I recently read a book that I’ve had on my TBR for a while called A girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes. This is a middle grade/ YA fiction novel that deals a bit around faith and life lessons at young age. Take a listen to my quick podcast review and let me know if this is something you’ll be interested in reading?
Cursed as children.
Empowered as adults.
Now, they’ve been summoned to stop a force older than the
gods themselves.
Stone Hearts
Olympian Awakenings Trilogy Book 1
by CB Samet
Genre: Greek Mythology Urban Fantasy Romance
Madison was cursed to
destroy with a glance—until a prophecy calls her to fight beside the one man
who sees through her walls… and into her heart.
Cursed to turn the living to stone, Madison has spent her
life avoiding others—until a prophecy drags her to Greece to join a team of
strangers to help stop an ancient evil. Among them, she meets Rex, a
battle-scarred archaeologist with the power to heal and secrets of his own.
Together, they must survive deadly skirmishes, outwit
mythical creatures, and recover the Armor of Achilles from the heart of
Daedalus’ labyrinth.
The deeper they go, the more the maze twists not just the
path, but their minds.
Failure isn’t an option. Succeeding might cost them
everything.
Magic. Monsters. A
love forged in fire. The battle is only beginning.
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Winds of Destiny
Olympian Awakenings Book 2
When a titan’s power
surges, mortals pay the price—and the Olympians must answer the call.
Layla, Tyler, and the other Olympians are thrust on a
perilous quest across the Mediterranean and into the sunken heart of Atlantis
to reclaim Poseidon’s trident. Their sea voyage is fraught with danger with
deadly monsters and diabolical magic at every turn. Only by learning to
trust—and love—each other can they hope to survive.
Layla’s storm powers are tied to her heart, and to master
them, she must first confront the emotions she’s spent years guarding. Tyler, a
shapeshifter whose might can rival the fiercest beasts, may be the key to her
control—but breaking through the walls around her heart won’t be easy. Their
past mistakes still linger, and some wounds run too deep for even the strongest
powers to heal.
Adventure, danger, and passion collide in this electrifying
continuation of the Olympian Awakens series.
Grab Book 2 and continue the thrilling ride!
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Flame and Shadow
Olympian Awakenings Book 3
A titan is rising.
And this time, the world may not
survive.
Fire-wielder Zoey has spent her life afraid of her own
power. Ancient soldier Alexios has spent centuries believing he was nothing
more than a weapon. Together, they’ve survived monsters, gods, and impossible
quests—but nothing prepares them for Kronos’s final move.
As fractures tear open between worlds, monsters pour into
the mortal realm and the boundary between life and death begins to collapse.
When a desperate sacrifice strands Zoey in the Underworld itself, ancient
warrior Alexios must defy gods, fate, and death to bring her home—before she
loses her memories… and herself.
The final battle will demand everything from all six
champions who have fought side by side: fire and storm, stone and steel,
courage, sacrifice, and unbreakable trust.
Because defeating a Titan will take more than power.
It will take a family forged in battle—and two souls willing
to burn for each other and the world they refuse to lose.
The explosive
conclusion to the Olympian Awakenings trilogy delivers epic Greek mythology,
found family, and a sweeping romantic finale where love and legend collide.
**NEW RELEASE!!**
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**FREEBIE ALERT!**
Stormborn & Flameforged
Olympian Awakenings Prequel
When fire meets storm, destiny ignites.
Zoey has always felt the burn of something more beneath her
skin—an untamed fire that refuses to be extinguished. After years of hiding her
power, she’s finally found belonging and a chance to be normal… as a stunt
double on a Hollywood set.
Layla is the picture of grace and fame, a star with a global
following. But behind the camera, she’s hiding a dangerous secret: she can
control the weather.
When a monstrous creature straight from myth attacks during
filming, Zoey and Layla are forced to reveal their powers—and discover they’re
not alone. Chosen by ancient forces, bound by a forgotten legacy, the two women
must join forces to face a truth that will shatter everything they thought they
knew.
Because the world is on the brink of chaos.
And this is only the beginning.
Get It FREE HERE!
Christina is a four-time award winning author in thriller,
romantic suspense, and fantasy. She is a mother of two energetic boys. She
is a lover of suspense, adventure, and happy endings. She writes action and
adventure in fantasy, thrillers, and romantic suspense genres. Her novels have
empowered women overcoming powerful obstacles and the strong men who support
them.
Favorite quote, ‘She needed a hero. So she became
one.’ –Robin Reed
Children’s Book
Date Published: August 26, 2026
Is your little one feeling a mix of big excitement and nervous tummy
butterflies about starting school? You are not alone. Turning the page to a
new school year is a massive step, but a smooth transition is completely
possible.
Amaya’s Welcome to Kindergarten is a warm, beautifully illustrated
children’s picture book designed to transform back-to-school anxiety into pure
joy and confidence.
Making New Friends: Easing social anxieties and learning how to share.
Meeting the Teacher: Realizing that the classroom is a safe, loving, and
supportive place.
Classroom Rules Made Easy: Learning what to expect from routines down the
hall.
Why Parents and Educators Love This Book:
Perfect Read-Aloud: Ideal for cozy bedtime reading before the big day or as an
early childhood classroom read-aloud.
Diverse & Inclusive: Features multicultural characters that celebrate
early childhood representation and emotional readiness.
The Ultimate Milestone Gift: A wonderful pre-K graduation keepsake or summer
bridge book to prepare children emotionally for the transition.
Help your child step onto the school bus with a brave smile and an excited
heart.
Purchase Link
She was looking for a fresh start,
but some families hide
dark truths behind closed doors.
The Au Pair’s
Deception
by C.J. Covino
Genre: Psychological Domestic Suspense, Crime Thriller
Claire Sinclair knows what it means to survive.
After a childhood shaped by trauma, she’s built a life
rooted in stability—a thriving career, a home filled with love, and a devoted
husband everyone envies.
But when Bella arrives as an au pair, the carefully
constructed world Claire depends on begins to unravel.
At first, it’s subtle. A shift in tone. A look held too
long. A moment that feels wrong—but not wrong enough.
Until it is.
As Grant’s behavior escalates, Claire begins to question
herself—her instincts, her memories, the quiet unease she can’t quite explain.
For the sake of her daughter, she holds on…even as something inside her starts
to fracture.
But Bella sees what Claire can’t. She recognizes the signs.
The patterns. The danger.
Because she’s lived it before.
As the tension inside the house builds toward something
neither woman can ignore, the line between endurance and survival begins to
blur—and the choice Claire makes next could cost her everything.
A layered
psychological thriller told through dual perspectives, The Au Pair’s
Deception explores what happens when two women—both shaped by their
pasts—are forced to confront the same danger from different sides. Combining
escalating suspense with emotional depth, it’s a character-driven story of
survival, resilience, and the cost of breaking free.
Trigger Warning: This
book contains depictions of domestic abuse and violence which may be triggering
to some readers. Please read with caution.
**NEW RELEASE!**
Claire
stepped through the front door of her colonial home, greeted by the scent of
tomato sauce drifting from the kitchen. The comfort was exactly what she needed
after the heavy therapy session with Evelyn.
“Clark
is here,” Grant called from the living room, his voice cheerful.
Claire
froze for a moment, her stomach churning at the mention of his name. Something
about her husband’s friend had always set her instincts on edge.
She
recalled Evelyn’s words about instincts. She shouldn’t ignore them.
“Great,”
she muttered under her breath.
Forcing
a smile, she made her way through the foyer to the living room, where she found
Grant and Clark lounging on the couch. Their laughter rang out like a haunting
melody, heightening her discomfort. Clark leaned back, his casual confidence
radiating, his gestures animated. The way he threw his head back and guffawed
made her nauseated.
“Hey,
Claire!” Grant said. “You’re just in time. Clark was telling me about this wild
trip he took last year.”
Clark
flashed her a disarming smile. “A little ski adventure in Canada—nothing like
ungroomed black-diamond runs for an adrenaline rush, right?” He gazed at Claire
with a menacing, glassy gleam.
“Sounds…
interesting,” she replied, forcing the words out as tightness gathered in her
chest. Her focus shifted to Grant, hoping for a flicker of recognition that she
was unhappy to have Clark there, but he was leaning back with an amused smile
on his lips.
“Bella
made an Argentine dish, by the way,” Grant added, his tone light and
carefree.
“I’m
starving.” Clark leered, his gaze lingering on her longer than necessary,
making her blood run cold. “I bet it’s delicious. I’ve heard Bella has a knack
for cooking.”
“Yes,
she does,” Claire said, trying to mask her annoyance. It was already taking all
her willpower to keep from asking why he’d come over.
Clark
seemed too comfortable, too at home in spaces that were intimate for her. Her
mind raced with memories of their wedding day and of Grant’s possessive
demeanor when Clark had made a joke that struck too close to home.
“I
was just telling Grant how lucky he is to have a woman who spends her days
saving lives,” Clark continued, leaning forward as if drawing her into his web.
“It must be tough to manage everything, but you do it so well.”
Claire
clenched her jaw. “It’s part of the job.”
“Of
course,” Clark replied, his tone dripping with insincerity. “But you know, it’s
important to take time for yourself, too. I bet you could use a break.”
“I’m
fine.” Her voice was sharper than she’d meant. She could feel them both staring
at her, their expressions curious.
She
wanted nothing more than to retreat from the room. Instead, she plastered on a
smile and changed the subject. “Where are Bella and Olivia?”
“Don’t
you remember, dear?” Grant’s voice held a hint of irritation. “Olivia’s having
dinner at Rose’s house with Maya. Bella dropped her off.”
“Yes,
of course. Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’m going to change for
dinner.”
“Don’t
be gone too long, Claire,” Grant warned, his features tightening with
disapproval.
She
walked away, unable to shake the feeling that Clark was a dark presence in her
home.
Once
upstairs, she collapsed onto her bed. Her head was pounding. She squeezed her
eyes shut, trying to quell the pain. She hadn’t had a migraine in several
months, but the signs were unmistakable—sensitivity to light and sound, an aura
of flashing lights. Her body prickled with pins and needles.
She
struggled to sit up, pulled open the drawer in her nightstand, and retrieved a
bottle of medication. It would make her sleepy, but the alternative was
dizziness, chills, and vomiting, which were worse.
Shuffling
to the bathroom, she filled a cup with water and swallowed the pill. She caught
a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Deep, dark circles framed her eyes. Her
skin was pale, her lips tinged blue. She dragged herself back to bed, her knees
weak. If she could rest for even a few minutes, maybe she’d make it through
dinner.
She
awoke to Grant shaking her. He spoke through clenched teeth, keeping his voice
low. “I told you not to be gone too long. You’ve been up here for over an hour.
Everyone’s waiting. Bella’s ready to serve dinner. Not only is this rude to
Clark, but it’s also disrespectful to me.”
Despite
the medication’s sedating effect, his words made her face flush with anger.
“I
had a migraine. I had to take medicine. I didn’t have a choice. You know
how bad these headaches can be.”
He
sneered. “How convenient. You just happen to get a migraine when we have
company. And the pills—you know they make you so sleepy you can’t function. Did
you take them so you’d have an excuse not to come down?”
“No.”
She tried to raise her head, but fatigue left her drained and foggy. “I
wouldn’t do that, Grant.”
He
grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her to a standing position, and shook
her. “You will get dressed, and you will come down. Now.”
“I
can’t. I’m sorry.”
His
reaction was sudden. Yet time stretched thin, almost translucent. Her body
tensed before her mind could process what was happening. Then came the crack of
his palm against her cheek, echoing in the bedroom, followed by his cold
command: “Snap out of this, Claire.” Heat radiated across her face from the
point of impact.
She
staggered back, pressing a hand to her cheek. They faced each other in frozen
silence, tethered by a single thread of recognition that the line had been
crossed. Tears blurred her vision. Her mind rejected the harsh reality,
insisting that the burning imprint of his fingers wasn’t real.
He
released her and stomped across the room to retrieve jeans and a blouse from
the closet, then threw them onto the bed.
“Get
dressed,” he ordered.
She
moved through a haze of disbelief, her motions mechanical, while he stood
watching with his arms crossed.
“Now
go wash your face.” He followed her into the bathroom and turned the faucet to
cold water. “Do it.”
She
bent forward, cupping her hands beneath the water and splashing her face. She
caught a glimpse of her reflection. A red handprint was stamped on one cheek.
“I can’t go down like this. Everyone will notice.”
He
reached for her foundation. “Put this on.”
She
applied a thick layer, softening the mark, but the early signs of a bruise were
still evident.
He
took her hand, leading her down the stairs. “Smile,” he ordered under his
breath.
Whether
it was the numbing effect of the medicine, the shock of the violence, or pure
fear, she managed to force a smile. That moment—his hand, her cheek, the
sting—had left an indelible mark, shattering her life around her.
By day, C.J. Covino is an online fitness coach helping
people live healthier lives. By night, she channels her devious side into
writing psychological suspense, starting with her debut novel, The Au Pair’s
Deception: When Love Turns to Lies. She resides in sunny Albuquerque with her
husband of 40 years, three grown kids who safely flew the coop, and a literal
zoo consisting of three dogs, a parrot, and a cat. She is powered almost
entirely by coffee, a passion for travel, and the thrill of a good plot twist.
Learn more at cjcovino.com and follow her writing journey on TikTok
@cjcovinoauthor.
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Goodreads
Follow
the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Enter The Au Pairs Deception Giveaway
Love made him
dangerous.
Devotion will make him unstoppable.
Dark Night of the
Soul
War of the Brotherhood Book 1
by Michelle Miles
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance
Love made him
dangerous. Devotion will make him unstoppable.
For centuries, Kincade survived by control.
Forged by the Brotherhood, he learned to bury his humanity, suppress his
instincts, and become exactly what they needed him to be—a weapon. Darkness was
safer than feeling. Obedience was survival.
Then she changed everything.
When the woman he loves is taken, restraint shatters. The careful balance he’s
fought to maintain slips—and the Brotherhood sees their opening. They want the
monster he used to be. The weapon they never quite lost.
To save her, he may have to become exactly that.
As ancient secrets rise and factions fracture, the line between protector and
destroyer begins to blur. Every step closer to her pulls him deeper into the
war he tried to escape—and toward the darkness he swore would never rule him
again.
Because this time, love isn’t his weakness. It’s his point of no return.
Dark Night of the Soul is a dark
paranormal romance set within the War of the Brotherhood—a high-stakes spin-off arc in the Dream
Walker universe. You do not need to read the previous Dream Walker books to
enjoy DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL. This spinoff is designed to stand on its own.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Dark, emotionally intense paranormal romance
* Immortal antiheroes and devotion-driven stakes
* Secret orders, hidden wars, and found family
* Love that becomes defiance
Content Note: This book contains dark themes and intense
scenes, including violence, injury and blood, torture / forced restraint,
psychological trauma, and situations involving coercion / control. It also
includes threats to a loved one. Reader discretion is advised.
“Dark Night of the Soul by Michelle Miles is
everything dark paranormal romance should be—intense, emotional, and completely
consuming. I devoured it.”
— Michelle M. Pillow, NYT Bestselling Author
Available in eBook, paperback, and audio!
Author’s
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MICHELLE MILES believes in fairy tales, true love, and a
little bit of magic in every story. She writes fantasy, paranormal, and young
adult books packed with adventure, action, and swoon-worthy romance—because
what’s a story without a bit of danger and a whole lot of heart? From angels
and demons to dragons, elves, and time travelers, her books are filled with
epic quests, fierce heroines, and the kind of heroes worth falling for.
When she’s not crafting new adventures, she brings stories
to life as a narrator and hosts Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast where she
chats with authors about their writing journeys. A Texas girl through and
through, she loves getting lost in a good book, binge-watching movies, hiking
the trails, and sipping a glass of wine. Come hang out with her on Facebook,
Instagram, Pinterest, and more!
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Follow
the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Enter the Dark Night of the Soul Giveaway Here
Date Published: September 25, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
Javen and Gara were bred to be the perfect soldiers, protecting New Earth from
the scourge from above. As lovers, they were created to resonate in perfect
harmony with each other, their lives the stuff of legends. But they proved to
be evolution’s darlings, developing beyond anything the scientists had ever
dreamed of, their advancement eclipsing that of their creators.
Now their only hope is a planet of their own, where they can live free — free
to construct a new society based on the ideals of justice and honor. But with
dangerous factions at work, a mysterious prophesy, and an old enemy amassing,
this stunning melody may ring out with the perfect notes to save the worthy
and unworthy alike.
Freedom demands an awful price.
Copyright ©2026 Stephanie Burke
“Bonded, let down my braid?” The silver-haired man asked the question politely
as he gracefully dropped to his knees beside his beloved.
Javen looked up at his tora through silver lashes, his purple eyes gleaming in
anticipation as he licked full, pouty lips. His lithe body was covered in an
odd type of silk wrap, the weave plainly visible, but the material soft as
air. Several colorful strands of blue and purple, strands of hair from fallen
comrades, made up a pattern in the cloth. His long, pale fingers rested on his
slim thighs, his poise perfect as he awaited the response.
“Shall I unbind you, my mate?” The question was asked in a low, gravelly
voice, the desire and intent clear. Gara the Red, High Lord Chancellor of this
particular space station far above New Earth Sphere, observed his mate, his
cock swelling, his blood running hot. “Shall I release you to take what
pleasures I can off that pale body of yours?”
Javen seemed to shiver, though his body remained perfectly still. He inhaled
deeply, breathing in the scent of his bonded, trilling a soft, vibrating song
of desire as he felt his own erection grow. “Unbind me, bonded, if you
dare… if you have a need of the pleasures this pale flesh can bring
you.”
Javen tilted his head to the side, shifted his shoulders, and allowed his robe
to slide from one shoulder, exposing a chest decorated with what appeared to
be elaborate, pale purple tattoos.
Javen’s scales were beautiful, strong, soft and iridescent against his pale
skin. They outlined his hairline at his forehead, trailed down along his neck
to the backs of each arm. They overran the backs of his hands, giving him the
look of an exotic jeweled statue. They continued around his chest, across his
lower abdomen, and down his outer thighs.
Naked, he was a thing of grace and style, of beauty that no human being could
dare possess. But… he was not human. He wiggled his talon-tipped toes
in excitement, his eyes burning with desire.
“Oh, I have a need,” Gara chuckled, reaching down and cupping his cock,
running the flat of his hand along its hardness. Javen could almost feel the
heat wafting off his beloved’s body, and thrummed louder.
Gara threw back his head and moaned, his own touch stoking his desires higher
as he observed the signs of need in his usually reserved mate. Javen was one
of the most polite, perfectly poised ryuujin who had ever been created. To see
him react so wildly to his own heat cycle… Magnificent.
Gara ripped his tunic from his body, ruffling his wild mane of red hair and
exposing his broad, scarred chest in the process, tossing the shreds of
material aside.
“Come,” he purred, reaching out with both hands, tangling his fingers in his
mate’s hair. “Come ease my need.”
He gripped the bands of ribbons that liberally twined through his mate’s
braid, a braid he himself had placed in Javen’s hair earlier that morning.
Javen tossed his head back, his trill growing deeper in his throat as he
exposed his neck, his most vulnerable point, to his beloved.
Gara wasted no time in bending over and running his clawed fingers over
Javen’s neck, caressing the soft, firm skin and the raised scales that he so
loved to touch, to lick, to nibble and suck.
Javen nestled into his mate’s palm, his trill softening as Gara’s hands — his
strong, scarred hands — pushed the robe from his body, allowing it to fall
around his waist.
“Do you have any idea how hard you make me?” Gara growled. He moved closer,
closing his eyes and pulling in the spicy scent of his mate’s neck, the heat
of his desire so at odds with his cool skin.
“I can –” Javen reached up, pressing his hands to the heat between his
bonded’s thighs, feeling the rigid column of flesh that throbbed at his
caress. “– feel.” His other hand joined the first, tugging at the tie at the
waist, wanting the material gone that separated him from what he wanted.
He lifted his head again, leaning forward to nuzzle into his bonded’s groin,
bathing the head of his mate’s cock with his cool breath. Throwing back his
head, Gara purred and gripped his beloved’s head, pushing him deeper against
his crotch.
“That is what you want?” Gara demanded.
“Yes,” Javen snarled, his eyes near glowing as he rose up to his full height,
towering over his lover by more than a few inches.
“Then come and take it.”
About the Author
Stephanie is a USA Today Best Selling, multi published, multi award-winning
author, Master Costumer, handicapped, wife and mother of two.
From sex-shifting, shape-shifting dragons to undersea worlds, sexually
confused elemental Fey and homo-erotic mysteries, all the way to
pastel-challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do
more.
Stephanie is an orator on her favorite subjects of writing and world-building,
a sometime teacher when you feed her enough tea and donuts, an anime nut, a
costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing cons where she
can be found leading panel discussions or researching varied legends and
theories to improve her writing skills.
Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female characters,
believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and multi-cultural
stories that make the reader sit up and take notice.
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
