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?

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

August 27, 2026August 26, 2026

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.

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.

July 2, 2026June 29, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Between Blades and Vows by Neena Laskowski

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

June 25, 2026June 22, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Starfire’s Heir by Megan Phillips

Debut author Megan Phillips is caught in our spotlight today. Starfire’s Heir is 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+}

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

June 11, 2026June 8, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Once Upon a Midnight Walk by Tetyana Walker

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!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

Follow Tetyana on Instagram @theukrainiangirl

May 28, 2026May 25, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Against All Waves by Chelsea Ray

A YA high-seas fantasy adventure is in the spotlight today with Against All Waves by Chelsea Ray! Providing the perfect mix of a slow-burning romance with scheming crewmates, deadly sea creatures, and found family with a dash of magic. Let’s read on!

Against All Waves

Release Date: August 2025

Genre: YA Fantasy

Featuring
⦁	Slow-burn Romance
⦁	Scheming Crewmates
⦁	Deadly Sea Creatures
⦁	Found Family
⦁	Magic

Shes a pirate. He’s a prince.
Together they must conquer sea and land.

As a pirate, and only female crewmember, eighteen-year-old Elle fights daily to prove her worth despite being deemed bad luck. Facing dangerous waters, she secretly searches for her mother who had mysteriously disappeared. But she must tread carefully, for the tyrant captain of The Turbulence, her father Velis Whitlock has one rule: never to speak the name of Elle’s mother.

Axel Ardanian’s life has been laid out for him since birth. Soon to be ruler of the peaceful island of Glendora, he decides to share what the island has produced for centuries: a remedy known to cure any sickness. But during his travels to other lands, he witnesses the harsh realities of poverty and greed, which he fears will threaten the land he loves. To protect Glendora, the council and his father agree that Axel must unite with one of the kingdoms through an advantageous marriage.

When The Turbulence targets and attacks Axel’s ship, his and Elle’s lives are suddenly intertwined. In the end, both will have to choose to face their fears and protect what they hold dear to their hearts but also the truth that lingers between them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chelsea Ray is a hopeless romantic who is addicted to iced lattes and all about happily ever afters. She writes fantasy adventure with swoon-worthy banter and heroines who persevere, which you will find in her debut novel, 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑾𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔.

When she’s not writing, you will find her training horses, playing with her corgi, or spending time with her husband on their small Kansas ranch.

Learn more and follow Chelsea at IG: @chelsearaywrites TIKTOK: @chelsearaywrites

May 14, 2026May 12, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Vitalia by Eliza Benner

The circus welcomes you, but will you survive?

VITALIA by Eliza Benner is the first book in The Circus of Souls series!

Vitalia (Circus of Souls Book 1)

Release Date: February 2026

Genre: Spicy Fae & Dragon-Shifter Romantasy

Spice Level: 3 Peppers

Features
⦁ Competent FMC
⦁ Morally Grey MMC
⦁ Dragon-shifters
⦁ Fae
⦁ Slow Burn
⦁ Enemies-to-Lovers
⦁ Forced Proximity
⦁ Touch Her and Die
⦁ “Who did this to you?”

Synopsis
The King’s Circus doesn’t come to villages like hers. Or, at least, it didn’t until now. Naevyn just wishes she’d stayed the hell inside. When the performers lock the crowd in place and shift into dragons, ripping souls from bodies to feed an immortal king, Naevyn should be dead alongside everyone else. Instead, she’s dragged into a centuries-old rebellion because her blood does something it shouldn’t—it kills.

She’s supposed to be human. A girl from Xardon who just wants to keep her family safe. But in the fae realm, nothing about her makes sense, and the prophecy everyone whispers about marks her as their salvation. Then there’s Cairos—a dragon-shifter with centuries of blood on his hands and a smirk that makes her want to strangle him. Cursed to collect souls for the very king he used to serve, Cairos is powerful, lethal, and, unfortunately, the only one who can help Naevyn survive. She should hate him for the atrocities he’s committed.

She should definitely fear him. So why does he feel like the one thing she can’t stop wanting? To save her family and shatter the cycle of death, Naevyn will have to trust a monster, face what she really is, and get close enough to a king to destroy him. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes that everything she thought she knew about herself was a lie.
Love has a price. Prophecies have power. And this one demands blood.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eliza Benner writes dark-ish romantic fantasy filled with dangerous curses, morally gray heroes, and heroines who refuse to stay powerless. Her stories blend high-stakes adventure with slow-burn tension, fierce loyalty, and enemies-to-lovers romance.

She is the author of the Circus of Souls series, a spicy romantasy featuring fae, dragon-shifters, rebellion, and a heroine who discovers she may be far more than human. She has also authored a young adult urban fantasy series titled Wings of Shade and Starlight featuring angels, demons, and epic adventure. Her books explore power, identity, and what happens when love collides with destiny.

Eliza lives in Minnesota with her husband and their five children, where she spends most of her time writing, reading, and dreaming up new worlds filled with dangerous magic and complicated love stories.

Learn more about Eliza and her books, follow her on Instagram @elizabennerwrites

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

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 12, 2026March 4, 2026

BOOK SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY: Aurora’s Edge by Dane Reavers

Secrets and suspicion define the environment in AURORA’S EDGE by Dane Reavers. Our sci-fi fantasy book spotlight for the day. AURORA’S EDGE releases March 17th!

Aurora's Edge: Space Age Adventure: Sabotage

Publish Date: March 17th 2026

Genre: Sci-fi fantasy/ Adventure

Suiteable For Ages: 13 to 18

In 2425, New Geneva dominates the skyline while the Dredges endure beneath it. After losing her parents in a Dominion explosion, sixteen-year-old Elara stows away on the starship Aurora seeking distance from grief. Instead, she enters a contained society shaped by rigid structure and underlying tension. Captain Mira commands with discipline, though deeper histories influence her decisions. As Elara’s engineering abilities earn her responsibility aboard the vessel, she struggles to reconcile her prejudice toward the Imperial Dominion with the realities she encounters. Pulse, an AI carrying her father’s neural imprint, complicates her sense of memory and identity.

When sabotage disrupts the ship’s core systems, suspicion fractures trust among the crew. With danger escalating and alliances uncertain, Elara must decide whether she will allow anger to guide her—or accept the weight of protecting others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dane Reavers is a U.S. Navy veteran and electrical engineer whose career spans military service and industrial system design. He served as an Electronics Technician aboard the USS Vandegrift before returning to the Pacific Northwest to work in high-tech and manufacturing environments. His hands-on technical background brings a grounded, “wrench-in-hand” realism to Aurora’s Edge. He lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest with his family.

Learn more about Dane follow him on Instagram: @dane.reavers