Spotlight: The Forged Empire by Samantha Gillespie

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(The Kingdom Within, #3)

Publication date: July 15th 2025

Genres: Historical Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

She married a prince. She loved a soldier.
Now she must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to save them all.

As the specter of war looms, Meredith Ethan, and Connor are thrust into a final, desperate struggle for freedom. With Stonefall reclaimed and the plague’s grip finally broken, they must now race to forge new alliances before Theros-the ruthless King of Talos-brings his twisted vision of an empire to life.

But Theros’s ambitions run deeper than conquest-and Meredith is at the heart of his plans.

As betrayals mount and loyalties are tested, she finds herself caught between the prince she married and the soldier she never forgot.

And beneath the weight of destiny, Meredith must decide who she truly is:
a queen who must learn to believe in her own strength… or a pawn in a game she can no longer control.

In a war where survival means sacrifice, the price of freedom may be everything.

The final battle is here. And only one legacy will endure.

Excerpt

A tremor starts in my hands again, subtle but insistent. I clench my fists, willing it to stop.

“My lady?” Anabella appears near the foot of the staircase, her wide eyes fixed on me, worry plain in her gaze.

My pulse pounds harder in my ears, and the air feels thick, suffocating. A bead of sweat traces a line down my temple, and I lift a trembling hand to brush it away. The motion betrays me. My uncle’s eyes narrow, alarm darkening his expression.

“You’re quite pale,” he remarks, his voice softer now but no less authoritative. “Sit down before you fall.”

“I’m fine,” I say, gritting my teeth. “It’s just a dizzy spell—”

The room wavers, and a sharp pain lances through my temple. I dig my nails into the carved wood of a nearby table, struggling to stay upright. Voices fade into a muffled roar behind the pounding in my ears. My legs threaten to buckle, yet I take a step forward . . . feeling as if the crown itself is dragging me down.

“Meredith!” Anabella cries out, her fear breaking through decorum. She rushes forward, but someone stops her—a hand grabbing her arm, likely my uncle’s.

“No one is to approach her!” The command explodes from my uncle’s throat like a war cry, freezing everyone mid-step. “She was inoculated this morning—she could be infected!”

Infected.

Understanding dawns like poison spreading through my veins. They think the inoculation failed. They think I’m a walking plague, a vector of death.

Am I?

My knees buckle as the implications cascade through my mind. The room warps and tilts, faces stretching into grotesque masks of fear and revulsion.

“Please, let me help her!” Anabella’s voice cracks with desperation, cutting through the growing pandemonium. “She’s fainting—she needs—”

My uncle stops her. “Stay where you are, woman, or I’ll have you restrained!”

I struggle to form reassurances, denials, anything. But my tongue lies thick and useless in my mouth. The marble floor begins its inexorable rise to meet me, my legs folding like paper beneath my weight. Colors bleed together, the world smearing into an impressionist nightmare.

“Get the physician! Now!” My uncle’s bellow seems to come from very far away, echoing down a tunnel of gathering darkness.

I’m falling—but suddenly strong arms encircle me, crushing me against a chest that thunders with someone else’s racing heartbeat. The scent of leather and pine fills my fading senses, achingly familiar.

“Get away from her!” the duke roars. “You fool—you’re putting yourself at risk! Guards, pull him back!”

“Try it.” Connor’s voice is a low growl. “See what happens.”

The threat hangs in the air, electric with promise. Even through my fading consciousness, I feel the tension ratchet higher, guards hesitating at the challenge in his tone.

Through the narrow slits of my barely-open eyes, I see Connor’s face swimming above me, those midnight-blue eyes fierce with determination. His jaw is set in stone, daring anyone to test him. His lips move urgently, forming words that reach me only as distant whispers, lost in the roaring tide of unconsciousness.

The last thing I register is his arms tightening around me, unyielding as iron, before the darkness swallows me whole.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Samantha Gillespie writes the kind of romantasy novels she loves to read: stories packed with forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and just enough angst to keep you up way past your bedtime.

She lives in Houston with her husband and their ever-expanding menagerie—cats who've crowned themselves royalty, a dog with strong opinions about the weather, and chickens whose sole mission is acquiring treats and destroying the yard. When she's not breaking hearts through fiction, she thrives on copious amounts of coffee, sharp wit, and the delicious tears of her devoted readers.

Connect:

https://www.samanthagillespie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaGillespieAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/samantha_gillespie_

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8431157.Samantha_Gillespie

Spotlight: Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland

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The third and final gripping installment in the New York Times bestselling Broken Blades series perfect for fans of epic fantasy.

Some betrayals cut deeper than blades.

The Blades were never supposed to survive this long. But after the battle in Quu Harbor, escaping is no longer enough. The most dangerous liars in the four realms have one last mission―return to Yusan and finish what they started.

But now a usurper sits on the serpent throne. And he may be more dangerous than the god-king.

With three relics of the Dragon Lord in their possession, the Blades will face the might of the four realms. Enemies will become allies. Allies will become traitors. And the ones they love most? They’ll be the ones to break them.

Grief will carve the Blades into something ruthless and unrecognizable. But only by losing everything can they win this game of kings and crowns.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Mai Corland is a Korean American attorney and writer, born in Seoul and adopted into New York.  From there, she ran away from winter and studied in Florida at Rollins College and the University of Miami.

She is the USA Today, Indie Booksellers List, Sunday Times, and instant New York Times bestselling author of FIVE BROKEN BLADES, the first of a trilogy that went on to become a Book of the Month selection and Amazon, Indigo and Apple Books Best Book of 2024. Her follow up, FOUR RUINED REALMS was an international bestseller and an Amazon editor’s pick for Best Fantasy.  

When not writing, you can find her asleep or clutching her latte machine. Mai resides in New York and also writes award winning children’s and young adult books under Meredith Ireland.

Follow along with her on Instagram: @maicorland

Spotlight: Running Hott by Serena Bell

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(Hott Springs Eternal, #4)

Publication date: July 14th 2025

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

A jilted bride. A jaded divorce lawyer. A full tank of gas. What could go wrong?

Rhys: As a cutthroat New York City divorce lawyer, it’s my job to end marriages. Lifetime commitment? It’s for the birds. I do everything in my power to avoid it…until my grandfather’s will says that to save our family’s land, I have to become a wedding planner.

Worse, my first client is Eden Becker. She’s the sunshine-y disaster whose ex-husband I represented a few years ago in their divorce. Eden’s first marriage was a nightmare, so why does she think another one is a good idea?

Turns out, I’m not wrong. Her jerkwad fiancé jilts her, and as her wedding planner, I’m also her getaway vehicle. Now we’re on the road together—and all my complicated feelings about this beautiful, naive optimist are in the car, too. Along with a wild attraction I’ve been fighting since we first faced off across a conference table.

If this road trip goes on too much longer, I’m going to do something I’ll regret forever.

Like fall in love.

A spicy, grumpy-sunshine, jilted bride, enemies to lovers, standalone road trip romantic comedy set in the beloved small town of Rush Creek.

Excerpt

I reach for the sound system.

His hand snakes in and blocks mine. “Driver controls the radio.”

“No, dude. Everyone knows the passenger controls the radio. Besides, if you won’t let me drive at all, that’s not fair. I had to listen to ninety-seven minutes of your dirge list and way too much sports ball. We need a mood change.”

I cue up my playlist and set it on shuffle. “What I’ve Been Looking For” from High School Musical comes on. Rhys groans.

“What?” I demand.

“This is from a kid’s movie.”

“Which you must have seen, if you know that.”

“It was one of Hanna’s favorites. We watched it a thousand times. Which was a thousand times too many.”

“What I’ve Been Looking For” is followed by “Surface Pressure” and “All You Wanna Do,” and Rhys says, “Please tell me this isn’t all from musicals and Disney movies.”

“This isn’t all from musicals and Disney movies,” I say as Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” fills the car.

Rhys’s jaw ticks. His eyes roll. His shoulders twitch.

“What’s wrong with this one?” I demand.

He heaves a long-suffering sigh. “He obviously doesn’t belong with her. Let’s look at the facts: She’s clearly not his type. He wants someone who wears short skirts and high heels, and she’s not comfortable in those clothes. If she keeps trying to convince him he belongs with her, they’re both going to end up miserable.”

I stare at his way-too-good-looking profile in the dimly lit car, agog. “Are you serious?”

“Would you argue with anything I’ve said?”

“It’s a friends-to-lovers song!” I cry. “They’re obviously going to end up together and be super happy. Because she sees him! And understands him. He’s happy when he’s with her, and that isn’t true with the short-skirts-and-high-heels girl.”

“I thought you were swearing off love and marriage.”

“Just because I’m personally swearing off love and marriage doesn’t mean I wish ill on other people who have found their perfect matches.” 

“This,” he says. “This is why so many marriages end in divorce. Because we hear what we want to hear. And two people can hear the same song and find completely different meaning in it. Imagine if you were with a guy and this was your song, and every time you heard it you thought about how cool it was that he’d finally seen you for the awesome bleachers girl you are, and he thought about his ex-girlfriend and her short skirts and high heels and how he wished you’d get some personal style.”

“Grim!”

“Realistic,” he corrects.

One of his hands leaves the wheel. Settles briefly near his knee. Creeps into my Cool Ranch Doritos bag. 

“What are you doing?” I shriek.

“Stress eating,” he says. “Your playlist has driven me to it.”

I do everything in my power not to crack a smile. “You don’t eat junk food,” I point out.

“That was before I realized that despite being divorced by a sociopath and jilted by a personality potato, you still believe in true love.”

I can’t help it; I snort at personality potato. “I’m the one who has the stress. I’m the one who got jilted. And if I’d known I was going to have to share my precious Cool Ranch, I would have gotten a bigger bag.”

I sneak a peek at him. He’s definitely trying not to laugh. And unfortunately, it looks good on him. I let him have the Doritos.

“God, these are disgustingly tasty,” he says.

“Right?”

We’re both quiet for a moment, worshipping at the altar of fake food. He quietly licks Cool Ranch flavor off his fingers, and I absolutely, one hundred percent, do not wonder how his tongue feels licking up the inside of his finger and across the tip of his thumb. How it would feel rasping over my own fingertips, drawn into the heat of his mouth.

Oh, hell.

I’ve tumbled into a sexual fantasy about a man who disassembled me like a kid’s discarded playset.

We make our way through Maroon 5’s “Memories” (“Memories of how I cribbed this entire song from Pachelbel’s Canon,” Rhys says grumpily), past Lake Street Dive’s “Hypotheticals” (“Now this is actually a great song; you’re one for, what, a hundred?”) to “Try Everything.”

“That’s shitty advice,” he says. “‘Try everything.’ I mean, no. There are a lot of things that are straight-up bad ideas. Bull-riding. Free solo climbing. Base jumping. Heli-skiing. Recreational fentanyl.”

“She doesn’t mean literally everything,” I say.

“See?” he says. “And there we have it. Two people, same song, totally different interpretations.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t see how that’s somehow a refutation of marriage. You’re so—”

“Pessimistic? Cynical? Misanthropic?”

“All of the above. You ready to tell me what childhood wound made you this way?” I ask, half-teasing…half…not.

He shrugs.

“Yes, Eden,” I say, pitching my voice low to roughly imitate his. “Since we have another five and a half uninterrupted hours of being stuck in this car together with absolutely nothing else to do, I would love to tell you all about my childhood.”

Rhys is quiet for a moment. Then with a sigh, he says, “What do you want to know?”

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Serena Bell writes contemporary romance with heat, heart, and humor. A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.

Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance.

When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends.

Connect:

https://serenabell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/serenabellbooks

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CornerSmartSexy/

https://twitter.com/serenabellbooks

https://www.instagram.com/serenabellbooks/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6600927.Serena_Bell

https://serenabell.com/newsletter/

Spotlight: Just What the Doctor Hired by Amanda Nelson & Lisa-Marie Potter

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Sweet romance, romance, romcom, contemporary romance, closed door romance, clean romance

Date Published: July 9, 2025

Student Autumn Haze’s motto is: no men until she completes her bachelor of nursing degree. Years before, Autumn learned the hard way men are just a distraction she can’t afford until she’s established her career and what she wants. While moonlighting as a Plus One companion pays the bills, she struggles to follow her rules after meeting her newest contract. Pediatric Hospitalist Jensen Edwards is still recovering from a bad breakup that left him the talk of the hospital. Now he’s receiving a best doctor’s award, but after he hires Autumn as his plus one, Jensen is on edge. If word gets out that he hired a companion, rumors are bound to circulate, making work unbearable—again. Their chemistry as a fake couple is undeniable, but can a chance at a real relationship override their fear of commitment?

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Autumn

Seattle’s Rock Bar was like no other establishment I’d ever seen. While one half was ultra-modern with minimalistic barstools and tables, the other half was organic—a backlit wall with varying hues of peach and gold rock salt. Even the pendant lights were rough-hewn cubes of the natural mineral, giving the whole place a soft orange glow, like a photo filter. I wouldn’t have been surprised to find incense burning in the corner; it would have fit the vibe. Instead, I was greeted by the standard pungent aroma of spirits and beer.

I took a seat in front of the glowing wall facing the entrance, laying my gray pea coat over the back. A man, with a deeply creased smile and thatchy brown hair I’d bet my next paycheck was a wig, approached.

“Can I bring you a drink? Beer, wine, cocktail?” He laid a square brown napkin on the table.

I shook my head. “Um, just a water for now. I’m waiting for a friend.” I shifted my gaze to the light wood plank door. Still no client.

The server nodded and strode away.

I glanced around. The environment was precisely the type of place I’d expect to meet a personal life consultant—the listed profession of my newest client. However, Josh Anderson’s photo didn’t match how I’d pictured a twenty-seven-year-old inspirational guru. If I hired someone to oversee my mental well-being, I’d expect them to be a linen-wearing, happy person with a sense of empathetic energy. In the profile Josh submitted to my boss, Ruth, at the Plus One Companion Agency, he wore a navy suit and tie with neatly coiffed, coffee-colored hair. The leery smile was what threw me, though. Not to mention, his naturally smoldering dark eyes appeared way too aggressive—a common expression from most of my cocky, workaholic clients whose personal life only consisted of occasional one-night stands. However, Josh’s choice of venue had me doubting my first impression. Maybe he was a tranquil person who knew the secrets to happiness.

Last night, I checked out Josh’s website, The Life Lexicon, and found the homepage busy and gimmicky, filled with cheesy, uplifting quotes, hollow promises, and a link to register for his online classes. His site listed no qualifications and a disclaimer releasing him of any responsibility. Yet, Josh had over two million followers. As my lawyer father would say, something wasn’t adding up. I picked up the miniature wooden tool and raked swirls in the white sand of the Zen garden embedded in the table.

The server returned with a glass and small carafe of water. “I’ll check back in a few minutes.”

“Thank you.” Throwing him an apologetic smile, I curled my shoulders. I knew servers hated tables that wouldn’t generate a profit.

The man gave two sharp raps on the table with his knuckles and left.

I glanced at my watch. Fifteen minutes tested the limits of the no-show boundary—if Josh didn’t arrive soon, I’d bail.

Just then, the entrance door swung open, and in swayed my client. The pronounced hunch in his shoulders deemphasized his tall, lean build. Nodding acknowledgement, he flopped into the black chair across from me, almost slipping out the other side, and shifting his unbrushed hair over his sunglasses.

“Damn. You’re even hotter in person.” He wore a wrinkled black suit over a wine-stained, white cotton T-shirt. Josh wobbled and grabbed onto the edge of the table. “Whoa.”

Tonight is not going well. His breath was rank—the fermented stench of someone who’d already had several drinks. I leaned back in my booth, putting as much distance between him and myself as possible.

Josh dragged the back of his hand across his mouth. “So, how does this work?”

His slurred question was a standard from all my clients. I wish Ruth would put instructions on the website. “Well, we exchange pertinent information about ourselves and the expectations for tonight.” He might as well take off those damn sunglasses because they’re not disguising his wandering gaze. I feel dirty even talking to him.

A salacious smile crept over Josh’s lips.

“I got tested three weeks ago. I’m clean.”

Jerking my head back, I scowled. “What? No. I don’t need to know your medical history.”

Josh scratched his head, further mussing his hair. “You don’t?”

Ugh. Here we go again—he thinks I’m an escort . Moments like this made me frustrated with myself. If I could swallow my giant pride and accept financial help from my dads, I wouldn’t have to put up with clients like Josh to earn the additional income from Plus One. Swallowing the rising bile, I fought to keep the repulsion from my expression. “No. Your sex life is not relevant to a country club fundraising dinner.”

He barked a laugh. “I lied. We’re not going there. Country clubs are for people like my father.”

Sweat trickled down my back, and I readjusted the neckline of my burgundy wrap jumpsuit, covering as much of my cleavage as possible. “Then why did you hire me, Josh?”

He aggressively leaned forward, finally removing his sunglasses, his bloodshot eyes dark and cheek lifting. “A dare.”

I clenched my teeth. “What kind of dare?” Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

The rough pressure of his dress shoe tugged on my pant leg under the table, rubbing my calf. “The only kind I’d accept.” He winked.

Gross! I jerked my leg away and straightened, bracing my hands on the table. “What do you think you’re doing?” Heat rose up my chest, and I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.

Josh reached forward and squeezed my wrist.

Twisting my left arm from his grip, I rested a hand on top of my purse, taking comfort in the bulk of the taser under my palm.

Josh leaned back, exhaling in a huff, and rolling his eyes. “Oh, come on, sweetheart. What do you think I’m doing? I’m cutting to the chase.”

Shaking my head, I collected my coat and bag. “Clearly, you didn’t read the constraints of the Plus One policies.” I stood, ensuring a safe distance. “Your contract is canceled. Good night.” Adrenaline raced through my veins, and I had to restrain myself from running toward the exit. When I got onto the sidewalk, I inhaled deeply, clearing Josh’s foul stench from my lungs—replacing his unpleasant odor with the familiar scent of downtown’s asphalt and brine. I strode to the corner away from the bar, with one hand on my taser, the other clutching my phone.

—Lil, leaving Rock Bar, keep an eye on me. Client was a creeper—

Since I’d started at Plus One, Lilly Huang—a fellow nursing student, Plus One companion, and my best friend—and I had worked out an anti-creeper system. She and I shared companion appointment calendars and location statuses via our phones to keep each other safe. I glanced over my shoulder like a skittish cat. The vibration of Lilly’s response made me jump.

—barf emoji I got you. Do you want to talk about it when you get home?—

—No, it’s okay. I’ve got my taser. I’ll fill you in tomorrow during class—

—Thumbs up emoji, wide-eyeball emoji—

Switching out of messages, I tapped on the app for my Plus One portal. I opened Josh’s contract and clicked cancel. A text box popped on the screen.

Are you sure you want to cancel this contract?

Hell, yes!

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Amanda and Lisa-Marie are an award-winning, co-writing team of best friends who share imaginary worlds, including Men In Books Aren't Better (September 29, 2024), Just What the Doctor Hired (July 9, 2025), and a short story, Shivers, published in Moments Between (February 28, 2022). Lisa-Marie Potter (BIPOC) is a mom of four who grew up in Nottingham, England, and now resides in Alaska with her husband and golden retriever. Amanda Nelson grew up in Maryland and moved to Arizona, where she attended ASU and currently lives with her husband and four kids. Both women are hopeless romantics, but Lisa-Marie also enjoys suspense novels, while Amanda's second go-to genre is romancy. The duo review books on their socials, hike the Olympic National Park, and fight over the same fictional crushes.

Connect:

Website: https://www.NelsonPotter.com

"X": https://www.x.com/ANelsonLMPotter

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@NelsonPotterduo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anelson.lmpotter

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@anelson.lmpotter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TransireBooks

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/anelsonlmpotter.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-marie-potter-amanda-nelson-a21243243/

Book Buzz: https://bookbuzz.net/romance-just-what-the-doctor-hired-by-amanda-nelson-lisa-marie-potter/

Audiobook Excerpt: The Irish Girl by Ashley E. Sweeney

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Coming of Age/ Fiction/ Historical Fiction

Date Published: December 10, 2024 (Paperback) / March 11, 2025 (Audiobook)

Publisher: She Writes Press/Tantor Media

Narrator: Aoife McMahon

Run Time: 9 hours and 39 minutes

Thirteen-year-old Mary Agnes Coyne, forced from her home in rural Ireland in 1886 after being accused of incest, endures a treacherous voyage across the Atlantic alone to an unknown life in America. From the tenements of New York to the rough alleys of Chicago, Mary Agnes suffers the bitter taste of prejudice for the crime of being poor and Irish.

After moving west to Colorado, Mary Agnes again faces hardships and grapples with heritage, religion, and matters of the heart. Will she ever find a home to call her own? Where?

Buy on Amazon | Audible

About the Author

A native New Yorker, Ashley E. Sweeney is the multi-award-winning author of four novels, The Irish Girl, Hardland, Answer Creek: A Novel of The Donner Party, and Eliza Waite. She graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. with a degree in American Literature and American History and spent her career as a journalist and educator before turning to writing full-time. When she is not chained to her writing desk, Sweeney is an avid gardener, art quilter, and mosaic artist. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and Tucson.

Connect:

Website:https://ashleysweeneyauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleysweeneyauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14254802.Ashley_E_Sweeney

Instagram:https://instagram.com/ashleysweeneyauthor/

Cover Reveal: A Criminal’s Game by Daria White

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(A Bianca Wallace Mystery, #5)

Publication date: August 5th 2025

Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

Love is just a swipe away… until it turns deadly.

Bianca Wallace has finally found her rhythm—her business is booming, her daughter is back home, and Detective Lamar Sims might just be ready to take the next step. But when the police receive a chilling set of photos—images of a murdered woman—her sense of security vanishes. The victim? Alana Rivera, a former college friend Bianca never expected to see again… especially not like this.

The investigation leads straight to SoulSync, the hottest dating app, promising love but delivering something far more sinister. As Detective Sims peels back layers of deception, Bianca is drawn deeper into a deadly web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. Someone is watching. Someone is waiting. And if Bianca gets too close to the truth—she’ll be next.

Murder isn’t a game, but someone is playing to win. If you love gripping cozy mysteries with twists that keep you guessing, A Criminal’s Game is your next must-read. Perfect for fans of small-town secrets and amateur sleuths!

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Daria has lived in Texas for most of her life. She never liked reading as a kid. In fact, she almost hated it. However, as she grew up that all changed. Though she received her degree in healthcare management, Daria kept her writing as a hobby. She meant it to be private and her own way of expressing herself. It never crossed her mind to publish until she was in college. So, she took a chance and self published. It worked! Starting off as a sweet romance writer first, Daria branched out in 2020 with books in cozy mystery and Christian fiction. She even has nonfiction titles in the works, reflecting her Christian faith and work in ministry. She currently lives in New York with her husband. 

Connect:

https://www.dariawhite.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dariavips

https://www.instagram.com/dariawhite90/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751720.Daria_White