Spotlight: Cowboy Casual by Holly Renee

Blaire Monroe is the only woman I’ve ever loved, and the only one I’ve let break my heart.

It’s been ten years since she ran from this town, chasing a life that didn’t include the cowboy next door who blurred the line between best friend and something more.

Now she’s back.
Fresh off a busted engagement and hiding out on her grandmother’s crumbling strawberry farm like the past never happened.

Like she doesn’t still linger in every part of me I’ve spent years trying to erase.

But Blaire isn’t the kind of girl you forget.
She’s wildfire: reckless, untamed, and impossible to hold without getting scorched.

We collide the second we’re in the same room.
Too much heat. Too much history. Not nearly enough distance.
The tension crackles, the pull is impossible, and before long, we’re right back where we swore we’d never be—pressed against the wall, her hands in my hair, my mouth on hers like I’ve been starving for a decade.

I tell myself I can handle it.
But the truth is, this cowboy was never meant for casual.
Not with her. And sure as hell not again.

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Spotlight: My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

When the holiday wish list calls for fake dating my billionaire boss…

The plan: make my ex jealous. The problem: falling for my billionaire boss instead.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a sexy, standalone holiday romance, MY FAVORITE HOLIDATE! This spicy, small town, fake dating, billionaire, single dad, workplace romance will have you rocking around (or under…) the Christmas tree! MY FAVORITE HOLIDATE’s brand new paperback with the bonus short story, including the Target special edition with beautiful snowflake edges, is now available at your favorite bookstore!

About the Book

Wanted: hot billionaire to pose as my Christmas boyfriend. Must be willing to make my cheating ex jealous by kissing me under the mistletoe at holiday parties. Bonus if you make him cry.

To my surprise my billionaire boss is more than up for the challenge of coming down the chimney as my holiday boyfriend. The sexy single dad desperately needs a plus one at a Christmas Eve wedding, where he’s the best man and I’m the maid of honor.

And since my ex is in the wedding party too, my boss and I team up as a pair of insta-lovebirds for the holiday season, including during the annual week-long Christmas competition leading up to the snowy destination wedding.

But soon staying up late to string the best popcorn balls ever turns into a scorching night in his arms where the chestnuts aren’t the only thing roasting on the open fire.

Can all these winter wonderland nights seeking revenge turn into the real thing when we return to the office? Or are we destined to go the way of a Christmas tree on New Year’s?

Tropes: fake dating, billionaire, single dad, office romance, small town, holiday romance

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About the Author

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

Spotlight: The Betrayal: The Lies We Fear by Heather Ogden

Pub Date: October 7, 2025

Genre: YA Fiction/Magical Realism

Publisher: Morgan James YA

Angelette Arabella has spent her life in the shadow of the man the nation calls a hero—her father, Valerius, the revered leader of Libertis. To the world, he’s a savior. To her, he’s simply “Dad.” But when a staged kidnapping spirals into something far more dangerous, Angelette is forced to face the truth: her life, her family, and the world she’s always known are carefully crafted illusions. And the man who built them is hiding more than secrets—he’s hiding control.

As betrayal bleeds from every corner of her life—her brothers vanished, her mother silenced, and her only friend not who she seems—Angelette must decide: remain the obedient daughter, or become the threat her father fears most.

Because the truth isn’t just dangerous in Libertis, it’s treason.

The Betrayal, book 1 in the Lies We Fear series, is a gripping dystopian fantasy about power, loyalty, and what happens when love is weaponized.

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About the Author

Heather Ogden is a novelist with a passion for fantasy and magical realism. Her debut novel, The Betrayal, combines her fascination with mysterious magic and her love of storytelling.

A lifelong reader and storyteller, Heather spent years crafting this book to take readers on a journey through twists, secrets, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Heather resides in Tennessee, where she can often be found exploring local bookstores, gathering inspiration for her next story.

Spotlight: The Bridge by Shanna Hatfield

On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.

Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer's expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.

Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. But when her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the drama on the bridge.

Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee's baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.

Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.

Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian's running late when his car won't start the morning of his big interview. When his rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, he's set on an unexpected path of his own. 

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About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her contemporary fiction has been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way” and her historal westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanaza and The Virginian.”

Shanna grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever and an ongoing supply of learning experience. Now based in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller, the award-winning author spends her time writing and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.  

Explore All of Shanna’s Titles and Join Her Hopeless Romantics Group!

Connect:
Official Website: ShannaHatfield.com
Facebook: /AuthorShannaHatfield
Pinterest: /shannahatfield
Instagram: @shannahatfield
Goodreads: ShannaHatfield

Spotlight: Victim #8 by Traci Hunter Abramson

Genre: Political Thriller

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing

Military aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner go undercover to unravel a string of murders that may be tied to a nuclear threat capable of igniting a war.

After a tragic loss during his last mission, Luke Steele grapples with self-doubt. But when a trusted American journalist is killed in Istanbul, Luke must push past his grief to prepare for a new assignment.

The Turkish police report the journalist as the 8th victim of a serial killer. But US intelligence considers the suspicious death a murder at the hands of an international threat and fear that the journalist could have had top-secret information that is now in the hands of an enemy of the United States. The president tasks Luke to join with FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner to investigate. 

As the two delve into the cause of the journalist’s death, they unravel a conspiracy that reveals a chilling plan for the assassination of the president and a potential nuclear strike on the United States. Going undercover as a couple, Luke and Amberlyn travel to Istanbul to connect with a Russian source who holds key information to the case—if they can find him in time.

In this crucible of danger, Luke must rediscover his confidence and trust the bond he has forged with Amberlyn as they fight to save the president of the United States and stop a perilous nuclear plot poised to kill millions.

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About the Author

Traci Hunter Abramson, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was born in Arizona and later studied abroad in Venezuela. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the CIA for six years before leaving to raise her family. She credits the agency with providing her with a wealth of ideas for her thriller novels and the skills needed to navigate her children’s teenage years. 

Traci has written more than 45 bestselling novels and has received multiple awards, including the 2025 Silver Falchion Judges’ Top Pick – Thriller, the 2024 Whitney Award – Outstanding Achievement Winner, 2022 Rone award finalist, 2021 Swoony Award for Best Mystery/Suspense Romance, and is a ten-time Whitney Award winner, including Best Novel of the Year in 2017 and 2019. Recently retired from coaching high school swimming for twenty-six years, she enjoys traveling and spending her time as a popular writing instructor, keynote speaker, panelist, and attendee at conferences, including Bouchercon, Killer Nashville, Thrillerfest, and ALA.

Connect:

Website: http://www.traciabramson.com/

Twitter: http://x.com/traciabramson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tracihabramson

Instagram: http://instagram.com/traciabramson

Spotlight: Where Birds Land by Mary Ruth Barnes

Genre: Native American Women’s Fiction

An inspiring story of determination and grit . . .

Ella McSwain is a Chickasaw woman raising her family amidst evolving turmoil within the budding state of Oklahoma. After Ella is left with an unusable plot of land, she finds herself fighting for her family’s rightful allotment. Faced with crooked businessmen, land grifters, and grueling court battles, can she summon the strength to persevere against all odds?

In this stand-alone companion to Little Bird, Mary Ruth Barnes crafts an engaging family saga that spans from Indian Territory to Oklahoma statehood against the backdrop of the state’s changing landscape.

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About the Author

Mary Ruth Barnes graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina State with high honors and a Master’s Degree from Montana State. After college, Barnes taught high school and college English, Art and Computer Science for 14 years. Barnes has received numerous awards for her art and writing on the state and national level from 2011-2022. Barnes recently published her first novel “Little Bird” with the Chickasaw Press about her great-great-Grandmother’s journey in Indian Territory. “Little Bird” won two 2022 Ippy awards, receiving gold for the cover design and silver for best Midwest regional fiction. Barnes is extremely active in her community through Rotary (a member since 1996), P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization), and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association. She is also a current member of the National Watercolor Society. 

In 2022, Barnes was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame and Capitol Hill High School Hall of Fame for leadership in her community. She also won the 2022 “55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans” award for making a difference in the lives of others. In 2019, Barnes won the Women in the Arts Recognition award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. And in 2015, Barnes was selected as the Chickasaw Dynamic Woman of the year.

Barnes has had many short stories and watercolors featured in several issues of the journal of Chickasaw History and Culture, Ishtunowa. She was also honored as a Chickasaw Artist in the July 2015 issue of the Distinctly Oklahoma magazine. Her story of inspiration leading to painting and drawing was featured in a book by Allison Fields, Chickasaw Artisans. In 2017, Barnes was selected for the registry of Native American Artists located at the Heard Museum in Scottsdale, AZ. While traveling and vacationing in South Texas with her art, Barnes was interviewed and featured in the RV Wheel Life Magazine for the 2017 issue. Barnes retired from a career as the Director of Planned Giving for American Cancer Society in 2017, where she raised over 35 million dollars for cancer research. Her artwork “Fight of Hope” is currently featured in the Cancer Journal of Native American Research and is on display in the surgery waiting room of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center. Her watercolors can also be found at several locations across the State of Oklahoma, including the Artesian and the Welcome Center located in Davis.  

She has been a long-time equestrian, Barnes and her husband, Mike live on a ranch in south central Oklahoma. They have two sons, Wiley and Selby Barnes, and six grandchildren. Both sons work for the Chickasaw Nation. Mrs. Barnes enjoys traveling with her husband in retirement. 

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