HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO KEEP YOUR SECRETS?
After years of living as a lady in the Givensmir court – a life of luxury and opulence – Eve’s past has slowly come back to haunt her. One of secrets and magic that courses through her veins, thought to have been long forgotten.
Now, a princess lies mysteriously dead before her in the great hall.
The eyes of the duplicitous court are everywhere.
And there is nowhere left to hide.
In a realm known for its witch hunts and the ongoing conflict with the Blackthorn, the kingdom of witchcraft across the treacherous Dallise Sea, Eve now finds herself on the wrong side of this war.
Welcome to the tour for The Stone Guardian, a sweet paranormal romance by Gayle Katz!
Stone Guardian: A Sweet Paranormal Gargoyle Romance (Masonry, Magic, and Love Book 1)
Tropes:
– No spice gargoyle shifter romance
– Small town paranormal romance
– Magical library and town
– Different walks of life: human librarian meets cursed gargoyle hiding from his evil witch
– Also love interest in jeopardy!
– Self-discovery: Main character librarian takes charge of her life by the end of the book
– Noble sacrifice
– Heartwarming happily-ever-after ending
Gargoyles are immovable statues of stone. Lifeless, the librarian thought, until one of them takes flight to save her from an untimely demise.
A kindhearted but lonely librarian. Nancy is drowning under the weight of an abusive boyfriend, failing grades, and looming unemployment. While at work, she confides her deepest, darkest secrets to the gargoyle perched near her desk. But sheās unprepared when the strange stone statue comes to life.
A gentle gargoyle born under a curse. Treyton canāt believe it. In the past century that heās been guarding the beloved Victorian library he calls home, the lonesome man never had anyone notice him until now. And heās enchanted by the beautiful woman yearning for true love under his watchful gaze. But the witch who gave him life wants him back. And sheās willing to kill anyone who stands in her way.
As his vile witch plots against them, will Nancy and Treyton be torn apart forever, or can they overcome the evil threatening their love ā and their lives?
We’re thrilled to present the cover for the next book in The Unchained series, Never Bound by Everly Claire!
Never Bound (The Unchained) Expected Publication Date: April 25, 2025 Genre: Dark Dystopian/Forbidden Romance šEnemies to Lovers š Who did this to you? (Her to HIM!) š Dark dystopian world š Rich, naive good girl x her dad literally OWNS him! š„ Whips & chains & cuffs, oh my (mostly the bad kind š) š°ļø Slow Burn š He has no name, just a number (really!) ā Theyāre literally not allowed to touch! š Touch her & youāre gonna š (twice) š Plotting, scheming, twists and reversals! 773496S6 In an alternate 2025, our world is built on the backs of slaves. Louisa is the daughter of the enemy who’s become my master, and I’m not even allowed to look at her, let alone touch her. But I’ve already done way more than that. By day, they make me scrub floors and weed the garden. By night, I ignite her in dark basements and secret rooms. She used to think slaves weren’t people, but Iāve opened her eyes to the horror of her world, and thereās no going back. But Iām here on a mission to find my sister. And Louisa is about to discover that when I charmed my way into her bed, it wasnāt just because I wanted her. It was because I wanted something from her. But now? I do want her. Forever, preferably. But the world thinks I belong in a cage, and Iāve got new enemies determined to put me in one. Theyāre plotting to blow our secret right out of the water. In this snake pit, neither of us knows who to trust. But when they go after Louisa, I’ll prove that even though Iām a slave, she belongs to me in every way that matters — even if it costs me everything I’ve fought for. NEVER BOUND, book 2 in a dark dystopian forbidden romance series THE UNCHAINED, picks up where Never Broken left off. The books must be read in order. Never Bound ends on a hard cliffhanger and picks up in Never Lost, scheduled for release in summer 2025. Together, all three books form a complete arc with a guaranteed HEA.
We’re honored to present this beautiful cover for upcoming release, The Knowing Witch by M.M. Parks!
The Knowing Witch (Omnis Book 1)
Expected Publication Date: June 20, 2025
Genre: Dark Romantic Fantasy
*Second chance
*Forbidden love
*Lovers to enemies
*Smart FMC
*Morally grey MMC
*Based on Greek mythology
*Witches & daemons
A dark giftā¦
Ena prides herself on being one of the most talented witches in her Coven. She does what is expected of her and stays on her path, serving her goddess and maintaining the balance of life and death. On her twenty-seventh birthday, like all witches, Ena is gifted a magical power from her goddess, only to find that her Gift is dangerous and forbidden.
A broken heartā¦
Ena wrestles with her uncertain future with the Coven as she struggles to overcome a painful heartbreak from her past. Can she finally put it behind her and move on?
A dangerous schemeā¦
When three strange men show up searching for something in her village, she gets dragged into their schemes. Old wounds are reopened, and Ena begins to question what she knows as she is tempted further and further from the path before her, towards the unknown.
The Knowing Witch is the first book in the Omnis series, a brand new 18+ dark fantasy romance series with second chance, enemies-to-lovers romance, a unique nature-centric magic system, and distinctive world-building perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, From Blood and Ash, and the Broken Kingdoms series.
Magic, history, ancient artifacts, and yes, romance. You’ll find it all in S.C. Grayson’s new release, Monsters in the Museum!
Monsters in the Museum: A Contemporary Fantasy Romance (Defenders of the Light Book 1)
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Secret Societies
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Dual Timeline
Star-crossed Lovers
Magical Artifacts
Greek mythology
Academia Setting
A hidden world of magic lurks in the shadows of history.
Nora is gunning for a promotion at The Chicago Field Museum. The discovery of two ancient Greek weapons unlike any sheās seen before might be her big breakābut the artifacts are more than they seem, and the secrets they hold could upend Noraās world completely.
Trying to uncover their history, Nora enlists the help of professor of ancient languages, Dr. Adam Scott, an undeniably handsome man of intrigue. Nora finds herself drawn to the professor, who seems to be overflowing with charmāand secrets. Trying to uncover what heās hiding, Nora discovers that Adam is actually an immortal sorcerer and a member of a secret society that has been in hiding since the days of the Greek Empire.
When Noraās work draws the attention of the Shadow, a powerful force that feeds off fear and negative emotions, she finds herself thrust into a perilous world of myths and monsters. Complicating things further is her undeniable desire for Adam and the feeling that he may be concealing more than his status as an immortal sorcerer. Now itās not just Noraās job on the line as she races to uncover the mysteries of the pastāitās her life.
This book was previously published under the title Spears and Shadows. This new version has significant additions and has been freshly edited to provide an expanded story and enhanced reading experience.
Itās cover reveal day for Arrow of Fortune! Book 3 of the Raiders of the Arcana series is perfect for readers itching for a historical fantasy adventure packed with magical artifacts, real history, witty banter, slow burn romance, dastardly villains, and all The Mummy vibes.
This time, Ellie and Adam are off to India to keep the most dangerous artifact of the Ramayana from falling into the wrong hands. But of course, theyāre also bringing along her haplessly academic stepbrother, Dr. Neil Fairfax, and her danger-loving bestie, Constance Tyrrell.
Expect haunted forests, sprawling royal palaces, a highly excitable dog, new lessons in practical chemistry, a shocking lack of shirts, and more than a few monstersāincluding the kind that walk around on two legs.
Arrow of Fortune is coming later in 2025. Sign up for Jacquelynās newsletter to be notified when preorders are available.Ā
Music says things words never can. I love you. I miss you. Iām sorry I killed you.
Every night, Ceridwen Kinsley plays music on her rooftop for the spirit of her dead mother. A peaceful if odd ritual, until she witnesses a murder by something not quite human. The monstrous encounter earns her notoriety within the city and a visit from the reclusive Lord Protector Drystan Winterbourne.
Charged with protecting the backwater city of Teneboure by the king, Drystan is failing at his task, and he canāt afford another slip up. But when fate and the very monster he means to conquer bring Ceridwen to his notice, he seizes the opportunity and presents her with an offer: play music for him at his manor in exchange for the money her impoverished family desperately needs. Music eases the strain of his magic, and who better to hire than the woman whose tunes he secretly listens to at night?
At first, Ceridwen is put off by Drystanās unkempt appearance and harsh demeanor, not to mention the odd ailment that plagues him. But as he embraces her passion for music and she draws the recluse out of his lonely tower, the two develop an unlikely attachment. Class lines begin to blur as fearful indifference shifts to unexpected desire, and Ceridwen yearns to help Drystan subdue the monster as well as provide for her family. However, the monster prowling the night isnāt their only enemy, and as terrible secrets come to light, protecting those they love may risk their lives and their hearts.
This retelling of Beauty and the Beast incorporates themes and motifs from Phantom of the Opera, and is set in a gaslamp fantasy world with strong gothic vibes. It should appeal to fans of romantic and atmospheric retellings and fairy tales by authors such as Hannah Whitten, Tessonja Odette, and Stephanie Garber.
We’re thrilled to present the cover for A Fate Drawn to Flame by Skylark Melody. Pre-order a copy today!
A Fate Drawn to Flame (Realm of The Halo Book 1)
Expected Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Genre: Romantasy
ā¢ A dark, slow burn epic fantasy romance and a bit of spice.
ā¢ A unique premise and delicious angst with a genre-blending, multi-layered plot.
ā¢ A soft but confident FMC and a strong but conflicted MMC.
MORE TO LOVE:
Found family
Fated mates
She falls first/he falls harder
A Fate Drawn to Flame is the first book of the Realm of The Halo series and ends with a satisfying cliffhanger.
Is their love fated in forever, or will it be the beginning of the end?
Marked by a life of tragedy and sorrow, Araxia Arevinās search for a new start begins with a harrowing accident in a place filled with old memories and ancient mysteries.
While she recovers, Arax meets the mercurial Konstantine. Cold and harsh, he wants nothing to do with her, but she is drawn to him.
Who is this man? What is this place? And why, of all things, does she feel most at peace by his touch?
An alpha meant to rule since birth, Konstantine has had a life filled with political turmoil, betrayal, and loss. To deny himself almost everything for the sake of duty means survival, including keeping the one destined for him from being dragged into the uncertainty of his world
Aggie has reached that ācertain ageā ā in her case, a thousand years or so, give or take a decade. After centuries of bringing kings to their knees, running a small-town cafe isnāt how she imagined her life would pan out. Now, thanks to the machinations of the false vegan from across the road, she risks losing even that.
And just when she thinks things canāt get any worse, along comes her old friend, Babs, in her House-on-chicken-legs, ready to ruffle some feathers with her unique blend of borscht, tough love and alcohol. But everybody has a secret ā the grocer who hides his loneliness behind a cheery smile, the neighbour crippled by debt and grief, and the young woman who jumps at her shadow ā and before Aggie can help anyone else, she has demons of her own to lay to rest.
Can she confront her past to save her future? What is the āVeganā really hiding? Will Babs ever let her have the last word?
Raucous, rowdy, and heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal measures, Babs and Aggie is a magical tale of love, loss and the comfort of a friendship forged through food, laughter and a LOT of slivovica.
Hazel Hitchins is a writer who spends her days having conversations with her imaginary friends, some of which she writes down. She lives in Wales with her normal family, normal(ish) cat, and entirely abnormal laundry pile.
My thoughts: Growing up the one thing I was genuinely terrified of was the Baba Yaga and her house with chicken legs. My mum had read me a story about her and I was terrified that this Eastern European/Russian witch was going to turn up outside my window in the North London suburbs. I don’t know why, but there you go.
However, the Baba Yaga in this story, known as Babs, is a lot less terrifying, although she still has House with its chicken legs, and she is still a powerful witch. She’s come to help her sister in witchery Aggie, aka Black Agnes or Black Annis (from Leicestershire according to English folklore).
Unfortunately for him, ancient sorceresses do not like being bullied. And Babs is here to help Aggie remind him of that. And when they discover the extent of his bullying ways, well, he’s done for. These ladies do not take kindly to his sort at all, calling on some old friends to give them some help to get him gone.
It’s a funny, empowering read, a reminder of the power of women, especially older women, of community, and of how we can stand up to bullies (including the one in the White House, my American chums) and get rid of them. I think I would be ok if this Baba Yaga dropped round with some pierogis and slivovica.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
James Alistair Henryās debut Pagans is a set in an alternative 21st century Britain where Christianity, The Norman Conquest and The Industrial Revolution never happened, but where crimes still need to be solved.
The small, mostly unimportant, island of Britain is inhabited by an uneasy alliance of Pagan tribes ā the dominant Saxon East, the beleaguered Celtic West, and an independent Nordic Scotland ā with tensions increasing by the second. Supermarket warpaint sales are at an all-time high, mead abuse shortens the lives of thousands, and social media is abuzz with conspiracy theories suggesting the High Table is putting GPS trackers in the honeycakes.
Amid this febrile atmosphere, a serial killer is on the loose, and the brutal murder of a diplomat from the Celtic West, has drawn the attention of two mismatched police detectives: Detective-Captain Aedith, Saxon daughter of the powerful Earl Lod of Mercia and Inspector Drustan, a heavily tattooed police officer from the Celtic West.
For fans of Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom, Terry Pratchett, Pagans is currently optioned for a major Apple TV series by Media Res (The Morning Show, Pachinko, Extrapolations, Scenes from a Marriage) with a cast announcement due in early 2025.
James Alistair Henry is the writer behind smash hit comedies including Green Wing, Smack the Pony, Bob The Builder, Hey Duggie, Sean the Sheep, cult comedy TV hits Delivery Man (ITV 1), Piglets (ITV 1) andCampus (C4), and who regularly writes for BBC Radio 4.
My thoughts: I thought this was great. Really well written (no surprise considering the author’s other work), clever, funny and entertaining.
Wondering, what if the Normans never bothered conquering Britain and the Saxons carried on ruling, keeping things pretty much as they were. Scotland still a separate country, Wales too. They have technology, but worship the old gods as well as the Christian one (He predates 1066 so still arrived), carrying seaxes (basically a big knife for fighting and also cutting up your dinner) and tribal life.
Once you get to grips with the idea of modern Saxons (I had quite a lot of fun imagining them) and that Britain never did any of the things it has (no Empire here, but plenty of African Brits still as instead empires have risen in Africa and the Middle East that weren’t conquered and oppressed and people still move around).
Then it’s also a crime novel – pairing Saxon detective Aedith with Celtic Inspector Drustan, as the victims are visiting Celts in town for a summit. Lovely political chaos on top of the killing kind.
Aedith has a lot to deal with, her dad’s the Earl of Mercia, which means a lot of people are hoping she messes up, and there’s pressure from him to do well, as he’s got his own schemes and ambitions. She’s also got to deal with the anti-Celtic sentiment, her new partner isn’t exactly subtle with his tattoos and accent.
I was fascinated by all the differences between history as we know it and a potential other version of events, and I love a good crime read, so this was a really good blend of fantasy and police procedural. Can’t wait to see how this develops and how the partnership between Aedith and Drustan continues.
Out now from all the usual places.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for reading and reviewing it, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 