CANYON OF DECEIT by DiAnn Mills – LSLL Book Campaign: Review and Giveaway

Canyon of Deceit

By DiAnn Mills

Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction

Pages: 338

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

SYNOPSIS

A child. A deadly conspiracy. A race against time.

When survival expert Therese Palmer is called to find a kidnapped girl, she quickly realizes the truth is more dangerous than she imagined. Enlisting the help of Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, they track the girl’s last known location deep in the Guadalupe Mountains—where every clue leads to more deception. As Russian organized crime and a deadly assassination plot come to light, Therese and Blane must fight against ruthless enemies and their growing attraction. Will they find the girl before time runs out, or will she become a pawn in a much bigger game?

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Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.

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REVIEW

Heart-wrenching prologue. Catch-your-breath action adventure. Second-chance romance. Faith-centered story. Danger at every turn and thrilling international intrigue. DiAnn Mills’s Canyon of Deceit has it all.

Hope is a reason to live when the world erupts into madness.”

Ms. Mills delivered once more a fast-paced, high-stakes romantic suspense novel with a strong Christian belief at its core. As I’ve come to expect from her, the main characters, Therese Palmer and Blane Gardner, are excellent at their jobs and worthy of respect. Their tragic back stories make it easy to sympathize with them and root for them to triumph against all odds. What they were missing in terms of luck, they made up for in bravery and fierce determination to complete their mission. They are deserving of a hopeful future together after going through everything Ms. Mills threw their way. Without giving away spoilers, I can say that at the end of the book, bruised and battered Therese and Blane truly earned their happily-ever-after.

Nothing is guaranteed. Neither life nor death.”

The situation with the antagonists is super complicated, and some aspects of the Russian subplot went over my head. It gave a proper backdrop to explain the involvement of the FBI and the Texas Rangers, but the violence and loss of lives and properties leaned towards excessive. The bright light in the midst of all the bloodshed is the little girl Alina. She provided the focal point of the story and the motivation for the actions taken by both sides — good and bad.

It’s not what we lose that defines our character—it’s what we learn.”

An exhilarating read. Thanks to the publisher and Lone Star Literary Life for providing me with an advanced copy to review and for including me in the campaign.

To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLCanyonofDeceit on your preferred social media platform.

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TO CONDEMN A WITCH by Lisa A. Traugott – LSLL Book Campaign: Review & Giveaway

TO CONDEMN A WITCH

By LISA A. TRAUGOTT

Historical Fantasy

Publisher: Rose Castle Media

Pages: 399

Publication Date: August 11, 2025

SYNOPSIS

A stolen scroll. A cursed bloodline. A prophecy that binds three witches across life and death…

Scotland, 1729. When clairvoyant healer Fiona MacLeod discovers an enchanted scroll, she awakens a prophecy linking her fate to two other women: Eleanor, a servant-turned-mistress caught in a scandal, and Matilda, a vengeful ghost burned for witchcraft. Together, they must form a coven—maiden, mother, and crone—to protect a changeling child marked by ancient magic.

But a ruthless witch hunter is closing in—one who will stop at nothing to destroy the child and the women sworn to defend her.

Spanning the infamous Hellfire Caves of England to haunted Scottish glens and the wilds of colonial Virginia, To Condemn a Witch is a haunting prequel in the Tales of the Witchblood series—a dark tale of feminine power, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between witches who rise, no matter how often they are condemned.

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Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa A. Traugott is the award-winning author of the Tales of the Witchborn series (To Rescue a Witch and To Condemn a Witch), a haunting historical fantasy saga in the realm of ghosts, goddesses, and rebellion. She double majored in history and theater to guarantee unemployment yet somehow became a full-time author. An original cast member on American Grit with John Cena, she also had five lines on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

She lives in Austin with her husband and two kids where they enjoy walking ghost tours and telling scary stories around the campfire. You can get a FREE chapter of To Rescue a Witch at LisaTraugott.com.

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REVIEW

Ms. Traugott must have a touch of the supernatural herself, because she concocted a spellbinding story that kept me engrossed for several hours straight. To Condemn A Witch is fantastical, with its themes of ancient spirituality and magic, and is also rooted in factual historical events. The combination makes for a fascinating read.

Told from multiple points of view, the story spans several decades and various locations, both real and fictional, including Scotland, London, across the Atlantic, the Virginia Colony, and the Otherworld. The author’s impeccable research provided a backdrop that was so vividly described, it almost felt like the reader time-traveled to witness the events firsthand as they unfolded. Many of the scenes were gruesome, horrifying, and some were even downright scary. But there were also tender moments and funny segments as well.

The major characters were complex and compelling. The villains (the witch hunter, the betrayed wife, the shape shifter) revealed themselves early and were consistent in their evil deeds. Those who were considered protagonists (the coven members — Fiona, Matilda, and Eleanor; William MacLeod) were not necessarily likable or sympathetic, but they had redeeming qualities that proved their humanity and placed them on the right side of the story. They had strengths and flaws, which gave them dimensions that enriched the story. Matilda especially stands out for having made realizations about herself throughout the course of the story that guided her actions later.

Although this book was released later than Book 2, I recommend reading it first before To Rescue A Witch for a more complete experience. Be aware of the contents that may cause anxiety or discomfort — violence, deaths, mature themes, slavery, and historically accurate but objectionable language.

To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLToCondemnAWitch on your preferred social media platform.

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ANJ MIRANDA – Featured Author

Anj Miranda knew she wanted to be an author since she began scribbling stories with crayons. She believes books are a way to travel and explore—and since she can’t just beam herself to a new destination, she counts on stories to give her that thrill. Give her flawed, complex characters, romance with all the feels, and a satisfying happily ever after any day of the week. Bonus points if the story takes place in a unique setting!

Anj lives in Metro Manila, Philippines, where you’ll find her tucked away at home with her laptop and a signature iced coffee.

Socials

Instagram – @authoranjmiranda
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Book Sites

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THE REYES SIBLINGS SERIES

Book 1: The Off-Chance of Me and You

He’s an athlete at the top of his game, and she’s the girl he left behind. Now he’s asking for a second chance, but this time, she’s calling the shots.

Tala Reyes lives life dancing to a breathless beat. With two full-time jobs and a family to support, she has no time to dwell on what-ifs: What if her grandmother never got sick? What if she never left Manila? And definitely not what if Jason Meyer hadn’t ghosted her in college?

The world knows Jason as the NBA golden boy, but to Tala, he was her first friend in the US—and her first taste of heartbreak. So when he shows up in town, she reminds herself not to cave to his overdue apology and superstar charm. She has more than enough to worry about, especially when she discovers her work visa is on the line.

Despite her doubts, he’s determined to make up for his absence. Tala wonders: what if she gave this thing between them a chance?

They’re from different worlds, and their futures have never been more uncertain. But it’s just for the summer, right? No big deal.

Famous last words.

The Off-Chance of Me and You is a second-chance, ex-friends-to-lovers romance with a slow burn and a dash of spice. This is the first standalone novel in the Reyes Siblings series.

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Book 2: The Odds of Happily Ever After

All bets are off when Little Miss Sunshine and her sister’s grumpy best friend learn to play nice.

Luna Reyes moved to the US with a dream: to prove herself to her family. After her older sister returns to Manila, Luna is determined to get through college on her own, despite her parents’ doubts and her insecurities. She doesn’t need a keeper—especially not her sister’s best friend. Not when he’s been a jerk to her since they met.

Gabe Martins has one goal: to build a stable life for himself. He has no patience for relationships—except when it comes to his best (and only) friend. So even though he wants nothing to do with Luna, he considers it his duty to check in on her. Sterling’s too small a town not to run into her anyway.

One text turns into a phone call, and soon, they’re going on a road trip without killing each other. It turns out he’s got a sweet side she always wanted, and she’s the bright spot he never thought he needed.

But with their goals at stake, will they go all in for a chance at happily ever after?

The Odds of Happily Ever After is a dislike-to-friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with a simmering slow burn and a dash of spice. It is the second novel in the Reyes Siblings series but can be read as a standalone.

Buy Links:

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**Book 3: The Fallacy of True Love (releasing on August 12, 2025)**

The city boy with a promising future meets the beach town girl with a troubled past in this unlikely romance.

Alonzo Reyes has everything going for him: a close-knit family, a scholarship to law school, and his dream girlfriend. He’s golden…or so it seems. In reality, he’s floundering on the brink of that dreaded f-word. Failure.

After a revelation pushes him over the edge, he escapes to the waves of La Union and crashes right into the town’s resident grumpy surfer.

Cam Cruz has no blood ties, no college degree, and no boyfriend. But she loves her life near the sea with friends who feel like family. All she needs is a stable job—not an annoyingly attractive boy from Manila messing up her flow.

Alonzo can’t help being intrigued by the one girl he can’t seem to charm, and no matter how many times Cam says goodbye, fate has other plans. When their paths cross again, they learn that there’s more to each other than meets the eye. Judgments are questioned, emotions are compromised, and soon, their beliefs about love are put to the test.

Can they overcome their differences for the chance at an epic ride, or will they play it safe and stick to solid ground?

The Fallacy of True Love is a strangers-to-lovers contemporary romance with angst and spice. It is the last book in the Reyes Siblings series but can be read as a standalone.

Buy Links:

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Do you know that I also have a story with a main character named Reyes, set in the Philippines? It’s called PANAGAT featuring Belen Reyes.

Here’s the blurb:

US Air Force officer Jack O’Connor washes ashore on a remote island in Palawan, Philippines, and into the arms of its beautiful owner, Belen Reyes.

It’s free to read for my newsletter subscribers. If you’re a subscriber but haven’t downloaded it yet, access it via Bookfunnel. And if you haven’t subscribed, here’s the link to my newsletter. I promise not to spam you and only send out bookish news once a month.

I hope you check it out.

HIGHER LOVE by Joanne Kukanza Easley – Book Campaign: Review and Giveaway

HIGHER LOVE

By JOANNE KUKANZA EASLEY

Women’s Literary Fiction

Publisher: Red Boots Press

Pages: 380

Publication Date: May 12, 2025

SYNOPSIS

Higher Love – the new release from Joanne Kukanza Easley, the multi-award-winning author of Sweet Jane, Just One Look, and I’ll Be Seeing You.

In 1986 Austin, Texas, sixteen-year-old Stephanie steps into sixty-two-year-old Lauren’s life, her uncanny resemblance cracking open a buried past. Claiming to be the daughter of the child Lauren gave up for adoption forty-five years ago, Stephanie upends Lauren’s life—already complicated by her remarriage to Brett after thirty-three years apart. Stung by her adoptive grandmother’s deception, Stephanie stays, her past of tragedy and self-harm forging a fragile bond with Lauren and Brett. When Stephanie’s trust fund evaporates, crushing her college dreams, Lauren sacrifices all to give her a future—only to face a bittersweet twist that echoes the past and changes everything. This heart-wrenching family drama delves into the enduring impact of secrets, the power of unconditional love, and the strength found in facing our pasts.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Amazon | B&N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanne Kukanza Easley, a retired registered nurse with experience in both the cold, clinical operating room and the highly charged world of psychiatric hospitals, lives in the Texas Hill Country, where she writes fiction about complicated, twentieth-century women. Her multi-award-winning debut, Sweet Jane, was named the adult fiction winner at the Texas Author Project and shortlisted for the Sarton Award and Eric Hoffer Award, among others. Just One Look, Joanne’s second novel, was a May 2022 Pulpwood Queen Book Club Pick. I’ll Be Seeing You, her third novel, features characters from Sweet Jane. Look for her fourth novel, Higher Love, a sequel to her third book, in Spring 2025. Her prize-winning short stories and poetry have appeared in several anthologies.

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REVIEW

Having read and reviewed I’ll Be Seeing You by Ms. Easley, I was eager to return to the eighties and get an update on the fascinating life of Lauren Eaton. This sequel, Higher Love, retained all the elements I loved in the first book — the incredible support system that made up Lauren’s found family, the awesome sense of place in every location the characters visited, and the realistic and relatable portrayal of the protagonists in the story. I appreciate the balance of admirable qualities and understandable flaws that the author infused in Lauren, Brett, and Stephanie. They were utterly human, living a life of ups and downs. Real, but also an escape into another dimension with a guaranteed hopeful ending.

I enjoyed all the little details that firmly set the story in the mid-eighties and lent it so much authenticity. The descriptions of fashion, entertainment options, and mentions of historical milestones were familiar. They invoked nostalgia in this reader, who considers the decade of Rob Lowe and Stand By Me her favorite era. The scenes showing the generational gap between a grandmother and her teenage granddaughter were particularly entertaining.

This story of love managed to be light in places and deep in others, tackling issues such as alcoholism, death, mental health, and teenage pregnancy in a way that held gravity but did not descend into dark places.

Overall, an engaging story that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLHigherLove on your preferred social media platform.

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TO L.A. WITH LOVE: A Charity Anthology – Featured New Release

TO L.A. WITH LOVE

A Charity Anthology

BLURB

When wildfires destroyed two beloved Los Angeles public libraries in January 2025, the romance community answered with heart.

In To L.A. With Love, 100+ local and international authors and poets weave tales filled with sexy contemporary passion, dreamy historical romance, and spellbinding magical encounters. From the sweetest kiss to steam between the sheets, these tales remind us why we fall in love with books—because like libraries, they offer refuge, inspire dreams, and bring people together.

This anthology celebrates the power of romance, and all proceeds from To L.A. With Love support the restoration of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades libraries, proving that love stories can heal more than fictional broken hearts—they can rebuild community. Pick up your copy today, and join us in writing a new chapter for Los Angeles.

Buy Link:

books2read.com/tolawithlove

Beneficiaries:

Altadena Library Foundation

https://www.altadenalibraryfoundation.org/

LAPL Palisades Branch Recovery Fund

https://lfla.org/laplrecoveryfund/

FEATURED AUTHORS

Aarti V Raman, USA Today Bestselling Author
Alexa Santi
Alexis Krasilovsky
Alice Duncan
Aliza Mann
Allie Lasky
Amanda Richardson
Amy Award, USA Today Bestselling Author
Amy J. Hawthorn
Andrea Johnston
Anna Quinn
Anne Barwell
Arell Rivers, USA Today Bestselling Author
Aria R. Blue
Arianna Quinn
Ashley Erin
Caitlin Loggins
Cecilia Rene
Christina Alexandra
Christine Ashworth, USA Today Bestselling Author
CJ Warrant
Claire Davon, USA Today Bestselling Author
C.G. Burnette
Claire Marti, USA Today Bestselling Author
Crystal Perkins
Cynthia Diamond
Dee Lagasse
DL Gallie
Ella Braeme
Ellena Espejo
Gemma Snow
Gwen Galloway
Heather Scarlett
HL Miller
J.C. Hannigan
JCC Downing
Jeannie Choe
Jennifer Worrell
Juliet Gauvin
Karen Grey
Kelly Violet
Kennedy L. Mitchell
Khushi T. Saha
KL Hill
Kristen Elizabeth
Leesa Bow
Lena Cove
Libby Waterford
Lisa Rayne
M. Solis
Michelle Mars
Milly Gray
Monica Ross
Natalie Tay
Nicole Sanchez
Nikki Prince, International Bestselling Author
Olivia Huxley
Pamela DuMond, USA Today Bestselling Author
R. Snow
R.L. Merrill
Rae Shawn
Rhian Cahill
Rose Bak, USA Today Bestselling Author
Samantha Shaye
Shana Gray
Shelley Kassian
Simran
SL Hannah
Sorcha Mowbray
Stephanie J. Scott
Stephanie Marie Whitson
Susannah Erwin
Theresa Lambe
Tiffany Carby
Tori Mitchell
Tracy Reed
Vi Summers, International Bestselling Author

LYGIA DAY PEÑAFLOR – AANHPIHM Featured Author

Lygia Day Peñaflor is the author of Creep: A Love Story, All of This Is True, and Unscripted Joss Byrd. She also teaches young Hollywood stars on television and movie sets. Her students have included cast members of Gossip Girl, Boardwalk Empire, Spielberg’s West Side Story, and others. She lives on Long Island, NY, where she rides horses and flies from a trapeze. Follow her on Instagram @lygiaday and learn more about her work on her website.

CREEP: A LOVE STORY

This twisted, tragic love story follows Holy Family High School’s cutest couple — as told through the eyes of the classmate who’s stalking them.

Laney Villanueva and Nico Fiore are the perfect couple: beautiful, popular, talented, and hopelessly in love. Everyone looks up to them at Holy Family High School.

But Rafi doesn’t just admire them. She watches them. She’s drawn to them.

Intent on becoming their closest friend, Rafi weaves her way into their lives. She starts small: taking photos of the senior class for the yearbook, joining Laney’s club, and babysitting Nico’s little sister. And it works—soon they invite her to parties, take her on joyrides, and ask her for favors. Rafi’s actions quickly turn invasive, delving deeper and deeper until she’s consumed by their most intimate secrets.

When tragedy strikes the young lovers, Rafi’s obsession spirals, and she will do anything to keep the perfect couple together.

Anything . . .

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION

“[A] fast-paced psychological thriller” — Kirkus Reviews

“Rafi’s matter-of-fact narration efficiently encapsulates her self-deception, boundless obsession, and increasingly delusional stalking, making for a compulsive read.” — Publishers Weekly

“Both heart-pounding and troubling, this story is hard to put down and hard to shake.” — Booklist

“Quick-paced and suspenseful.” — School Library Journal

“An interesting, thought-provoking character case study à la The Talented Mr. Ripley…This is a book that will haunt [readers] for some time.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

BUY LINKS FOR ALL BOOKS:

harpercollins.com/creep

harpercollins.com/all-of-this-is-true

macmillan.com/unscriptedjossbyrd

HER BLOODY BETRAYAL by L. G. Hill – Featured New Release

HER BLOODY BETRAYAL

A Why Choose Vampire Romance

by

L. G. Hill

BLURB

When your peaceful community is suddenly teeming with rogue vampires and you have to work with your ex to get rid of them …

As the youngest of three sisters, I’m surprised when our sire, leader of our vampire clan, comes to me first with news of rogues terrorizing the population of our remote Canadian town.
The reason I’m first in the loop? Mason, my first turn and ex-lover, the male who broke my heart.
But of course, Mason is the smartest in his clan and the only one who can help us end this nightmare.
Not even the comforting support of Billy, my loyal second in command, or the grounding presence of Pinch, my human assistant can quell the overall rage that scorches my blood.
Especially after a rogue attacks my dog.
I probably shouldn’t take that out on Mason … but his nearness makes me ache for reasons unrelated to my anger toward him for leaving me.
And I probably shouldn’t take Mason’s fiery torment out on Billy and Pinch either, but here we are …

Her Bloody Betrayal is an MFMM steamy vampire reverse harem with enemies to lovers, found family, and a badass heroine who takes no crap. Swords cross, and the blood and wine flow in this spine-tingling story of love and betrayal.

Content Notes: mentions of past childhood sexual abuse/abandonment trauma; suicide ideation; drug use. The dog doesn’t die. No AI.

Buy Link: Kindle Unlimited

ABOUT L. G. HILL

L.G. Hill is the pen name for Linda G. Hill’s Why Choose Romance books.

Award-winning author Linda G. Hill was born and raised an only child in Southern Ontario, Canada. She credits the time she spent alone when she was growing up, reading books and building worlds and characters of her own to keep her company, as the reason she became a writer.

A stay-at-home mom of three beautiful boys, Linda is a graduate of the Writing Program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, Ontario. Aside from caring for her family, she enjoys traveling the world, eating trout cooked on the barbecue, and, of course, reading.

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UNDER THE GULF COAST SUN by Skip Rhudy – LSLL Book Campaign

UNDER THE GULF COAST SUN

By SKIP RHUDY

Romance / Coming of Age / Surfing

Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing

Pages: 266

Publication Date: April 22, 2025

SYNOPSIS

This coming-of-age tale set against the sun-soaked beaches of 1970s Port Aransas, Texas, is a love letter to the people and culture of the Texas coast and the enduring allure of the Gulf of Mexico.

Eighteen-year-old Connor O’Reilly isn’t ready to leave his beloved hometown until the tourist girl he met the previous summer, Kassie Hernandez, returns to Port Aransas for one final vacation before college. Their tumultuous summer fling is wrecked by a freak accident in which Connor is lost at sea. His long years of surfing and fishing in the Gulf, as well as Kassie’s desperation to reunite with him, are pitted against the enormity and utter indifference of the sea.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Amazon | B&N | Bookshop

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Skip Rhudy grew up surfing in Port Aransas, Texas. He has translated poetry and prose from German to English, and translated Wolfgang Hilbig’s novella Die Weiber for his master’s thesis in 1990 at the University of Texas. His short stories were published in numerous small press magazines in the mid-1990s, and his novella One Punk Summer was published in 1993 and reprinted in 2021.

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REVIEW

What an entertaining read! A true destination romance, Under The Gulf Coast Sun took me to Port Aransas, a place I haven’t been, and to the nineteen seventies, a time not-too-far gone yet a whole lifetime ago. I am equally delighted and aghast that this book is considered a historical romance. I was already alive during the time setting of the story, so I’m feeling old. But I’m also not old enough to say I could relate to the characters in this coming-of-age love story.

Skip Rhudy did a wonderful job of infusing his characters with a balance of confidence, confusion, and insecurity that typifies teenagers of every generation yet placing them in distinct situations that could only have been experienced by the youth in the seventies and early eighties. The younger drinking age, the loose parental controls, and the existing media and technological selections are some examples that place this book in the past. Connor and Kassie are fully fleshed-out characters who acted true to their ages. They are sympathetic and easy to root for, having virtues and flaws that make them real.

Usually, I don’t like the main conflict in romance caused by a misunderstanding and lack of communication, but I understood why it happened here. I appreciate how Mr. Rhudy laid it out, so it came out organic and a natural offshoot of Connor and Kassie’s backgrounds.

The surfing scenes and the locations are described incredibly well, a testament to the author’s talent and lived experience. The dialogues flowed naturally. The language was plain, easily understood, and true to the time. My only critique is the head-hopping and unnecessary points of view from a couple of secondary characters.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read.

To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLUnderTheGulfCoastSun on your preferred social media platform.

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE CAMPAIGN PAGE

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ONE BED, TWO HEARTS by The New Romance Café – Featured New Release

ONE BED, TWO HEARTS

An Only One Bed Romance Anthology

Romance Café Collection #45

BLURB

Sometimes love starts with a little forced proximity … and just one bed.

In One Bed, Two Hearts, discover a collection of contemporary romance where strangers, friends, and even enemies find themselves sharing a bed—and maybe, just maybe, sharing their hearts too. With sizzling chemistry, accidental sleepovers, and unexpected connections, each story brings you a delightful take on the beloved “only one bed” trope.

From cozy cabins to luxury hotels, these stories are filled with laughter, tender moments, and undeniable attraction that will leave you swooning for more.

Perfect for fans of forced proximity, slow-burn romance, and a dash of humor, One Bed, Two Hearts delivers love that blooms when people are closer than they ever expected.

Authors:

Jill Brashear Deaia Sanders Michelle Moncreiff
Linda G. Hill Emma Lynn Everly Chele MacCabe
Sharon Michalove Gabbi Powell Gabbi Grey
Cara Dion Freyja Frost Angela Breen
J.M. Adele Jewelz Baxter Ebony Snow
Juliet Martini Cynthia Terelst Harper Michaels
Maida Malby

Buy Link: Amazon

ABOUT TNRC

The New Romance Café is the place to get your daily dose of romance books.

Hang out with like-minded readers and authors at different stages of their writing journey, in a diverse and inclusive group.

Find out about new releases, take part in fun discussions, and recommend your favorite reads in the safe space of the Café.

The New Romance Cafe Links:

Group: facebook.com/thenewromancecafe
Website: thenewromancecafe.com
Romance Cafe Publishing: romancecafepublishing.com

LOVELOCK FREEWAY

Maida Malby

Bernadette Moore had a teenage crush on Jordan Prins half a lifetime ago. Little did she know he had a crush on her as well. Life events separated them for years, but now, circumstances bring them back together. Can a road trip, car trouble, and only one bed turn that youthful infatuation into something deeper?

ANA KIRK SHAW – Featured Author

Ana Kirk Shaw wrote her first romance at eight years old. It was a shifter romance starring Scar from The Lion King and Amelia Bedelia. It was weird.

She is now a public school special education teacher by day and romance author by night (plus weekends and summer break). Ana loves writing silly, swoony, steamy stories about strong heroines and the heroes that love them. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, kids, and cats.

Website: anakirkshaw.com

Instagram: @anakirkshaw.author

Facebook: Ana Kirk Shaw

Threads: @anakirkshaw.author

My boss is the stiff, surly, suited city bureaucrat… and I’m the new teacher of his nightmares.

I’m desperate for a fresh start at a new school. Lucky for me, Oliver Flores, the infuriatingly hot principal of PS 2, is desperate for a new teacher.

He’s forced to hire the Sweaty Albeit Beautiful Trash Siren he found amongst the dumpsters (I had a morning, okay?). I’m forced to take the job.

He’s all label makers and lists. I’m all creativity and chaos.

He needs to loosen up. I need to tighten up.

He demands control. I need freedom.

For right now, I have no choice but to follow my boss’s every explicit directive and not make any waves. No drama llamas. Because he needs his promotion. And I need to keep this job.

But what happens when Mr. Flores’s orders go from “send me your lesson plans” to “see me after school”? What happens when they go from “take it out” to “let me in”?

For the sake of both of our jobs, we’ll need to keep this a secret. It’s a terrible idea … but I might just love it when Oliver orders me around.

Beyond the Bell is the first book in the Lessons in Love series and can be read as a total standalone. It’s for fans of high heat romantic comedies, and features a grumpy boss and his sunshine employee, a fresh start, a secret relationship, BIPOC representation, found family, and tons of spice.

Buy Link: Amazon

She’s my roommate and my best friend’s forbidden little sister. And now she wants me to teach her how to date.

Me. The himbo who’s messed with half the women in the city. The guy whose nuts her brother will feed to the squirrels if he finds out.

I should’ve said no. But it’s Mia—my Mia. She’s tired of being a wallflower, and I’m the perfect guy to give her advice.

I shouldn’t teach her how to kiss. We shouldn’t practice in my bed.

I shouldn’t know how many freckles she has on her stomach, or love the way she fits in my arms.

But what definitely shouldn’t happen? The dude she’s known her whole life—the one who was just supposed to help—should not want to spend the rest of his life doing it.

Mia’s brother might break my face, but Mia? She might break my heart.

The PS 2 staff room shenanigans continue in Teach Me a Lesson …a super spicy romantic comedy about a brother’s best friend who’s a childhood-friend-to-lover, roommate, and coworker all in one. You’ll laugh, cry, swoon, and find forced proximity, golden retriever energy, a secret relationship, and lots of spice lessons.

Buy link: Amazon