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Friday, February 6, 2026

Review: Sideways Into Love: Soulmate Registry (Fairy Tales With Fangs #6) by D. N. Leo @dnleostory

Freefalling Into Love: Soulmate Registry

Fairy Tales With Fangs #6

by D. N. Leo

Published: February 2, 2026

Publisher: Narrative Land Publishing

Genre: Romance, Shifter Romance, Fated Mate Romance, Clean Romance, Paranormal Romance


Blurb:


Sideways into Love Fairy Tales With Fangs, Book 6 The Soulmate Registry Collection

Three fated mate collisions. Three alpha wolves who never saw it coming. Three women who hit them — literally.

Grace is a swan shifter whose career ended in public humiliation. Now she's trespassing on a private lake via waterfall — and her kayak just slammed into a billionaire widower who definitely didn't invite her. His wolf recognized her on impact. She's still deciding whether to drown him.

Bree is a librarian on a desperate mission: steal an ancient grimoire to save her dying grandmother. She didn't plan to cartwheel down a ski slope and crash into the coldest, most dangerous alpha in the region. He didn't plan to imprint on a woman covered in snow and holding his stolen property.

Naia is a psychologist who helps supernatural beings process trauma. She was not prepared for the alpha who drove his very expensive sedan through her construction zone at sixty miles per hour — because a penguin removed the warning sign. Now he won't leave her lighthouse. Or stop looking at her like she's his.

The sidekicks? A penguin therapist who dispenses advice using made-up statistics. A guinea pig ski instructor whose only technique is screaming "PIZZA!" And a fairy penguin with a LinkedIn profile, seventeen fake endorsements, and multiple honorary degrees that don't exist.

Fate doesn't do graceful. Neither do these women.

Three complete wolf shifter romances with guaranteed happily-ever-afters. If you love paranormal romance with fated mates, laugh-out-loud animal sidekicks, fairy tale retellings with fangs, and alphas who fall hard for women who knock them sideways — this collection was written for you.

Happy Novels by D.N. Leo Soulmate Registry — Case File 6


Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub


My Review:

THE KAYAK COLLISION

Grace, Ash, and Wade’s story

Grace, a swan shifter and accomplished swimmer, is currently avoiding her sisters after experiencing a freeze-up at the national competition. Her sidekick, Wade, a penguin therapist, asserts that he is a psychologist specializing in water sports, claiming to have credentials from the International Water Sport Psychology Board, an organization that does not actually exist.

While kayaking, Grace and Wade go over a waterfall and land on private property, where they collide with the owner, billionaire Ash, striking him in the head with her kayak. At the time, Ash and his six-year-old daughter, Mira, were enjoying a swim in his private lake.

I found the story of Grace, Ash, Mira, and Wade to be thoroughly enjoyable, filled with numerous twists and turns that kept me captivated from beginning to end. 


THE SKI SLOPE DISASTER

Bree, North, and Powder’s story

Bree, accompanied by her talking animal sidekick Powder—a white guinea pig who asserts he is a Certified Ski Instructor, a Licensed Avalanche Safety Expert, and an Official Judge of the International Guinea Pig Downhill Championships—was sharpening her skiing skills when she unexpectedly collided with North, the coldest and most formidable alpha in the area.

As Bree and North crashed into each other, a palpable tension ignited between them, drawing the attention of their wolves. Powder expressed his concern about the possibility of being arrested and imprisoned; Bree attempted to calm him by assuring him that they were not headed to jail.

I felt a deep sympathy for both Bree and North, as they were each experiencing heartbreak in their own ways. Bree was troubled by her ailing grandmother, while North was still grieving the loss of his wife from a few years prior.


THE LIGHTHOUSE WRECK

Naia, Cade, and Professor Wadsworth’s story

Naia Jones is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma related to the supernatural. While Naia was engaged in repairing a bridge, Cade Blackstone drove his vehicle directly through her construction zone due to the negligence of Wadsworth, her talking sidekick, who claims to possess multiple honorary degrees in aquatic psychology and failed to secure the warning sign properly.

Wadsworth was a delightful character who consistently brought a smile to my face with his witty remarks. However, I also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Naia and Wade.

I particularly appreciated following Cade’s narrative, discovering his background and the various reasons he was attempting to maintain a low profile. The intrigue of the situation kept me captivated and eager to reach the conclusion, anxiously anticipating the outcome for both Naia and Cade.


Three lakes.

Three collisions.

Three powerful alphas.

Three sidekicks with qualifications so phony they would make a degree factory turn red with embarrassment.


Three captivating tales featuring three women who encounter their strikingly attractive and influential mates will captivate you from start to finish. I found immense pleasure in reading each narrative. From the outset, I developed a fondness for every character. Each tale was rich with unexpected developments as the chemistry ignited between the couples, who collided in remarkably distinct ways, compelling me to race to the conclusion to discover the outcomes for each pair.


I wholeheartedly endorse Sideways Into Love: Soulmate Registry to anyone who appreciates narratives about couples discovering love.


Check out all the books in the Fairy Tales With Fangs I’ve read.


Hitting Into Love #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Serving Into Love #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Breaking Into Love #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Tackling Into Love #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Freefalling Into Love #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Sideways Into Love #6

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Connect with D. N. Leo

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Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

Review: Murder Beneath the Ice (A Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery #6) by Tessa Aura

Murder Beneath the Ice

A Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery #8

by Tessa Aura

Published: February 6, 2026

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery

 

Blurb:


One woman vanished in a snowstorm. Another vanished decades ago. And someone is trying to keep it that way.

Harper and Maggie head to Cedar Falls Lodge when a guest, Clara Jennings, vanishes without a trace. No footprints, no struggle, nothing but a burned note in her cabin and a storm burying the truth.

With Biscuit—Maggie’s loyal pit bull sidekick—leading them through the drifts, they uncover something darker. Clara's clues point to Lily Dray, a teen who disappeared there decades ago…and to someone at the lodge determined to keep both stories buried.

Everyone has a reason to lie.

Lucas Jennings, the husband afraid of what Clara learned. Ruth Alden, the manager whose past intertwines with Lily's. Tamsin Hale, the "travel writer" digging into cold cases.

Lodge staff, who know more than they'll say.

And the shadow…always watching from the woods.

Someone silenced Lily. And if she fails to expose the truth, Clara won't be the killer's only target; the next body beneath the ice may be Maggie's.


Goodreads ~ Amazon


My Review:

Maggie and Harper are hired by Eli, Harper's cousin, to help locate a missing woman named Clara Jennings at Cedar Falls Lodge. Neither the sheriff nor anyone else is keen on allowing Maggie and Harper to investigate Clara's disappearance. They soon uncover that a teenager, Lily Dray, also disappeared from the lodge back in the eighties.

The sheriff consistently warns Maggie and Harper against interfering in his investigation, yet they remain resolute. It appears that the sheriff is either overlooking or failing to notice numerous clues. Is this a mere oversight, or is it intentional? Is the sheriff inept or simply uninterested in his responsibilities? Why does he resist Maggie and Harper’s help? Is he hiding something? If so, what could it be?

I suspect that the sheriff is not the only one harboring secrets. I believe that several individuals are intent on keeping the disappearances of Lily and Clara concealed. The pressing question is, how far are they willing to go to maintain this silence? Where are Lily and Clara? Could Maggie be the next to disappear? She might be if she does not solve the case of the missing women soon.

The mystery surrounding the missing women kept me captivated from the very first page to the last as I contemplated and attempted to unravel the enigma alongside Maggie, Harper, and Biscuit, with clues gradually revealing what happened to Clara and Lily.

As always, I highly recommend Murder Beneath the Ice to all enthusiasts of Maggie Wright Cozy Mysteries! Be sure to acquire a copy of Murder Beneath the Ice today for another exhilarating mystery featuring Maggie Wright.


Check out all the books in the Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery series I’ve read.


Fatal Check-In #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Secrets in the Pines #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder and Memories #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Buried Truths #4

Goodreads

Amazon


Footnotes of a Felony #5

Goodreads

Amazon


Ledger of Lies #6

Goodreads

Amazon


Lockets, Lies and Deadly Pearls #7

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder Beneath the Ice #8

Goodreads

Amazon

Connect with Tessa Aura

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

 

Book Tour + Review + #Giveaway: Detective Ryan Mysteries by Clive Fleury @clivefleury @SDSXXTours

 


The truth doesn’t sleep — and neither does Detective Ryan.


Off Season

A Detective Ryan Mystery #1

by Clive Fleury

Genre: Cozy Mystery



Detective Ryan navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan's career with Sydney's prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city's most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective's arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan's life, and it's clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

 

Praise For OFF SEASON

 

Off Season is a sensational and thrilling mystery that will take its reader on a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns galore while always entertaining and thrilling you!”

 —Aimee – GOODREADS review

 

“Attention grabber. Moves quickly and smoothly. Informative. Enjoyable. Don't miss.”

Margaret – GOODREADS review

 

“Fleury masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and intricately plotted. The story kicks off with a bang and maintains its momentum throughout, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing cliffhanger. The plot is peppered with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers interested.”

—J. Komrie - GOODREADS review

 

“Great build-up of suspense, a layered plot, and an enticing protagonist. Takes a lot of turns, which I love. This is definitely a page turner for anyone who loves a good crime mystery.”

—Carolina Rolim – Verified AMAZON reader review

  

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads




Off Season is narrated from the viewpoints of various characters, providing the reader with deeper understanding of the events surrounding each case linked to Detective Ryan.

After experiencing a defeat in court against the city's most formidable drug lord, Detective Ryan is sent by his superior to the quaint Australian coastal town of Barton, leaving behind the bustling lifestyle of Sydney.

Currently, it’s the off season in Barton, which typically suggests that Detective Ryan’s workload should be light, right? However, this season proves otherwise, as numerous cases arise, challenging both him and his new partner, Senior Constable Zoe Yang.

I found Off Season to be an engaging read, packed with enough action to keep the pages turning. The numerous twists kept me on my toes, with each turn of the page revealing more about Ryan and Zoe's investigations.

I appreciated getting to know each character, some of whom were admirable while others were less so, but this dynamic is what fuels the thrill of a narrative and compels you to return for more—at least, that’s part of why you keep coming back. A mystery that keeps you guessing and yearning to uncover every detail as it gradually unveils its secrets.

I wholeheartedly recommend Off Season to all fans of crime mysteries! Make sure to pick up a copy of Off Season today!







All Or None

A Detective Ryan Mystery #2


Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!

 

Praise For ALL OR NONE

A riveting read. Anyone who likes mystery and crime, you won’t be able to put this down. Thought it was an elegant continuation of this universe. - Carolina R, Amazon Reviewer

I really enjoyed this book. I love it when you keep changing your mind about who did it to find out at the end that you're still wrong. – Nancy F., Goodreads Reviewer

 

All or None exceeded my expectations. The murders kept me guessing, but what I loved most was Ryan himself tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside, and surrounded by challenges that made him relatable. – Mary M., Goodreads Reviewer

 

I devoured this ARC in two sittings. The tension builds perfectly, and the clues are woven in so well that you feel like you’re investigating alongside Ryan and Zoe. The personal subplots (his mom, the romance, even the rats!) add depth without slowing down the action. – Minor C, Goodreads Reviewer

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

 





Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently 'All Or None', the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

 

'All Or None' sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit's, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel. 

 

Clive's other books include 'Off Season' - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; 'Kill Code' - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change;  ‘Scary Lizzy’  - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ -  a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems.  He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $25 giveaway!


Enter the Detective Ryan Mysteries Giveaway Here


Cover Reveal: The Helmsman of Anthesis by Lee Hodiak @RABTBookTours


Historical Fiction

Date Published: March 12th

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


William Sukara, a gregarious dreamer, emerges from the 1950s an estranged son. In divorce debt and with limited visitation rights as a father, he searches for order in failure. Pursuing self-discipline as an answer, he enlists in the Navy, volunteers for underwater demolition team training, and survives the elite course.

With five other team members, he raises his hand for a clandestine mission, knowing only that it's a “hundred day operation in a warm climate." They are led by a mysterious civilian who alludes that their authorization comes from the Oval Office, and they are to operate with extreme malice. They revolt, escaping under bizarre circumstances.


The Helmsman of Anthesis is a raw, close to the nerve, psychological thriller about a mission gone wantonly mad.

 

About the Author

At age twenty, Lee Hodiak joined the Navy and spent most of his enlistment attached to Underwater Demolition Team 12. After serving, he joined the San Diego Police Department but realized he needed to follow his passion for wilderness travel and adventure instead. He went on to backpack the Baja California Peninsula, built a thirty-six-foot sloop, and lived in Australia for twenty years.
Now a resident of Central California, Lee enjoys birdwatching and living by the ocean. Sixty years in the making, The Helmsman of Anthesis is his debut novel.



RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Book Tour: With These Hands by T. R. Motley @RABTBookTours




Crime Thriller

Date Published: December 3, 2025


At the age of 13, Aurelia’s entire life changes when her parents begin to align themselves with the Juarez Cartel, running drugs and trafficking women through Rio Bravo, their small town off the Rio Grande River. Determined to get away from this life, Aurelia collects years of evidence on the cartel.

At the age of 17, she is forced to run when her parents arrange a marriage to a cartel member. After working with the FBI to take down most of the cartel, she is placed in a protection program. Unbeknownst to her, the Juarez Cartel has rebuilt and is stronger now than before.

In a twist of fate, Aurelia is kidnapped, forced to marry Diego, son to the leader of the cartel, and produce an heir. Diego, who becomes an unseen ally, along with Aurelia begin to align themselves with individuals throughout Mexico to take down the cartel. They will fight, blackmail, and kill to protect those they love.

In an act of desperation, Diego makes the ultimate sacrifice and enlists the help of Daniel Zimmerman, a U.S. FBI agent and Aurelia’s first love. On the day of the raid, will everyone make it out of Mexico alive?


 


About the Author


T.R. Motley. I have lived in Oklahoma all of my life. For the last 28 years now, I have dedicated my life to taking care of my family and other families as a nurse. I worked in the Pediatric ICU for 25 years taking care of extremely sick children. There were highs, when I was able to place a child in his parent's arms after a being on life support to watch the smile on both of their faced for a very long time. There were lows, when I placed a child in their parent's arms, which would be the last time they would ever hold them.

My love of books started as a teen when life was not the best, and I would place myself in the characters shoes and get lost in the story. As an adult, it was my escape from reality in a sometimes cruel world. Along the way, my own stories began to swirl in my head. I always wanted to put those stories on paper, but needing to be a responsible adult, took the safe route.

On my last week in the PICU, my fellow coworkers and I went on a float trip. Several people asked if we had it to do over again, would we still have become a nurse. Surprisingly, only two people said they would. When going around and asking what everyone would have done instead, I said I would have become an author. Silence ensued for a minute, before there was a chorus of, "Go for it!" Two months later, I did a ton of research and started my first novel. Seven months later, I had a completed piece of work. Months of beta reading and changes along with and editor, helped round out what my book has become.

Now, twenty years later, I am pursuing that dream of storytelling.

Aurelia's story is about overcoming any obstacle, even when being pushed down from every angle for most of her life. It is about seeing some of the worst circumstances in life, facing those head on and fighting back to make her life better. It is about believing that just because you were born into a certain life, you can fight for what you want and make your way out. It is about finding love in the worst circumstances and having life ripped away once more. It is about a woman fighting in a man's world and excelling. It is about finding friends in the misted of tragedy and realizing sometimes people will fight for you just as hard.

We see the mark drug cartels not only leave on the U.S. and Mexico in general, but in the lives of real people. We see how easy human trafficking and bringing drugs in from Mexico can be. We learn that people are so greedy for power and money, that they allow these things to happen. People that should protect us. This is a powerful story of how Aurelia, who is immersed into this world, not only fights for herself, but others who have been drug in along with her. There are powerful characters that Aurelia meets along the way who join forces to not only help her with this fight but become the family she never had.

This is a romantic suspense novel, appropriate for ages 18+ (adult only).


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Book Tour: Operation Cast Lead - The Case by Banafsheh Zia @revealCastLead @RABTBookTours




Nonfiction

Date Published: 08-28-2025

Publisher: Tellwell




Ambiguity has been the story of our era since Operation Cast Lead. The author found herself in the middle of ambiguous theme, dialogue, plot, and portrayal while engaging with a love story on General Hospital in 2008/2009. There was the question mark about the female character: Was she going to be humiliated?

Operation Cast Lead ensued as a mechanism to decide the fate and resolution of this question. The author was conflicted as her tendency to humiliate herself in her fantasies interfered with how she interpreted the story and how she responded to it while Operation Cast Lead unfolded, a war that took place between Hamas and IDF at the climax of the story of Sonny and Kate.

What was the truth of this connection? Why has Gaza been held hostage to this story ever since? What’s the way forward for Israelis and Palestinians? What’s the way forward for humanity?

The book argues that Operation Cast Lead was a design, and attempts to place the case within the current framework of international law while acknowledging that there are fundamental flaws in this framework and that there should be transformation at the foundation of international law for humanity to have a breakthrough and realize true freedom.

This book reveals a secret about history. A secret that would explain why the conflict in the Middle East has not met its resolution. As well as the conflict at the core of humanity.



Interview with Banafsheh Zia

    Do you have a routine or something you do to get you in the mood to write?

    I make the effort to write every day. I usually listen to music when I write. I write when I sense contradictions in my experiences with others. Writing is a way for me to express that and ask questions.

    Do you have a special song, drink, or food you enjoy while you are writing?

    I usually listen to music when I write.

    How do you know what to write?

    When I encounter contradictions in life, I write to express myself in relation to that. Writing for me is a pathway towards knowledge and freedom. The main responsibility of a human being is to ask questions. That is what I try to fulfill when I write. That is what the Case is about.

    What does a typical writing day look like for you?

    I try to write every day for at least an hour. I play music and I listen.

    Do you do anything special to celebrate after writing “the end”?

    The experience of completing the work is most rewarding.

    How long does it take you to write a book?

    For this most recent work, I think I began writing in November of 2024 and the book was published in August of 2025.

    What is the most difficult part of writing a book?

    For this most recent book, the Case, the research behind the book was a bit challenging. It involved learning about the international legal system regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity. It involved analyzing the Case within that framework of international law. At some junctures, it was not clear which court would have jurisdiction to hear this case, revealing flaws in the international legal system. But that was all part of the conflict and of asking questions. The question being: why has the Israeli Palestinian conflict/story taken this path? The challenges with the research were part of the realization that something more fundamental is at stake here.


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