Guest Author Day with Amber Daulton: Spotlight on Dark Hearts Aflame

 

 

Please give a warm welcome to Bristol from Dark Hearts Aflame by Amber Daulton today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

 

Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author? 

Damn, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve given up my life of crime, and now, I’m hiding out in Mexico. The last thing I need is for the wrong people to find me, but after I run into a woman from my past, all my plans go up in smoke.

I first met Amber, my author, several years ago when she was writing another story, Arresting Mason, which is book 1 in the Arresting Onyx series. I was a secondary character, a villain to the hero of that story. Well, maybe “villain” is too strong a word. I was an adversary, let’s say, who wasn’t nearly as bad as Amber was making me out to be. As the series progressed, I came more into my own as a recurring minor character. Amber wanted to give me a redemption story, a happily ever after, so she wrote my book and developed even more ideas to create a spin-off. Hence, the Lozano Cartel series was born. Dark Hearts Aflame, my book, is the first in the series, and Amber is quite vocal about it being her FAVORITE book that she’s ever written. Don’t worry, you don’t need to read every book to understand and love mine. It stands very well on its own two feet. 

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate? 

Carmen Lozano is everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman, and everything I don’t deserve. Her strength, stubbornness, and determination to follow her heart and do what was right captivated me. You see, she’s the daughter of one of my many enemies. Yet, she’s not your average cartel princess. She ran away from her father and her abusive husband to make a new life for herself. Like me, she craves redemption and a chance for freedom. I can’t help but admire her. 

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner? 

Well, this first place that comes to mind is the lush, green forest surrounding the ancient Mayan ruins in Edzná (southern Mexico). Actually, Carmen seduces me there. She was so infuriating that day, running off without a care in the world in her attempt to get me to loosen up. As if her putting us in danger would pull the stick out of my ass. All right, I know I’m uptight, but the feds and two cartels were after us, so I had to remain vigilant. Carmen, however, is a wicked woman. When she wants something, she’ll get it. 

Q: So tell me: Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man? 

Boxers, all the way. They’re comfortable and easy on the jewels.

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick they can do to seduce you? 

Carmen is a tease. She knows exactly how to draw me in, pull away, then pounce when I least expect it. All she has to do is bat her eyelashes and fluff her hair, and I’m a goner. Embarrassing, but true. 

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed? 

Carmen loves it when I lick her neck. She gets all pimply and melts like a good girl. 

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing things your author did to you in Dark Hearts Aflame? 

That’s a difficult question. Amber did some horrible things to me and Carmen, but everything that happened was needed. My past experiences and the trouble I went through during the book shaped me into the man I am. Despite that, I hate myself sometimes. I’ve done so much wrong and didn’t act for the betterment of others when I should’ve. I will always carry that shame and regret, but I wouldn’t call any of it embarrassing. Maybe that scene at the end, where Carmen’s father finally gets me in his clutches. Being at that monster’s mercy was painful and degrading—and that Carmen witnessed it, yes, that was embarrassing. 

Q: Anything else you would like to add? 

Carmen’s estranged brother, Rubén, turned out to be an unlikely ally when we needed help the most. His story is coming up next. Lost in His Spiderwebs will be available in October 2025. Get ready to fall deeper into the dangerous world of cartels, violence, and passion. Poor Rubén doesn’t know what he’s in for. 

Thank you, Bristol, for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Dawn’s Reading Nook Blog. You can find all of Amber Daulton books at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Google Play, and D2D.

Dark Hearts Aflame 

Series: Lozano Cartel (book 1)

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Publisher: Daulton Publishing

Cover Designer: Satin Rose Designs

ASIN:  B0D18CB8CF

Genre: Dark Romance

Length: 90k

Heat Rating: 5 Flames

 

A drug lord on the run. A cartel princess in hiding. All it takes is a spark to set their world ablaze.

Bristol Rieger left his criminal life behind for a fresh start in Mexico. Flying under the radar of the government and the cartels alike, his best-laid plans go awry when a woman from his narco days discovers his whereabouts. Carmen Lozano, however, is no longer the innocent girl he remembers.

Carmen escaped the chains of her tiara and her abusive marriage to join a group of resistance fighters. The last thing she expected was the now-retired capo setting out to seduce her with his wicked touch. Embracing the blood on his hands is easy, but his secrets wear on her patience.

When their enemies close in, Bristol will have to summon his inner monster to protect her. But can that monster be tamed again?

 

– Book one is an Interracial (Hispanic woman/white man) dark romance novel in the Lozano Cartel series. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuring torture/violence, kidnapping, attempted assault, infertility issues, child abuse (discussed), and suicide (discussed) may be uncomfortable for some readers.

– No cheating and HEA guaranteed!

– Written in 3^rd POV.

Add to Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211106548-dark-hearts-aflame-lozano-cartel-book-1

Check it out on BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/books/dark-hearts-aflame-lozano-cartel-book-1-an-on-the-run-dark-cartel-romantic-suspense-by-amber-daulton

 

Download Links 

Only $2.99 for a limited time. 

Universal – https://books2read.com/darkheartsaflame

Amazon – https://amzn.to/4hGWOog

Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-hearts-aflame-amber-daulton/1144724204

 

About the Author 

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats. 

Social Media Link 

Universal link – https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Exclusive Newsletter (free ebook to new subscribers) – https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/

New Book Review: The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester

 

Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester

Ballantine Books

Release Date: April 8th, 2025

Historical WWII Thriller Fiction

Buy at Amazon

A brave woman deals with life, love and heartbreak as she fights for France against the Nazis in a story that will leave you breathless.

My Rating for The Mademoiselle Alliance: 5 Stars and a Recommended Read.

Marie-Madeleine Meric is a wife and mother in 1928 in Morocco and finds that she is an asset to her husband in intelligence work but when she discovers the daredevil inside her, Marie-Madeleine is more than a woman but something that is waiting to let loose upon the world, a woman with an adventurous heart. In 1938, the world waits with bated breath as Europe sees what Hitler will do and where Marie-Madeleine now lives in Paris after her marriage is in shambles where she meets a spy that will change her life and lead her to something that will make the World War so perilous to the point where Marie-Madeleine will wonder if she has the strength to continue as the Nazis converge on her beloved France. This is her story as a woman who ran the largest spy network in France during a war that will save many lives while putting their own in crosshairs. Marie-Madeleine Merec Fourcade's story is one filled with loss, life, strength and heartbreak.

My Review for The Mademoiselle Alliance:

THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE is a story filled with intriguing characters that fill the pages of the book that are both human and real. Natasha Lester is one of my favorite historical fiction authors to read and she always brings her subjects to life within her books. Marie-Madeleine Meric is a woman who when we are introduced to her, is newly married and is in Morocco, dabbling in intelligence to help her new husband in 1928. It's both exotic and intriguing to her and for the reader, you feel everything she is feeling and then some. Marie is a woman who finds her voice and purpose years later when she is back in Paris, her marriage in tatters, raising her kids alone. The author delivers a story full of highs and many lows at a time in history where you can't help but wonder how those who resisted the Nazis survived the way they did. The story flows smoothly, keeping the reader entertained and glued to the pages, with a bated breath to see what would happen next for Marie and the rest of her Alliance network. 

When we meet Marie-Madeleine, we find a young woman who is finding her place ina world in flux. Natasha Lester does a really amazing job breathing life into a person who I never heard of nor of the risks she took with her resistance network that was the biggest in Europe. Everytime I read one of Ms. Lester's books, I find myself learning about these unsung heroes of WWII that time seemed to have forgotten. WWII was a time in history that, if you don't learn from, you are doomed to repeat it and in THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE, we find many unsung heroes of this resistance network. From Marie to Leon Faye, her heart and second in command in the Alliance Network as well as so many others, it's amazing how they got information to the British for their attack on Normandy. Ms. Lester delivers a story that needed to be told, to let these heroes actions, words and deeds be known to a new generation of people who may not have known what these brave men, women and children did for France and yes, for the world in WWII France. 

Natasha Lester has shined a light on a woman who is one of the many heroes of Word War II in France that made many daring deeds and had many losses within her life during the war but she also had a deep love for France and freedom so her children and many others can experience that once again. THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE is a story with many highs, lots of lows and story that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. I can honestly say this story was full of twists, turns and laughter and tears and an ending I so didn't see coming. This a story that needed to be told of a person who made history at a time when you never knew if you were going to live or die from the moment you woke up to when you slept that night. The brave men and women of the Resistance are the heroes alongside the military might of the Allies and these regular people fought for their country, their families and for freedom. If you haven't read one of this author's books before I highly recommend THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE as your introduction into this author's writing and storytelling. Ms. Lester delivers a sweeping story that takes you from Morocco to France to England and beyond. With each book I have read from this author, I have learned of people who were just like you and me, regular folk who did amazing things at a time when those feats were needed desperately. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Lester goes next in her next book and hope I don't have a long wait to see where she goes next.

This is an Objective Review and Not an Advertisement

Book Spotlight/Giveaway: Warrior Queen by Mikala Ash

Title: Warrior Queen

Author: Mikala Ash

Cover Art: Bryan Keller

Genres: Action Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, New Releases, Paranormal, Romance, Sci-Fi

Themes: Alien Encounters, Alternative Universe, Dark Ages, Gaslamp, Victorian & Edwardian, LGBTQ+ /Bisexual, Nonbinary, Transgender, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft, Multiple Partners /Polyamory, Murder Mystery, Steampunk

Series: Empire of the Sky (#6)

Multiverse: Steam and Spells (#5)

Book Length: Novella

Page Count: 121

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

A volatile cauldron of magic, love, and the empire may be on the edge of a precipice, but witches, humans, and automatons indulge in pleasures of the flesh.

Victoria has been dubbed by her adoring public as their Warrior Queen. Destroying her Continental enemies is nothing to the challenge she faces now. For years, the Lunarians, goblins from the moon, led by the powerful witch Mon Ilson, have been murdering humans and stealing the bodies for his followers to “adopt.”

Beautiful witch Selena Whiteheart, Mon Ilson’s human agent on Earth, is closely watched by Home Office Agent Harry Kincaid, whose loyalty to the Queen suppresses his ability to show Selena his true feelings. Spiritualist Miss Cordelia Warrington has been exploring the carnal attributes and mechanical stamina of Adam, her automaton butler. Now Selena needs Cordelia’s help, and allows herself to be entertained by the amorous pair in a steamy ménage à trois.

Meanwhile, Agent of the Queen Rachel Clayton is instantly attracted to the hauntingly handsome Major Guy Tremayne, hero of the Coronation Island disaster. Can he be trusted? She throws all caution to the wind to find out. At a crucial moment the Queen is cruelly betrayed and threatened with assassination. Selena, Rachel, and Victoria all face difficult choices as love and lust compete with their duty to the Empire.

Author’s Note: Enjoy Warrior Queen as a standalone tale or as part of a continuing narrative.

Excerpt

Warrior Queen (Empire of the Sky 6)
Mikala Ash
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Mikala Ash

Thwack!

Thwack!

The sound of two cane sticks striking each other reminded me of how a scant two hours ago the Home Secretary had slapped my posterior as he ravaged me. Pressed for time he’d unceremoniously bent me over his Whitehall desk, pulled down my culottes and drawers, grabbed my shoulders for leverage, and drove his prodigious erection into me with frightful force. A few minutes later he flooded my quivering cunt with his lava hot seed. It had been a perfunctory fuck, short and sharp, and my climax perversely satisfying.

My cunny still retained a fair quantity of his ejaculation, and I shifted in my seat contriving to put pressure on my fleshy nether lips to keep it from escaping. My apparently not-so-subtle contortions did not escape the notice of the fine-looking man sitting opposite me. I’d quite forgotten about him as I relived the morning’s carnal adventure. He cleared his throat which brought me back to the here and now.

I was sitting in a Buckingham Palace anteroom, and I felt my cheeks warm under the scrutiny of this ruggedly handsome and smartly uniformed officer. When I’d first arrived, he’d introduced himself as Guy Tremayne. He was in fact the famous Major of the Southern Royal Air Corps who’d distinguished himself by leading the survivors of an airship crash on Coronation Island, a frozen rock midway between Tierra Del Fuego and Antarctica. Their inspirational struggle for survival on the barren island was a true Boys Own Adventure. I’d read his file during my recent convalescence and believed Major Tremayne to be a brave and resourceful officer, respected by his men and superiors alike.

He had given me an elegant bow, took my proffered hand, and lightly brushed his lips against my knuckles. To say I was instantly attracted would be an understatement. He was the epitome of masculinity: well over six feet tall, slim, and long legged. His hips were narrow, his chest deep, and his shoulders broad. His sharply chiselled face was suntanned, and above a thin black moustache his nose was pleasantly symmetrical. The palest of blue eyes gave his countenance a strikingly mysterious and yet desirable aspect.

My cunny throbbed.

He was sitting as if he was on parade with his back straight as a board. He’d started his career in the cavalry, and I couldn’t help but imagine him in the saddle riding into battle, his sabre held high, its razor edge glinting in the sun. He’d actually seen combat, and his curly hair disguised the missing left ear, lost during a bloody skirmish in the Punjab.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Do you singlestick?” I asked him, my mouth dry, and my voice husky.

Thwack! Thwack!

The corners of his mouth curled into a smile. “Indeed, I do. The sabre is my weapon of choice.”

Singlestick fighting had been a feature of English martial life for centuries and cavalry men used it for practicing sabre strokes from horseback. Though the sport had become highly regimented, it required fast reflexes and strict discipline. I found it useful for developing forearm and wrist strength.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Perhaps we should have a bout?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Thwack! Thwack!

My cunt throbbed lustily, and inside my blouse, my nipples ached. I licked my bottom lip, slowly. “Are you residing in London?”

He threw up his hands. “Alas. I exist at the whim of the War Department.”

Thwack! Thwack!

“Then we should arrange a time soon.”

“I believe I am free tomorrow evening.”

“As it happens, so am I.”

Thwack! Thwack!

We’d just concluded arrangements to meet at a restaurant in Chelsea when the door to the anteroom opened, and a footman showed in a slim, elegantly dressed woman. She was about forty years of age, with an attractive oval face and perfect complexion accentuated by challenging hazel eyes and provocatively painted red lips. Her luxurious auburn hair was coiled expertly around her head in such a way that suggested considerable length. The bulk was held in place with gem-tipped pins which glinted in the harsh electric light. I imagined her standing naked, her hair cascading over her ample breasts, reaching and discreetly hiding her mound of Venus. I recognised her as the wife of a member of the House of Lords, and this sensual impression I’d constructed was at odds with her reputation. She was known as a straitlaced prude, active in charitable institutions and a fierce and passionate advocate for women’s suffrage. On one occasion she’d been seen at a rally striking a constable with a placard after she accused him of taking undisclosed liberties.

I curtsied. “Lady Fogerty, I’m Rachel Clayton.”

Purchase at Changeling Press

Meet the Author

Aussie Mikala Ash used to be a mild-mannered training & development consultant by day, and a wild sci-fi and paranormal adventure writer by night. Now she is a brazen full-time writer and nature photographer who is concentrating on having among other things, “… bags, and bags of fun!” Mikala can be found on Facebook and on X.

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $10.00 Changeling Press Gift Code! 

Tour Stop/Giveaway: The Matriarch Messiah by Maxime Trencavel

 

Check out The Matriarch Messiah by Maxime Trencavel today and make sure to enter the tour wide giveaway as the author is awarding  $20 Amazon/BN gift cards to two randomly drawn winners. The tour is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions and you can find all the tour stops HERE. 

Getting to know Maxime Trencavel

Tell us about your latest book, who are the main character's and what can we expect when we pick it up?

The Matriarch Messiah picks up six months after where The Matriarch Matrix stops. The main protagonist, Zara, a fierce Kurdish ex-soldier, wavers about her continued relationship with Peter, a man she never would have thought she could love but she keeps returning from Kurdistan to see him. In this book, she is torn between recognizing her love for him and a destiny handed to her from her matriarchal ancestors: one that says she will fight to death with another woman so humanity will be saved.

To add to her woes, the most evil, powerful man on Earth uses his massive business empire to promote her as the next prophetess—the next messiah. The one who will save us all.

Enter Rachel, an equally headstrong Israeli Torah historian archeologist, whose mission from her matriarchal lineage is to find Asherah and prove to the world she exists. Her calling crosses paths with Zara's when her sponsors instructor her to stop the Kurdish woman from her messianic callings at all costs.

But the cost she was not prepared for is a love triangle with Peter. Who will win over Peter and then win the fight at the cavern of the blue light? Who will die to save us all? Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook? Superficially, I am a plotter. I have a storyline around which everything else is built, including new characters or inner wounds. But at heart, it turns out that I am incurable pantser. Once I start typing and immerse my fingers into the emotional states of the character, something else happens that was never planned. This pantser disorder leads to the formation of the "hook" in the prologues and Chapter 1's. Not fully planned, but it just flows from the fingers.

Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook? Superficially, I am a plotter. I have a storyline around which everything else is built, including new characters or inner wounds. But at heart, it turns out that I am incurable pantser. Once I start typing and immerse my fingers into the emotional states of the character, something else happens that was never planned. This pantser disorder leads to the formation of the "hook" in the prologues and Chapter 1's. Not fully planned, but it just flows from the fingers.

Which of your own characters would you like to have lunch with? Lunch with Rachel could be amusing if only to listen to her go on and on incessantly about the injustices committed by Torah scribes writing Asherah out of the scriptures. But, hanging with the evil incarnate himself, Mr. Alexander Murometz, would be awe-inspiring. How the world's most powerful puppet master controls government heads worldwide. How he controls the world media. But of course, he would find a way to have me to pay the check.

Tell us about what you are reading at the moment or anticipate reading in the future? Any favorite authors you enjoy reading in your spare time? On my Kindle right now is a late 80s Nora Roberts sci-fi romance. Who knew she wrote sci-fi? It got some criticism in reviews, but I found those comment unjust. It's a funny piece, touching as a romance should be, but asks the philosophical paradoxical questions a good sci-fi novel should. I picked up a Gill Paul novel as she is my favorite historical fiction author. And I also clicked to buy a recent book by Ava Homa, who advised me on Kurdish customs and perspectives which helped shaped the world-building of Zara Khatum and family. 

Which of your own books would you like to live in? The Matriarch Messiah. The ingenious Mei Tang, the Head of MoxWorld Biogenetics and MoxWorld Fashion (what a dual career), has cures for humankind's worst ailments ready to unleash upon the world through the MoxWrap and MoxPad devices. 

What do you do when you have free time? Taking hikes or going on bike rides. They help clear my head. Allow me to reflect upon where the next chapters need to go. On hikes, I can listen to recordings from major writing conferences. Hone the craft. Sometimes I come back to the keyboard and begin revising previous chapters based on the outdoor activity inspirations. 

How do you approach character development in your stories? Do you have any specific techniques or methods that you find particularly effective? In my debut novel, The Matriarch Matrix, I tried to force type my characters into the dialogue and actions that I thought their position in life would dictate. Hence, some of them come off stiff. In The Matriarch Messiah, I let it rip off the keyboard. I let their in the moment emotional status dictate what happens. On the re-edits I adjust as needed where their past canon would say should've said differently. The dialogue and characterizations are resultingly stronger in the second book, as noted in early reviews. 

What do you believe sets your writing apart from others in your genre, and why should readers choose to read your books? First point of clarity, my writing is not by genre for better or worse. I use whatever genre craft is best fit to tell the story at hand. Hence, the reviews of my books come back with many, sometimes divergent, interpretations of what genre reader think they are. The final edits of The Matriarch Messiah happened in the generative AI era where hundreds and hundreds of pages of prose can be analyzed in a few minutes. Gemini says: 

So, while the core of the book is sci-fi, it's also a blend of fantasy, romance, and thriller. 

What that means to a reader is both of my books will be unique reading experiences. They are not based on genre specific tropes, but on the process of imparting a story and its end meanings through different lenses. The oddest part of my writing style is when a poetic, lyrical prose comes out of the fingers. These passages shape the read similar to 1800s French classic novel according to one Belgian reviewer and from AI analytics. Again, something unique in today's rapid fire social media content world.

 Can you discuss any upcoming projects or books that you're currently working on? What can readers expect from your future works? On temporary hold, while I write blog guest posts is the prequel, The Matriarch Mission. Set eighty years prior to the current two books, it takes place in post-civil war Russia. The story provides the background for Rachel's pursuit of the truth behind Asherah and how her family became intimate with the legend of the cavern of the blue light, as shown in The Matriarch Messiah prologue. The protagonist is Oksana, the mother of Rachel's great-grandmother, Ariella.

THE MATRIARCH MESSIAH

AUTHOR: Maxime Trencavel

GENRE:  SciFi

Zara Khatum, a woman haunted by ancient visions, finds herself drawn deeper into the heart of a perilous quest. Guided by a mysterious voice, she seeks to fulfill an ancient prophecy and find the cavern of blue light - a sanctuary rumored to hold the key to saving humanity. But the path to salvation is fraught with danger, and Zara is torn between her destiny and her heart.

 

A shadowy organization, known as NiQihs, seeks to exploit the power of the legendary black object, the source of Zara's visions, for their own sinister ends. They are not alone. The world's superpowers, driven by greed and ambition, race to control the artifact, threatening to unleash unimaginable devastation.

 

Joining Zara in this dangerous pursuit is Rachel Capsali, a brilliant Israeli archaeologist driven by a personal quest to uncover evidence of Asherah, a forgotten goddess who held a pivotal place in ancient Israelite faith. Unbeknownst to them, both women are bound by a shared destiny - a prophecy foretelling the cavern of blue light and a final, heartbreaking truth: two women will fight to the death, and only one will save us all.

 

Adding to the complexity, a passionate triangle forms as Rachel vies for Peter Gollinger's affection, a man deeply entangled in the ancient mystery. Zara, torn between fulfilling her destiny and her own feelings for Peter, finds herself caught in a web of conflicting desires.

 

As Zara and Rachel navigate a treacherous landscape of hidden agendas, betrayal, and relentless pursuit, their rivalry for Peter's affections intensifies. Can love survive the forces that threaten to tear them apart? Will the quest for salvation lead to a heart-wrenching sacrifice? 

 

Links to The Matriarch Messiah pre-sale at $0.99 intro pricing (release date March 17, 2025):

https://amzn.to/4bubPb8

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/series/mystery-of-the-matriarchs

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-matriarch-messiah/id6742783963

https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Matriarch_Messiah.html?id=I_9LEQAAQBAJ

 

  

Excerpt Two: 

"So, what's so special about some random legend?" says Rachel. "My safta raba Ariella said, 'She said one day Nearat and her daughter will return. Humanity will wane and wobble. And the woman who will save humanity will bring peace from the blue light. But to return, one must overcome one's fear of death. Two women will fight so that one will die. For only in the death of life as one knows it can she be in the light. Until then, Inanna awaits.'"" 

With a light chuckle, Mei combs through ground-penetrating radiation scans as she says, "Be thankful you only had to memorize seven sentences. That guy from California with the Kurdish woman had to memorize four times that much. His grandfather made him say it backwards, even. As random as your safta raba's saying may seem, it isn't to Murometz, and even Jean-Paul, who's aggregating oral traditions like yours with thousands of others he's collected, including those from the Vatican archives. They are far from random now." 

Slowly walking in concentric circles from the black box MoxWorld loaned her, Rachel views the real-time scan images as she says, "I wish I could have met Mr. Murometz when you and Jean-Paul screened me. Not that I didn't relish our time together." 

"Come on, Rach. You wouldn't wear that dress I made for you, much less the vamp shoes and makeup we designed," says Mei. 

"I didn't mean to meet him in 'that' way," says Rachel as she runs her hand along her braids. "If I'm not worthy enough minus my lady bits, then he isn't worthy enough for my time, I say." 

"I never said you had to wear those simply ravishing clothes for him," says Mei. 

"Well, certainly it wasn't for Father Sobiros, I assumed. And you said Murometz was fascinated that my safta raba's words included a reference to a Sumerian goddess whose priestesses were known for prostitution. I only assumed he was hinting he wanted the same out of me, as all the rumors would suggest," jests Rachel. "Wait. Do you see what I see?" 

"Hold on, Rach. I have an incoming call from the president of China."

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Maxime has been scribbling stories since grade school, from adventure epics to morality plays. Blessed with living in multicultural pluralistic settings and having earned degrees in science and marketing, Maxime has worked in business and sports, traveling to countries across five continents and learning about cultures, traditions, and the importance of tolerance and understanding. Maxime's second novel, The Matriarch Messiah, was conceived, outlined, written, and edited in different locations in Belgium, including the Turkish and Kurdish neighborhoods of Brussels, in various islands of the Caribbean, in Colombia, in Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Spain, London, UK, and on the two coasts of the United States. 

Book and author website: https://tailofthebird.com/

Author Blog: https://tailofthebird.com/blog

https://www.facebook.com/MaximeTrencavel/

https://www.instagram.com/maximetrencavel/

Discover Tinia Montford's Lush Today and a Giveaway

lush
Tinia Montford
Publication date: March 31st 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Laurene King had it all: beauty, wealth, and a sexy secret affair with Reese Ashbourne— the brooding heir of her family’s sworn enemy.
But one reckless night shattered everything.

Tragedy struck. Laurene disappeared. And Reese was left with betrayal, unanswered questions, and scars he’ll never forget.

Now, Laurene is back, forced to return to the life she fled, but her homecoming comes with a cruel twist. Their families, teetering on the edge of ruin, have resurrected an old deal to save themselves: an Ashbourne and a King must marry—or lose everything.

Only this time, Reese is the groom. Not his brother.

Haunted by the past, Reese craves revenge as much as he still craves her. Trapped in a forced proximity neither can escape, their chemistry ignites—and so do their secrets.

But someone knows the truth about that night. The lies that tore them apart are unraveling, and the shadowy danger lurking in their luxurious world could destroy them both.

With their second chance at love and their families’ legacies hanging by a thread, Laurene and Reese must choose: bury the past or watch everything crumble to ashes.

The clock is ticking, and some truths are better left buried…

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

An Hour before the Accident

The laughter spilled from the main hall of the yacht club, bright and careless, tangled with the relentless thump of music. I should’ve been out there, smiling, toasting, pretending.

Instead, I’d been hiding in this bathroom for nearly twenty minutes, like it could stop the slow, sinking dread pooling in my chest.

Smile, Laurene! Smile!

Conrad’s great.

Really? my conscience said. He was great. Great for the family, great for appearances, great for everything except me.

The door opened and shut softly behind me.

“It’s over.”

I refused to look behind me. I couldn’t. If I did, I’d crack.

Instead, I focused on putting on my lipstick, the motion mechanical. I looked immaculate—perfect—the kind of woman my mother would smile at with pride. But I hated the color.

This fucking burgundy.

The same shade she shoved at me for every happy occasion, every moment she wanted to control. A color that screamed her. Everything she expected me to be. Everything I despised.

I met his gaze in the bathroom mirror.

He loomed there, his suit rumpled and tie slightly askew, his dark hair rebelliously unkempt. He looked the exact opposite of his brother—wild, unapologetic, dangerous. Everything I wasn’t supposed to want.

“Don’t look away.” Every word wrapped around me like a challenge, and that rebellious part of me strained beneath my skin. But he wasn’t asking. He was demanding.

And I obeyed.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I wanted him here. I needed him. But I couldn’t have him.

“I could say the same to you.” In the dim light, his green eyes seemed almost black. “Shouldn’t you be outside? Smiling for the cameras? Pretending you don’t hate every second of this?”

“This”—I pointed between us—“ends now. Get out before somebody sees you.”

His eyes held mine, and the way he saw me, like he was stripping away every layer, every excuse, was almost too much.

I turned. “This isn’t a game, Reese. My mama would burn the entire town to the ground if she knew about us.”

“She doesn’t know.” He stepped closer. “I was careful. No one saw me. We still have the plan.”

“Please.” I had to get through this night without more tears. “Let’s…let’s just cut our losses. I—I don’t know if I can do it now.”

He was behind me before I knew it, his weight trapping me against the counter. I closed my eyes, my breath catching as his exhale grazed the sensitive skin of my neck, hot and tantalizing.

“Can we think of something else?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “She always knows, Reese. You don’t understand—”

“What I understand,” he said, his voice sharp, “is that you’re miserable. You’re about to marry my brother, and you’re standing here trying to convince yourself it’s what you want. Believe in our plan or is that what you want, Laurene?”

Author Bio:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / TikTok / Instagram / Amazon

GIVEAWAY!

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Behind the Scenes with Kelli A. Wilkin: For Love's Sake

 

Behind the Scenes: For Love’s Sake (An Epic Historical/Fantasy Romantic Adventure)

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and sometimes reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.

If you missed any blog in this series, you can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

 

Hi romance lovers,

My latest romance, For Love’s Sake, uses the subtitle, “An Epic Historical/Fantasy Romantic Adventure”— that says quite a lot, but that’s the best way to describe it.

Here’s the summary and links:

For Love’s Sake

An Epic Historical/Fantasy Romantic Adventure

She left everything behind to be with him.
He risked losing everything to stay with her.
They were willing to sacrifice everything… for love’s sake

Through a case of mistaken identity, Prince Kevan of Alborg narrowly avoids an assassination attempt and wakes to find himself trapped in mad King Torok’s rat-infested dungeon. Just when he is about to give up hope, he is rescued by an unlikely ally—Torok’s daughter, Princess Adrianna.

Adrianna is desperate to flee her father’s kingdom and agrees to help the handsome stranger escape, but only if he takes her with him when he leaves. Although Kevan knows bringing Adrianna home will not sit well with his father and lead to other complications, he agrees.

They make their way to a waiting ship captained by Kevan’s brother, Mikhael, and set sail for Alborg. Along the way they are lost at sea during a ferocious storm, battle a murderous mercenary sent by Adrianna’s father, and try to deny their intense romantic feelings for each other.

When they arrive in Alborg, Kevan’s father, King Lenard, disapproves of Adrianna and drops the bombshell that Kevan is already engaged to be married. While Kevan tries to get out of the arranged marriage, Mikhael introduces Adrianna to members of the nobility in an effort to win over the king.

At his engagement ball, Kevan is forced to choose between his duty to his father and his loyalty to Adrianna. Soon after, Adrianna is kidnapped and Kevan and Mikhael band together to hunt down her abductors and rescue her before it’s too late.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DS2H1YMD

Other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4jvDXj

***

For Love’s Sake is divided into three parts: The Castle, The Ship, and The Palace. Each part is devoted to a specific section of the longer, overall story, and they’re almost novellas unto themselves. But what readers don’t know is… this wasn’t how the book started out.

I originally outlined the story as a trilogy. (Yup, this one book would have been three.) In my outline, each part would have been its own self-contained book with a beginning, a middle, an end, and a central story arc.

Looking back on my original idea, I only have one question: What was I thinking??? First, nobody would want to read all that. Second, I didn’t want to write, edit, revise, and proofread all that. Writing one novel is hard enough; why triple my workload?

I’m glad to say common sense kicked in, and my writer’s intuition of what works and what doesn’t work, prevailed.

The book is 86,000 words, which is plenty. I wanted to fully develop each part, but without adding unnecessary scenes or too many details. For example, in part two, I could have described every rope, set of rigging, and mast on the ship for readers as Dray learns about them. But I didn’t want to go overboard. (Ha-ha.) Readers get the feel of being on the ship without seeing the day-to-day events that don’t impact the plot. The writer’s credo is “write tight.” Even in novels.

Some readers have asked me: If this is a romance, where are all the hot and heavy love scenes? Well… as I was editing/revising, I decided to delete several scenes that, although they were very nice, didn’t move the story along or add character development. When I came to some of the explicit love scenes between Kevan and Dray, I cut them or had the characters recall them in flashbacks.

But For Love’s Sake is more than a romance, it’s also an adventure. The characters experience lots of action outside of the bedroom: escaping a dungeon, fighting pirates, being lost at sea, getting kidnapped… And there’s plenty of emotional drama for everyone. The book is filled with lies, deception, sadness, secrets, jealousy, revenge, regret, and love in all its forms.

The secondary characters, Mikhael and Derick, play an important role in part three. Mikhael (Kevan’s brother), is married to Derick, and together, they set events in motion that bring the story to its conclusion.

I love Mikhael and Derick, and for a while I considered giving them their own book. I even wrote their entire backstory—their first meet, Derick’s disastrous lunch with Mikhael’s father (the king), how Derick became a Lord, and what happened when Mikhael and Derick moved into the manor house—but I never intend to publish it.

Why? Because it’s not a book in the traditional sense that it’s a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end. There’s no plot. It’s merely a series of vignettes about their lives. But because I love them so much, I included Mikhael and Derick’s first meet as a bonus read. That story also explains the origins of the Freedom.

In the book Mikhael is sassy, self-assured, and bold… but he didn’t start out this way. As readers will see from the bonus read, he started out very confused and troubled. He’s come a long way (thanks to Derick) in the course of a few years. And because I love Mikhael so much, I gave him a fun bit of dialog: “Stand and deliver. Your money or your life.” I’ve always wanted to use that phrase in a story, and it fit Mikhael’s personality (and the scene) perfectly.

For Love’s Sake has plenty of action, drama, suspense, humor, love, and emotional growth to earn epic novel status. It was a lot of fun to write, and it’s one of my favorite romances. It’s also my last romance. (Yup, you read that right.)

I enjoy creating characters and settings and inventing troubles for my heroes and heroines to get into (and out of), and I love all my books. But when it comes to romances… I think I’m done.

Over the last twenty-five years I’ve been writing romances faithfully, and I had romances lined up in my head and/or outlined on paper just waiting to be written—but For Love’s Sake (my 24^th romance) was the last one in line.

I’ll still write, but I’ll be focusing on horror/mystery/suspense short fiction.

For now, I’ll leave you with an epic tale of two people who risked everything… For Love’s Sake.

I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit my site for a full title list and links to my social media.

Until next time,

Kelli A. Wilkins

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.

Her latest release, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.

In August 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Kelli also released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in 2023.

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.

 

Tour Stop and Giveaway: Out-Houses by Kira Stone

Title: Out-Houses

Author: Kira Stone

Cover Art: Marteeka Karland

Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Releases, Romance

Themes: Age Gap (Older Man), LGBTQ+ Gay, Multicultural & Interracial, Multiple Partners /Polyamory, New Adult

Book Length: Novella

Page Count: 55

Synopsis

Out-Houses.com. The hottest gay-owned interior design business in Northern California.

When Paul joins the owners of Out-Houses.com, Alex and Toby, at their secluded cabin, it’s supposed to be a chance for them to work away from the distractions of the office. Instead Paul finds himself more distracted than ever -- and wanting to join in the fun.

Andy is late for a very important date -- with Toby, one of the owners of Out-Houses. Toby doesn’t like to be kept waiting and decides to teach Andy a lesson by giving him a spanking. Not the traditional way to start an interview, but at Out-Houses, anything goes.

Alex and Toby are great fun, but Paul wants a man of his own. Not just any man -- he’s got his sights set on Andy. Which would be fine, except Andy’s not looking his way. Or is he?

Excerpt

Out-Houses

Kira Stone

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2025 Kira Stone

“Fuck me.” There was a startled gasp, then, “Harder!”

“You want it bad, don’t you?”

The sounds of slapping flesh accompanied the masculine voices emanating from the other side of the bedroom wall. Paul groaned and rolled over. His hard-on stabbed the mattress and he groaned again, this time from pain. It was gonna be a long, exhausting week if he had to listen to his bosses, the owners of Out-Houses -- the newest, hottest gay interior designer company in Northern California -- get it on in the living room every night.

Especially given his recent, secret aspiration of becoming the meat in their cum sandwich.

“Oh, yeah. Just like that. Don’t stop.”

Must be Alex doing the begging, the little slut. Paul pictured him on his knees, his fine caramel colored ass in the air. Desperate for what satisfaction only his partner could give him.

Toby’s deep bass rumbled in response. “Heh. No worries there.”

“Oh, fuck. More. More!”

Placing a pillow over his head didn’t help stifle the erotic noises coming from the nearby room. If he had to hear it, then Paul wanted to see it. Feel it. Be fully engaged in the action. Eavesdropping was a poor substitute for sating carnal lust. Last night he’d been jet-lagged enough to fall asleep. A drag queen in full voice wouldn’t have woken him. However, after spending the day shoulder to shoulder with his gorgeous employers, hunched over a work table studying a ream of concept drawings for a gay-oriented housing project, pinned between their two rock solid bodies…

Damn. Rock solid. Just like his cock.

He was never going to get to sleep as long as he had to listen to them fuck.

Paul tossed off the sheet covering him and slipped out through the sliding glass doors onto the balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He didn’t bother to dress. Dense shrubs on either side of the isolated beach house created a privacy screen from anyone walking along the cliffs. The only people he was likely to encounter were otherwise… engaged.

Two long flights of stairs descended from the deck to meet a short expanse of pristine white sand. Paul didn’t feel comfortable going near the water, in part because walking around in the dark in a strange, wild area had “potentially fatal” written all over it, but also because it took him farther away from where he really wanted to be. Inside. In the living room. On his knees. Sucking Alex’s cock while Toby pounded into him from behind.

Like that’s going to happen. Face it, Paulie, you may be ready, willing and able to bat for the home team, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get a chance to play in this ballpark.

Paul lifted his face to the ocean breeze, trying to clear his mind. He failed, miserably. No matter what lust-killing thoughts he injected into his brain, his libido returned him to the action inside. Toby’s large frame, black skin over corded muscle, wrapped around Alex’s lithe Latino body. Fucking like bunnies.

If it were just about the sex, he might have stood a chance at stemming this hormonal rampage, but Paul admired their internal qualities too. Both had high IQs and more ambition than a rookie Triple-A player after a spot on a major league bench. They were risk takers. Adrenaline junkies. And it was a good thing, because it would take as much guts as money to make their fledgling company, Out-Houses, a success.

But if anyone could do it, Toby and Alex were capable of pulling it off. Paul wasn’t sure how these two alpha males managed to work together so well, or how long their partnership, in and out of bed, could last. Meeting them through their website had been a fluke when Paul needed help with his bathroom plumbing. They’d needed an architect though, and he was ready for a change in jobs. However, the youth of their business and their relationship made signing on with them a gamble. If they broke up, chances were the company wouldn’t survive. Paul chose to take the risk with them. It was hard to walk away from a dream job.

And his dream of joining Alex and Toby during one of their lunchtime quickies.

Paul relaxed against the balcony rail. Moonlight spilled over his milk white skin, giving it a silvery sheen. He ran his hand down his chest, following the thin arrow of reddish-blond hair to his cock. In order to get any sleep at all, he’d have to appease his woodie sooner or later. Might as well be now.

But not quickly. Not something that would be over and forgotten in a minute like a quick jerk-off during a morning shower. Paul wanted to treat himself to something special. Something he’d remember for a long time to make up for the erotic ménage memories he’d have to live without.

Purchase at Changeling

Meet the Author

Kira Stone lives in a warm cave tucked away in the remote Scottish Highlands, where a small band of ever-changing heroes serves as company. As they relax in front of a roaring fire, demons dance in leather pants and angels stroke tunes from the harp strings, while the Fae stop in to share tales from other worlds. Bound by pen and imagination, these are the folk who wait to greet you from the pages of Kira's stories. Visit Kira's Website.

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $10.00 Changeling Press Gift Code!