Saturday, July 12, 2025

Book Spotlight/Giveaway: Mychael Black's Burn

 

Author: Mychael Black

Cover Art: Bryan Keller

Genres: Action Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Mystery & Suspense, New Releases, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Themes: Dark Romance, LGBTQ+ /Sex/Gender Shifters & MPreg, LGBTQ+ Gay, Vampires

Series: Splintered Bloodlines (#1)

Book Length: Novella

Page Count: 77

Description

Humans and vamps were never meant to be mates, but an accidental meeting changes everything.

Cam Sharpe is just trying to make ends meet. Living in the city can easily break the bank, but that’s where the jobs are. It’s also where crime runs rampant. One night, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, putting him in the crosshairs of the city’s ruling vampire coven.

Nikolai Hart loves his job -- maybe a little too much. When hunting a rogue proves to be a pain in the ass, he’s the one House Saridan brings in to find the unfortunate soul. The latest job, however, has hit a snag: a mortal has witnessed everything.

Excerpt

Burn (Splintered Bloodlines 1)
Mychael Black
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2025 Mychael Black

Cameron

I hated living in the city. There were too many people, most of whom couldn’t drive worth a damn. I barely managed to dodge a car that threatened to sideswipe me. I thought the asshole driver shouted something, but I just tossed the man a one-fingered salute. Rain pelted the city, which made deliveries a bit more complicated, especially on a bicycle. Still, the bike afforded me the chance to make it into tight spots a car could not. Traffic was a bitch, but that was city life. I’d been here for three years now and had managed to escape the need for a car. The exercise was good, at any rate.

I reached the towering apartment building and secured my bike to a lamppost. The expressionless doorman stood at the front. Dressed in a black tux, complete with white gloves, he fit right in with the building’s occupants.

Once inside, I flashed my badge hanging on its lanyard to the guard behind the desk and continued toward the elevators. A few well-dressed residents gave me a bit of the good ol’ side-eye, but I ignored them. Hell, I’d probably delivered dinner to them half a million times.

The elevator doors opened, and I held it for the others. When they didn’t move to enter, I shrugged and stepped inside, letting the doors close before they could change their haughty minds. I watched the display tick through the floor numbers until it reached the seventh floor. As soon as I exited, I heard music.

Down the hall, an apartment door opened, and a half-naked man waved. I met him and handed over the food.

“Wanna join?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Thanks, man, but I can’t. Still a few more hours before I can officially ‘clock out’ for the night.”

“You clock out?”

“Not really. I set my own hours, but this pays the bills, so, yeah, set times and all.”

“Ah.”

Shouts from inside cut the chat short. “Well, thanks!” the guy said, holding up the bag.

“No problem.”

Alone in the hall, I went back to the elevators. Thank the gods the tips were included in the app when ordering.

Back down on the street, I sighed. I wished I could stop for the night. I was tired, utterly sick of the damn rain, and hadn’t eaten in several hours. The sun had already set enough to make the streetlights come on along the sidewalks. I rolled the bike a few feet away from the lingering crowd and headed off to my next pick-up.

People swarmed the streets, most of them club hoppers. I’d done that years ago but had outgrown it. Random hook-ups in dark corners no longer satisfied me, but in a city this big, I wasn’t sure I’d ever find anyone who would. Most of the people I’d met so far were superficial and vain, perfectly content to spend a night getting laid by one person before moving on to the next.

An order came in, and the GPS piped up to let me know there was a shortcut to the restaurant. Happy to avoid the crowd, I turned down the alley the GPS designated. I ignored the few slumped figures along both sides. I’d learned the hard way a couple of years ago after a mugging not to carry cash. Now I only carried my ID, keys, phone, and a trusty can of mace.

The end of the alley branched left and right. The GPS told me to go left. Just as I started that way, commotion to the right startled me.

A tall, black-clad figure landed feet-first onto the wet pavement and grabbed a man from the ground. The man choked and struggled as the stranger spoke, voice low enough that I couldn’t hear what was said. Whatever it was, though, seemed to terrify the man he held captive.

The stranger growled -- literally growled -- and tore the man’s throat wide open with his fucking teeth.

I nearly wrecked the bike trying to get away. I pedaled as fast as my legs could, and the burn was almost too much. I reached the Chinese restaurant and stuck as close to the building as possible. After a few seconds of struggling to catch my breath, I locked my bike to a lamppost before heading inside.

I had zero doubt that I’d just seen a vampire executing someone. Vamps weren’t unknown, but they tended to keep to themselves. They also weren’t anything like what stories and movies portrayed them to be. Real vampires weren’t undead; they were an entirely different species. Stronger, faster, and far more deadly than any human could ever dream of being.

Safe in the restaurant, I shot a quick glance back out the door. Whatever I’d just witnessed wasn’t my business. Not like cops would do shit anyway. Vamps governed themselves, and the police were scared shitless of them.

Pushing it out of my mind for now, I shuddered and headed to the counter. Ten minutes later, I was on my way to the drop-off point. Despite needing the money, I ended my shift after handing over the food. Just before I left the area, though, I caught sight of the stranger from the alley. Those eyes locked onto mine.

Hopping onto the bike, I made a beeline for my tiny efficiency apartment. It wasn’t much, but it had a wonderfully huge deadbolt on the door.

I leaned back against the door as soon as I locked it. Eyes closed, I tried to get rid of the images from the alley. It wasn’t the first crime I’d seen in this damned city, but it was definitely the first time a vampire had been involved. At least that I knew of, at any rate.

“Get a grip, Cam,” I muttered. “Not the first, won’t be the last.”

I pushed off the door and tossed my keys onto the narrow bar separating the kitchenette from the living area. I couldn’t even call it an actual room, really. The only true room was the bathroom, and even that was about the size of a small walk-in closet. Overall, the place wasn’t much, but it was home and, to be honest, all I could afford.

Before I could contemplate dinner or a shower, my grumbling stomach made up its own mind. A quick glance in the fridge, and then the freezer, reminded me that I needed to hit the store down the block sooner rather than later. I didn’t cook, despite knowing how to, since it was just me here. Most of my meals tended to be sandwiches or frozen dinners, or, if money allowed, something quick while I was working. Tonight, though, peanut butter and jelly would have to do.

A few minutes later, I settled onto the futon that doubled as my bed and watched the news on my only splurge: a smart TV. I nibbled on my meager dinner as one report after another went on. I popped the last bite into my mouth, only to nearly choke on it.

The same dark-clad figure I’d seen in the alley was positioned behind one of the head vamps in the city during a news conference that, according to the info at the bottom of the screen, occurred earlier today. The muscle-bound watchdog stood ready to spring to action at the slightest hint of trouble.

Pitch black hair hung over broad shoulders, and the man’s five-o’clock shadow covered a stern, tight jawline. Eyes that looked almost as black as his hair seemed to scan the entire room. Though he kept his hands behind him, I could imagine those strong arms tensing. And he was tall. Jesus, he was fucking tall. Even more than the vampire in front of him. A morbid desire to stare up into those insanely dark eyes swept through me.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Bad thoughts. Bad thoughts. Vamps are fucking trouble.”

I changed the channel and found a nature documentary instead. Maybe watching meerkats would cleanse my brain of insane ideas like wanting to unwrap all those muscles.

Gods, I was nuts.

Purchase at Changeling Press

Meet the Author

Mychael Black has been writing professionally since 2005. He writes gay romance and erotica, but also het romance as Carys Seraphine and queer fantasy as Katherine Cook. He's an avid PC gamer with a love for RPGs, a horror fanatic, and a fantasy nut. He also has a weakness for anything relating to skulls, dogs, and Spongebob Squarepants. Mychael lives on the Eastern Shore of the US with his family. He loves to hear from readers, be it via email or Facebook.

Website | Facebook

Giveaway

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


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Friday, July 11, 2025

Blog Tour Stop/Giveaway: Theirs Until Always by Mae K. Knight



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mae K. Knight will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Adam:

Men like me don’t get happy endings.
When my demons talk to me, I talk back.
I heeded their call when they demanded my parents’ death.
I even listened when they ordered my own.
And they nearly won.
Until her.
One night changed my life. Then I lost it all. I lost her.
Now, I’ll do anything to get my sunshine back.
But can a sinner like me be willing to share after learning I’m not the only one craving her light?

Jordyn:

When a man shows you his red flags, run.
But running from Adam is easier said than done.
When he re-enters my life, my world implodes with the secrets he’s keeping.
Can I forgive him and learn to live in his shadows? To be the light he thinks I am?
Or will his darkness consume me?

Abel:

Witnessing your twin nearly die, hardens something in you.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Adam breathing.
As kids, he’d protected me, even though that was my job as the older brother.
Now, it’s my turn to protect him.
You can run little sunshine, but you won’t get far.
If Jordyn’s what my brother needs to keep his demons at bay, then I’ll claim her for us.
She’ll be ours, always.


Read an Excerpt

Stars and moonlight shine down on me, competing with the lights escaping the inside of the club I’m approaching, heels clicking over concrete. I don’t linger outside or make eye contact with anyone, my skin tight with apprehension. A white gossamer dress shifts against my skin, tightening my nipples. The hem stops above my knees, the back remains open, and a deep vee allows the cool night air to kiss my chest.

In a word, I look hot.

Eat your heart out, Adam, I think as I smile graciously at the bouncer who allows me entry. Initially, I stand at the threshold, roaming my eyes over the press of bodies gyrating under moving lights before stepping forward. I know Adam wouldn’t be found among them, so I squeeze my way onward, offering apologies along the way, catching a hint of blond hair in the back of the club, in the VIP section.

Of course.

It begs the question once more of what exactly he does for a living.

When I stop before another bouncer, he turns his thick neck behind him, eyes landing on Adam, who gives him a nod, rising out of his seat. The rope lifts, and I’m waved through. Stepping forward, my heels sink into plush carpet as I meet Adam halfway down the row of tables, his arms banding around my waist to pull me into him.

About the Author Mae K. Knight is a self-published author based in Louisiana, who enjoys writing “trauma boys” as her readers coined them, BIPOC FMCs that look like her and fast, smutty stories that leave you craving for more. When not writing, she’s reading monster romances penned by her fellow indie authors, studying for her nursing degree, or lifting heavy weights in the gym to feel like a bad bitch on a competition platform.

If you want to read more of her work, check out her website: https://maeknight.carrd.co, buy signed paperbacks directly from her: https://mackandmae.shop or go directly to her Amazon page for her KU titles: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mae-K.-Knight/author/B0D3674KWR. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560507610143
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49729390.Mae_K_Knight
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@maek.knight
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maek_knight

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Release Day Blitz: Dragon Forged by Donna Grant

 


Dragon Forged by Donna Grant
Series: Dragon Kings Book 10
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary romance
Release Date: July 8th, 2025

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 King series.

 


BUY LINKS:

DG SIGNED HC → https://dgrant.co/3HhTBi3

DG SIGNED PB → https://dgrant.co/DForged

DG Store ebook → https://dgrant.co/DForged

Kindle → https://amzn.to/4aiGbNk

Nook → https://dgrant.co/3DVBxZk

Nook Audio → https://dgrant.co/3RobPQR

Apple → https://apple.co/4ae6dB3

Kobo → https://dgrant.co/4gPdSYZ

Kobo audio → https://dgrant.co/3E1HhAF

Google → https://dgrant.co/42c0Q3l

Audiobooks → https://dgrant.co/4jfEW5m

Tantor → https://dgrant.co/4j3jgcT

 


 


Saturday, July 5, 2025

Talking with Kelli A. Wilkins

 


8 Easy Questions for Author Kelli A. Wilkins (Part 1)

www.kelliwilkins.com

1. Greetings! We’re glad to get this chance to catch up with you. Let’s start with the basics. Why don’t you introduce yourself to readers who may not be familiar with your books?

Sure! My name is Kelli A. Wilkins and I write romance novels and horror/mystery stories. My unique romances cover nearly every subgenre (contemporary, fantasy, gay, historical, mystery, and paranormal) and vary in heat level from mild to super-spicy. My horror and mysteries tend to be more psychological/spooky instead of gory. Halloween is my favorite holiday and many of my short stories are set in October. I like to say that I write something for everyone.

2. Let’s focus on your romances for the first four questions of this interview and save your spooky stuff for Part Two. You certainly have an impressive title list, and according to your website, you’ve recently released your 24th romance. Can you tell readers about it?


For Love’s Sake
is an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure. The book 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. Here’s the book summary and buy link:

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 it here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/romance/for-loves-sake

3. That sounds very appealing to romance readers or anyone who enjoys a good story. What did you like best (and least) about writing it?

I loved creating the characters and getting them into (and out of) their harrowing situations. Although the love story is central to the plot, For Love’s Sake is more than a romance, it’s also an epic 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. The book is filled with lies, deception, sadness, secrets, jealousy, revenge, regret, and love in all its forms. It was a lot of fun to write.

However, because there’s so much going on, this is a long book! It comes in at 86,000 words and took more than a year to write, edit, revise, and proofread. I did four rounds of edits/revisions to get the story the way I wanted it (and I even cut several scenes). Doing the final edit and proofread was my least favorite part of creating the book, but I’m happy with the finished product, and I think it’s a great, engaging read.

4. You write romances in nearly every subgenre, and your two other most recent romance releases are very different from For Love’s Sake. How did they come about? How do you switch from one genre to another so easily?

When I get an idea for a story I go where it takes me, regardless of the genre. The plot and characters dictate the setting and genre for me, and from there I just write. Every story needs the same basic elements: a believable plot, realistic characters, a detailed setting, and good dialog. Once you have the foundation down, you can write just about anything. (And if you can really write, you won’t have to fall back on AI or other computer-generated writing programs.)


My two recent releases are both contemporary stories, but are very different. In 2024, I released A Thousand Summer Secrets, a gay romance that takes place over a long summer weekend. Here’s the summary and link:

A Thousand Summer Secrets

You can’t outrun your past…

Ten years after being disowned by his family for being gay, Eric Warren pays a visit to his family’s summer cabin. It’s his last attempt at reconciliation before moving on. But a surprise from the past is waiting for him.

Eric’s intolerant brother, Jamey, has several friends staying at the cabin for the weekend, including Matt, Eric’s boyhood friend and secret crush. The years haven’t faded their mutual attraction, and they quickly reconnect. But Eric is hesitant to get romantically involved. He’s emotionally broken and scarred from his traumatic past.

As Matt tries to help Eric, Jamey goes out of his way to sabotage his brother. And when the weekend events take a disastrous turn, Eric finds himself at a crossroads.

Should he follow his search for love and acceptance with Matt? Or leave the past behind forever?

Order it here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/thousand-summer-secrets

There’s lots of heartache, drama, love, and lies as the characters come to terms with who they are and what they want out of life.


In Another World
was released in 2023 and got several excellent reviews. This contemporary romance blends a murder mystery with the world of the paranormal. Here’s the summary and link:

In Another World

A Paranormal Mystery/Romance Novel

Disgraced psychic medium Julie Kershaw has finally met her soul mate. The problem is he’s dead… and his spirit haunts the car she just bought.

The spirit of Detective Eddie Mahoney is determined to find his killer and needs Julie’s help. At first, she refuses. She’s tired of being called crazy and swore she’d never use her abilities to speak to the dead again—even if Eddie is handsome and charming.

Eddie persuades Julie to contact his former partner, Lou Kaplonski, to ask him to reopen his case. Skeptical, Lou dismisses Julie as a fake—until she proves she can communicate with the dead—and he finds out Eddie has a lot to say.

Julie channels Eddie’s spirit and together with Lou, the unusual trio tracks down leads and follows clues to solve Eddie’s murder. The case takes them down a dark and dangerous path filled with secrets, where nobody can be trusted.

As they work to find his killer, Julie falls for Eddie. Funny, smart, and sexy, Eddie is the guy of her dreams—and he doesn’t look or act the least bit dead. To her surprise, Eddie discovers a clever way they can be together, and they begin an ethereal romance.

When Lou’s investigation brings him too close to the killer, his life and Julie’s are put in danger—and Eddie may be the only one who can save them.

Order your copy and read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/in-another-world

In Another World is one of my favorite books. It’s a blend of mystery, sensual romance, humor, and even includes a bit of sadness and regret.

This was the first book I wrote where the mystery/police procedural investigation was central to the story. (My historical romance Dangerous Indenture has a mystery sub-plot, but this was full-on.) I had to make sure I got all the details right and kept the love story moving alongside the investigation.

It was also the first time I wrote a romance where the hero is dead and can only be seen or heard by his psychic medium girlfriend. That made writing certain scenes interesting, because sometimes people think Julie’s crazy and talking to herself when she’s actually talking to Eddie. I loved writing this book and I’m sure readers will enjoy it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about your romances and answering the first four of the “Easy 8” questions. Next time, we’ll focus on your horror and mystery stories. Part Two of this interview will be continued in our next blog. Any closing words?

This was fun! I welcome comments and questions from readers and other authors. Be sure to follow my blog https://www.kelliwilkins.com/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 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 www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.

 

Friday, July 4, 2025

New Book Spotlight/Book Review: My Grandmother's Secret by Laura Sweeney

 


My Grandmother's Secret
Series: Dovecote Cottages Book 1
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
WWII Historical Fiction/Women's Fiction

Buy Link:

Grace stares at the glittering blue sea from her grandmother’s bedroom, clutching an old envelope to her chest with shaking hands. This will change everything she believed about her grandmother…


After her marriage ends, Grace returns to her late grandmother Lily’s seaside cottage in the beautiful village of Dovecote. The path to the house is lined with daisy bushes, and Grace immediately feels like she’s returned home. Surely spending time here will heal her heart?

Clearing out the chest of drawers in her grandmother’s bedroom, Grace discovers romantic letters from the Second World War, each signed ‘Henri’. Lily shared everything with Grace, so why doesn’t she recognise his name? Hidden amongst the letters is a sealed envelope, addressed in Lily’s hand. But what stopped her from sending it?

Desperate for answers, Grace asks the one person she knows can help, her ex-boyfriend and historian, James. His charming smile and kind, brown eyes are a welcome distraction from her grief, and they agree to find out what happened to Henri. As they begin to spend more time together, Grace wonders if years of heartache could be unwritten…

But just as Grace’s feelings for James resurface, they uncover a heartbreaking secret that changes everything. Could these letters be a sign Grace needs to take a second chance on love? Or will Lily’s past force Grace to confront a secret of her own, which could tear her and James apart forever?

An utterly gripping, emotional and uplifting read about family secrets and second chances. Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe will absolutely adore this tear-jerker.

My Review:

My Grandmother's Secret was an interesting story and one that had a dual storyline which was interesting. This author did a great job in keeping both stories moving along in a fashion where the reader didn't get confused over whose voice and POV was talking within the story. This was the first time I read one of this author's books and I am looking forward to seeing what else of theirs will tickle my imagination.

It did take me awhile to warm up to Grace and her grandmother, Lily, initially. I kept at it as the story was intriguing but be prepared to shed a few tears at times. The way the author crafted intriguing and complex characters was interesting as well and the cast of characters was so different from one another that they kept my interest after chapter 2. 

If you enjoy historical fiction/contemporary WWII stories, then you might want to try this one. My Grandmother's Secret was a complex storyline filled with a few twists I didn't see coming and a setting that just fairly jumped off the pages into my living room. 


Author Bio:


Laura writes uplifting escapist women’s fiction with heart and a dash of humour. She was born in Ireland and spent parts of her childhood in France and South Africa. Laura now lives in the south-west of England, where she works in Financial Services, and is locked in a constant battle against her ever-growing to-be-read pile.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Laura Sweeney here: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/laura-sweeney/

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Thursday, July 3, 2025

 



🌅 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐘 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 🌅
From @britneykingauthor bestselling author of The Social Affair and The Secretary

𝐀 𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧.
𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝.


📖 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦?
This one 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 harder. Hits 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳.
And when she turns the tables—he won’t see it coming.

𝐈𝐟 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥 𝙊𝙗𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝—𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭.
Luxury. Lies. Power plays that hit like a punch to the throat.

💣 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞:
✔ Dark obsession behind locked doors
✔ Psychological power games
✔ Seductive, savage storytelling
✔ One woman you’ll never forget

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲.
👇 Get pulled in. No turning back.

👉 Download instantly → https://readerlinks.com/l/4859713
📘 Grab the print edition → https://readerlinks.com/l/4774824
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👁 Four chapters. Thrills galore. → https://readerlinks.com/l/4872658

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Wednesday, July 2, 2025

New Book Spotlight Tour/Giveaway: The Heartbeats of Aloha by Brooke Gilbert

The Heartbeats of Aloha
Brooke Gilbert
(Under the Hawaiian Stars)
Publication date: July 1st 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮, 𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧?

Reef has been in love with Luna since they were kids. As a secret romance novelist, he pours his unrequited feelings into his books, reliving their love on the page. But when Luna’s uncle proposes a fake relationship to thwart a stunt her PR wants to pull, Reef’s wildest dreams and worst fears are about to collide.

Luna never stopped loving Reef, even when she broke his heart to protect him. Music became her refuge, but fame brought unexpected complications. Now, fate has brought them back together, but the demons of their past threaten to consume them both.

As Reef and Luna navigate their rekindled feelings amidst a whirlwind of secrets, heartache, and desire, they’ll discover that sometimes reality is even more extraordinary than fiction. When their truths come to light, will their love survive, or will they wish they’d left the past buried in the sands of time?

The Heartbeats of Aloha is a poignant, swoon-worthy standalone in the International Soulmate series. Immerse yourself in:

  • A heart-melting second chance romance
  • The lush, tropical beauty of Hawaii
  • A fake relationship that feels all too real
  • Deep, nuanced portrayals of mental health and disability
  • Unforgettable characters, including an adorable canine companion

If you love emotional journeys filled with tender moments, sizzling chemistry, and the healing power of love, then Brooke Gilbert’s moving story is a must-read.

Let the rhythm of the islands guide you to your next great romance. Grab The Heartbeats of Aloha today and lose yourself in Reef and Luna’s unforgettable love story!

Content note: This book contains discussions of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

As soon as the doors closed, I turned to her. “Luna,” I breathed. I didn’t know what to do, but I was being drawn to her, the tether from earlier pulling at me even harder. I placed my hands on either side of her hips, grabbing the cold railing with everything I had, desperate to be close to her.

Then I leaned into her slightly. “He’s just an idiot who’s upset he lost the best thing he’s ever had. Nothing in the world could make me want to ‘return’ you. If you were mine, I’d do anything to keep you.”

Her eyes became even glossier as they drifted up to meet mine. “You don’t even know what it is.” She looked away. “I didn’t think I needed to tell you since this is all . . .”

“This is all what?” I asked her more pointedly. Her lips parted, but she said nothing. I could see the ghost of the word ‘fake’ on them. I gripped the railing tighter. “I never wanted any of this to be pretend. Not one second of it has been for me. Has it been for you?”

She shook her head methodically, as if knowing what she was unleashing, and my lips curved upward at her response. Especially when her body gravitated toward mine like she couldn’t stand to be apart.

I started to remove my glasses, knowing this was the first time my feelings and intentions would be on full display for her. The first time, nothing would be covered up under the guise of Louis’ plan.

“Luna, why did you write One More Hour? Was what you said on stage true?” I asked with urgency.

But her face said it all. I didn’t need the words her lips mouthed so sensually . . .“Yes . . . It was you I wanted. I’ve always wanted you. I still do.”

As I went to pull off my glasses, she stopped me, shaking her head emphatically. I felt like a dork, with the goofiest grin on display.

“What? You want me to keep them on? I was trying to look less like a nerd.” I laughed nervously as I leaned even closer to her, my hands clutching the railing beside her.

“Yes, they have to stay on. It’s required.” But she was only halfway teasing, and I loved it. “Do you know how many fantasies I’ve had about this?”

“No, why don’t you tell me?” I began coyly.

“Enough to have a bet with myself about how fast I can fog them up.” She smirked.

“Oh, I’m seeing the appeal now. Maybe this nerd thing can have some perks,” I mumbled. But all my cockiness left me as I became overwhelmed by her. Especially as she reached up for the collar of my dress shirt and tugged me toward her. The smell of the plumeria flower in her hair and the scent of Luna overcoming any hesitation. I wanted to bottle her scent along with this moment.

Our faces were only inches apart, warmth radiating between us. And I was ready to close any of the distance between us. Need taking over in a way I’d never known, when she breathed out, “Why didn’t you ever kiss me?”

“I couldn’t tell if you wanted me to.” A pain twisted at her cheeks with my words.

There was a hard tug on my shirt collar. A very clear sign of her want. And with that, all space and time vanished. It was just her lips on mine as I leaned into every part of her. Every part I knew intimately and loved . . . all of her. Allowing myself to taste her for the very first time.

I pulled back suddenly, and her eyes looked simultaneously confused and incredibly disappointed.

“Wait,” I interjected, and her face fell. I pushed off of the handrails and moved toward the elevator pad. Quickly, I pulled the emergency button, halting the elevator.

“Reef, you can’t do that.” Her eyes flashed with mixed amusement and sheer concern.

With a confidence I didn’t know I possessed, I strode back over to her. “Oh, but I think I already did.” I readjusted my glasses to look at her, the ones that were already fogged up. “Now, where were we?”

She laughed as my hands slid around the back of her thighs to pick her up, gently propping her against the elevator railing. Her legs seamlessly wrapped around me like they were always meant to be there.

“Oh yeah, here.” The words tumbled out of me.

Luna only laughed harder and then raked her hands upward through my hair, pulling me in with more force this time. I met her heady passion with a strong desire of my own this time. But I was becoming increasingly aware that I had kind of cornered her. And what started out feeling sexy now felt like it could cause anxiety. And that’s the last thing I ever wanted. I spun us around, effectively swapping our positions, hoping to give her more space and control. I was absolutely fine with her cornering me.

Luna looked at me and her legs squeezed even tighter around me as her fingers dug deeper. Sending shockwaves through my scalp and back. I guess I’d made the right call. Especially when her lips melted over mine and then started roaming, making use of my neck in ways no one had ever properly done before. I had gotten everything wrong in my novels. No kiss I wrote could ever compare to this. I was going to need to make a few revisions.

“Miss!” the intercom burst forth from the elevator speaker. We looked at each other with wide eyes. “Miss, please disentangle yourself and step away from the gentleman.” I started laughing and Luna gave me a look that said it wasn’t funny. “We’re going to be overriding the elevator panel and resuming normal functions as soon as . . . you . . . huh hmm . . . Remove yourself.”

But Luna just stayed glued to me, like a scared monkey. Her face was a mixture of shock and embarrassment. “Ma’am,” the booming voice rang out, “Please don’t make me call security.”

“Yeah, stop mauling me, Luna. Geez.” Now she was laughing, too, as I helped her stand beside me. She seemed as off balance as I felt. Her knees even buckled at the point of contact with the floor. With a sly smile, I pointed to the other corner of the elevator. “You better go over there, just to be safe.”

She just shoved me lightly, like when we were kids, and the elevator started moving. The booming voice thanked us for our ‘cooperation,’ no matter how unenthusiastically we had complied with the request. And then Luna’s long, petite fingers found their way in between mine. A peaceful reverberation echoing throughout my body when she did. She was like that first cool breeze coming off the ocean at the end of the hottest day. She was my happy place. Everything that made our island special, she encompassed it all so well. The heartbeats of this place were the people. The heartbeats were her.

My eyes dared to glance over at her, and the intimacy of this moment changed me. I would never look at love the same way. She had just cracked something wide open inside of me. Right at the place that had been scarred so many years ago, and then forever placed herself inside it.


Author Bio:

Brooke Gilbert is a Tennessee native, a microbiology graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a border collie mom. She is, as you may have already guessed, a hopeless romantic and a lover of Jane Austen. When she isn’t writing, she works as a jewelry designer, an audiobook narrator, and a graphic designer. Her writing features characters with autoimmune disorders, something she deals with herself. She believes it is important for these types of characters to be seen in modern literature and started writing so she could see someone like herself in literature. She is considered a medical mystery and has several rare autoimmune disorders. These disorders caused her to withdraw from Physician Assistant School, but she is happy to be pursuing her dreams of designing, creating, and writing. She thanks God for leading her heart on this new path and recites “perhaps this is the moment for which you were created” in times of doubt (Esther 4:14).

She loves watching classic films (thrillers and romantic comedies, too), reading, playing the ukulele, painting, dancing, Pilates, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. One of her favorite quotes is from Flashdance: “When you give up on your dreams, you die.” She believes that if you’re waiting to pursue your dreams, stop waiting and start doing. Your time is now. And may you never stop being a hopeless romantic. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a very good quality. She’s still looking for her Mr. Darcy. Visit brookegilbertauthor.com to connect and stay updated on her latest projects.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok


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