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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Fated to the Frozen Prince by Ciara Hartford

Calling all epic romantasy lovers! In the spotlight today is the intriguing FATED TO THE FROZEN PRINCE. What caught my spotlight eye is not only the cover, but that FATED TO THE FROZEN PRINCE is set to be one of nine books in the Fated to the Enemy series. Not only that! They are set to be standalone stories as I understand it. Brimming with epic adventure, sizzling banter, and angsty yearning between enemies who have no desire to fall in love. Let’s Dive in!

Fated to the Frozen Prince


Expected Release Date: Sept 29, 2026


Genre: Romantasy

Features:

⦁ Enemies to lovers
⦁ Fated mates
⦁ Forbidden love
⦁ Super slow burn
⦁ He falls first and so hard
⦁ Touch her/him and bye
⦁ Opposites attract (ice vs fire)
⦁ Only one “horse”
⦁ Animal companions
⦁ “Tell me you hate me”
⦁ Political intrigue

Every winter must have a summer.
Yet eternal winter sweeps across the continent, freezing everything in its path.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing Wrenora hates more than the cold, other than Prince Callan Vostbain, whose magic is rumored to be the cause of the winter blight. As a human prisoner of war, she tries to keep out of his way to avoid punishment, but when Callan learns she’s an imbuing mage, capable of creating a gem that can harness his power, he offers Wrenora freedom in exchange for her help.


But Wrenora hasn’t used her imbuing magic since before the war. She’s not sure she can help him. And she’s certainly not prepared for the man she finds hidden beneath the icy mask, much less the real reason Callan wishes to control his magic. As more assassins are sent to kill him and rumors of an uprising grow, Callan struggles to keep the fiery human from melting the armor he’s carefully frozen around his heart. Or to focus on controlling his magic and stopping the winter blight before the entire continent is solid ice.

Content Warning:
⦁ Profanity
⦁ Death of a parent (on page)
⦁ Mention of grooming (not on page)
⦁ Mention of physical child abuse (on page as flashbacks)
⦁ Mention of rape/sexual assault (not on page)
⦁ On page sexual content
⦁ Suicidal thoughts
⦁ Themes of slavery and prisoners of war
⦁ Descriptions of blood and gore
⦁ Graphic sword and magical violence including evisceration, decapitation, and dismemberment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ciara (Keara) is a Romantic Fantasy and Romantasy writer of character driven love stories full of magic, heartache, bloody action, flawed characters, and brutal cliffhangers. When she’s not writing she’s working on illustration and graphic design freelance, as well as reading every fantasy book she can get her hands on. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio with her mad scientist husband and amazingly talented daughter.

Follow Hartford and her book on Instagram @ciarahartford.author or at TikTok @ciarahartford.author

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Book Spotlight Thursday: BLACK LEDGER by Hazel St. Lewis

Slipping into the spotlight this week is BLACK LEDGER by Hazel St. Lewis.

BLACK LEDGER is a dark romance featuring a female serial killer hunting the men who destroyed her life. This episodic series has five shorter books that combine to tell one larger story. Perfect for readers who loved the psychological intensity of the Mindfck Series* and the dark mafia power dynamics of the Dark Verse series.

Screenshot

Black Ledger (Furyverse: Volume 1)


Expected Release Date: September 24, 2026


Genre: Dark Romance/ Mafia

Featuring

*Childhood Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
*Second Chance Romance
*Female Serial Killer
*Ruthless Mafia Boss
*Cat & Mouse
*He’s Hunting Her—She’s Hunting Him
*She kidnaps him
*Obsessive MMC

They destroyed me, and they will die.


Ten years ago, members of a powerful cult carved their sins into my body and called it holy. They thought I would disappear.
Instead, I learned how to break them.
I study my targets until I know how they breathe, whom they love, and what keeps them awake at night. Then I begin—quietly dismantling their lives until paranoia replaces sleep and fear replaces air. By the time I strike, they’re grateful to die. Every name goes into my black ledger. One name is saved for last.
Severin Volkov.
My ex. The heir to the Russian mafia and the man who betrayed me. When his turn comes, I won’t be merciful.
For years, powerful men in the Russian underworld have been disappearing without a trace. It looks random—until I inherit my father’s empire and uncover a pattern.
Someone is hunting us.
Whoever is behind it knows our secrets—and how to destroy us from the inside. I will find her. And when I do, she will learn exactly what kind of man I am. I expect resistance. I don’t expect obsession.
As the truth unravels about my father, my empire… and her, one thing becomes clear:
This war won’t end in surrender. It will end with one of us on our knees.

COMING SEPTEMBER 24th, 2026

PREORDER ON AMAZON

Content Warnings/Triggers:
Explicit sex, BDSM/dom-sub dynamics, rough sex, choking, toys, light stalking (the fun kind), sexy obsessive MMC, sexy obsessive FMC, hunter/prey, serial killer protagonist.
Kidnapping/captivity, confinement, restraint (not the fun kind), deprivation, rape/sexual assault (mentions, flashbacks and mostly fade to black, not by MMC), Torture (physical and psychological), severe trauma and PTSD, murder, embroidery (not the pretty kind), physical abuse, most of the sexual violence is backstory/flashback, not the main present-day plot.
Revenge Driven Triggers: murder/attempted murder, dismemberment, mutilation, gore, amateur surgery, actual surgery, multiple dick dismemberments, and gun, knife, and weapon violence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hazel St. Lewis is a Romantasy author. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she struggled to read and write, but fantasy stories inspired her to start storytelling. Unfortunately, now, she is a little too obsessed with morally gray characters. When she isn’t writing, she can be found playing with her hoard of cats (too many to count…it’s a problem), singing songs to said cats, or painting.

Follow Hazel St. Lewis on IG at @hazelstlewis 

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AUDIOBOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Twisted Bond by Katlyn DeRouen

Well, this Thursday, I am spotlighting the release of the audiobook version of TWISTED BOND by Katlyn DeRouen! Three Girls. Three Lives. One Bond.

Twisted Bond (Twisted Bond Series #1)

Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Portal Fantasy
Narrators: Monica Cannon & Dallin Bradford 

Featuring

⦁ Found family
⦁ Enemies to lovers
⦁ Hidden identities
⦁ Royalty
⦁ Closed door
⦁ Prophecies
⦁ Fae
⦁ Portal to another world
⦁ Enemies to friends to lovers
⦁ Good vs. Evil


After almost a decade apart, Cammie, Hannah, and Sabina never expected their paths to cross again so suddenly. But when Cammie is plagued by memories of a person she has never met, she has no choice but to reach out to the friends she lost touch with years ago.


A charismatic stranger—by the name of Caelan—claims he holds the answers to her mounting list of questions. Instead, Cammie winds up in a comatose state. With Caelan’s help, Sabina races against time to find the man in Cammie’s memories who holds the key to an unseen world… before her friend is lost within her own mind forever.


Meanwhile, Hannah finds herself fighting for her life after being thrust into the middle of a war between beings rumored to be myth. In the midst of the chaos, one element holds true… fate pulled them back together for a reason. Will the trio uncover the truth they seek? Or run from an answer they fear will shatter their world as they know it?

Audible and Apple Books

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katlyn DeRouen is a multi-genre author who dabbles in science fiction, fantasy, and romance. Driven by her love of the written word, she penned her debut book of poetry in 2019, which received an outpouring of glowing reviews. Encouraged by the support of her readers, she allowed her imagination to take her to the stars and back with countless new engaging characters and compelling novels. She lives in Kansas, with her husband and adorable dog, where she can always be found getting lost in a story. For inquiries of any kind, feel free to email her at authorkatlynderouen@gmail.com

Follow her also on Instagram @thekatlynderouen and on TikTok @authorkatlynderouen

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Dark in Her Veins by M.K. Lobb

Today’s spotlight comes by way of Source Fire Fantasy! Sin has a price as we step into the dark, dangerous world of Valestadt.

In Valestadt, sin causes a fatal disease called the Bloodrot, and Talin Keller is paid to commit the violent acts the city’s wealthy and powerful would rather keep off their own hands.

With death closing in, her chance at freedom hinges on betraying the feared Warden, Slade—but their dangerous attraction draws her into a conspiracy that could cost far more than her life.

The Dark in Her Veins (Divine Villains, 1)

Published: August 25trh, 2026

Genre: Dark fantasy

Nothing is sacred for those willing to pay the price…

In Valestadt, everything has a price. Sin leaves its mark in the form of the Bloodrot, a slow-creeping disease that leads to madness, then death. The rich outsource their violence. The poor sell theirs and suffer the cost.

Talin Keller is a sinner. Employed by the holiest man in the city, the Prophet, she stains her hands so his can stay clean. But with her Bloodrot rapidly advancing, Talin knows her next job could be her last.

Then a new assignment puts Talin on a collision course with the Warden, a shadowy figure whose name is spoken like a warning. If she can get close, she can trade his life for her own freedom―and escape the death her sins have promised. That is, if she can stay steady on the knife’s edge. 

Because Talin is dangerously drawn to the Warden. He is sharp, cruel, and whatever blazes in him sparks against every dark part of her. If she isn’t careful, her plans will burn.

As savior and sinner tangle, Talin uncovers a conspiracy tied to the past she thought dead. And in Valestadt, where sin is currency, she’ll have to decide what she’s willing to pay to survive.

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Ontario and studied political science at both the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa. She now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Mist in the Willows by Lucy Linne

Mist in the Willows, the first entry in the Spirit Fleet Chronicles, is a chilling and cozy gothic novel about loss, cupcakes, annoying family, mysterious steampunk strangers, and the ways in which violence may haunt us all.

Mist In The Willows: Spirit Fleet Chronicles Volume 1

Written and illustrated by Lucy Linne

Discharged unexpectedly from the British military at the peak of her career, Jade Palmer must find a way to rebuild her life. Haunted by strange nightmares and fragments of her own fractured memories, Jade finds herself thrust among unfriendly family and unfamiliar friends. Her only comfort is in the cobbled streets, quaint cottages and winding river paths that hold the happy echoes of her childhood.

But in the local cemetery, older than living memory, a strange mist rises among the willows in the depths of the night… and with it, a vengeful entity that seems to stalk Jade’s every footstep with terrifying purpose.

Alongside her faithful dog, Cannelloni, and wild-child sister, Leela, Jade must fight once more—braving a tangled journey through ancient supernatural lore, and the depths of her own hubris, to protect those she loves.

For the dead have truths to tell… and their retribution comes as cold as the grave.

BUY ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doodler. Living in a perpetual state of Halloween. Fueled by chocolate. Boxer. Unapologetic introvert. Adopted by three cats and a cat-sized dog. Purple everything. Psychology student. Goth. Can be bribed with artsy, hard cover notebooks. Ghost friendly. Will be summoned by freshly brewed coffee. Suspiciously familiar with Greco-Roman mythology, and several dead languages commonly used for demon summoning. Wall-frames maps. Devout observer of cupcake o’clock. Feminist Motto: Skulls, Bats and Witches’ Hats. Spinning while audiobooking. All you need is fluffy socks and a pint of nice-cream. Frequently channels Disney Villains. Names her house spiders. Owner of a pet GAMER, whom she’s kept in his man cave, on a diet of pizza and horror movies, for well over two decades.

Follow at @lucylinnereads on Instagram

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ARC REVIEW: Kingdom Of The Owl by Christine Drummond

SO…. I apparently signed up to become an ARC reader for this book. I completely forgot about it until I got an email saying I was selected as an ARC reader! This book looks like a romantasy lover’s dream. KINGDOM OF THE OWL is set to be a cross between a modern-day Outlander mixed in with ACOTAR romantasy. Let’s dive deeper!

Kingdom Of The Owl

Expected Publishing Date: April 6th 2027

Genre: Fantasy, romantasy, portal fantasy

Featured Tropes include:

⚔️ Enemies to lovers

🔥 Spice

🤝 Forced proximity

🔥 Slow burn

🛏️ One bed / 🐎 one horse / ⛺ one tent

🌊 Elemental powers

🕶️ Fake name/secrets everywhere

 ✨Celtic mythology, reimagined

🖤 Real-world girl, otherworld problems

✨ Enemies-to-lovers slow burn

🖤 “Who did this to you?”

✨ Magic, monsters, and morally grey men

🖤 One bed at the inn

✨️ A heroine who just wants to go home… until she doesn’t

Addie Howell has perfected the art of holding it all together—until her anxiety-fueled sleep hallucinations rip her out of Manhattan and drop her into Threllwood, a realm teetering on the edge of destruction. 

Captured by a mysterious commander with too many secrets and eyes like cobalt flame, Addie must decide: risk everything to save a world she barely understands—or run back to the safety of her own, and break both their hearts in the process.

REVIEW

What a whirlwind read! This was the most beautiful read I had read in a long time. I went in grumpy and came out smiling. Drummond’s world-building is spectacular, and you surprisingly get lost in her magical world of Threllwood. We meet Addie, who is going through some stuff, as well as being plagued with nightmares of a strange forest and owls that she shrugs off as anxiety; at least that is what her therapist is telling her- but when her dreams start seeping into her reality, she finds herself falling through the portal into a world that is strange, yet oddly like home. 

 Addie is unsure how she got to this world called Threllwood. When she gets caught by the Queen’s commander, he thinks she could be his dying kingdom’s hope, and more.

This book is absolutely captivating, and I did not want to admit it. As I said, I went into reading this grumpy, not feeling romantasy at the moment. That mood soon changed the moment I started reading. You instantly get invested in Addie’s life and journey where, if you take away all the magic and fantasy, this book is about finding yourself. Finding your home.

Also, I had been reading thrillers and horror books lately, so reading this portal romantasy was actually a breath of fresh air and cleansed my reading palate. I have to step back into the world of horror for my next review read, so The Kingdom Of The Owl has refreshed me. I really enjoyed it; therefore, my rating is

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/ 5 stars.

HEY! Want a chance to get this book early like me? Starting August 18th – September 11th 2026, you can join the KICKSTARTER hosted by City Owl Press and Guilded Wings Books to sign up and receive a signature edition copy that features:

  • Foil-Stamped Hardcover
  • Curved Classic Spine
  • Sprayed Edges
  • Full-Color Endpapers
  • Specialty Interior Formatting
  • Hand-Signed

Plus LOTS of surprise add-ons!

Kickstarter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christine Drummond has been weaving tales of unlikely heroes finding courage, love, and belonging since childhood.

Her work blends slow-burn chemistry, immersive settings, and emotional journeys—whether set in modern cityscapes or magic-touched realms—and is known for its complex characters and a healthy dose of wit. Her work has earned recognition:

  • Her debut Romantasy sold to City Owl Press for publication in 2027
  • Kingdom of the Owl was long-listed for Uncharted Mag’s 2024 Novel Excerpt Contest
  • Christine has grown an audience of thousands of followers on Bookstagram
  • In a prior life, Christine’s writing on her culinary exploits was published in Huffington Post

When she’s not writing (or chatting about it), Christine can be found chasing after her two young daughters, hiking scenic trails with her husband, or cozying up with her latest read. 

She brings a business-savvy mindset to every project, thanks to dual degrees in Marketing and International Business from the University of Maryland—and a touch of sensory detail from her Culinary Arts training at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York.

 Follow Christine at christinemdrummond.com  and on Instagram and TikTok 

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: The Witch’s Third by Kymberli Roberson

Today in the spotlight is the upcoming release THE WITCH’S THIRD: Nyctophilia by Kymberli Roberson. Preparing to release on October 1st, 2026, this dark fantasy horror will be the perfect pick-up for spooky month reading. Let’s dive in!

The Witch's Third: Nyctophilia

Expected Release Date: October 1, 2026

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fantasy Horror

Featuring
⦁	Magic
⦁	Creatures
⦁	Plot twists
⦁	Morally gray characters
⦁	Race against the clock
⦁	Action

This is the tale of one night…
When the mutilated corpse of an animal appears in Ronadel Fortress and black feathers rain down from the heavens on the day of the peculiar Entertainment Night festival, the inhabitants begin whispering of witches. Except, neither they nor warlocks have existed in the land for fifty years. That’s what the twenty-year-old servant Aubree is told; even one of the guards, Tams, confirms that it’s true. But as the day wears on and night descends, they begin to realize there’s more to the events than meets the eye.
In this land that has exterminated all witches and warlocks, something has crept in with the night. Something intent on slaying the inhabitants by any means necessary.
Now in a race against time, Aubree and Tams find themselves fighting not only for their lives, but also those of the fortress’s inhabitants. And they must hurry, for they only have until dawn.

PRE-ORDER NOW AVAILABLE

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kymberli Roberson has published speculative flash fiction pieces in Nailpolish Stories and Theme of Absence. She has contributed to Heavy Feather Review. Kymberli is currently working on her next book.

#supportingindieauthors

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Songbirds of the Veil by Steven McClellen

Book spotlighting this week is the lyrical YA historical fantasy SONGBIRDS OF THE VEIL by 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.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Immortality Island by Nikki Jefford

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.

Immortality Island

Release Date: July 21, 2026

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Featuring:

⦁	Enemies to lovers
⦁	Forced proximity
⦁	Slow Burn
⦁	Banter
⦁	Magic
⦁	Reality Competition
⦁	Forbidden romance
⦁	Dual POV
⦁	Action and Adventure


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.
https://nikkijefford.com/immortalityisland/ or AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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/

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AUDIO Book Spotlight Thursday: ARMORED HOURS by Stephaine Hansen

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.

AUDIBLE/ Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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