Tag: New release

New Release: Bloodcurse #5 in the Bloodborn Series

Blurb

To save her people, she needs his blood.

A deadly sickness has been picking off the dwarven race one by one, and now that they are on the brink of extinction, Kirsa Frey must take desperate action. Even if it means risking her life and those of her people by trapping a vampire to use his immortal blood.

Luca Dragomir is plagued with the loss of many loved ones—friends, family, and even the woman he cared for. Unable to stand the daily reminder of his grief, he gives up his birthright, wanting nothing to do with the vampires he called family. When he leaves the only life he’s ever known, he is cornered and captured by a beautiful dwarf and taken back to her settlement.

He soon realizes there might be another way to save her people. And he is the only person who can do it.

But time is running out, and if he doesn’t succeed, he is in danger of losing the one person he comes to love more than anything.

Excerpt

“Chloe?” a voice called from within the room. His head darted toward the sound, and shock jolted through him as he remembered the voice from the night he’d almost killed the princess.

“Hide,” Chloe ordered, but he didn’t need any warning. He hopped down from the ledge and allowed his vampiristic transformation to wash over him, his feet turning into small black paws, his body into a furry red coat. As a fox, he easily hid behind a flowerpot and peeked his head around the corner just enough to watch the speaker walk out onto the balcony to join Chloe.

His heart caught in his chest, like his hair snagging tightly on a branch that wouldn’t come loose, but only managed to become more tangled. The female stood at a height shorter than Chloe, each of her movements careful and calculated. She walked on the tip of her toes as if ready to flee in the opposite direction at any moment. Although he’d never seen one before in his life, he recognized her for what she was.

A dwarf.

His heart finally unsnagged and melted into a puddle as his gaze roamed over her heart-shaped face and across the bridge of her adorable nose. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her golden eyes. They looked like small drops of sunlight, framed by long, dark lashes the same color as her chestnut brown hair. The clothing she wore was like nothing he’d ever seen either. Long, flowing pants tucked into a pair of boots, though her top was more revealing. It strapped over one shoulder, loosely falling over her upper arm and leaving her other shoulder bare, and nearly half of her stomach was visible to reveal a small and slender waist.

Not able to take his gaze off her mystifying eyes for long, he watched from his hiding spot, hardly able to keep from showing himself and demanding her name.

“You’re back,” Chloe said casually, but her rigid posture was anything but relaxed.

“I thought I’d find one by now,” the dwarf replied tiredly, loosening her braid little by little until her hair fell around her shoulders. He froze, startled by the searing heat rising to his chest. Another emotion, but one he couldn’t pick apart in time before the dwarf continued, “They were easier to catch several years ago.”

“That was before the war.”

He crept forward just enough to get a better glimpse of the two females, but then his canine eyebrows furrowed. War? Were they talking about the Crusader war between vampires and blood hunters?

Chloe’s rigid posture softened into concern, and she lightly touched the dwarf’s arm. “Get some rest. You need it.”

The dwarf shook her head. “I will rest when I’m either dead or watching my people prosper. There is no time to rest.”

As quickly as she’d come, she disappeared, and Luca couldn’t stop himself as he followed after her. He transformed back into his vampire form, hurried step after hurried step as a desperate need to meet her surfaced inside him. 

And then Chloe blocked his path.

“Who was that?” he marveled, still staring after the spot where he’d seen the dwarven female last. 

She smirked, amusement shining in her eyes. “Taken a fancy to my friend, have you? She needs a male admirer now and again.” 

“Introduce me. I beg you.”

“No.” 

The word was simple, but it held an air of finality that crushed his heart to pieces. He hadn’t taken a true interest in any female since Laurel, but at the moment, his old flame was on the very back of his mind. How could he think of anyone else when the dwarf’s golden eyes burned so brightly in his mind?

He took another step toward her door, but when he tried to step into the room, blistering heat burned his skin. He hissed and jumped backward, cradling his arm to his chest. The wound throbbed, a painful reminder that he couldn’t enter a room without permission. He’d never felt so desperate to enter a room before.

“Luca.” Her tone sounded forceful enough for him to tear his gaze away from the door and meet the seriousness in her expression. With lips drawn tight together, she said, “I will never introduce you to her. Never.”

“But why?” A vampire whine escaped his throat before he managed to stop it. “Is she already mated?”

“Married,” she corrected, making him realize he knew nothing about dwarven culture. Was it similar to human culture then? “And no, she’s not. But I advise you to keep your distance.”

An ache settled in his chest, and he welcomed the feeling of his thawing emotions. But he much preferred the heat the dwarf inspired in his heart over anything else. “Give me a reason.”

Chloe sighed and touched his hand gently, the way a friend would console another friend. “Her name is Kirsa Frey. She’s the eldest daughter of the dwarven chief. And she’s a vampire killer.”

Buy Bloodcurse
by Sydney Winward

Through Wylder Meadows is Now Available

When Sophia Meadows’ closest friend dies—the man she has secretly loved for years—a piece of her soul dies with him. Two years later, along her journey to meet her new fiancé, bandits derail and rob her train. She encounters the man who ripped her heart out with his death two years earlier. Alive and healthy.

Samuel Woods is a bounty hunter, and when one of his jobs goes south, he fakes his death to protect those he loves. When he runs into Sophia during a job, he’s floored. He has to win back her trust, and her heart, before she shuts away from him completely and returns to the man she’s been promised to.

However, the danger Samuel feared for so long returns when the bandits threaten her life. He must stop them and finish his job, otherwise he’ll lose the woman he loves for a second time.

Get Your Copy of Through Wylder Meadows
by Sydney Winward

New Release! A Glimpse of Music

If you’ve been following the Sunlight and Shadows series, the third installment, A Glimpse of Music, releases today! This book can also be read as a standalone.

Here’s a little of what you will find in the pages:

  • Hidden feelings
  • Plenty of longing
  • One blanket
  • Best friend’s ex!
Get Your Copy HEre!

Blurb

If fate gives you a third chance, would you take it?

Joel Harrington has been in love with the same woman for as long as he could remember. But he had to watch her court his best friend, and then marry his king. Now that she’s once more unattached, he refuses to let her slip through his fingers for a third time.

Darkness torments Nyana’s memories, and even after her cruel husband is killed, he still haunts her from the grave. When her past refuses to leave her alone, it puts not only her, but her daughters in danger. She has no choice but to lean on the man she has called a friend for the past eight years, a friend whose charms she tries hard to resist.

But along with the growing threat to her family, she keeps an even more dangerous secret—a secret that could change her life forever.

Excerpt

Something tickled his foot, and as an involuntary reaction, he kicked before resuming perusing the book. Did Forest Fae have flies in the winter? Or were some other bugs flying around in here?

A chuckle escaped him as the bug tickled his foot again. He kicked. But when he spotted the end of a feather reaching through the slats on the sofa’s end to tickle the bottom of his feet once more, he laughed. He swore he heard a snicker in response.

“There must be a fly loose in this house,” he said loudly for Maisy’s benefit, only to hear the faintest muffled snicker again. “They won’t leave my poor toes alone.”

When the feather reached through the bars for the third time, he jumped up and growled playfully with the intent of scaring Maisy. But too late, he realized the girls were still upstairs, and he found himself gazing back at a pair of mischievous blue eyes.

“Nyana!” he gasped, and his hand slipped in surprise. He couldn’t catch himself as he flipped over the side of the sofa and landed directly on top of her.

Before he managed to recover from his shock, she tickled his sides, and laughter erupted from his mouth as he writhed against her fingers. “Stop!” he begged, trying to push her away as he guffawed. He retaliated by tickling her between the shoulder blades, and she quickly joined in with her own laughter.

At least until she flipped him over and straddled his waist, pinning him down by the arms. All coherent thought fled his mind as his gaze traveled from her hair that tumbled over her shoulders like a golden waterfall to the delicate smile on her pink lips to the vibrancy in her blue eyes. Her skin contained a healthy glow, the dark circles no longer prominent beneath her eyes. She radiated beauty. Inside and out.

And he couldn’t stop himself from caressing the golden waves inches from his face.

by Sydney Winward

Cover Reveal: Through Wylder Meadows

Blurb

When Sophia Meadows’ closest friend dies—the man she has secretly loved for years—a piece of her soul dies with him. Two years later, along her journey to meet her new fiancé, bandits derail and rob her train. She encounters the man who ripped her heart out with his death two years earlier. Alive and healthy.

Samuel Woods is a bounty hunter, and when one of his jobs goes south, he fakes his death to protect those he loves. When he runs into Sophia during a job, he’s floored. He has to win back her trust, and her heart, before she shuts away from him completely and returns to the man she’s been promised to.

However, the danger Samuel feared for so long returns when the bandits threaten her life. He must stop them and finish his job, otherwise he’ll lose the woman he loves for a second time.

Pre-Order Through Wylder Meadows
by Sydney Winward

Release Date for Yours, Sterling!

Blurb

If the enemy finds her, they will kill her.

An arranged marriage to a younger man wasn’t what Kathleen de Clare had in mind for her future, but after an assassination attempt on their wedding day, a war tears them apart. Sequestered in the safety of the mountains stitching up injured soldiers and mending broken bones, she must wait out the war.

But what if it doesn’t end?

For all his life, Sterling Winfield has only known loss. His parents were assassinated, forcing him to take the throne at a young age. When his new wife’s very life is threatened, he does the only thing he thinks he can do. He hides her. But are letters enough to build a friendship with a stranger and keep their relationship alive? Will he lose her to war? Will the distance destroy what happiness they could have had together? Or will their reunion be as sweet as her letters?

Get a Copy of Yours, Sterling!
by Sydney Winward

Cover Reveal for Marilyn Barr’s Pirate Series

  • Walk the Walk Amazon Buy Links (Available on KU after release dates)

Walk the Plank Book Blurb:

Branko learns he will be sold into slavery when they dock in Charles Town, so he doesn’t hesitate to jump ship onto a neighboring sloop in the harbor. This boat will weigh anchor with him at the helm–once he decides what to do with the lady chained in the cargo hold who claims she’s a vampire.

Magda Dashkovari’s body has been given to science while she’s still living in it. Her prayers are answered when a pirate boards her boat, but she should have asked for her rescuer to be less bloodthirsty than she is…

Scientists hunt her in town, plantation owners hunt him from the north and south, Blackbeard blocks Charles Town Harbor to the east, and a war rages between settlers and natives to the west. These unlikely allies will have to link together to escape a life in chains…but will their trust in each other endure their journey to freedom?

Walk the Plank Excerpt:

“Who is Blackbeard?” My heart skips a beat at her naivete. Her accent is foreign, so I forgive the slight. Unfortunately, she takes the opening to worm her way further into my mind. “We got off to a poor start. I am Magda Dashkovari, and I am a vampire.”

My disbelief bubbles like a good ale as we reach the deck. Gut-busting, belly-aching, side-stitching laughter brings tears to my eyes. From a madman captain who masquerades as a demon to a madwoman boat owner who masquerades as a vampire—I can pick ’em, can’t I? She wraps her wrist with furious revolutions while I wipe my tears.

“I don’t care what you are,” I tell her, “as long as you are leaving.”

“I could drain you.”

“I could throw you overboard.”

“I’m staying.”

“—in Charles Town Harbor, and this boat is leaving.”

“I will sink this boat before I let you return it to my husband! Whatever he has promised in reward is a lie. Once you are in his harbor, one of his minions will drain you—”

“Oh, he’s a vampire, too. Is there a whole colony waiting for me somewhere? Listen, sea hag, I don’t know your husband, and the last thing in my future is to return his boat.”

Author Bio:

Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated. 

When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy.

Marilyn’s Social Media Links:

website * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon author profile * Goodreads * BookBub

by Sydney Winward

New Release: A Waltz with Lord Death

Blurb

Lord Death kills everything he touches, and worse, each day, he loses more control of his power. He has to find a replacement for Life before it’s too late, but in order to transfer Life’s power to another host, he must first kiss them to exchange a breath. No one has survived his deadly kiss.

Meira Abrams is determined to rise above her humble beginnings and doesn’t have time for relationships, especially with a mysterious man who refuses to tell her his name. Nevertheless, she is drawn to him and his incredulous offer…but can she really trust him?

When he meets Meira, he is not only in danger of losing control of his power, but his heart as well. But is a smooth, shifty fortune teller really the best option for the job? And is she strong enough to accept his kiss of Life without losing her soul?

Get Your Copy of A Waltz with Lord Death
by Sydney Winward

A Taste of Shadows Is Out Today!

She has lived her entire life in silence. One mistake could mean someone’s life. Only one man can help her, but getting close to him could kill him.

Excerpt From A Taste of Shadows

The swish of skirts drew his attention to the young lady who stood to Lord Auer’s right. His gaze traveled up a full skirt made of slim feathers in a variety of different shades, a bodice of intricate beadwork, and sheer sleeves at the shoulders. Long hair cascaded over one shoulder, leading up to a slender neck, and her face was covered by a harp-shaped mask that reminded him of a cage. The moment their eyes met, it was as if he tumbled over the edge of a cliff, but instead of crashing, he kept falling and falling and falling.

A thousand butterflies crawled through his stomach. His heart squeezed inside his chest. The young woman was beautiful. And as he approached, she never took her eyes off him. 

Buy Your Copy of A Taste of SHadows
by Sydney Winward

New Release From Jeny Heckman

From the Author: Why I Chose Sunflowers in the Design of My Book

Sunflowers in the design of Dee’s Cornucopia

Greek Mythology is such a giving source of inspiration for many aspects of our modern life. The never-ending soap opera-like saga of Greek gods and Greek Goddesses was the inspiration of my fantasy paranormal Heaven & Earth Series. Dee’s Cornucopia is a novella telling the story of Dee Taylor, the beloved grandmother who started the Quest in our modern lives when she communed with Demeter the Greek Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture. 

Dee is a grower! She can grow anything! She has a nursery in Hawaii called Dee’s Cornucopia and also happens to be a descendant of Demeter!

The sunflowers are the story of unconditional love! Dee lost everybody she loved the most. She lost her father at a very young age. She lost her beloved husband soon after they married. She lost her beloved mother and later her only child! She loved them unconditionally! Out of all this tragedy comes a story of love for Dee’s grandson Finn Taylor, the protagonist of the Sea Archer, book 1 of the Heaven & Earth Series.

The Cornucopia is one of the only constants in Dee’s life. It is her passion! She loves to grow flowers, plants, and fruits. She loves to grow sunflowers!

Continue reading “New Release From Jeny Heckman”
by Sydney Winward