Book spotlighting this week is the lyrical YA historical fantasySONGBIRDS OF THE VEILby Steven McClellen.
Songbirds of the Veil
Release Date: Aug 4, 2026
Genre: Edwardian Historical Fantasy/ Young Adult ⦁ Portal Fantasy / Hidden World ⦁ Labyrinthine Jungle Expedition ⦁ Fierce / Scamp Heroine ⦁ Grandfather-Granddaughter Bond ⦁ Fountain of Youth Mystery ⦁ Ticking Clock ⦁ Survival Quest ⦁ Missing Journal Pages ⦁ Dystopian Resource Control (Tyrannical Authority) ⦁ Enemies to Allies ⦁ Magical Artifact / Talisman
To save her grandfather, she'll have to survive the Amazon. To find the truth, she'll have to cross the Veil.
In 1908, fifteen-year-old Ramona Grey lives a quiet, scamp-like existence in Key West, caring for her dying grandfather. As the legendary explorer who first discovered a miracle serum within the Amazon Rainforest, he now relies on that very medicine to live. But now, the world's supply is gone.
The tyrannical Authority has hoarded the final drops, leaving cities in darkness and the sick in despair. When the U.S. Navy and the Authority launch a covert expedition to find the hidden source-a magical portal buried deep in the labyrinth of the Amazon-they coerce Ramona's grandfather into leading the way. Used as leverage in their deadly bargain, Ramona is thrust headfirst into a perilous journey.
From the creators of Spellcaster comes a thrilling new reality competition where the stakes are higher than ever. Welcome to Immortality Island, where contestants are literally thrown to the sharks.
Hunting her was meant to be easy . . . until desire got in the way.
Twenty human spellcasters. One deadly island. Four cutthroat vampire masters. Only one caster can make it to the end . . . and win a place in a vampire clan for eternity. After her doctor discovers a brain tumor and gives her months to live, Joni Mullins sees winning the show as her last chance at survival.
Sterling Alder is a vampire master with a personal vendetta and a mission: destroy her. But on Immortality Island, survival isn’t just about magic—it’s about temptation, betrayal, and falling for the one person he should never want.
Twenty human spellcasters. One deadly island. Four cutthroat vampire masters. Only one caster can make it to the end . . . and win a place in a vampire clan for eternity. After her doctor discovers a brain tumor and gives her months to live, Joni Mullins sees winning the show as her last chance at survival.
Sterling Alder is a vampire master with a personal vendetta and a mission: destroy her. But on Immortality Island, survival isn’t just about magic—it’s about temptation, betrayal, and falling for the one person he should never want.
Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan nomad married to an amazing Frenchman. She loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt! Books, travel, TV series, hiking, writing, and motorcycle riding are her favorite escapes. The dark side of human nature fascinates her, so long as it’s balanced by humor and romance.
To get in on the fun and adventure, visit Nikki at her website for release alerts, updates, exclusive giveaways, and a free story when you subscribe to her newsletter: https://nikkijefford.com/newsletter/
Jazzing it up this week as I am spotlighting the audiobook version of ARMORED HOURS by Stephaine Hansen! Set in 1920s Paris of the Plains, Armored Hours is a thrilling tale of love and mystery interwoven with hints of magical realism.
Armored Hours (Reincarnated Souls Book One)
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Narrators: Eric Smies & Elise Arsenault @blush_audiobooks @tantoraudio
Featuring
⦁ Historical romantasy ⦁ Girl squad ⦁ Opposite sides of the track ⦁ Loveable rogue ⦁ Prohibition era ⦁ Matchmaking mother ⦁ Dandy friends
The girls had forged a bond together like iron that could not be broken. Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian were on the brink of making history with their powerful feminist movement, but then they suddenly disappeared without a trace. Alexander was a desperate bootlegger who was willing to risk it all to search for them. Not only were they in cahoots with him to help smuggle feminist contraband and forbidden booze, but Claudia had also unknowingly captivated his heart. He vowed to find them at any cost, but little did he know that their disappearance was part of a much bigger and sinister plot from the upper echelons of society.
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft and Global Book Award Winning Author as well as an Imadjinn finalist. Her debut novella series, Altered Helix, released in 2020. It hit the #1 New Release, #1 Best Seller, and other top 100 lists on Amazon. It is now being adapted to an animated story for Tales. Her debut novel, Replaced Parts, released in 2021 through Fire & Ice YA and Tantor Audio. It has been in a Forbes article, hit Amazon bestseller lists, and made the Apple young adult coming soon bestsellers list. The second book in the Transformed Nexus series, Omitted Pieces, released in 2022. Her debut spicy paranormal romance, Ghostly Howls, released 2023. Her debut historical magical realism, Armored Hours, released 2024. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community, so she tries to incorporate that into her fiction.
Follow Stephaine and her on Instagram @stephaniehansenauthor TikTok: @stephaniehansenauthor
Shining out spotlight this week, we have the thrilling dark fantasy BOUNTY OF BLOOD AND NAILS by N.K. Brown. A tale of magic, betrayal, and forbidden love… Is being the bad guy worth losing everything?
The Bounty of Blood and Nails (The Devil’s Huntress Book 1)
Tam is a heartless, ruthless bounty hunter—or so her handler would have you believe. With her ability to use forbidden blood magic, Tam tracks and captures her prey. The same blood magic that curses her to a life of servitude under a cruel handler—one wrong move and not only her life, but her family’s will be at stake. But when she’s sent to a remote, superstitious northern town where even a glimmer of magic will send you to the gallows, she’s forced to confront the darker consequences of her work. After the murder of her bounty, innocent townspeople are blamed—and Tam’s conscience begins to stir. But there’s no turning back. Her handler raises the stakes, and her next mission is even more dangerous: infiltrate the royal castle and capture the enigmatic Prince Bellinor. Disguised as a maid, Tam is drawn into a world of deadly secrets, where her words are whispered into the prince’s ears through an ancient magic she’s never faced before. To get close to the prince, she befriends his loyal bodyguard, Clement, but the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that Clement’s destiny is tied to the prince. With time running out and the castle tightening, Tam is forced to watch the trial of the people blamed for her own prior actions. But will she complete the mission—or risk it all as she falls in love with the person whose life she must destroy?
N. K. is a veterinarian and a proud mother of three. Originally from Stratford-Upon-Avon, she now lives outside of Boston.
Finally ready for the career change she has always wanted, she joined Jericho Writers and is an alumnus of their Ultimate Novel Writing Course 2023/24. She loves to write in the SFF genre, usually with a dark and speculative twist. An animal or two will usually pop up somewhere in her writing!
When not reading or writing or reading about writing, you can find her out on a long run, lost in her imagination (or in a good audiobook) as she plans her next novel.
Learn more about N.K. and her books on Instagram @nkbrownauthor
When I am not writing about books, I write about new small business people might be missing out on over at Medium.com. Currently living in Arkansas, I attended our local Comic Con, SPA-CON, back in May, and set out to check out and write about the small-business vendors there. That is where I encountered OTAKU TAKEOUT. If you are a lover of Anime or Japanese pop culture, this store is your god.
I love trying out different cultural foods, so this place was so neat! They have authentic Japanese snacks, drinks, and other goodies. They even have a karaoke party room you can rent (just like in Japan!) For me, I’ve always wanted to try a Red Bean Paste Bun.
They had them there, and they are actually GOOD!
READ my full experience and the full article below.
A reluctant king. A temporary guard. A threat neither can outrun. Let’s dive into the recently released BETWEEN BLADES AND VOWS!
Between Blades and Vows: A Reverse Bodyguard Romantasy
Release Date: June 24, 2026
Genre: Romantasy
Featuring 🤍 Reverse bodyguard 🌿 Mental health rep (PTSD, depression, & anxiety) ⚔️ Training sequences (but SHE trains HIM) 🤍 Forcêd proximity 🌿 Touch HIM and ☠️ ⚔️ Tension & angst
The war might be over, but King Rian Dronias knows peace is fragile. He just didn’t expect his biggest problem to arrive in the form of his new bodyguard. When the captain of the King’s Guard goes on his honeymoon, Rian reluctantly holds a competition to find a temporary replacement. The winner? Erualys Valora, a renowned warrior from a neighboring queendom with a reputation for being unstoppable…and insufferable. She’s the last person he wants guarding him—and the only one bold enough to call him out when she discovers the threats he’s been hiding. But as danger closes in, the king and his temporary guard will have to face the truth: the deadliest risk might not be the assassins in the shadows, but the spark igniting between them.
Neena Laskowski lives in Michigan with her husband and their two pets. She earned her master’s in Secondary Education and bachelor’s in English and Classical Studies from the University of Michigan. When she is not reading or writing about morally grey characters, you can find her camping, painting, or spending time with her family and friends.
For upcoming ARC opportunities and to be among the first to see cover reveals, character art, and more, be sure to join Neena Laskowski’s newsletter or follow Neena on social media @neenalaskowski
Debut author Megan Phillips is caught in our spotlight today. Starfire’s Heiris book one in her new The Soul of Serentyn series, where “Destiny called her. He awoke her.”
Starfire's Heir (The Soul of Serentyn Book One)
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Romantasy
Cover: @mariaspada.design
Featuring
⦁ Slow Burn ⦁ Romantasy ⦁ Found Family ⦁ Fated Mates ⦁ Long Lost Princess ⦁ Hidden Magic ⦁ Prophecies ⦁ One Bed ⦁ Sword Wielding FMC ⦁ Fierce FMC
Lexa Andrever has always believed she was nothing more than a farm girl. But when a stranger reveals she is the lost heir of a distant realm, Lexa discovers she alone stands between the kingdom and the deathly darkness pressing at its borders. Written into an unsettling prophecy, carrying a responsibility she never sought, Lexa sets off for her homeland with Griff Narvene, the warrior sworn to protect her.
As she grapples with her new role as prophesied savior, the inscrutable soldier stirs something deep within... To keep the shadows at bay, Lexa must harness the powers of her birthright to protect the people and home that demand her duty. With the fate of the kingdom-and a fragile new love-at stake, can she survive long enough to save them both? CW: 18+
Megan grew up in Maryland and now calls Virginia home—though her heart sets up camp wherever her characters drag it. With a degree in sociolinguistics and an ear for the way language shapes identity, she has spent years sketching voices, lives, and entire kingdoms in her mind. When she’s not writing, she shares her days with her husband, young son, Newfoundland dog, and horse. Starfire’s Heir is her debut novel.
Follow Megan and her debut novel at @meganphillipsauthor on Instagram.
Cursed. Hunted. Coveted… Caught in the spotlight this week is the dark fantasy CURSE OF THE MOONFLOWER by Sam Dorsett. Let’s read on!
Curse of the Moonflower (Scars of Somnium #1)
Release Date: April 21, 2026
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Featuring ⬇ ⦁ Werewolves, Witches, Vampires & Demons ⦁ Multiple POVs ⦁ Traumatized FMC & MMC ⦁ Fated Mates (Multiple perhaps?) ⦁ Found Family ⦁ Reluctant Allies to Lovers ⦁ Touch her and d!e An ancient curse runs through Vessa Lemaire's veins—the gods have destined her to wed the banished vampire ruler of the Underworld, who will stop at nothing to seize his betrothed. She discovers this only days after the horrific death of her mother, forcing her to leave her shattered life behind.
For three years, she lives under the protection of a werewolf and his mate, an oracle. Until one day, a vision befalls the seer—a chance for her to find permanent asylum, right alongside the man who despises vampires most.
Axe Skornokovy is a soldier of vengeance, hell-bent on eliminating vampires and the powerful demigod from which they were sired. As Vessa tries to find her place among his pack of feuding wolves, she must keep her secrets close. She must come to terms with the fact that Axe is more than capable of turning on her, even as it grows difficult to ignore the tantalizing force which conspires to bring them together. For if they give into it, they will spark a war destined to bleed into the realm below.
Sam has been obsessed with wolves since she was eight. Growing up in Missouri, when she wasn’t sketching them in her notebooks, she was weaving stories in her mind where bold heroines would run alongside them. Nowadays, when she isn’t writing, listening to metal music, or picking flowers, she devotes herself to a menagerie of ten animals (and counting).
Follow Sam and her books on IG: @authorsamdorsett, and TIKTOK @sam_dorsett
Genre: Thriller/ YA horror/ horror/ mystery suspense
Length: 30 min read
Tom and his wife, Mary, visit a cemetery to find her father’s grave. What they encounter there are terrible revelations and dark forces beyond their comprehension!
I cracked open my Kindle TBR list, and “ Buried Secrets” by C.S. Dixon was at the top of my list. I got it back last year during an ebook sale, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. It was a book I got to read for pleasure, not business. Well, the wait was worth it. Coined a 30-minute read, Dixon managed to hold your attention on every word.
Buried Secrets gives you that old-fashioned horror mystery anthology vibe. Meaning it’s a short story that would fit perfectly into those horror anthology shows. Think UK’s Hammer House of Horror Anthology,Tales from the Crypt, or Twilight Zone. I loved it. It was a perfect short read while I was sitting waiting in the doctor’s office. It left me craving more.
Therefore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars
MEET THE AUTHOR
Hi all, this is me, Author of 19 books, ALL 5-star rated. “Shadow” “Fly on the Wall,” “Dead and Buried”, “Talk of the Devil”, “Still Life”, “The Cabinet”, “Gateway of Death”, “Dead of Night”, “Terror Beach”, “Vengeful”, “The Forest -horror”( Mystery/occult), “The Making of Melissa”, “Shoe Horny”, “Oral Examination”, “Opening Up”, “Executive Positions”(erotica.) “Micro Musings” (Micro Erotica-poetry), “Walter Worm Finds a Friend”( a story for children.)
I was born in a small town in Northumberland, England. Lived & worked in Newcastle for many years in a variety of careers. Worked as a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster for numerous magazines/newspapers & radio stations from the early 1980’s to the early 1990’s. Also Deputy Sports Editor for what was then BBC Radio Newcastle, as part of ten years freelancing for the BBC.
A wide writing portfolio includes business/food/travel/lifestyle & education, in addition to sport.
Also a qualified teacher, lecturing in Communications/Media studies at a college in Newcastle for five years.
Other hats worn include HR Manager/professional actor/salesman/market researcher.
I got the travel bug around 2002 & went to live & work in Taiwan/Greece/Czech Republic & Bangkok for much of the next ten years, teaching/editing/writing. After living in Swansea for almost three years, I returned with my wife in March 2015 to live & work in Bangkok again, where I continue to write & teach.
I have many passions: cricket/writing/music/movies/food/photography/reading/swimming/social media.
My music and reading tastes are eclectic, ranging from easy listening to jazz/disco, and soul, and authors/writers include: Dickens/Wilde/Shakespeare/Chandler/Lovecraft/Tolkien/Voltaire/F. Scott Fitzgerald/Dorothy B. Hughes/Poe/McCreet & Robotham, to name but a few, jostling for space on my bookshelves!
Spotlighting this Thursday is the intriguing “Once Upon Midnight Walk“ by Tetyana Walker. In a kingdom where the sun never sets, and only men are born with magic, Agnes Peregreene had to grow up entirely too soon… Let’s read on!
Once Upon a Midnight Walk
Release Date: April 24, 2026
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Featuring
⦁ Strong and cunning heroine ⦁ Forced partnership ⦁ Slow burn romance ⦁ Enemies to lovers ⦁ "Who did this to you" ⦁ A LOT of bickering & yearning ⦁ Angst and tension with historical romance undertones
After her mother’s death, Agnes devoted her life to caring for her younger sister. Bound by a vow she refused to break, she ensured no price was too great for Solomia’s well-being. But when Solomia is betrothed to a known wife-killer, Agnes is forced to confront the reality of her own powerlessness. Before Agnes can find a way to save her sister, she is handed a death sentence of her own. Desperate to buy time, she strikes a frantic bargain with the Aclanian king—she will venture into Nocturna, the realm of ever-night, and retrieve a long-lost talisman in exchange for her life and her sister’s freedom. Lost in a realm unlike any other, Agnes must rely on her cunning mind to survive. Determined to return home successful, she sets on a path of discovery, unraveling secrets that a mysterious and wealthy man named Odeon Nox has spent years trying to keep buried. Secrets that come with a price neither one of them is prepared to pay. Step into this standalone fantasy romance, set between a realm of sunlight and castles and a world of night and cities rivaling 1920s New York. Every choice has a price, and every heart hides a secret.
The book is filled with art and images to help immerse you in this story. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, Sarah J. Maas, and V.E Schwab, this book is a worthy read!
Tetyana Walker was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2012, she moved to the United States to attend college and pursue a degree in business. Today, she is a proud wife and mother with a successful career in software sales.
Tetyana has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she spent her summers in a tiny rural village in Kyivska Oblast with no internet, cell service, or even indoor plumbing. Her days were spent helping her grandparents care for their small farm, and every spare moment was dedicated to reading outside in the quiet countryside.
Her world changed completely when she read the Harry Potter series at the age of eight and discovered the magic of fantasy. She hasn’t looked back since.
Today, Tetyana is a self published author, who enjoys writing character-driven fantasy filled with strong women, unbreakable female friendships, and slow-burn romance between enemies, all set in all kinds of magical worlds.
Freelance Writer Janny(Jan Marie)C 