by CJ Holmes Few tropes evoke as much excitement and tension as forbidden romance, especially in paranormal and fantasy stories. Rooted in age-old tales of star-crossed lovers, the allure lies in its dramatic stakes—love that defies rules, risks punishment, and battles against seemingly insurmountable odds. Whether it’s a witch forced to wed her sworn hunter or a mortal artist captivated by a dangerous Fae prince, these relationships resonate because they challenge boundaries, offering a mix of danger, passion, and defiance. In paranormal romance, forbidden love isn’t more than a story element. It’s a reflection of the human experience. It magnifies our desire to belong, even when circumstances conspire against us, and our willingness to take risks for what we value most. These relationships explore the tension between attraction and societal expectations, creating stakes that go beyond mere heartbreak. Every obstacle, whether it’s a magical curse, a clash of kingdoms, or centuries of war, serves as a crucible, forging bonds that are deeply emotional and unforgettable. Humans fall for supernatural beings, rivals are thrust together, or duty and destiny stand in the way, and the tension will leave you on the edge of your seat. Personally, I’ve always been drawn to…

When we purchased our motorhome, we had a wish list of items it had to have. This would be our fulltime residence, so we would be spending a lot of time inside of it. When my husband found this one, a 43-foot 2010 Tiffin Allegra which checked everything on our list, I knew it was the one. Stepping inside this motorhome felt like home. The wooden cabinets and carpentry with cherry finish throughout, the classic style and cream colors to lighten and brighten the rooms were perfect. I admire the craftsmanship that goes into wooden creations. Back in high school when I met my husband, he made beautiful furniture in wood shop. We both enjoy things well made from wood. One day I was showing our new home off to one of my best friends, and she said, “Debra, it’s beautiful. It’s like a yacht.” “A yacht?” I asked, looking around. “Yes,” she nodded. “A land yacht.” I liked that description and have thought of her this way ever since. Yes, like a ship, I think of our motorhome as her. Cruising by land or by sea, can be romantic. This February we will be cruising aboard the inaugural Love…

Book Title: MY LADY MELISENDE Character Name: Her Noble Highness, The Lady Melisende of Merania How would you describe your family or your childhood? My father was one in a long line of Grand Dukes of Merania, and my mother was a princess of Sardinia. She was so beautiful, so graceful, and I remember so little about her, save that she was worried and tired when the fevers came. My sister was the eldest, ten years older than I. There were three boys between us and one more girl, all of them lost to the fevers. That was a terrible season for Merania—so many new graves on the mountainside. Our lives changed after that. Magret and I, as girls, were allowed a great deal of freedom, until we became heirs. Then we were treated like princesses. Townsfolk gathered in the street to watch us ride in our carriage. They gathered in the squares to see us wave from palace windows on feast days. Magret has always been practical and did what must be done. I’m afraid all that attention might have gone a bit to my head. It was splendid to be so admired, for a while. Have you seen…

Book Title: RIDDLE OF SPIRIT AND BONE Characters’ Names: Lydia Strong and Jane Woodfield – cousins Interviewer: I only expected to see one young lady today, but I see two before me. There is no need for you both to stay. Lydia: Actually, there is. If Jane’s report is the only one you hear, you will miss some important details about our last few months. Truly, 1851 will be a banner year for me, even if my cousin disagrees. Alright, if you prefer a joint interview, please take a seat. Miss Woodfield, I’ll pose my first question to you. How would you describe your family or your childhood? Jane: Mostly happy in an ordinary sort of way, until misfortune struck us both. Lydia and I suffered the double misfortunes of losing our fathers, along with their meager resources, about two years ago. And then just ten months later our mothers died, both victims of the same grave illness. Fortunately, our Aunt Madeleine, our mothers’ sister, came to our rescue. She and her husband kindly opened their home to us. And that is where you are now living, with your aunt? Jane: No. Unfortunately, our uncle also died very recently, and…

THE UMBRELLA MAKER’S SON by Tod Lending 1 The night before everything changed, I had a vision.       Zelda gripped my hand, leading me through a pitch-dark forest with no path. The fall air was cool, the sky ink-black and moonless. Our footsteps crushed dry leaves and snapped twigs and branches, breaking the haunted silence. Oaks and elms loomed over us with their long and knobby armlike limbs twisting and bending above. An eerie wind, heavy with the scent of damp soil, rustled the dying leaves. The dark wood, full of ghosts, reminded me of my family, making me long for them.       “Which way is it?” I whispered to Zelda.       “I’m not sure. Maybe this way.” Still clasping my hand, she towed me toward the marshy scent of the Vistula River.       We crossed a small meadow of wet tallgrass and entered a tangled thicket that clawed at our arms and legs. The ground turned soft. Black clay sucked at our boots, the pungent river scent growing stronger. Shadows darted between trees. Germans, I thought. I wanted to run.       “What’s wrong?” asked Zelda.       “Nothing.” I didn’t want her to think I was afraid.       We followed…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Helen Hardt! Writes: Dark and passionate romance with heart-wrenching emotion and twists that will keep you turning the pages. ALWAYS is book six in the Follow Me Series, and it’s an emotional rollercoaster you don’t want to miss! About: #1 New York Times bestselling author seeks passionate readers ready to dive into steamy romances and heart-stopping twists. As a master storyteller with a love for brooding heroes and resilient heroines, I’m here to bring you emotional depth, intense chemistry, and unforgettable plots. I’m a sucker for well-crafted characters, unexpected twists, and stories that leave you breathless. If you’re ready for late-night binge reads and a rollercoaster of emotions, let’s create some sparks on the page. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: I’m looking for readers who crave emotional intensity, heart-pounding passion, and characters with deep, dark secrets. If you’re someone who loves steamy romance, unexpected twists, and stories that keep you up until three a.m., we might just be a perfect…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE FAMILY BEHIND THE WALLS: Absolutely heartbreaking and gripping World War Two fiction 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In THE FAMILY BEHIND THE WALLS, Jordanna and Dalia cling to the hope of being reunited as they fight for survival in the darkest of places. Facing unthinkable obstacles and risking everything, they refuse to give up on each other – despite already losing more than their hearts can bear. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I base my Historical Fiction books off an inciting incident within one of the many locations where World War II derailed life for so many. In THE FAMILY BEHIND THE WALLS, the story begins with the Hamburg Inferno. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes, I have a passion for writing about strong female characters with bravery that would surpass my own if put into similar conditions. I would look up to Jordanna and Dalia, knowing their strength is their power. These two characters also remind me of my grandmother and great-grandmother who both survived life in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. I was…

Excerpted from THE PERFECT ROM-COM, by Melissa Ferguson. Thomas Nelson, 2025. Reprinted with permission. Interstate Bowl is, in a word, busy. In a series of words, it’s full to the gunwales of polyester shorts and replete with the scent of nacho cheese dip and tobacco. James, one of the many high school employees tasked with keeping up with obsessed middle-aged league members who have decidedly made rolling heavy balls down a glossy surface a major part of their identity, is covered in a cloud of bowling shoe disinfectant beside the jukebox, which is beside the cheap food bar flanked by splitting red-cushioned stools. I plop my shoes on the floor next to Gloria and sit down. “He loves you.” Gloria casts her gaze over at Jack, who’s leaning against the bar. I shake my head. “He dates more women than are in this building.” “What women? Look around.” Gloria takes in the swaths of males around us. Fair. “And dated. Past tense being the key tense here. I think he’s waiting for you.” “For what?” I throw out, giving a disbelieving laugh. “I’m right here.” “Have you forgotten Parker so easily?” My face warms slightly, internally slapped by surprise at…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MIDNIGHT ON THE SCOTTISH SHORE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Desperate to escape the occupied Netherlands in 1941, Cilla van der Zee agrees to become a spy in Britain. But her plans to betray the Germans and work for the Allied cause are derailed when a suspicious Royal Navy officer finds her on the shores of his Scottish home. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since my family is part-Scottish, they’ve been begging me to set one of my World War II novels in Scotland. Then my mythology-loving youngest son told me the legend of the selkie. This creature looks like a seal but sheds its skin on land to reveal a beautiful woman. Men who fall for the selkie steal the sealskin to trap her on land, but if she should find that sealskin, she’ll flee back to sea. I immediately pictured a spy landing on Scottish shores in sight of a kilt-wearing Scotsman, who turns her over to Britain’s MI5. Then I found Dunnet Head Lighthouse, set on a high cliff in the far north of Scotland on the south side…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Annabelle Slator! Writes: Hey! I’m Annabelle Slator and I write contemporary romcoms set in the workplace and beyond! My debut novel THE LAUNCH DATE is about Grace Hastings, a marketing manager who hates her job at lovey-dovey dating app, Fate. So when Grace is given an opportunity for a job at a new app focus on ‘IRL’ dating, she goes for it. That is, until she discovers that she must test drive a series of ‘first dates’ with her competition for the job: notorious socialite playboy and Grace’s biggest work rival, Eric Bancroft. But Grace refuses to give up her dream job because of a man. And besides, how romantic can a handful of fake dates with your biggest rival really be? About: Frazzled English Woman currently residing Cambridgeshire, UK. I worked in marketing and social media for brands and startups for 10+ years in London, and a lot of the experiences inspired my debut novel The Launch Date! When I’m not in my…