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Genre:

Grief, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Help

Buy Link:

Publication Date:

April 11, 2023

Ebook Price:

$7.98

Paperback Price

$8.98

Book Blurb:

Move through grief while holding space for the feelings that accompany loss.ÌýÌý

Grief can feel destabilizing and overwhelming. This grief workbook gives you evidence-based exercises to help with processing grief and loss of any kind. Reflecting on and responding to the prompts and exercises will facilitate greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-confidence as you navigate healing after loss.ÌýÌý

Information on grief and grievingâ€� Deepen your understanding of grief and prepare yourself to interact with it in healthy ways.ÌýÌý

Tools for moving through grief—Case studies help normalize your experience, affirmations raise your spirits, guided journal prompts get you started on sorting through your inner world, and activities promote healing.ÌýÌý

Expert guidance—Advice from a licensed clinical psychologist empowers you with knowledge and validation. If you are seeking additional books about grief and loss, this workbook can be used with its companion, Navigating Grief: A Guided Journal.ÌýÌý

Begin grief recovery with the Navigating Grief Workbook.Ìý

The First Line/Book Beginnings

Despite the perception that grief should be a brief period of sadness after a loss, it rarely ever is.

The Friday 56

Sadness, like grief, fluctuates in intensity, with peaks and valleys throughout the day.

About the Author

ANNA DARBONNE, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, mother, and entrepreneur. She focuses on complementary healing interventions that empower clients to transform challenging experiences into growth opportunities, and live with greater ease and purpose. She is also the founder and owner of Bamboo Center for Grief, Growth, and Well-Being, a brick-and-mortar and virtual mental health clinic. There, she and other high-caliber clinicians provide holistic and integrative wellness and performance enhancement services for adults seeking to navigate grief, deepen fulfillment, create or perform beyond their best, and elevate overall well-being.Ìý

Book Blogger Hop

28th - 6th - How much time does blogging take out of your life weekly? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
It depends. Some weeks, I just do promo posts for book tours, which doesn't take much more than an hour. Other times I add blog hop posts. I try to update my Substack a couple of times a month. Creating a Substack post can take an hour on its own. Creating this post took about a half hour.Ìý

I picked up the above workbook to help guide me through my own recent loss.Ìý

My mother passed away on the morning of February 23 at 85 years old. She was in end-stage colon cancer and experiencing cognitive decline. It was time for her to go, but I am now a 60-year-old orphan.Ìý

While I always loved my mother, our relationship was difficult at times. Thankfully, it was good during the last five years, and I have those memories. Still, I certainly have things to work through.

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.

Free use image from Pixabay

Saint Patrick's Day is nearly upon us! What better time to read about some folks who are saints and some who definitely ain't?

If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial. You’re welcome.

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Paranormal Suspense

Date Published: May 20, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Matteo Ferrari has always been different. Gifted with unsettling clairvoyance, he sees shadows where others see light and hears whispers from the unknown. But when he fails to protect the ones he loves, his abilities vanish, leaving him lost and desperate. To reclaim his powers and find a new path, Matteo abandons his old life and ventures into the Alaskan wilderness.

Gabriella Valentina knows the pain of loss all too well. Once enchanted by the spotlight, she now flees from her past, seeking refuge from fear and sorrow in the same wild expanse.

When Matteo and Gabriella’s paths cross amidst the eerie beauty and hidden dangers of the Yukon, they must confront not only the shadows of their pasts but also the dark forces that lurk in the forest, waiting to claim them.

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About the Author

A graduate of UCSC and UCSB, Navy brat Bryan Burnell majored in creative writing and English literature. After selling his successful office furniture business, which he ran for three decades, he started paying more attention to the story ideas that had accumulated in his mind over the years. Free time allowed him to finally bring life to his first book, Saving Yukon. This long-time Santa Barbara resident loves the meditative aspects of swimming, gardening, golf (despite his high handicap), and an occasional shot of good bourbon. He is married with two grown children and a spoiled Labradoodle named Nelli

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Contact Links

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(Swift Angel MC)

Motorcycle Club Romance, First Responders, Suspense

Date Published: February 28, 2025

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Loyalty runs deep and secrets simmer beneath the surface in this tale of forbidden love.

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Akira -- I’m the daughter of a Dixie Reaper, but this isn’t the life I want. I’m tired of being overprotected, and forced to follow rules I don’t necessarily agree with. The moment I laid eyes on Logan, I knew my life was about to change. I also knew I was in for a rough ride. Why? Because he’s a paramedic and part of the Swift Angels MC, and let’s just say my dad’s club functions more in the gray area. Logan is everything I’ve ever wanted in a guy. I knew we couldn’t sneak around forever, but I also didn’t count on the series of storms about to hit us head-on. Not only is my dad’s club dead set against my relationship with Logan, but my instincts are telling me something bigger is going on.

Logan -- Forbidden fruit. That’s exactly what Akira is. My VP has warned me away from her, but what can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants. No matter what obstacles we face, I’ll make Akira mine! I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I’m not about to start now. But when a string of troubling incidents seems to target both of us, I have to wonder am I the one in danger or is my sweet Akira at risk? Either way, I refuse to let them get away with it� even if it means the Swift Angels and Dixie Reapers have to work together, because there’s nothing I won’t do to keep Akira safe.

Are you ready for a suspenseful journey filled with passion, betrayal, and a fight for a love that could change everything?

WARNING: Emergency Date is Book 2 in the Swift Angels MC series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but you may enjoy the story more if the series is read in order. This is a slow-burn romantic suspense set in a small town. Guaranteed HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger for the main couple! For readers 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and violence.

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EXCERPT

The muggy, humid air hung heavy as I pushed my way through the oak doors of the bar. The din of conversation, the rhythmic clink of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter washed over me like a wave. The air was thick with the scent of stale beer, sweat, and desperation, a cocktail that clung to the back of my throat.

I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky interior. The bar was a labyrinth of wood and shadows, crammed with mismatched furniture and a motley crew of patrons. A middle-aged couple argued over a half-empty bottle of wine, their voices rising above the din. A group of young men, faces flushed and eyes glazed, cackled over a game of darts, their laughter laced with forced bravado. A lone man sat hunched over a glass of whiskey, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid swirling within.

My gaze drifted from face to face, searching for a familiar haven in this sea of strangers. Was I wasting my time? Akira had said she’d be working tonight. I still didn’t like the fact she’d chosen this place for employment, but I also knew her family hated it -- which was why she’d done it. There were times I liked that defiant side of her. Hell, if she didn’t act out, we probably wouldn’t be together.

I caught a glimpse of movement across the room. She was there, a vision of grace and confidence, expertly weaving through the throng of bodies with a tray of drinks balanced effortlessly on her palm. I could sit here and watch her forever. Well, maybe not. That might come off as creepy.

The way she moved was mesmerizing, each step fluid and purposeful. Her dark hair flowed around her face, bouncing with every step. I had yet to find anything about her I disliked. Okay, not entirely true. Her family left a bit to be desired, but she couldn’t control that. Besides, one of my club brothers had grown up with her in that same environment and he’d turned out just fine.

I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame, instinctively guiding my steps toward an empty table in her section. As I slid into the chair, she turned, our eyes meeting for a fleeting moment. In that instant, the world around us faded away. It was just her and me, locked in a silent dialogue that resonated deep within my soul. A spark ignited within me, a spark of curiosity, of desire, of something I couldn’t quite define.

“What can I get for you?� Her voice was a low, melodic murmur, a stark contrast to the raucous symphony of the bar.

I fought back a smile. Even in this place, we had to be careful. The last thing I needed was word getting back to the Dixie Reapers that a Swift Angel was sniffing around one of their girls.

“A beer, please,� I said.

“Coming right up,� she replied, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

As she turned to leave, I couldn’t help but watch her every move, memorizing the way her body persuaded with each step, the way her hips swinging in a subtle rhythm speaking of a hidden sensuality. There was something about her, an aura of mystery and resilience that captivated me. I’d seen countless people in this line of work, but there was something different about her, something that set her apart from the rest.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a glass being placed before me. “Here you go,� she said, her voice soft yet assertive. “Let me know if you need anything else.�

“Thank you,� I replied, my gaze locked on hers. I saw a glimpse of the woman beneath the surface, a woman who was both strong and vulnerable, confident yet enigmatic.

She held my gaze for a moment, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. In that one look, I could almost hear all the things she wanted to say, but didn’t dare. Not while we were in public. With a slight nod, she turned and walked away, leaving me with a head full of questions and my heart pounding with a newfound rhythm.

I took a long sip of my beer, the bitter liquid doing little to quench my thirst. Probably because I hadn’t really come here for the beer.

As I watched her work, I felt a pull, an inexplicable connection drawing me to her, a sense of destiny I couldn’t ignore. Which was why I’d come here looking for her. I couldn’t take her on an official date, so I’d content myself with drinking a beer and watching her work. Even if my club brother, Dawson, had warned me away from her.

Akira.

From the first moment I’d laid eyes on her, I’d been captivated. Not a day had gone by without me thinking of her. It had only taken a few conversations before we’d exchanged phone numbers. Now we talked pretty much every day and met when we could.

My nape prickled, as if some sixth sense was telling me something was about to go horribly wrong. My gaze swept the room and landed on a man at the bar. He wore his too-many-drinks like a badge, his movements jerky and voice too loud.

I watched Akira approach, her steps measured, her voice a low murmur lost in the rising tide of noise. The firmness in her stance spoke louder than words. His lips twisted into a snarl as he leaned closer to her.

I’d seen these situations turn on a dime, and I wouldn’t let her become collateral damage. I braced myself, ready to jump to her defense at any moment.

But Akira stood her ground, chin jutting out in defiance. Her voice, though quiet, held an edge. The man’s face twisted, hand rising like a hammer about to fall. I was already moving, my feet eating up the distance.

Then, the unexpected happened. His hand, a fleshy claw, clamped onto her backside, digging in like a tick. Better than him hitting her, but� a red haze flooded my vision, as fury I didn’t know I possessed boiling over.

I was there before I registered it, pure instinct propelling me forward. The need to protect, to shield, eclipsed everything else. My path through the crowd was a blur.

As I reached them, I saw the fire in her eyes, the tight set of her jaw as she turned, ready to unleash her own storm. In that moment, I knew she could handle this, but the primal urge to intervene was a tide I couldn’t hold back.

My hand clamped onto his wrist, my grip like iron. I’d promised to heal people, to help, but right now all I wanted to do was beat him senseless.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.� I narrowed my gaze at him.

He stumbled back, eyes widening. My face must have been a mirror reflecting the inferno inside. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come, my expression seeming to silence him.

“Get out,� I said. “Now.�

He hesitated a moment, then thought better of it. A muttered curse, a toss of bills onto the bar, then he turned and walked away.

I turned to Akira, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. “Are you okay?�

Her eye held a spark I couldn’t decipher. “I had it under control.�

“I know,� I said, the adrenaline receding. “But I couldn’t just stand by.�

Something flickered across her face. She studied me, a long, searching look.

“Thank you,� she whispered, the words barely audible over the bar’s murmur.

I nodded, the tension slowly draining from my limbs. “Anytime.�

The music and chatter resumed at its previous volume, but I blocked it all out. Akira turned back to her work, her movements jerky and tense. I could see the way she held her breath, the way her shoulders were hunched.

I wanted to just leave her be, but my feet moved toward her.

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde's website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don't forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

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Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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The Merblood Saga, Book 2

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YA Fantasy

Date Published: 02-25-2025

Publisher: Spider Web Press

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Something strange is going down in the sleepy seaside village of Madderly Bay. Best friends Selena and Chloe are stuck in the most boring summer ever—until food starts coming to life and running wild in the streets.

But that’s just the beginning. Earthquakes start shaking the village, and creepy claw marks show up, hinting at something dark stirring beneath the waves. Only Selena and Chloe know the real story about the zombie mermaids they faced before—and now they’re worried the threat they thought was gone might be back.

As the tremors get worse and the water turns a scary green, the girls have to figure out what’s awakening in the depths before it’s too late. With their friend Zelda and her magical squid, Glowella, by their side, they’ll risk everything to save both the human and magical worlds from a danger that could destroy them all.

In this thrilling adventure, Selena and her friends have to face their fears and dig up some serious secrets between the human and magical worlds. With their village and the ocean in danger, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can they figure out what’s messing with the sea before it’s too late? Or will they realize that saving their town—and both worlds—might be way harder than they thought?

About the Author

Ella English grew up in the heart of London, where the hustle and bustle of city life met summer adventures at her grandma’s house on the Kent coast. Exploring tide pools and collecting seashells, she developed a love for the ocean and a knack for creating imaginative worlds that she now brings to life through her writing.

Now living in Baltimore, Maryland, Ella is the author of The Merblood Saga, a dark fantasy YA series that plunges readers into a haunting underwater realm filled with cursed mermaids, ancient magic, and buried secrets. The first book, Selena Flowers and the Cursed Ruby, has been a hit with young readers, drawing them into its mysterious and dangerous world.

Ella also writes and illustrates Kitty in the City, a whimsical series about a singing cat named Katy who takes New York City by storm. The latest installment, Katy in Central Park, will be released in June 2025.

When she’s not weaving dark magic or drawing cats, Ella is kept busy by her two mischievous felines who make sure she stays entertained and grounded. Follow her adventures (and plenty of cat cameos) on Instagram @EllaEnglishAuthor or visit for more.

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Contact Links

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Fantasy

Date Published: January 23, 2025

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

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Caution: Dragons ahead.

Prepare to delve into fiery worlds full of dragons. From hatchlings to ancients. From tame to wild. Many have their own goals, and most want to see the world reduced to ash. To reshape the world in their own reptilian image. Others struggle to survive, but heroes rise among them.

Which side will you choose?

Featuring 27 stories by the following authors: Vicki Erwin, Bruce Buchanan, Demi Michelle Schwartz, Sadie Lielle, Andreas Flögel, Desirae Gracyn, C.L. Hart, Kristen Argyres, Sandy R. Stuckless, Jessica Lee Minneci, Rae Evans, S.E. Reed, Larry Hodges, David O'Mahony, Mae Thorn, M.L. Quinn, Racquel Sims, Sierra Jackson, Daniel DiQuinzio, Ana Cordoba, Gabriella Balcom, D.J. Elton, Ann Stolinsky, Charles Barouch, Arwyn Sherman, Kiera Kearsey, Binod Dawadi, and J.E. Feldman.

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A Night In the Magical Menagerie

Can creatures with radically different motivations get along?

In this fantastical tale a fox named Tod and a tortoise named Torte are brought to the Forest Environment of the Magical Menagerie of Celephaïs by the Outer God Nyarlathotep and his daughter. The friends encounter a wheelbarrow full of peculiar fruit and several exotic creatures. Will they enjoy a good life in their new home, or is this strange place as filled with peril as the one they escaped?

Excerpt

In the Forest Environment of the Magical Menagerie of Celephaïs, a fox and a tortoise gave one another a puzzled glance as they examined a wheelbarrow filled with strange yellow fruits.

"Before Nyarlathotep and his daughter left us here last night, they assured us that King Kuranes' gamekeepers would care for us," the fox said. "I am not sure the gamekeepers know what they are doing. What are these, and how is one meant to eat them? They are covered in spines like a hedgehog, and the green growth on the top poked me in my nose! Come to think of it, Torte, I'm not sure I trust Nyarlathotep or his daughter. After all, he is the great Cosmic Trickster, and surely, the apple does not fall far from the tree."

"This is only a name imparted to him by humans, Tod," Torte said. "Humans are a peculiar lot. Nyarlathotep was forthright with Captain Sammy, and he has been forthright with us."

"I defer to your intuition, my friend. You are slow to anger and take the time to thoroughly assess situations. Very well, rather than postulating malice on the part of Nyarlathotep, I postulate that he does not know what my kind eats and nor, apparently, do King Kuranes' gamekeepers."

"Perhaps these were left here for those animals that eat fruit," Torte said. "I have never before seen the like of them, but they have a pleasant scent. On the other hand, perhaps they were left here inadvertently. Upon discovering their mistake, the gamekeepers will return with the correct foodstuffs."

"If you believe they have a pleasant scent, I will knock one to the ground for you," Tod offered.

About the Author

C.L. Hart had a stormy start to her life. She was born at 6 A.M. the morning after Valentine’s Day in 1965 during a raging blizzard.

She has been a fan of horror and weird fiction for as long as she can remember. She used to read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight as a child.

She started reading Edgar Allan Poe when she was six years old. In her early teens, she discovered H.P. Lovecraft. She pretended to lose the copy of At the Mountains of Madness that she borrowed from the school library and paid the fine so she could keep the book.

Ms. Hart blames the team at Chaosium Role-Playing Games for renewing and strengthening her obsession with Lovecraft’s writing. She lives in a small town on the northeastern plains of Colorado in an appropriately old and storied house with her son and cats. She enjoys watching the normal people pass by as she records the happenings in the weird worlds of her imagination.

C.L. Hart writes poetry and nonfiction as Cara Hartley, and erotica as Lil DeVille.

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I am sharing this post with multiple blog hops and hope the hosts will indulge me when they understand its purpose.Ìý

The weird and wonderful souls who brought the Bog Hag anthology to life are collecting stories for another charity anthology to benefit Quill Cottage Wildlife. Authors, this is your chance to simultaneously share your words and contribute to a worthy cause. Submissions are open until March 28. Please contact Nicole and Sarah at [email protected] for more details.

If you can and would like to, please contribute to purchasing the stunning cover depicted above for the Beltane anthology.Ìý

I intend to donate a dollar for every comment received on this post. Unless I receive, like, a thousand comments. I won't be able to donate that much.

Let's be real. I won't receive a thousand comments. I'm shocked if I receive more than five comments on any post.Ìý

Here is Super Anna back in 2010 when I adopted her.

Here are a few sentences from my story, which is dedicated to a four-legged furry family member who lost her battle with kidney failure on January 27. We didn't know she was sick until she went into sudden decline. Cats often hide the fact that they are feeling poorly until they can't anymore.

TheBeltane Laundress

by

C. L.Hart

Therain pounded down on a father and son walking through the tiny townof Honeycomb Grove, Colorado.

“Itwill be a good Mayday celebration this year, Pop,� said the lankyteenage boy. Tufts of gamboge-golden hair stuck out from his darkorchid baseball cap.

Theboy’s similarly built father had graying oxide-red hair and wore afaded red baseball cap. The weary expression on his face and the lookof hopelessness in sad eyes the color of a John Deere tractor matchedglum words spoken with a thick German accent.

The following are the blog hops with which I am sharing the link to this post. Please visit them.





For those interested, here's information on the Bog Hag anthology.

Psychological Horror

Date Published: January 16, 2025

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

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Zombies, reapers, and more monsters.

In a world where so many dark things go bump in the night, terror awaits around every corner as these authors take horror stories to the next level. Discover ghosts, demons, and your worst nightmares. Read at your own risk.

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Featured stories by C.L. Hart, Mae Thorn, S.E. Reed, Kristen Argyres, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Demi Michelle Schwartz, Adele Liles, C.L. Storm, Benjamin Kurt Unsworth, Desirae Gracyn, Rob Nisbet, Anwen Redlake, Kat Craig, Gabriella Balcolm, Lianne Robinson, David O'Mahony, Andrew J. Lucas, Binod Dawadi, Daniel DiQuinzio, Arwyn Sherman, Stephen Johnson, Kelly Barker, and J.E. Feldman.

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The Darkness Within

When does the time come to give up the fight?

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When her husband leaves their hardscrabble homestead in the remote Arizona territory to pick up their daughter and granddaughter from the train station in Tucson,Ìý Kine Å imonis is left alone to deal with the ghosts of her past. She knows from experience that humans are the worst of monsters, capable of committing actions with lifelong repercussions for the victim.

This story is based on a real incident in the author’s family.

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Excerpt

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“I’ll be back this afternoon, mijn liefje. Back home with our daughter and granddaughter. You and Hema will comfort one another, and spirited Miss Emina and I will enjoy adventures together. Things will be good now, you will see.�

Kine Å imonis regarded her husband standing near the door with an expectant look in his forest green eyes. Though time had weathered his face and turned his once-thick rusty brown hair silver, he still stood tall and powerful. Tygo Å imonis had an adventurous spirit and tended to look on the bright side of things. This rugged land was an ideal match for him. Although she was a sturdy woman with the physical stamina of someone half her age, Kine was not as well suited to her environment and circumstances.

A smile turned up the corners of Kine’s mouth but didn’t reach her eyes. She embraced her husband. She still loved him deeply. She didn’t blame him for the darkness inside her.

About the Author

C.L. Hart had a stormy start to her life. She was born at 6 A.M. the morning after Valentine’s Day in 1965 during a raging blizzard.

She has been a fan of horror and weird fiction for as long as she can remember. She used to read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight as a child.

She started reading Edgar Allan Poe when she was six years old. In her early teens, she discovered H.P. Lovecraft. She pretended to lose the copy of At the Mountains of Madness that she borrowed from the school library and paid the fine so she could keep the book.

Ms. Hart blames the team at Chaosium Role-Playing Games for renewing and strengthening her obsession with Lovecraft’s writing. She lives in a small town on the northeastern plains of Colorado in an appropriately old and storied house with her son and cats. She enjoys watching the normal people pass by as she records the happenings in the weird worlds of her imagination.

C.L. Hart writes poetry and nonfiction as Cara Hartley, and erotica as Lil DeVille.

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Romance and Mystery

Date Published: 01-07-2025

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When Catherine Greene moved back to her tiny home town, she never expected to meet a man like Derrick Walker. Then again, she didn't plan on opening her patisserie next to a dive bar, either. No matter Cat’s plans, there are fireworks the night they meet. Turns out those fireworks were gunshots, and when Derrick is arrested for murder, Cat takes it upon herself to do what the police and prosecutors haven’t done � find the real killer.

About the Author

Alex August is a romance writer extraordinaire!

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Contact Link

Instagram: @astragalex

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Purchase Links

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LGBTQ, Dark Fantasy, Steamy

Date Published: February 21, 2025

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When werewolf and dragon meet, will their need for each other defeat all their well-intentioned plans?

Tom, a land dragon, is so large he’s earned the nickname “Earth.� His dragon herd takes advantage of him until he’s sold to a pair of basilisks. Unfortunately for them, Tom’s mating plans don’t include repopulating the basilisk species. Time to make his escape�

Kailee, psychic disaster and frightened “rehabilitated� werewolf, is new to adulting, but she’s been through enough to make her a force to be reckoned with. Transgender, she is burdened with not one, but three psychic abilities. The overabundance of power tends to make her a little off-balance�

Will Kailee be able to protect Tom from those hunting him? Can Tom learn to trust? Or will their need for each other defeat all their well-intentioned plans?

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EXCERPT

Tom fled through the forest, staying low to the ground, or as low as a person who stood over six feet could manage without crawling. He needed to keep his feet because --

He flashed back to when the matriarch had cut off his left foot to keep him from escaping again. It had grown back, of course. He was a dragon. Still, it had hurt, and he sometimes woke in the middle of the night with phantom pain reminding him how he’d suffered.

He didn’t have a very good sense of direction, but it was a sunny day, early in the morning, and the sun came up in the east. So, just as long as he kept the sun on his left, he’d assumed he’d be generally heading south. Out of Canada. He’d grown up here but all he knew about the country where he’d been imprisoned was that it was north of the United States.

He was grateful his shedding was over for another six months. His escape would have been impossible while he was struggling through the twice-a-year loss of his scales.

He heard other dragons flying above him and huddled against a tree, hoping the darkness of his skin would blend with the shadows. He wasn’t exactly dressed for a late December winter when the temperatures around Nova Scotia lingered just above freezing most days. He wouldn’t freeze to death� probably. As long as he kept moving, he’d be all right. Just now, though, stillness was required. He shut his eyes, fearing that his anxiety had turned his irises yellow-green. They might be spotted by someone with a searchlight.

He wondered briefly if the female dragons had employed some of their males to help. Most of the males were treated better than he was, although not equal to the females. The large majority would do as they were told because they weren’t required to stand stud all year, just when the females wanted them.

Probably most of the other male dragons were grateful for his existence. He was an anomaly, but one that the females liked. Bigger and stronger than any other dragon he’d ever met, he’d been conditioned since birth. He’d been born larger and the hopes for his future progeny had been high. Hell, they were still high even though only about one third of the dragons he sired were of greater size when they were born. He’d only been at this enslavement stud service for a year and a half, so none of his children were more than a year old.

It was as if, when the dragons and werewolves had split off from their basilisk parentage, they’d been cursed to all stand at the exact same height in either human guise or scaly form. Five feet, ten inches was the height of almost every other dragon he’d heard of when they walked on two feet. With their talons and tails, they stood eight feet tall.

Tom was six-two sometimes, and others, he was ten feet tall. Being larger than most dragons should have been an advantage. Having increased strength could have helped if there weren’t so many damn males and females alike ready to take him down.

The sounds overhead faded and he hesitated, not wanting to leave his hiding place. Yet, what good would it do him to stay here? They’d send out hunters on foot if necessary.

So, biting his lips almost hard enough to draw blood, he crept away from the tree and started running again. He skirted around a meadow and kept going, adrenaline making him thirsty even as it lent his muscles endurance.

The sun had been up for an hour before he judged it safe to stop and drink. He’d been hearing a river nearby for about the last ten minutes and that burbling, overly cheery sound made him long for water.

He broke from the game trail he’d been following and found an offshoot that led in the correct direction. When he came upon the river, he was relieved to see a rocky bank where he could get right down close to the water and drink his fill.

He crawled to the edge of the river, listening hard. He heard nothing except the twittering of birds and the chittering of squirrels. Well, and the rushing of the water, of course. It was a deep stream, not quite the river he’d been envisioning based on the amount of noise it was making. He slipped his hands into the icy cold water.

Hands seized him roughly by his hair.

Without thought, he shifted to his scaly form to lose that grip. His clothes, rags now, fell away as he tried for the sky.

Three dragons, brown and orange, like him, male, like him, each two feet smaller, crashed into him. From below came a howl of triumph and something sharp sliced through his wing’s membrane.

He screamed as he fell.

About the Author

Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,� Emily has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her website.

Contact Links

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Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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(Black Reign MC 11)

A Bones MC Romance

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Motorcycle Club Romance

Date Published: February 21, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

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Archangel is always perfect. In complete control. Which makes him a challenge I can’t resist�

Sonya: Just because I put a blow-up doll in the neighbor’s holiday yard ornament, or send various embarrassing items up the flagpole occasionally, doesn’t mean I’m a bad person. But my father doesn’t see things that way. So he sends me to a man he thinks can help me “find my inner self.� Otherwise known as get some kind of job. Just my luck, the man he sends me to is the man I’ve had a crush on forever. Archangel is strong, soft-spoken, always in control, and the most perfectly made man I’d ever seen. He’s unflappable. I can’t resist, even knowing the price I’ll pay. I just hope I can slink the walk of shame back home before he knows I’m gone. That might be the only chance I have of protecting my heart.

Archangel: I don’t know what Thorn was thinking when he sent his daughter to me. Sonya has plagued my every filthy fantasy since the first time she came home from college to visit friends at my club. I’d known then I needed to stay away from her. Not only am I way too old for her, but her daddy is the president of their club. Which puts me and Black Reign MC in a delicate position. What I could never have predicted was Sonya taking matters into her own hands. Sonya running isn’t a surprising. Kinda expected that. What wasn’t on my Bingo card was my forgotten past catching up with me.

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ÌýContent Advisory: Adult themes, Profanity

Excerpt

Copyright ©2025 Marteeka Karland

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Two blocks down, I saw a big, black Harley heading our way. Even from this distance the roar of the pipes was distinctive. And I knew the sound well. A dense trail of smoke had covered the four lanes from where one of the residences was burning a small pile of brush. Just like in the movies, the big Harley I’d known was attached to that rumble parted the haze with smoke circling behind him like a jet trail. The man sitting on the bike was just as intimidating as the machine. All the scene needed was a slow-motion sequence and it would be perfect.

Archangel. He was the most unflappable man I’d ever met. There was an eerie calm surrounding him most of the time. Sure, he laughed and had a good time like anyone else, but he was the peacemaker. The person everyone called when they didn’t want El Diablo or El Segador to take up the cause. More than once, I’d heard Archangel make the statement you knew when you had a successful negotiation because neither party was completely satisfied. He didn’t play favorites, and he was always fair, but the man had a giant stick up his ass the size of a telephone pole.

He crossed across two lanes of traffic at the corner to pull into the parking lot of the courthouse, not even hesitating at the light as he did. Brazen, considering where he was, and that three deputies and two city cops were sitting close by. He parked the bike in front of Lawdawg’s truck before turning it off and putting down the kickstand. A long, thickly muscled leg was lifted over the seat as Archangel dismounted and walked toward the truck and Lawdawg.

I knew there was drool dripping from the corner of my mouth, but I didn’t fucking care. Archangel was the most perfectly built man I’d ever had the pleasure of viewing. No matter how many times I saw him, he was still awe-inspiring. If anyone saw me, all I had to do was point at the man and any red-blooded woman on the planet who looked would understand. He wore snug, black jeans. The material clung to his hips and thighs in all the right places. He didn’t have on a shirt, but his plain, leather vest covered most of his rippled torso. Which left his arms bare, and a sliver of chest and abdomen showing when he walked. Muscles and thick veins roped his arms. Tattoos peeked from his vest and crept up his arms. His salt-and-pepper hair was over his collar but artfully shaggy, and his beard was full and neatly trimmed. Mirrored aviator sunglasses rounded out his outfit. The man rocked it like the ultimate bad boy.

“Hoooooly shit. Are you seeing this?� Linnie sounded in awe and I glanced at her sharply.

“What the shit, Linnie, you whore!� I wasn’t really mad. This was how we communicated.

“What?� She didn’t take her gaze from Archangel and the question was more of a demand. “Tell me you weren’t eye fucking him too and I’ll be ashamed. Or something. OK. No, I won’t be ashamed, but look me in the eyes and tell me you weren’t eye fucking him. Besides, we always eye fuck him together.�

“I’d love to. But I’m too busy eye fucking him to look you in the eyes and tell you I’m not eye fucking him. Because I’m eye fucking him like crazy. Also, I’ve changed my mind. We can’t eye fuck him together anymore.�

“You sure know how to pick ‘em, Sonya. If you change your mind and decide he’s too much work, let me know. I’ll give it a shot.�

“Like hell.� I turned and hissed at my friend. “Mine.�

“You know he’s so much older than you as to not be believed, right? The man is practically ancient!�

“Red and Rosana have more of an age gap than me and Archangel.�

“Right. Use their successful age gap relationship to justify your own. I’m sure it will go over with your dad as well as it would with my own father.� She had a point.

“Why’s he here, I wonder?�

“Don’t know, Sonya, but if the look on his face is any indication, the reason can’t be good.�

Whatever was being said between Archangel and Lawdawg seemed to have gotten under Archangel’s skin. He snatched his glasses from his face and leaned into Lawdawg’s space. His lips moved, but I couldn’t tell what he was saying. Mainly because Archangel had his teeth clenched. Lawdawg shrugged and jerked his head toward the truck where we sat and watched them from the back seat.

Archangel turned his head to look at the truck and us. Lawdawg spoke, gesturing with his hands a couple of times while Archangel continued to stare.

Finally, he nodded, and stepped away from Lawdawg, moving toward the truck. Archangel came to my side and opened the door. “Come on. Out with ya.� When I hesitated, he added. “Or I’ll haul you out over my shoulder. Choice is yours.� Though his eyes looked like he was furious, his face was relaxed and his voice was calm.

“What crawled up your ass?� The only person in the world I loved pushing more than Lawdawg was Archangel. Probably because both men were so naturally uptight yet unflappable. Anyone who followed the rules so close to the edge should feel anxious at least some of the time. Neither of these men were. Both of them stayed true to their consciences, but when the shit hit the fan, they were the calm, driving force behind fixing the fan and cleaning up the shit.

“When I’m called an hour and a half away to take a young woman in hand who’s acting like a spoiled teenager, it tends to eat away at my social niceties.�

“Look, you don’t want my company, I’ll happily catch a ride back with Linnie and Talia. I’m not sure why anyone called you to begin with. I don’t belong to your club.�

“No. You don’t, thank God, but your daddy thinks you need a come-to-Jesus meeting about what you’re gonna do with your life. I owe him one, so I got drafted.�

I blinked. “Are you fucking kidding me?�

“Afraid not, Sonya. Now, come with me. We’ve got a long ride ahead. You can rest tonight, but tomorrow we’re going to sit down and figure out your next steps in life.�

“Oh really.� I raised an eyebrow at him. “What if I don’t want to talk with you about my future? I happen to like my life the way it is.�

“And that’d be great. Except for stunts like this.� When I would have continued to argue with him, Archangel snagged my upper arm and pulled me with him to his bike. His hold wasn’t painful, but it was clear he wouldn’t tolerate me trying to get away from him.

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts (which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with Marteeka's latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her website. Don't forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you with a potpourri of Teeka's beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

Contact Links

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress