#BookReview: Fair Rosaline by @natashasolomons

Synopsis: Was the greatest ever love story a lie?

The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.

Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realizes that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life .With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?

Shattering everything we thought we knew about Romeo and Juliet, Fair Rosaline is the spellbinding prequel to Shakespeare's best known tale, which exposes Romeo as a predator with a long history of pursuing much younger girls. Bold, lyrical, and chillingly relevant, Fair Rosaline reveals the dark subtext of the timeless story of star-crossed lovers: it's a feminist revision that will enthrall readers of bestselling literary retellings such as Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

#BookReview: Witches get stuff done (Starfall Point #1) by @mollyharperauth

Synopsis: Juggling newfound witchy powers, a house full of ghosts, and verbal battles with the handsome local librarian is almost too much for a new witch to manage. A new witch with a coven, however, can get so much more done...

From the moment Riley Everett set foot in Starfall Point, magic bubbled inside of her. But with only her late aunt's journals and a cantankerous live-in ghost butler to instruct her on all things witchy—including her newly inherited Victorian haunted house—Riley seeks out a coven for sisterhood and support. The last person she expects to be drawn to is the town's frustrating, yet ridiculously attractive head librarian.

Edison Held knows almost everything there is to know about Starfall Point, but Shaddow House was always off-limits, thanks to its elusive owner. If he can convince the new owner, Riley, to let him take a peek inside, there's so much he could learn. But as he gets closer to Riley, he's fascinated by her dazzling wit and fiery spirit. Edison will do whatever he can to help Riley keep her family legacy alive, especially if it means spending more time with the captivating new witch in town.

Bestselling author Molly Harper wields a magical pen in this hilarious, delightful witchy romcom perfect for readers of The Ex Hex and Payback's a Witch.

#CoverReveal for Whoa by @cambriahebert and @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Whoa

Series: Westbrook Elite #6

Author: Cambria Hebert

Genre: Contemporary Sport Romance

Tropes: Friends to Lovers/Fake Engagement

Cover Design: Cover Me Darling!

Release Date: December 8, 2023

BLURB

Most people think I’m a moron. In actuality, I’m a man with a plan.

It’s one of those three-year plans that takes longer than three years.

Still, I’ve been making it happen. Checking off those to-dos and turning them into to-dones.

Everything is almost lined up.

And then my phone rings.

By the time I get to Jess, she’s unconscious and bleeding.

My carefully crafted plan blows up in my face.

I tell the hospital we’re engaged. We aren’t, but apparently, in that place, you need a permission slip to see your most important, so I do what has to be done.

I toss together an epic apology salad for when she opens her eyes, and when she does…

She asks me who I am.

I’m willing to overlook the insult since, you know, head injury, but then Nurszilla spills the beans on our pending nuptials.

And just like that, my friend turns into my fiancé, and I’m not even mad at it.

How could I be? Her curves fit in my arms perfectly. Kissing her is like whoa and makes me forget I’m living a lie.

I know I have to come clean, but someone dirtier than me is stalking my final girl, and until she remembers who, it’s on me to keep her safe.

The closer we get, the guiltier I feel.

When all this is over, will she forgive me? Or will everything I’ve done cost me everything I’ve always wanted?

#ReleaseBoost for The Poison Garden by Mary Oldham @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: The Poison Garden

Series: Poison Garden #1

Author: Mary Oldham

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Thriller

Tropes: Female Killer/Vigilante/Murder

Release Date: October 31, 2023

BLURB

If Amber/Jane/Kelan chooses your neighborhood, it is because there is work to do. She will rent a house and be the perfect neighbor for a year, where she will tell you all about an aunt who raised her and passed along a lot of fabulous recipes that she will use to make friends with the other neighbors.

Of course, the aunt does not exist. In the community garden, your new neighbor will hide the Poison Hemlock among Queen Anne Lace. If she gives you orange marmalade for your abusive husband, ensure only he eats it. And later, if the police ask you if you want an autopsy, say no.

And when it comes to love, she dates her own kind: Murderers.

#ReleaseBlitz for Until Mike by @mystathamwrites @boomfactorypub and @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Until Mike

A Happily Ever Alpha World Novel

Author: Mayra Statham

Publisher: Boom Factory Publishing, LLC

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 3, 2023

BLURB

Mike Granger is a divorced single dad of twin teenage daughters. He’s worked hard to maintain a good relationship with not only his daughters but his ex-wife. Their blended family is what people consider the exception, not the rule. At thirty-eight, Mike’s given up hope of finding the one. He dates, but even then, he keeps women at arm’s length, never really allowing himself to get too close.

Natasha ‘Tasha’ Torres is a first grade teacher who has kissed her fair share of frogs that never, not once, turned into a prince. She wants to believe in love and happily ever afters, but it’s especially hard after her last breakup.

After Tasha almost gets Mike arrested due to a misunderstanding when he pretends to be someone he’s not, he shocks her by inviting her to dinner, and they spend an incredible night together.

Too bad she doesn’t hear from him after.

There are moments in life you can’t ignore. Moments where the world seems smaller than you could have ever imagined, almost like life is trying to give you hints about the one you should be with. But will Mike listen? Or will his ego get the best of him when he jumps to conclusions at every turn?

Get ready for a boom-tastic good time with this insta-love that reminds you love and family can look different for everyone!

Until Mike is part of Aurora Rose Reynolds' Happily Ever Alpha World. If you loved Until December and Until July, then you will want to read Until Mike.

#ReleaselBlitz: Everything is Temporary by @JonCohnAuthor @RABTBookTours

 

Christmas Horror

Date Published: November 2, 2023

Publisher: Deadbolt Books

 

 

How well do we really know the people sleeping next to us in bed at night?

After a tragedy strikes the Barnes family, Sarah's husband Tom begins acting strangely. It starts with wild mood-shifts and accusations at their thirteen-year-old daughter, but quickly escalates to the attempted murder of an off-season mall Santa. From what Sarah can tell, Tom's only motive seems to lie behind a mysterious hatred for Christmas that burns year-round. What's worse, Tom's only defense lies in a long-forgotten book he wrote detailing a traumatic event in his childhood that seems too far-fetched to be believed. His entire case revolves around the notion of talking Christmas trees, a living army of toys, and worst of all, a monster masquerading as Mrs. Claus.

Now, Sarah must go on a journey into her husband's past to learn if Tom is in the midst of a psychotic breakdown, if he's a danger to his family, or if he really is being hunted by the malevolent holiday horror that destroyed his childhood.

#BookBlitz: A Flicker in the Water by Bob Gonxalez @RABTBookTours @flickerinthewtr

 

Nonfiction / Memoir / Fishing

Date Published: ‎June 26, 2022

Publisher: ‎Mindstir Media

 

If you're yearning for tales about adventure and fun on the open sea, look no further!

The crew welcomes you aboard the Twister, one of the finest fishing vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, as the search is on for the big ones that legends are made of. Blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, swordfish, and more are waiting to be caught, just so long as Bob and his friends have the strength to reel them in.

Told in a fun, engaging style, this book combines elements of drama, heroism, and skill with humor and some educational points about the sea and its inhabitants, with plenty of surprises along the way.

The stories will make you feel like you are out on the water yourself getting ready to land that next great catch you'll be talking about for the rest of your life. Experienced seamen and land lubbers alike will enjoy this peek into one of the good parts of life with all of its promises and perils.

The use of the word Tales in the subtitle is a play on the word "Tails" that matches the Goliath Grouper on the front cover. When you look into the mouth of the Grouper, we hope you'll want to look inside this exciting collection of tales.

#BookTour: The Crow Lord by @jm_failde @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

Another gorgeous new release to share this week! Check out The Crow Lord by J.M. Failde!

The Crow Lord (The Vampires of Malvania Book 1)

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

Genre: Vampire Romantasy

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🖤 Enemies-to-Lovers

🩸 Who Did this to You?!

🖤 Vampire/ Human

🩸 Forced Proximity

🖤 One Bed

🩸 Good Girl

🖤 Touch Her and I'll Unalive You!

“What will you give me?” His voice again was like melted gold. Like a whisper in the bedroom. “Anything.”

Malvania is broken into four manors ruled by vampire: the Viper Morada, the Arachnid Estate, the Maggot Mansion, and the Crow Court. After escaping the cruel and malicious Viper siblings in search of her brother, Lila Bran finds herself caught in the gaze of the Crow Lord himself, Ambrose Draven.

Beyond her better judgment, Lila strikes a bargain with Ambrose, five favors in exchange for safety. But when she ends up back in the hands of the Vipers, can she trust the Crow Lord to save her despite her desire to hate him?

Now, Lila must discover more to Ambrose Draven than his title as the Monster of Malvania in order to save her brother and fulfill her half of the bargain. As she fights to survive, she uncovers the truth behind her lineage, ancient vampire secrets, and the heart of a monster.

#BookBlitz: Infala: The Alien’s Bond by Kira Quinn @XpressoTours #Giveaway

Infala: The Alien’s Bond
Tamara Grantham
(Mark of the Infala, #1)
Publication date: October 31st 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction

As if alien abduction wasn’t bad enough, it seemed Darla’s captors didn’t want her for something as simple as breeding or even experimentation. The Raxxians were nasty pieces of work, and they had other plans in mind. Namely, they wanted to eat her, and not in the fun way. But the universe, it seemed, had other plans.

Spared a gruesome fate when the Raxxian ship crashed on a distant world, Darla found herself suddenly free. Free but on an alien planet with only the company of another former prisoner.
An alien.

A tall, muscular, impossibly alluring alien.

One who didn’t seem thrilled about taking the little human woman under his protection, at least not at first. Little did either of them know just how hot their time together on this new world would become, and in a way that had nothing to do with the planet’s blazing sun.

#BookTour: Gobbledy by @LisAnnaLangston @RABTBookTours

Middle-Grade / Holiday

Date Published: 10-20-2023

Publisher: Mapleton Press

 

Ever since Dexter and Dougal’s mom passed away, life has been different—but things take a whole new turn when a shooting star turns out to be a creature from outer space! Gobbledy is a fun-filled holiday story that adds up to two brothers, three friends, unlimited jars of peanut butter, a ketchup factory, and one little alien far, far from home. 

#BookReview: Her Radiant Curse (Six Crimson Cranes #0.5) by @LizLim

Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of SIX CRIMSON CRANES comes a tale of two sisters—one as beautiful as the other is monstrous—who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.