Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Miranda’s Monster Madness | Love, Aquatic
Author Spotlight / July 20, 2023

My soul is full of longing For the secret of the sea, And the heart of the great ocean Sends a thrilling pulse through Me.   Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   I think since the film The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro, some people have been intrigued by the idea of sea creature romance. Years ago, pre-The Shape of Water, I remember reading THE MERMAN’S KISS by Tamsin Ley and her other books about human/merperson romance under the water. I loved the stories but was always a little skeptical about how that would work out long-term. Now, authors have a host of different ways to problem-solve and make such a relationship work. With the monster romance boom, I’ve read about krakens, swamp monsters, and tentacles – lots of tentacles. Let’s discuss. FOUND BY THE LAKE MONSTER might only be a novella in Lillian Lark’s Monstrous Matches series, but it is my absolute favorite. Amy and Adrian find each other in kind of a bizarre way, but they turn out to be a perfect match with more in common than they might have originally thought. Adrian had signed up to be matched. He was looking for love, companionship, and…

Miranda’s Monster Madness | Furry and Fabulous
Author Spotlight / June 22, 2023

People who entered the Courtyard without an invitation were just plain crazy! Wolves were big and scary and so fluffy, how could anyone resist hugging one just to feel all that fur? ― Anne Bishop, WRITTEN IN RED   Let’s talk about furry heroes. There are a million or more books about heroes who shift between a human form and some animal form. What I want to discuss here, are heroes who don’t shift – guys who are furry 24/7. There are more stories like that out there than I first thought, like those by Poppy Rhys, SJ Sanders, Jade Waltz, and others. There’s something for everybody – paranormal historical, fantasy, scifi, action, romcom-esque, and more. The first romance I read with a hero who was permanently furry, was WILLA’S BEAST by Ruby Dixon. This may have also been my first Ruby Dixon book. I was browsing online for some sexy scifi romance, when I stumbled upon WILLA’S BEAST. Sometimes, with a “Beauty and the Beast” theme, the hero can occasionally behave as beastly to the heroine as his beastly appearance might have you assume. That was not the case here. In this story, the “beast” – Gren – is…

Lisa Carlisle | Author-Reader Match: PROTECTED BY THE GARGOYLE
Author Guest / May 25, 2023

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Lisa Carlisle! Writes: Lisa Carlisle writes paranormal and contemporary romance with wounded, quirky, or misunderstood characters finding their happily ever afters.  They may be shifters, vampires, witches, gargoyles, or even military, first responders, and rockstars! About: Lisa Carlisle is a USA Today Bestselling author of paranormal romance and suspense. She especially loves stories with fated mates and forbidden love, second chances, and enemies-to-lovers romance. The ideal reader match for my latest book, PROTECTED BY THE GARGOYLE, must love… Fated mates Friends to lovers Secret love Danger Protectors Bonus: Gargoyles! What to expect if we’re compatible: If we are compatible, you’ll want to go back and read all my gargoyle shifter romances, and then move on to my other paranormal romances, including vampires, witches, and other shifters. You’ll want to join my Facebook group for more fun with books! https://www.facebook.com/groups/147725722605800 PROTECTED BY THE GARGOYLE by Lisa Carlisle Stone Sentries #4 a gargoyle shifter protector romance   Demons are out there. Don’t ask Janie how she…

Joanna Morgan | Author-Reader Match: RISE
Author Guest / May 25, 2023

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 Joanna Morgan!   Writes: Emotional, steamy paranormal romance with unique beings. Escape from real life & see through the veil to hidden worlds. Go on adventures, overcome danger, and fall in love forever after! This is book 2 in a series of elemental warrior romances but can be read as a stand-alone. If you already read book 1, Burn, and liked it, you’re going to absolutely love Rise!   About: Joanna Morgan is a hybrid author who writes paranormal romance. She loves reading, chocolate, and the magic of nature. She’s an awkward introvert and chronic daydreamer. Lover of puns & pastries. Hopeless romantic? Nope. HOPEFUL romantic. I love love and all things romance.   I’m looking for readers that love: You loved the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and want that vibe with other paranormal beings. The idea of fate & true love. Yes, you’re destined to meet your one true love. When opposites attract. And all the friction that causes. Stories with elemental magic in…

Christine Feehan | Mystery Meets Scifi
Author Guest / May 4, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? GHOSTLY GAME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Mystery meets scifi in this GhostWalker tale of murder, secrets, and passion. I don’t think I’m any good at “elevator pitches”. I love this book and it is so different from the previous ones in the series. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is a military paranormal romance in my GhostWalker series which has four established teams. So, the location was already chosen when I picked the Urban Warfare team. I live close to San Francisco, CA. so I’m familiar with the city and its people. The city is so interesting, so it makes it fun as a setting for a book. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes. I write heroines that I can admire, so it would be fun to hang out with Rory. She’s independent, supportive of her friends and courageous. Plus, she’s loyal and caring. She’d be great to have as a friend. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Hot, brooding, soldier. Or maybe – lethal, confident, and hot. Definitely hot. lol 6–What’s something you…

YD La Mar | A Mix of Sensual Regency Romance and Magic
Author Guest / April 27, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? BEGUILED BY THE BEASTLY BARON 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Bridgerton meets Monsters. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It was a part of a shared world that all took place in the same time and location. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes! I definitely would. Antonia’s friendship with her chaperone is the best example of the kind of person she is with those she’s close with. I can see us having loads of fun and laughing over our mistakes in life. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Broody, pushy and protective. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned that sometimes being raw and incorporating a little of my own relationship in the storytelling can make for a more relatable experience despite the fantastical world it’s in. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I’m the kind of writer who starts from the very beginning and writes all the way through to the end. Once I’m done, I do a quick look over but quickly hand it…

Jeaniene Frost | An Epic Reunion from Bones’ POV
Author Guest / April 20, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? BOTH FEET IN THE GRAVE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? If you thought you knew the iconic vampire, Bones, think again! THIS is Bones, in his own words this time. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The setting was pre-determined since it covers the locales from a prior book, so it takes place in Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, and New York. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? I’d love to, but vampires, ghouls, or evil ghosts are always trying to kill her, so I probably wouldn’t survive! Lol. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Badass. Devoted. Vampire. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That there really are two sides to every story, and you don’t have the complete picture until you’ve read both of them. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I edit while I draft, to my detriment. Sometimes, I will fiddle with a chapter to the point that it really slows down my progress before I force myself to move on. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Anything…

Jessica Clare | Perky Apprentice Takes on Grumpy Warlock
Author Guest / April 6, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? WHAT THE HEX 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Perky apprentice takes on grumpy warlock. It’s a boss romance with a grumpy/sunshine, witchy twist. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? After GO HEX YOURSELF, Penny and Willem obviously needed their story told. I had to do it! 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. Penny would be the best sort to hang out with. She’d have the menu memorized at the restaurant, be there 15 minutes early to snag the best seats and keep the conversation rolling. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Starchy, Snobby, and Ginger 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The Romans had a lot of fertility deities. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I wait until I’m done! 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Iced coffee. Does that count? 9–Describe your writing space/office! A mess. It’s always a mess. 10–Who is an author you admire? I am and will always remain a Kresley Cole fangirl. 11–Is there a book that changed your life? The first one…

Rosanna Leo | Title Challenge: DARKE PASSION
Author Guest / March 23, 2023

Hi! I’m Rosanna Leo, author of the new Darke Paranormal Investigations series. I’m thrilled to be here to introduce you to DARKE PASSION, book 1 in the series. This is a ghost story/romance and the main characters are the Darke sisters. Edwina, Susannah and Adelaide Darke are fascinated by the world of the supernatural, and they each bring their unique talents to their investigative work. When they’re called upon to help the owners of a historic B&B, they have no idea what sort of secrets they will uncover. And Edwina has no idea she’ll also find love with Simon, one of the owners of the B&B.   D is for the Darke sisters, the protagonists of my series. Not only are they siblings, but they’re also badass paranormal investigators. A is for anomalies, or unexplained phenomena. Paranormal investigators love capturing them on camera as evidence. R is for run away, something the Darke sisters never do. They always run toward scary situations. K is for the King Street Bed and Breakfast, the haunted Niagara home the Darke sisters are investigating. Would you stay the night in a haunted house? E is for Edwina, the protagonist of the story and the…

Kat Turner | Title Challenge: FALLEN ANGEL
Author Guest / March 14, 2023

Cynthia and Raven, two drifters searching for the secrets of their own pasts, never expected their fling to be more than a hookup. But as they’re drawn deeper into a web of magic and prophetic mystery, they can’t say no to the supernatural tie that binds them—and they don’t want to. In the fourth book of the Coven Daughters paranormal romance series, magic, danger, and romance collide in a passionate explosion.   F-Fierce Heroine A-All of the Steam L-Love L-Longing E-Embark N-Night Sky   A-Air Magic N-Netherworld G-Grimoire E-Enthrall L-Lore FALLEN ANGEL by Kat Turner Cynthia Fields, a powerful witch with a troubled past, is so close to cracking the code of the Coven Daughters prophecy. She just needs to unlock the secrets of Fire and Chaos and connect with her five coven sisters, and she’ll be set to save the world and maybe even herself. Cynthia’s search takes her on a cross-country hitchhiking trip where she meets a strange truck driver who claims to have the ability to jump into different bodies before the journey lands her in the arms of a sexy, mysterious drifter who goes by Corvus. Following what was supposed to be a one-time, steamy encounter, Corvus reveals…