Title: Blackbird Author: Mia Kerick Series: If I Fell #2 Genre: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Romance
Sequel to Hide Your Love Away (IF I FELL Series, book 2)
Last year, in Timmy Hale’s junior year at Edgewater University, he set his romantic sights on Colton “Cole” Ledger—a burly and sometimes over-protective dormitory maintenance man. Cole soon had it bad for sleek and snarky Timmy too, and—despite a bumpy road (a frenzied stalker and an uncooperative son)—before year’s end they’d found love. Now, in Timmy’s senior year, the couple has left the dormitory behind. Cole is back to running his own custom construction company, and they’ve turned an antique Victorian home into a love nest. For a while, life is good.
But insta-love comes at a cost, and for Timmy and Cole it’s steep. Cole’s doubts haunt him: he’s almost certain he’s too old for Timmy, and that he’s pushing him into a life he’ll eventually resent, keeping him from spreading his newfound wings and taking flight toward his best future. Acting on his fears, Cole pressures Timmy to accept an internship in Manhattan—far from the home they’ve built together. He means well, but Timmy feels like a baby bird kicked out of the nest too soon.
Tensions rise until fear, resentment, and desire draw Timmy and Cole into explosive conflict. When the dust settles, will Timmy wing away like a young blackbird, or return to nest with Cole in their happy garden home?
Stay tuned for Book 3 in the IF I FELL Series, Come Together, coming in winter 2022.
About Mia Kerick
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children–all named after saints–and five nonpedigreed cats–all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
My themes I always write about:
Sweetness. Unconventional love, tortured/damaged heroes- only love can save them.
Mia Kerick focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men within the boundaries of blossoming, supportive relationships. She believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. And Mia’s stories are centered around a certain theme: even heroes can be sweet. Sweet, but not completely innocent.
Title: And Hell Followed Author: Beckett Riley Genre: Dark, Western Romance
We all have our demons
My parents thought emigrating from Germany to the American frontier was going to be a good thing for everyone. But it seems that a darkness is doomed to follow us wherever we go.
Life can be harsh and unforgiving in this world, especially for a woman. Luckily, I have my brother, Thomas, to watch out for me and protect me. He can only do so much, though, and after that vile attack, I find myself in need of protection more than ever. It was then I realized that festering darkness came from within.
Although society won’t take kindly to it, we have forsaken God and embarked on an unholy life, but just as things finally began to calm down, the past reared its ugly head and came back to tear us apart and destroy and everything we’ve built.
But as Thomas once told me, I would ride my steed through the fires of hell to salvage the only thing worth living for, and if the devil himself gets in my way, he will beg to God for mercy.
Beckett Riley resides in the sunshine state where she writes in between taking care of a four-year-old daughter, three dogs, six chickens, a grumpy barn cat, and a husband (sometimes in that order according to him). She loves writing erotic stories as much as she enjoys reading them. Dark romance and happily ever afters with hot, possessive, guys bring tears of joy to her eyes so please excuse the alpha males roaming her pages, they know not what they do.
Hot as a California summer and off limits. Too young. A rich, snobby princess, but I couldn’t help crave her innocence as much as the next man. No matter how much her feigned hatred stirred up obsessive want inside me, I found myself protecting her from the real predator. Betrayed by Addilyn and my father, I ended up in jail for assault. But I’m a free man now, and I have what I need to get my revenge. I’ll destroy the man who uprooted my life. Make Addilyn pay for her part in ruining me. My obsession has not waned in five years, so to hell with wanting. This time, I’m taking.
WARNING: Taking, the second book of the Forbidden Obsession Duet, contains triggers and mature themes. Recommended for 18+
Addilyn and the asshole eventually exited, moving across the parking lot together. My stare burned on the back of her head. She stumbled and nearly fell—until the blond fucker touched her.
Fucking touched what didn’t belong to him.
Jaw clenched and hands fisting, I roused my self-control to hold still, allowing him to help her right herself, all the while cursing his existence, his smile.
They moved forward once more, and I shifted with the deep darkness of the night, determined to get closer. To stop the fucker from putting his hands on her if he tried.
He bumped her arm a second time, blatantly flirting, and I growled, fingertips itching to rip his face to fucking shreds.
The thought he might kiss her goodnight—or even worse, follow her home to her place, raised my goddamn hackles, and I shivered with the need to unleash some violence. The hunting knife strapped to my waist suddenly felt heavier, the blade seeming to whisper as I slid it out into my palm. One slash would spill blood and keep whoever the fucker was from touching her ever again.
From behind a truck, I gritted my teeth and watched them approach her car.
Waited, every cell in my body vibrating.
She went to open her car door, and he reached out for her arm, halting her.
I took a step forward, the handle of the knife in my hand in a blink.
A few mumbled words—and he turned back the way they’d come, sending me sliding into the shadow of the truck.
Addilyn peered after him for a few seconds before climbing inside her car.
I stayed put and pressed against the truck, contemplating the blade in my hand and the clueless fuck seconds from passing me by.
Twinkie had taught me how to wield a knife and where to best stab to end a life.
And I considered it. Fuck, did I think on it.
Saw it in my mind… A quick grab, a single slash across the fucker’s throat. The spray of blood reddening the snow and slush at my feet. Soothing my rage’s need to unleash.
But he could easily shout before steel met flesh.
And the other people exiting the pizzeria behind me would see.
Five years in prison had been more than enough, and I couldn’t afford to land there again without finishing what I had planned.
Pulling back tight against the truck, I held still. Didn’t breathe.
And the clueless fuck waltzed right on past, not realizing fate had given him a generous second chance at life.
Lynn Burke is a full time mother, voracious gardener, and scribbler of spicy romance stories. A country bumpkin turned Bay Stater, she enjoys her chowdah and Dunkin Donuts when not trying to escape the reality of city life.
Title: Timeless Author: Kaylene Winter Series: Less Than Zero #4 Genre: Contemporary Rockstar Romance
I vowed nothing would keep us apart… Fiona Reynolds is my other half. It’s been that way from the day I was born. I’ve dedicated my life to keep my promise. Fate just laughs in our face. She’s always out of reach, this time for good. I’ll do anything to prove she’s my destiny. If only she’d trust me one more time.
After what I’ve done, how can I deserve him? Zane Rocks is my everything. There’s no one I love or trust more than him. It wasn’t his fault when he left me. I always knew he’d find his way back. Fear overwhelmed me, and I broke his heart. Will most celebrated musician on the planet. Really give me another chance?
When a rash decision changes their lives forever, hope for their future is all but shattered. Stakes are high. But Zane’s determined to prove a love this pure is timeless.
I’m doing everything in my power not to let him affect me. When the truth is I want things from him I won’t ever have again.
Won’t let myself have again.
Because I know what it’s like to really lose him.
Now that we’re in each other’s lives again, it’s got to be enough.
I can’t risk…
Zane cups my cheek with his hand and uses his finger to tilt my head up. Our eyes meet. Just like that, I’m a goner. I’m caught in the eye of a fifty-foot wave. Or, a barrel plummeting over a waterfall. Either way, the sheer rush of emotion threatens to pull me under.
Yet, somehow in this moment, I’m also at peace. Everything I’ve suppressed for years bubbles up to the surface.
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.
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father – the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.
In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner – are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side … and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
Cat’s character is a little refreshing – and scary. Refreshing because she’s a little different than some heroines. Yes, she’s snarky and loud with a chip on her shoulder, but her past and current semi-living situation make it seem a lot more reasonable. I also like that she refuses to back down when she meets Bones – even though he isn’t what she expected at all.
Bones is everything I would want in a British bad-boy vampire. His humor, his outlook, his loyalty – it’s the real deal. His initial meeting with Cat is fantastic, and while they clash in every way possible, there’s no denying that’s an underlying chemistry between the two.
This is definitely a buildup novel. Halfway to the Grave is setting the stage for the future of the Night Huntress world, and it does a pretty good job. The world has lots of potential to grow and the side characters are intriguing and could become main characters in their own right down the line.
There is a bit of a cliffhanger (which is why I have a hard time saying this is a true paranormal romance) – but it was done fantastically. It feels like a natural bridge to the next book instead of just a hook to pull you along.
“That B****, Who Has it All!” The fans have spoken and Malika Samuels has been crowned the “IT” girl. To the world, she is fabulous, a well-known social media influencer and the wife of a five-time championship winning professional basketball player. To the streets, she is a crafty chick from the Bronx that made it out of the hood and to the top. Malika’s life is elite, filled with luxury, fame, success, fashion, popularity, and riches. She has everything a woman could ever dream of….
Or is it all a facade?
Under the veil, Malika Samuels is a confused woman living through her trauma. It appears that Malika is living a dream life, but in reality what appears to be a dream is Malika’s nightmare. Her life is a facade, pretending for the sake of keeping up appearances. Fed-up with the illusion of her life, Malika is now ready to live in her truth, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unveiled takes readers on a journey of love, passion, drama, abuse, crime, and power. Malika uncovers the veil of the facade; underneath the wealth, fame, and glamour lies the ugly truth that the perfect life is not so perfect after all. There is a high price to pay to be “That B****, Who Has it All”…
While people were lining up to see Coming to America, N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton was hitting the charts, and Hurricane Gilbert was ravaging the small island of Jamaica, my life was just beginning.
“I told your mother not to have a baby by the fucking devil himself and yet she had you.” Aunt Dedra often said to me.
In some sick twisted way, it would appear that I am the spawn of Satan, also known as Trevor Tanners.
My mother, Mallory Hines, died moments after I was born like so many other black women. I was raised in a single father household with my father who wished that I had died alongside my mother. Mallory was gorgeous and strong-willed. She had to be strong-willed, in order to put up with my father. Trevor was such a fucked-up individual that it was inevitable that he would fuck my life up or traumatize me in some way. Mallory suffered from high blood pressure and word on the street was that Trevor’s heavy hand contributed to her untimely death.
I was the curse that killed my own fucking mother. A murderer.
“A murdering evil bitch that should have died instead.” Trevor often called me.
Shit, he was not the only one who called me that. There were a few of my mother’s family members who also felt that way.
“One likkle evil pickney!” They would say in Patois, the traditional Jamaican dialect.
I received all of this for being alive, all for breathing. I hadn’t asked for any of this, yet they treated me like I had control over it all. I never understood why, I never asked to be brought into this world. I guess that is why I blamed myself on so many occasions when I was being physically abused by an alcoholic son of a bitch. I reasoned that I deserved to be abused because of the murderer that I was.
My life in Jamaica was short-lived as I was only raised there for a short period of time; until I was four years old to be exact. Trevor Tanners and I moved to the Bronx, New York City in 1992. Growing up with Trevor was traumatizing; the type of shit that leaves you with post-traumatic stress disorder and all types of daddy issues that result in years of needed therapy. The problems that members in the black community like to pretend do not exist but currently are ruining so much of our youth. I can show you better than I can tell you.
Debut Author Celsi-Leigh (Kelsi – Lee), is stepping into the literary world with the groundbreaking novel Unveiled. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in Philadelphia, Celsi-Leigh’s life experiences have culminated into a unique writing style that is raw and uncut. Through her literary work, she aims to deliver an honest point of view about the current climate of society, connecting with fans through her urban edge. Familiarize yourself with the work of Celsi-Leigh because she is just getting started, there is much more greatness to come.
Available for a limited time, this collection of twenty-five sexy-as-sin romances star Daddy Doms who demand obedience and require your total surrender.
Whether you like Cowboy Daddies, Dark Daddies, Doctor Daddies, Stern Daddies, Shifter Daddies, Alien Daddies, or LGTBQ Daddies, there is a Daddy waiting for you. This deliciously naughty collection of all-new stories, penned by some of the best authors in the genre, is bursting with HOT, raw Daddy Dom action that’s sure to leave you breathless.
Don’t Keep Your Daddy Waiting…
Featuring stories from USA TODAY and International Bestselling authors.
In the seedy, underground club, I take a mouthful of whisky to mask my pounding fury. All around me sit shadowy figures with baseball caps pulled low over their faces or bandanas around their mouths and noses, while young and drugged up women are paraded in front of us, some with vacant expressions, some with barely concealed terror. The first round are the girls and women who aren’t virgins, and they’re all dressed like colorful, flashy strippers with most of their flesh on display. My heart is in my mouth as each woman is dragged on stage with a chain around her neck. The bidding is humiliating for the women. Some go for as little as a thousand dollars. A thousand for a human life. It’s disgusting.
After an hour, the unseen woman running the auction announces over the speakers that the first round is over and the virgins will be next, and I sit upright in shock. Scarlet hasn’t appeared. They’ve killed her. I’ll burn this place down. I’ll murder every last person in this club with my bare—
Before I can leap out of my seat, Scarlet is dragged on stage by a chain around her neck.
My whole world turns crimson with bloodlust at the sight of her terrified face.
The man holding the chain.
The invisible woman calling my girl, “Lot one-one-seven” instead of her name.
The buyers all around me devouring Scarlet with greedy eyes.
I’ll kill them all.
Focus. I’ll get Scarlet safely away from here, and later I can take as much revenge as I want.
I listen to the bids going up and up. Twenty thousand. Twenty-five thousand. The bids dwindle until there’s just one man left. He’s wearing a cheap shirt and a twisted, triumphant sneer on his lips, and he’s staring at Scarlet like she’s a butterfly and he’s craving to pull her wings off.
“One hundred thousand dollars,” I call out.
Purple shirt man glares at me. He opens his mouth like he wants to make another bid, and then takes an angry swig of his drink.
The room is silent.
“Lot one-one-seven, sold to bidder nineteen.”
I stand up and stride to the back of the room where the bursar is waiting at a laptop and complete the Bitcoin transaction. No cash and credit cards here, only cryptocurrency that can’t be traced.
Then I’m led into a side room and told to wait for my goods.
A few minutes later, a door opens and Scarlet is thrust inside. She stumbles, and as she looks up at me with haunted eyes, she bursts into tears. I draw her into my arms and cradle her against my chest, murmuring soft words as she heaves against me. Her whole body is shaking in fear. “It’s all right. Daddy’s got you.”
“How did you find me here? Did Zac tell you? Mr. Ventura, I’m so sorry. I don’t understand how this happened.”
I take her tearstained face in my hands and kiss her tears from her cheeks. She’s warm and alive, and she’s mine. All mine. “I’m just relieved I got you back.”
“Please take me home.”
My smile is devilish. Home, to those assholes who didn’t even know she was gone? I don’t fucking think so. “I can’t do that, babygirl. I paid a lot of money for you and now you’re in my debt. How are you going to pay me back?”
She swallows and her face falls. “Of course I’ll pay you back, every cent. I’m a hard worker.”
I shake my head. “On minimum wage with a skating career to support? I’d like to see return on my investment before I die.”
“Investment?” she echoes.
“Either you’re mine for the next month…or I put you right back in that room and those men can fight over you. Your choice. Oh, and one more thing.” My smile widens. “Don’t call me Mr. Ventura. Call me Daddy.”
Scarlet is staring at me like she doesn’t recognize me. This is me, rosebud. I’m done playing nice.
“Daddy?”
It’s a question, not an address, but that sweet word twines through me and short-circuits the last of my patience. I take her hand and tug her toward the door. She can get used to her new reality later. I need to get her in my house, now.
NRenee Rose Laylah Roberts Pepper North Brianna Hale Livia Grant Golden Angel Sinistre Ange Stella Moore Emily Tilton Maggie Ryan Kara Kelly J.M. Dabney Shane Starrett Kessily Lewel Measha Stone Raisa Greywood Becca Jameson Tess Summers Layne Daniels Paige Michaels M.A. Innes Jacki James Susan Hawke Nora Phoenix Allysa Hart and Rayanna Jamison Maren Smith
Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card + a paperback copy of Dirty Daddies!
Grahame Claire is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
A writer. A blogger. United by our love of stories and all things romance. There was definitely some insta-love. Hello? Books involved. A little courting. A lot of writing. The result…Grahame Claire.
Soulmates. Unashamed of our multiple book boyfriends. Especially the ones that rooted in our heads and wouldn’t leave us alone. Don’t worry. We’ll share.
Pleased to meet you. Want to find out what we’re up to?
The line between love and hate has never been so thin, and Blake and Sebastian return in this sequel with bottled-up hurt that somehow just brings them even closer.
Sebastian was right. I was a coward. I ran my closeted tail all the way back to Georgia. Once I got there, I had no place left to hide. My life imploded. But when I was welcome nowhere, I still had to go somewhere.
I could barely look my sister in the eye, facing Sebastian didn’t even exist on my radar, and I was prepared for my brother-in-law’s protective hostility. I just didn’t have a choice. For once in my life, I wanted redemption. I wanted to belong somewhere, and I was ready to work for it.
Sebastian was the exception—hard no. I might have screwed up royally, but he wasn’t so damn innocent. He’d hurt me too, and he better not push me. In fact, it was best we avoided each other altogether.
So it didn’t make a lick of sense for me to seek him out to provoke a reaction.
I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.
There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.
Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.
I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.
Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.
I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Sweet Paranormal Romance:
Of Songs and Seashells by T.M. Franklin is an incredibly new and fun twist on the character from The Little Mermaid – it was not what I expected – in a great way.
While we don’t see too much of the villian, her presence is felt almost from the very beginning, and her motivation was unique and very believable.
Bash and his nephew, Wyatt, were great characters and along with Bash’s mother rounded out the cast of characters wonderfully.
An immortal woman. An ancient curse. A deadly pact.
Lily has roamed the earth for centuries, unable to die but also unable to truly live, lest her secret be discovered.
Unfortunately, saving a young boy from an almost-deadly accident attracts a handsome stranger’s rapt attention.
He sees her in a way few others have before, putting them both at risk and awakening an ancient curse.
After years of searching and nearly losing all hope, Lily’s finally found something—and someone—to live for. But will that be enough to save them from what is coming?
What if The Little Mermaid didn’t have her happily ever after? Where would she be today? Of Songs and Seashells by T.M. Franklin starts with a different ending to the classic fairy tale. Lily doesn’t get her happily ever after with her prince and instead finds herself in a small coastal town many, many years later. Right off the bat, this story had my attention.
Lily was one of my favorite characters from book one. Of Snow and Roses. and she didn’t disappoint as I got to know her better in her own story. A loner, all she wants is to be left alone. But she finds herself wrapped up in trying to save a town from an ancient being – and maybe letting a little boy and his family into her heart.
Young Wyatt enters the story with a bang and a tumble and quickly finds out that Lily isn’t quite as normal as she wants everyone to think. He’s a fun kid, and I fell in love with him. And even better, he has a cute, and equally charming, father. Bash starts off a bit rude, but it was a good way to introduce him to Lily and give them room to grow and come to trust each other.
Now, the villain (I won’t say who they are) was brilliant. She had motivation, means, and has a history with Lily that tied her past to her present. She was tough enough to bring everyone together without being the super-mega impossible foe that they need a miracle to beat. I loved it.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
