Dawn's Reading Nook
A life long reader, lover of books, authors, fairies and gnomes. I love showcasing authors and books.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Release Blitz: Polar Nights by Lucy Felthouse
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tour Stop/Giveaway: The Cherry Trees of Rosings by Morgan Blake
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Morgan Blake will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A Pride & Prejudice variation with a slightly paranormal, mainly comic twist!
When Elizabeth Bennet visits her newly-married friend, Charlotte Collins, at the Hunsford parsonage, she has no idea that Mr. Darcy (he of the arrogant demeanor and perpetual cause of annoyance!) shall turn up to ruin her blissful, idyllic days.
Only, Mr. Darcy is not himself. And then Elizabeth stumbles straight through him one day... like one would an apparition! Goodness gracious!
“Mr. Darcy, I do not know what you mean, but I would appreciate it if you would desist from haunting me!”
“I apologize, Miss Bennet, for scaring you,” Mr. Darcy said, almost regretfully.
To solve her haunting problem, Elizabeth must team up with Mr. Darcy to find out what happened to him, and along the way discover that maybe he is not all that he seemed at first. And that maybe... she doesn’t hate him after all.
“You wish to write the letter now?” he asked as she moved past him with the candle.
“Well, to be honest,” she glanced at him. “I would prefer to sleep. But since you are here, I do not see why not.”
From the antics of Lady Catherine de Bourgh to the hilarity of Mr. Collins’ advice on staying fit, The Cherry Trees of Rosings shall make you laugh and cry in equal measure. And wonder: Will our favourite couple find their happy ever after?
Spoiler: Yes, they will!
This Pride and Prejudice variation features our favourite Regency romance couple from Jane Austen's original classic in a somewhat spooky setup. ✨ But fear not, dear readers! ✨ This story is not scary in the least. Prepare for a chuckle fest and abundant cups of tea!
Read an Excerpt
“Mr. Collins, you know how I despise green beans!”
Lady Catherine’s brows drew down with annoyance as she looked over the tiny list Charlotte had handed her a few moments ago. It was about the gift baskets the Collinses were tasked with distributing for Easter; one of the yearly tasks of the parsonage.
“You shall not present that vegetable to the congregation,” she emphasized, mouth twisting into a moue of distaste.
Mr. Collins nodded his head vigorously. “Indeed, your ladyship.”
“Potatoes will do very well. Very well, indeed…”
More head nodding from her cousin.
Elizabeth held back a chuckle as the spectacle unfolded before her.
She had been somewhat right in her estimation of Lady Catherine from Mr. Collins’ extensive effusions. But once the introductions were made, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the great lady was even more ridiculous than she had imagined. Her father would be dearly entertained by such human folly once she wrote to him.
“Potatoes are vegetables for the hard-working,” Lady Catherine continued sagely. Then she picked up a cream tart from the platter before her and bit into it.
“You are quite right, your ladyship, as always,” Mr. Collins said. “I merely wished to place the beans in the baskets for the sick—”
“You should speak on the virtues of potatoes in your sermon, Mr. Collins,” the lady said, dusting off the crumbs from her fingers before fixing a glare on her parson.
About the Author:
Morgan loves exploring themes of personal identity, inner strength, social discourse and hope alongside enduring love in her stories. She also believes that strong heroes and heroines are not enough to make a tale worth telling. They need a supporting cast of good and not-so-good characters that add more punch and vibrancy... and some dramatic ridiculousness!
Morgan is a cat friend, tropical girl who prefers winter clothes, perennial fantasy/historical fiction nerd, and a night owl.
Author Website: https://morganblakeauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563826174842
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganblakewriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242629836-the-cherry-trees-of-rosings
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/b/bwJ8pP
Tour Stop/Giveaway: She Knew Too Much
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria Weisfeld 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. Buy the book HERE.
Travel writer Genie Clarke arrives in Rome seeking inspiration, but her trip turns deadly when she overhears two mafia operatives discussing a secret "Project." Before she can escape, she's attacked and left for dead. Awakening in a hospital-alive but hunted-Genie finds the police unwilling to believe her. Only Detective Leo Angelini takes her seriously, uncovering ties between her assault, a murdered woman, and a powerful criminal network.
With the threat escalating, Leo moves Genie into hiding, where she becomes both key witness and prime target. Cut off from safety and unsure who to trust, Genie must outthink the conspirators determined to silence her.
From Rome's bright piazzas to its shadowed alleys, she faces a terrifying fight for survival-and an unexpected connection with the detective risking everything to protect her. She Knew Too Much is a lean, suspenseful psychological thriller about fear, courage, and the price of knowing too much.
Read an Excerpt
I crossed the one-way traffic to reach the Piazza del Popolo’s spacious central rectangle. People ambled toward one or another of the half-dozen streets that converged on the Piazza or to the steps leading up to the Villa Borghese Gardens, where I’d spent the afternoon. I was aiming for the Via del Babuino, street of the Baboon, which got its name from a particularly hideous sculpture. In a few blocks, that street ended at the Piazza di Spagna and the always-crowded Spanish Steps, a half block from my hotel.
On the far side, I again negotiated the circling rush of traffic and chanced a look behind. What the hell? The spiky-haired blond had crossed the first stream of traffic. Now he jostled through the crowd, coming straight my way. He was tracking me, and he didn’t care if I knew it. I was in trouble. And, if I didn’t want to believe my eyes, the hair on the back of my neck confirmed it. I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could in my flimsy sandals.
Dozens of times I’d traveled the few blocks connecting the two piazzas. Now this familiar street radiated hostility, and the stones of the Sunday-shuttered buildings reflected no warmth. Surely something, some business, would be open. I sped past my favorite stationery store, the gallery whose owner I’d interviewed. Shut tight as oysters.
Why hadn’t I asked someone near the piazza for help? Could I have made myself understood? Would they have agreed to get involved? I shook my head in frustration.
Do you have a favorite personal development or writing book you would recommend?
Many really fine books about the writing craft are
available, and I reread the ones I have often. Sometimes a bit of advice just
doesn’t quite “stick,” but some months later, when I’m at a different point in
my writing, it makes perfect sense. For writers starting out, Carolyn Wheat’s How
to Write Killer Fiction clearly explains how writing techniques differ
between mysteries and thrillers. This was all news to me. And Chris Roerden’s Don’t
Murder Your Mystery has good solid advice on avoiding basic mistakes in
plotting and presentation. For authors who have a healthy start in their
writing, Stephen King’s On Writing is excellent. A book that has helped
me a lot (notes are scribbled all over it) is Donald Maass’s The Emotional
Craft of Fiction. These are just a few.
What have you learned throughout your writing process?
I’ve learned a lot about crime! But I’ve learned things about myself as a writer too. First, I keep at it. There are frustrations, but I keep going, keep learning, keep practicing. Second, rejection? I’ve learned not to take it personally. Yes, there will be books and short stories published that I think are sub-par. But finding someone to accept my work depends on many factors I can’t control. Agents and editors and publishers have their own preferences, bad days, hangovers—whatever. I keep at it. I read a statement by a Canadian author who said by the time she finishes writing a novel, she’s read it four times! Four? Try forty! Well, twenty. I keep reading a book or story until nothing nags at me, no word seems out of place.
During the time I wrote She Knew Too Much, I was
working on two books at once—sounds crazy, but there was a strange logic to it.
I’d spend a month or two painstakingly going through one of them, until I
brought it up a notch, then I’d turn to the other one. By that time, I’d been
so deeply immersed in the first book, the second one was all new to me. I could
really see it with fresh eyes. I went through several cycles of this, and the
books got better every time.
What has inspired you to become a writer?
Because I so love to read, I always wanted to be a writer.
It’s magic, really, putting black squiggles on white paper that make people
laugh or cry, that make them feel like they’ve had an adventure or found a
friend for life.
Do you have a specific writing process?
The best way to describe my “process” (I’m laughing) is to
call it organic. I start with a character and a situation and build from there.
How would a person like my character respond, what would he do, whom would she
call? And then what? Because I work that way, rather than plotting everything
out in advance, I discover the story, the “what happens next?” just like the
reader does.
Do you have a favorite author and/or favorite book?
Hmmmm—can’t pick just one. My very favorite author for
memorable characters is Charles Dickens, and my favorite among his novels is Our
Mutual Friend. In contemporary fiction, I really enjoy political thrillers,
and favorite authors in that genre are Alan Furst and the crop of new thriller
writers taking on the mantle of the late John Le Carré: Philip Lazar, I.S. Berry, Merle Nygate, Harriet
Crawley, David McCloskey. No longer solely a man’s world—three of those authors
are women. As for favorite book, I default to Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the
d’Urbervilles. Nice and depressing.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
Between my short stories, my blog, theater reviews, book reviews for the UK website crimefictionlover.com, and my family history, I am always writing something!
I hope your readers take the opportunity to read She Knew Too Much. I think they will find it a fast-moving story with touches of romance, humor, and a big dose of humanity. I welcome their responses. Thank you for inviting me to share these few words.
About the Author:
Website: http://www.vweisfeld.com">http://www.vweisfeld.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Victoria-Weisfeld/author/B07J1X2B48
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6815763.Victoria_Weisfeld
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Tour Stop/Giveaway: THE OBSCURA SYNDICATE by Raven Storme
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Storme will be awarding a signed paperback and book plate to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Lira was meant to die for the throne.
Cassian Vale was trained to be the blade that ended her.
But the moment he hesitates—one heartbeat, one breath—everything forbidden ignites.
Now the deadliest man in the Syndicate is the only thing standing between Lira and a prophecy that demands her blood. He should fear her. He should kill her. Instead… he can’t stop wanting her.
She’s the girl marked for sacrifice.
He’s the weapon shaped to obey.
Together, they become the spark that threatens to burn Obscura to ashes
As Lira’s power awakens and the throne tightens its grip, their desire becomes its own kind of danger—raw, consuming, and impossible to survive untouched. Enemies hunt them. Shadows follow them. And the kingdom whispers one truth:
If Cassian doesn’t ruin her, she’ll ruin him.
A dark, seductive story of prophecy, power, and a love so intense it could topple a kingdom.
Read an Excerpt
The blade was colder than I expected.
Cassian Vale stood close enough that I could feel his breath against my temple, slow and steady—unbothered by the fact that he was about to end my life. His hand didn’t shake. His voice didn’t rise.
“Any last words?” he asked quietly.
I laughed.
It startled him. I felt it in the brief hitch of his breath, the infinitesimal pause before instinct took over again.
“You look disappointed,” I said. “Were you hoping I’d beg?”
His grip tightened at my throat—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind me how easily he could. “I don’t enjoy this,” he said.
“Then why are you here?”
His mouth hovered near my ear. “Because Obscura demands obedience.”
My pulse raced—not with fear, but with something sharper. Dangerous.
“And what do you demand?” I whispered.
The blade lowered.
For the first time in his life, Cassian Vale hesitated.
About the Author:
Raven 🐦⬛ Storme writes dark, smut-heavy romance for readers who crave obsession, power struggles, and secrets whispered in the dark. Living in Pennsylvania, she’s been married for fourteen years and shares her life with fourteen dogs—because calm has never been her aesthetic. Her debut series, The Obscura Syndicate, dives into forbidden desire, shadowy loyalties, and characters who blur every moral line. Raven believes love is messy, passion is dangerous, and the best stories live in the dark.
Website: http://Ravenstorme.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raven.storme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravenstormeauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smut.luvin.books
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Obscura-Syndicate-Dark-Gothic-Romance-ebook/dp/B0GH2HS8PW/ref=sr_1_1
Book Spotlight/Giveaway Stop: Stephanie Burke's Demomium Rex AKA Buttercup
Title: Demonium Rex AKA Buttercup
Series: Demon Entanglements (#6)
Author: Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press LLC
Release Date: February 20, 2026
Book Length: Novella
Page Count: 117 pages
Genre: New Releases, Paranormal, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Urban Fantasy
Themes: Elves /Dragons /Magical Creatures, Hentai, LGBTQ+ Bisexual /Nonbinary /Transgender, Magic /Sorcery /Witchcraft, Multicultural & Interracial, Multiple Partners, Second Edition, Spotlight
Add to Goodreads
Synopsis
Win is a writer with a new house, a new life, and a rapidly approaching deadline. She doesn’t have time for the voices in her head to be demanding attention. She just wants to finish her book and maybe get laid. But what will she do when the character her subconscious dreams up starts becoming corporeal? Demonium Rex is the undisputed king of all sexual demons, but when his people come to him with a mark who refuses to crack, he takes action. Now he is stuck in a non-corporeal form while the woman he needs to seduce is too stubborn to just let it happen. And even worse, she sticks him with a stupid name. But in the end, he will show her who’s the real King -- or his name isn’t Buttercup.
Excerpt
Demonium Rex AKA Buttercup (Demon Entanglements) Stephanie Burke All rights reserved. Copyright ©2021 Stephanie Burke “Who hurt you?” Wineva Waller had never felt so warm, so safe, so comforted. It was like she was being wrapped in a huge, soft, silk-lined quilt, or more like floating in a deep pool of the warmest of soft-perfumed waters. It had to be a dream, a lie. There was nothing soft in her life, had never been, would never be. But why not enjoy the escape and live the fantasy while it lasted? She couldn’t do a lot of things for herself, couldn’t care less about the way the world worked or how people viewed her, but she could at least give herself this, even if it would dissipate like wisps of dew in the morning sun. There were arms around her, solid and muscular, holding her in a warm embrace that canceled out worry, stress, and time. There was a large male body pressed tightly to her, a hard, fuzzy chest that her breasts were pressed deliciously against, chin nuzzling in the top of her hair, heavy, muscular legs entwined with hers. As she contemplated who it could be, a large, warm hand slid up from her belly to cup her breast, the palm rough against her nipple. She couldn’t stop the moan from leaving her mouth as that clever, beautiful hand caressed her flesh, the fingers tugging sharply at her nipple, causing her to arch her back as the pleasure shot down her spine and settled in her pussy. She was getting so wet. “I can feel how much you want me,” the voice purred as a second hand slid down to comb through the neatly trimmed patch of hair at her groin. Win whimpered, feeling the need to be touched grow inside her. Those fingers were moving too slow. She needed more, she wanted more. She opened her mouth to complain when one of his legs shoved forward, parting her thighs, and she shivered as the cooler air of the room wound around her needy pussy. “I’ve got you,” the voice insisted as warm, citrus-scented breath caressed her ear. There was a nip there as the fingers teased her mound, sliding down further, the tips caressing the root of her clit, and that one touch made her gasp, arching her hip to get more. It felt so good… it had been so long… “Please,” she whimpered as that knowing finger began to run small circles around the base of her clit, making her whole body tremble as she moved her ass back against the hard length of cock. “Who hurt you?” he asked again, his lips trailing down the back of her neck, his warm breath caressing her skin. As she tried to figure out what he wanted, there was a sharp nip and then a solid bite to the base of her neck. Sensations she hadn’t experienced in a long time shot down her back as the hand caressing her breast slid up to wrap gently around her neck. She began to pant, her heart was racing as his hard cock began sliding against her cheeks until the hot bar of flesh was settled between them, not trying to penetrate but just caressing her there too. The feel of him was intense and as she opened her mouth to demand more, the clever fingers at her groin finally moved lower, gently sliding back the protective hood of her clit to lightly caress her tender skin, pulling a whimper from her throat. Her hips began to rise up, seeking more of that electric touch, tearing her breath from her body as her heart began to race even faster. “Please,” she begged as he began to take control of her body, playing her like a fine instrument and pulling sounds she would have been embarrassed were hers in the daylight. “I have you.” His voice was deep and rough, his heart pounding in his chest as he turned her and this time pressed against her back to the bed. She could feel it racing, matching the tempo of her own rapidly beating heart as she rocked back against him. She opened her mouth to demand more as his fingers began to press and tighten around her clit. Win could feel her slick wetness slowly slide down, soaking her swollen labia that was also begging for a touch. She tried to push her hips forward, to force his fingers where she needed them the most, but he only chuckled at her action. “Who hurt you?” he asked again, biting down harder on her shoulder before he licked the sharp pain away.Purchase at Changeling Press LLC
Meet the Author
Stephanie Burke Stephanie is a USA Today Best Selling, multi published, multi award-winning author, Master Costumer, handicapped, wife and mother of two. From sex-shifting, shape-shifting dragons to undersea worlds, sexually confused elemental Fey and homo-erotic mysteries, all the way to pastel-challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do more. Stephanie is an orator on her favorite subjects of writing and world-building, a sometime teacher when you feed her enough tea and donuts, an anime nut, a costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing cons where she can be found leading panel discussions or researching varied legends and theories to improve her writing skills. Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female characters, believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and multi-cultural stories that make the reader sit up and take notice.Facebook | Twitter
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Cover Reveal: Nerdy Girl Nell by Lindsey Gray
Nell De Lacy loves small things like leading library story time, a well-stocked bookshelf, and evenings with friends. Relearning how to date after grief was supposed to be the hardest thing.
Enter professional wrestler Chance Robicheaux. Towering, tender, and utterly relentless about keeping her safe. The two become friends first, spending nights learning each other’s quirks. Between hospital rooms and poker nights, the two find something electric and real.
Nell’s life suddenly fractures with a violent assault, a cache of stolen images, and a blackmailer who won’t be denied. As the threat tightens and the press draws near, Nell’s voice, literally and figuratively, fails her at the worst possible time.
With the De Lacy family company’s December board vote approaching, Nell faces a critical challenge that threatens to upend her life. The outcome of the vote carries the risk of awarding a coveted contract to the wrong people, forcing Nell to balance family loyalty, legal danger, and a secret that could change everything.
Nell and Chance’s is a story about rebuilding, of finding courage in therapy and friendship, and discovering there’s strength in asking for help. Nell’s fight becomes Chance’s fight, and soon they choose to fight evil together. Will justice arrive before the quiet she loves is gone forever?
Goodreads: https://www.
Pre-order:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.
iBooks: https://books.apple.
Smashwords: https://www.
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.
Lindsey Gray is a writer, an over-thinker, and a chronic list-maker, but her passion for writing stories you'll love always tops the list. Her author journey began in 2010 with the publication of her first novel, and she has spent the last decade creating worlds for readers to play in. In addition to her own work, Gray utilizes her skills formatting novels for other authors and hosts the weekly show, Gray Matters, on TMV Cafe Internet Radio. She lives and writes fueled by iced tea, her handsome hubby, and the beautiful chaos of mothering her children.
New Book Review: Trust No One by James Rollins
My Review of Trust No One:
TRUST NO ONE is James Rollins' latest & delightful stand alone title of 2026 that will leave you on the edge of your seat till the very end of the book. This is one of my ultimate favorite author as he is a master at blending history with science fiction and a contemporary setting that will suck the reader in and not let go until the last page is read. With each book of this author, I am drawn more and more into his storytelling that leaves me speechless after ach book I read. With a fast paced storyline, TRUST NO ONE introduces the reader to five students accused of murdering their professor and having to go on the run trying to stay ahead of an organization that is determined to get a centuries old book that was written by the mysterious 18th century Comte de Saint-Germain. The author is a masterful storyteller and one I highly recommend if you enjoy Douglas Preston & Clive Cussler books. Mr. Rollins will keep you up way past your bedtime with TRUST NO ONE and I for one loved every minute of the book.
We meet Sharyn Karr, an american studying at the University of Exeter and when her professor thrusts a book at her, declaring she mustn't trust anyone, she is thrust into a mystery filled with dangerous and deadly adviratry and more a mystery that spans centuries. She along with four other students of the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism go on the run trying to find allies even as their enemies come close to them repeatedly. I got to admit, the five MC's are different and took me awhile to warm up to them. I did like how the author delivers different personalities and made me worry for them as they raced across Europe trying to stay ahead of this dangerous cabal. I liked how multidimensional the characters were and the shocking last chapter had me on the edge of my seat. The story flowed smoothly after a slow start and introduction of the main characters. I liked how the author uses the settings as a perfect backdrop tot he fast paced storyline so the reader felt like they were there as well while reading TRUST NO ONE. The twists alone in the story had me breathless as they came out of nowhere and had me gasping.
If you enjoy any of James Rollins books before this one, then you will enjoy TRUST NO ONE. He delivers a wild and fraught filled ride with this latest book that I couldn't wait to see who this shadow organization was while learning more about this mysterious Comte de Saint-Germain as well. TRUST NO ONE is a pulse pounding ride from start to finish and I highly recommend this as well as his other books (Sigma series 1000%) for a wild ride that will take you to places you might never been to before.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement. I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
Release Blitz: Polar Nights by Lucy Felthouse
This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.
-
Check out this wonderful series from author RJ Scott.... Book One: The Heart of Texas Contemporary M/M Available HERE Riley Hayes,...
-
Check out the tour stop for Cynthia Flowers' Only in September today and make sure to enter the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win...
-
Discover the next installment in the Soulwood Series by Faith Hunter in Rift in the soul today. Don't forget to enter the tour wide gi...













