Barristers & Bones
J. L. Brannick
(Las Vegas House of Spades, #1)
Publication date: October 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Dark Comedy, Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense

A hot, morally gray mentor out for revenge. A sprawling funeral home. Torture, mayhem, and a Las Vegas wedding she can’t remember.

Luna needs to complete an internship to graduate, but staying alive suddenly takes priority when she’s paired with the cold, starkly handsome attorney from hell. Roman Fowler is an infamous partner at the most notorious law firm in Las Vegas, and he’s harboring deadly secrets and searching for retribution. And when he forces her hand, their chemistry explodes.

But she’s not a helpless, scared child anymore. The House of Spades–her adopted family–is a powerful, violent, oddly close-knit clan that has a hands-on, DIY approach to taking care of “life’s little problems.” They’re still deciding if Roman is a problem when Luna’s dark past threatens.

Can they fight the danger and menace together? Or will the monsters win again?

Goodreads / Amazon

--

EXCERPT:

He smirked and walked over, wrapping his arms around me. “Why do I feel there’s no right answer here?”

My lips quirked. “Because you’re smart, but you never listen.”
He bent down and sniffed my neck. “I do listen to you, especially when you’re

making those sexy little whimpers while I’m–”
I put my hand over his mouth. “If you start with the dirty talk, we’ll never make it

to Ezra’s house for dinner.”

Author Bio:

J. L. Brannick lives in the desert with her family and fur babies. She works as an attorney, and detoxes by taking long hikes and exploring old Western ghost towns while plotting her novels. She graduated from law school in Las Vegas, Nevada where she quickly realized that truth can be stranger than fiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

--

BEACON

Claire Kent

Release Date: October 11

AVAILABLE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

It might have taken ten years for Mack to fall apart, but now he has disappeared.

He's been the heart of our community since Impact, keeping all of us alive in a hostile, unstable world. Now he's been hurt after fighting one too many battles. He's retreated into a massive, dangerous forest to live on his own, and he won't come out.

Mack and I had an on-and-off relationship for years, but it's always been no strings attached. After a toxic marriage, I can't commit to another man until I'm confident I can stand on my own. But some things are more important than the emotional baggage I've always carried. Mack is more important.

And it's time to bring him home.

Beacon is a post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe, and it includes violence and (secondary) character death. It's the eighth and final book in the Kindled series.

Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. After teaching English at the university level for several years, she started writing full-time under two different pen names. She lives in Virginia.

Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.

Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams, and the best way to reach her is through her Noelle Adams email and social media accounts.

The Life Wish
Linda Kage
(The Seven, #3)
Publication date: October 3rd 2024
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

What if you fall in love with a ghost?

After four shots of cinnamon schnapps and something called heaven in a cup, Raina Bollen finally feels brave enough to meet her crush, star quarterback Foster Union.

Except her rideshare is involved in a car accident on the way there. Now she’s stuck in a coma, and her soul gets severed from her body, only to tether itself to none other than Foster himself.

Foster never wanted some random spirit to suddenly start riding shotgun in his life, but it doesn’t take long for Raina’s bubbly infectious personality to win him over. She’s just the breath of fresh air he craves because he’s been in need of some serious living himself.

Now if he could only figure out how to help her live in return.

Goodreads / Amazon / Bookbub / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

--

EXCERPT:

“This is bad. This is bad. This is really, really bad,” she chanted to herself, freaking out as she shook her hands and glanced around my room as if she’d just found herself in a dungeon. “He couldn’t see me. Why couldn’t he see me?” Focusing on me, she demanded. “Can you still see me?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “I can see you. And hear you.”

“Well, what does that mean?” she cried.

“I…” I lifted my hands to look at this objectively. “I’m not completely sure. But I’m guessing that either you’re a figment of my imagination, and I’m hallucinating right now, or—”

When I paused at the second option, she stepped closer. “Or what?”

“Or…” I blew out a breath and couldn’t believe I was going to even suggest this before I just blurted, “Maybe you’re a ghost.”

“A ghost?” She blinked at me once, then blurted out a laugh before stopping abruptly to scowl. “No. No!” Shaking her head, she began to pace the room. “I don’t like that option. Being a ghost would mean I’m dead. And I’m not dead.”

“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly.

Halting abruptly, she swerved around to send me a harsh scowl. “I think I would know if I was dead!”

“You’d think you’d know your own name, too,” I countered with a cringe.

She gasped, insulted, and then narrowed her eyes. “Okay. Alright. Fair point. But if I was dead, could I do this?”

Spotting my wallet and keys sitting on top of my dresser, she tried to sweep them off with a swing of her hand.

Except she missed.

“What the hell?” Blinking in confusion, she tried again, but her hand went straight through the items.

Easing forward, I pointed out a single finger and nudged the keys, making them scrape across the top of the dresser.

“Oh, dear God,” she breathed, turning to send me a horrified grimace. “Am I dead?”

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly. “But I’ve never been able to see ghosts before, and I’m positive I’ve been in the presence of a few.”

“Then I’m not dead,” she answered astutely and tried to grab my arm to prove it, only to cause a cool, misting sensation to coat my flesh when her fingers went right through me. “Ugh!”

I glanced down at the spot she’d tried to touch and then back up again. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re not exactly alive either.”

Author Bio:

Linda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy. Most Kage stories lean more toward the lighter, sillier side with a couple meaningful moments thrown in. Focuses more on entertainment value and emotional impact.
Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children's literature from The Institute of Children's Literature. Then graduated with a Bachelors in Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.

Now she lives with hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.

Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can't decide). Justice League Team Flash. Arrow Team Stephen Amell. Stranger Things obsessed. Heard Laurel, not Yanny.

Started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club. Then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now all over the place with her romance reading tastes.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

--

ALL THE AFTERS

J.H. Croix

Release Date: October 7

I’m falling in love with a firefighter, and I’m pregnant.

Big problem: It’s not his baby.

When I met Griffin Cannon, I fainted. He saved me from face-planting into the gravel. He’s the rescue-y, protective type, which fits seeing as he’s a hotshot firefighter. 

I didn’t think I’d ever see him after that. Until he saves me again. Just when I think maybe fate is trying to throw me into his arms, my life skids sideways in a big way. I’m pregnant. The guy who should step up skips town instead.

Scrambling, I accept a new job and move. I figure Griffin is in my rear-view mirror, yet fate brings him back into my life. I’m working for his brother and Griffin’s the newest smokin’ hot firefighter in town. He can have any woman he wants, while I’m busy learning how to live without sleep and win awards for the most-frumpy single mom ever. 

And yet, Griffin wants to cook me dinner. From changing diapers to so much more, he’s there as I stumble through the stress-fest of my life. I don’t even believe in love. But when a firefighter with a heart of gold does the dishes, it’s near impossible to resist.

Griffin & Tish’s story is perfect for readers who love: protective firefighters, slow burn, he falls first, workplace romance, boss’s brother, small town gossip, emotional romance with a dash of angst, oodles of steam and swoon, and a golden retriever hero who takes protecting the woman he loves as the most important job in his life.

*A full-length, standalone romance.

Buy your copy HERE

Meet J.H. Croix:

Keep up with J.H. Croix and subscribe to her newsletter: https://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/

To learn more about J.H. Croix & her books, visit here!

Connect with J.H. Croix:

https://jhcroixauthor.com/connect/

Hosted By:

Tender Temptation
Kaylene Winter
(Charming Irish, #1)
Publication date: October 3rd 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Tender Temptation is a scorching tale of age-gap, insta-forbidden-love, hidden identities, coming of age, and second chances.

I’m a master at rebuilding structures, yet my own life is a constant work in progress. As the middle brother in a family of superstars, I’ve battled alcohol addiction and shoulder the hefty challenge of taking over the family business.

My world makes a seismic shift when I fall hard for Ivy Bright, a vibrant, enigmatic firecracker whose captivating energy makes me feel invincible.

Ivy is more than just a spark in my shadowed world—she’s a blaze. Her luminous presence ignites a clandestine desire in me that I can’t resist. But Ivy harbors deep secrets and a tragic past that keeps her trapped in a life she never chose. Despite our undeniable chemistry, her decision to conceal her age and identity backfires spectacularly, threatening to unravel both our hearts.

Years later, will our rekindled passion withstand buried secrets that come to light, or will the truths of our past push us apart forever?

Goodreads / Purchase

--

EXCERPT:

Jesus. Will the rain ever fucking stop?

Hustling down Second Avenue, with little reprieve from the endless downpour, I try to pull my heavy canvas jacket closed, my flannel shirt and black jeans are practically plastered to my body. Water sloshes into my work boots as I try to navigate glistening puddles pooling on the sidewalk.

I’m soaked to the bone.

Like most native Seattleites, I don’t own a fucking umbrella.

Stubbornly stupid.

Ah, fuck it. I deserve to be wet and uncomfortable. After the day I’ve had, I might as well get the flu on top of it.

Finally, I spy the green awning up ahead despite the darkened skies. A few more steps and I push through door of the Metropolitan Grill, a Seattle steakhouse institution. Veering left to avoid the hostess, I take a seat at the bar in all my damp glory.

Settling onto my usual stool with embarrassingly practiced ease, I’m self-aware enough to realize it’s an act of defiance against my wicked cravings. My eyes, inadvertently—or advertently, who the fuck knows—drift to the rows of amber bottles gleaming against the under light of the glass shelving.

Particularly to the whiskey. Lord, what I’d give for a fucking taste. How I’d savor it. Vanilla and smoky oak. Sweet notes of caramel and honey. A hint of fruit, either orange zest or a slice of crisp apple. I shut my eyes and practically feel the warmth enveloping me in a comforting glow, radiating through every vein and easing the burdens of my mind. Soothing the aches of my soul. Wrapping around me like a soft, fluffy blanket on a shitty Seattle night.

It’s been over a year since I’ve had a sip. Even though every day is a battle, I haven’t been tempted in months. Today, though, the fight feels harder. The liquor more alluring.

Freddy, the bartender whom I’ve known for years, sets down a tonic water with lime in front of me. I grip the cool, clear glass tightly, hoping the lime’s sharp scent will override the memory of peat and warmth. The guy in a suit two seats down orders a Red Breast neat. My jaw clenches with envy. The liquid gold catches the light as Freddy pours it with an easy flick of the wrist.

Mesmerizing.

Tamping down the old, familiar ache, I turn away. Focus on the clink of glasses and the murmur of conversations around me—anything to drown out the noise in my head. It’s a silent struggle, unseen by the laughing customers in the busy restaurant.

I take a sip of my tonic, the fizz biting at my tongue. It’s a pale imitation of what I truly crave, but at least it’s safe. Necessary. I’m fully aware of the consequences if I were to give in to my demons. I’ve lived and breathed them and won’t live one more day with regret coiling in my gut. Still, I need something…more.

“Hey, man. Can I get a hot coffee?” I tap the polished wood with my finger to get Freddy’s attention. “I’m soaking wet and fucking freezing.”

“Sure.” Seconds later he hands me a steaming mug. “Cream or sugar?”

“Both.” I slide a twenty toward him. Coffee is no substitute for the nectar of the gods, but at least it will warm me up and keep me sober.

Hell, it’s no small feat considering what happened today. Suddenly, I’m on the brink of losing my shit and I have no one to blame but myself.

Well, maybe my stupid, inherited addiction genes. Memories of my da’s spiral into alcoholism invade my thoughts. Barely a teenager when he crashed and burned. I was instrumental in helping him rebuild the business he founded once he got sober. A decade ago, I took over as CEO and now McGloughlin Construction, is the biggest game in town. For what?

A terrible mistake I made three years ago coming back to haunt me and destroy all my hard work?

Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

--

Young Adult Contemporary

Date Published: 09-26-2024

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Do you know what it's like to win an Olympic gold, then have it stripped away? I do.

Gold is every figure skater's life dream. At fifteen, I experienced the thrill of wearing the medal for a few minutes until judges accuse me of being too young to be eligible. That's when I realize my father's ultimate lie could cost more than my title.

During our daring escape from Russia, I pressure my coach to tell the truth about my adoption. But the quad combination and two world titles aren't enough to keep the scandal from erasing my career and identity. Disgraced, disqualified, and devastated, I can't face a rink, fans, or daily life. My controlling dad's betrayal lights a fire to break free from his bad decisions. My best friend and a journalist who will tell my story step in to stop the downward spiral and help me uncover my past.

The story of Docia's fierce determination to discover her true identity, unerase her career, and find the passion to skate again will engage teen readers, figure skating fans, and anyone who's ever experience betrayal from someone close.

The next twenty-four hours will define the rest of my life—whether I’m a winner or a nobody. The familiar feel of my lucky gold pendant as I step onto Olympic ice centers me. The arena explodes with applause, just like I imagined during practice here yesterday. Spectators wave a color palette of flags from around the world. Television cameras and photographers line each end of the rink.

I skate around the edge, then stop in the center of the five rings painted in the ice. As irritating as the sequins are on my shoulder, I do not adjust the strap.

At the sound of the first notes of my music, everything Lena taught me flows through my feet, my fingers. I nail the triple-triple jump combination. The quad Lutz entry is wobbly after the ridiculous footwork Dad insisted on. A hand down on the ice saves it. Then the triple Axel. Just footwork and a spin left in the two minutes and forty seconds. I’m running on pure adrenaline and muscle memory, a marionette on Dad’s strings.

About the Author

Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. As a child, she was constantly in trouble for hiding under the bed to read when she was supposed to be napping. She has been writing since childhood starting with diaries, letters, and short stories. She now writes new adult and adult speculative and romantic suspense, and young adult contemporary fiction. Addison’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing, and hanging out with her artistic other half and their geriatric kitten Lucy.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

YouTube

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Publisher