Title: Defy the Stars Author: Cathrina Constantine Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Circus grunt. Charmer. Fire wrangler. Growing up within the grind of the enchanted Circus Faire, Crew’s unique talents have blossomed. Though, he’s been warned that the King of Hawkswing is determined to eradicate a certain species, and for his own sake Crew must keep his formidable gifts under wraps.
Relations between interspecies caused an imbalance of power and now are strictly forbidden. Dolorans, like Sage and her sister, are being hunted and persecuted because of their intense powers, leaving them no choice but to run to escape the genocide of their kind.
She possesses a forceful energy for good and evil. His untapped powers are growing stronger by the day. Survival will demand they rely on each other.
When Crew learns a dark wizard is holding his brother captive, he enters into a deal with him in hopes of getting close enough to free those he has imprisoned. Yet, what he uncovers is far more sinister than Crew could ever imagine. Can Crew harness the strength within him to save his brother and Sage and all those in the wizard’s clutches? Or will he be trapped by the wizard’s wicked plan?
“When this is over, promise me—you will never come back to Alderwood. Ever again.” He inhaled a hissing breath. If they managed to survive this predicament unscathed, he would leave, like he did before. He’d leave her wanting, breaking her heart, letting her life essence drain into the ground like a forever weeping willow.
Crew stiffened. Several breaths passed until he articulated, “That’s really what you want?”
No! I want you to stay with me—always! “I…I think it—” Before saying another syllable, his hands slipped out of his pockets and cupped her face.
“Don’t say it.” He leaned in and kissed her. His hands smoothed into the sides of her hair, and he moved in closer.
She brought her hands to his shoulders, intending to thrust him off. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers into his downy hair. His tongue traced her mouth and a carnival of sensations skittered over her skin. He was chipping away at her hardened resolve and she parted her lips, taking him in.
The tips of Crew’s fingers scored down her spine, the desired result had her arching her body into his chest. He kissed the curve below her bottom lip and moved to her temple and then pressed his full, soft mouth to her forehead. He positioned his hands on her shoulders and stepped back, building room between them. “I promise.”
I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.
I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I’m devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.
I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.
He keeps his heart heavily guarded. She meets everyone with a friendly smile. Will the attraction sizzling between them pull them into the space between their two worlds?
Burdened by too many responsibilities, Bowen Jensen struggles beneath their overwhelming weight. Between raising his teenage sister, running their family ranch, and managing Sleigh Bell Tours, he barely has time to sleep, let alone do something just for himself. He can’t even recall his last date. Then a chance encounter with a beguiling woman leaves him pondering if there isn’t more to life than trudging through one lonely day after another.
Juniper Haynes appears to have it all with a successful real estate career and a picture-perfect life. In reality, she’s tired of dealing with demanding clients, wary of her so-called friends, and secretly longs for the peace she finds at her sister’s mountain home. After a magical New Year’s Eve kiss with a cowboy she barely knows, she realizes true happiness might only be found outside her comfort zone.
Can Bo and Juniper find the courage to embrace change and explore the possibility of a future together?
Find out in this sweet winter romance full of small-town charm, memorable characters, laughter, hope, and love.
“What a mess,” the woman said, brushing at her coat with the napkin Sassy handed to her. “I’m not usually such a klutz.” She gave up dabbing at the cider soaking into the white cashmere and looked to Bo again. “Thank you for catching me before I fell. I’m Juniper, by the way. Juniper Haynes.”
“Juniper,” Bo mumbled, finally managing to gain a miniscule amount of control over his tongue. However, his heart pounded so fast and loud, it echoed like a bongo drum in his head.
“That’s an awesome name,” Sassy said, with the enthusiasm summoned by a teenager impressed by someone older and more worldly. “I’m Sassy, and this is Bo Jensen.”
Juniper’s smile widened as she looked up at him. Even with her high-heeled boots, she barely came up to his chest. Then again, at six-four, he tended to tower over a lot of people.
“Sassy and Bo. It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you, again, for catching me. Happy Christmas Eve.” Juniper turned away and took a lopsided step, but her foot slid on a patch of hidden ice. She would have fallen if Bo hadn’t caught her a second time, his arms looping beneath hers from the back. She tilted her face upward and offered him a look of gratitude.
Something that felt like an electrical current trailed up his arms, threatening to short circuit what few working brain cells he had left.
Words.
He needed words.
To speak—to say anything—but nothing seemed to be able to work its way from his overloaded brain to his mouth. The sharp elbow Sassy jabbed into his side didn’t help any more than her questioning glare to rattle something loose.
Bo stared at the woman, fascinated.
Juniper.
What an intriguing name for an entirely captivating woman.
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.
Title: Moving On Author: Felice Stevens Genre: Contemporary Romance
When his roof caves in, Sean Lovett thinks things can’t get any worse. Until he loses his job, adding yet another bump in the rocky road of his life. None of his so-called friends can—or will—help. And asking a favor from his abusive ex? Hard pass. Luckily, his sister comes to the rescue and offers him a great apartment—in the city, no less—until he can get back on his feet. Sweet deal. Until a gorgeous man unlocks the front door and strolls right in with a grumpy attitude and a claim that his boss—who happens to be Sean’s brother-in-law—promised him the same apartment.
Former NYPD detective Tristan McDermott hasn’t stopped running since the death of his best friend. After almost two years of living in his own personal hell, he returns home to New York, hoping he can move on, but guilt still follows his every step. He’s grateful to have the perfect apartment until he can settle into a place of his own. But there’s a cute guy already living there. And only one bedroom. And no way is Tristan leaving. He’s staying put. Sharing the space is tough, but Tristan can ignore sweet Sean and his sunshiny smiles. Kind of. Except Sean’s brother-in-law asks Tristan to keep an eye on Sean so he doesn’t make any bad decisions. Uh oh. Keeping an eye on Sean is easy. Keeping his hands off him is much, much harder. And sleeping together…well, that isn’t a bad decision. Not when it feels so good. Right?
“I know it was stupid to say it was cool, but you must’ve seen some wild things being undercover. What was the strangest thing you ever had to do?”
An almost wistful expression crossed Tristan’s face. “I was once a male exotic dancer.”
In the middle of swallowing his Motrin, Sean choked and wheezed, the pill getting stuck in his throat before he gulped the rest of the water. “What? Are you kidding me?”
The mattress dipped as Tristan sat on the edge of the bed. “Who would joke about that? I worked in a club as part of an undercover operation to scout for human-trafficking victims. I was there for over a year, dancing three to four times a week.” His eyes twinkled. “Made some damn good tips too.”
“I’ll bet you did,” Sean murmured. “Were you…I mean, did you have to, uh, strip or do lap dances? That kind of stuff?”
And if you did, why the hell did I miss out on that?
“No lap dances. That wasn’t something I was willing to do. Even for the force.” Tristan huffed out his laughter, his long hair waving around his face. “I wore a mask and a cape, and I’d strip down to this rhinestone jockstrap. Who knew they made shit like that? Uncomfortable as hell.”
Oh, Sean knew about them. And thinking of Tristan wearing one was enough to fulfill his fantasies for the next month.
Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, because just like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.
Felice is the 2020 Lambda Literary Award winning author in best Gay Romance. She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe. If she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her watching reality TV or procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice’s Breakfast Club.
