DarkSide DownUnder: DarkSider News: October 2025

"Prologue

Friday

Excitement vanished in one ugly second. The stretch limo taking them to the prom swerved suddenly and bumped over the curb. Horrified, Olivia Cooper gaped at the blood splashing across the divider window and running down the glass in crimson rivulets. What happened to the driver? Her friends laughed and chattered as blood seeped through the top of the window and trickled down inside, dripping onto the pristine white leathers. Speechless with terror, she stared, transfixed as the vehicle stopped. Moments later, a door slammed and the limo took off again as if nothing had happened. She turned to her date. "Even.""

- Good Girls Don't Cry (Book 26, Detectives Alton and Alton) by D.K. Hood

NEW RELEASES

Keri Arthur

Of Blood and Fire

Book 3, The Drakkon Kin Trilogy

Released:

30 September

Can an improbable alliance between human and drakkon save their world from utter destruction?

Princess Bryn Silva never wanted the crown this way.

With her parents dead and Esan’s military devastated, she’s thrust onto a throne she once wanted, but is utterly unprepared to fill.

Worse still, her husband, Damon—heir to the throne of Zephrine—has vanished, leaving her to face the storm alone.

As the gilded riders, hungry to claim Arleeon’s fertile lands as their own, rain death and destruction from their armored birds, the greatest threat to both Bryn and Esan might come from the one man who should be their staunchest ally.

Because Aric Velez—Damon’s father—has returned, and plans to use her inexperience to claim the throne and become the ultimate ruler over all Arleeon. And he doesn’t care what he has to do to see his ambitions realized.

As the losses mount, the race to find a means of defeating their foes becomes ever more desperate. But can the drakkon kin ever hope to win a war when they are so outnumbered?

Or will Bryn be forced to face an impossible choice: sacrifice everything she loves, or watch her kingdom burn.

Buy

Author store

also in audiobook format - see author store link

and hardcover and special edition - see author store link

K.E. Turner

Wolf's Return

Book 4, The Wolves of Langeais

Released:

16 September

Unlocking his humanity could shatter her heart.

For witch Constance Voyante, her second sight is more a curse than a gift. Alone and outcast, she survives by trading her healing skills, clinging to a vision of a life as the mate of Langeais’ Black Wolf. Until she discovers the Black Wolf has found his mate. And it’s not her.

When a wild and damaged werewolf appears at the d’Louncrais keep with knowledge of the pack’s traitor locked inside his tortured mind, it’s Constance the Langeais wolves turn to. If anyone can help him, it’s her. No one knows their lore better than she does. Resigned to her solitary life, Constance is unprepared for what awaits her. Another black wolf.

Struck down on a battlefield by one of their own, D’Artagnon d’Louncrais shifted into wolf form and fled, leaving behind his pack and his brother. Presumed dead, he’s returned to take his vengeance, but he has no plans to return to his human form. Not for his brother. Not even for the witch who makes him yearn for something he’s long forsaken. A mate.

Constance is the key to unlocking D’Artagnon’s humanity. D’Artagnon is determined to remain a wolf. Helping him shift could destroy everything Constance has always dreamed of.

Buy

Publisher's site

Other

Amy Hutton

Ghosted

Released:

30 September

Banishing vengeful spirits from the mortal realm is Holly’s day job, but she’s never had to ghost anyone before – until Callum breaks her heart, making her wish she could exorcise her ex from her life.

It’s been two years since professional ghost-whisperer Holly Daniels ghosted Callum Jefferies – successful paranormal podcast host, unsuccessful boyfriend. So when he reaches out asking for her help investigating the infamous East Mill haunted house, Holly is hesitant to get involved, despite his infuriating charm. But the house in question calls to her, and she can’t resist.

When they arrive in East Mill – and take up adjoining rooms at a rundown bed and breakfast – something in the air stirs up old feelings. If only the local ghosts would give Holly some peace and quiet to work out what those feelings are…

As their investigation unfolds, Holly and Callum unearth a string of mysterious deaths linked to the house – one of which is bound up with East Mill’s very own seventeenth-century witch trials. But Callum is hiding something, and as disturbing details emerge about the family who once occupied the house, Holly realises she will have to put her life – and her psychic powers – on the line if she and Callum are going to get out of East Mill alive.

Buy

Mila Young

Trick Me

Immortal Vices and Virtues

multi-author series

Released:

6 October

He’s the kind of wrong that ruins you for anyone else.

I talk to the dead for a living, which means my social life is exactly what you’d expect—completely flatlined.

But when a black envelope appears on my desk with an invitation to the All Hallows’ Eve Ball, the spirits whisper warnings in my ear. Stay away.

I should have listened.

Instead, I’m at a fae party where something goes terribly, violently wrong. My connection to the dead vanishes, replaced by something wild and hungry clawing beneath my skin. Something that makes me want to run, to hunt, to tear things apart with hands that suddenly have claws.

Then I meet him.

Dark, dangerous, and looking at me like I’m prey. Every instinct screams to flee, but when he follows me into the woods, when he catches me... I’m the one who pounces. Who can’t stop inhaling his scent. Who wants to sink my teeth into his throat and mark him as mine.

This isn’t me. I don’t lose control. I don’t crave violence. I definitely don’t let strangers whisper dark promises about keeping me forever while their hands make me forget why I ever wanted to escape.

My magic is gone. This feral need has taken its place. And the man pinning me against a tree, teaching me to breathe through the transformation ripping me apart from the inside?

He might be my salvation.

Or he might be the darkness the ghosts tried to warn me about.

Either way, I’m already lost.

Some hungers, once awakened, can never be satisfied.

Trick Me is a dark, spicy standalone paranormal romance featuring feral attraction, and fated mates who fight their bond until it’s too late. Set in a world where magic and monsters rule, Trick Me guarantees a happily ever after. Perfect for readers who like their romance with bite, their heroes morally gray, and their heroines discovering their wild side.

Buy

TJ Nichols

Survival and Other Scars

Book 2, Mytho Collapse

Released:

14 October

Pan and Noah's story continues...

The selkie coat isn't the only thing causing problems...

Buy

Imogene Nix

A Demon Called Grace

Book 2, Danu's Secrets

Released:

11 February

Running and hiding was Grace's life.

Though she was a capable chef and excellent crew member, she had to leave the ship she'd made her home and look for another job. Her plan seems sound, until she's accosted by a man who insists he wants to help her.

Luke's task as a private investigator led him to find the woman being searched for by someone in a very powerful position but something about Grace calls to him as more than simply his quarry. His inner wolf knows she's special, but the danger surrounding her is deep, and he's determined to keep her safe.

As the darkness continues to grow, so does something else, something primal…

But a demon and a were surviving in these dangerous times isn't a foregone conclusion, nor is love.battle.

Buy

Imogene Nix

The Secrets of Danu

Book 3, Danu's Secrets

Released:

7 June

Danu might be a Goddess and around since the beginning of time, but that doesn’t make her immune… from weariness, from disappointment or from loss.

Berith is a demon, second only to Lucifer and the keeper of the library of hell, but lately something is wrong. Very wrong indeed. His mate is moving against him and building an army to subjugate hell. With all this happening, the pull he feels towards Danu is strangely compelling.

Danu is ready to give up, but one last task lies to her, and it leads to more. It leads to Berith, the one she’s loved forever. The one who forgot her. But while hope grows in the silence, will it be enough? Now, she and Berith share plans for a future, if they can only survive the ultimate battle.

Buy

Non Spec-Fic

TJ Nichols

Best Suited

Book 2, Good With His Hands

Released:

28 September

He shouldn't be hooking up with his sister's bodyguard...

Bastien Fife wants to be known for his hand-tailored suits—not as the gay younger brother of Hollywood star Imogen Fife. With his other sister getting married, he’s bracing for matchmaking relatives, old wounds, and the pressure to play nice.

Dash Haywood, ex-military and Imogen’s bodyguard, is used to keeping his distance, but when he’s pulled into the whirlwind of the Fife family wedding, he’s not prepared for Bastien—sharp-tongued, guarded, and impossible to ignore.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but a wedding fling isn’t part of Dash’s job description, and Bastien isn’t ready to risk his heart again. As tension builds and secrets surface, they’ll have to decide if love is worth the fallout.

An angsty MM contemporary romance featuring opposites attract, found family, and a wedding fling that might be more than either man bargained for.

opposites attract

bodyguard

tailor

wedding hook-up

Best Suited, book 2 in the Good With His Hands series, is an angsty, emotional, opposites attract, MM contemporary romance.

Buy

The Guy from the Beach Resort

Birdie Song

Sommerville Downs Sweet Romance

Released:

17 September

A guy who keeps his promise could be worth breaking hers.

Reformed party-girl Penny is going to fix her life. No, really, she’s gonna do it this time! Starting with a vow of abstinence, five days in a Bali beach resort, and literally running into a well-timed fake boyfriend she definitely won’t fool around with.

Unfortunately for her, Adam is smart, funny, charming, and starting to look like an all-round decent human being. All green flags and zero risk, he’s the kind of guy who respects her and keeps his promises, leaving Penny desperate to break hers.

The Guy from the Beach Resort is a sweet, fake dating, slow-burn romance, set in the world of Somerville Downs.

Buy

Anna Hackett

Before and After

Book 2, Langston Hotels

Released:

7 October

in audio format

I never expected to become a single mom. Back in my Colorado hometown, all I have time for is work and raising my grieving nephew.

I don’t have time for a man.

Especially a tall, dark, and broody one.

Allie

I’ve swapped city life for small town. Designer suits for a housekeeping uniform. And don’t get me started on my lack of sleep. But I’d do it all again in a heartbeat to take care of my nephew.

Now my life revolves around running hotel housekeeping at the Langston Windward and taking care of my kiddo.

Oh, it also involves trying to avoid our cold, scowling, ex-military head of security. Everywhere I turn, I see Caden Castro and his muscled body and inky-black eyes.

And every time I see him, he’s watching me.

Caden

As head of security for Langston Hotels, my job is to fly in, upgrade security, then fly out. Since I left the military, I keep my life simple and avoid distractions.

Works helps me escape the memories and guilt that never go away.

Except, since I came to Windward, all I can think about is Allie Ford.

It isn’t just her long legs and lean body, it’s her fierce attitude and spirit. But she’s a hard-working single mom, and I’m a man with nothing to offer.

Then a group of dangerous guests into extreme sports arrive. They have trouble written all over them, and when Allie gets sucked into that trouble, it changes everything.

Whatever line I have to cross, I’ll do it to keep her safe.

Buy