Release Tour – TBR Book Blog

Release Tour ~ Love Is Ale You Need ~ by ~ Gia Stevens

After becoming a single mom, I vowed never to date a guy in a suit again until the charismatic and charming, Trey Wilson entered my life. I put him in the friend zone instantly, however, the more time we spend together, the more the lines between friends and benefits blur. I know I should end things before we get too deep, but when the white stick shows two pink lines, my world is once again turned upside down. Fans of Meghan Quinn and Tessa Bailey will devour Love Is Ale You Need by Gia Stevens, a steamy friends-to-lovers, surprise pregnancy, romance.

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Amazon → https://amzn.to/3tfypC6

Apple Books → https://bit.ly/3RhBuvt

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Barnes & Noble → https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144028259

A steamy friends with benefits, surprise pregnancy standalone novel by romantic comedy author Gia Stevens…

We went from fling to friend-zone. Now I have to tell him he’s going to be a dad.

After my ex-husband left, I became a single mom and vowed never to date a guy in a suit again.

Then Trey Wilson entered my life. The guy who lives in suits. He’s charismatic, good-looking, and charming AF.

Everything that can make any woman swoon, including me.

What started as a one-night fling turned into a mid-morning office quickie, followed by an afternoon rendezvous in my kitchen. Which ultimately led to the purchase of a new table.

After I told him we can only be friends, he’s determined to be my best friend. The more time we spend together, the boundary between friends and benefits blur.

Deep down, I know he’s exactly like the others. Once they get what they want, they’re out the door, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. Been there. Done that. And I have a daughter to prove it.

So the moment emotions get involved, I quickly suppress them and do what I know is right.

I end whatever this is.

Except now I can’t do that when the white stick shows two pink lines.

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Excerpt

I peer up at him. “Are benefits still on the table?”

He turns toward me. The pad of his thumb caresses the apple of my cheek. His hand continues to glide across my skin until his fingers thread through my hair. His large palm warms my cheek. “No.”

My stomach falls. It was inevitable this would have to end, but I was hoping it wasn’t tonight.

With his other hand he grips my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I don’t want benefits. You’re worth more than just benefits. But I’ll take whatever you give me.”

A slow smile spreads over my lips. “Can we go to your house?”

“Absolutely.”

He opens the passenger door and I slide in. While he rounds the hood, I click my seatbelt into place. We’ve had sex before, but the butterflies are fluttering faster this time. Maybe because it’s not a spontaneous, spur of the moment thing. Instead, I have the entire drive to his house to think about it. Trey climbs in and starts his SUV. He glances over at me while reaching his hand over the center console and intertwining his fingers with mine. It’s the simplest gesture, but one that calms my erratic heartbeat.

The short ride to his house is silent, but the way his thumb brushes over the back of my hand says everything I need to know right now. I want Trey.

His neighborhood is a far cry from my tiny apartment complex. Enormous houses with even bigger lawns line the streets. A pang of guilt hits me as this is something I’ll never be able to give Abby. A neighborhood filled with other kids to run around and play with. Or a backyard to build a fort or play kickball in.

As we approach a navy blue split-level house, he turns left and pulls into the sunken attached garage. I yank myself out of my thoughts. No pity parties tonight. There’s only room for one party, and that’s between my legs.

The garage door closes, and we both step out, but before we reach the door to the house, my heels that I never put back on slip from my fingers, dropping to the floor with a clatter. Trey twists around and I throw myself into his arms, slamming my lips to his. Without breaking our connection, he twists us around and cages me against the front fender. A shiver runs down my spine as he threads his fingers through my hair, cupping my head as he deepens the kiss. I wrap my arms around his waist and tug him to me, wanting to feel all of him. A low moan escapes his throat.

He pulls away, but his lips linger on mine. “Did I tell you this is the best friendship I’ve ever had?”

About Gia Stevens

Gia Stevens resides in Northern Minnesota with her husband and cat. She lives for the warm, sunny days of summer and dreads the bitter cold of winter. A romantic comedy junkie at heart, she knew she wanted her own stories to encompass those same warm and fuzzy feelings.

When she’s not busy writing your next book boyfriend, Gia can be found binge watching TV shows that aired five years ago, taking pictures of her cat, or curled up with a steamy romance novel.

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Release Tour ~ Take Two ~ by ~ Evelyn Sola

Out-of-towner, Charlie has made his fair share of mistakes, but something in his eyes says there’s so much more to him than his past. Being imperfect is one of the many things Violet has in common with Charlie, and soon, these two flawed people form an unlikely and unexpected bond. But, when Charlie has to return home, Violet is left wondering if their relationship endure the long distance, especially when his past threatens their future. Readers who enjoy redemption romances will devour Take Two by Evelyn Sola, a steamy diverse romance.

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Charlie

I’m far from perfect.

I’ve made mistakes.

And every day I wake up and make a promise to myself. A promise to stay on the right path and not let my past take hold.

Relationships are risky for someone not in recovery. For a guy like me, it could not only be dangerous, but it could compromise all of the work I’ve done to stay clean. At least that’s what my family thinks.

But Violet adds a purpose to my life that I didn’t even realize I was missing.

Violet

He’s got ‘flaws’. He says he’s done unforgivable things, but something in his deep brown eyes says there’s so much more to him than the mistakes he’s made in the past.

Besides, I have flaws too, so who am I to judge?

Being imperfect is one of the many things Charlie and I have in common, and soon, two flawed people form an unlikely and unexpected bond.

It doesn’t take long before I find myself falling for the out of towner and all too soon, he’s got to head back home.

Can our relationship endure the long distance, especially when events from his past threaten our future?

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Excerpt

Knowing exactly who it is, my heart starts to beat erratically, and I wonder if it’s normal to feel this way. Maybe she was only being nice when she called me handsome. Did I imagine how she looked at me? What about the way she kept inching closer to me? Or the way she touched me or felt in my arms when we hugged? Or am I so desperate for a woman’s attention that I’m seeing things that aren’t there?

That can’t be the case. I’ve taken my time to enter the dating scene. I did the work. I’m committed to my sobriety because there’s no way I would be with a woman drunk. I have a business, my family and income. This is the best I’ve ever been in my entire adult life, and now I’m prepared to have a woman in my life. I’m sure I’m ready.

About Evelyn Sola

A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.

Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion, and humor.

She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.

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Release Tour ~ War of the Mind ~ by ~ Dana Claire

Immense grief causes demigod Calli to do the unthinkable and use her powers to erase herself from the memories of her beloved Henrik. Calli rebuilds herself and her crew, only to be reunited with Henrick by order of the crown to stop Perseus and his accomplices before it’s too late. As remnants of their passion haunt their voyage, will their wounded hearts find their way back to each other, or will past choices stand in their way? Readers who love pirate adventures and Greek mythology with forced proximity and second-chance romances will want to devour Dana Claire’s new Young Adult Novel, War of the Mind.

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His sacrifice could save humanity. Her revenge could turn it to stone.

When immense grief turns demigod Calli Bordeaux’s heart to vengeance, she does the unthinkable. Using her powers, she erases herself from the memories of her beloved, Henrik, so that he cannot join her hunt for the notorious pirate Captain Fredrick, Henrik’s savage father. Shattered, Calli rebuilds herself and the crew of her parent’s ship to vanquish her enemy, only to discover a piece of Henrik came with her after all.

Unaware that he lost the greatest love of his life, former pirate turned royal guard, Henrik, sets out with Cava’s navy to find a woman the gods forsook and the humans fear. Medusa. Her latest rampage of stony destruction is not mindless slaughter but self-preservation from pirate assassins. The demi-god Perseus has put a bounty on her severed head, seeking the power it possesses to slowly slaughter mankind.

United by order of the crown, Calli and Henrik must stop Perseus and his pirate accomplices before it’s too late. Echoes of their past passion haunt their voyage, tipping them into turmoil when humanity needs them most. Can their wounded hearts find their way back to each other in time? Or will the barriers constructed by past choices stand in the way as the world around them turns to stone?

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Excerpt

My legs wobbled as I tiptoed into Henrik’s bedroom, careful to close the door behind me with a soft click. Moonlight streamed through the slightly parted curtains, casting a silvery trail on the floor that guided me across the carpet. I knelt by his bedside and watched his sleeping form, the gentle rise and fall of his bare chest—a chest I had stroked a hundred times but would never touch again. His lips fluttered, giving me pause. Lips I had kissed since I was thirteen and would miss as much as him. His mahogany locks fell over his forehead, a messed look that he never donned during the day but one I always loved to admire while he slept.

I lingered by his side, allowing the rhythm of my heart to slow, my eyes tracing over him, memorizing every visible detail for the final time. Gently, my fingers brushed the dimple of his chin, then slowly traced his cheeks, feeling the remnants of dried tears. They were not for his father but shed for me—for my pain. I couldn’t let him carry any more than he already had. I knew I was doing the right thing. He could go on to live a life full of promise, something I could no longer give him.

I’d ache for this: his face, the warmth of his companionship, the depth of our love. Yet, deep down, I knew I couldn’t offer him the future he deserved. Our dreams of marriage, of children playing along the seashore, of exploring the world together—those would remain unfulfilled fantasies. A heavy, uninvited burden had been thrust upon me, a path I had to walk alone. I couldn’t, wouldn’t, drag him into this dark journey and risk his soul to Hades.

Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. “I love you,” I whispered, my voice a ghostly echo in the darkness. Gently, I lowered my lips to his, bestowing a final, fleeting kiss. I didn’t linger, couldn’t bear to, and our united lips parted too swiftly.

“I’ll never stop loving you. For all my days, you’ll have a sanctuary in my heart. In moments of despair or fury, I’ll delve into my memories of you. You’ll be my steadfast anchor, my unwavering light in the darkness. But I can’t return this love to you, not anymore.” My voice quivered as I inhaled sharply, steeling myself.

“You deserve a world of happiness, an eternal life of bliss.” With a heavy exhale, I placed my hands gently on the sides of his head. A surge of energy coursed through me, pulsating from my palms. The power within me awakened, vibrating with an intensity that resonated with the new, harsh shriek at the very core of my being.

His eyes blinked open, the dark green irises blending with his widened pupils, my name a faint sound on his lips. “Don’t.” He exhaled.

“I’m so sorry. It’s the only way.” My voice trembled. “I will see you again… in the afterlife.”

My arms shook under the strain, yet I maintained my hold, determined. One by one, I erased our shared moments from his mind: the laughter-filled day at the seaside festival, our playful sparring sessions, the intensity of our first kiss, the passion of our lovemaking, our bold adventures, and each time we’d defied the world with our love. Each memory, vivid and precious, slipped away from his consciousness. The essence of his thoughts, foreign to my senses, tasted of the ocean’s salt and the earthy musk of the woods. As I swallowed, they vanished from his mind, leaving a void where our love had once thrived.

When I stood, his eyelashes fluttered briefly before he settled back into a peaceful slumber. His cheek rested against the pillow, his breathing steady and calm. My hands trembled as I backed away, each step heavy with the weight of what I had done. Nausea churned in my stomach, the taste of guilt bitter in my mouth. I crept out of his room, closing the door behind me.

About Dana Claire

Dana Claire is an award-winning author whose stories explore identity, fate, and destiny at the crossroads of romance and adventure. Her love of romantic tension, the supernatural, and non- stop action has elicited positive feedback from many readers, as their online reviews reveal her flair for spine-tingling action and unforgettable characters. Dana is now sharing her stories through speaking events and book signings, introducing more readers to the worlds she created. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her adoring husband living her dreams: writing books, telling stories, and changing the world, one reader at a time.

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Release Tour ~ Seized… Body and Mind ~ by ~ Alex Mellow

Billionaire CEO Sebastian Hunter doesn’t bed his employees and his new secretary, Alice Lake, doesn’t want to risk her job over a fling with a ruthless playboy. Will Alice be able to resist Sebastian when the heart wants what the heart wants or will the stalker lurking in the shadows crush any chance of happiness they have? Readers who love books with Beauty and the Beast vibes splashed with mystery and suspense will fall hard for Seized… Body and Mind by Alex Mellow, a steamy, billionaire playboy, virgin secretary, forced proximity romantic suspense.

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What if home is not a place? What if home is a person all along? Billionaire CEO Sebastian Hunter doesn’t bed his employees. He’s vowed never to touch a nice girl. And he never brings a woman home. Yet on Alice Lake’s first day as Sebastian’s new secretary, Sebastian falls in instant lust—and breaks all his rules at once. When Alice gets a concussion, Sebastian convinces Alice to stay at his soulless mansion while recovering, but his real plan is to win just enough of her heart to get her to sleep with him. But once they’re living together, avid cook and virgin Alice turns out to be more than just a sweet treat. And Alice refuses to jeopardise her prized new job over a fling with a ruthless playboy… Will Alice be able to resist Sebastian when the heart wants what the heart wants? Also, a criminal mastermind has been stealing from the Hunter family business, and he’ll do anything to stop Sebastian’s investigation. A stalker lurks in the shadows, ready to crush any chance of happiness and a future together for Sebastian and Alice. And things are not what they seem. They never are. Seized … Body and Mind, book one of the Hunter series can be read as a standalone. This is a full-length, scorching-hot romance novel with Beauty and the Beast vibes, with no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a guaranteed happily ever after. It has lots and lots of emotion that will make you melt and root for this couple, as well as suspense and twisted little mysteries that will grip you from beginning to end. Recommended for audiences 18+ due to mature themes and sexual content.

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Excerpt

“How dare you speak to my landlady before I did?” Alice sneers as soon as I walk through the front door. I frown and place the box I’m carrying on the floor. Jesus, she’s been waiting for me. Straightening, I pull the sleeves of my sweater up to my elbows as she narrows her eyes. My hands drop to my hips and I let out a long sigh. That’s all I seem to do nowadays: sigh. What an exasperating woman. “Alice,” I say, a hint of frustration in my tone. “She was going to make you give her a month’s notice, remember? Pay her additional charges? This way, she felt pressured into letting you go. You know, with me being your boss and all. And my family’s name.” Alice shakes her head. “I was hoping she’d let me keep the flat. That she’d give me a payment plan once I went back to work. I thought she’d be open to it.” Alice screws up her face as if she’s about to cry, and I can’t help but take a step forward and grab her hand. “Sweetheart …” “I don’t understand.” Alice’s other hand shoots up to cover her mouth. “She always liked me, and I could’ve paid her at least another month’s rent. I’d owe her, what, two months at the most? But she wouldn’t listen. She wouldn’t even hear me out.” “Alice …” I start, and that’s when Ryan comes in, pushing two large suitcases into the hall. He cringes when he notices Alice, but by then it’s too late. “Are those my things?” she gasps before throwing me the dirtiest look of all time through her tears. And if up until then I wasn’t sure if I’d made it onto her shit list, there’s no doubt in my mind I’m at the very top of it now. “You went through my stuff?” she shrieks, pulling her hand away from mine and taking a few steps back. “You went through my flat?” Shit! “Sweetheart, calm down. Your head …” “Don’t tell me to calm down, you … you big, overbearing, controlling asshole!” she screams, and my eyebrows shoot up. That’s the first time she’s ever sworn in front of me, yelled at me, since knowing who I am, and I must confess I’m surprised. Maybe even a little impressed. I glance over at Ryan and he presses his lips together. The look in his eyes is pity and amusement at the same time as he tries to stop his grin. Fucker. “I can’t believe you did this. I can’t … I can’t …” Alice sways a little as she presses her hands to her temples, a moan of pain escaping her lips. And I don’t even think. In two strides I’m holding her up by her waist. “Alice. Alice!” I pick her up, and she wraps her arms around my neck, her head leaning on my shoulder as she screws her eyes shut. “Sebastian,” she murmurs, and I press my lips to her hair. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you. It’s OK. Let’s just get you into bed and medicated. You’ll be all right in no time. I promise.”

Buy Now or Read for FREE with KindleUnlimited!

About Alex Mellow

Alex Mellow lives with the two loves of her life, her darling husband and son, in London. Her time is divided between her passion for writing and, of course, her beloved little family. At home, when she’s not writing or running after a very active toddler you can find her reading, watching a good movie or trying to do some exercise. LOL. At least she tries.

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Release Tour ~ War of the Land ~ by ~ Dana Claire

In a world ruled by capricious gods, a defiant Titan and tormented demi-god must navigate love and betrayal to unite against the God of the Sky, lest their forbidden alliance destroys the very world they aim to save. Readers who love pirate adventures and Greek mythology with reluctant royals and arranged marriage romances and stories like Daughter of Sparta and Pirates of the Caribbean will want to sink their teeth into Dana Claire’s new Young Adult Novel, War of the Land.

Praise for Author Dana Claire:

“Mesmerizing. Claire has crafted a romance that will leave you breathless in a world so vivid you can almost taste the salty sea air and hear the clash of swords.”- Jordan Bartlett, Author of The Frean Chronicles

“When the world needed a swashbuckling adventure, Dana Claire stepped up to the plate and delivered. 10/10 would recommend.”—Michael Chirichella, Author of Deadly Nights On The Island

“Claire does such a great job at capturing feelings and suspense. The story gets better and better with each turn of the page.” —Sara Stone, Author of Forgotten Witch

“If you’re looking for romance with a touch of magic, piracy, and mythos, War of the Sea is definitely worth a look.”—Austin Worley, Author of Unsheathed: An Epic Fantasy Collection

“Gripping and action packed, this story is dripping with high stakes and slow burn romance. You’ll remember these characters long after you’ve turned the last page.” –Book Of Matches Media

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His valor could save the lands. Her darkness could consume it.

In a world where mortals are hapless pawns moved at the whims of gods, a defiant Titan emerges from the shadows of history. Prometheus, having once defied Zeus to gift mankind with fire, dares to challenge the heavens to a new match. Now, he fights not just to ease man’s suffering, but to prevent Zeus from clearing the board. Success or failure depends on a future queen.

Princess Savina of the Isle of Cava, a demi-god whose powers hold sway over life and death, becomes the latest target of her grandfather Zeus’s merciless vendetta. Exploited by family, she gambles her last shred of trust on the enigmatic Duke of Eloqua, her promised consort. But is he a white knight, or is he part of a more insidious plot to weaponize her against her own people?

As the celestial storm brews and loyalties are tested, the land’s fate balances on a knife’s edge. Can a Titan and demi-god stand united against Olympus, or will their dangerous newfound flame for one another burn their beloved world to ash?

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Excerpt

A sound like a canvas snapped taught. One, twice, thrice. A steady beat, with long pauses as the wretched creature glided on air currents. And in those pauses, I tried to deny. No, it couldn’t be what I thought.
His damned eagle. Enormous. Ruthless. Ravenous.

And then the next wingbeat slapped the air, and the bird blotted out the stars.

I thrashed, all stoic dignity gone as the eagle circled, head cocked so a golden eye roved my exposed chest. My heart pounded in my ears. I heard my breath inside my head—short and frantic, undercut with sporadic, feral grunts like feeble war cries to try and keep my nerve. But it had already failed me.

“The fat and the bones,” Zeus rumbled, a low purr of unforgotten rage and savage pleasure.

“You’d give me fat and bone, and let those worms have their fill?” He rose up to loom over me once more, voice rising until it shook the mountain beneath my back. “I, who delivered you from the tyranny of our fathers. I, who took you into my arms and into my confidence when you crossed the battlefield lines.” His spittle hit my face as his eagle’s massive feet slammed into the rock on either side of me, beak clicking. “Fat and bone! I don’t even feed my pets such scraps.” He reached up to stroke the eagle’s neck, and it ruffled russet and brown feathers, head twitching this way and that, looking for the perfect spot to dig that wicked, hooked beak. “No.

Tonight, and every night, he shall feast on a choice delicacy.”

“No.” My cheeks puffed will bull-like breaths, muscles tearing as I fought to break free. “No. This? This for a nick to your pride? This because you cannot see that the only difference between you and a reviled human king is a little bolt of—”

Zeus stepped back, snarling. The eagle’s head dove down. And the world went black and red. Embers crackled at the edges of my vision. Agony so searing nothing else existed. Heat. Fire turned against me. The world smeared into dark colors. Flashes of sky. Cries for death, for vengeance, for mercy all tumbled out of my mouth in a nonsensical jumble. A flash of yellow as the beak tore a sliver of something loose, tipped back its head, and gobbled it. Cracks fissured the world and my will to live. And through it all, Zeus laughed.

He never returned after that first night, but his eagle did. And sometimes, when I began to forget myself, forget my name, forget my purpose, drowned in the sheer immensity of the pain, I heard the ghost of that laugh on the wind.

About Dana Claire

DANA CLAIRE is an award-winning author whose stories explore identity, fate, and destiny in the crossroads of romance and adventure. She’s either got her nose in a book, streaming a movie online, or going to see an off-Broadway show. Dana is all about embracing the art of storytelling in every possible way.

From coast to coast…she lived most her life in NY but left the tall skyscrapers to come to Los Angeles, CA and enjoy the sunshine with her adoring husband, the cutest, sweetest, quirkiest character of all. One day she’d like to get a furry friend, but for now she’s babysitting her brother’s houseplants while he’s deployed and feels like that’s enough of a responsibility 😉 She believes she is very fortunate to live her dreams: writing books, telling stories, and changing the world, one reader at a time.

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Release Tour ~ Lady Venom Takes a Mistress ~ by ~ Kat Blackthorne

When Poesy Laroche was sold to the highest bidder, she found herself desperate to change her fate and disappears into the woods no one dares to speak of. The screams that come at night become only whispers of stories about the mysterious Lady Venom, whose manor is filled with snakes and horrors. And when Poesy gets lost within her maze, Lady Venom claims her as her own mistress, with no hope of escape. Fans of dark sapphic romances will devour Lady Venom Takes a Mistress by Kat Blackthorne, a spicy gothic twist on Medusa and Beauty and the Beast.

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To be bid on was to be bought as a wife. To the winning bidder his prize, a maid, a servant, a child-bearer. That would be Poesy Laroche’s life, she realized, as she walked down the aisle to her future husband. He’d promised to break her into submission, and she knew his words were true.

In an act of desperation, she takes the reins of her fate and dives into the woods we don’t speak of. The screams that come at night become only whispers of stories about the mysterious Lady Venom. Her manor is filled with snakes and horrors. And when Poesy gets lost within her maze, Lady Venom claims her as her own mistress, with no hope of escape.

Poesy is locked into a haunted estate where the flowers watch, the ghosts whisper while the snakes slither, and everyone knows the deadliest of them all is their Lady that rules them.

But there are secrets to uncover both within the eerie walls and in the riddles atop Lady’s Venom’s forked tongue as she incites more danger and pleasure than Poesy ever thought possible.

But will it be enough to keep Poesy from her fate? Or will the hidden truths prove more fateful than a serpent’s bite?

Lady Venom is a haunted, spooky, lesbian romance with lethal women and gothic magic. It’s a twist on both Medusa and Beauty and the Beast and features femme dom and captive tropes with off the charts spice. This story is set in The Halloween Boys universe with crossover of lore, but you do not need to read The Halloween Boys before enjoying Lady Venom Takes a Mistress.

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Excerpt

After she took a seat across from me, I downed my greens and potatoes before forking the meat. “Is this… is this bodies of the men you’ve killed?”

Venom raised her dark brows before placing a delicate hand to her chest and letting out a melodic laugh that sprang a smile to my own face. To see her laugh, to be the cause of that laughter…

“Men would taste disgusting.” She took a sip of her wine, still chuckling. “Could you imagine? No, bellflower. That is duck. However, I wouldn’t mind a taste of you.”

Almost choking on my buttery bite, I washed it down with the fruit forward red beverage. Was this all a ploy to fatten me up and… eat me? And why did that idea send jolts of lightning to the spot between my thighs?

But before I could entertain a response better than the one I’d offered earlier, I yelped, almost spilling my drink. A striped red and yellow snake was slithering down the table runner. “Why so many snakes?” I whined, inching back in my seat. “They’re so terrifying. Truly, I hate them.” My breathing quickened as I spotted more that I hadn’t noticed as one slid down the piano keys, bringing about a brash and eerie sound.

Lady Venom stroked a gentle finger over the striped serpent as it made its way down the table’s leg. “Yes. Such a shame you didn’t wander into Lady Bunny’s den. Alas, here we are. The snakes are extensions of me, in a sense. They feed off my mood. So they won’t harm you. Unless you make me mad, that is.”

“Oh, devils. I’m sure I’ll eventually make you mad. Will you tell them not to bite me at least?” I begged. Though, despite my fear, my smile hadn’t faded.

“Mm, but what about me? What if I want to bite you? It’s me or the snakes.” She swirled her wine seductively and pushed her chair out but didn’t stand. “Come here, Poesy.”

My body froze and ignited at the sound of her command. “You said you don’t bite,” I murmured weakly. Praying I could still remember how to stand, how to walk, I did as I was told. When I was within reach, she took my hands again and stood me in front of her as she sat like a queen on the throne. She gave my body a slow appraisal, her gaze sweeping to my feet and then ascending, pausing around my middle, my breasts, and resting on my eyes. My heart pounded in my chest as I awaited her every word and graceful movement.

“Do you know what it means to be a mistress?” she asked, her voice huskier than before.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling warm and tingly all over, fighting the urge to lean into her. “No,” I admitted.

She stood then but pulled my palms toward her so my breasts collided with hers and our noses touched. Her breath was sweet as she spoke to the torrent of want raging inside me. “It means you will do, and be, anything I require. It means that I own you, your body. Your every desire and pleasure are mine.”

“Yes,” I whispered breathlessly.

“Good girl,” she answered before lightly skimming my lips with hers. “Take this off,” she ordered, spinning me around and unzipping the back of my dress.

About Kat Blackthorne

Kat Blackthorne is a bestselling author of haunting romance. She writes passion, characters, and worlds that linger past the last page. Her tales embrace cozy darkness with magical and spooky twists. Catnip for her is banter, begging, challenging norms, and beings who worship their women.

Kat lives somewhere deep in the mountains in a witch’s cottage with her talking feline. She has a collection of quotes and character names a mile long, her favorite holiday is Halloween, and her favorite book is whatever she read last.

Join her spooky reader coven on Facebook: Kat Blackthorne and The Black Hearts Coven
Follow her on Tiktok where her hashtags have over six million views: @katblackthorne
Find her on Instagram: @katblackthorneauthor

Website: http://www.katblackthorne.com

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Release Tour ~ Buried Roots ~ by ~ Terra Weiss

I might have found my own grave. Or not, but I don’t have time to figure it out because my sexy neighbor, Owen, is helping me restore an inherited historic estate. But the more we dig, the more my disturbing buried roots surface. I have to confront that grave… and my bombshell family secret. Readers who love Catherine Cowles, Colleen Hoover, and Nora Roberts will fall head-over-heels for Buried Roots by Terra Weiss, a steamy, small town, heroine in danger, cinnamon roll hero, forced proximity romantic comedy mystery.

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I might’ve found my own grave. Or not, but I don’t have time to figure it out. A perfect stranger willed me his neglected fifty-acre farm, and now, this New Yorker has two weeks to get it sell-ready. With a business to run, I can’t stay in this boondock town a second longer. But I’ve got it handled—even after a series of suspicious property mishaps. Even after the threatening notes. My veterinarian neighbor Owen Brooks shows up with a sledgehammer, a wicked sexy smile, and Demon, his appropriately named foster bulldog. But after losing my family, I only rely on myself. That doesn’t stop Owen and the town of Violet Moon from showing up for me. Maybe family isn’t just blood. Owen and I can’t deny our magnetic connection as we restore the historic estate. But the more we dig, the more my disturbing buried roots surface. I have to confront that grave… and my bombshell family secret.

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Excerpt

Owen keeps showing up for me, something I didn’t know just how much I needed until now. I move my hand down to Owen’s and take it. His skin is warm, and I feel the roughness of his palm against mine. His fingers are long, but his grip is gentle. I pull Owen in for another kiss, our mouths moving in synchrony. I’m trying to stay away—to protect my heart and his—but it feels almost impossible when I get lost in those eyes of his, part ocean, part storm cloud. I’m starting to think we’re two magnets incapable of getting close without drawing together. We stand, just holding each other. The sun shining through the sky window warms my face, and I close my eyes, taking in the moment. When I open them, Owen has an expression that I’ve never seen before. His lips are slightly parted, his eyes almost mesmerized as he looks at me, like I’m the only one he sees. He moves his hands up my arms and to my shoulders, bringing his lips up to my ear. His breath tickles as he whispers, “You deserve to know your roots. You deserve everything.” His words fill a hole deep within me, and I turn and face him, just a breath away. When our mouths catch, his lips move slowly, gently, and calmness washes over me. I forget who I am, or who I might be, and how I don’t belong. How Owen lives here, and how I live somewhere else entirely. His kiss deepens with more intensity and intention, and I take in every morsel of it. The mint on his breath, the silk of his lips, the scent of the air when he’s nearby. My grip tightens around him when I realize that this is where I belong.

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About Terra Weiss

Terra Weiss is a romcom author with a knack for witty banter and gift for capturing authentic family dynamics. Readers love how her stories steer away from typical romcom cookie-cutter formulas and show how real-life people find real-life love. When Terra’s not spilling the tea on what happens in the big and small towns that live in her heart, you’ll find her with her spunky daughter, mad scientist husband, wacky and wonderful mother, and the two six-pound dogs that run her house. She enjoys jogging at a snail’s pace, reading from her iPhone, and piling bright orange mountains of squeezy cheese on her crackers.

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Release Tour ~ Duke in Shining Armor ~ by ~ Hayleigh Mills

Lady Catherine Davenport never planned to be a damsel in distress, while Lord James Hastings, Duke of Pembroke, enjoyed the pleasures of any man with no intention of considering marriage. When a twist of fate brings them together, he unexpectedly becomes her savior, yet a threat to her at the same time. Fans of Alyssa Clarke, Stacy Reid, and Tamara Gill will swoon for Duke in Shining Armor by Hayleigh Mills, an Open Door, Opposites Attract, Historical Victorian Romance.

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Far from a helpless maiden, Lady Catherine Davenport had her wits and a trusty derringer pistol at her disposal. As she journeyed to Switzerland to attend school, she did not plan to play the

damsel in distress. Yet, even the most independent lady could use a bit of unexpected assistance when faced with the threat of highwaymen.

Enter Lord James Hastings, Duke of Pembroke, a man of wealth often maligned as a rogue or a rake. The truth, however, lay far from these labels – he was an industrious man of leisure, delighting

in worldly pleasures as any man of his station might. Marriage was the last thing on his agenda until he crossed paths with the fiercely independent and intellectual Lady Davenport.

He becomes her savior in a turn of fate, offering her protection under the most extraordinary circumstances. He was able to keep Catherine safe from the highwaymen, but the real question

remains: could he protect her from the danger he himself posed?

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Excerpt

She was surprised to see the duke walking into the bedchamber so early in the afternoon. The door remained open, and the maid hovered there. Deep inside, where she held all her secretive

improper thoughts, Catherine wished they were alone without a chaperone. Perhaps then she would learn even more hidden complexities about the duke. And she so wanted to know everything.

“Good afternoon, Catherine. Yesterday you mentioned needing some fresh air, and I have considered this. The physician believes you are healing well so a short visit outside is in order.”

Catherine’s face lit up with a smile. She longed to feel the sun caress her skin and to breathe dew kissed air. She was pleased to learn that James would indulge her.

“I have had cook prepare us a hamper, and we shall have a picnic in the garden.”

“I am most grateful, James.”

A ghost of a smile touched his mouth, and he briefly dipped his head. “Well, that is settled, and everything is prepared. Now, we must have regard for the physician’s instructions. You cannot

stand on your feet, so I shall lift you, and take you there. Shall we?”

Lift her? There gazes collided and suddenly she knew without any doubt that the duke’s heart was pounding as harshly and loudly as hers. There was something in those hazel eyes, a guarded

awareness yet a delight. As if he had longed to hold her closer.

“Yes,” Catherine replied in a soft murmur, releasing the edges of the sheets that she’d gripped.

James padded over and scooped her effortlessly from the bed. She was so close to his face that her eyes were suddenly drawn to his lips before she quickly averted her gaze.

She placed one arm around his neck and the other on his shoulder. Her heart jerked and Catherine marveled at the feel of his muscles beneath her fingertips. It was rather uncanny, but she

had a sense that … that she belonged right here in his arms. They felt powerful, and protective. She knew no harm would befall her when he held her.

Oh, Catherine, she silently scolded herself, do not be silly and fanciful!

About Hayleigh Mills

Hayleigh Mills became passionate about romance when she started reading Mills & Boon in her late teens. She is an avid reader of historical romance, including the medieval period. Hayleigh pursued a career in the medical field but maintained a strong affinity for all things historical. She made the bold decision to relinquish practicing to follow her dream of becoming an author of historical romance.

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Release Tour ~ Twist of Date ~ by ~ Lauren Helms

Layla James has always been in the business of love and never mixes business with pleasure, but when Cole Reed walks back into her life, she’s left questioning everything. Can this blast from the past convenience Layla to set her rules aside and take a chance on love? Fans of secret fling romances will love TWIST OF DATE by Lauren Helms, a steamy matchmaker romance.

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Once upon a time, there was a charming restaurant owner and an unsuspecting matchmaker who refused to mix business with pleasure…

Layla
I’ve always been in the business of love. Happily Ever After, Inc. has thrived under my leadership and the hard set of rules that I set for myself. But when a never quite forgotten blast from my past walks into my life, I’m suddenly questioning everything and everyone around me.

Cole Reed is everything I want in a man – handsome, successful, and charming.

There’s just one small hiccup…Cole is Happily Ever After’s latest client, and he’s got his sights on me.

Cole
I’m used to getting what I want and I’ve never left a date unhappy. So when my grandmother insists I need to work with a matchmaker…her lifelong best friend at that…I’m skeptical. Especially when my path crosses with the girl that always seemed to get away.

She’s sexy, smart, and determined – everything I’ve always admired about her. And this time, I refuse to let her get away.

There’s just one small problem…Layla James is my so-called matchmaker’s granddaughter – and the owner of the matchmaking company that’s just taken me on.

It feels like a weird twist of date that’s put the two of us back in each other’s life, but Layla doesn’t quite see it that way.

Can I convince her to break a few rules and take a chance on our own happily ever after?

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Excerpt

“For real, though, a matchmaker? Really, Cole?”

I groan and cover my face with my hand, scrubbing my palm over my eyes then down my cheeks and chin. “Long story short, my grandma asked Ruth to do her a solid and get me settled down. So Ruth went through her song and dance. I think she may have mind ninja’d me into agreeing to be her newest client.”

“Well, shit.” He barks out a laugh.

“Yeah. So I guess I’ll be going on prearranged dates and stuff. I’m not one hundred percent sure what this whole thing involves.”

“I’m here for it, though. This is gonna be one hell of a ride, brother. Entertaining as fuck, I’m sure.” Travis is going to have a blast with this.

“Here’s the crazy thing, though. Ruth’s granddaughter, who actually owns the company, I went to school with her. We had a few business classes at IU and kinda hung out in the same crowd. We were never a thing, but I think we both wanted to be.”

“Oh, snap,” he mutters. “Tell me more.”

“I didn’t know she was related to Ruth, but I saw her today. We chatted a little. I gave her my number. I want to catch up with her.”

“Is she hot?”

I glare at him, his use of the term hot rubbing me the wrong way when it comes to Layla.

He throws his hands up and adds, “What? It’s a legit question. It’s okay if she’s not. You don’t always have to date a ten, man.”

I shake my head, annoyed. “No, Layla is a fucking twelve. She was a solid ten back in college, but she’s even more beautiful now.”

Travis whistles. “Damn, you’ve got it bad.”

“No, I don’t, just wasn’t expecting to run into her today. It’s been ten years.”

Travis hits me with the back of his hand. “Oh, oh, what if Ruth sets you up with her? Can’t you just ask your matchmaker to set you up with people?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I doubt it works like that, but maybe.” I trail off. Maybe I should ask Ruth about Layla. If she’s single and I’m single, maybe we can finally give it a go.

“Well, I’m team Layla then, man. That’s who I want you to give your first rose to. Oh, and then I’ll be the friend that she gets to meet before you take her home to meet the parents. It’s gonna be an intense ride getting to that final rose ceremony.” He gushes. I see the smirk.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, man? This isn’t a dating show, it’s my life, and I’m not even sure I’m going to go through with it.” I stand from the chair and walk toward the door.

“You’ll do it. Or Dorthy is gonna come hunt you down,” he says from the couch.

He’s not wrong.

“I’ll be back down around six on my way out. You better not be here.” I point at him and give him my best “I’m your boss” glare.

“Oh, hey, if you can fit it into your busy dating schedule”—I roll my eyes at his dig, but he doesn’t miss a beat and continues—“trivia night is coming up at that books and coffee place a few blocks from my apartment. Theme is ’90s Pop Culture. Wanna go and destroy the other teams?”

I chuckle because of our hobbies, the pop culture trivia is the one we both enjoy the most. He is training at becoming a blacksmith, and me, well, I’m a sucker for a good Dungeon and Dragons campaign. But trivia? Put us in a team and we are unstoppable.

“Sure, send me the info and I’ll add it to my calendar.”

“You got it, boss.” He salutes.

“Don’t call me that,” I grumble as I walk out his office door.

“If the shoe fits,” he yells after me. I raise my hand and flip him off, shaking my head at his laugh that follows me down the hallway.

He’s got about two hours before he needs to be kicked out for the night, so I’ve got two hours to get some work done and focus on my task list.

No more thinking about the gorgeous brunette from my past.

At least that’s what I tell myself anyway.

About Lauren Helms

Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best–video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren created PR company, Indie Pen PR, to help other authors promote their books.

Lauren lives in Indianapolis, Indiana sharing her love of books and video games with her own Gamer Boy husband and three young kid nerds who will hopefully grow up to share the love of things that united Lauren and her husband on their own happily ever after.

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Release Tour ~ Wed Like Wildfire ~ by ~ Lauren Helms

Wedding planner, Cassie Winters can’t wait to find her own happily ever after, and when she meets wedding hater, Theo Abbot, she realizes she’s got her work cut out for her. Theo’s grumpy, set in his ways, and determined to never fall in love again, but the more time they spend together, the more Cassie begins to wonder if she can change Theo’s position on love. Fans of Claire Kingsley and Kaylee Ryan will adore WED LIKE WILDFIRE by Lauren Helms, a steamy, grumpy sunshine romance.

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Once upon a time, there was a grumpy CEO who met a wedding planner who never stopped smiling…

Cassie
You could say that I live and breathe weddings and love, and as a wedding planner, a happily ever after is the main event. So when I learn that Theo Abbot absolutely hates weddings, that should be my clue to run for the hills as fast as my sexy little black stilettos will take me.

But I digress.

I’m on the hunt for my own epic love story, one T-Swift herself could write a song about. Which means unavailable and seemingly uninterested CEOs are off limits. Even if the man oozes sex appeal and his grumpiness turns me to mush.

A little flirting never hurt anyone.

Theo
Cassie Winters shines so bright I need a pair of Ray-bans to look directly at her. Problem is, once I’ve set my eyes on her, I can’t seem to look away. The woman is a walking, talking promotion for all things love and happiness.

Hand me an antacid.

Counting, on one hand, the amount of times I’ve failed in my life, leaves me knowing I won’t ever do “love” again. I’m set in my ways and not even this sexy little spitfire could sweet talk me out of my decision to never get married.

Yet it only took one drink to derail that plan.

But, things aren’t always as they seem and when real life gets in the way of this fairy tale, we’re both forced to take a hard look at what we truly want.

Are we both ready to wed or is this a wildfire that’s about to burn out?

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Excerpt

I hear my sister and Mateo agree with her, and the woman continues.

“I mean, just look at the stage. It features more than fifty hand-painted scenic backdrops. It’s just absolutely remarkable.”

Despite the fact that I could get lost in this woman’s voice, I don’t appreciate that she barking up the wrong tree trying to sell this space to my sister.

I come to a stop behind the three of them, my attendance going unnoticed. I resist the urge to clap for her performance, but interrupt her words with my own instead.

“Well done, sounds like you could sell religion to the damn Pope.” Harsh, but I don’t like when people think they can take advantage of us just because we have money.

Both my sister and the woman startle. Mateo snorts. I glance at Nora and the glare I’m getting could cut ice, but I’ve survived the look before. I nod a hello at Mateo before sliding my gaze to the best damn saleswoman in the world.

Taking in the woman standing in front of me, no goddamn joke, my heart skips a fucking beat. I draw my hand out of my pocket and slowly rub my chest absentmindedly.

The woman is utterly exquisite. Her soft blond hair is braided in a way that is messy but perfectly styled and falls over her shoulder with strands of soft gold framing her face. A face that at first glance looks flawless. I’m unable to continue my perusal as I’m stopped in my tracks by two sparkling blue eyes staring back at me. Taking in all of her, I see that the smirk she wears tells me she’s not about to let me get away with what I’ve just said.

“No doubt you are correct, Mr. Abbot. However, I wouldn’t attempt something so outrageous.” Her eyes gleam. “I was just telling Nora and Mateo some very well-known facts about this beautiful cathedral.” She glances up and waves her hand around as if to encompass the whole space.

“Theo, this is Cassie Winters, our wedding planner. It’s nice of you to join us,” Nora bites out in a pleasantly terse tone. She walks up to me and kisses my cheek. As she pulls away, she whispers, “Be nice.”

I ignore her and focus on the wedding planner. Cassie.

“Well, I’m just confused as to why we are even here, Ms. Winters. Or is it Mrs.?” I ask.

She doesn’t miss a beat. “Ms. Thank you. And we are here because the couple getting married”—she gestures to Nora and Mateo—“wanted a tour.” Her tone straddles the line of condescending and courteous. And it’s sexy as fuck.

Nora punches me lightly in the side, typical sister shit. “Yes, I asked if we could check out the cathedral as well as some other places. We’ve already ruled some out due to availability, but this place has an opening twelve months from now,” she informs me as she walks back over to Mateo, lacing her fingers through his. His eyes flash as he looks down at her.

“I thought you didn’t want to wait a year,” I say, my eyes darting back at Cassie. She stands there, smiling with fucking stars in her eyes at Nora and Mateo.

“True, but places book up quickly, and I wasted too much time floundering before hiring Cassie,” Nora says.

I nod. Makes sense. I take a second to look around this place. I want to vomit, it’s so extra. We may have grown up with silver spoons in our mouths, but we didn’t grow up around such fancy-ass stuff such as weddings in the Scottish Rite Cathedral.

“Why the grumpy face?” Cassie’s beautiful voice breaks me out of my stupor.

“Oh, no, that’s his normal face,” Nora tells her.

“I don’t understand why you picked this place. It’s a church…”

“Are you not religious, Mr. Abbot?” Cassie interrupts.

“I’m not sure why that matters to you,” I snap.

Her eyes widen a tad at the venom in my tone. “You said it’s a church.”

“You didn’t let me finish, Ms. Winters. I was saying, it’s a church that was built in the ’20s and this place fits, like what? Twelve hundred people? Do you even know that many people, Nora?” I stuff my hands in my pockets out of frustration.

“No,” Nora offers shakily.

“Mr. Abbot, the theater space is only one of the locations available for a ceremony. This was our first stop. I wanted them to get the full tour,” Cassie says and I so badly want to ask her to call me Theo, but I don’t know if I’ll like the way she says my name more than the way she calls me Mr. Abbot.

I grunt, not having time for this argument. “Okay, then let’s look at a more accommodating space.”

“You know what, I think this place has lost its magic for me,” Nora grumbles. “Let’s check out that last place on my list. I know Theo has a busy schedule.”

“If you are sure, we can head over to INDUSTRY then,” Cassie says as she follows Nora and Mateo toward the exit.

I’m not into games. I’m not going to ask Nora if she’s sure or apologize for raining on her parade with this place. It’s not a good fit for her. She knows it. I know it. And this ridiculous wedding planner needs to learn it if she wants to keep my sister as a client.

Cassie walks by me, her shoulder nearly brushing mine, and my senses are immediately taken over by a soft smell of amber and vanilla.

“I’m so happy that you were able to join us today,” she says softly. I look down at her. She’s a few inches shorter, and the sparkle in her eyes is mischievous.

Clenching my jaw, I don’t reply as she walks on by, but the urge to wrap my hand around her arm and pull her back to me is strong.

I think what gets under my skin the most is that she has yet to drop the smile this whole time. Is it stuck on her face? Is this a Botox gone wrong? She doesn’t look like the type of woman to be obsessed with Botox, but what the fuck do I know?

I close my eyes for a minute to gain my wits.

One, two, three…

About Lauren Helms

Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best–video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren created a PR company, Indie Pen PR, to help other authors promote their books.

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR