We've made it to the final spotlight! We're all caught up to start fresh again in November
(if not earlier). I'm very proud of our DarkSiders.
-Eleni
Today we feature the spotlight on multiple authors -Bernadette Rowley, JL Peridot,
Danni Line, Debbie Johansson, Melanie Pickering, Helen Walton, Claire Boston /
Claire Leggett, Juanita Kees, Amy Hutton, and Angelica Grymm!
"CHAPTER 1
PRINCESS Iona Zialni swung the staff at her opponent's head, determined to bring the fight to an end quickly. Her shoulders and forearms burned with fatigue, but she would not walk away the loser today. Unfortunately, this opponent was one of the best, and she had yet to beat him. He ducked below her weapon and knocked her feet out from under her in one fluid motion. Iona landed on her back, the breath whooshing from her body.
"You alright?" Vard Anton asked, staring down at her, his sea-green eyes con-cerned. He barely puffed, damn the man, while she gasped like a fish on land. As if she could answer his question right now! Iona rolled onto her side and got her hands under her body. Finally, some air returned to her chest. "I'm fine.""
- Wings of Shadow and Prophecy (Book 1, Shadow Wing Quest) by Bernadette Rowley
NEW RELEASES
Debbie Johansson
Marsden Hall: The complete collection
Released:
8 August
The three books in the Marsden Hall Gothic novella series, together in one box set. Also includes the short story prequel.
The Witch's Curse: A Marsden Hall Short Story
Their crimes are her revenge.
After the death of her husband, Abigail Muller yearns for a peaceful life. The community, led by the lecherous Pastor Thomas, believe she is in the thrall of the devil.
Will her protestations save her life, or will the community be cursed forever?
A short story, this is the prequel to the Marsden Hall novella series.
The Curse of Marsden Hall: Marsden Hall Book 1
Some things are better left alone.
Richard Marsden builds a grand home in the Wolfrose Mountains, preparing to marry his sweetheart, Violet.
The house is built on land with a history of violence, witchcraft, and murder.
Richard refuses to believe in curses or superstition, but his beliefs are challenged when a dreadful event makes him question his sanity.
Is the land cursed? And who is watching . . . and waiting?
The Stranger Within: Marsden Hall Book 2
Dreams don’t always come true.
Young governess, Louisa Campbell, yearns for love and dreams of a better life. She wants nothing more than a happy ever after. When the man she loves denies her that dream and tries to discredit her, she faces an uncertain future.
Meanwhile, the ghosts of Marsden Hall begin to stir, and a restless spirit traps Louisa in its wake. For Marsden Hall has secrets of its own.
Will those secrets destroy her chance of happiness?
House of Echoes: Marsden Hall Book 3
Be careful what you wish for.
Sixteen-year-old Julia McKenzie craves the approval of her absent father, a widower who has recently remarried. But Julia distrusts her stepmother, who is the cause of so much suffering and local gossip.
Her father’s residence may be the idyllic location to start a new life, but Marsden Hall is far from peaceful.
As the house gives up its ghosts, Julia finds herself confronting restless spirits, including one who wishes to communicate with her…one who is seeking revenge..
Angelica Grymm
Aliens and Apple Pies
Released:
19 September
Jessie Jones doesn't believe in fate.
It wasn’t fate that got her stuck in traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge.
It wasn’t fate that caused an unprecedented earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone to simultaneously trigger San Andreas and the Hayward fault lines.
It wasn’t fate that made her seatbelt get stuck when her car plummeted into San Francisco Bay.
It wasn’t even fate that the Coast Guard AST swimmer who saved her was one of the Aniki’ah, the fearsome aliens who had shown up in orbit eighteen months ago, offering to repair Earth’s imminent ecological collapse.
And it certainly wasn’t fate that made her fall in love with him.
So, isn't it lucky that retired Aniki'ah starship commander Bain'dec Maktor does?
~ Would you fall for a Monster in Uniform? ~
Angelica Grymm
Spellbound
Released:
8 September
A Witch Without Power
A Lost Fae Lord, Faded From Memory
Ariel loves her family; loves her community in picturesque Leavenworth, Washington.
But she hates being a witch.
Particularly when she can't cast a spell to save herself.
When an injured, filthy fae male literally falls into her arms, after the largest ball on the witch community's calendar, Ariel turns to the only people who can help — her family.
Lord Nara'vox Iadron wants only one thing — to find the traitorous one responsible for sealing him in a living tomb, never to be found. A wizard he'd thought was a friend. A wizard who'd fallen and become a warlock.
He didn't expect to find his true Fated One; a being he'd long ago accepted did not exist for him.
And yet, here she stood.
There is only one problem. She is human.
Welcome to Spice-Tember! Spellbound is the perfect steamy short to start off your spooky season.
Angelica Grymm
short story 'Waiting For You' is in the anthology
Dark Delights on Halloween Night
Released:
15 September
From the tree line, something watches. It knows your name before you've said it. It yearns to taste you, to see if you're as sweet as you look. But this Halloween, the monsters aren't the danger: the wanting is.
Seven authors.
Seven short stories.
Seven wicked temptations that you won't regret–ever.
Dark Delights on Halloween Night is a limited time, multi author Halloween anthology with short stories by Marilyn Barr, Gretchen Hexe, Brandy S. Goodman, Angelica Grymm, Danielle Sibarium, Roslyn St. Clair, and V.V. Strange.
Go ahead. Indulge. Dark delights only come on Halloween night..
Bernadette Rowley
Wings of Shadow and Prophecy
Book 1, Shadow Wing Quest
Released:
21 August
She was born to rule. But destiny has other plans.
Iona Zialni, eldest daughter of Queen Alecia and heir to the throne of Thorius, carries Defender magic in her blood — the strength of the bear, the cunning of the wolf. Yet something deeper stirs within her, a winged truth she’s never been allowed to explore.
Refusing the future carved out for her, Iona sets out with a small group of young nobles who believe she deserves the chance to choose her own path. Beyond the borders of home, the world is stranger and more dangerous than she imagined, and the answers she seeks may cost more than she expects.
As secrets rise and loyalties shift, Iona must confront the question she’s never been permitted to ask. Who is she, if not the future queen?
Buy
non spec-fic
Claire Boston
Protecting Zoe
Book 2, Squadron 6
Released:
30 April
Maria has spent her life as the mafia's perfect weapon. Poisoner. Assassin. Monster.
When she's captured by the feral lion shifter whose family she was ordered to kill, she expects execution. Instead, Leo gives her a choice: submit to an ancient magical contract that binds them as mates, or die.
Leo wants revenge. Maria is the last woman he should trust. But as the magic forces these enemies closer, Leo begins to wonder if she's really a ruthless killer — or the fated mate he's been waiting for.
Hating the Lion is a spicy monster romance featuring a feral lion shifter, a deadly mafia assassin, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, an ancient magical contract, and a whole lot of banter.
Buy
Helen Walton
Finding Love with Mr. Perfect
Book 0.5, Hope Bay
Released:
25 July
Live. Perfect it. Love.
Kate
When I agreed to dog sit, I didn’t realize my aunt’s beagle was so naughty. At least spending time in the small beach town of Hope Bay is a bonus, and so is meeting the local intern veterinarian, Joel. We connect instantly. Joel is perfect, and he makes me think love might be real.
But we’re both in Hope Bay for a short time, so where can it lead?
Joel
When Kate burst through the veterinary clinic doors, I knew I had to ask her out. The more time we spend together, the more I know she’s the one for me.
But what will happen when I finish my internship and it’s time for me to leave?
Can I prove to her our connection is real?r.
Buy
PRE-ORDERS
non spec-fic
Amy Hutton
No Filter
Expected Release:
12 January 2027
When Julia trades in her city life for Ranger's Creek - a country town hours from all she's ever known - everyone thinks she's making a huge mistake. But she's newly single, sworn off men and desperate for change, and she's ready for her cottage-core cosy era.
What she's not ready for are snakes, floods, wild roos ... or Adam, the permanently grouchy but undeniably gorgeous farmer next door. For Adam, a naive city girl utterly unprepared for country life is the last thing he needs on his doorstep. He's got his hands full trying to rebuild the family farm. But country neighbours look after each other ...
Julia and Adam are both trying to get their lives on track on their own terms. The timing couldn't be worse for sparks to start flying, especially with a neighbour who has their own set of troubles and traumas. What is it they say about best-laid plans, though?
Because while finding your true self is the greatest discovery of all, sometimes it's those you meet on the journey who make it all the sweeter.
No Filter is an irresistible feel-good grumpy-sunshine love story - complete with chickens, baby goats and smalltown shenanigans - from a smart and sexy new voice in rural romance.
COVERS
Danni Line
Ember's Curse
Book 1, The Fifth Curse
Coming soon
Helen Walton
Visions of Death
Claire Boston
Restoring Trust
Book 2, Lilydale Cottage
FREE READ
Helen Walton
Helen is part of the Romantasy: Romantic Fantasy Freebies promotion in October
with The Kingdom of Shadows.
GENERAL NEWS
Bernadette Rowley
Wings of Shadow and Prophecy (Book 1, Shadow Wing Quest) is up for
October's cover of the month on All Author.
Check out Bernadette's banner.
Bernadette wrote about:
on her blog.
Bernadette was interviewed at New in Books.
Danni Line
A Rebel with Paws was a finalist in the Published Suspense section of the Stiletto Awards
of the Contemporary Romance Writers.
A Rebel with Paws was a NEST (national excellence in story telling) finalist in the Suspense section
by the Central Region Oklahoma Writers
Melanie Pickering
From January 2027, Melanie will start The Last Gardener of Briarwood Cemetery,
a monthly letter from a very unusual cemetery.
Somewhere beneath old trees and winding paths lies Briarwood Cemetery.
Its monuments have stories. Its gardens have secrets. And its gardener, Rowan Gray, has been there long enough to know most of them.
Beginning in January, Rowan will write to you once a month.
Each letter is a self-contained story from Briarwood: a glimpse into the life of someone remembered there, the history of a monument, an unusual discovery among the graves, or simply something Rowan noticed while going about his work.
A little gothic. Occasionally strange. Sometimes romantic.
Always a little mysterious.
Every letter stands alone, so you can begin with any month.
Claire Boston
Rescuing Mila was a finalist in the Romantic Suspense section of the RuBY Awards
of the Romance Writers of Australia.
Juanita Kees / Raven Corbin
Juanita / Raven has a handy sheet with QR codes to find her online; which is also available by Linktree.
EVENTS
JL Peridot
is expected to be at the following event:
Romantasy in the Red Room
Perth, WA
8 November
Danni Line and Claire Boston/Leggett
are expected to be at the following event:
Wild Out West 2027
Perth,WA
7 March 2027
~~~~~
Congratulations to our DarkSiders!
Happy reading everyone. Be safe & well.
