Monday, December 22, 2025

Incubus by Jonathan Wright ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #Incubus #JonathanWright #DarkFantasy


Incubus by Jonathan Wright
 


Dark Fantasy/Horror Action Romance

Date Published: December 23, 2025

Publisher: ‎Changeling Press LLC



Life -- and love -- with a man who fights nightmares is bound to be… different.

Smart, capable, and lethal, Sarah Fenton never needed rescuing -- until she met Joe Horn and his horrifying nemesis, the muck-drippy-thing. Together they defeated that nightmare, and for the first time in decades Joe could stop running.

In the process, Sarah discovered her weakness -- Joe. The hard-as-nails woman becomes Joe’s willing sub -- his slave girl. Joe is a perfect Dom, but Sarah has even darker fantasies -- lurid, sensual and totally submissive. Sometimes, they even come to life.

Now one of them is stalking her, and she feels the awful temptation of nightmarish pleasure. The darker the fantasy, the more intense the pleasure. Pleasure stronger than any drug. Pleasure that threatens to drown her. The pleasure of surrender… to an Incubus.


Warning: This is a Razor’s Edge Erotica short story. Expect limited plot and character development, and lots of heat. If you’re looking for a lengthy plot driven erotic romance, this is not it!


About the Author:

Jonathan Wright retired to the northeast, where he is surrounded by family and trees in about equal numbers. In his free time he enjoys thinking up erotically terrifying situations for his characters, who insist they don’t like that sort of thing. When he isn’t writing about slavering fangs in the dark he does weird-ass paintings.

He has a daughter who will admit to the relationship under duress. He puts up with her because she makes great cookies.

We don't know why she puts up with him.


Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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Cole for Christmas by Treva Harte ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #ColeforChristmas #TrevaHarte #ChristmasRomance


Cole for Christmas by Treva Harte 

A Friends to Lovers BDSM Ménage


Christmas / Romance / Comedy

Date Published: December 23, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press


Sarah has a secret -- she wants her best friend Cole. Cole wants Jeff. And Jeff? Surprise! He wants them both.

About the Book:

Cole is wild, funny, impulsive, and Sarah’s best friend. She doesn’t understand what he gets out of submission, but she’s not going to let Cole get hurt the way he has in the past. So when she discovers his new dom is Jeff, the jerk who helped kick her out of her undergraduate program, she knows she has to intervene.

But when she sees Jeff again, she’s confused. He says he wants Sarah to be Cole’s Christmas present, and she’s stunned. She and Cole are just friends, aren't they? Amazingly, Cole seems to want her as much as she secretly has wanted him. The even bigger surprise? She realizes she wants Jeff too.

Even if she could have them both, this is supposed to be temporary. It’s too bad she’s only allowed to have Cole for Christmas.


Read an Excerpt::

Copyright ©2025 Treva Harte

“What’s wrong with you, Cole?” Sarah stared at her friend over the flimsy coffee container. “You have to go pee pee? You’ve been twitchy ever since we got here.”

Cole laughed and gave her the finger. He opened his mouth as if to give a smart-ass answer but then bent over his latte instead. Not looking at her, he carefully blew on it and took a sip.

Sarah settled back. Cole was obviously dying to tell her something, and she knew from experience all she needed to do was sit. If he waited more than ten minutes before spilling everything, he’d probably keel over from the strain.

The clatter of students milling around the student union coffee shop made the silence less noticeable. They continued drinking.

Two minutes of just downing caffeine. Impressive. Cole was hanging tough.

He shifted again in his seat and shut his eyes, grimacing. Sarah frowned, suddenly a little concerned. Cole was a genius -- a real, measured-by-testing genius -- but that didn’t mean his emotional IQ always matched his intelligence. She was sure it was a challenge to be five to ten years younger than his academic peers, and Cole didn’t always meet that challenge. In fact, Cole could be kind of a pain in the ass. Right now he was acting like he had a literal pain there.

Oh. Ohhhh, boy. He might actually have one. Please God, no. She might have to venture into TMI territory to find out.

Cole had been more than forthcoming about his sex life in the two years they’d been in grad school together. That was a problem for him. Younger and smarter in some things had made him vulnerable in others, especially since he was open about his sexual preferences and desires. Gay at the university was one thing; gay and dedicated to BDSM was another.

“Has someone hurt you?” She hoped that question would get the job done. Sarah could be more direct, if need be, but she also probably didn’t want to know all the particulars.

“No.” His prompt answer was a relief. Of course, he had to add, “Not any more than I want to be.”

“Ooookay.” Sarah set down her cup. Sometimes a friend had a duty to ask more even if she’d so much rather not. “Have you met some new dom?”

“You know I have. I told you about him.” Cole didn’t look up from his latte, but he didn’t sound reluctant to answer.

“You mentioned you’d met someone new at a club a few weeks ago, but you didn’t say anything more.” That wasn’t like her Cole at all now that she thought about it. “Is that the guy?”

“Fuck yeah. I was incredibly lucky that night. He hardly ever goes to clubs. Says they’re too fake for his tastes.” Cole squirmed again. “He isn’t into scenes. Not public ones.”

“So you’ve been -- um -- doing things outside of clubs?” Sarah wasn’t sure which sounded more dangerous. Cole wouldn’t know danger if it bit him on the butt. Especially if it bit him on the butt.

“At his place. Sarah, it’s… intense. And really sexy.” Cole grinned at her. “That’s all I’ll say unless you want me to go on. I know how you get.”

“And I know how you get, so thanks for shutting up.” She grinned back at him, and Cole shifted his weight again. Sarah sighed. “All right, Cole. Why are you acting this way? Something is going on.”

Cole leaned over, then glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Oh God. He felt the need to keep something private. This was going to be a doozy. 

About the Author:

Treva Harte has always been an overachiever. She also collects things. First it was degrees. First a B.A. in English, then she decided to go back for a Master's degree. Not content with that, she added a J.D. Since then she's added a husband, also an attorney, and two children to her collection. She's continuing her ways as an overachiever, writing her wonderfully offbeat tales of passion and possibilities -- in her spare time.

Visit her website at www.trevaharte.com.


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Sunday, December 21, 2025

Ready for Some Holiday Havoc? by Kelli A. Wilkins ~ @KWilkinsauthor ~ Surreal Escapes - 7 Speculative Stories


Ready for Some Holiday Havoc?
by Kelli A. Wilkins



Hi everyone!

Quick question: What do you get when you drop a Halloween-loving retail worker in the middle of a battle between Sam Hain and Santa?

Holiday Havoc!

That’s the premise of my short story, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Kira is having a typical, horrible day at her dead-end retail job… When all of a sudden she becomes embroiled in a seasonal battle of epic (and amusing) proportions. Decorations from both sides of the holiday war come to life and fight for store supremacy—until they realize who the REAL enemy is.

I wrote “Holiday Havoc” in response to the ever-encroaching Christmas merchandise that hits store shelves earlier and earlier each year. One October day I was in a store admiring the cute black cats and other Halloween décor…. Then I went around the corner and found myself lost in a forest of artificial Christmas trees.

I have nothing against Christmas, and I know retailers are putting merch out earlier every year to get sales, but really? Can’t they wait til November 1 at least? Give us our Halloween at least through Halloween!

“Holiday Havoc” is a bit unusual (okay, the story is as strange as hell), and blends a bit of horror with my wacky, off-beat humor to make a point (okay, several points). It’s also one of seven speculative/spooky stories that appears in my short story collection, Surreal Escapes.

In this anthology, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They’ve entered another realm where anything can—and does—happen.
Authors are always asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” so I included a brief note at the end of each story (as I did in my sci-fi anthology, Extraterrestrial Encounters), explaining what inspired me to write it, where I got the idea, or general comments about the plot or the characters.


Some of these stories are humorous, some will make you think, and others might unnerve you a bit, but they will all take you on a journey into the surreal for a little while.


Here’s the book summary and links:

Surreal Escapes - 7 Speculative Stories

Are you ready to take a journey into the unexpected?

In these 7 speculative stories, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They quickly realize they’re in another realm where anything can—and does—happen.

Some of these tales include:

“Holiday Havoc” – The night shift in a retail store hosts the ultimate Halloween vs. Christmas showdown

“Little Boy Lost” – After several strange incidents, Beverly suspects her son’s imaginary friend isn’t so imaginary

“The Man in Apt. 3-A” – What do you do when you discover your neighbor is a vampire?

“Whispers from the Past” – Not all ghosts are scary… or strangers

This collection of short fiction will unnerve you, spark your imagination, and make you wonder what else is possible in the world of the surreal.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ya0h74

Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/b5ge7O

If you’re looking for a few quick, unusual reads this holiday season, why not give these short stories a try? They’re perfect for a lunchtime break or a short escape from the holiday hustle.

And if you love mysteries and/or spooky stories, visit the Horror, Mystery & More page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror

Or visit my Amazon Author page for a full title list, book links, and more: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

I welcome questions and comments from readers. If you’ve read one of my books, let me know which one you loved best and why.

Enjoy the rest of the year!

Kelli A. Wilkins



Meet the Author:

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.

Her twenty-fourth romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.

In 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.

Kelli also released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in 2023. Look for a follow-up story coming in 2026!

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.


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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Father of Monsters by Jonah A Hunt ~ @RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #FatherofMonsters #JonahAHunt #Fantasy


Father of Monsters by Jonah A Hunt


Contemporary Fantasy, Mythology

Date Published: December 9, 2025

 


A world once whole, now split in two. The flower patch painted a deep crimson hue. Eyes of flame gaze on red lock and key. For the brothers' misfortune, he is set free.

Anthony and Andrew Redson live an ordinary life on the outskirts of civilization. But their estranged father is anything but ordinary. When his most ancient and dangerous enemy attacks their childhood home, the twins are thrust into a world unlike any they've known. A world of gods, monsters, knights, and magic. Trapped upon paths of bloodshed and tragedy, the brothers' can rely upon no one. Not even each other.

About the Author

 

 Jonah Hunt is the author of Father of Monsters. Since he was little, he's been enamored with dragons, magic, and storytelling. After ten years of washing dishes and housekeeping, he aims to make his dream of writing full-time finally come true.

He lives in one of Florida's reasonably sane neighborhoods with his two dogs. 

Contact Links:

Author website

BookBuzz


Purchase Link:

Authors Website

Amazon


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Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery by Gianetta Murray ~ #CozyMystery

 

Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery by Gianetta Murray

About Dug to Death:

 

Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery

Cozy Mystery

2nd in the Series

Setting - South Yorkshire, England

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Catmom Press

Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025

Print length ‏ : ‎ 294 pages

Paperback ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1739547330

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547332

Digital ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547325

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DZ3PV2SP

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"Wicked stepmother" wasn't something Vivien wanted on her resume (or CV!).

But six months after moving from California to join her British husband in a quiet Yorkshire village, Vivien and her cat Sydney are confronted with a volatile 24-year-old stepdaughter and the sparks begin to fly.

It certainly doesn't help when they join a local protest and a body turns up.

In this sequel to Moved to Murder, Vivien must once again work with her enterprising neighbors to solve a murder and clear her family's name. Which isn't easy when you're dealing with people who "Ear all, see all, and say nowt"!

About Gianetta Murray:

Gianetta Murray grew up in California in the heady days of Silicon Valley, but for the last twenty years has lived a slightly more peaceful existence in England with her husband and a minimum of two cats. She enjoys rewatching Hollywood musicals and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plays guitar and ukulele, and stresses about using all the pears provided by the tree in her back garden. She dreams about one day being spit on by Jonathan Groff.

Author Links:




Goodreads Gianetta Murray



Purchase Links:


TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

December 8 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 10 – Baroness Book Trove- SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author -SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 14 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 15 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 16 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH MUSIC PLAYLIST
December 18 – Sarandipity's -AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 18 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT 
December 19 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
December 20 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT ________
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Friday, December 19, 2025

One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries) by Dianne Ascroft ~ Cozy Mystery Novella

 

One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries) by Dianne Ascroft

About One Gold Ring:

 

One Gold Ring (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)

Cozy Mystery Novella related to the main Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries Series

Setting - Fenwater – a fictional small town in rural Canada

Independently Published (November 1, 2025)

Paperback Print length ‏ : ‎ 104 pages

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8272391599

Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 102 pages

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FYX6KXGD

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A busy shopping street, a cozy coffee klatch, a missing ring: Marge Kirkwood has no desire for anyone to gift five gold rings to her. She just needs to find one elegant gold ring sparkling with dainty diamonds and rubies: the one that was stolen due to her carelessness. When Marge Kirkwood meets her friend Bruce Murray at the Honey Pot diner to reassure him about his choice of an engagement ring for her best friend Lois Stone, she couldn’t be happier for the couple. But a few moments of her inattention could scupper Bruce’s plans for a romantic Christmas proposal. A cunning thief seizes the opportunity Marge’s lapse affords to snatch Bruce’s family heirloom. Soon afterwards Lois arrives and joins Marge and Bruce in the search for the ring. Three heads may be better than one or two but Lois can’t find out that it’s her engagement ring they are hunting for. And so the week before Christmas begins with dashing through the snow without a sleigh, tangy gingerbread muffins and cinnamon scented apple cider, clever calico cats, slippery snow-sheathed sidewalks, glittering gems set in gold, hazardous high-heeled boots, rushing thieves and bustling Christmas shoppers set against a cheerful holiday clad shopping street, sultry Christmas songs serenading shoppers in the market, the sweet scent of carnations, roses and baby’s breath bouquets in the florist’s window and a mantlepiece twinkling with shiny baubles and lights woven through holly in a comfy century cottage.

About Dianne Ascroft:

Dianne Ascroft is a Canadian who has settled in rural Northern Ireland. She and her husband share their small farm with some elusive wild creatures. She is currently writing the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series. She believes that part of the enjoyment of reading a cozy mystery is losing oneself in a pleasing setting so she fictionalized a small town she knew and the first novel in the Century Cottage Cozy Mystery series, and the town of Fenwater evolved from there. She wanted to create a place that beckons readers to step in and stay a while, and characters that readers would remember. Cozy mysteries allow her to explore the characters and the place, as well as the mystery at the heart of the story. Writing stories set in her homeland, Canada, has also been a nostalgic journey for her and she enjoys every minute of it.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.dianneascroft.com

Purchase Links:



TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

December 12 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
December 15 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
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December 18 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 19 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 19 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 20 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
December 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
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Thursday, December 18, 2025

The Christmas Cardinal by Aïda Juodis ~ Children's Picture Book #Excerpt @GoddessFish


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Aïda Juodis will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

About the Book:

The Christmas Cardinal, written by Aïda Juodis, is a soft and whimsical tale that was gently crafted to help provide children who have lost a loved one with comfort and warmth during the holiday season.

Genre:

Children's Picture Book


Read an Excerpt:

If you wonder where your loved one goes when they pass away, remember that they’re always with you in your heart to stay.

But they go somewhere else that’s special too and continue watching over you.

Look up above at the sky to the North Star way up high.

Just beyond that big bright star is the North Pole not too far.

About the Author: 

Aïda Darija Juodis is a storyteller who blends comfort, wonder, and gentle magic in her writing. The Christmas Cardinal reflects her belief that love endures, guiding us from near and far.

Amazon
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True Target by Austin S. Camacho ~ #Thriller #Excerpt #GuestPost @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Austin S. Camacho will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Please welcome Austin Camacho to the blog today!


Because I’ve been talking about True Target so much, I’ve been thinking about where the idea for the story came from. This story grew from two separate ideas. First, I was invited to submit a short story for an anthology called Insidious Assassins. For that story I created Skye, an African American, female professional assassin who was not a thug but more like a samurai or a ninja. I was pleased with the way the story turned out and like all my fictional characters, Skye went into the shadows for future use.

Later, I got an idea for a mystery or thriller plot: what if some master criminal tried to pull all the big gangs together today? What could stop them? While I pondered that, Skye kept rising to the surface in my mind. I realized I wanted to explore the mind of this streetwise yet sophisticated killer. Then it occurred to me that I had stumbled on the answer to “who could stop them” and it would be fun to watch that battle.

While researching modern day assassins I stumbled upon the idea of them having rules they lived by to separate them from common hoods. When Skye’s guidelines surfaced, they helped define her. This sentence became pivotal: “The first rule of the assassin’s doctrine. The target has got to deserve it.”

Suddenly it was easy to back up and build the plot. A revenge job drags Skye into a web of dirty judges, gang killers, and a shadow cartel. Along the way the hunter becomes the hunted. For continuity I pulled in Detective Orson Rissik, a familiar law enforcement character for fans of my Hannibal Jones private eye series. Naturally he wants Skye behind bars, but he may need her to expose the rot crawling through the city’s power brokers.

In addition to non-stop action and suspense, True Target introduces a character you will come to care about. Skye is conflicted – she knows something is broken inside her, but she continues her work as a professional in a world of amateurs. . It all came together in an action thriller of which I am quite proud.

 

About the Book:

Skye Maddox is a contract assassin driven by both personal demons and professional discipline. Hired by grieving father Milo Williams to hunt down the chain of men responsible for his son’s death, Skye takes on a mission that escalates into a war with Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous underworld figures led by a man known only as Hetman. As she climbs Milo’s ladder of revenge, Skye uncovers a web of corruption that links drug dealers, judges, mobsters, and even international crime syndicates.

The story escalates through brutal shootouts, betrayals, and psychological games, as Skye pushes deeper into Hetman’s empire. Each success makes her a bigger target. In the end, she must weigh the cost of finishing Milo’s revenge against the danger of becoming just another expendable weapon in someone else’s war.


Read an Excerpt:

When Jayla stood, Skye raised a palm to stop her. “Yes. Yes, all right. I just finished an assignment, but it was part of a larger contract so I’m feeling like both the situations you mentioned. I’m on the job, and I just took a player off the board.”

Jayla jotted in her notebook. She always collected the euphemisms Skye used for her profession. “So, tell me about this latest assignment. How do you feel about this player you’ve taken off the board? Was it, in your mind, a just action?”

“You always want to go there,” Skye said, shaking her head. “What did I tell you? The first rule of the assassin’s doctrine. The target has got to deserve it.”

“Oh, yes,” Jayla said with a half-smile. “Your job, while criminal, does have rules

“I misspoke earlier,” Skye said, sliding a slim dagger out of her boot. “It’s not a job. It’s a profession. All professions have their rules. For doctors, rule number one is ‘do no harm’, right? For an assassin, it’s that the target has got to deserve it.” Skye began to absently flip the dagger in the air, catching it by its tip each time. “In this case, this bastard kidnapped my client’s son. I don’t know how they got him. My client kept his family totally under the radar. But once he got the ransom demand, the client agreed to pay, and the ransom money was in transit but not fast enough to suit the kidnappers. They killed the boy, I think just to make a point. Just to be snotty. The action took place overseas and no way the police would ever have gotten close to the killer.”

Jayla nodded. “I think I understand. So, you were hired to…”

“Correct the balance,” Skye said, standing.

About the Author:


Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel Beyond Blue. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

Website: https://ascamacho.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572508767550
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ascamacho135
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-camacho-1a5a622/

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Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The Christmas Knockout by Wren Valentino ~ #BewitchingBookTours #Romance


The Christmas Knockout
Wren Valentino

Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Blue Dasher Press 
Date of Publication: 12/5/2025
ASIN: B0G5B8G3H1
Word Count: 5K

Cover Artist: James at GoOnWrite.com

Tagline: When a lonely reporter meets a legendary fighter, Christmas delivers its sweetest knockout.

Book Description: 

A steamy, romantic Christmas Eve encounter between a lonely reporter and a charming boxing champion. When journalist Grayson Lane meets newly out boxing star Sergio Cavallo, their interview quickly turns into an unexpected escape from a stuffy gala and a night filled with honesty, heat, and holiday vulnerability. In Grayson’s tiny apartment, sparks fly and two lonely men discover a connection neither saw coming.

Purchase from Amazon

Read an Excerpt:

Dressed as formally as his casual wardrobe allowed, Grayson arrived sans tie at the staff entrance of a local banquet hall. It was only a few blocks away from the three-story building where the newspaper had occupied for nearly a hundred years, and a short walk from his one-bedroom apartment he shared with a fluffy cat named Duke. The streets were wet from a rumbling rainstorm that had decided to take a short break, much to Grayson’s luck. Sparkling Christmas lights shimmered in puddles, covering the cobblestoned alley with a palette of cozy holiday hues. The banquet hall was similar in neo-Gothic architecture as the old newspaper building. Locals swore the place was haunted just by the sight of it. Secretly, Grayson hoped it was.

He rang the entrance bell and waited, shifting his weight from foot to foot. When there was no response, he rang again. Finally, the old door creaked open, revealing a scruffy man in a tuxedo, sporting large, black-framed glasses. The man eyed Grayson for an explanation for this intrusion.

“I’m Grayson Lane,” he said. When that didn’t get him invited inside, he continued. “I’m here to interview Sergio Cavallo.”

“You’re a reporter?” the man rumbled in a gravelly voice. For a moment, Grayson half-expected to see the swirl of cigarette smoke in the air as if he’d somehow stumbled into a classic film noir.

Sir, are you related to Humphrey Bogart by any chance?

“Yes, I am,” Grayson explained, shivering.

The man glanced him over and said, “You look like a delivery boy.”

“Thanks,” he muttered. “May I see Sergio now?”

With what looked like reluctance, the man with salt and pepper wavy hair nodded and pushed the door open wider. It creaked again and Grayson couldn’t help but wonder if the spooky sound was a warning.

Once inside, Grayson was led down a series of dimly lit corridors, all with walls adorned with framed paintings of the Scottish founders of the city and, apparently, the ones responsible for the building they were moving through.

            Finally, they stopped. The man in the tuxedo knocked on a door before entering. He looked back and said to Grayson, “Come. Mr. Cavallo is waiting for you.”

            Pausing for a moment in the hallway, Grayson drew in a steadying breath, reflecting over the hours of research he’d conducted to prepare for this assignment. Exhaling, he opened the door and entered the room. Glancing around, Grayson determined he was standing in the center of a private lounge that was trying hard to be swanky but really looked like the set of an adult film, complete with dimmed lighting in not-so-subtle shades of hot pink, electric blue, and amber. The furniture was leather, and the carpet looked thick and soft.

Positioned as if he were sitting on a throne was Sergio Cavallo, looking rather distinguished in a fashionable blazer, slacks, and crisp white shirt with the top two buttons undone to reveal olive-tinged bare skin. The dark-haired Italian boxer looked like the undefeated boxing champ that he was, The King of The Ring as many commentators appropriately referred to him. No wonder many had fallen under his spell.

            What Grayson wasn’t expecting was how flushed he felt when Sergio looked into his eyes and with a delicious and very inviting smile said, “Well…hello. You’re not what I was expecting.”

            Trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering inside of him, Grayson held Sergio’s stare and responded confidently, “And neither are you. I’m Grayson Lane.”

            The boxer leaned forward. His dark brown eyes held an expression of tenderness, despite his savage reputation of being a beast of a boxer. His facial hair was a few shades lighter than the almost jet-black hair on his head and looked like a modern version of a Van Dyke. “I’m curious,” said Sergio. Grayson felt the man’s eyes wash over his body as if he were drinking water from his pores. “Grayson, am I somehow a disappointment?”

            Grayson spied an empty chair directly across from Sergio. Not waiting to be asked to sit, he took a seat, sinking into the soft leather. The comfort of the chair soothed his nerves, grounding him in the moment. “Not at all,” he said. “It’s not every day I get to interview a champion.”

            Seeming satisfied with Grayson’s answer, Sergio grinned. “I like you,” he noted.

            “Give it time,” Grayson countered with a playful tone to match the smile on his face.

            “I’m ready when you are,” Sergio said, his words dripping with hot innuendo. “For the interview, I mean.”

 

About the Author:

Wren Valentino is a multifaceted storyteller—an actor, author, entrepreneur, film producer, critic, and instructor—whose work spans stage, screen, and page. A bestselling novelist with twenty-one books across romance, thriller, young adult, and horror, he has built a reputation for crafting emotionally rich, genre-spanning narratives.

An accomplished playwright, Wren has written more than seventy stage plays produced in twelve countries and three languages. His success extends to the screen as well, with eight original screenplays and seven stage plays adapted into films. As a film producer, he has contributed to the creation of over one hundred independent movies, and as an actor, he has appeared in more than forty films.

Wren earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English from Oglethorpe University, graduating with honors. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte and completed the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA.

A dedicated member of the writing community, Wren belongs to Contemporary Romance Writers, the International Screenwriters’ Association, Rainbow Romance Writers, and the Romance Writers of America, which recognized his service with a Volunteer Service Award.








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Winter's Embrace by Pamela Ackerson, Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe, Cindy Lewis Smith, Jae El Foster ~ Christmas Romance Anthology @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A print copy of 'Winter's Embrace,' autographed by author Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
About the Book:

Embrace the joy of Christmas and some yuletide cheer in this collection of five sweet holiday romances from four of today’s most entertaining authors! Featuring brand new stories from Pamela Ackerson, Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe, Cindy Lewis Smith, and Jae El Foster, this anthology will help you hold the spirit of Christmas and the magic of true love in your heart the whole year round. 

Meant to Be by Pamela Ackerson: Single and starting over in tiny Lorman, Mississippi, teacher Faith Anjos dives into home renovations with tools in hand and a boat from her late dad's fishing Sundays. Realtor Gabriel White becomes her unexpected ally, sharing lunches, family barbecues, and stolen kisses under patriotic park lights. But when a sassy ex-roommate stirs trouble and life's curveballs hit hard, Faith learns that true love thrives not just in perfect houses, but in the messy magic of Christmas cheer and forever promises. 

Window Shopping by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe: Single and sentimental, Whitney dives into downtown's dazzling displays—animatronic toys, frosted windows, violin carols—chasing Christmas cheer alone after helping coworker Chad remotely. Fate intervenes with a literal bump into charming Chad, leading to diner laughs, Santa's lap shenanigans, and hand-holding revelations. As they embrace kid-at-heart traditions amid bustling streets and Santa's sly matchmaking, a parade invite blossoms into dinner-and-movie dreams. Proving the season's sparkle uncovers love when least expected. 

Mr. Hollister’s Christmas by Cindy Lewis Smith: Thirty-three and resigned to spinsterhood in Goldfield, Josie channels her Georgia Christmas memories into a perfect Eve nuptial for Rose and Hank, footed by taciturn rancher Clint Hollister. Their prickly partnership blooms amid pine boughs, fiddle waltzes, and whispered regrets from a saloon-fueled mail-order mishap. When a wheel-wrecked ride home unveils Clint's hidden role in her arrival—and his lingering loneliness—snowy revelations ignite a romance as timeless as the stars above the Llano River. 

What the Snow Blew In by Jae El Foster: Snowbound in Deerborne, Connecticut, during a record-breaking blizzard, editor Carina Whitaker hunkers down with wine, her cat Tom Boy, and cherished Christmas ornaments—until a shivering mailman named Jerry delivers a package and seeks refuge from the storm. As power flickers out and drifts bury her home, candlelit evenings spark unlikely conversations, shared meals, and cozy traditions that warm more than the gas fireplace. Amid reading aloud by firelight and piano carols, holiday magic proves that what the snow blows in might just be the love she's been waiting for. 

The Magic of Mistletoe by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe: Sarah's winter break turns into survival mode: dodging doll-throwing dollops, sweeping glass shards, and sacrificing her office sanctuary for peace between battling children. Amid cold coffee confessions and contract close-calls with hubby Thomas, festive fumbles—from runaway pillows to reluctant photos—test their bond. Yet as grilled cheeses soothe tears and starry-eyed surprises arrive post-midnight, mistletoe weaves its spell, transforming holiday havoc into heartfelt harmony and impossible dreams come true.


Read an Excerpt from Meant to Be by Pamela Ackerson:

Faith Anjos pulled into the driveway of the house she recently purchased. She groaned when the tires hit a deep hole. Her truck responded in kind, letting her know it objected to the rut she’d drove it through. The boat she was pulling didn’t exactly like the driveway either. She white knuckled the steering wheel as the hole rocked both vehicles.

Faith gritted her teeth. Just what she needed. Give the new neighbors a show of incompetence as her boat tipped over.

Bloop. Bye, bye boat.

Nope, not going to happen today.

Pulling back out, she turned the vehicle around and backed the boat onto the grass on the side of the house.

She stood on the walkway, leading to the front door staring at the wood-framed structure. Her dark hair pulled in a ponytail, swayed in the welcoming wind.

This was hers.

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Monday, December 15, 2025

Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection by Rosalie Spielman, Catherine Bruns, Gin Jones, Annie McEwen, Lena Gregory, Jennifer Fischetto, Anne Marie Stoddard, Kelly Rey, Misty Simon, Christine Knapp, Jamie L. Adams, Erica Wynters

 

Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection by Rosalie Spielman, Catherine Bruns, Gin Jones, Annie McEwen, Lena Gregory, Jennifer Fischetto, Anne Marie Stoddard, Kelly Rey, Misty Simon, Christine Knapp, Jamie L. Adams, Erica Wynters

About Holidays & Homicides:

 

Holidays & Homicides: A Short Story Collection Holiday Cozy Mysteries

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing

Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2025

Print length ‏ : ‎ 419 pages

 ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FSNH17GM

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From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!

Stories include:
A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries) by Rosalie Spielman
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory
Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries) by Kelly Rey
Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries) by Anne Marie Stoddard
Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries) by Jennifer Fischetto
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries) by Annie McEwen
You Can't see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries) by Christine Knapp
Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries) by Misty Simon
Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries) by Erica Wynters
Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries) by Jamie L. Adams
Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries) by Catherine Bruns
A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries) by Gin Jones

My Review:

I absolutely loved this short story collection. Each cozy is set up well and the authors did a great job completing the story. The best part about this collection is it introduced me to several other cozy mystery series' that I hadn't heard off or hadn't had the chance to start. I love these little tastes of other mysteries. Grab a copy to catch up with your favorite characters, like I did with Gossip, Guilt, and Gingerbread by Lena Gregory, or to meet some new ones. 

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:


 

About the Authors:

Catherine Bruns is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in New York with her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She also writes the Italian Chef mysteries, Cindy York real estate and Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary series. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.

Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine's newsletter at https://www.catherinebruns.net/contact Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well: facebook.com/Catherine-Bruns-Books-218522341685434 twitter.com/@writesmystery
 

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/

Sign Up for her Newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/492177/95264614748521780/share

 

Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. Her cozy mystery novels are set in locales that have chickens—such as sunny Kauai and rural Idaho—writing for the multi-author Aloha Lagoon mystery series and her own Hometown Mystery series.

She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com, follow her Facebook page (Rosalie Spielman author), or join her Facebook group (You Know The Spiel). Rosalie strives to provide you a cozy escape...one page at a time.

Website: www.Rosalie-Spielman-author.com Bookshop storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/YouKnowTheSpiel Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rosalie-Spielman/author/B09FP95WC8 Facebook author page: Rosalie Spielman author https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063501963689 Facebook readers group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/YouKnowTheSpiel

 

From her first discovery of Nancy Drew, USA Today bestselling author Kelly Rey has had a lifelong love for mystery and tales of things that go bump in the night, especially those with a twist of humor. Through many years of working in the court reporting and closed captioning fields, writing has remained a constant. If she's not in front of a keyboard, she can be found reading, working out or avoiding housework. She's a member of Sisters in Crime and lives in the Northeast with her husband and a menagerie of very spoiled pets. 

 

Gin Jones is a retired lawyer who specialized in ghost-writing for other lawyers. She prefers to write her own books, though, since she doesn't have to worry that her sense of humor might get her thrown into jail for contempt of court. In her spare time, Gin makes quilts, grows garlic, and advocates for patients with rare disorders.

Website: https://www.ginjones.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ginjones.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginjonesmysteries/

Jamie L. Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade.

A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature as well as member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Writing Desk and several critique groups, she spends most of her time writing, reading or learning more about the craft near to her heart.

The parents of three very active children, she and her husband live in the Ozarks surrounded by forest and wildlife. 

 

Erica Wynters started as most authors do - as an avid reader. Cozy mysteries and romantic suspense offered her just the escape she was looking for! The combination of great love and great danger keeps her turning pages late into the night.

Now they keep her writing pages late into the night. Her goal is always two-fold: help you fall in love with love all over again and take you on an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Falling in love has never been so fun...or so dangerous!

 

Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.

Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania, where she is hard at work on her next novel or three.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/misty.simon.18 Instagram: @mistysimonwrites Tiktok: @mistysimonwrites Website: http://www.mistysimon.com

Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as a fiction author. Christine currently narrates books for the visually impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. Visit thoughtfulmidwife.com

Website https://www.thoughtfulmidwife.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christine.w.knapp Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maevecw/ X https://x.com/chriswknapp Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/maevecwk.bsky.social  

Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her. Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies who just might make some special appearances in Annie's books. When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or tackling trash-to-treasure projects, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones...you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.  

   

Jennifer Fischetto is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the Gianna Mancini paranormal cozy mystery series, as well as a dozen other titles. She writes family-centric murder mysteries and things that go bump in the night. A lover of rainstorms and snow, she prefers fiction over reality and longs to live in a world where French fries grow on trees, chocolate appears whenever desired, and every day is October. She watches too much television and movies, which fuel her never-ending supply of plot ideas, and is a rabid fan of suspense, horror, and everything supernatural. You can learn about her next book by subscribing to her newsletter at https://jenniferfischetto.com/newsletter/ Visit Jennifer at: Website: http://jenniferfischetto.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jenniferfischetto.com

 

Anne Marie Stoddard is a USA TODAY bestselling author and former Amazon Mover & Shaker. She writes supernatural suspense and humorous cozy mysteries with an edge. Her Amelia Grace Mystery series, inspired by her years working in radio, and concert venues and music festivals across the U.S., has won several awards, including the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival Writing Contest, the 2013 Book Junkie's Choice Award for Best Debut Fiction Novel, and nominations for the 2014 & 2016 RONE Awards Best Mystery/Thriller Category. Aside from writing, Anne Marie loves her husband and their dog, college football, hula hoops, music, coffee, and anything pumpkin-flavored. For more details about Anne Marie's upcoming projects, giveaways, and more, visit her online and subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.amstoddardbooks.com/. Connect with Anne Marie on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmStoddardBooks Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMStoddardBooks 

Purchase Links:



TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

December 2 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW
December 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 3 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW - AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 5 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
December 6 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Jemima Pett, Author – REVIEW
December 7 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Bea's Book Nook – REVIEW – INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 9 – Sarandipity's – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 10 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW
December 10 – Caboodle of Cozies – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Salty Inspirations - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 12 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - REVIEW

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