Title: Your Priceless Advice
Author: Celeste Castro
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 08/11/2026
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Female/Female
Length: 304
Genre: Contemporary, contemporary, romance, sapphic, soulmates, small town, conflict of interest, workplace romance, social justice, school setting, BIPOC, anxiety attacks
Description
Sophie Turner, an equity consultant and former high-powered attorney, is used to standing up for those who need a powerful advocate on their side. When it comes to her own self-interests, that’s a different story. When Sophie takes on a new client—helping an elementary school in a conservative, rural state work through an open display of racism—she’s ready for battle. Complicating things is Sophie attended this school thirty years ago, and she hadn’t counted on coming face-to-face with her past.
Benita Carlos, a teacher at the school, puts her career on the line in supporting her students in their stand against racism. When their new equity consultant turns out to be one of the most influential people of Benita’s past—and her first crush—everything becomes much more difficult. It’s preposterous to think that after so many years they’d still have anything in common. But Sophie and Benita’s intense connection rekindles and heads toward a conflict of interest, risking the well-being of students, families, and their community.
Sophie and Benita take on external pressures and professional hurdles, while wrestling with hardships from their past. Their shared journey hints at the promise of something more, but will their past issues and outside forces drive them apart?
Excerpt
Your Priceless Advice
Celeste Castro © 2026
All Rights Reserved
“Reservation under Sophie Turner,” Sophie said as she approached the restaurant host. She balanced her cell phone in one hand, her purse over her shoulder, and her laptop bag slung over the other arm.
“For two?”
“Correct. He’s on his way.”
“Of course. Right this way.” The host walked her to the table.
“Thank you,” Sophie said as she settled in. She welcomed a few moments to herself. She’d just started reading an infuriating article in the Washington Post about a group of elementary school teachers in the state of Idaho who had dressed up as stereotypical portrayals of Mexicans for their school Halloween party, and another group had dressed up as Trump’s border wall. As a Latina herself, this kind of shit pissed her off and fueled her drive to fuck shit up. In Sophie’s line of work as an equity consultant, stories like this weren’t out of the ordinary, unfortunately.
She continued reading, feeling something familiar. “What?” she muttered. “No way.”
Valley View Elementary.
A light flickered in her mind. Sophie had gone to school there. Ages ago. Her family had moved shortly before her freshman year of high school. She caught glimpses of her life way back when and of her childhood best friend. She smiled as she always did when she remembered that time in her life.
Sophie continued reading, shaking her head at the stupidity, and the absurdity—the unapologetic display of racism and the degree to which the administrators defended their staff.
“Was this in poor taste? Sure,” Principal Dennis Wheeler had stated. “Was it done with malicious intent? No.”
Sophie was heartened to read about a small but growing group of teachers, parents, and community members asking for resignations and changes at their school.
What this school needed wouldn’t come about easily or cheaply, not to mention the culture shock shake-up this type of change would require. Sophie wished she could offer her services, but she didn’t have the bandwidth to take on something else this year. She should hire another consultant—yet another to-do on her never-ending list—especially if the work kept coming in at its current pace.
“Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Dad.” Sophie stood and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asked, sitting opposite her.
“Just got here. I was reading about—”
“I ran into a bit of traffic on my way, and parking was a nightmare.”
“Good afternoon,” their waiter said cheerfully, filling their glasses with ice water while another waiter set down a basket of sourdough bread. “It seems your entire party is here. Are you interested in something else to drink besides water?”
“Actually,” her dad said after sipping his water, “there is one more person we’re waiting on.”
“What?” Sophie asked, her chest tightening.
“Surely, I told you.” He tore off a piece of bread and shoved it in his mouth.
“You know you didn’t.”
“What’s one more?” Her dad brushed the crumbs off his fingers.
“This is a table for two. Clearly.”
“Oh, that’s no problem.” Their waiter smiled eagerly, oblivious to the growing friction. “So, one more?”
“One sec. Dad?”
“Odette’s coming.”
Sophie closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “How many times do I have to tell you this is wildly inappropriate? We aren’t together anymore. This isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation. You of all people need to accept that we’re getting a divorce.”
“You’re not divorced yet.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You can work it out, honey. If you really want to.”
“Dad.”
“So, a chair?” the waiter asked through a perfect grin.
“Hold on.” Sophie’s dad raised a finger in the air.
“No chair,” Sophie pleaded.
“No chair?” The waiter eyed them suspiciously.
“It’s not like I planned it. We were talking, and I invited her. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Then you weren’t thinking.” Sophie didn’t usually make it a habit of talking to her dad so boldly, but this warranted it.
He gave her the look, and she dropped her gaze and slumped her shoulders.
“You know she lives in the area. I thought that was why you chose this place. It’s rude not to invite her. What’s the harm?”
“Why are you still talking to each other?”
“You two were together for nine years, Sophie. She’s like a daughter to me.”
“Chair?” The waiter shifted from foot to foot while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Please, another chair would be great,” her dad said, sending the waiter on his way. He returned a short while later with another chair and an additional place setting.
“Fuck’s sake,” Sophie muttered under her breath.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing.”
“You can still be friends with her, Sophie. You can still be decent to each other.”
“Dad, I can’t be friends with an abusive—”
“Stop. Right now.” Her dad shot his hand up so quickly he almost knocked over his glass of water. “You’re being dramatic. You can’t blame Odette for being strong in her convictions.”
Sophie scoffed. “Strong in her convictions? Try verbally abusive, controlling, and manipulative.”
“Okay. Okay. You made your point. Can we move on? Please?”
Sophie placed her hand over her chest, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. A dull pain stabbed behind her eyes. To top it off, Odette arrived at that moment, all swaying hips and smiles, as if the last time they’d talked hadn’t resulted in a screaming match.
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Meet the Author
Celeste Castro is from small-town, rural Idaho, where most of her stories take place. She grew up with learning differences, though she always kept a journal. Her characters are a little like her, completely versed in the art of Chingóna and speaking Spanglish. When she’s not glued to her laptop, Celeste’s digging in her garden, practicing tai chi, or looking for something to deep clean. Celeste currently lives with her wife in Chicago—the best city on Earth!
I lost my heart a long time ago to one woman.
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