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

TNRC CoverThe 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

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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
Facebook: Ana Kirk Shaw

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AKS 2

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
 

AKS 3

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

AKS 1

 


VANISHING INTO THE 100% DARK by Amber Royer – LSLL Book Campaign

VANISHING INTO THE 100% DARK

By Amber Royer

Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Golden Tip Press

Pages: 288

Publication Date: March 4, 2025

SYNOPSIS

Bean to chocolate maker Felicity Koerber has been invited to be part of a chocolate festival in Tokyo. It’s a big deal for a Texas gal with a chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand, so a whole group of her friends come along to support her. It’s intimidating enough to be giving a class on chocolate making with the help of a translator – she also stumbles across the scene of a murder, where a quirky group of international actors and stunt performers are making a monster movie. Felicity has already solved half a dozen murders back in Texas, so at this point her friends basically expect her to get involved – even before the young media influencer in Felicity’s group becomes the main suspect.

Felicity has taken on the role of chaperone for Chloe, so she can’t imagine how she could explain what went wrong to the girl’s mother. Which gives her even more motivation to figure out the real killer.

In the meantime, things get complicated at the chocolate festival when a rival chocolate maker tries to get her disqualified from the awards competition – and claims that her amateur sleuth status is bringing undesirables into the festival. And things are even more complicated as the stress of being in an unfamiliar place brings out secrets about Felicity’s friends – and her fiancé.

Honda the calico cat makes an appearance on the movie set, making Felicity homesick for her pet bunny, left at home. But the cat may know more about what happened than she is letting on. Can Felicity solve the murder in time to keep Chloe from getting arrested, while making things right with the people she cares about, and presenting a good showing at the chocolate festival?

CLICK TO PURCHASE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She is also the author of Story Like a Journalist: a Workbook for Novelists and has co-authored a chocolate-related cookbook with her husband. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach.

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REVIEW

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A fresh spin on what’s promising to be a long-running series. I have been reading Amber Royer’s Bean to Bar Mysteries series from the beginning and am delighted with the setting change. I enjoyed getting to know Galveston and the community Felicity Koerber has built there. I also appreciate the author widening her character’s world and inviting the readers to travel with them.

In moving this latest installment to Japan, Ms. Royer retained her signature elements while creating new challenges for her amateur sleuth to conquer. Vanishing Into The 100% Dark brought Texas to Japan through Felicity and her large entourage–her fiancé, his sister and her partner, a former love interest and his partner, a podcaster and his fiancée, and a teenage YouTuber. Even those left in the US like Carmen and Autumn showed up via FaceTime. 

As with the previous seven books, events happen early and quickly. New characters are introduced, the main (murder) mystery to be solved is established, and suspects pile up.  As usual, a first edition copy of a mystery novel shows up and it’s somehow connected to the case. There’s also a business rival to contend with, and loads of familiar and newly-created chocolate flavors mentioned. Finally, there’s always a pet involved — this time, a calico cat. 

With seven solved cases under her belt, Felicity has developed a keen sense of when an impending disaster is about to happen. She has resigned herself to the fact that she must lead the investigation. Finding out who did it is never easy, but especially difficult in an unfamiliar location while trying to navigate cross-cultural communications using technology and relying on the generosity of strangers. 

I loved Ms. Royer’s integration of Japanese culture in this story–about the kaiju (media involving giant monsters), shogi (chess-like board game), the food, and the daily life of local citizens. I also admire the massive research she undertook while creating this book. It clearly showed up in the dialogues, the anecdotes, the backgrounds of new characters, and the case resolution.

There’s a lot to enjoy in this latest book in the series. However, this is best suited to those who have already read the previous seven. First-time readers might find the multitude of characters, loads of information, and fast pace overwhelming. Plus, there are relationship updates that would spoil storylines from earlier installments. They should also get familiarized with Felicity’s unique style of investigation, otherwise they would not appreciate her methods.

The last thing I want to say is–I want more chocolates. Felicity’s competence specialty was not fully highlighted here like in previous books. Ms. Royer can’t go wrong with more chocolates in her next book.  

4 out of 5 stars

To learn more about the book, look for #LoneStarLitVanishingIntoThe100Dark on your preferred social media platform.

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HOME TO COMFORT by Kimberly Fish – LSLL Book Campaign: Review and Giveaway

 
 
HOME TO COMFORT
By Kimberly Fish
 
 
Women’s Fiction / Contemporary / Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing
Pages: 382
Publication Date: October 10, 2024
 

 

SYNOPSIS

 

Gloria Bachman has pivoted so many times this year she has whiplash. Now, in the middle of winter and drenched in Mexican sunshine at a five-star resort, she has a role to play: Mason Lassiter’s “arm candy” in a sting to nab his not-actually-dead, first wife, Patsy. It didn’t make any sense to her either, but who argues with government officials offering an expense-paid trip and a reason for a new beach wardrobe?

With Patsy leading resort security, FBI agents, and Mason on a merry chase, Gloria knows that if you want to catch a woman of a certain age, you have to think like a woman of a certain age. Thankfully, she’s got the credentials.

If only she could understand the other people in her life—particularly Gardner Rogers. Gloria returns home to Comfort, Texas with a ring, a pressing need to organize her house, and a custom order of Sweeties signature truffles to be delivered to White House chefs. When her business partner embarks on last-minute travel plans, one of her best friends announces a retirement, romances bloom from unlikely sources, and Gardner and her ex-husband, Harry Rogers, come unhinged—quite publicly—it all forces Gloria to face her strangest challenges yet.

This final book in the Comfort and Joy trilogy weaves happy endings for the townsfolk that readers have come to love, and just deserts for those they don’t. It’s Kimberly Fish at her finest, and a treasure for brave people who don’t retire quietly.

 
 
 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Kimberly Fish has been in the writing industry for over 30 years. An amateur historian and fan of cozy mysteries, she weaves history and mystery into her stories of women finding their grit and sweet second chances.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 


REVIEW

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In the middle of a crowd, one’s heart can always find home.”
 
Comforting and joyful, this series lives up to its name. This final book evokes all the wonderful feelings one attributes to the word “home”– family, safety, trust, hope, happiness, and love. 
 
As I stated in my reviews of Kimberly Fish’s previous books, Gloria Bachman’s story and personality appealed to me even before her own series started. She is a fun mix of immensely capable and incredibly lucky. Perfect for a heroine who often finds herself unwittingly in the center of intrigue and mayhem.
 
In the conclusion of the saga concerning her love interest Mason Lassiter’s first wife, Gloria showcased her crime-solving abilities. Aided by her quick wit, intrinsic female knowledge, lived experiences of being underestimated, a great dose of sense of humor, and timely help from trusted friends, she bested both the FBI and the villains.
 
Her musings about relationships — marriage, friendship, adversaries — in addition to her insecurities, doubts, and impatience made her a wholly relatable character. 
 
And if it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end.”
 
I have always admired how Ms. Fish can make her settings come alive and that’s especially true in Home to Comfort. The descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations Gloria was experiencing took me to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and to a large part of Texas. The drive from Dallas to the Hill Country was something I had experienced myself and reading it here made me smile. 
 
With the satisfying resolution of conflicts and a hopeful ending for the major characters, I can’t really be sad that the Comfort and Joy series is complete. It has entertained me for an extended period, and I’m grateful to its creator.  
 
 
4 Four-half-stars
 
 

 
To learn more about the book, look for #LoneStarLitHomeToComfort on your preferred social media platform.
 
 
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ELLA LEON – Featured Author

Ella Leon

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Ella Leon writes historical romantasy with intrigue and suspense. Her debut historical romantasy series will be released in 2025 with Dragonblade Publishing.

During her 9-5 career, she has delved into many different styles of writing: journalism, public relations and marketing. Fiction, however, is where she finds the most freedom to transform the page. Like the Victorians she writes about, she loves all things gothic and supernatural. Unlike the Victorians, she is a feminist who enjoys exploring the precolonial past.

When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her family or tending to her rose garden. She lives in the Chicago area.

Substack: ellaleon.substack.com
Tiktok: @ella_leon
Facebook: @EllaLeon
Instagram: @author.ellaleon
Threads: @e.k.toth


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Ella Leon The Sapphire Heiress-graphic-updated

THE SAPPHIRE HEIRESS

A pirate who walks amongst the highest circles of society.
A governess desperate to escape servitude.


“Exciting, dramatic, romantic; infused with magic, danger and mystery, The Sapphire Heiress reinvents the historical romance. Wondering what Historical Romantasy looks like? This is it.”
– New York Times Bestselling Author Amanda Quick

In Victorian England, the Silver Order has kept its supernatural discoveries hidden for centuries. Those who seek its secrets must always pay a price …

Mae Blackthorne, the daughter of an English shipbuilder and a Filipina immigrant, has been taught to ride sidesaddle, embroider pillows, and dance the waltz. So when her brother disappears at sea, she hasn’t a clue what to do when the family’s shipbuilding business falls into bankruptcy.

It isn’t long before Mae is penniless. Or so she believes. Forced to accept a post as governess in the very home she was raised in, Mae takes on the challenge in good spirits. Yet she is restless and yearns for the life of adventure her daredevil father and brother once had. That is, until she meets Ethan Locke, a pirate who offers her an enticing opportunity to recover her secret inheritance.

Unbeknownst to Mae, her family used their shipbuilding business to shroud generations of successful piracy. Locke, who was once partners with her father, has an old score to settle. He claims that her father stole from him an object of great value: a sapphire that can stop its wearer from growing old. As her father’s last surviving heir, Mae is Locke’s only hope of finding this supernatural jewel hidden amidst her family’s secret fortune.

Agreeing to work together and split the fortune amongst themselves, they share an instant spark of attraction. But they’re not alone in their search. The original owners of the sapphire, who operate an elite secret society, are far more powerful than Mae and Locke could have ever imagined. As danger closes in and the supernatural proves real, Mae fears she has much more to lose than just a second chance at a new life.

Summarized best as Pirates of the Caribbean meets Jane Eyre, The Sapphire Heiress is a suspense-filled historical romance perfect for fans of Amanda Quick.

Buy Link: Amazon


Ella Leon Crystal Alchemist

THE CRYSTAL ALCHEMIST

She wanted nothing to do with the supernatural … until him.

In Victorian England, the Silver Order has kept its supernatural discoveries hidden for centuries. Those who seek its secrets must always pay a price…

When her father’s death puts his estate in her hands, Hazel Grey must return to the home she ran away from as a child. Tucked away in the mystical landscape of the Malvern Hills, notorious for its ancient pagan past, Whitestone Manor is the headquarters of the Silver Order, the enigmatic secret society Hazel has both hated and feared. She’s never believed the Silver Order’s claim to power: an ability to see into the future. But when the property becomes so sought-after that a young stranger, Theo Pierce, offers a small fortune and a lifelong friend offers her his hand, all to obtain it, Hazel begins to reconsider…

Years ago, Theo Pierce’s family was forced to sell Whitestone Manor to Miss Grey’s father. Ever since, he’s dedicated his life to winning it back and redeeming his family’s honor—no matter the cost. When a snowstorm traps him and Miss Grey within the manor, it becomes the perfect opportunity to win her trust and, more importantly, the estate. But the deeper Theo pulls her into his world of secret laboratories, botanical mysteries, and crystal alchemy, the more he begins to want something other than redemption.

Soon, everything Hazel once believed is called into question. A crude and shocking vision reveals that a romantic tryst with Mr. Pierce is inevitable. Rather than fight it, she finally decides to put aside her cynicism and give into fate. But as she starts to uncover the truth behind her father’s death and the secret society’s darkest secrets, secrets about herself unravel too, secrets that threaten to keep her a prisoner of the Silver Order for good.

The Crystal Alchemist is a Gothic romance perfect for fans of Amanda Quick and Adalyn Grace.

Preorder Link: Amazon 


Ella Leon books

 

BOOK NEMESIS by Sammie Trinidad – Featured Debut

Book Nemesis 1

BOOK NEMESIS

Sammie Trinidad


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For Serenity Brooks, fanfiction wasn’t just a hobby—it was her escape, her passion, her lifeline. Until Duvall K. Howard, the man she loved, shattered her heart and stole her inspiration in one fell swoop. Now, Duvall’s back, crashing into her life with a life altering secret. The news reignites not only Serenity’s dormant passion for writing but also the burning embers of her anger. The past is back, and she’s not forgiving.

Enter Ezra Sullivan, the witty, charming friend she lost along the way—the one man who truly understands the sting of Duvall’s betrayal. He was Duvall’s roommate, rival, and always second best, and now he’s Serenity’s partner in crime. Together, they’re plotting the ultimate literary takedown, a campaign of creative vengeance that will take them through the chaotic world of conventions, awkward signings, and the constant scrutiny of overbearing parents and relentless relatives.

But as Serenity and Ezra navigate the minefield of their shared past and their complicated present, the lines between friendship, revenge, and something undeniably, irresistibly hotter begin to blur. What starts as a strategic alliance—a fake romance for revenge—evolves into something neither of them anticipated as their connection deepens. Will their quest for payback against Duvall lead them to something more with each other, or will their staged romance threaten to derail their plans and break their hearts all over again?

Buy link: Amazon

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ABOUT SAMMIE

Sammie 2

Sammie Trinidad likes to call herself the “Filipina Wonder Woman” – she even has the cosplay to prove it. Her stories include romance, both in SFF and contemporary, and fantasy. All her stories come from the heart because she has faced the unimaginable: death of her son, who died from SIDs. Grief inspired her to explore the layers of the human condition, exploring connection in all its messy, intriguing, and deeply personal forms. When not writing, Sammie can be found indulging in dark chocolate, watching Schitt’s Creek or Vampire Diaries for the zillionth time, or cuddling with her sweet dog and chunky cat, Zelda and Link.

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook – Sammie Trinidad’s Book Mates
Instagram – @sammietrinidadcreates
Threads – @sammietrinidadcreates
TikTok – @sammietrinidadcreates
Newsletter – newsletter.sammietrinidadcreates.com


REVIEW

Book Nemesis

Review to follow. 

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT by Marlene M. Bell – LSLL Book Campaign

AHAM Banner

A HUSH AT MIDNIGHT

Marlene M. Bell

Cozy Mystery / Small Town Mystery
Publisher: Ewephoric
Pages: 368
Publication Date: September 5, 2024


SYNOPSIS

AHAM CoverA manipulator.                                                                   

A fatal plan for revenge.                                     

Award-winning author of the Annalisse series, Marlene M. Bell, brings distant friends together in the rural South only to have one of them become the victim of a brutal crime of passion.

Once celebrated for her show-stopping pastries and irresistible desserts, former celebrity chef Laura Harris is now making headlines for a far darker reason.

Laura has been accused of murder.                

How could this petite chef have brutally smothered the beloved small-town matriarch, World War II ferry pilot veteran, Hattie Stenburg? Hattie wasn’t just a pillar of the community; she was Laura’s confidant and mentor. The shocking twist? Hattie’s will contained recent changes, bypassing next-of kin and leaving her entire fortune and historic estate to Laura.                                                                      

As Laura scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath the town’s idyllic surface. The real murderer is always one step ahead, leaving taunting clues and threatening Laura to leave Texas—or face deadly consequences. With time not a luxury, Laura must untangle the web of deceit before the killer makes her the next victim.

In A Hush at Midnight, Marlene M. Bell twists an amateur sleuth crime mystery into a race against the clock to solve her mentor’s murder.

 

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

 Amazon | Amazon Kindle 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

04 Author Photo - Marlene BellMarlene M. Bell is an award-winning author of the Annalisse romantic suspense series. She’s also an acclaimed artist and photographer using her pictures for descriptive prose that eventually lands in her mysteries. Marlene lives with her husband of 42 years on their East Texas ranch with numerous sheep. When she’s not writing, drawing or painting, she is shepherdess to their Katahdin hair sheep and ranch kitties.

 

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CREAMED by Linda G. Hill – Featured New Release

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CREAMED

A Once a Week at Woody’s Novella

by

Linda G. Hill


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The Christmas market is open and the competition is sexy.

Tom’s the new guy in town, looking to start over. Getting a job as a stripper at Woody O’Flanagan’s Pub is easy, but deep down, Tom is a pastry chef. His booth at the Christmas market comes with the biggest challenge of all …

Mary, the pastry chef at the Christmas market, is about to get a handsome new neighbor. Except his creamy chocolate muffins attract everyone but Mary, with her aversion due to the “chocolate incident.” All she needs to do is ignore him and work that much harder to keep her customers. If only he wasn’t irresistibly charming.

Creamed is a delicious, sexy standalone story in Linda G. Hill’s romcom series, Once a Week at Woody’s. Read them in any order!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story, in its condensed version, was previously published in the anthology “Mistletoe and Markets” by Romance Cafe Publishing.

Grab it now!

 

Buy links:

Universal Link: books2read.com/Creamed
 

add to goodreads


ABOUT LINDA

51zEkWS7bmL._US230_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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SALLOWSFIELD by Cliff Hudder – Book Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

SALLOWSFIELD

by Cliff Hudder

Literary Fiction / Humor / Saga / Texas / Yorkshire

Publisher: Texas Review Press

Pages: 390

Publication Date: October 21, 2024

SYNOPSIS

Wyatt W. Sallow, MBA—poet, business ethics professor, and coach of the 8th ranked collegiate chess team in East Texas—travels to the heart of northern England to trace his family origins in mundane Sallowsfield, only to find his supposed ancestry a mirage. He does have a real past, however: one that stalks him across the green hillsides in echoes of his catastrophic marriage, the lingering shadow of a lost child, and—there, in person, inexplicably emerging from the town’s faux-Victorian train station—“X,” the enigmatic object of his unrequited passion and a figure as perplexing as an algebraic variable.

On his eight-day tour/pilgrimage/mock epic journey, Wyatt pursues the specter of his lost love and crosses paths with the citizens of this down-at-its-heels market town as they struggle to grasp the all-consuming obsessions, ghosts, and X-factors that confound their days.

Thought-provoking yet dryly humorous, Sallowsfield weaves diverse elements into a story both light-hearted and philosophical, exploring along the way universal human touchstones of obsession, ruined love, and the inexplicable mysteries that shape our lives.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cliff Hudder received an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Houston in 1995 and a PhD in American Literature from Texas A&M in 2017. He has been an archaeological laborer, a film and video editor, photographer, air compressor mechanic, electrical lineman, and educator. His fiction has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, The Kenyon Review, The Missouri Review and other journals and his work has received the Barthelme and Michener Awards, the Peden Prize, and the Short Story Award from the Texas Institute of Letters. His novella, Splinterville, won the 2007 Texas Review Fiction Award, and his novel, Pretty Enough for You, was named a Top Ten Texas Favorite by Lone Star Literary Life in 2015. In 2017 Cliff was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.

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REVIEW

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A departure from my usual choice in fiction, Sallowsfield turned out to be an utterly absorbing read. With its non-linear timeline, numerous locations, multitude of characters, and multiple points of view, this book demanded my attention like no other I’ve read recently. It was hilarious in parts, affecting in others, engaging all throughout. 

~*~

I didn’t know what to make of Wyatt Sallow at the start. He was socially awkward, physically clumsy, and appeared quite hapless. But as his story unfolded, I found him sympathetic in the end. He was unintentionally funny, especially in his interactions with his taxi driver Hussein. The scenes with his son Wyn showed his loving heart. And there were flashes of intellect and competence particularly displayed in the chess game with the Professor. What eventually reached me was his earnest search for a reason to claim the town with his name as his very own.

~*~

I have the utmost admiration for the author in managing to flesh out the countless characters in this book by providing them with distinctly fascinating back stories. Also, in accomplishing such a complicated timeline that meandered all over the place only to come full circle in a logical way. He brought Sallowsfield to life. So much so that I searched online if it’s a place that actually exists in England. To have the talent required to accomplish those things deserves kudos.  

~*~

The most significant cavil I had was in the overuse of infidelity in the story and the majority of those committing such transgression being women. This is a personal bias I can’t overlook despite my overall enjoyment of the book. 

I highly recommend dedicating several days to properly relish this book. 

4 out of 5 stars

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WOODS AND WINGS by M.W. Devers – Book Blitz and Giveaway

WOODS AND WINGS

by M.W. Devers

YA / Fantasy / Action & Adventure

Publisher: Midnight6 Publishing

Pages: 430

Publication Date: November 19, 2024

SYNOPSIS

She never sought the path of a hero. Destiny had other plans.

In the peaceful village of Rhigov, where traditions hold sway, fifteen-year-old Astraya Myna dreams of little more than escaping the confines of her kitchen duties. But when a malevolent force known as Vronti shatters the village’s tranquility, Astraya is thrust into a journey she never imagined.

Guided by a legacy she barely understands, Astraya joins forces with her brother, Raustra, and a small band of allies. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to protect their home from wingroans, dragon-like creatures whose powers are as formidable as their intentions are mysterious.

As shadows of betrayal and hidden truths close in, Astraya navigates a world where loyalty is tested and power proves both elusive and dangerous. With each step she uncovers more about her family’s past and her own untapped strength, until she must decide: how far will she go to save her people and what is she willing to sacrifice to discover the truth about herself?

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.W. Devers has been crafting stories since childhood, drawing from a lifelong love of reading that began at age three. The idea for Woods & Wings took root during a family vacation to a theme park, and he’s been dedicated to bringing it to life ever since, beginning in 2022. This is his first published work of fiction.

MWD enjoys the quiet magic of early mornings spent world-building and shaping characters, all from his home in New Braunfels, Texas, where he lives with his family.

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