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SERIES TOUR: “The Song of the Lost Series” by Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este

SERIES TOUR

The Song of the Lost Series by Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este

Publisher: L&S Fables

Genre: Queer Epic Fantasy

Best read in order

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 2 – 3 flames

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US Series Link   |  Amazon UK Series Link 

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1

Book Title: The Last Contender

Cover Artist:  Merilliza Chan 

Length: 669 pages

Release Date: November 27, 2022

Tropes: Forbidden love

Themes: Becoming who you truly are, found family, fighting for what is right 

Goodreads

“What would you pay for freedom?” 

Blurb 

Your body?

Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he’ll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty.

Your people?

Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders.

Your mind?

Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive.

BOOK 2

Book Title: Emissary to the Frost Wolf

Cover Artist: Virginia Laird

Length: 849 pages

Release Date: July 23, 2024

Tropes: Friends to Lovers, forbidden love

Themes: Found family, fighting for what is right, forced separation 

Goodreads

What would you trade for Love?

Blurb 

Your dreams?

Wynn and Dyfan have escaped the pits of Cwm Or, but there is no safety in their homeland, Rhosan. When a desperate flight leaves them stranded on the other side of the world, they’ll be forced to choose between fighting for something they don’t believe in or being outcasts again.

Your future?

Danae and Basia have vowed to end slavery in Phecea, but vast forces stand between them and their goals, and they risk their lives and careers when their fight is complicated by a violent organization claiming to have the same vision. They’ll need to stand together to see this through, even when feelings drive a wedge between them.

Your purpose?

There is a spy among the Emai. It’s Iniabi’s job to protect her people even as she wages an impossible war against two stronger nations, but the spy is far closer than she knows and wrapping ever tighter around Iniabi’s frozen heart.

Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, War, Death, Explicit Sex, Rape (Mentioned, Not Depicted), Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse (Mentioned, Not Depicted)

BOOK 3

Book Title: The Warrior Dasan

Length:  937 Pages

Release Date: December 28, 2024

Tropes: Forced proximity, Enemies to Lovers

Themes: Fighting for what is right, found family

Goodreads

What would you sacrifice to end this war?

Blurb

Your power?

Iniabi has known all her life that she would marry Danae, but that doesn’t make their new partnership any easier. It’s only complicated by past lovers and enemy attempts to tear them apart. They will need to come together before Iniabi’s final challenge is laid before her. Will all the power of Phecea and the Emaian Tundra be enough to end the Emaian peoples’ oppression?

Your heart?

Dyfan is lost in the wake of Wynn’s absence, struggling to find a purpose while his lover teaches old magic to Liria’s enemies. He longs only to reunite—however he can— but both foreigners have a part to play in the battles to come.

Your honor?

General Lucilius Nonus always serves his Imperator without question, but he feels the stain on Lirian honor caused by the Imperator’s newest acquisition—a mage from the distant land of Ingola. Master Mage Mors Dernier is much more than he seems, but even he is unable to predict the chaos Basia Mavros will make of all their careful plans.

Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, War, Death, Abduction, Explicit Sex, Addiction, Physical Punishment (in the form of public whipping), Child Abuse (mentioned, not depicted)

About the Authors

Liv and Sterling are queer Indie authors focused on creating inclusive, diverse worlds that deliver on plot, emotional payout, and character development.

Author Links

Website and Newsletter sign-up   

Facebook @L&SFables   |  Instagram @LSFables 

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Continue ReadingSERIES TOUR: “The Song of the Lost Series” by Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este

NEW RELEASE: “The Best Parts of Him” by Amy Aislin

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Best Parts of Him

Series: Vermont Trailblazers 1

Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Tense/POV: third person, past tense

Genres: M/M Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Hockey, forced proximity, opposites attract, long- distance romance

Heat Rating:  3 flames

Length: 57 000 words / 210 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Universal Link 

Sometimes the sweetest victories happen off the ice.

Blurb

Ryland Zervudachi lives for the game of hockey—and for the chance to build the kind of team unity that will carry the Columbus Pilots all the way back to the playoffs after last season’s crushing defeat. Off the ice, though, there’s one goal he hasn’t managed to score—the heart of Kyle Dabbs, the Vermont Trailblazers’ team captain and his long-time crush.

Kyle Dabbs has built a life centered on quiet strength. After a childhood scarred by his father’s verbal abuse, Dabbs pours his energy into his career on the ice and the book series he’s written to help kids like the boy he once was. He doesn’t need someone flashy, loud, and spotlight-loving like Ryland turning his world upside down.

But when an untimely appendectomy leaves Dabbs stuck at home, Ryland—recovering from an injury—shows up to help. Between late-night Scrabble competitions, pumpkin- carving mishaps, and long talks that peel back layers they’ve both kept hidden, Dabbs begins to see past Ryland’s bold exterior.

With chemistry sparking and walls crumbling, both men must decide if they’re ready to risk their hearts for something even better than a championship: love.

Excerpt 

“Hey,” Ryland said, his mouth going dry when Dabbs’ gaze met his. “How’s your summer been so far?”

Dabbs leaned his forearms on the top of the high-backed kitchen chair on his left. It sent his biceps straining against his blue T-shirt. Ryland forced his gaze off them.

“Well, let’s see,” Dabbs said, his voice a deep timber that stroked along Ryland’s skin. “Bellamy and I just moved into a new place, so there are still boxes of crap taking up floor space in the kitchen. One of the kids at hockey camp this week decided the ice was too slippery, so he sat out almost every activity. And one of my dogs swallowed a bee.”

Ryland gasped. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine.” Dabbs regarded him for a long moment, his expression softening. “Nice of you to be concerned though. How has your summer been?”

“Oh, its . . . ” Ryland stumbled over his words for a moment, still stuck on Nice of you to be concerned. “Fine. Good. I can’t top any of that, but my niece did puke candy all over my feet when I picked her up from daycare last week.”

Dabbs made a face. “Gross.”

“I was wearing flip-flops.”

Dabbs made gagging sounds.

“Imagine trying to get vomit out from under your toenails.”

“Oh god, stop talking.” Dabbs straightened and covered his mouth with the back of his hand, as though his gag reflex had engaged.

“On a lighter note, I built a canoe.”

“You . . . what?”

“Built a canoe. Well, me and six other people. We took part in a canoe-building workshop in Glen Hill over the past two months, and we built a communal wood strip canoe. We even took it out onto the water last week.”

“Did it float?”

Putting on his most scandalized Southern belle impression, Ryland brought his hand up to his chest. “Excuse you. Yes, it floated. Rude.”

Dabbs chuckled. “Sorry. You just don’t seem like the woodworking type.”

“Oh, I know how to work wood.” Ryland gave Dabbs an up and down glance. “Very, very well.”

He wasn’t sure what to expect from Dabbs. For him to be so turned on that his cheeks pinked and he stuttered over his words?

Dabbs, coolly confident in a way Ryland had never managed, did neither of those things. Instead, he drawled a lazy, “Me too,” and added three tiles to the Scrabble board, adding w, o, and d to an existing o.

Wood.

Ryland had to laugh, surprised by this aspect of Dabbs’ sense of humor. “Not exactly what I meant.”

Dabbs grinned. “Wood for eight points, plus a double letter score on the w for a total of twelve points. Your turn.”

Swearing under his breath—word games weren’t Ryland’s strong suit—he added a g and a t to an existing e, netting himself four points for get.

“It’s okay,” Dabbs said. “We can’t all be good at everything.”

Ryland laughed. “Oh, you did not just go there.”

“Hey, are we heading out to dinner, or what?” Jason called from the front door. “I’ll drive.”

“Do you play darts, Dabbs?” Ryland asked, grabbing his wallet from the table in the foyer.

“I’ve played a game or two,” Dabbs said hesitatingly. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret admitting that?”

Ryland grinned. “You’ll see.” And followed the group out the door.

About the Author 

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up  | Facebook Group 

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “The Best Parts of Him” by Amy Aislin

NEW RELEASE: “Falling for the Professor” By Colette Davison

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Falling for the Professor (Falling for You #1)

Author and Publisher: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Colette Davison

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Tense/POV: First person, present tense/alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Age-gap (8 years), professor/university student, secret relationship

Themes: Self-discovery, learning to love again

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 50 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal link

I wanted to distract the professor; I didn’t expect to fall for him.

Blurb

Richard’s wife cheated on him, and his marriage has fallen apart. He’s in desperate need of a distraction, and I volunteer.

The problem?

He lectures at the university where I study. Fooling around with students is frowned upon. But with my graduation right around the corner, it’s a risk we’re willing to take. Besides, it’s only one night. Isn’t it?

As one night of passion turns into several, will we be able to keep our relationship secret until after graduation?

Falling for the Professor is a high-heat, 50,000-word contemporary M/M romance, with an eight-year age-gap, lots of sneaking around, encounters in semi-public places, and a lecturer who discovers he loves being called ‘Professor’.

Excerpt

“Still alone?” I ask casually.

Richard glances at me and then nods.

“I could be wrong, but isn’t whisky best drunk cold? I’m not much of a whisky drinker myself.”

“You prefer beer?”

I smile. “Yeah, although I’m on non-alcoholic stuff tonight.” I tap my pocket so my keys jangle.

“I was intending on getting so drunk I wouldn’t be able to drive.”

“How’s that going?”

He picks up his glass, sloshes the warm whisky, and sets it down. “Terribly.” He glances over his shoulder. “Where are your friends?”

“They left.”

“And you didn’t go with them?”

“I can still catch up with them. I wanted to make sure you were okay, first.”

He frowns. “Why?”

Because he’s gorgeous and I hate seeing him sad? “Want to talk about it?”

He stares at me, lips quivering as though he’s having an internal debate about whether to confide in me or not.

“I won’t tell anyone.”

“Gossip has a habit of spreading on campus.”

“It won’t come from me.” I cross my fingers over my heart.

He holds up his left hand and wiggles his bare ring finger. “I caught my wife cheating on me.”

I suck in a breath. “Shit. That’s rough. Sorry.”

He drops his hand. “Which is why I had every intention of getting shit-faced.”

“But—?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I got here, ordered the drink and…”

“Didn’t feel like getting drunk after all?”

“Exactly.”

“What do you want to do?”

He drags his stare away from his drink and pins it on me. He has the most beautiful honey brown eyes. Breathless, I’m helpless to do anything but stare back.

“I don’t want to be alone,” he whispers.

I grin. “Then you’re in luck.”

He raises his eyebrows. “I am?”

“Yeah. It just so happens I’m great company.”

He chuckles softly and raises his lips into the faintest hint of a smile. “Are you now?”

“Want me to stick around so you can find out if I’m telling the truth or not?”

He’s silent for a moment, searching my eyes for something. “I’d like that.”

About the Author 

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “Falling for the Professor” By Colette Davison

AUDIOBOOK TOUR: “The Orphan from Shepherds Keep” by Lindsay Law

AUDIOBOOK TOUR

Book Title: The Orphan From Shepherds Keep: 

Three Men, Three Intertwined Lives, One Rightful Place In Each Other’s Heart – A Gay Novel

Author: Lindsay Law

Narrator: Bolton Marsh

Release Date: June 16, 2025

Pairing: MM 

Tense/POV: Third person, mostly present tense, alternating POV

Genres:  LGBTQ+ Coming of Age Fiction 

Tropes: Coming of Age; Forbidden Love; Love Triangle; Unrequited Love; Slow Burn; Found Family; Bittersweet romance; Queer History background

Themes: Self-Acceptance / Identity Formation

Heat Rating: 3 flames    

Length: 10 hours and 24  minutes

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Audible US  |  Audible UK 

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Over a period of thirty years, three gay men struggle to define themselves and make their mark on a turbulent and unwelcoming world that is so filled with anger that love has become a luxury.

Blurb 

Over a period of thirty years, three gay men struggle to define themselves and make their mark on a turbulent and unwelcoming world that is so filled with anger that love has become a luxury.

The townsfolk describe him as “prettier than a boy should be.” ELI APPLE is embarrassed by such remarks but soon learns to celebrate all the pleasures his beauty invites. He possesses the voice of an angel and the sound of his tender falsetto echoes throughout the green forests that surround his New England home. A rough, older boy, FERRIS COOPER, dazzled by the youngster’s loveliness and captivated by the hymns he sings, secretly follows him on his daily walks. And into both their lives arrives BENJAMIN BERGER, savior to one and beloved by the other. The adventures of these three men become entwined in a surprising tapestry of love and betrayal over the course of thirty years.

Straddling the worlds of music, religion, and art, and set in an era that begins with Ronald Reagan describing America as a “shining city on a hill” and ends with Donald Trump’s legacy of “American carnage,” these characters come of age while America is coming apart. They celebrate as gay marriage is legalized and suffer as gun violence explodes across the country. And when a deadly virus threatens and nations close their borders, they must struggle to survive in an America they no longer recognize.

Emulating the warmth and complexity of male friendships as portrayed in Hannah Yanagihara’s A LITTLE LIFE while also embracing the earthy sensuality of the same-sex couples in Garth Greenwell’s CLEANNESS, the characters in THE ORPHAN FROM SHEPHERDS KEEP are real and imperfect and utterly unforgettable.

About the Author  

Lindsay Law has produced scores of television plays, dozens of films, in addition to a pair of productions on Broadway. Many of these works have been nominated for Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars. He was the Executive Producer for the PBS drama series, AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE from 1981 to 1995. He was the President of Fox Searchlight Pictures from 1995 to 2000. He lives in Litchfield County, Connecticut. This is his first novel.

If you enjoyed this book and the time you spent with these characters, help spread the word on-line, at your local bookshop, and directly with your friends. The author would enjoy hearing about your experience while reading this book and invites you to ask any questions you may have about this story and his story.

Social Media Links 

Audible Profile  |  Website  |  Instagram  |   Goodreads

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Continue ReadingAUDIOBOOK TOUR: “The Orphan from Shepherds Keep” by Lindsay Law

NEW RELEASE: “”D’Vaire or Nothing” by Jessamyn Kingley

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: D’Vaire or Nothing (D’Vaire, Book 44)

Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley

Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: August 7, 2025

Genre: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Trope: Fated mates

Themes: Love

Heat Rating:  3 flames

Length:  85 108 words

It is not a standalone story, but does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads Series Link 

Amazon Author Profile

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Luck and love await the D’Vaire family at the newest dragon resort.

Blurb

In these five previously unpublished short stories, the D’Vaires are invited to the newest dragon resort, the Deck of Cards. 

King of Clubs: The King of Clubs restaurant boasts a menu ranging from flavorful steak to exotic fruits. Grab a seat at a table and dine with many of the beloved couples from the D’Vaire series.

Diamond and Dollars: The heart of this Vegas resort is the casino, and the D’Vaires are ready to discover if the odds favor them. Past the slots and tables is a vast shopping area, and the stores have plenty to tempt even the most discerning customer.

Goddesses Wild: The goddesses are keeping an eye on their treasured D’Vaires from the realm of the dead. Unfortunately, their jovial chat is interrupted by a sudden death with a few clues left to unravel.

Heathcliff’s Heart: Brynewielm Duke Heathcliff D’Vairefenix wants a quick beer, so he escapes to the Hearts bar with a book. When he gets there, Heath finds his mate. Young bartender Brinley Brimstone is saving every penny for an uncertain future. When the phoenix and fire mage meet, flames will surely follow.

Double Spades: For Bard Ashby D’Vaire, everything centers on his career, family, and garden. But Ashby is missing the love of a partner. It is with great reluctance that Seltivare Tristis takes a job at the Deck of Cards. But the elf’s misgivings are lost on his first night at work when he crosses paths with a jaguar hybrid who is determined to make his dreams come true.

Excerpt

Moving ahead of his family so he could open the tall door designed to look like an ace of hearts, Heathcliff smiled. “We’re D’Vaires. If we aren’t weird, we’ll get kicked out of the mansion.”

“That’s definitely not how that works,” Scheredin muttered.

Laughing, Heathcliff waited for everyone to walk into the bar. His chuckles died the second he followed them inside. Thanks to his elven ancestors, he’d lacked sexuality until that moment. To Heathcliff’s horror, his cock tented his trousers, and the sharp spicy scent of pink peppercorns consumed his senses. 

Somewhere in the bar was his mate. Desperate to find him or her, Heathcliff looked around. His gaze unerringly landed on a man with shocked blue eyes and brown hair glowing a little red in the bar’s moody lighting. Heathcliff’s phoenix screeched with delight and a desire to know everything about the ignis mage staring at them.

“Heath, what’s wrong?” Kieran asked.

Too busy staring at the man, Heathcliff barely heard his brother’s question. His mate was in dark pants paired with a black-and-white shirt with giant red hearts down the right side.

“Wrong?” Heathcliff repeated dumbly as he edged farther toward the mage. Although he wanted to run to the man Fate had given him, Heathcliff needed his body to calm first. The last thing he wanted to do was point his erection at his other half as they spoke. It was mortifying to have no control over his hormones, but Heathcliff understood the overwhelming attraction.

The sorcerer was pretty with his nearly pouty lips and the slight upturn of his nose. He’d enhanced his dark lashes and added a bit of liner to give his eyes a smoky look that suited a man born to manipulate fire.

“Heathcliff, why the fuck are you still standing near the door? What’s wrong?” Kieran demanded.

With some blood finally returning to his brain, Heathcliff blinked heavily and glanced briefly at a concerned Kieran.

“Ignis mage,” Heathcliff said. “Do you see him?”

“Tall hot guy with blue eyes?” Scheredin asked.

“Tall is relative, I guess,” Kieran murmured.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brexton retorted. “Our people are short. So, I’d guess the mage is maybe eight or nine inches over five feet. Tall to us. Not to the towering phoenix shifters with us. Anyway, what about the mage, Heath?”

“He’s my mate,” Heathcliff answered, though the reality of the situation was far from settling in. 

Kieran cheered and the other three clapped, which drew the attention of everyone in the bar. The guests were family, so questions would be asked later, but Heathcliff didn’t care. His lone concern was learning more about the mage. 

“Let’s go introduce ourselves,” Scheredin insisted as he led the charge toward the startled sorcerer with Kieran in tow.

To spare the man from being interrogated, Heathcliff followed his family, and his phoenix grew calmer the closer he stepped to the ignis mage. As astonishing and frightening as it was to find the other half of his soul, his beast’s instincts were already screaming for him to claim the man with a bite.

“Hi, I’m Scher, what’s your name?” Scheredin asked.

The ignis mage swallowed thickly and kept his blue gaze locked on Heathcliff’s face. “Hi. Yes, hello. Um, my name is Brinley.”

Heathcliff was desperate to touch him, so he stuck his hand out to shake. “Hi, Brinley. I’m Heath.”

“Brynewielm Duke Heathcliff D’Vairefenix,” Kieran muttered. 

“Oh, nice to meet you, Your Grace,” Brinley said as he slid his elegant hand into Heathcliff’s. The touch of his mate soothed Heathcliff, and his anxiety dropped by several notches as he smiled at Brinley. The ignis mage offered him an enchanting grin.

It sucked to pull his arm away, but it would’ve been weirder to hold on to Brinley forever, despite Heathcliff’s phoenix begging him to do just that. Heathcliff introduced the rest of their group, and Brinley greeted them, but his captivating gaze kept returning to Heathcliff. He’d take that as an excellent sign.

“I know you’re working now, but maybe we could talk later?” Heathcliff asked, almost pissed at himself for nearly rushing upstairs to read a book. If Scheredin hadn’t talked him into staying out for an hour, he would’ve missed meeting Brinley.

“I’d like that very much, Your Grace,” Brinley said, pulling out his phone and giving Heathcliff his number.

“Please call me Heath.”

Brinley cocked his head. “Aren’t you going to give me your number?”

“Yeah, sorry, I swear I’m usually not scatterbrained, but I’m overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting to meet you.”

“It definitely hasn’t sunk in for me that I’m standing here talking to my mate right now.”

“I nearly missed you,” Heathcliff confided, then gave Brinley his number.

“Yeah, my brother is desperate to read a new book and wanted to ditch us,” Kieran said.

“I can handle this on my own, thank you,” Heathcliff told Kieran.

About the Author

Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.

Visit her website 

Join her Facebook group, Jessamyn’s Ruffian’s

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “”D’Vaire or Nothing” by Jessamyn Kingley

BLOG TOUR: “The Care of Broken Things” by October Arden

BLOG TOUR – NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Care of Broken Things

Author and Publisher: October Arden

Release Date: August 1, 2025

Tense/POV: Third person, past tense, single POV

Genres: Contemporary MMM prison romance (leans into literary with a strong romantic core)

Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, found family, hurt/comfort, healing from grief, obsessive devotion, fake dating, prison husband, marriage of convenience, wrongfully imprisoned, morally gray characters, polyamory that heals

Themes: Trauma recovery, self-loathing to self-worth, redemption through love, the violence of tenderness

Heat Rating: 2 out of 5

Length: 82 000 words/320 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger. 

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK

Some loves rewrite your sentence

Blurb 

Samuel has spent years building walls.
Not the prison’s concrete ones, but the kind that keep lives from bleeding into each other. As the prison’s self-appointed librarian, he’s carved out a fragile peace where silence is his shield. The inmates call him The Ice Queen—a title he wears like armor. After a lifetime of being preyed upon, he knows better than to let anyone close.
Then Eli arrives like sunlight through bulletproof glass.
A wrongfully convicted pediatrician, and unbearably kind, Eli is everything Samuel knows to avoid, so when he steps in to protect the man, it’s supposed to be a one-time act of mercy.
But Eli’s husband has another plan.
Nathaniel—who looks at Samuel like he’s something more than a convict—makes a request that shatters everything:
“Be his prison husband. Love him where I can’t.”
It’s a lie that should be easy. Samuel’s an expert at deception. But the longer he plays the role, the more the lines blur: Eli’s warmth seeping into his frozen bones, Nathaniel’s quiet strength, the whispered secrets of Eli’s daughter who trusts only him.
Now the man who built his life on solitude hoards these moments like contraband.
Some loves rewrite your sentence.

A devastating queer romance about the families we carve from our own ribs, and the love that refuses to let us stay broken.

Excerpt

Twenty minutes later he kicked Eli’s bed. It had been a day and a half since the library incident, and he hadn’t spoken a word to him since. He’d thought Eli’s perseverance would continue, but maybe the man was learning about personal space. He knew he ought to be happy about that, but the change unnerved him. He didn’t like things that didn’t come with explanations.

Eli didn’t open his eyes. “Hi, Samuel.”

“How’d you know it was me?”

“Your particular brand of hospitality.” The man paused. “Also, you smell like Reese’s cups.”

“You can smell that from here?”

He took a somewhat discreet sniff of himself, but all he could detect was the shitty prison detergent.

“Hunger sharpens the sense.”

He was appalled. “You still haven’t—It’s been 48 hours!”

“I’ve done 100 hour fasts before.”

That boggled the mind. “Why?”

“To rest my gut after glutenings, mostly,” Eli said. “Why is it that you can ask questions of me, but won’t answer any of mine?” 

True to form, he ignored the question and upended his new purchases onto the bed. Eli’s eyes sprang open. “What—”

“No more fasting.”

Eli picked up one of the packages on his chest. Sardines.

“They’ve got Omega 3’s, right? That’s good for inflammation. There’s some salmon there, too, in those pouches.”

Eli sat up. Packages and pouches slithered off him and onto the bedspread.

Suddenly nervous, Samuel found himself rambling. “I wasn’t sure if your commissary account was up and running yet, and the stuff I gave you before were things you couldn’t eat, so I—”

The man was smiling. Not smirking, not grinning—and Samuel knew he was in trouble. 

“You’re amazing,” Eli said, as if he hadn’t just ruined a man’s life. “Thank you. And you’re right. My commissary account still isn’t linked up yet.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Eli then swept a space clear on the bed and pointed his invitation. It was the smile Samuel would blame later. He sat where indicated, more pliant and cooperative than he’d ever been in his life.

Eli was impressed. “This is a better haul than I was expecting. I might actually survive on this.”

Samuel was beginning to come back to himself. It was easier now that Eli was sorting through the food, like the spell of that smile had been broken—or at least weakened.

“Who’s Nathaniel?”

Eli flashed him a grin. “My murderer-hating husband.” He ripped open a bag of trail mix. “Don’t suppose I could trouble you to eat the M&M’s out of these for me?”

He expected the man to dig in, but Eli only ate an almond, a cashew, and a peanut before setting the package down. That broke his brain a little. “Aren’t you hungry?”

Eli brought the pouch of sardines up to his mouth and ripped it open with his teeth. “Labels are useful, but they’re not foolproof. If I haven’t reacted in half an hour, I’ll eat a little more.”

Samuel knew that if he’d gone more than two days without food, he’d have gnawed his own leg off. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

“Hmm?” 

“You knew you couldn’t eat what I bought you, and you knew they’d continue to keep screwing up the special meal thing. So why didn’t you come to me? We could have done this two days ago.”

Eli fished a sardine out with his fingers. The slimy things looked repulsive, and the smell alone was enough to knock someone out. Eli caught him staring and tilted the pouch toward him. “Pardon my rudeness. Would you like some?”

He had to swallow bile. “Your husband’s never going to kiss you again.”

About the Author  

October Arden writes emotionally raw queer stories that live somewhere between literary fiction and romance. Their work explores fluid identities, found families, co-dependent devotion, and complicated love—often through the lens of characters who are chronically ill, neurodivergent, or quietly self-destructive. These are stories for anyone who’s ever felt unwanted or unseen, where even the most damaged hearts can find a home.

October loves hearing from readers, so feel free to reach out, ask questions, or suggest what you’d like to see next. You can also join the newsletter to stay in touch—and as a thank you, you’ll receive a free copy of Starting with Cake, a quietly unhinged neurodivergent love story full of snack cakes, janitor uniforms, and the kind of care that sneaks up on you. Find out about new books and other extras at octoberarden.com

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Continue ReadingBLOG TOUR: “The Care of Broken Things” by October Arden

NEW RELEASE: “Walking on Broken Paths” by Amy Aislin

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Walking on Broken Paths

Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin

Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Tense/POV: third person, past tense

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Childhood friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, damaged hero, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine

Heat Rating:  3 flames      

Length: 53 000 words / 210 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Blurb

Desperate to escape the pain of his brother’s death, Jesse Melnik ran—but he couldn’t outrun the grief, no matter how much distance he put between himself and his past. Now, after fifteen years of trying, he’s finally ready to face his hometown of Charlottetown again.

He expects the memories of his brother to hover in every corner of his family’s sailboat and whisper in every sea-tinged breeze.

What he doesn’t expect is Parker Willis, the best friend he left behind without a word the day he fled.

And he certainly doesn’t expect old feelings to resurface.

Parker’s been stuck in a rut since his father died three months ago. Every day is the same: try to keep his father’s dinner cruise business afloat so he can chip away at Dad’s debts, all while working a job that leaves him more frustrated than satisfied.

Then Parker’s routine shatters in the best way possible: Jesse Melnik returns to Prince Edward Island for the summer, all six feet three inches of gorgeous hockey player.

Now, that’s different.

Jesse kickstarts Parker’s heart.

 Parker makes Jesse feel again.

And although both men are a little bit damaged from struggling down the broken path of loss, maybe—just maybe—if they can lean on each other, they’ll learn to move forward at last.

Content warnings: themes of grief, discussions of a parent’s death from cancer, discussions/descriptions of a sibling’s death from suicide

Excerpt

Jesse glanced over and nearly swallowed his tongue.

How dare running shorts be so goddamn tiny and cling so goddamn nicely to long, shapely legs dusted with hair the same shade as the finest dark chocolate? Jesse was still reeling at being in the same place at the same time as Parker for the first time in years—had, in fact, tossed and turned all night thinking about Parker—and now he showed up out of nowhere again and sent Jesse’s libido into a jumble of desire and yearning?

There were things that Jesse had left in his past, and his attraction to his best friend was supposed to be one of them.

Former best friend? Best friend he’d recently gotten reacquainted with? Former best friend who could be his new best friend?

Fuck. Relationships were hard.

Along with the shorts, Parker also wore a long-sleeved running shirt in teal and a baseball hat with Montreal hockey’s logo on the front. His dark hair curled out from underneath the sides of the hat, and the two-day stubble on his jaw was way sexier than Jesse wanted to admit. He was a couple of inches shorter than Jesse’s six foot three, but whereas Jesse was—admittedly—very big, even for a defenceman, Parker was lanky and toned, the muscle definition obvious in his running gear in a way it hadn’t been in the jeans and Willis Dinner Cruises-branded long-sleeved T-shirt he’d been wearing last night when he’d appeared like a figment of Jesse’s childhood wishes and sat next to him on the bench at the marina.

Whatever he wore, Parker looked like he’d fit into all of Jesse’s empty spaces.

Shaking his head to rid himself of that thought, he shoved his phone back in his pocket and scowled. “I’ll get you a new hat.”

Parker’s lips quirked. “I like this hat.”

“Since when are you a Montreal fan?”

“Hey, don’t knock them. They made it to the playoffs.”

The unlike you was left unsaid, but Jesse heard it loud and clear and refused to be amused.

“So.” Parker’s shoulder bumped up against his. “What are you doing?”

“What are you doing?”

“This is my jogging route.”

“That so?” Jesse would have to remember to be by his window in the mornings so he could watch Parker run by in his short shorts.

“Mm-hmm. Is it your jogging route?”

“No.”

“What are you doing here then?”

Glancing back at the house, Jesse let out a long breath. “Deciding what to tackle first. What colour would you paint that door?”

Parker blinked once and frowned. “Why would you paint it any colour?”

“Because that rusty red makes me think of dead bodies on a crime show?”

“No, I mean . . .” That unique greyish-greenish gaze of Parker’s swung from Jesse to the house and back. “Do you know the people who live here? Are you doing work for them this summer or something?”

“I live here,” Jesse said. “And I don’t want to live with that gross colour for the next two months.”

“You . . . bought a house?”

Jesse grunted.

“But you live in Vancouver,” Parker said slowly, as though reminding Jesse of this fact.

“No, I know, but . . .”

But what? He’d wanted a project for the summer? Something that would keep him occupied so he didn’t have to think about where he was and why he was back for the first time in fifteen years? A fixer-upper was as good a distraction as anything.

His therapist wouldn’t love that he was keeping busy instead of sitting with and analyzing his feelings. But she didn’t have to know. Right?

When Jesse didn’t continue, Parker said, “Are you retiring from hockey and moving back here?”

“Fuck no,” Jesse blurted.

About the Author 

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “Walking on Broken Paths” by Amy Aislin

NEW RELEASE: “The Way You Love” by Crea Reitan

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Way You Lie (Isle of Kala, book one)

Author: Crea Reitan

Publisher: Dragon Fire Fantasy, LLC

Cover Artist: Rebeca Covers

Release Date: July 10, 2025

Tense/POV: first person, present tense, alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, Age gap, Dad’s best friend, secret relationship

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length:  approximately 92 000 words

It is a standalone story.

It ends on a cliffhanger — not for this couple,

but for the couple featured in the next book.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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Sometimes a happy ending comes with heartbreak. 

Blurb

Sometimes a happy ending comes with heartbreak. 

Falling in love with my father’s best friend wasn’t on my to-do list. Yes, he’s hot. Sure, I’ve been flirting with him since I was sixteen. Of course I’d be down for a little fun.

When Laiken begins returning my flirting, things get heated. It was supposed to be sexy summer fun and nothing more. We weren’t planning on making this a forever thing. 

But falling in love isn’t a choice. 

As it turns out, not everyone agrees and sometimes disapproval is loud, painful, and heartbreaking.

***

This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

Excerpt 

I’m no stranger to Elijah Cain. I’ve seen him nearly every single day of his life since the moment he was conceived. His father, Nason, and I have been friends for over thirty years.

He began flirting with me four years ago when he was in high school, and at the time, I found it nothing but amusing. He was a kid. He’s my best friend’s son. In a way, he felt like my nephew.

But when he came home from college a few months ago, he’d suddenly stopped looking like a child to me. He was now an adult. Everything about him had grown up. And I’ve found that I really like every damn thing I see.

He’s adorable. He looks so much like his father but with his mother’s Latina complexion. The combination of Miranda and Nason is simply breathtaking. I’ve always thought so. I’ve always thought that Elijah was an adorable child.

Adorable has grown up into a man that never leaves my mind. His flirting hasn’t stopped. If anything, it’s increased. I’m not sure if he’s just a flirt or if it’s intentionally directed at me.

Not that it matters. I can’t go there. That’s Nason’s kid! My best friend’s only child and the man whom I can’t stop thinking about day or night.

About the Author 

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school and has a habit of creating secondary, and often tertiary characters that take over her stories. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out.

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “The Way You Love” by Crea Reitan