105 000 words
Release Date: second edition, February 2025
Tropes: Quest fantasy, established couple, power couple, couple on the lam
Themes: more classism than racism in this one, travel adventure vibes
It is not a standalone story and ends on a cliffhanger.
An angel and a demon defied Heaven. Now Heaven hunts them across the world.
Blurb
Five years of stolen peace in the mountains ends when Archangel Remiel, Heaven’s most elite investigator, finds Raphael and Dante’s sanctuary. Tasked with sending the fugitives to their lawful executions, she forces the couple into a life on the run.
Meanwhile, Raphael stumbles upon a clue to his mother’s lost legacy—the archeological artifact that caused her murder all those years ago might be within reach, and it might throw all of Heaven into chaos.
So, the chase is on.
Raphael and Dante travel through three continents, on their way to a secluded island in the Holy Land while evading Remiel’s elite guardian squad. With a prize for their capture, they’re forced to clash with old friends and foes, all eager to exploit their situation for personal gain, and their bond is tested in ways they never imagined.
But the closer they get to the truth, the higher the stakes become. What secrets lie buried in the Holy Land? And will Heaven survive what they uncover—or will it burn?
BOOK 3 - NEW RELEASE
Book Title: The Children of Heaven
Length: 115 000 words
Release Date: November 1, 2025
Tropes: Angels and demons, rebellion, married couple, power couple
Themes: Themes of belonging, family, tragedy
It is not a standalone story. It does not end on a cliffhanger. A Happily Ever After.
To build a better world, they must first burn the old one down.
Blurb
Michael Azelys has awakened a long-forgotten power, and for the first time in a thousand years, angels, demons, and virtues clash in a brutal uprising, reminiscent of the Great War.
Determined to stop his brother, Raphael becomes the key to ending the centuries-long oppression of demonkind. He will return free will to the demons, or die trying.
Far away, Dante braves the desolate Impact Land in search of other awakened demons like himself. What he discovers exceeds his wildest hopes. But will he return in time, with an army strong enough to stop Michael Azelys, and save his loved ones?
As Heaven crumbles and distance tests their bond, Raphael and Dante must face their greatest fears and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice.
Will they survive long enough to meet each other again?
Excerpt From Book #1: The Enemy of Heaven
Without saying a word, Samuel Mitrigard sunk the knife deep into Dante’s side. Piercing pain ignited his senses and weakness spread through his body. He gritted his teeth and glared at the bastard, not giving him the satisfaction of hearing his anguish. Samuel pulled the blade out without even twisting it to finish the job. He was playing.
“Drop him,” he ordered, ever so casually.
The arms pulled away and Dante fell face-first into the dirt. So, this was the end. Dante could never imagine his death, even though he had many close brushes. There were many things he hadn’t done in his life, but at least he took solace in knowing that Peter and Dianna were safe.
Samuel Mitrigard grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled Dante’s head. The edge of an impeccably clean sword lowered to his exposed throat.
“Halt!”
The guardian angels froze and gawked as a hooded figure appeared. Dante could swear he saw this hooded figure, but his vision was blurring quickly. The man walked closer and removed his hood, exposing a blond head and blue angel eyes.
“Don’t kill this demon! I order you to release him in the name of Raphael Azelys, Third Prince of Heaven!”
What did he say? Dante couldn’t trust his ears, or any of his other senses at this moment. A royal heir could not be in the ghetto. It made no sense. Though the guardians were suddenly standing to attention. Everyone but Samuel Mitrigard still held his prey by the hair, his sword still ready to slice.
“Your Highness, I don’t know why you’re here alone, but this is not the place for royalty.”
“Please, guardian Samuel, tell me exactly where my place is.”
Dante felt the body behind him tense. The soles of ridiculously expensive boots stepped close enough for him to smell the leather.
“Remove your weapon,” demanded the prince.
His voice was so calm, as though an owner was asking his dog to drop its favorite toy. The guardians were looking at each other, clueless as to what to do. Samuel Mitrigard pressed the blade against Dante’s throat, enough to break the skin, but no further. He simply did not want to let go, not even when his sovereign demanded it.
“Your Highness, this is a convicted murderer. He killed a guardian on duty—”
“Any demon’s crimes are erased should they become an honorary angel,” the prince interrupted. “I’m here to make him into one.”
“What?”
“Give him to me, guardian Samuel.”
The guardian tugged on Dante’s hair—one last act of defiance before he reluctantly let him go. Dante’s face planted back into the dirt, but the prince caught him in time.
His vision was blurry, but he could see him. His Royal Highness Raphael Azelys was kneeling before him, supporting his chin in his palm, enough so they could establish eye contact.
“From now on, you’re mine,” he said, and the world sank into darkness.
About the Author
A bilingual author from Bulgaria, a dreamer, a traveler, and a gentle soul who loves writing about diverse power couples, original worlds, wholesome romance and political intrigue.
