Book Spotlight Tour Stop/Giveaway: Mariah Ankenman's Head Over Heels in Love

Head Over Heels In Love
Mariah Ankenman
(Jackson Family Distillery, #4)
Publication date: May 8th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Catching a woman breaking into his car was not the way Ace Jackson wanted to start his day. Finding out she’s the new hire at his family’s distillery is even worse. Sure, she said she mistook his car for her’s, but there’s something about Millie he doesn’t trust. Too bad all his siblings vetoed his vote. What’s the point of being the oldest if you don’t get to be in charge?

Millie Danes told the grumpy Adonis she wasn’t breaking into his car, but did he believe her? No! The guy has a stick up his butt bigger than the pine trees gracing the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, he’s her new boss or she’d try and see if she could melt that icy exterior. But she has more on the line than a job, she needs funds to start her dream. Her very own aerial studio.

When a theft is discovered at work, Ace enlists Millie’s help as a spy in exchange for the money to build her dream. Their tentative truce becomes complicated when desires fan the flames of temptation. In the battle of love, who will fall first?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

“Millie!”

Her shouted name came from beyond the swinging door. Irritation rose, winning the war over guilt as she quickened her pace. “Ugh, coming!”

She pushed through the door into the back, muttering to herself. “Get your boxers out of a bunch you grumpy asshole. It was five damn seconds.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ace demanded the second the door stopped swinging.

“Well, I was working, until you pulled me back here to yell at me like an angry schoolmarm.”

Confusion drew his brow down. “What the…never mind. How is pulling some dangerous stunt and almost breaking your fool neck working? Last time I checked this was a bar, not some ridiculous stunt show.”

That was it. She knew the guy was her boss, but he was being a giant dick. No one talked to her that way.

“First of all, I wasn’t about to break anything. Before you rushed in and grabbed me—”

“Saved you.”

She arched one eyebrow in disbelief. “Is that what you thought you were doing? Saving the helpless damsel in distress? I got news for you buddy. I have been bottle-walking for years. I know how to fall from the bottles safely. Provided some jackass doesn’t grab me off them and tweak my back.”

His angry demeanor disappeared in an instant. Ace took a step forward, eyes scanning her body as his voice softened. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Shocked by the sudden switch—and his concern—she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

The sudden grab had surprised her and put her off kilter, but he hadn’t injured her back.

He glanced into her eyes, stealing her breath as she saw the unmasked worry filling them. Wow. Who knew Mr. Ice had feelings?

“Really, Ace,” she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”

He glanced down at her hand on his arm. The air in the room thickened. A rush of heat filled her. A bolt of electricity shot through her body, her fingers tingling against his warm skin. She quickly pulled her hand back, clenching it into a fist and placing it behind her.

What the hell was that?

Pushing the moment away, Millie cleared her throat. “I know how to fall safely off the bottles. I promise you I would have been fine.”

Ace shook his head, blinking a few times before the angry scowl returned to his face. “Why the hell were you on top of those bottles in the first place? We pay you to work, Millie. Not goof around.”

And there went all her warm fuzzy feelings for this man. Jeeze, it was like Jekyll and Hyde with him.

“I was working.” She lifted onto her toes, still not high enough to be eye to eye with the Grumpy Green Giant. Lifting a finger, she poked him in the chest. “If you take a peek out that door you will see.”

Ace glanced down at her finger, raising a brow when he looked back up at her.

Maybe poking her boss wasn’t the best idea, but he was being a jerk, and she didn’t like to be pushed around. Especially not when she was making him a ton of money.

“Look,” she huffed, flopping back onto flat feet and pushing the door open a crack. “See all those people rushing to get the new drink special? I did that. It’s called creative marketing.”

Ace leaned over her. His chest pressing against her back, the heat radiating off his body nearly suffocating her with its warm, intoxicating scent. Dammit! Why did he have to be so hot? Normally it didn’t matter how attractive a person was, if they were an ass, she wasn’t attracted to them. Her body didn’t get that memo with Ace. Didn’t matter. Wasn’t like she was going to do anything about it.

Author Bio:

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books visit her website www.mariahankenman.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

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Discover Finding Charlie by Jess Allen Today/Giveaway

Finding Charlie
Jess Allen
Publication date: May 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Charlotte Evans has never belonged. Her entire existence has been one wrong turn after another. When faced with a hard look at her future, she decides to change her fate. Desperate to not be the reason her boyfriend doesn’t pursue his dreams, she takes off in search of her own.

Ten years later, at the height of his baseball career, Liam “The Rocket” Hayes has it all. Fame, fortune, and he’s finally stopped pining for the lost girlfriend from his youth. But when coincidence leads him straight to her, Liam gets more than he bargained for, including a ten-year-old son.

In a story about first loves and second chances, follow Charlotte and Liam as they find their way back to each other, one pitch at a time.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

For the rest of her life, whenever she closed her eyes, she’d see Liam’s face at that moment. Hurt and fury blended into anguish, his face twisted and eyes cold. Eyebrows narrowed in disdain.

“Hey there,” Jack said from behind her. He stuck his hand out to Liam. “I’m Jack, and you are?”

Liam didn’t acknowledge him or his offer of a handshake. Instead, he turned and walked away from Charlie. She watched as he got into his car and peeled out of the parking lot, disappearing from sight. She watched the space where he stood, as if watching would bring him back.

“Charlie, you look like you saw a ghost.” Jack moved in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “You all right? Who was that?”

Her face fell, the weight of what she’d done bearing down on her. She wanted to crash to her knees and let the heaviness blanket her until she couldn’t feel it anymore.

“Hey, let’s get home,” Jack pleaded gently.

“Go ahead,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll meet you there. I just …I need a minute.”

Questions plagued Jack’s face, but he didn’t object.

The stars kept shining; the crickets continued to chirp. Families hugged their kids for a job well done and piled into cars to go home. Time passed, crowds dispersed. She waved off the coach when he told her he was shutting down the lights. The world moved on unaffected while Charlie’s carefully built life crashed and burned around her. She found herself on the pitcher’s mound, her bare legs covered in goosebumps despite the late summer heat.

She screamed into the night sky. She stomped and kicked at the dirt. Dust billowed around her like a tornado. She flailed her arms and pounded her feet while ugly tears slid down her cheeks. Why? What will happen now? Bile rose in her throat, and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

Impossible questions throttled her, which only made her cry harder. What-ifs circled her like vultures. She thought of Matty and their wonderful life with Ada and Sam. What would she tell them? She plopped to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. She wanted to curl into a ball and sleep. Every muscle in her body ached with exhaustion. The emotional turmoil of the evening finally catching up to her. She longed to be held, to smell Rachel’s lavender perfume as she held her close.

Tires in the gravel lot startled her out of her misery, and she watched as Liam climbed out of the driver’s seat and strode toward her.

Author Bio:

Jess Allen is an avid reader and has been writing since she was a child. She loves romance novels and psychological thrillers. She loves to talk books, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. You can find her on instagram: jesswritesromance

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!

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Book Blast Tour Stop/Giveaway: Stellar Heir 2: Syndicate Moon by Scott Killian

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Scott Killian will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Jael and his crew are on the run, searching for an ancient machine that could save the galaxy, but the syndicate-controlled moon has other plans.

After uncovering an artifact that grants him extraordinary powers, Jael thought he had gained the upper hand in the lawless fringes of space. But news of his newfound abilities has spread throughout the galaxy, and a bounty is placed on his head for crimes he didn’t commit. New enemies emerge to claim the reward and old foes remain relentless in their pursuit of the artifact.

Jael is unwillingly thrust into a high-stakes game that determines control over the moon. The four crime syndicates use this brutal contest to decide who will rule, and now Jael’s fate is entangled with theirs.

Complicating matters further, a mysterious woman with a similar artifact stalks Jael across the moon, sabotaging his quest. With each step, the stakes rise, and every decision could mean life or death. Jael must fight to stay alive, protect his crew, and uncover the second Antiqui lock—before time runs out.

Read an Excerpt:

Sprinting to the edge of the barge, Jael quickly reloaded his pistol with his last three slugs. He aimed and fired at Lorvel. Lorvel swung to the side, barely avoiding Jael’s shot. Jael cursed under his breath and fired again, but Lorvel moved surprisingly fast, evading again. Not wanting to waste his final bullet, Jael holstered the pistol and dashed toward Lorvel. Lorvel had managed to get up onto the side of the barge, and he rolled to avoid Jael’s charge. Jael skidded to a stop, sending loose trash over the side and quickly pivoting and dropping into a fighting stance.

Lorvel fired his own weapon at Jael, but black crystalline armor erupted from Jael’s skin, deflecting the shots. The bullets pinged off the scales, creating sparks. Lorvel’s gun clicked, signaling that his clip was empty. He dove behind a mound of trash, disappearing from sight. Jael rushed to the spot, but when he reached the pile, Lorvel was already gone.

“So what is all that rocky juuk?” Lorvel called out, his voice now coming from the opposite direction of where he had been just moments earlier. “A nanite lattice? Some new tech you stole from Hezion Corp? That why you killed them all, butcher?”

“Sure. Whatever you want to think.” Jael moved around the barge, walking slowly at first and then running to where he thought Lorvel was hiding. “You wouldn’t believe the real story even if I told you.”

“Try me. I’ve been around the galaxy and seen a few things.”

Jael heard the click of Lorvel’s hammer on his gun pull back. Two shots pounded into the back of Jael’s head, and he spun around to see nothing but trash. “Why don’t you come out and fight me face to face?”

Lorvel laughed. “Because I’m not suicidal. You just bodied a half-dozen of Legion’s…” There was a momentary silence before Lorvel spoke again. “Well, I won’t say best, but they were pretty good fighters.”

Merzi zipped overhead, turning and idling. Jael and her made eye contact, and she nodded her head to his right. He slowly and as quietly as he could shift his weight and sprang over a pile of refuse.

“Saihreen warned us you were some kind of warrior monk. Said we should be—” Lorvel didn’t get to finish.

Jael came crashing down on Lorvel. Both the men strained as they wrestled for control. With a quick twist of his wrist, Lorvel managed to bring his gun around and shoved it into Jael's midsection. Slamming his forearm into Lorvel’s wrist, Jael redirected the shot. The gun discharged, and the bullet hammered into Jael’s side. It hurt, but Jael powered through and struck down Lorvel’s hand, trying to free the gun.

Lorvel snarled and used his free hand to jab at Jael’s ribs, attempting to find an opening. Jael grunted, absorbing the blow and tightening his grip around Lorvel’s arm. He twisted Lorvel’s wrist, forcing the gun into an upward angle.

The next few shots were fired into the air. He brought his knee up into Lorvel’s midsection. Lorvel gasped, the impact knocking the wind out of him, and Jael wrenched the gun from his grasp.

Slamming the butt of the pistol into Lorvel’s face, he flipped it and pulled the trigger.

About the Author: Scott Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi, fantasy and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and H. P. Lovecraft, those portals in his mind were opened, and his obsession with reading began. Storytelling, in any form, is his only passion.

Inspired by epic sci-fi space operas, Killian crafts tales of interstellar adventure and space wars, blending thrilling martial arts combat with galactic-scale conflict. His works often feature gritty fight sequences and complex characters caught in the heart of a stellar conflict, creating a unique blend of space opera thriller and sci-fi epic.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott.E.killian
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorscottkillian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.e.killian/
Twitter: https://x.com/authorsekillian

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Syndicate-Moon-Thrilling-Sci-fi-Stellar-ebook/dp/B0DG3XZCSH/ref=sr_1_1 FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

COVER REVEAL: Donna Grant's Dragon Forged

 

I am so thrilled to share Donna Grant's upcoming Dragon King book, Dragon Forged, cover and man, is it stunning. That green just pops right off the screen.  Prepare for fire, fury, and the slow-burn romance that might just break your heart.

DRAGON FORGED July 8, 2025

Cover Designer: Hang Le   He is fire and fury. I am forbidden to want him. But some fates refuse to be denied.  I have seen the war that will tear our realm apart. As a seer, it is my duty to stop it, and the path to peace is clear—until him. The Dragon King is dominance and destruction, a force of nature my gift didn’t foretell… and one I cannot escape.  He is dangerous—untamed, possessive. And the one man I cannot afford to want.  Yet every glance, every searing touch, threatens to unravel the future I’m fighting to protect. Loving him could mean my ruin.  Wanting him could mean the end of everything.  But when betrayals rise and destiny shifts, one truth becomes clear: I saw the war. I never saw him. And now, I don’t know if I can stop what’s coming… or if I even want to. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant delivers a riveting tale of desire, danger, and passion in the next installment of the Dragon Kings series.

Tropes include...

 Forbidden love

 Powerful Dragon Kings

 Forced proximity

 Slow-burn tension

 Found family feels

 Magical City with Secrets

 Protective Hero with Soft Spot for Kids

Preorder today HERE

Backlist Spotlight: On My Own Series by Carrie Ann Ryan

 

Four Roommates. One Party. A Night that Changes Everything.

Get into college? Check.
Find friends that understand your quirks? Check.
Figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life? Getting there.
Fall for the girl you shouldn’t? Most likely.

Four friends are trying to finish college even if they didn’t begin their journeys on the normal route. First apartments, unsteady jobs, and learning to balance having a life with a massive course load is only a tiny step of being on their own.

Falling in love when others say it’s too early, too wrong, or too hard?
Well…they’ll just have to do that on their own too.

You first meet the hero of book 1, Dillon, in the Fractured Connections series. He is the youngest brother and the series is about him and his roommates.

Each book is a complete stand alone and has an HEA.

The series is complete at 4 novels and a free prequel.

The Series Information and Buy Links HERE

My One Night

Book 1

Contemporary New Adult Romance

A one-night stand is supposed to end once the sun rises. Only it doesn’t always work out that way in this opposites attract and tortured hero romance.

Elise Hoover never expected this. She didn’t want to go to another party, but when her friend pulls her in, she somehow finds herself hiding in a corner with…him.

Dillon Connolly.

The smirking, so-called good guy with the shadows in his eyes. A single glance, a sweet smile, and she lets herself have one night of giving in.

Only she has to promise herself not to fall in love. No matter the cost.

My Rebound

Book 2

Contemporary New Adult Romance

A rebound isn’t supposed to last. Though, sometimes, fate has other ideas in this opposites attract, friends with benefits romance.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

Mackenzie Thomas started planning her future at the age of six. She knew the college she wanted, the career she needed, and the boy she would marry.

Only he wasn’t supposed to break up with her in such a spectacular fashion. Now, she’s tossing her planner and breaking her rules.

First up: Pacey Ziglar.

Mackenzie wants one night of fun. One night to toss out all inhibitions with the sexy Brit across the hall. Too bad she fell for her rebound along the way.

My Next Play

Book 3

Contemporary New Adult Romance

What happens when you fall for your best friend, but they fall in love with someone else? Nothing is what it seems in this unrequited love, new adult romance.

Miles knew Nessa never had eyes for him.  Only when someone new tries to hurt her, he knows he can’t stand back any longer. It’s time she finds out the man he is behind the glasses and beneath the shell he wrapped himself in.

But now he has to hope that once she sees the real him, she’ll stay. Because he doesn’t want to let go, even if someone else tries to make that choice for them both.

My Bad Decision

Book 4

Contemporary New Adult Romance

The first time he kissed me, we kept it a secret.

Tanner and I have been at each other’s throats ever since.

The second time he kissed me, I told myself not to fall.

I should have known something burned beneath the surface and I couldn’t resist him.

The third time led to something more and now one positive test later, neither one of us can walk away.

Only when his past sheds light on every difference we’ve chosen to ignore, we’ll have to fight for each other, or lose everything before we’ve even had a chance.

My First Glance 

Book 0.5 in Series

A FREE Prequel Story in the On My Own Series

Contemporary New Adult Romance

Available HERE

A FREE PREQUEL

See what happens before the night that changes everything in this prequel novella to My One Night by NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan.

After mistakes and false starts, Dillon Connolly thought he’d finally worked his life out. He’d almost lost everything more than once, but his new family helped settle him. Now he’s faced with another decision, a new life, and a set of roommates he didn’t know he needed.

With one glance at her, however, he has a feeling his new life is just the beginning.

Guest Author Day with Kelli A. Wilkins: Behind the Scenes of A Most Intriguing Temptation

 

Behind the Scenes: A Most Intriguing Temptation

Book 2 of the “Royal Desires” Series

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 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 everyone,

A Most Intriguing Temptation is the sequel to A Most Unusual Princess and is Book Two of the Royal Desires series. I never intended on writing a series, but readers loved the characters from A Most Unusual Princess so much (and so did I) that I wanted to continue the adventures of Dalton and Elara. A Most Intriguing Temptation is a more serious (and longer) story than A Most Unusual Princess and focuses on the themes of trust, loyalty, identity, and honesty.

The book introduces Elara’s equally headstrong and spoiled brother, Prince Allan. He is an irresponsible womanizer who drinks too much and lives for having fun. To him, business is boring, and he doesn’t take his royal duties seriously. His father (King Maxwell) sends him to meet with Emperor Salizar on business. To ensure the negotiations go smoothly, Maxwell insists Dalton accompany Allan.

When Elara hears Dalton is going to the emperor’s notorious pleasure palace, she devises a plan to test his fidelity. This sets the stage for the main drama of the book.

Elara sneaks into the palace and impersonates a kharim woman. She calls herself Oonish and begins her deception. She constantly tempts and teases Dalton (in the bath, in the bedroom, and even at dinner). To Dalton, Oonish is nothing but an annoying, dimwitted distraction. Although he admits she’s lovely and appealing, he pushes her away and insists he’ll remain loyal to the wife he loves.

Prince Allan learns about Elara’s plan and warns her that she is playing with fire. Trying to seduce Dalton isn’t fair, and the whole scheme could backfire on her. Spoiler Alert: Allan is right of course, and Dalton does “cheat” with Oonish—but there’s one catch—he already knew Oonish was Elara.

Elara is devastated that Dalton cheated on her—until Dalton confesses he knew it was her all along. That’s when the trouble really starts for the couple. Dalton is furious that Elara snuck into the palace. It’s not safe for any woman, and Emperor Salizar is a madman who despises King Maxwell and Elara. If she is caught in the palace, she will be in real danger. In addition, Dalton feels betrayed because Elara deliberately set him up and doesn’t trust him.

It’s a dark moment for this loving couple, and these events truly test their relationship. Elara is heartbroken and ashamed of herself. She let her jealousy get the better of her and has gotten in way over her head.

It’s also a turning point in the story, because Emperor Salizar has discovered Oonish’s true identity. Elara’s prank has put everyone’s life in danger.

When I was writing the book, I loved creating the scenes where Oonish/Elara drives Dalton crazy with her suggestive flirting and arousing touches—and Dalton goes out of his way to resist her. (He even tells Allan to take Oonish for himself.) The push/pull between the two characters was fun to write.

I also enjoyed the scenes between Allan and Elara/Oonish. These spoiled siblings are a lot alike: they share the same sense of entitlement, are used to getting away with their wild and irresponsible actions, and have an off-color, odd sense of humor.

The hardest scene to write was after Dalton “cheats” with Oonish and confronts Elara. All of a sudden, this isn’t a game anymore. Elara finally understands that she has done something despicable by tricking the man she loves.

Dalton wonders if he can ever trust Elara again. Elara is worried Dalton will leave her and dissolve their marriage. It breaks her spirit, and she realizes (a little too late) how awful she has been. This was a difficult scene to write, knowing how it would wound Elara, but she had to be taught a lesson and face the consequences for her actions.

Overall, I love A Most Intriguing Temptation. It’s got everything a great book needs: drama, adventure, humor, romance, and a hint of danger. It runs the gamut of emotions: parts of it are funny, parts are super erotic, and other parts are tender and sad. It’s a great story and readers loved it. (Although the book is part of the Royal Desires series, it stands alone as an individual read.)

As I was writing, Prince Allan turned into one of those characters who try to take over the story. I fell in love with Allan so much that I knew he needed his own book. Readers and fans also wanted to know more about Allan and thought he should have his own book, too.

Allan is the male counterpart of Elara, so I started wondering: what consequences would Allan face for his role in the events? What would happen to him when he got home? I explore this in the third and final book in the series, A Most Unfortunate Prince. (I’ll share more about that book in another blog.)

Here is the book summary and links:

A Most Intriguing Temptation

 

After only four months of marriage to Princess Elara, Prince Dalton is sent to Emperor Salizar’s pleasure palace on business. Not wanting to be left behind, Elara risks her personal safety and sneaks along on the trip.

Aided by her mischievous brother, Prince Allan, she disguises herself as one of Salizar’s sultry kharim women and decides to test Dalton’s loyalty. Masquerading as Oonish, Elara goes out of her way to tempt Dalton at every turn. Despite Dalton’s resolve to resist the indulgent girls, he finds himself falling under the spell of the mysterious Oonish.

After nearly giving in to temptation, Dalton discovers Elara’s trickery and turns the tables on her, making her into his submissive playmate. Their fun and games are quickly shattered when Emperor Salizar learns about Elara’s deception. He holds the royals prisoner and condemns Elara to a fate worse than death.

Can Dalton save Elara before it’s too late, or will her prank bring about the end of their love?

The Royal Desires Series is available on Amazon & other platforms. Catch this hot historical/fantasy trilogy from the start:

 

Book 1: A Most Unusual Princess:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CBX43D8

 

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me00L9 

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unusual-princess

 

Book 2: A Most Intriguing Temptation:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8P8604

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kkvj

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-intriguing-temptation

 

Book 3: A Most Unfortunate Prince:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unfortunate-Prince-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01DMBYJ6E

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3yPPM6

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unfortunate-prince

I hope you enjoyed this “Behind the Scenes” look at the making of this romance.

I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Contact me via the form on my site or on social media.

Happy Reading,

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 twenty-fourth romance, 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.

 

 

Now Available: Conflicted Lies by T.L. Smith & Kia Carrington-Russell

Title: Conflicted Lies

Series: Vengeful Lies Series

Authors: T.L. Smith & Kia Carrington-Russell

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: May 3, 2025

Cover Design: RBA Designs

Alternate Cover Design: Hang Le

Detective Braxton Hero should keep his distance from me. Even though I can’t seem to stay away from him.

Letting him get too close is a mistake. One I can’t stop making.

He sees me. The woman I pretend to be, and the one behind the mask. And for the first time, I don’t know which version is real.

Even though I’ve spent my life in the shadows, I’ve never been conflicted about who I am…until he blurred the lines. The thought of him seeing my darkness does something to me.

He makes me want things. Things I can’t have.

A life that isn’t mine to take.

A love built on lies.

 

       

 

USA Today Best Selling Author T.L. Smith loves to write her characters with flaws so beautiful and dark you can’t turn away. Her books have been translated into several languages. If you don’t catch up with her in her home state of Queensland, Australia you can usually find her travelling the world, either sitting on a beach in Bali or exploring Alcatraz in San Francisco or walking the streets of New York.

Australian Author, Kia Carrington-Russell is known for her recognizable style of kick a$$ heroines, fast-paced action, enemies to lovers and romance that dances from light to dark in multiple genres including Fantasy, Dark and Contemporary Romance.

Obsessed with all things coffee, food and travel, Kia is always seeking out her next adventure internationally. Now back in her home country of Australia, she takes her Cavoodle, Sia along morning walks on beautiful coastline beaches, building worlds in the sea breezes and contemplating which deliciously haunting story to write next.

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