This is the culmination of quiet walks at night through trees and upon echoing boardwalks as the full moon lit the way. It was created from the smells of rain-cleansed earth and the voices of passersby commenting on the flowers blooming and inspired by the sun sparkling on the pond’s surface and the essence of a small town’s nature flooding my veins. Full of detail and imagery, see a small town through the eyes of a poet.
REVIEW
Nature and the human soul are the stars of this poetry collection. Poetess Thornley captures the classic poetic writing of Browning or Blake. That abstract way brings forth a spiritual connection. Thornley gives nature a voice. The seasons a voice. One of my favorites is Autumn’s Wind. Autumn is my favorite season, and Thornley does an excellent personification of Autumn to me. Reincarnation is another good one. It is short but so damn profound it’s so refreshing to see nature respect this way.
ARCADIANS is a nice read for a slow Sunday afternoon, and it might make you want to go on a walk in nature.
Katrina Thornley is a freelance journalist, poet, and author residing in rural Rhode Island. She has been featured in numerous anthologies, including the Association of Rhode Island Authors’ short story anthology “In a Dark Time.”
Her first published novel, “Kings of Millburrow”, is a thrilling mystery full of small-town drama; readers have called it “well written” and “full of suspense”, making it impossible to “put down until the very end.”
Her Arcadians series is currently home to 3 poetry collections, the most recent being Arcadians: Awakening in Nature. Readers have called the series “deeply metaphorical, well written, and emotional” and “recommend it to anyone who enjoys nature or simply needs a break from the fast-paced world.”
To learn more about Katrina and her writing, follow her on Instagram @seekatwrite.
This cover is so alluring! Lion of Zarall by Eddy Rose is an adult dark fantasy featuring gladiators, morally ambiguous characters, forbidden love, and gritty settings. Let’s read on!
Lion of Zarall (Twilight of Blood Book 1)
Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Gladiators
Features
⦁ Gladiators ⦁ Dark fantasy ⦁ Arena battles ⦁ Action-packed ⦁ Forbidden romance ⦁ Hidden Identity ⦁ Slavery ⦁ One bed ⦁ Forced proximity ⦁ Morally ambiguous ⦁ Gritty ⦁ Bred to kill ⦁ Injury care
A gripping dark fantasy featuring gladiators, morally ambiguous characters, forbidden love, and gritty settings.
In a kingdom built on slave trade, slaves are bought and sold like property. Among them is Lion, a purebred beast who was bred for the blood-soaked arenas. A man who exists for violence and entertainment.
A man whose life hangs by a thread. Olira, a simple farmer, never wanted to own a slave. But when she finds herself entangled with a shady slave merchant, she reluctantly becomes the owner of an injured purebred beast. Renowned for their unwavering obedience and lack of emotions, purebred beasts are stripped of their humanity from birth, making them the perfect tools. As Olira grapples with her principles and the harsh realities of her world, she soon discovers that the slave has a deadly secret.
Can a beast learn to love?
Can a gladiator threaten a kingdom?
Can a man filled with hatred hold the key to unleashing the horrors of Darkhome? Lion of Zarall is a fast paced dark fantasy novel that will captivate readers who enjoy complex, morally ambiguous stories that explore the themes of power, consent, and the blurred lines between humanity and savagery, making it a perfect fit for fans of gritty, thought-provoking fiction.
Content Warning: Lion of Zarall is an adult dark fantasy and deals with some heavy subject matter that some readers may find triggering. Please refer to the full list of content warnings available on the author’s website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eddy B. Rose started her writing career when she was in third grade. Her first readers were a small but dedicated group of her classmates who stopped by at her desk at recess to read the next chapter of the story she wrote on a notebook.
Eddy lives in Queensland, Australia, with her husband, toddler, and two German Shepherds (the original babies), Kara and Kal-El. She enjoys getting up at 4:30 a.m. to write.
Aria never expected to be a mistress, especially to the Pharaoh’s son. But when she accidentally witnesses the poisoning of his cup and intervenes, he is intrigued. Even more so when he discovers that she can speak the betrayer’s language and many others.
Aria’s forbidden education as the daughter of a book binder makes her valuable, and she quickly becomes the prince’s obsession.
As she embraces her newfound power, she begins to question the rulings of the palace and uncovers a world of deception. Is Aria destined to receive the spoils of the gods or will tragedy befall her?
The Book Binder is an epic adventure novel with elements of suspense and mystery. C.A. Cordova’s tale is woven with intense emotion, dire situations, and female cunning.
C.A. Cordova is perhaps best described as a whimsical nomad. She has an ever-present thirst for new adventures that has resulted in many moves and many more stories.
C.A. Cordova’s unique novels are crafted under a shroud of bergamot from a bottomless cup of Earl Grey tea. She declares herself an observer of the countless tales that play out in her mind. It is not unusual for her to have upwards of ten works in progress at any given moment, the most active being determined by the tone of the day.
Guided by her love of reading, C.A. Cordova hopes to capture the feeling of blissful immersion she has experienced with her favorite books.
When she is not feverishly tapping away at her laptop with a cat in her lap, C.A. Cordova can be found enjoying time with her family, training her parrot, or tending to her flowerbeds.
C.A. Cordova lives in Texas with her family and many pets.
Welcome to a thankful Book Spotlight Thursday! In our limelight today is EVEN ANGELS FALL by E.V. Sauvage, which is releasing today!
Even Angels fall (The Even Ever After Series Book 1)
Publication Date: November 28, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Features
⦁ Enemies to lovers ⦁ Marriage of convenience ⦁ He falls first ⦁ She’s badass ⦁ Found family ⦁ Shapeshifters (she’s a crow/he’s a dragon)
300 years ago, my world collided with Earth. My kind has been ruling over the world ever since, passing as archangels. Doves, swans, cockatoo, their white wings in half shifted form are the sign of their power. I should have been the next in line. I should have been the new archangel Michaël. But my wings aren’t white. So instead I have to stay hidden. Instead, I’ve been trained my whole life. Instead, I’m their weapon. Because who would be best suited to kill the dragon shifter living inside of Notre Dame than a fallen angel? My name is Angélique. I’m a crow-shifter, and my mission is to marry Elhyor and to kill him on our wedding night. But nothing is the way it seems, and the dragon might be harder to kill than I thought. He might also be my only chance at freedom… Do I have any chance of surviving unscathed? Only time will tell…
An invitation she can’t refuse—a secret he doesn’t want her to uncover. The Secret of Roan Island is a dark, sexy, gothic paranormal romance that is sinfully sweet. I recently received an ARC copy to review, and now that the book is out, I am revealing my review as I join with R&R Book Tours for the Book Tour Release!
The Secrets of Roan Island
Publication Date: November 21, 2024
Genre: Gothic Fantasy/ Gaslamp/ Romance
Features
⦁ A gothic mansion ⦁ Steampunk aesthetic ⦁ Morally gray alpha MMC ⦁ Academic FMC ⦁ Complex family dynamics ⦁ Wounded characters ⦁ "Who did this to you?" ⦁ He unalives someone for her ⦁ Possessive and obsessed MMC ⦁ "Tell me to stop" ⦁ Primal chase scene ⦁ "Mine"
Outcast from her academic peers and at risk of losing her position at Essik College, Professor Ruby Rose appeals to the reclusive philanthropist Hammish Roan by asking for a grant. What she receives is a cryptic invitation to stay at Roan Island for the winter holiday. No matter how much the eerie mansion unnerves her, access to the Roans’ coveted library is worth facing her unsettling fears. Mysterious and enigmatic, Noah Roan, the oldest of Hammish Roan’s sons, knows exactly what happens to women who come to their isolated estate. Especially those who stay until the Winter Solstice. No matter how hard he tries to get Ruby to leave, the infuriating and alluring woman insists on staying.
In a clash of will and desire, Ruby and Noah struggle to fight their attraction to each other. But their connection reveals dark and sinister secrets that draw the attention of the maniacal patriarch. Can they work together to out maneuver Hammish Roan, or will he destroy them both?
REVIEW
This book had me swooning! We are introduced to Ruby Rose, a professor at Essik College. Desperate for grant funds, she reaches out to reclusive philanthropist Hammish Roan. When Ruby gets a reply and a errie invitation to spend the Winter Solstice holiday at his manor, Ruby accepts unbeknownst to the secrets that lurk on Roan Island.
Upon Ruby’s arrival, she meets Hammish Roan’s enigmatically handsome sons, The Roan brothers Shemaiah, Jafeth, and the oldest, Noah. Noah wants Ruby to leave, but Ruby is not leaving not without her grant. Frustrated and drawn to this intelligent, headstrong woman, Noah fights to hide their secret and his attraction. Ruby, aware there is something up with this family, can’t help but be intrigued by the sizzling hot Noah Roan, and she is going to get her grant hell or be damned.
Oh, My! Gosh! This book has all the tropes I apparently love and did not know: the gothic Victorian setting, Touch her and die, and the achingly slow-burning romance. I was so giddy reading reading this book. I did guess the conclusion quickly, yet eagerly read on to see if THEY (the characters) would figure it out. I mean, come on, Noah and Rose! They play so dumb at times, which I think is what makes them likable. They are far from perfect characters, and that just makes them perfect!
Aurora and Masen tag team brilliantly in their writing, creating a seamless flow and tone. I’d never guess two people wrote this (some double-author books, you can tell). When asked at the end if we, the reader, would like more Roan Brothers, the answer is YES!
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
MACI AURORA
Romance author.
Lover of stories.
Maci Aurora has been writing stories since she was a child. When she was eleven, she fell in love with reading Sunfire Historical Romances about girls who made a difference in their lives and still fell in love. In high school, a friend introduced her to Lavyrle Spencer and Judith McNaught, and from there, her writing journey was cemented in telling stories about love. Having already published many novels (all of which are threaded with romance as upper YA and New Adult titles) under the pen name, CL Walters, Maci Aurora wanted to write stories that offered the same attention to story and characters but with additional steam.
Maci writes in Hawaiʻi where she lives with her husband, their children, and their fur-babies.
THEA MASEN
Thea Masen never thought she’d write spicy romance. The first time she read a steamy book, she was so embarrassed she couldn’t finish it. Now, she spends her days hiding her computer screen from her teenagers and her nights reading tantalizing snippets to her husband.
If you want sweet and spicy love stories, with a touch of the magical and imagined, you’ve come to the right place.
After spotlighting his first book, Anansi’s Web, I am teaming with R&R Book Tours again to help spotlight Mola’s latest, THE LAVENDER FIELDS. A horror anthology where we encounter 6 chilling tales.
The Lavender Fields
Publication Date: October 19, 2024
Genre: Horror Anthology/ Short Stories
In the heart of the cosmos lies a dimension unlike any other—a realm of shimmering lavender fields where every possible universe is visible in the tapestry of existence. When an astronaut accidentally teleports to this mysterious plane, he finds himself in a front-row seat to the bizarre and terrifying narratives of alternate realities.
"The Lavender Fields" invites readers to journey as the astronaut recounts six chilling and fantastical stories from the multiverse. From eldritch cults that worship ancient deities to a drug that can freeze time itself, each tale plunges into the cosmic and supernatural horrors lurking at the edges of reality. Witness a meteor that incites unbridled rage, a shapeshifting prostitute who blurs the line between pleasure and peril, possessed pigs with unfinished business, and a witch mother whose dark magic has evil plans for her daughter.
Prepare for a mind-bending adventure through worlds where the unimaginable becomes real, and the only certainty is that fear transcends dimensions.
Derek Mola was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Emerson College, with a degree in Visual Media Production. Tired of the film industry, he became obsessed with horror and fantasy short stories.
Looking for a book to spotlight this Thursday, I found the soon-to-be-released Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy. Containing elements of gothic horror, splatterpunk, romance, and fantasy, this book calls to you that it is said to wrap around you, the reader, and never let go. Let’s read on!
Features ⦁ Eat the rich ⦁ “Family is complicated” ⦁ Sapphic (f/f) romance ⦁ 2/5 spice level ⦁ Multi-POV ⦁ Vietnamese FMC ⦁ Plus size FMC ⦁ Mixed race FMC ⦁ FMC who wears glasses ⦁ New Year’s Eve Horror ⦁ Dark Academia ⦁ Estranged friends to lovers ⦁ Grownup "The Pagemaster" vibes Recluse Sophie Vanguard’s winter cabin retreat turns ominous when blue flowers mysteriously appear. They’re everywhere. On her front porch, in kitchen cabinets, and even on her pillow. It isn’t long before chilling whispers echo in the halls, and her journal repeats seven unsettling entries.
Enter the bloodied and beautifully eccentric Ly Thi Ren. Though Ren seems familiar, Sophie refuses to believe the girl’s insistence that they are trapped inside a book. In a land of fiction, truth and lies blur together, clear decisions are marred by doubt, and shared family trauma lurks just below the surface.
Can Ren and Sophie make it out alive? Or will they end up nothing more than words inked in blood and memory?
Warnings Contain Possible Triggers Including:
Swearing (Not overboard. Three or four F-words and three or four other words.) Gore/violence/body horror (not gratuitous and nothing sexual) one scene of the main character’s drug use (joint) Brief suicidal ideation Child endangerment Self-deprecation in terms of weight (one paragraph).
Inked in Blood and Memory is coming December 3rd, 2024
Allison Ivy writes under a pen name and grew up reading a book a day. She graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a Creative Writing certificate. She currently lives in Connecticut and listens to far too many show tunes and DVD commentaries. The Dragon and the Double-Edged Sword is her first novel.
Spotlighting this week is the first book in F.R. Black’s Fairy Godmother Inc. series, HEIR OF THE BEAST. The cover is eye-catching, and a book where it seems Fairy Godmothers are in a league. Let’s check this book out!
Heir Of The Beast: Fairy Godmother Inc. Series. -Book 1
Publication Date: February 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Spicy Fairytales
Features
⦁ Touch Her and 💀 ⦁ Morally Gray Male Characters ⦁ Enemies-to-Lovers ⦁ Spicy Fairytales "All you must do is sign on the dotted line, and all your romantic dreams will come true," the Fairy Godmother says with a twinkle in her eye. This is what happens when you do not read the fine print in a very detailed contract. You miss all the things that are immediate deal breakers. Viola, a proud resident of New Orleans, lives on the top floor of an old Victorian mansion on a very normal street. But normal is no longer a word she can use to describe her life since signing the official contract of Fairy Godmother Inc. They forgot to tell her that she would be competing against other women in a very dangerous game. A game where she would be thrust into an alien world for the mere hope of catching the dashing Prince's heart. And let me say this: this prince is one hot alpha male with a serious attitude problem. We do not get along, save for the fact that he can turn my insides to mush with one look. But the silver lining here is that you can have a happily-ever-after if you survive. You can't fall in love if you're dead. It tends to spoil the romance.
F.R. Black is the author of the FAIRY GODMOTHER INC SERIES. She is a hopeless romantic and fantasy enthusiast based in the beautiful state of Colorado. When she’s not whisking readers away to mystical realms filled with passionate romance, you can find her indulging in her favorite hobbies – reading with a glass of wine in hand and hanging out with her wacky family.
As a die-hard romance lover, F.R. Black’s writing is heavily influenced by her readers, who inspire her to create immersive worlds and swoon-worthy love stories. Her books are full of thrilling adventures, heart-melting romances, and a healthy dose of humor.
When F.R. Black isn’t penning her next enchanting novel, you might catch her daydreaming about castles and dashing heroes or searching for the perfect recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Her true passion for storytelling shines through in every word, and her books are guaranteed to transport you to a world of enchantment and blissful romance.
With a flair for drama and a lovable quirkiness, F.R. Black is a force to be reckoned with in the world of romance fantasy. So grab a copy of her latest novel, pour yourself a glass of wine, and get ready to fall head over heels in love with her captivating tales.
The cover has a dragon on it, so of course, I am spotlighting this book. All the Sacrifice of Shadows is the exciting next installment in the Starstorm series, coming November 13th.
All the Sacrifice of Shadows (Starstorm Series Book 2)
Expected Publication Date: November 13, 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Dragons
Features
Arranged Marriage Grumpy x Sunshine Shadow Daddy Morally Grey Very Spicy Dragons His Dragon Like Her Better
Synopsis
She was a storm of violent sunbeams and catastrophic rainbows. Marrying for love was never in the stars for Creslyn, as evidenced by her future husband. Drake is calculating, cruel, and wields a blade of death. By all rights, he should be terrifying. But something about him draws her in, his shadows call to the darkness she keeps locked away inside of her. She isn’t foolish enough to expect love from a marriage contract, but when they bind their vows in blood, Creslyn does the unthinkable—she claims Drake as her mate.
He was a monster of shadow and night, of death and destruction. Cursed since his first breath, Drake has only known power and a realm of shadows. But now he’s bound to a faerie whose heart bleeds for him, and his obsession with her only grows with each passing day. Unfortunately, his world of violence puts her life at stake. Not only is he still the Shadowblade Assassin, but unrest is brewing in Aeramere, and an attack on House Celestine confirms an ill-fated prophecy. War is coming. As Creslyn longs to find a way to break Drake’s curse and struggles to embrace her own darkness, Drake will be faced with a terrible choice—one that will only end in sacrifice. Secrets will be unearthed and their bond will be put to the test, because love might be enough for a hero, but it will never save a villain.
Content Warning: The book contains the following triggers.
⦁ Voyeurism ⦁ Foul language ⦁ Explicit sexual content ⦁ Attempted murder ⦁ Death ⦁ Blood ⦁ Brief on pages attempted SA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hillary Raymer is a fantasy romance author. She’s a wanderer, a storyteller, and believes in happily ever afters.
Hillary has always been a dreamer, and lucky for her, she turned those dreams into stories. She has an unfinished Bachelor’s Degree in English, because she ran off and married a Marine halfway through college. She has an affinity toward plants, loves flowers, and enjoys scoping out metaphysical markets for crystals. Wanderlust comes naturally to her, and she’s doing her best to instill the same wild and free values in her daughters. When not writing, Hillary can be found attempting to do yoga, buying more makeup she doesn’t need, or discovering small businesses on Etsy.
Back in May, I spotlighted the first book in the Martha’s Vineyard Murders series, A Chain of Pearls. Well, I am back with AME to spotlight books two and three in the series, which are making their debut! The Wraith’s Return and Widow’s Walk!
WRAITH'S RETURN ((Martha's Vineyard Murders Book 2)
Publication Date: August 22nd 2024
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Synopsis
London based lawyer Kyra Gibson returns to Martha’s Vineyard and the beach house she inherited for an extended summer holiday. Still reeling from her father’s brutal murder and the role she and the handsome detective, Tarek Collins played in uncovering it, Kyra is hopeful for some peace and quiet. But when a summer squall reveals the wreckage of the pirate ship, Keres, rich with rumored treasure, all hopes of peace are dashed. Conservationists and treasure hunters descend on the exclusive island to lay claim to the ship. When two of the salvagers are killed, Kyra and Tarek’s friend, pub owner and amateur historian, Gully Gould is arrested for murder.
Synopsis Attorney Kyra Gibson has a lot on her mind this Thanksgiving. She’s been working long hours on a multi-billion dollar corporate merger, her family is visiting from London, and her relationship with former police detective Tarek Collins is heating up. When she and her companions are invited by her aristocrat client to attend a formal gala at a historic mansion on Chappaquiddick, Kyra reluctantly agrees. But Chappy is more than just a playground for the wealthy. It’s a wild, remote place cut off from civilization. When the first body is found, the occupants are worried. Was it an accident or murder? When a second guest is brutally killed and then a third, there’s no doubt and the guests fearfully turn on each other. They are locked in a house with a murderer picking them off one-by-one. Kyra, her best friend Chase Hawthorn, and Tarek must survive the night and find the killer, or one of them could be next.
While part of the Martha’s Vineyard Murders series, each book can be read as standalone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raemi A Ray’s travels to Martha’s Vineyard and around the world inspire her stories. She lives outside Boston. When not writing or traveling she earns her keep as the personal assistant to the resident house demons, Otto and DolphLundgren.
Freelance Writer Janny(Jan Marie)C 