Spotlight: Descendants of the Big House by C. Vonzale Lewis

(A Horde of Dead Poets)

Publication date: October 14th 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery

Synopsis:

Beatrice Monroe is still getting used to the knowledge that she was born a champion for Good and Evil. She spends her days combing through her great grandmother’s journals trying to find answers to what this newfound ability means for her as a member of law enforcement.

When a woman walks into her precinct claiming her aunt was murdered, Beatrice discovers a link between their families that may just have the answers she needs. But those answers are not easy to find. Because this mystery’s roots are buried in the past with five young girls and what they gave birth to…in The Big House.

Descendants of the Big House is a standalone installment in A Horde of Dead Poets collection featuring seven authors and their stories inspired by famous literary poems. If you often find yourself steering toward a dark, mysterious, isolated location; if family curses haunt you and unreliable narrators keep you in suspense, you won’t want to miss a single volume in this gripping collection.

Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Simone St. James, Stephen King, and Shirley Jackson.

Excerpt

The Silverwood, Georgia police department had five detectives and twenty patrol officers for the twenty-seven thousand residents, most of whom were well into the senior years. We had our share of crime but most of it occurred during and after the tourist season. 

On days like this, Chief Declouette had us going through what she’d dubbed as the ‘Fresh Eyes’ review. Old cases were brought out and exchanged between the five detectives to see if we could find any new leads. No one liked that sort of scrutiny of their work. 

My partner Raphael and I were looking through an old hit and run. My quick read-through let me know we were never going to solve it. The driver wasn’t a local. The plates were stolen. And every drunken eyewitness statement read like a fever-dream, with varying degrees of lunacy intertwined. Rarely did we find witnesses who astutely observed what was going on around them. Which meant most statements were filled with fabrications and embellishments with only a kernel of truth thrown in. And it was our job to weed through all of it. 

With a heavy sigh, I returned to my own search. And tried not to think about how it was also turning out to be pointless. 

The next few pages were more of the same. It was as if Grandma Lucille’s mind was slowly deteriorating. Like she was screaming in her head and nobody was listening. One entry was dated the year before she died. All I remember from that time was the joy she had in my college acceptance. I pictured her on the day I left. Mouth stretched wide in a smile, while tears of joy streamed down her face. “You have somethin’ in you that will make you a great officer, my little Beatrice. Somethin’ great.” 

Now her words held a deeper meaning. She had known what I was and would become one day. Police. Why didn’t she warn me? Why didn’t she tell me about all the horrific things she had done and the ways in which I might be forced to do the same?  

But I wished she’d told us she was suffering. 

I turned the page.

This was the end of everything. I read the date. A few weeks before she died, she had covered the page with a single message: 

We are born in sin. We are born in sin. We are born in sin. 

And the last line: 

Just twisted souls upon the Tree of Life. 

None of her previous journals had references to Christianity or any other religion, so why was she talking about sin? 

I got up and went to the breakroom, needing a minute to think. The coffee was gone, and my throat was still dry. After retrieving a bottle of water from the refrigerator, I cracked the sealed cap, leaned against the counter and sipped—thoughts on that single line.  

Just twisted souls upon the Tree of Life. 

The first idea that came to mind was puppetry. Our souls like marionettes hung from branches, jerking and dancing until their strings tangled. Was that what Champions were? And what would that make the Tree of Life? The puppeteer, a great manipulator.

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About the Author

Carla Vonzale Lewis likes her martini’s shaken…never stirred. Though she was born in Georgia, please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth, and all she had to say was, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”

Despite being born in the South, she grew up in the North. California to be exact. And every once in a great while, she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat. 

Her debut novel, LINEAGE, was released July 16, 2019 and she fully intends to ride that joy for the rest of her life. 

When she’s not concocting her next contemporary fantasy story, she enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.

Connect:

https://cvonzalelewis.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CVLauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/carlavlewis/

https://ca.pinterest.com/writercvonzalelewis/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-vonzale-lewis

Descendants of the Big House Blitz

Spotlight: Serves You Right by Orion Gregory

Danger doesn’t always come from the shadows—it can be hiding in plain sight. In Serves You Right by Orion Gregory, one rookie detective discovers that survival may depend on questioning everything, even the people closest to her.

Sydney Livingstone believed becoming a police officer in Walsh County would give her a calm, steady life after years in professional tennis. Instead, she finds herself pulled into a chilling crusade by a vigilante called The Enforcer. Each manifesto he posts online is followed by another brutal execution, and the killings are spreading. Sydney soon realizes she is not just on the case—she’s in the crosshairs.

Inside her department, fear begins to fracture trust. A stalker hunts a veteran officer, suspicions build among colleagues, and new evidence points alarmingly close to home. As the body count grows and national media swarms her town, Sydney must sift through betrayal and buried secrets while staying one step ahead of a predator who always seems to know her next move. Gregory’s thriller is a heart-stopping exploration of loyalty, fear, and survival in a world where justice itself has turned against you.

Excerpt

He looked over at Andrea, who was happily finishing a chili dog next to a side of circular, mangled fries. She was saying something about changing the drapes in the front window of her house, but Frank wasn’t listening. 

His hamburger looked nauseating. Even the idea of taking a sip of beer made him want to vomit. The smell was now all-encompassing. 

A pair of young boys chased each other, darting between tables. One bumped their table, causing some of Frank’s beer to spill. 

“Undisciplined brats,” he muttered. “Can you imagine what kind of adults they’re going to be?” 

Murderers? Spouse killers? 

There goes Sheila again, funneling bullshit into my mind. 

“We were all there once,” said Andrea. “Just ignore them.” 

Frank smiled, wondering how Andrea wasn’t overcome by the disgusting smell. “You know what, I’m not really hungry,” he said. “I’m going to throw this stuff out.” Distracted by the unpleasant odor, Frank forgot about the possibility he was being followed. He fell into line behind two teenagers who were attempting to shove their trash inside an overflowing receptacle. The park seemed to be growing more crowded by the minute. 

The park noises consumed Frank's thoughts. Ice cream machines revved crazily in a high pitch, barbeque grills hissed louder than usual, and soda machines buzzed. Kids squealed at their parents while nearby game operators hollered at customers to step forward and win prizes. 

He glanced upward, noticing hot-air balloons in the distance, moving toward the theme park. They were decorated with bold, contrasting colors. The late afternoon sun cast its light onto them, creating a living rainbow of color in the open air. 

Frank's eyes honed on one particular balloon, a white teardrop with silver accents and a printed logo. Four passengers waved cheerfully at everyone below. He struggled to read all the letters, but his mind was quick to fill in the gaps. 

Murderer.

Frank was now trapped by the growing crowd. They jostled him, making it impossible to breathe properly. If he had the military sword that he found in Afghanistan, he could clear a five-foot radius around himself with a 360-degree swing. And what was that stinging sensation near his spine? Had a bee or wasp stung him? Or did someone accidentally jab him with a plastic fork? 

But the stinging sensation was less noticeable than the certainty that he was being taunted from the heavens by some bastard who had rented a hot-air balloon. How was that possible? Who would’ve even known he would be at this theme park at this exact time? 

Frank saw Andrea walking toward him, carrying a hot-fudge sundae. “Surprise!” she said. “I bought you a little treat. I figured maybe some ice cream would stimulate your appetite.” 

Andrea, he thought? Of course. She was the only person who knew they were coming here today. But she would never betray him, would she? Andrea had stood steadfast by his side for two years. Had someone gotten to her? Was she gaslighting him so she could end up with everything? No, that couldn’t be right. 

Andrea handed the ice cream to Frank. “Have some,” she said. “It might make you feel better.” 

Why wasn’t she looking skyward? Playing coy? Perhaps. But then again, maybe someone else was behind all of this. 

Frank let the sundae fall out of his hands. It struck the ground, cracking its plastic container and oozing white and brown onto the concrete. 

“Shit, Frank. I just paid seven bucks for that. What the hell are you doing?” “Look up,” said Frank. “That white-and-silver balloon to the west. Tell me what you see.” 

“Yeah, I guess it’s nice,” she shrugged. “They all are. Why are you acting so strange?” “Read the message on the balloon,” said Frank. “Tell me what it says.” Andrea squinted, looking upward.

“I don’t understand why it matters, but I’ll give it a go. Um - it appears to be a moving and storage company, I think. Yes, ‘Furderer Moving and Storage.’ Now, why was that important enough to drop your ice cream?” 

Furderer. Not Murderer? 

Shit. In all the hullabaloo of the last several years, Frank had neglected to update his contact lens prescription. 

“Andrea, I am so sorry,” he said. “For some reason, I’m not feeling well.” Perhaps it was the combined smells of the food court, or maybe it was something else. The stinging sensation on his back was now more painful. 

“I think I need to find a place to sit.” 

Andrea placed her hand on his shoulder and attempted to help him navigate through the tight crowd. In the distance, Frank could see a few vacant seats located around a water fountain. It looked inviting - water spraying upward in a fanning arc, sparkling in the sun’s reflection. 

He’d cool off near the fountain. Once he gathered his thoughts, they could leave and resume their romantic getaway. He grabbed Andrea by her outstretched arm and pulled her toward the fountain. When he was only steps away, Frank collided with a distracted man - holding four large translucent cups of beer - coming from the opposite direction. The impact caused the man to lose his balance, sending the cups tumbling out of his hand and onto the ground. 

The man turned to Frank, his face red with anger. “Watch where you’re going, asshole!” he shouted. “That’s $36 of beer you spilled. You’re either gonna pay me back or I’m going to kick your ass and take the money out of your wallet myself.” The stinging sensation seemed to be increasing by the second. He tried to focus on the man, but his vision blurred. 

The man leaned in, transferring saliva into Frank’s face as he continued his verbal barrage. 

Frank understood the most logical solution would be to remain calm and pay the man for the spilled beer, especially after the last two tumultuous years. But between the insult and challenge to his manhood, Frank certainly wasn’t going to back down now.

Frank’s tormentor was about 6’ 2” and would be fortunate to reach 160 pounds. He looked like someone who had experienced a few too many go-rounds with methamphetamines. With Frank’s superior size and strength to go along with his hand-to-hand combat techniques, he knew he’d have this guy on the ground in a matter of seconds, begging for his life. 

The man grinned, displaying two missing front teeth. His crooked nose had obviously been broken before. He sported a stained blue ball cap, a heavy-metal T-shirt, and his blue jeans displayed holes in the knees. 

Andrea tugged at Frank’s shirt sleeve. “Let’s just go.” 

Frank moved closer. “I give you one free shot,” he growled. “From that point on, I’m only defending myself.” 

Frank held his hands low. Even a direct shot didn’t really concern him. He’d taken huge punches from some of the top instructors in the area during his martial arts classes. Surely, this guy wouldn’t even come close to matching them. 

Frank suddenly was seeing two images of the man in front of him. And then three. The world was rotating around him like a turbo-charged merry-go-round. He no longer was thinking about moving his head at the sight of an incoming fist. He couldn’t focus his vision on any one thing. He could hear Andrea begging him to stop among the chats of a bunch of high school kids who were encouraging the other man to throw a punch. And the stinging pain in his back had become even more intense. He lost all feeling in his legs. 

At the same time, the man barreled his head into Frank’s face. He heard laughing from above him. Everything was a blur. And still, there was that stinging sensation in his lower back. He heard Andrea scream. And then, Frank lost consciousness.

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About the Author

Orion Gregory has been chasing down mysteries since boyhood, when an Agatha Christie novel first sparked his love of crime fiction. After earning a degree in Communications from Wright State University, he became an award-winning journalist and advertising writer, later contributing to a national sports magazine. For more than two decades, he worked in sales while raising a family with his wife, Fran, and coaching tennis—a sport that sharpened his eye for discipline and strategy. Now based in Southwest Ohio, Gregory devotes himself to writing crime thrillers that mix fast-paced action with deep psychological tension. Visit his website to learn more.

Spotlight: Forever Flames by Kaylene Winter

Release Date: October 13

Twenty years. One unforgettable flame. Some love stories never burn out.

I never wanted fame.

All I ever needed was her.

Stevie Hayes set my world on fire from the moment we met.

First kiss. First love. First time. The girl next door who became my whole future.

Late-night rehearsals. Promises whispered in the dark. A fire so intense it felt eternal.

She believed in me when no one else did.

Then life pulled us apart.

Different paths. Different cities. A slow unraveling I never saw coming.

I thought letting her go would set her free.

Instead, it broke us.

Years later, tragedy brings us back together.

Older now. Scarred. Still burning for something we never stopped wanting.

Old wounds resurface. Hard truths come to light.

The spark? It never left.

We were never supposed to fall apart.

Now I’ll fight like hell to put us back together.

Forever Flames is a swoon-worthy, second-chance rockstar romance packed with emotional angst, soul-deep devotion, and the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love that never truly dies.

Buy on Amazon

Meet Kaylene Winter

Kaylene Winter is an Amazon best-selling author of steamy, contemporary romance.

Each character-driven novel is filled with snappy dialogue, pop-culture references and enough steam to make you fan yourself. Kaylene weaves authenticity, emotion and angst into a turbulent rollercoaster ride of love, passion and soul-searing romance always ending with a delicious HEA.

Kaylene lives in Seattle with her amazing Irish husband and gorgeous Siberian Husky. She loves creating art of all kinds.

Keep up with Kaylene and subscribe to her newsletter: https://kaylenewinter.com/newsletter/

To learn more about Kaylene Winter & her books, visit here!

Connect with Kaylene Winter: https://kaylenewinter.com/contact/

Cover Reveal: Lies the Dirt Keeps by Heidi Christopher

Publication date: November 13th 2025

Genres: Adult, Horror, Thriller

Synopsis:

She came home searching for her sister. What she uncovered could destroy them all.

Johnna LaGrange photographs death for a living. But when she gets the call that her younger sister Ori has vanished from their hometown of Sweetwater, North Carolina, the decay she's drawn to becomes chillingly personal.

Returning to a town that never forgave her for surviving, Johnna finds her family in tatters—her mother drowning in vodka, her brother partying like nothing's wrong. Only Shannon, her ex turned detective, is willing to help. But as they dig into Ori's disappearance, buried memories start to surface—of the stepfather Johnna killed in self-defence, and the darkness that's lingered in the farmhouse ever since.

When people start dying, and Johnna wakes up with dirt on her hands and blood in her mouth, she begins to question everything—including her own mind.

But the truth is far worse than she ever imagined.

A haunting, explosive thriller about guilt, memory, and the lies we tell to survive—Lies The Dirt Keeps is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, KL Slater, and Shalini Boland.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Heidi Christopher was born in West Virginia, raised in southern North Carolina, and now resides on a mountain in Virginia with her family. Her household includes a golden retriever, a golden doodle, and four sassy cats.While studying English Literature at Shenandoah University, Heidi contributed to the University’s newspaper. She is now a freelance editor, specializing in academic editing for grades K-12.Her debut psychological thriller is set to be published in November 2025.To learn more about Heidi, you can follow her on:

Connect:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Heidi-Christopher/61570571675052/

https://x.com/HeidiCWrites

https://www.instagram.com/heidicwrites

Spotlight: Xonarye Series by S.H.S.

Xonarye: Australia 

Xonarye Book 1 

Genre: Travel Adventure, Mystery 

One hidden book. A forgotten country. Three mates on a journey that could change everything.

Nineteen-year-old Leaf Brodie is just an ordinary apprentice from Naracoorte, a small country town tucked between Adelaide and Melbourne. He lives a simple life apprentice builder, beers with mates by night until a routine renovation job uncovers something that doesn’t belong: a sealed, leather-bound book hidden inside an old farmhouse wall.

The book tells of a place that doesn’t exist on any map. A country called Xonarye, once nestled between Yemen and Somalia, rich in a rare, indestructible mineral called Xzed. Long ago, the people of Xonarye vanished beneath the ocean to escape war and greed—but not before scattering twenty-six mysterious keys across the globe. Now, generations later, the legacy of that hidden world has landed in Leaf’s hands.

Driven by curiosity and loyalty, Leaf enlists his two closest mates Spence, a level-headed farmer, and Summo, a flashy car salesman with a sharp tongue to help him decipher the book’s secrets. Together, they uncover a forgotten legal contract, a hidden vault in Adelaide, and a belt buckle that can’t be melted, burned, or broken no matter what they throw at it. And then comes the final clue: a name, a country, and a warning.

Reblick, a shadowy global organisation, is also searching for the truth and they’re watching.

As the line between myth and reality begins to blur, Leaf is forced to make a choice: walk away and return to his normal life, or follow the trail to Cuba and beyond… risking everything to uncover the truth of Xonarye’s fate.

Xonarye rise again.

Xonarye: Cuba

Xonarye Book 2 

The trail of Xonarye leads to Havana. But nothing about this journey is simple

Leaf Brodie thought his life changed forever back in Naracoorte when he discovered the mysterious book sealed behind a wall. Now, he and Selina are in Cuba, chasing the next clue in a worldwide puzzle that dates back centuries. A transparent cloth has revealed a hidden map, and it points straight to Havana.

But nothing stays easy for long. Reblick the secretive organisation that once silenced Xonarye is still in pursuit. Leaf and Selina must decipher local legends, evade dangerous followers, and track down a man who knows more than he lets on. Meanwhile, Summo makes his way to Panama City, following instructions tied to a hidden safe house, while Spence travels by air and ferry from Havana to the island of Tobago, meeting a one-legged stranger with a mysterious past.

Scattered across three countries, the friends are tested like never before.

From bustling city streets to forgotten safe houses, the legacy of Xonarye continues to unfold—one fragment at a time. But with danger closing in, and Reblick growing bolder, it’s no longer just about solving a mystery. It’s about staying alive long enough to piece it all together.

In a world full of deception, their bond of friendship is the only truth they can trust.

The journey continues. The stakes are higher. The legend grows.

Xonarye rise again.

Excerpt

I need you to get into that crate, ” she said, pointing to the middle of them. Leaf looked at her then looked back at the crates; it appeared as if there was just enough room for maybe two people to fit inside them at a squeeze.  

He turned back to Selina and shook his head defiantly, indicating that he was not getting into what felt to him like a coffin.  

Suddenly, Selina grabbed him and twisted his arm behind his back in what seemed like the blink of an eye. She leaned right up to his ear, and whispered, “ You need to hurry up and get into the crate before anyone sees us. I will be right next to you inside there.”  

Leaf took another deep breath, feeling extremely anxious about the idea, and Selina released his arm and gave him a little nudge forward.  

Leaf slowly slid over one of the edges of the crate and carefully laid down inside. Selina then did the same until they were both now lying in the crate, shoulder to shoulder, staring straight up into the afternoon sky.  

Leaf was lying there in a state of anxiety, wondering what was going to happen next, when suddenly the lid was being placed on the crate. He instinctively put both his hand up to protect himself, but before he could stop the lid, Selina put her arm across his body.  

Then, just as the wooden lid was about to be sealed, the friendly face of Vicente, the ship’s captain, appeared, and he said, “ You two all good?”  

Selina gave him a quick wink back, and he slowly closed the lid, leaving nothing but little rays of sunshine squeezing through the cracks.  

There was basically no room to move at all inside the crate, and Leaf couldn’t help thinking that this must be what it feels like to be in a coffin.

Xonarye: Japan

Xonarye Book 3 

A dangerous betrayal. The journey of Xonarye leads to the edge of trust and the heart of Japan.

Leaf Brodie’s path has already taken him across oceans, through hidden vaults, and into the shadows of a global conspiracy. Now, with Selina by his side, he arrives in Japan following a transparent cloth that revealed the next clue in the legacy of Xonarye. The trail leads them to the Tanaka Dojo, but instead of answers, they find silence. Master Kenji Tanaka is gone.

Guided by a new thread, Leaf and Selina travel west to Izumo, a city of ancient tradition and quiet mystery. There, they meet the elusive Master Kenji a wise Aikido master who speaks in riddles and tests Leaf’s strength in more ways than one. Earning his trust means staying hidden, training in secret, and learning to control not only his body, but his purpose. Six months pass in the mountains, and while Leaf grows stronger and understanding himself.

Unbeknownst to him, another student Yuji Morita. Younger, faster, and full of questions, Yuji becomes both a training partner and a shadow. But he’s not who he seems. As Leaf trains to protect the truth of Xonarye, Yuji’s true allegiance to Reblick threatens to undo it all.

Meanwhile, the pieces set in motion in Cuba. Spence and Summo remain out of contact. The clock is ticking.

From sacred dojos to coastal shrines, from quiet reflection to explosive action, Xonarye: Japan is a journey of honour, resilience, and trust. As the legend of Xonarye draws more eyes from the dark, Leaf must face the hardest question yet:

Who can he trust when the enemy is already beside him?

Xonarye rise again.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author 

Scott Shepherd is an emerging Australian author with a passion for adventure, storytelling, and the lure of lost lands. Hailing from Naracoorte, South Australia, Scott self-published his first novel in 2020, introducing readers to the daring world of Xonarye. Since then, he has written three books in the Xonarye series, bringing his vivid imagination to life through tales set in exotic locations steeped in mystery and culture.

In 2025, Scott re-released a refined edition of his debut novel, Xonarye: Australia, followed by the second instalment, Xonarye: Cuba, with the third book, Xonarye: Japan, set for release later the same year.

A part-time novelist, full-time family man, and self-described “regular guy,” Scott continues to write from his hometown, where he balances storytelling with hiking, fatherhood, and shared adventures with his partner. Whether at his desk or exploring the outdoors, Scott is always chasing the next great journey—on the page or beyond.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Amazon 

Xonarye

Spotlight: The Legend of Valentine by Sheldon Collins

I’m sharing Sheldon Collins’s The Legend of Valentine, a historical epic that uncovers the origins of Valentine’s Day through a story of courage, love, and rebellion in ancient Rome.

The novel takes readers to 268 AD, where Valentine, once a warrior hardened by violence, is transformed by his love for Agatha, a woman whose blindness reveals remarkable strength. Their bond inspires him to defy the emperor’s edicts by secretly marrying Christian couples, risking his life with each ceremony. His sacrifices set in motion a legacy that outlasts his own life, laying the foundation for a holiday celebrating love centuries later. With its blend of historical detail, timeless romance, and a narrative of resistance against tyranny, The Legend of Valentine invites readers to discover the man behind the legend and the hope that still shines through his story.

Excerpt

They stood facing each other, Rose towering over Bear, her height and poise only deepening his discomfort. With a deep breath, she leaned down to kiss him, her lips hovering close to his as he awkwardly closed his eyes and puckered. But just as their lips were about to touch, Rose pulled back.

“This isn’t right,” she exclaimed as she sat back on the log.

“What is it?” he demanded, his heart now racing at the thought of actually kissing her.

“You’re at a disadvantage,” Rose replied, her gaze lingering on his stature.

“What do you mean?” he asked 

“The man I am to wed will likely be taller than me. It makes little sense to practice with somebody of your height,” she explained, her voice tinged with defeat.

Bear’s frustration was evident, but inspiration quickly lit his eyes. Scanning the riverbed, he announced, “I have an idea.” Quickly springing into action, he gathered flat rocks and assembled them into a makeshift platform. With a satisfied grin, he climbed on top, elevating himself slightly above Rose’s height. “There. How’s this?” 

Rose’s smile widened at his ingenuity. “Perfect,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she stood up and approached him.

As her lips neared him, he leaned down awkwardly while balancing on the rocks, his heart pounding in anticipation. Suddenly, their lips met. The sensation sent a surprising shiver down each of their spines. But as they drew closer, Bear’s balance betrayed him, and he toppled into the river with a startled shriek. 

Emerging from the water, soaked and sputtering, he caught Rose doubled over in laughter. “You must work on your balance, Bear!” she teased, her laughter echoing through the forest.

“I will never do that again!” he declared, his pride wounded.

Rose, still chuckling, offered a playful retort: “Yes, you will!”

“No, I will not!” 

Rose turned and ran off through the forest toward a meadow, her laughter trailing behind her as she playfully chanted, “Yes, you will! Yes, you will!”

“Wait for me!” he called, pausing briefly to strap on his sandals before resuming his chase. Suddenly, he halted and hid behind a tree, his gaze fixed on a formidable figure advancing across the meadow on horseback. It was Rose’s father—the town’s jailer, a man feared by many and someone Bear instinctively knew to avoid.

“Daughter, the hour has come,” her father declared as he approached Rose and drew her onto his steed. “And how many times must I remind you not to wander off into the forest without permission?”

“Wait.” She hesitated, her gaze darting back toward the forest in search of Bear’s familiar figure, but he was nowhere in sight.

“What is it?” her father pressed, his brow furrowed as he followed her gaze.

“It’s nothing,” Rose replied, lowering her head. She knew better than to reveal her relationship with Bear, wary of her overly protective father’s reaction. 

With a gentle kick, her father urged the horse forward, and they departed from the forest.

Hardly able to contain his emotions, Bear stepped out from behind a tree and called out to her: “Rose!” 

Unheard by her father, she turned in her saddle and gave Bear a small, heartfelt wave in farewell. Bear waved back, feeling a hollow ache begin to settle in his heart. As the horse picked up speed and galloped away, Rose clutched her father and turned her head forward. A tear rolled down Bear’s cheek as the truth dawned on him—his feelings for Rose ran deeper than friendship. Silently, he had always imagined them growing old together, a future he had never dared voice to his first and only true love.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Sheldon Collins began his creative career as a Hollywood screenwriter and director. His films, celebrated for their character-driven storytelling, earned awards at international festivals and aired on premium television. With The Legend of Valentine, his debut novel, Collins brings cinematic scope and emotional depth to the page, also co-directing a multi-cast audiobook edition. He lives in California with his wife and daughter, drawing inspiration from the outdoors and enjoying activities like hiking, surfing, biking, and skiing. Collins studied Rhetoric at UC Berkeley before earning his MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute. Learn more on his website or follow him on Instagram.