Happy release day to author Krista Luna! Grab your copy of Bound to the Orc Warlord or visit one of our Bookstagram hosts for a change to win a paperback edition!
Bound to the Orc Warlord: A Monster Fantasy Romance (Brides of the Moon Blade Clan Book 1)
Publication Date: April 4th, 2024
Genre: Monster Romance/ PNR
One wish changes my life forever. Now I’ve got an extra-grumpy “married at first sight” orc husband.
Getting caught blowing the whistle on a mob boss isn’t the worst part of my day. No, that would be getting sucked through a portal to Faerie. Or finding out I’m a witch who can fly… very, very badly. Or fighting off a soul-sucking fae who wants to drain me dry.
Or getting stuck in a tree, flashing an orc my hot-pink panties.
Actually, that last one might not be so bad. Dravarr’s scowls highlight his smoldering eyes and sharp cheekbones, and his touch makes me swoon. Especially since he has to hold me all day and night to keep me from floating away.
But the soul-sucking fae come back. And a meddling goddess plays matchmaker and marries me to the grumpy orc warrior! I don’t want to be Dravarr’s wife of duty. How can I become the bride of his heart?
Bound to the Orc Warlord is a steamy fantasy monster romance featuring a grumpy orc warrior who falls hard and a sunshiny heroine ready to soar. Welcome to the Moon Blade Clan, where heart-melting romance, toe-curling steam, magic, and adventure combine into stories you’ll devour.
Krista Luna writes steamy sci-fi & fantasy romance featuring otherworldly warriors and the strong heroines they can’t live without. She loves combining sizzling romance with pulse-pounding adventure.
She wants to leave her readers breathlessly turning the page, eager to see what’s next as danger closes in, but love—and a kick-ass couple—ultimately conquers all.
When she’s not writing, you can find Krista reading or watching her latest sci-fi or fantasy favorite, all while eating chocolate. Because there’s always chocolate.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Tinker Bell, banished from her homeland for doing the unthinkable, selling the hottest drug in Neverland—pixie dust—wants absolution.
Determined to find a way home, Tink doesn’t hesitate to follow the one lead she has, even if that means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his…hook.
Captain Hook believes he’s found a real treasure in Tink. That is, until he recovers from her pixie dust laced kiss with a curse that turns the seas against him. With his ship and reputation at the mercy of raging storms, he tracks down the little minx and demands she remove the curse. Too bad she can’t.
However, the mermaid queen has a solution to both of their problems, if Tink and Hook will work together to retrieve a magical item for her.
As they venture to the mysterious Shrouded Isles to find the priceless treasure, their shared nemesis closes in. However, his wrath is nothing compared to the realization that achieving their goal may mean losing something they never expected to find—each other.
Megan Van Dyke is a fantasy romance author with a love for all things magical and romantic, especially fairytales and anything with a happily ever after. Many of her stories include themes of family (whether born into or found) and a sense of home and belonging, which are important aspects of her life as well. When not writing, Megan loves to spend time with her family, cook, play video games, and explore the great outdoors. Megan currently lives with her family in Florida.
My thoughts: first of all, despite being inspired by Peter Pan, this is not suitable for children, there are sex scenes and adult themes (I have my doubts about J.M. Barrie’s book being for children, but that’s a post for another time).
Set before Pan, this finds Tinker Bell trapped in Neverland, desperate for a way back home, she sold her pixie dust to rescue her cousin Lily from Blackbeard the pirate and his crew, but was banned from the Sylvann Vale without a chance to explain herself.
Now she’s after a magical necklace that Captain Hook has, because the mermaids have agreed a trade that might get her home. But stealing from Hook has consequences too. Kidnapped and forced to accompany him to the mermaid lagoon in the hope of getting a curse lifted, the two find themselves drawn to one another.
Sent on another quest by those same mermaids, they try to resist the attraction but ultimately fail, falling head over wings, and hook, for one another. Blackbeard is on their heels however, and they will have to risk everything to stay alive and together.
This was a fun romp of a read, quite a spicy one too, with pirates and betrayal, lifelong friends and very demanding mermaids. Hook comes across as nowhere near the villain we all think of him as, and Tinker Bell is a kind hearted, brave and loyal pixie. Rather sweet, the love story too.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blogtour, but all opinions remain my own.
Happy release day to author C.L. Qvam! The Spindle of Life trilogy is complete now that Thread of Fortune is here!
Thread of Fortune (Spindle of Life Book 3)
Publication Date: April 2, 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Greek Mythology
✨Star-Crossed Soul Mates
✨Sea Voyage
✨Love & Redemption
✨Emotional Scars
✨Prophecies
✨Touch Him & 💀
✨That’s My Fiancee!
✨Trauma Rep
✨Lore & Mythology
Fate must run its course.
A mother lived again. A sister died for love. Death followed the son, and a twist of fortune they had, when all united as one.
But for Caden, that twist cost everything that mattered and left him alone in Atropos’ clutches. With nothing for comfort but his own seething guilt and anger, Caden is rapidly descending into darkness.
Yet his chilled heart still beats with a flicker of hope that he will see his fated love again, be it in the land of the living or dead.
So when opportunity presents itself, he escapes with the remainder of their group and sets out to brave the Underworld itself, determined to be reunited with Sophie.
But will love find a way? Or will darkness be all that remains when Caden and his crew learn that Maddison might have read the prophecy wrong, that Sophie’s sacrifice might have been for nought, and that the end of Atropos’ reign might very well bring on the Apocalypse?
The fated heirs’ thrilling adventures come to an end in this gripping Spindle of Life finale featuring sea voyages, battles between good and evil, a trip to the Underworld, and star-crossed lovers caught in it all.
Author Notes:
This book contains dark content mostly suitable for upper young adults readers or above. Content warnings can be found on the author’s website. Reader discretion is advised.
British style and spelling is used.
Romance content rating system (RCRS) level: 4 toeing the line of a 5 (fade-to-black with some minor & soft on-page descriptions.)
C. L. Qvam has been lost and found on several occasions, and this time she’s been found by you!
Drawn to everything British and lore infused stories that explore the morally grey, Chase moved across the pond at a young age to write the story in her heart. Since then, the mixed-race, Norwegian author has identified as an English rose and defies the barriers of her first language and dyslexia to write in her preferred language on the daily.
While pieces of her debut trilogy were drafted all over the world, Chase now spends her day writing back home in Norway, living with a very patient boyfriend and furbaby.
To celebrate the upcoming release of the final book in the series on April 8th, we’re taking you back to The Curse of the Crow!
The Curse of The Crow: A Soulmate Romance (The Wicked Kingdom Book 1)
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Hidden Identities
Slow Burn
Delicious Angst
Morally Gray Fae MMC
Burn the World for Each Other
One Bed
Powerful but Awkward FMC
Denied Soul Mates
Destined to love each other. Determined to fight their fate.
Nava Forrest stumbled upon her soulmate when she was young. A brief meeting with a hooded stranger forever bound her to a wicked man she wanted nothing to do with. Running from his dark power, her parents escaped to the non-magical town of Willowbrook to keep her safe.
Now that they are gone, her life raising her younger brother and selling potions to wary townsfolk has been quiet… and magic-free. When the Society of Crows finds Nava, intent on imprisoning her, it forces her to flee to the forest, searching for the only person she was told can protect her.
Arkimedes is not what she expects, and her attraction to him is unnerving. As the chemistry between them grows, so does her power. But the secrets he keeps threatens to tear her world apart. With the Society closing in, it forces them to put aside their differences and fight to escape their oppressors. But will they escape destiny?
Escape to a new magical world in The Curse of the Crow! Action packed, sexy, and perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and C.N. Crawford.
Reader advisory: This book contains mature themes, adult language and intimate scenes.
The Curse of the Crow is the first book in a trilogy, based on the Wicked Kingdom verse.
We’re thrilled to share the cover for upcoming release The Island of Forever by Jeremy Harrison!
The Island of Forever
Expected Publication Date: June 18, 2024
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/LGBTQ+
🌴Coming-of-Age
🌴First Love
🌴Hidden Identity
🌴Chosen One
🌴Friends to Lovers
He’s his own worst enemy—and their only salvation.
Seventeen-year-old Max Greenfell grew up hearing stories about the Island of Forever—a beautiful paradise of intrigue and magic that was once controlled by a destructive shapeshifter who killed everything in his path. When monsters roamed its sandy shores, and the island’s magic began to dwindle, a hero emerged to overcome the evil and restore the land.
But all good stories have an end—and fairy tales are just that—or so he thought.
When a strange storm sweeps through his town, Max finds himself washed upon the shores of the fabled utopia. Faced with bullying and overwhelming anxiety at school, he finds solace in the island’s allure, creating a better reality to confront. But his arrival has disrupted the world’s balance, threatening to unleash the shapeshifter once more.
With help from a snarky merman and a pistol-wielding fairy, Max must embark on a dangerous adventure to ensure the island’s safety. Returning home will be a challenging journey, requiring him to confront his deepest emotions, confide in his closest allies, and survive an encounter with his greatest foe: himself.
How beautiful is this cover?! Alder King Spring by Talia Greer is coming out on April 30th and you can pre-order now!
Alder King Spring (Wild Wanderings Book 2 – Standalone)
Expected Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Shifter Romance
⛈️Grumpy/Sunshine
🌲Small Town Wooded Setting
✨Woodland Magic
🔥Slow Burn
💭Sentient Forest
🏳️🌈Demisexual and Bisexual Rep
🕰️Loose Beauty and the Beast Vibes
📖German Folklore Inspiration
As his curse’s deadline approaches, Kaspar and his beloved enchanted forest stand on the brink of doom.
Deep in the snowy forests of Germany, the Alder King of legend runs short on time. Cursed by a vengeful sorceress for his father’s misdeeds, Kaspar’s desperate quest for the one elusive remedy–love–becomes increasingly dire. Each passing day, his hope dwindles, for who could ever see past his face, marred by the scars of ancient magic?
Eliza Wilson has two missions: write her dissertation, and savor her fleeting days of freedom. Her fiance considers her interests pointless, and while her family loves him, Eliza longs for a deeper connection. With their wedding on the horizon, this research trip is her last chance to indulge her interest in all things mythical.
Though the country house she rents a room in is breathtaking, the surly landlord–who covers his face and seems reluctant to acknowledge her unless they’re discussing literature–soon becomes more fascinating than her research.
As her determination to unravel his secrets brings them closer, Eliza unearths the grim destiny of the ailing king and realizes that she holds the sole key to his salvation–if only he would allow himself to be saved.
Will she make a dutiful return to her indifferent fiancé? Or will she choose the risk of a lifetime and indulge her forbidden attraction to a stubborn and lonely mythical king who refuses her help at every turn?
Perfect for readers of Kathryn Moon and Lillian Lark, Alder King Spring is a dual-POV, full-length paranormal monster romance that draws inspiration from German folklore. It has a guaranteed HEA and features a grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a loose Beauty and the Beast retelling. See author’s website for more detailed content warnings.
Alder King Spring is the second in a series of small town standalones, each set in a different location and season. All books in the Wild Wandering series can be read in any order.
This cover is as dark and beautiful as the story beneath, and we are so excited to share it today!
Scars of His Wrath
Expected Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Genre Dark Romance/ Dark Fantasy
Bound by fate to the man she’s sworn to defy.
Revered for her magical ability, Naya is the most treasured omega in her parents’ empire. Her birth marked the arrival of peace in the land, and her people eagerly await her reign.
But Naya is haunted by a tragedy.
Finding her mate is the key to banishing the shadows plaguing her. Yet no matter how hard she searches, Naya can’t find the one who ignites the profound attraction her mate is destined to arouse.
Then one night, she is stolen.
Akoro, an alpha dominated by vengeance and violence, takes her to a distant land where her powers are useless. A cold-hearted king, he demands she help him conquer her empire.
Naya vows to safeguard her people, but she is horrified when Akoro awakens the primal craving that confirms he is her true mate.
Devastated, she endures his cruelty and growing obsession with her, certain they could never be together.
But Akoro has scars of his own.
His secrets might help her oppose him, but as she digs deeper, the desire between them erupts into an irresistible, heated torment.
Scars of His Wrath is book 1 in a steamy dark romance series set in a dark fantasy world. This book ends in a cliffhanger and contains dark romance situations. Please see author’s note for warnings. For fans of faithful alpha anti-heroes, omegaverse, and captive romances.
Zoey Ellis is a Dark Romance author who unites Epic Fantasy and Omegaverse into intensely primal romances. With her signature blend of high steam, dark angst, and magical worlds, her work satisfies a thriving international community of bold-hearted, antihero lovers.
She lives in London, England, and spends most of her free time with family, collecting pretty fountain pen inks, and wrangling her TBR pile.
We’re celebrating the release of Grave-Reaping Guardian by Everlyn C. Thompson! Read on for more details!
Grave-Reaping Guardian (Grave Reaper Series Book 3)
Publication Date: March 25, 2024
Genre: Urban Fantasy
⭐ Curvy FMC
⭐ Forced Proximity
⭐ Family Found
⭐ One Bed
⭐ Touch Her & ☠
⭐ Fae Guardians
⭐ Surly Vampires
⭐ Homeless Shifters
⭐ Broken Ghosts
⭐ Evil Fae Queen
When the gate between Earth and Fairie blows up and traps Theodora Edwards in the mystical realm, she must work together with her guardian and the dark prince to locate and safeguard a magical key that powers the Light Court. While learning to properly use her fae magic, Theo is forced to fend off an abduction attempt by wraiths, locate a missing castle, tame a dragon king, and have a friendly chat with the dead queen.
But with all of Theo’s efforts going toward protecting those she loves, she struggles to find time to explore the possibility of a romantic relationship—and the insecurities that come with it.
Content Warnings:
The themes and tropes explored in this book include a curvy FMC with low self-esteem regarding her body. If you find self body-shaming triggering, this series probably isn’t for you. If you find the subject of infertility triggering, again, this series probably isn’t for you. The intimate scenes (books 1 & 3) are intended for 18+.
Born and raised on the beautiful Canadian prairies, Everlyn prefers to spend her time outdoors with her family kayaking, skating, fishing, and hunting. She loves reading and writing about vampires, witches, fae and zombies that get to find their own version of happily ever after.
We are thrilled to share the second epic installment in the Heroes of the Empire series, The General by Israh Azizi!
The General (Heroes of the Empire Book 2)
Publication Date: November 2023
Genre: YA Fantasy/ Epic Fantasy
THE EMPIRE IS CRUMBLING, AND THE FATE OF A KINGDOM RESTS IN THEIR HANDS.
Mordon dedicated his life to his father; his only dream was to prove himself worthy of Verin’s general. But with the ruthless Tariqin attack comes a brutal awakening. Captured by enemy forces and dragged into a war camp full of the people he was trained to kill, his hopes of proving himself worthy are dashed to pieces. When the enemy offers him a chance for a grand future, he’s faced with a test that stretches him beyond his limits.
Coralie’s burden has never been heavier. After the Dark Lord Prolus’s recent assault and her uncle’s declining health, it is up to her to keep her kingdom together. The inevitable return of the Tariqin army lurks at their doorstep and her time is running short. Coralie turns to the newest residents of Verintown for assistance. Branded traitors and hated by many in the castle, they may very well be her downfall. Using their pledge for change in her favor, she tasks them with a mission most would consider a death sentence.
Two determined warriors separated by a river of blood. Mordon must risk everything to become the man he yearns to be, and Coralie must fight to become the queen she was born to be.
Israh Azizi resides in the land of ten thousand lakes with her family and five cats. Since she was a little girl she has been a lover of words and fanciful tales. It was her dream to one day share a story of her own with the world. With sheer determination, lots of love, and a decent amount of caffeine, she managed to make that dream come true. Besides reading and writing, she has a dizzying number of hobbies, some of which include bossing around her younger siblings, experimenting with new baking recipes, and playing board games with her family and close friends. When life’s plot twists don’t cross her path and her fingers aren’t dancing across the keyboard building a fantastical adventure, she can usually be found in a quiet corner with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee.
In a small home, built into the branches of a tree, live a human named Victor and three robots. These are a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, a small vacuum desperate for love and attention, and a fatherly inventor-android named Giovanni Lawson. Together they’re a family, hidden and safe. Then Vic salvages an unfamiliar android labelled ‘HAP’. He learns that Hap and Gio share a dark past, where they hunted humans. And Hap unwittingly gives away Gio’s location. Before they know it, robots from Gio’s former life arrive – to capture and return the android to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. The rest of the unconventional family must travel across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning. Or worse, reprogramming. Along the way, Vic must decide if he can handle his feelings for Hap – even if they come with strings attached.
Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful standalone fantasy adventure from the author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.
Special Paperback Feature: This paperback edition includes the beautifully poignant short story ‘Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!’ set in the extraordinary world of In the Lives of Puppets.
TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award winning author of Under the Whispering Door, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, Wolfsong and more. Being queer himself, TJ believes it’s important – now more than ever – to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
My thoughts: this was a slow burn read for me, it took a while to understand the setting and the situation the characters were in. But once I started to understand the life Vic, his friends Nurse Ratched and Rambo (who I loved, if you’re a Wall-E fan, Rambo is Wall-E with a voice) were living in their forest home with Vic’s dad Gio, it’s an enchanting story inspired by Pinocchio, The Wizard of Oz, Top Hat (although my favourite Fred & Ginger film is The Gay Divorcee – it’s pure dancing silliness) and magic. Found family is a huge theme too, as that’s who Vic and Co are, especially when they add Hap to the mix.
After the Authority take Gio away, Vic and his family travel to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue him, and maybe learn a bit about Hap too. They’re kidnapped by the Coachman, who actually isn’t too awful, then have to sneak into the city and find the Blue Fairy.
Much like the original Pinocchio story, this isn’t for children. Bits of it were creepy and scary, and the Blue Fairy is more monstrous than fae.
But it’s message of love, hope and family is strong and together the robots and their boy are able to win against impossible odds and escape to make a new home in the belly of a whale.
Also I need more Nurse Ratched and Rambo stories, I loved them so much, Rambo is the bravest little vacuum cleaner ever and Nurse Ratched is terrifying for all the right reasons – who said robots can’t love to your entrails? They bring so much humour and lightness, much better than Jiminy Cricket.
The short story in the paperback edition – Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! was, if anything, more traumatic and sad. I don’t think the robot utopia is very nice, thank you. Maybe read something cute and fluffy after reading In The Lives of Puppets to recover. But do read it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
