Spotlight: Fae Heir by Lucia Ashta

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(Royals of Embermere, #1)
Publication date: April 19th 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

Win the trials, earn a crown—or fail and lose everything.

The heir of Embermere has unexpectedly died, and now a new prince and princess must be crowned.

I’ve been hiding out with the dragons, but then mysterious fae show up at the dragons’ stronghold and abduct me at the King’s command.

The royals of Embermere are hosting the Fae Heir Trials to find their successors. The winners will marry and become the next to rule the fae lands. Turns out I’m the King’s illegitimate daughter and the wicked queen intends to kill me off during the challenges.

I find myself thrust into a barbaric tournament where death is all but guaranteed. I’m competing against the most gorgeous, deadly fae warriors of the realm. Determined, agile men who’ve been training to claim this chance all their lives—including clan leader Rush Vega.

Rush Vega is the Crown’s favorite, devastatingly charming and dangerously tempting. His combat skills and dark secrets will be my undoing. With my survival on the line, my heart must resist his pull and those intriguing moonlight eyes. He’s the queen’s spy, and that makes him my number one enemy.

My life might have become a game of savage brutality, but the Queen of Embermere underestimated me.

I was born a fighter. And I intend to win.

Note: Fae Heir begins the Royals of Embermere series, which is romantic fantasy intended for a mature audience. Each individual book ends on a cliffhanger, but the series concludes with an uplifting and satisfying ending.

Excerpt

“And you should be more aware if you wish to survive the tournament ... intact.”I scraped the tip of the sword I’d pointed at him across his junk, which bunched beneath a layer of tunic and breeches. And though my touch was soft as a feather, he jumped back as if I’d punched him, dropping his own sword to his side. “What the fuck?”he snarled, his eyes flaring. I batted my lashes at him, a picture of innocence as pure as freshly fallen snow. “Enlighten me, teacher. I thought that in a match of life or death I should press every advantage at my disposal.” “This isn’t a lethal fight.”With his shoulders tight with anger, he appeared even more dangerous than usual. I pushed off from the railing. “But that’s what we’re here preparing for. No one, not even you, thinks I’ll get out of the Gladius stage alive.” He glared at me. “See? You don’t even deny it.” “Still. There are some things you just don’t do.” I laughed. “Why not? Is your cock a sacred, bejeweled wand?” He stomped toward me. “Damn right it is. And you’d better fucking remember that from here on out.” I craned my neck back to look up at him. “Does it wear a crown upon its precious head?”I hadn’t meant to taunt him, but it seemed I couldn’t help myself.

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About the Author

Lucía Ashta is the Amazon top 20 bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal women's fiction filled with wild magic, spicy romance, and quirky characters that make you snort-laugh.

A former attorney and architect, she’s an Argentinian-American who lives in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains with her husband and daughters.

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Spotlight: Beautiful Lies by Paula Dombrowiak

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Publication date: April 17th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

I own the boardroom. He owns the stage. We were never meant to be together, but when something’s forbidden, it only makes you want it more.

My jaded heart was determined never to be fooled again. There’s too much at stake, and my daughter always comes first.

And then one night, on the eve of my forty-third birthday, I walked into a bar, and locked eyes with Adrian Corvin.

He’s a musician, covered in tattoos… and way too young. He’s the opposite of everything I should want.

When he followed me outside of the bar, not even the Arizona monsoon could keep me from kissing him.

With just one taste, I was an addict.

It was only supposed to be one night.

No names, no expectations, and no truths.

Only lies.

And he tells beautiful lies.

Excerpt

Maybe it’s the beer or the stifling heat, but his eyes seem to follow as I make my way around the room. Caught staring back, it’s as if he sees my thoughts when the corner of his lip tugs into a knowing smile. It’s impossible for him to know that I’m imagining what kind of lover he would be - selfish or generous, relentless or fleeting, but his smile says otherwise. That smile could knock a girl right out of her panties. Maybe for one night I can be someone else, and that makes the prospects endless.

Slipping between the crowd, I find myself on the street. A gust of wind travels down the long strip mall. Everything is dark, all the other stores closed for the night. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply and smell the rain.

It’s coming.

The city hibernates all year waiting for the rain to penetrate the hard-shelled soil, breaking it open, and once it does, everything comes to life.

A lightning bolt stretches across the sky just as the wind picks up, blowing the hair from my neck and cooling it. I start to walk down the block on the way back to my car, passing a darkened record store when I hear a voice call out behind me. “Hey.” 

Without even turning around, I know it’s him, the singer with the velvet voice and the kissable lips. The wind continues to blow like a freight train down the block, picking up the edges of my shirt and blowing my hair across my face. Turning around, I see he’s standing  on the sidewalk, looking every bit as delicious as he did on stage. Waiting for him to look around me, to the person whose attention he was really trying to get, but he just stares at me the same way he did in the bar, like he’s trying to unearth my secrets.

Caught in the spider’s web of his soulful eyes, I’m unable to move. 

The silence is broken when the sky opens and dumps heavy sheets of rain, plastering my hair to my face and my shirt against my body in less than a minute. Moving towards me, with each step closing the distance between us, the bashful smile on his face causes my pulse to quicken, and the blood rushing in my ears becomes the only sound I can hear. When he reaches me, I can see the pulse in his neck as his hand grips my waist, guiding me into the alcove of the darkened record store, taking us out of the rain. With his hand still on my waist, the heat from it makes me shiver.

His close proximity takes the breath out of me, and I watch as the water drips from his hair onto his full lips, leaving a trail down his chin. In the dim light of the alcove with only the streetlamp to illuminate his face, I see the green flecks in his brown eyes as he searches mine. They pull me in like a magnet; intense and beautiful. My palms press against his chest slowly gathering his shirt between my fingers, all while my heart pounds in my chest because this stranger drew me in the minute I laid eyes on him in the bar. It’s as if he is a tiny piece of my past buried long ago now being unearthed.

Maybe it’s the wind, the way it wraps itself around us, pushing us together rather than pulling us apart, I feel as though this is a chance I need to take. How many times in the last eighteen years had I truly taken something just for myself? And how many more times in my lifetime will I get a chance to choose something for myself?

In the small space between us, a question lingers in the air.

Can I kiss you?

Wanting it and doing it are two different things, because once I cross that line, will I be taking a step backwards? Looking at his beautiful rain-soaked face, I know the answer.

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About the Author

Paula Dombrowiak grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois but currently lives in Arizona. She is the author of Blood and Bone, her first adult romance novel which combines her love of music and imperfect relationships. Paula is a lifelong music junkie, whose wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings which are perpetually covered in pet hair. She is a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys, and the tragically flawed. Music inspires her storytelling.

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Spotlight: The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell from Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever by Steve Madden with Jodi Lipper

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Genre: Biography

Everyone knows Steve Madden's name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100.00 to a global, multi-billion-dollar brand. But Madden's mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes. In this raw, intimate, and inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he's learned along the way. Readers are treated to the wild ride though his rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes, determined to give back.

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About the Author

Founder, Creative and Design Chief, Steven Madden, LTD.

**UPDATED BOOK TO BE RELEASED APRIL 2023**

Steve Madden is an entrepreneur, an award-winning designer, and a business titan whose eponymous company is currently worth over 3 billion dollars. He is also a recovering addict and a devoted family man. Over the past thirty years, the provocative shoe designer built a booming brand and nearly lost it all to “The Wolf of Wall Street,” only to rebound by giving back and creating a global empire.

In 1990, with a mere $1,100 in the bank, Madden followed his intuition and set out to create the next big thing: a company able to anticipate consumer needs and subsequently deliver collections that were both cutting edge and highly saleable. Channeling his creative energy to produce a variety of silhouettes and vibrant styles in his Queens-based factory, quickly his dream became reality and the Steve Madden brand was born.

30 years later, with over 200 stores across the globe, the acquisition of notable brands such as Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, and Blondo, to name a few, standout collaborations with stars including Sydney Sweeney, Nessa Barret, Cardi B, Winnie Harlow, Ja Rule, Keyshia Cole, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, the designer and entrepreneur continues the hustle.

While Madden can recognize success, he is mindful of his humble beginning and support he has received on his journey to achievement. As a recovering addict as well as someone who has learned to manage his ADD, Madden is an active philanthropist and mentor who supports several organizations that help those in need of a second chance.

A native New Yorker, Steve currently resides in Manhattan with his children, and is more present than ever at his company’s Long Island City headquarters, the various showrooms throughout Manhattan and his namesake stores worldwide.

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Spotlight: Grimm Prince by NS Johnson

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(Grimm’s Valley Romances, #1)
Publication date: March 28th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

When a Wounded Warrior meets a small town princess, he’ll learn that happily-ever-after is definitely in his cards

Jake Grimm came home after fifteen years to an official letter on his door. His family’s ancestral home is going to be a fairytale themed tourist attraction which isn’t going to work when the rest of his Special Forces team shows up to move in. Storming up to City Hall for some answers, a car backfires and he hits the ground, bringing down the hot, curvy woman standing next to him.

She looks up at him with stars in her eyes, like he isn’t battle damaged.

Her heart shaped mouth whispers dreams that she could take all his pain and sleepless nights away.

All of which is why Jake knows he must stay far away from Rosie Briarwood, the mayor’s daughter. He might be the last descendant of the founders of Grimm’s Valley, but he’s no prince. And he’s no longer a hero.

Once upon a time has never been so hot in this steamy small town where heroes fall hard for modern day damsels who know how to handle their swords.

Excerpt

"I'm only asking for tomorrow."

Jake's hands cupped Rosie's heart-shaped ass, shifting it higher on his groin. He knew the trap she was laying for him. If he gave her this tomorrow, he was essentially giving her every one after that. But damn if he didn't want to tangle himself up in this woman's snare.

"When you can't promise me tomorrow anymore, just let me know."

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About the Author

NS Johnson is a pen name for paranormal and contemporary fantasy author Ines Johnson. Yes, her first and middle initials are actually N and S -clever, right!

Why separate the ink? Because while Ines imbues magic and fantasy into her stories, NS will only spin reimagined fairytales, folklore and myths in the small town of Grimm’s Valley.

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Spotlight: Forever Jamison by Heather Young-Nichols

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Publication date: April 18th 2023
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

After witnessing heartbreak up close and personal, I never wanted a woman for more than just one night.

Yet somehow, in that single night, Brynn has me wanting another. A month. That’s the longest she’s willing to date someone and if she’ll give me the chance, I’ll take a month.

She’s determined not to become her mother. I’m determined not to care about someone enough that losing them will hurt me.

But somehow the closer I get to our month being over, the more I want to figure out a way for her to stay.

Despite each of our pasts, I know that she’s the only woman I could consider a future with. The thing is… she’s not considering one with me. I’ll have to show her that I’m not looking to take over her life before it’s too late.

Brynn so easily turns me into the man I never wanted to become.

Excerpt

When I entered the store, it was relatively small, but it was the type of place that made a name for itself by having unique jewelry. It was absolutely high-end—maybe not the highest, but not cheap at all. The counter formed a large U and there were display cases lining the walls. But that was it. No second floor. No hidden anything. There was one other customer inside talking to the salesperson, so I looked around while I waited.

“The basketball charm?” the salesperson asked her.

“Yes. I’d like it to go right here next to the handcuffs, please.”

“Absolutely. It’ll just take a moment,” he told her, then he went into the back, leaving the two of us alone.

This woman was… fuck. She was beautiful with her chestnut hair in waves past her shoulder and curves in all the right places. She wasn’t very tall. I would’ve guessed five-feet-four-inches with the shape of her body able to bring a man to his knees. Right now, I wanted to be on my knees in front of her.

She was wearing cutoff jean shorts that came to just a couple of inches under her ass and a loose tank top. It was all supposed to look low-effort, but I would’ve bet my left nut that it was all very expensive. She was wearing flat sandals to complete the look.

“That’s a lot of charms you have on your bracelet,” I told her, which made her glance up at me.

Her cornflower-blue eyes had me taking a step back. Reddish-brown hair and blue eyes might’ve been a new weakness for me.

All I knew was that I wanted to see this woman naked and hoped that was something she’d want to do. Trying to hook up with a woman could go one of two ways. She might slap you for suggesting it because she wasn’t that kind of girl or you barely had to ask because she was already thinking it. Especially since the band had hit it big, I hadn’t really had to try very hard.

“I like to think of them as souvenirs.” And yes, her voice was as sexy as the rest of her. “He’ll be right back,” she told me. “It just takes him a minute to get the charm on.”

“They don’t just clip on?” I didn’t give a fuck about the charms, to be honest.

She snorted. “Maybe if you’re twelve and your charm bracelet came out of a vending machine.” Then she shook her head. “That was kind of mean. Some do clip on. Mine doesn’t. I don’t want to lose any.”

“And they know this?”

“This is where I typically get my charms, so yes.” She glanced at the door through which the man had disappeared.

“Handcuffs?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

The corner of her mouth raised, which told me she was smiling, though she looked like she didn’t want to be. “Yup.”

“Any particular reason?”

Now she turned to me with an even bigger smile that she absolutely wasn’t trying to hide. “Yup.”

“You don’t want to tell me.”

“I don’t know you. Why would I tell you?” That was true. Why would a woman tell me personal shit when she didn’t know me?

It was weird that she didn’t recognize me.

Not to sound totally fucking full of myself, but it was rare that I needed to introduce myself these days. When I did, they pretty much always said they already knew.

Forever 18 was well-known. That wasn’t to say that every person in the world would have recognized us on sight, but it’d been a while since someone hadn’t.

“My name is Jamison.”

Her brows pinched together above her nose. “I know who you are,” she told me. “What I said was that I don’t know you. Two very different things.”

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About the Author

Heather Young-Nichols is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romances. A native of the great and often very cold state of Michigan, she is better known at home and to her friends as the Snarker-in-Chief. A job she excels at beyond anything she could have imagined. She loves many things, but especially cold coffee, hot books, and baseball. But not necessarily in that order.

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Spotlight: Fireball by Lainey Davis

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(Bridges and Bitters, #1)
Publication date: May 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

He hates her for some reason. She will not rest until she changes his mind.

People always like Samantha Vine. It’s kind of her thing. All the employees at her tech startup think she’s the best boss, and the community partners and investors she woos not only trust, but adore her.

Everyone likes her, except him.

Sam may have been caught off guard when she accidentally insulted science teacher AJ Trachtenberg, but she’s pulling out all the stops trying to make it up to him…and it’s not working. Offering his students a swanky field trip doesn’t win him over—it only seems to make him grumpier.

Unfortunately, grumpy looks very good on him. AJ is tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome and he’s got a giant chip on his shoulder. Honestly, his smoldering is distracting.

Sam can’t afford any distractions right now, not with the media hounding her as she tries to take her company public. Maybe she can swing a one-time naked distraction, though. That doesn’t have to mean anything, right? She’s not looking for a happily-ever-after here. She’s just trying to get him out of her head.

Alas, when it comes to business and bossy men, Samantha Vine has trouble letting go.

Fireball is the laugh-out-loud first stand-alone installment of the Bridges and Bitters series. If you love found family, hilarious antics, and off-the-charts heat, you’ll devour these sexy romantic comedies.

Excerpt

SAMANTHA

The only thing saving me from curling in a ball and crying is the promise of meeting up with my friends. We call our little group Foof…Fresh out of fucks. It’s a sort of ridiculous name for a bad-ass group of entrepreneurs, engineers and queens of the Steel City. 

I feel so at ease when I’m with them, like I really don’t have to pretend or put on a fake smile or any of that. I can actually free my fucks with these gals…and I need that, because everyone else claws at me, demanding attention I can’t spare and hurling mean words at me if I say as much.

As often as we can, Foof huddles up in the event room of our friend Esther’s bar, Bridges and Bitters, and these meetings are my recharge. Esther bought an old building in Lawrenceville and transformed it into the most amazing spot. She went for a speakeasy feel, with reclaimed wooden everything and these cozy settees. But honestly, we could meet on a milk crate by the river and I’d still walk away energized from these women.

A few days later, and I’m still reeling after I chased off Mr. Grumpy Teacher from our meeting and stumbled through the rest of my interview with the guy from Forbes. I definitely appreciate Esther’s vintage velvet furniture as I collapse in a heap.

“That bad?” She arches a dark brow at me as she moves some furniture around the room to get ready for the rest of Foof to arrive. 

I drape a wrist across my forehead. “If I had a corset on, I’d be asking you to slice the laces.” She pats me on the shoulder and heads back up front to mix a batch of cocktails for us. My friends shuffle in, some of them excited about their day and others looking like they want to join me tying one on.

Logan links arms with her sisters-in-law as they make their way in. As they all chat about life, I sit up and rest my elbows on my lap, propping my forehead against my palms. “I wish I could have a do-over,” I mutter.

“Tell me about it.” Celeste Sheffield, actual grandma and the oldest member of Foof, sits next to me, patiently waiting for me to spill my guts. 

I take a deep breath, thinking back over the wretched day, from the annoying call from my dad to my magazine interview not going well. I bite my lip, trying to decide the worst part of it all. “I told a middle school science teacher I didn’t think young students would gain much from touring Vinea,” I tell her. “So now this guy thinks I think his students are too stupid, because of poverty.” Celeste pats my leg in a motherly sort of way I really appreciate.

“I was just so overwhelmed with the Forbes reporter there and thinking about how much work it’ll be to prepare for going public. Who has time to prep for a bunch of tween visitors? But I guess what I said came out wrong and AJ took offense.”

Celeste swirls around the ice in her drink and looks at me. “What if you called and explained? Said you realized your mistake? You could extend your invitation to the students after all.”

I cringe. “Ugh. Apologies are the worst, though. Like, now this guy is going to know I say dumb things when I go off book.” Men thinking I’m stupid is a big, fat trigger for me after living with the Colonel. He’s so domineering and immersed in a hyper-macho military world. Everything has to be precise with him. Language, thought processes, all of it. “Can I make Logan call?”

Logan laughs and shakes her head, wagging a finger at me. “I just run the numbers, boss. You’re the one with your name on the building.”

It’s true. My name is on the damn building. So why do I feel like such an imposter all the time? I’ve spent my entire life trying to fill someone else’s shoes…I got thrust into that role after my mother died. I didn’t mean to start a company in my free time from my dorm room, but I did. Now, ten years along the way, I’m on the cusp of going public with my business-baby and I can’t drum up the ovary power to call someone and apologize?

“Gah. Fine. I know, I know. I’ll call him and grovel.”

“That’s the winning spirit!” Esther winks as she slides me a glass of something magical.

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About the Author