#BookBlitz: The Musician and the Monster by @authormeganvandyke @rrbooktours

The Musician and the Monster (The Castamar Duology Book 1)

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Genre: Gothic Romantic Fantasy

💖 Forbidden love

☑️ Morally grey MMC

⚔️ Determined heroine

🎶 Music is powerful

🔥 Slow burn to steamy

❄️ Wintertime

🥀 Gothic vibes

❤️‍🩹 Hurt/comfort

🗡️ Touch her and 💀

✨ Magic

🎭 Masquerade

Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. I’m sorry I killed you.

Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne.

Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he can’t afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night?

At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystan’s unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isn’t their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.

This retelling of Beauty and the Beast incorporates themes and motifs from Phantom of the Opera, and is set in a gaslamp fantasy world with strong gothic vibes. It should appeal to fans of romantic and atmospheric retellings and fairy tales by authors such as Hannah Whitten, Tessonja Odette, and Stephanie Garber.

#CoverReveal: Brimstone & Blades by Maria Alexander @XpressoTours @lamaupin

Brimstone & Blades
Maria Alexander
Publication date: June 3rd 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult

It’s 1689. Sixteen-year-old Julie de Maupin is on the run with her boyfriend, a young swordmaster named Sérannes. They perform sword fights and songs in taverns to survive. But when a diabolical creature kills Sérannes, it also injures Julie in the attack. Plunged into the dangerous world of French magic, Julie needs to return to Paris to find the great magician that can heal her devastating wound so she can avenge Sérannes’s death. On the way, she finds the creature is controlled by a necromantic coven called the Shadow Holders. Defeated during the Affair of the Poisons, they’ve returned but this time with traitors in the royal court to crush Louis XIV and terrorize France. With her found family of magical and moggie misfits, Julie must use her sword, wits, and gender-bending wiles to send the threat back to Hell. But will they be enough? Magic is illegal, and so is dueling. But that won’t stop La Maupin.

#BookTour: The Defiant and The Damned (The Dragon Queen #2) by @authorecgarrett @rrbooktours

The Defiant and the Damned is now available! Read the whole series now on Kindle Unlimited

The Defiant and The Damned (The Dragon Queen #2)

Publication Date: February 24, 2025

Genre: NA Dark Fantasy/ Gridmark Fantasy 🖤Morally Gray Cast 🖤Reluctant Antiheroine 🖤Vengeance Plot 🖤Multi-POV 🖤Sapphic & Queer 🖤Dragon Lore 🖤Heist 🖤Found Family 🖤NA & Spicy w/ Medium-Burn 🖤Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy: Purgatory 🖤 Feminist John Wick meets Eragon and Game of Thrones 

  *The following blurb contains spoilers for The Forgotten and the Feared. Amalia Roth is dead. 

 She died alongside the Crimson Queen in the arena two years ago. Donning her Gray Wytch persona, Amalia and the Dragon Ryu have spent the past year hunting down the Fae who wronged her. All the while, Amalia struggles not to crumble under the weight of grief. Across the Midheym Sea on the isle of Elysium, Dyana grapples with her newfound magyk under the guidance of the ancient dragon, Vesimyr. She quickly learns that Elysium isn’t paradise - it’s a prison. Trapped under the claws of the Dragon Regent, she cannot leave. But Dyana knows Amalia is alive and will stop at nothing to get back to her sister - even if it means taking on the Regent alone. The rebel Mirielle has lost everything. Her life's goal was to take down the High Council, but doing so only made things worse. Lost and alone, Mirielle begins plotting a way back home, regardless of the risk. With the High Council gone, the Archmage has risen. Storms shake the continent as the situation grows more dangerous by the day. Ur Daoine lies on the brink of civil war. In secret, the heretic Prince Nyall Drayven leads the growing rebellion. After Nyall convinces Amalia to join him at the front, a divide within the rebel factions, and his carefully built control begins to crumble. When one of the rebels’ carefully planned missions goes wrong, a familiar face steals Ryu and reveals a truth that will change everything; someone from Amalia’s past is alive. FROM ASHES AND PAIN, AMALIA ASTEROTH HAS RISEN. 

#BookReview: Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin @TimesNewRachel

When eighteen-year-old witch Iris Gray accidentally enacts a curse that could have dire consequences, she must team up with a boy who hates witches to make sure her magic isn't unleashed on the world.

Iris Gray knows witches aren't welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches' Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they're keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.

Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she's about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.

New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches' Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.

#BookReview: The King Will Kill You : (The Kingdoms of Sand & Sky, #3) by Sarah Henning

Princess Amarande is finally on the verge of having everything she wants. To be with her true love Luca, no one nor law standing in the way. To rule Ardenia as queen outright, no marriage necessary, as Luca does the same with the reformed Torrence. To rebuild the continent of The Sand and Sky into a place not defined by archaic, patriarchal laws, but by the will of its people.

However, threats await in the shadows of Amarande’s hoped-for happily ever after. One expected and deadly to both her love and every one of her objectives. The other, unexpected, and arising with a vicious aim: revenge at any cost. Against the princess who killed him, the boy whose love made her do it, and the continent cruel enough to deserve his rage.

The King Will Kill You is the epic, pulse-pounding conclusion to Sarah Henning’s Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy.

#BookReview: Dauntless by @elisa.a.bonnin @eabwrites

A teen girl must bring together two broken worlds in order to save her nation in this lush, Filipino-inspired young adult fantasy novel from debut author Elisa A. Bonnin. 

“Be dauntless, for the hopes of the People rest in you.”

Seri's world is defined by very clear rules: The beasts prowl the forest paths and hunt the People. The valiant explore the unknown world, kill the beasts, and gain strength from the armor they make from them. As an assistant to Eshai Unbroken, a young valor commander with a near-mythical reputation, Seri has seen first-hand the struggle to keep the beasts at bay and ensure the safety of the spreading trees where the People make their homes. That was how it always had been, and how it always would be. Until the day Seri encounters Tsana.

Tsana is, impossibly, a stranger from the unknown world who can communicate with the beasts - a fact that makes Seri begin to doubt everything she's ever been taught. As Seri and Tsana grow closer, their worlds begin to collide, with deadly consequences. Somehow, with the world on the brink of war, Seri will have to find a way to make peace.

#BookReview: Bloody Fool for Love : A Spike Prequel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Prequels, #1) by William Ritter @Willothewords

Bloody Fool for Love from New York Times best-selling author William Ritter marks the beginning of an all-new series that explores prequel stories about fan-favorite Buffy characters.

Spike just wants to enjoy the spoils of his new badass reputation. He’s now a legendary slayer-killer, and he’s returning to London―the greatest city in the world. Unfortunately, his new abode is far from ideal (mostly a dank basement), and the rest of his strange little “family” is reeling from the fact that their patriarch, Angel, abandoned them. Spike’s love, Drusilla, seems especially heartbroken over the loss and spends her time lost in her tarot cards and planning their next gruesome family dinner when they all can be reunited.

Desperate to break Dru out of her melancholy, Spike vows to steal a powerful relic that will help her focus on their dark future together. It’s the perfect plan―that is until a monster named Gunnar, leader of the demon underworld of London, steals the relic first. Forced to form his own ragtag group of mercenaries, Spike plans an epic heist against a ruthless gang of undead criminals. Confronted with paranormal plots, royal black ops, and tea (they may be abominations, but they’re British abominations, thank you very much), Spike soon realizes that his homecoming is about to get bloody.

This rompy, action-packed novel inspired by one of Buffy’s most infamous bad boys is part Bonnie and Clyde, part Sherlock and Watson, with just a bit more bloodsucking.

Books, Life, and a Little Bit of Chaos with @ReaderLatte

✨ Welcome to This Week’s RoundUp! ✨

Get ready for Books, Life, and a Little Bit of Chaos with @ReaderLatte—your double dose of bookish chatter, life updates, and everything in between!

📅 Saturdays are all about reflection—I’ll be rounding up the week’s highlights, from the books I’ve devoured to the little moments that made life interesting. Then, on Sundays, I’ll give you a peek at what’s coming next—upcoming reads, site updates, and whatever chaos the new week has in store.

With daily posts back in full swing, I’m just filling up the calendar and embracing the whirlwind! So grab a coffee, settle in, and enjoy my rambling bits of bookish and life musings. Let’s chat, share, and make this space as lively as our TBR piles! 📚☕✨

#BookBlitz: Red Ultimatum by Edwin D. Fuller & Gary Grossman @XpressoTours $25 Amazon gift card

Red Ultimatum
Edwin D. Fuller, Gary Grossman
(The Red Hotel, #4)
Publication date: February 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Thriller

A former U.S. President’s plane is brought down in the Atlantic. Revolutionary forces attack Cairo. The U.S. Secretary of State is kidnapped in Panama. A North Korean ballistic missile submarine tracks toward America’s West Coast. A sleeper cell spy awakens in the halls of Congress. A woman assassin takes aim on the Washington Mall. Behind it all is Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov who has mastered the ability to walk between the raindrops and not get wet. Until… China determines that Gorshkov’s policies are endangering its global initiatives… until Beijing issues Gorshkov a defiant ultimatum… until Dan Reilly, hotel executive/CIA freelancer, and friend of the Secretary of State, reads the moves on the international political chessboard and picks up the pieces. The non-stop action plays out on Air, Land, and Sea. Yet, with so many geo-political threads being tugged simultaneously, will the Russian leader succeed getting another step closer to rebuilding the old Soviet Empire in his image? (https://redhotelseries.com/)

#CoverReveal: Of Light and Freedom (The Star Queen Chronicles Book 2) by @rachelfallonauthor @rrbooktours

We're thrilled to present the cover for the next gorgeous installment in The Star Queen Chronicles, Of Light and Freedom!

Of Light and Freedom (The Star Queen Chronicles Book 2) Expected Publication Date: May 5, 2025 Genre: NA Romantic Fantasy Cover Designer: @violet.book.design 

Journey to the Otherworld

Fated Mates

Forbidden Love

Magic Training

Shadow Daddy Dragon Shifter

Court Intrigue

Brewing War

Step into the light and let the darkness swallow you whole... Asteria’s life has been sent into chaos. With the truth of who she is revealed, she must reckon with what her future now brings. Unsure if that future should include the man who fate chose for her, but who hadn't chosen her, she soon finds even greater challenges awaiting them. She must quickly learn to control her new powers, but unfortunately, control is the one thing that has always alluded her, and the stakes are now higher than ever. Calix has waited over four hundred years for his mate, and while he always knew finding her would be far from straightforward, he never expected these circumstances. With one kingdom clamoring for their prophesied queen, and another for their gods' chosen heir, they find themselves stuck between two kingdoms, with the threat of being torn apart just as they’ve found one another. Everything hangs in the balance as the continent teeters on the line of chaos. With Cyrus’s plans put into action for his foul blood magic, Dusk and Night prepare for war, as rebellion finally begins to stir outside the shadows of Night. As prophecies converge and the seer speaks, the gods’ message comes through loud and clear—and one does not deny the gods. The balance shifts, chaos thrives, and a war long foretold erupts, ensuring that the world as Asteria knew it, will never be the same… Of Light and Freedom is the second book in a compelling new adult romantic fantasy series featuring contrasting light and dark love interests and the delicate line of balance and chaos for a magical land. Plus Fae shifters, court intrigue, slavery rebellion, a shadow daddy love interest who can shift into a dragon, and a heroine finding her own power and fighting for what she believes in. Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout, Clare Sager, Nisha J Tuli, Carissa Broadbent, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and Raven Kennedy! 

#PreorderBlitz for Sinfully Mine by Nikki Landis @nikkilandisauthor @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Sinfully Mine

Series: Royal Bastards MC: Tonopah, NV #20

Author: Nikki Landis

Genres: Dark MC/Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Found Family/Touch Her and Die/One Bed

Voyeurism/Dirty Talk/Holiday Romance

Release Date: March 21, 2025

BLURB

Xenon:

I’m the tech expert for my motorcycle club.

It’s because of me that we’ve interrupted the trafficking ring in Nevada.

I have cameras in multiple cities, and I’m always watching.

But the long, lonely nights have taken a toll.

When I find an online game and a new friend, all that begins to change.

GivemeGracexx411 has the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard.

It’s not long before we’re chatting outside our nightly games.

And now she wants to meet.

I’ve always been a geek and gamer; it shocks people when they find out.

Maybe it’s all the dark ink on my body or the fact that I put so many hours in the gym.

I don’t look anything like my profile pic, and that’s intentional.

The internet is forever. Nothing can hide for long.

I don’t know if I want Grace to know the biker half of my life.

But one night, she forgets to log off her computer and shut down the camera.

And that’s when I meet Grace’s other persona, Dolly.

I can’t stop watching as she strips, parts her thighs, and begins a whole different game with her viewers.

They get to watch her up close on her laptop. But I get to see every part of her.

In an instant, I’m addicted. I need more.

But when she finds the camera on her computer still running, she shuts me out.

Cat and Mouse is my favorite game.

I’ve always been good at stalking my prey.

And now Grace is my sweet, scared little mouse.

I do love it when she decides to run.

But what I thought is a tease meant to entice me is really a setup to catch an entirely different group of voyeurs.

And those sex traffickers who can’t get enough of underage girls?

They think they can snatch what’s mine.

I’ll do anything to save Grace.

As I race against the clock to rescue her, I know I won’t be capable of showing mercy.

My Reaper is ready to spill blood and bring justice before he claims my Dolly.

She doesn’t know it yet, but Grace will be all sinfully mine.

Sinfully Mine can be read as a standalone, but the series is best enjoyed when read in order since ongoing storylines and characters appear throughout and overlap. There are steamy scenes, biker slang, violence, human trafficking, a slight age gap, a paranormal REAPER twist, and a HEA. You'll find a wild, street-smart woman and a possessive, voyeuristic protector who clash, combust, and nearly set the world (or your kindle) on fire.

#AudioBookTour: Heir Of The Beast (Fairy Godmother Inc. #1) by @f.r.black @rrbooktours

Heir Of The Beast: Fairy Godmother Inc. Series - Book 1

Publication Date: January 6 2025

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Spicy Fairytales

Narrators: Alexa Borys and E.M Wylde

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.

Welcome to the #BookishPlaylist

Welcome to the Bookish Playlist Weekly Meme! 🎶📚

I’m thrilled to introduce a fun and creative new weekly feature here on the blog—The Bookish Playlist! As book lovers, we often find that music and reading go hand in hand, each enhancing the other. Whether you’re diving into a fantasy epic, getting lost in a romance, or enjoying a thrilling mystery, there’s a perfect soundtrack that can take your reading experience to the next level.

#Excerpt: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by Victoria E. Schwab

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

#BookBlitz: Seducing the Darkness by Shiela Stewart @RABTBookTours #Giveaway

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: Champagne Publishing

 

Trinity was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince changed her. Discovering him in the arms of another woman changed destiny. Alone, she’s learned fast how to be tough, how to survive, and how to protect the people in her city from the evil that lurks in the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier. When a prophetic dream makes him realize Trinity’s life is at risk, he decides the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy. Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, will ever love, and he can’t seem to let her go.

When rumors arise of a plan to raise the king and blot out the sun, both Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it means working together. Despite betrayal and threats, they find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries, especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the ritual before it’s too late?

Or will the darkness capture them both?

#Teaser: French Cruises CAN KILL YOU by @meccarello @RABTBookTours

 

The Hassle High Mystery Series, Book 3

 

Cozy Mystery

Date Published: 11-14-2020

 

Cozy Mystery with Death Romance and twists on a French Cruise with the Hassle High group. Complete with occult, kidnapping and French Recipes.

#BookReview: Bearer of Bad News by @elisabethdiniauthor @SimonBooks

A sharply funny and moving debut in which a young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.

For someone who hates secrets, Las Vegas hairdresser Lucy Rey is about to be faced with a whole bunch of them. After discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her with someone from his improv class, she finds herself short on funds and desperate for a change of scenery. Enter a most unusual job a Bearer of Bad News.

Sure, it’s a little weird—the job description has few details, and the bad news is more like a vaguely worded threat—but Lucy can’t say no to the an all-expenses-paid trip to the Italian Dolomites, plus a generous bonus if she proves she’s delivered the message. Then she learns that her task is just the tip of the iceberg.

Launched into a world of betrayal and greed involving eighty-year-old secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II–era mystery, Lucy is in over her head. And she’s connected to her mission in ways she never saw coming.

For fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Kirstin Chen’s Counterfeit, Bearer of Bad News is an exhilarating romp that deftly explores the weight of secrets, the power of friendship, and how, by healing the wounds of the past, we can build a brighter tomorrow.

This title will be released on April 29, 2025.

#BookReview: The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill

There’s always been a mystery to Vika Hale’s life. Ever since she was a child, she’s had an unknown benefactor providing for her and her family, making sure that Vika and her sister received the best education they could. Now, Vika longs for a bigger life than one as a poor barmaid on a struggling planet, but those dreams feel out of reach. Until one day Vika learns that her benefactor was a billionaire magnate who recently died under suspicious circumstances, and Vika has shockingly been included in his will. Invited to live on a glittering neighboring planet, Vika steps into a world she can hardly believe is real. 

The only blight on Vika's lavish new life is the constant presence of Sky Foster, a mysterious young man from Vika's past who works for her benefactors. She doesn't like or trust Sky, but when she narrowly escapes an explosion and realizes someone is targeting the will's heirs, Vika knows Sky is the only one who can help her discover the identity of the bomber before she becomes their next victim. As Vika and Sky delve into the truth of the attacks, they uncover a web of secrets, murder, and an underground rebellion who may hold the answers they've been looking for. But Sky isn't who he seems to be, and Vika may not escape this new life unscathed.

In The Stars Between Us, Cristin Terrill sweeps readers away to a Dickensian-inspired world where secrets are currency and love is the most dangerous risk of all.

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#ReleaseBlitz for Imagine by @greyadina_books & @alexis.suttonhale @GiveMeBooksPR

Title: Imagine

A La Sacra Corona Mafia Series

Standalone Novella

Authors: Adina D. Grey & Alexis Suttonhale

Genres: Dark Romance/Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Emotional Scars/Second Chance at Love

Found Family/He Falls First/Workplace Romance

Release Date: February 27, 2025

BLURB

Hailey believed in three things: love, marriage, and Rose Publishing—her cherished publishing house. But when her husband drops his perfect mask, revealing his possessive and obsessive nature, Hailey finds herself trapped in a suffocating nightmare.

Isolated and desperate, Hailey finds a glimmer of hope through a blog post that connects her to Danny, her romance author idol. Their friendship blooms quickly, offering Hailey a lifeline amidst her torment. As her marriage spirals further into darkness, Hailey's bond with Danny deepens, leaving her torn between the hell she knows and the tantalizing possibilities of "what if."

With her husband's cruelty pushing her to the brink, and Danny's support becoming her only solace, Hailey must walk a dangerous path. As the tension escalates and boundaries are tested, a single question looms: Will Hailey find the courage to escape her nightmare, or will the shadows of her past consume her forever? The clock is ticking, and every choice could mean the difference between freedom and despair.

Author's Note: Previously published as Our Afterlife Forever, this book has been extended, darkened, and now includes some bonus chapters.

This book includes:

Cheating Abusive Husband

On page graphic sex Violence

Imagine is considered as 0.5 book in the La Sacra Corona Mafia Series. It's not a mafia romance but just interconnected with it. It can be read as a standalone but for a better experience it's recommended to read Shadow too.