BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Brake Me by Athena & Marluxia Bliss

This week’s Book Spotlight is spicing up with the very SPICY BRAKE ME by Athena & Marluxia Bliss! Let’s read on!

Brake Me
Release Date: April 24, 2026
Genre: Very Spicy MM/ BL Romance

Featuring

⦁	Possessive Love Interest
⦁	Only One Who Understands Me
⦁	Slow Burn to Obsession
⦁	Forbidden Love
⦁	Found Family (Garage Edition)
⦁	Touch-Starved Meets Touch-Hungry
⦁	Machine With a Soul
⦁	Love from the first Vroom

Buying a 1992 Fox Body Ford Mustang might have been a terrible idea, but Al loves that damn car so much. He just doesn't expect him to love him back.

Two idiots who can't keep their hands off each other at 100MPH? Sounds like a recipe for distaster.

CONTENT WARNING THIS BOOK IS RATED 18+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Athena lives in beautiful Gisborne, New Zealand with her husband Marly and their daughter.

Immigrating from Russia to New Zealand in 2001, Athena grew up in a household full of bigotry, racism, and hateful ideology. Given the chance to move out on her own at 18 she leapt for it, putting an ad out on deviantart.com seeking a flatmate to share a house with in Auckland. Her future husband reached out to her on just as much of a whim, and they moved in together a month later.

They began dating the moment they moved in together in 2007, and continued to date even as Marly came to terms with being transgender and began to transition from female to male. Athena supported him every step of the way and they wed in 2014 and welcomed their daughter to the family in 2015.

Despite several attempts to connect across the years Athena has chosen to remove herself from her biological roots and has embraced a found family of misfits and weirdos, and has been embraced as ‘one of us’ by Marly’s mum and siblings.

In her free time, when she isn’t writing, Athena is a talented artist with a unique style that is in high demand. She proudly illustrated every image in The Sons Of Echidna, and her art has been featured in several published works.

Today she celebrates a sense of belonging in a diverse and happy group that love her passion and creativity.

Athena is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, is of Ainu descent, and supports a free Ukraine.

Learn more about Athena and her books, as well as the full content warning, visit https://www.athenabliss.com/

April 23, 2026April 21, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Riley Doesn’t Want to Fight Evil by D.R. Mills

Happy Thursday! As I bring you the horror comedy RILEY DOESN’T WANT TO FIGHT EVIL. This book looks hilariously fantastic! A YA comedy horror that you’re gonna like, whether you like it or not. Let’s read on!

Riley Doesn't Want to Fight Evil (Book One)

Release Date: October 2025

Genre: Horror Comedy

Riley Thomas is the main character of this story – whether he likes it or not.
Riley Thomas has always been a normal, regular, average guy. He has a crappy job, a few friends, and a boring homelife–and that’s just fine with him.
Unfortunately for Riley, fate has other plans.

Death gods, immortal psychopaths, haunted dolls, and serial-killer neighbors are only a handful of his problems. So far, he’s managed to sidestep his responsibility as the main character, but all that changes when he finds himself wrapped up in a prophecy that holds the fate of the world in the balance.

An ancient force of Hell is rising up. Reckoning is coming.
The path of a hero is a hard one, but with enough tenacity and quick thinking, Riley might be able to stay completely out of it. Or at least, he’s going to try.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. R. Mills is a young-adult horror author who is currently hard at work on his debut series, MONSTERS. He was born and raised in Wyoming, where he’s still lurking around somewhere. When he isn’t writing, he’s playing video games a borderline unhealthy amount or spending time with his beautiful wife.

Follow D.R. Mills and their books at @author_drmills on Instagram

April 16, 2026April 12, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Bride of Ash & Dust by Meredith Hart

Thrusting into the spotlight this week is the newly released BRIDE OF ASH & DUST by Meredith Hart! Featuring tension so thick you can cut it with a knife, let’s read on!

Bride of Ash & Dust
Book one in the Snake & Crown series

Published: April 10th, 2026

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Features
*Arranged marriage
*Forced proximity
*Political intrigue
*He falls first… and harder
*Morally gray MMC
*They meet on their wedding day
*Sleeping in the same bed… but not touching
*Emotional support weapons

Princess Lilias has one day to pack her life into trunks before her wedding to a man she's never met. They call him the Snake of Vsenrog: assassin, spy, and the foster son of a ruthless king. Everyone tells her to be terrified. They're right. But not for the reasons they think.

Because Zarek isn't cruel. He's careful. He sleeps with daggers strapped to his body but refuses to touch her when she's drunk. He climbs through windows but asks permission before his fingers brush her thigh. He walks through palaces and slums like he owns them, but avoids their bedchamber. Keeping her safe, he claims, means keeping his distance.
And Lilias learns that the worst torture isn't fear. It's wanting.

But when their honeymoon tour becomes a trap, staying apart is no longer an option. As Vsenrog's armies gather, Lilias and Zarek realize their forced marriage might be the opening move in a war neither of them saw coming. And in a palace where mirrors are windows and lovers are spies, falling in love isn't romantic. It's a weapon.
And someone's waiting to use it against them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raised by wolves in the mountains of Colorado, Meredith Hart traveled the world to seek her fortune, fell in love with a half-elf ranger, and now lives in a cabin deep in the Maine woods where she writes steamy fantasy romance with snarky, reluctant heroes and the warrior women who love them. She also writes Loki-inspired paranormal romance under the pen name Samantha MacLeod.

Learn more about Hart at https://writermeredithhart.com/

And follow her on Instagram and TikTok @writermeredithhart

April 9, 2026April 5, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Chasm Of Dreams by Dakoda Mazzii

I am back with another Book Spotlight Thursday! Shining this Thursday is Chasm of Dreams, a dark fantasy romance by Dakoda Mazzii! Chasm of Dreams takes place in a primitive world where only brute strength, cunning, and cruelty have enabled its humans to survive. Let’s read on!

Chasm Of Dreams (The Fate of Astaran Series Book 1)

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Features

✨Touch her and die
✨One horse
✨” Who did this to you?”
✨ FMC goes from reluctant hero to BAMF
✨Hurt/Comfort/Consent
✨Mysterious mind link between MCs
✨ Strangers to lovers
✨Yearningggg

More than a thousand years ago, the humans of Astaranwere conquered by a vengeful Fallen Angel named Chemosh a.k.a “The Sovereign”. Through the deception of Hel’s general---the mighty black wolf and demi-God, SkÖll---she betrays the Gods of Lyrath to declare war on a race of humans with powerful psychic abilities. The Gods then exile her to Astaran and sever her black wings. With the help of her acolytes, The Anakaii, she takes control of Astaran.

AIDA is an orphan and nomad whose parents vanished when she was seven. Her gift of Dream Walking allows her to project into anyone’s mind and plant a suggestion that will compel them to comply. When her power leads to deadly consequences, she vows to never use the gift on anyone again. During her time in the wilderness, Aida’s relationships are sparce, except for the mysterious presence that has been linked to her consciousness for as long as she can remember…

When an Astaran Guard and tracker named TYRAN is tasked with finding an escaped prisoner, he finds Aida after she has been captured by four vicious servants of The Sovereign. Upon saving her from a brutal assault, the pair flee into the dangerous depths of The Furian wood, far from the reach of The Sovereign’s stronghold in Opeth city.
As they travel to the bounds of their known world and approach the towering Vazaketh mountain range, they encounter ancient beasts, discover a hidden race of exiles, learn the answers to the secrets of their past and future, and a solidify a soul-bond that may be the key to the liberation of their entire realm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dakoda Mazzii is an author-in-bloom from the great state of Texas. Always a lover of creative writing and fiction novels, she received her Arts degree from Florida Keys Community College in 2014. Her debut Romantasy novel, CHASM OF DREAMS, was crafted to satisfy her craving for a gut-wrenching, bone-crunching, and swoon-worthy story with a supernatural twist. When not reading or writing, you can find her enjoying a coffee at the park with her daughter and husband.

Follow Mazzi on INSTAGRAM @dakodamazziiauthor TIKTOK: @dakodamazziiauthor

March 26, 2026March 23, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Filthy Royals by Kahley Burwell

Welp, the title earned this week’s spotlight as we dive into FILTHY ROYALS by Kahley Burwell! A spicy dark academia romantasy!

Filthy Royals

Release Date: October 2025

Genre: Dark Academia Romantasy

Featuring

⦁	3rd person POV
⦁	Dislike to lovers
⦁	Love triangle between a set of twins
⦁	Forbidden romance
⦁	Bodyguard x princess
⦁	Dark academia
⦁	Supernatural college
⦁	Multiple fantasy creatures
⦁	Found family/sisterhood

In the United Realms, five young queens, born to rule but raised in chaos, are more than just heirs. They’re warriors, schemers, and monsters wrapped in silk and crowned in gold. Magic is forbidden to mix, love is a dangerous luxury, and betrayal is woven into the very fabric of their world.

When their reckless reputations catch up to them, they’re banished to New Charms University, a cutthroat academy where only the strongest survive. Stripped of their crowns, Bella, Diana, Naomi, Reina, and Selene must prove they deserve their thrones. 
But enduring the academy’s punishments is only the beginning.

Dark forces lurk in the shadows, and the halls of New Charms are steeped in secrets, lies, and blood. When students start turning up dead, the queens realize their exile isn’t just a punishment—it’s a trap. Someone wants them powerless. Someone wants them dead.
To reclaim their crowns, they’ll have to master forbidden magic, forge dangerous alliances, and uncover the truth behind the murders. 
Because in this game of power, you either rule…or you bleed like the roses at your feet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahley Burwell is a current third year college student at Loyola Marymount University, pursuing a BFA in Screenwriting with a minor in English. Aspiring to write, produce, and act in her own projects, she specializes in adapting literary works for the screen. She has previously interned at CatchLight Studio and The Jackson Agency, gaining hands-on experience in development and production.

Originally from Philadelphia, Kahley Burwell now studies in California but plans to move soon to pursue her creative ambitions. In her free time, she loves reading, binge-watching TV, traveling, and hanging out with friends at Yogurtland.

Follow Kahley and her book:@kahleybookwell on Instagram.

March 19, 2026March 18, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Desolate by Kelli Storm

Helping the authors get some shine on their books this Thursday, DESOLATE by Kelli Storm shines bright in the spotlight! Desolate is a witchy urban YA fantasy with LGBTQ+ heroines, character-driven plots, neurodivergent representation, and bewitching twists. Let’s read on!

Desolate

Release Date: October 2025

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Featuring
⦁	Accidental Time Travel
⦁	Forbidden Love
⦁	Fish Out of Water
⦁	Who Done It
⦁	Neurodivergent Heroine
⦁	Sapphic Romance

A time-bending mishap forces a witch to navigate a new reality and an unexpected romance. Can Mia find her way back home, all while stopping a killer?
Being a witch with ADHD has its challenges. When Mia gets distracted while performing a spell, she becomes an accidental time-traveler.
Waking up in 1992, she comes across supernatural creatures attacking a young woman, and she taps into strange, unknown powers to save her. But as Mia starts falling for the enchanting near-victim, she discovers the girl will soon die.
She might be the only person who can stop her killer, yet everyone knows messing with time can have dire consequences.
As she works on finding a way back to her timeline, Mia quickly realizes she needs to make a choice. Let history happen or stop this dark destiny from coming to pass.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When the 2008 recession hit, KELLI STORM found herself without a job and with too much time on her hands. To fill the void, she began writing fan fiction. She soon developed a following, and her readers encouraged her to write an original story. Kelli’s debut book, HIS SMALL-TOWN CHALLENGE (Harlequin Special Edition, 2025), is an ode to her love of boy bands.

Kelli earned her bachelor’s from Grand Valley State University. She’s the author of the Challenge Accepted series for Harlequin Special Edition and the young adult fantasy series, The Assembly Hearts, which includes DESOLATE (Tiny Fox Press, 2025). She lives in the Great Lake State with three rescue dogs and a fifteen-year-old fish named Henry O’Malley.

Learn more about Kelli and her books at: @authorkellistorm on INSTAGRAM and TIKTOK: @authorkellistorm

March 19, 2026March 19, 2026

ARC BOOK REVIEW: Summer of Dust and Ash by Ana Lee

Welcome to Teir—a shining beacon of hope amidst the ravages of war…or the trappings of a gilded cage? SUMMER of DUST and ASH is the exciting sequel to RED SUMMER by Ana Lee. After reviewing the first book, RED SUMMER, I got a chance to get an ARC copy of the soon-to-be-released next book in the Stone and Scale series.

Summer of Dust and Ash (Stone and Scale Book 2)

Expected Release Date: April 26, 2026

Genre: Epic Romantasy

Featuring

– Multi-POV

– Slow burn

– Fated bonds

– Antagonist turned ally

– Love triangle

– Ultimate good vs evil

– Dragons and ancient magic

– Prophecies

– Corrupt government

– Political intrigue

– Secret high-stakes battles

Synopsis

Following an unforeseen treason and an unexpected attack on the New Orleans Council House, Wilder and his friends escape to the safety of Teir. But secrets, greater still than the ones kept by the people they trusted, arise just in time for Summer Solstice.

As the Red War builds between worlds, another—more ancient and more deadly—brews in the heavens. And its whispers are creeping into the heart of the Eadar.

The dragons, once believed by most to have never truly existed, begin to return—and they’re not playing by the rules. The mysterious Jeselle, born of both dark and dragon magic, takes her place as the first rider. And the hunt for the stones, all that stands in the way of Markus claiming control of everything he touches, finally begins.

But can Wilder and his friends stay alive long enough to find them? Can they truly trust the Magistrie to protect the Eadar, and the humans, from the Dahrk and the havoc it’s wrought? And most of all, can Wilder trust himself?

REVIEW

Book one was like “Harry Potter” meets “Percy Jackson” on Bourbon Street. Book two sends us into “House of Dragons” territory as Wilder’s journey continues. His and Terra’s will-they-won’t-they tension blends effortlessly with the dark political tension that’s brewing in the magical realms and threatening the human realm. And the dragon egg finally hatches!!!

Summer of Dust and Ash explodes! The stakes are high. Lee keeps a good pace as we learn more about each character and their stakes in the matter, without losing sight of our main character, Wilder. Speaking of Wilder, his character has grown a bit, too, but he is still in denial about some things, which I liked. He’s not, “oh, I am magic, so I know it instantly and am very good at it.” No, Wilder still has no clue, really; he is more powerful than he knows.

We also start to wonder whether Wilder and his friends are on the right side of it all. Our villain is starting to look less villainous, perhaps? Or is it just all a lie to lure Wil in? I was so with Wil in his internal struggle. We end, though, with the question, What do the dragons have on the overall situation?

I can’t wait to find out in the next book, “Son of Summer.”

My Rating 4 out of 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ana Lee is the debut author of Red Summer—the first novel of the upcoming dark, gritty, and fast-paced epic contemporary fantasy series, Stone and Scale.

Ana lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she spends her time reading, writing, or dreaming about reading and writing.

Her influences include (but are definitely not limited to) Cassandra Clare, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Follow Anna and her books at @analeewrites on Instagram.

March 5, 2026March 2, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Demons For Breakfast by J. Morgyn White

Releasing on March 13th, Demons For Breakfast by J. Morgyn White gets featured this week. Let’s dive into this upcoming witchy urban fantasy.

Demons For Breakfast (Nightshade Hearts)

Expected Release Date: March 13, 2026

Genre: Witchy Urban Fantasy

Features
👇
*Urban Fantasy
*Reluctant Partnership
*Cursed Hero
*She Saves Him
*Witch Romance
*Slow burn
*Herb Based Magic

San Francisco is cracked open by demon portals, but Sorrel Redwood has always known the dead don’t stay quiet. A commune-raised herb witch with a silver mane and lavender-tinted shades, Sorrel makes her living banishing spirits and brewing intention oils. What she really wants, though, is revenge—the kind that only comes when she finds the demons who tore her mother from the world.

But when a botched banishment binds her to Ranth, a centuries-old wizard with more scars than secrets, Sorrel’s witch-for-hire gig turns into a war. Demon hounds are hunting. An ancient cult is watching. And thanks to the curse laced through Ranth’s golden bracelet—now mirrored on Sorrel’s own wrist—if he dies, she dies.

With her Scooby-gang of experts, a grumpy cat named Antimony, and every herb in her belt, Sorrel will have to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice. Because in San Francisco, even the city of fog can’t hide the truth: not all demons wear horns, and not all hearts stay human.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Morgyn White writes dark, romantic, otherworldly fiction fueled by midnight obsessions and magic-touched mayhem. White is the award-winning founder of SCRYE Magazine and former editor of Fork & Bottle.

A lifelong lover of haunted castles, cursed rings, and supernatural entanglements, she brings her background in publishing, pop culture, and paranormal academia to every page she writes.

She lives in Northern California wine country with her game-designing husband, their son, and two mischievous Bengal cats.

Follow J. Morgyn on IG: @jmorgynwhite & TIKTOK: @jmorgynwhite

February 26, 2026February 22, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Only the Small Bones by C.P. Harris

I deal with a lot of books, and sometimes books get caught in my book web by surprise, which leads us to this Thursday’s Book Spotlight, “ONLY THE SMALL BONES” by C.P. Harris. Only the Small Bones is an MM romance, and book 1 in the standalone series Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings. This is a deeply dark slow-burn romance story featuring a non-verbal MC with touch aversion and mental health representation.

Only the Small Bones (Slow Burns & Tragic Beginings #1)

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Genre: Dark MM Romance

Author: @authorcharris

Publisher: @pageandvinebooks

Features
⬇
Non-verbal MC
MC With Touch Aversion
Human Trafficking Survivor
Broken Boys
Mental Health Rep
Interracial Couple
Slow Burn
Delicious Tension
Text Exchanges
Hurt/Comfort
Cameos from Infidelity cast members

“What makes him so special?”
“He reminds me of someone I once knew…”

As the founder of Freedom Fighters, famed music composer, William Mayes, is often the first port of call when the FBI needs assistance with human trafficking victims.
After receiving such a call one night, William abandons everything to catch the next flight home. Arriving at Manhattan Memorial, he finds a beautiful young man restrained to a gurney. His eyes are wild with fear, and blood stains his skin. No one has been successful in getting him to speak.

When even he can’t get the young man to cooperate, William does something he may later come to regret—he extends an invite to his home. The young man is non-verbal, angry, and at times openly hateful. All of which gives him control over William’s emotions.
William slowly begins to spiral from his own struggles with his tormented past. His nightmares return, sleep becomes a lost cause, and the dark voices in his head are out for blood.

Amid their co-dependent isolation, William’s feelings evolve. Lines are blurred and then crossed altogether as they start down a path riddled with secrets and lies of omission.
The only thing that can set them both free is the truth. But maybe some things are better left buried. Because if the ugliest parts of William are ever unearthed, no one will be spared.

_{*Content Warning*: This book is recommended for 18+ as it deals with human trafficking of adults and children. Flashbacks involving the abuse they face at the hands of their traffickers (i.e., being drugged, bound, and transported). Discussions involving cutting, sexual assault, physical, and emotional abuse. Depression representation. Off-page death of a parent, grandparents, and trafficking victims. Survivor’s guilt.}

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.P. Harris writes emotionally charged romance with a dark edge. Her stories dive deep into flawed characters, and leaves you with hard-won, happily-ever-afters. When not writing, she’s devouring the same intense, complicated romances she loves to create. If you crave angst, obsession, and endings that hurt before they heal, then C.P. Harris might just be your next favorite author.

February 19, 2026February 18, 2026

Book Spotlight Thursday: OBSIDIAN SKY by Jill Aster

Training academies and dragon riders are caught in my spotlight today in OBSIDIAN SKY!

Obsidian Sky (Riftborn Series Book 1)

Release Date: February 2, 2026

Genre: Romantasy/ Dragons

🔥Enemies to lovers
🔥Trainer to trainee
🔥Morally gray protector
🔥Fated bond
🔥Deadly training academy trials
🔥Hidden lineage 
🔥Dragon-rider fantasy
🔥Forbidden romance
🔥Love and destruction
🔥High-stakes political intrigue
🔥Destiny/prophecy
🔥Elemental magic system
🔥Immersive fantasy world-building

Thaelyn Marren enters the Asgar Training Academy wanting nothing more than to prove herself amongst the other cadets, where she must endure life-threatening trials in the hope of manifesting air, water, fire, or earth magic. Not to mention, a lucky few will pair with dragons who select their riders with ancient instinct, answering only to those whose souls burn bright enough to match their own.

When Thaelyn’s power stirs in ways no instructor can explain, she draws the attention of the crown, particularly Prince Thorne Dareth, a renowned warrior and a dragon rider. Hardened by discipline and haunted by a kingdom he was born to serve, Thorne sees Thaelyn as a danger to the realm and yet is charged with her training. And amidst clashing personalities, an undeniable pull forms between them, potent enough to awaken dark forces that once tore the world apart.

Now rift-born creatures thought to exist only in nightmares are slipping through the cracks of their reality. And as they push the realm toward open war, Thaelyn may be the only one able to stop what’s coming. That is, only if Thorne can choose between loyalty to his crown or the girl whose power could either save their world or bring it to ruin.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Aster writes epic fantasy romance. She’s a published curriculum writer and holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Her background in education, which earned the distinction of Master Teacher, has refined her storytelling craft, world-building skills, and character development. Obsidian Sky is her debut fantasy romance and the first book in a planned series titled Riftborn. When she is not teaching literature, writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, baking, photography, and spending time with her husband, two adult children, and their pomsky, Onyx.

Jill has loved fantasy books and been mesmerized by dragons since she was a child. When she decided to write her debut novel, Obsidian Sky, she knew it must contain dragons. Her debut novel, Obsidian Sky is book one in the planned Riftborn Series.