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Sunday, June 28, 2026

Review: Currents of Desire by Lilliana Rose @LillianaRose2

Currents of Desire

by Lilliana Rose

Published: Paperback—June 25, 2026; Kindle—September 15, 2026 

Genre: Paranormal Monster Romance, Fated Mates, Steamy Monster Romance

 

Blurb:


She’s the ocean’s most lethal predator, and she has just claimed him as her mate.


For ex-rescue worker, Jack Ford, the ocean is a graveyard. Haunted by the tragic ghosts of his past, he lives a solitary, brooding existence on the edge of Deception Point, a paranormal small town where the storms are fierce, and the shadows hide secrets. But when a catastrophic Category 4 cyclone batters his home, the floodwaters wash up something that defies all logic.


Nerida isn’t a helpless, fairy-tale mermaid. She is a bioluminescent apex predator from the crushing, freezing depths of the Mariana Trench. Lethal, alien, and dying in the dry air, she is completely at Jack’s mercy.


Against his better judgment, Jack saves the monster.


In return, the monster claims him.


Bound by a sudden, primal, fated mating bond, Jack and Nerida are forced into intimate proximity as the storm rages outside. But Nerida is a deserter from a brutal deep-sea war, and the ruthless trackers of the trench have caught her scent. They think Jack is just a fragile human. They are about to learn that Nerida will slaughter anything that threatens what is hers.


Jack thought the water only took things away. Now, he’s about to discover that being claimed by the most dangerous creature in the sea is the only way to survive.

Currents of Desire is a steamy, high-stakes paranormal-monster romance. If you love fierce, protective heroines, grumpy broken heroes, and small towns with dark secrets, dive in.

🖤
Tropes:
✨ Steamy Monster Romance
✨ Grumpy x Lethal
✨ Hurt/Comfort & Healing
✨ "Touch Him and Die" Energy
✨ Fated Mates
(No dark romance/non-con themes!)


Goodreads ~ Amazon

PaperbackKindle ~ PaperbackKindle


My Review:

A devastating Category 4 cyclone strikes Deception Point, a mysterious small town, and crashes into the home of Jack Ford, a former rescue worker. This town, rich in hidden paranormal secrets, unleashes monstrous, deadly entities as the storm rages on.

Amidst the chaos, the ocean reveals a lethal creature, and despite his instincts telling him otherwise, Jack decides to rescue it. This creature turns out to be Nerida, an apex predator fleeing a war in her homeland when the tempest swept her ashore. To Jack's surprise, Nerida declares him her mate.

But the adventure doesn't end there; the forces from Nerida's war are in pursuit. To her people, Jack is merely a fragile human, yet they underestimate Nerida's fierce determination to protect her mate.

As the story unfolds, the excitement and suspense escalate, making it increasingly captivating. I found myself unable to turn the pages quickly enough, not because I wanted the story to conclude, but due to the gripping tension and my eagerness to discover what lay ahead.

I can't overlook the myriad of hidden paranormal secrets that Currents of Desire conceals. I yearn for more tales set in this universe, eager to delve deeper into Nerida's world, her people, and the nature of the war. I am certain there are countless monstrous mermaids lurking in the ocean's depths, waiting to find their mates, even if they remain unaware.

Reading Currents of Desire exceeded my expectations in every way. I wholeheartedly recommend picking up a copy of Currents of Desire today!


Connect with Lilliana Rose

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Siren’s Daughter by Claire Fuge @XpressoTours

The Siren’s Daughter
Claire Fuge
Publication date: June 28th 2026
Genres: Historical

1126. The Norman conquest grips Wales. Rebellion stirs. And one woman’s choice could ignite it all.

Nineteen-year-old Angharad, the daughter of a Norman knight and a captive Welsh princess, arrives at Aberteifi Castle for her mother’s arranged marriage. But her new stepfather, the merciless Norman commander of the castle, has other plans. He demands that Angharad expose her mother, Nesta, as a secret rebel or be cast out to die.

To survive, Angharad presses Nesta to reveal the truth about her past: as a Welsh princess stolen by invaders, the victim of wars and betrayals, the seductress of kings and princes. As Nesta’s story unfolds, Angharad discovers a legacy more dangerous than she could have imagined, and must decide whether to protect her mother or herself…

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

In 1066, Duke Guillaume of Normandy, known to the English as William the Conqueror, won the Battle of Hastings and was crowned King of England.

In 1087, the Norman barons began their invasion of Wales.

By 1126, after countless deaths amongst the thorn-infested hills, swamps, and forests, the Normans had managed to subdue all five Welsh kingdoms. More or less.

 

Chapter 1. HOMECOMING

All Hallows’ Eve, 1126. West Wales

When the castle loomed out of the hailstorm above her, Angharad was careful not to crane her head upwards in awe as her Norman guards did. Her mother had commanded her to uphold her dignity, no matter what, so she kept her back straight and sat rigid in her saddle. Although the steepness of the hill made her feel as if spikes of ice were being hurled down at her by the castle itself, she didn’t cower. She pretended not to hear the guards cursing about having to drag a pair of heathen women out of the Welsh wildlands. She alone would be her mother’s last, unfailing support.

Angharad’s mother, Nesta, rode alongside, her imperious glare fixed on the track ahead, ignoring the water that streamed from her claw-black hair onto her horse’s flank. Even dressed in threadbare travelling clothes, Nesta didn’t look like the prisoner she was, finally recaptured by the Normans after three years of threats, bribes, and attempted ambushes. She didn’t look like a new bride either, although she was bound to marry the Constable of the castle; the contract had been sealed. No. What Nesta looked like, in the arrogant line of her jaw, in the resolute set of her flawless face, was what she was born to be.

Royalty.

During her nineteen years of life, Angharad had been reminded daily that her mother was the last living princess of Deheubarth, once the most renowned of the Welsh kingdoms. Angharad’s bloodline was the only wealth she possessed; she must look the part.

‘Amongst wolves,’ Nesta had said – and many wolves lived in the cloud-draped forests of these lands – ‘you can tell the leader of the pack from the way he draws every eye towards him. My father looked like a king from two arrowshots away, even when he was wounded from the endless wars, even when he was starving and freezing and caked in mud. Whatever fate we meet in this castle, I refuse to grovel before them. Hold your head high, Angharad. We must not disgrace the memory of our glorious ancestors.’

Luckily, deception was one of Angharad’s talents: Nesta had trained her in it since she was a child. Angharad had the skill of appearing haughty whilst at her most powerless.

When Nesta dismounted on the crest of the hill, Angharad copied, stifling a wince at the cramp in her thighs. Sixty miles they had travelled from the open meadows where they had spent their years of sanctuary amongst the Welsh: a journey of three days and nights, riding and walking through a wasteland of swamps and brambles, the Norman guards watchful behind them, bloodhounds running at their flanks to warn them of rebels and outlaws, with every hamlet full of hostile eyes and nothing to buy and almost nothing to steal. But here they were, at last.

Author Bio:

Claire Fuge writes historical fiction inspired by medieval Wales, the Tewdwr family and the women whose lives were shaped by conquest, loyalty and survival. Her work explores the spaces where history leaves silence, and where storytelling can bring forgotten voices back to life.

Website



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The Siren’s Daughter Blitz


Saturday, June 27, 2026

Book Tour + #Giveaway: Pillywiggin Awakening by Debbie Bishop @debbiebishop @RABTBookTours

 


The Complete Story ARC

Epic Fantasy, Metaphysical Fiction, Fae Fantasy, Found Family
Date Published:  Friday, June 26, 2026
Publisher: Angelgate Entertainment
 


Peter has spent his life hiding among humans.


A light fae raised at an elite academy, he thought his disguise was to protect his place in the human world. A betrayal and ominous nightmare cause sudden caution, but when a mystical creature he has never seen before warns he is in danger, Peter realizes he must flee. To maintain his cover, he creates a clone and sends him to his home in the mystical realm, then sets out to discover who is hunting him—and why.


CAPTURED. FORGOTTEN. FORGED.


Stolen fae young men face their final day before they become dragon food. Taken from their homes and imprisoned in a brutal mine, they have survived through secret training, strategy, inventive tech, and stubborn hope. They failed to escape before, with severe consequences.


A prophecy whispers that a girl will one day free them.


She doesn’t even know they exist.


At a Paris fashion show, Peter collides with a mysterious girl—and discovers she is his twin sister. Together they possess a dangerous power, and those who control the realms will do anything to claim it. Or destroy it.


PILLYWIGGIN Awakening is a contemporary epic fantasy that weaves dark mystery, military strategy, and technology into a world where power is never given—only built. For fans of Lord of the Rings and Fourth Wing.
 
This is no tale of a magical savior.
This is the story of stray kids who grow into warriors—and become their own heroes.


 


Excerpt:


3 YEARS AGO



Peter, wearing jeans and a hoodie, checks the papers

in his hands as he crouches next to a fireplace. His black

hair shines a bit, illuminated by the warm glow of fire in a

dark room. The only other light coming from the screen of

a laptop next to him. He tosses the papers he used to make

identification into the flames, then compares a new passport

to his old one. He turns slightly while slipping the

new fake passport into a pocket and we see his tear-filled face. He wipes

his eye with his sleeve and then grabs an iron poker to stir the

fire, ensuring every bit of the old documents burn. He stirs a

little extra as if he is lost in his thoughts. His tears increase.

The screen of his laptop is erasing his hard drive.

A message pops up, “Files deleted and replaced. Extracting

myself now. Be safe, Peter.”

Peter carries the computer to a desk in a wall of

cabinets and bookshelves and places it in the center, open. He

pauses to look at his old passport then gently lays it next to

his computer as if he is saying goodbye to an old friend. This

bedroom, a dorm in the academy where he has lived most

of his life is ultra luxurious. Dark wood paneled walls, thick

velvet blue curtains, which are closed now, and a bed laden

with overstuffed yet soft pillows, fresh linens and thick

comforter encased in an embroidered duvet.

Peter rolls up a blanket as he watches the last of the

embers dissolve into red glow, then black ash. Stuffing the

blanket into his pack, he zips it, straps it on, and takes one

last look around. Pausing, he sighs sadly.

Opening the door of his room just a bit, he peers out.

The hallway is dark and still. Peter sneaks out then closes the

door behind him quietly.


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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Burn Her They Said by Cherish Wright @XpressoTours

Burn Her They Said
Cherish Wright
(The Anomalies of Ampara Deicra, #1)
Publication date: June 26th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

In a land where Dragons are revered like Gods, a witch and her guards must risk it all.

Witches in Ampara Deicra are required to use their powers of emotional influence to benefit sorcerers. None so much as Tasch—a witch born during the Anomaly, when environmental changes caused her magic to develop unmatched abilities.

Taken by the Emperor to manage his mood, she has served by his side since early childhood. Granted the title of Imperial Grand Witch, she is protected by the strongest sorcerers in each form of magic—all Anomalies, like her—with powers beyond any before or after them.

Until a sorcerer named Varic develops abilities surpassing Tasch’s Lead Guard. A fact which the Emperor denies by hiding Varic within the Imperial Army.

Where Varic is made to grow his strength past the point he can contain it, and requires Tasch’s magic to overcome the grief of his magic causing the worst known catastrophe. They fall in love in their time together—and forge a connection which is highly forbidden.

Over time Tasch’s powers fade, rather than strengthen, while the Emperor’s greed escalates the need for resources among bordering lands, who increase their attacks on the Imperial Palace. Fearing the worst, Emperor Aldritch assigns Varic to oversee Tasch’s detail, placing the two beings who must hide their feelings mere inches from each other.

With the highest stakes they’ve ever encountered, can Tasch’s Guards save her and the citizens, with the help of their bonded Dragons?

For fans of Anathema, Dragonfall, and A Discovery of Witches comes the tale of a burnt-out witch in her thirties who is trying to survive long enough to save the citizens from their power-hungry Emperor, with the help of her Guards and the Dragons they share a bond.

Goodreads / Amazon


Author Bio:

Writer of Dark Romantic Gothic Fantasy with character driven stories with MC’s in their 30’s

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter


GIVEAWAY!

Burn Her They Said Blitz


Friday, June 26, 2026

Review: Well Done and Dead (A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery #10) by Tessa Aura

Well Done and Dead

A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery #10

by Tessa Aura

Published: June 26, 2026

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Animal Mystery

Blurb:

A perfect opening night. A celebrity chef. A murder served before dessert.

When celebrity chef Dominic Hale opens his luxury waterfront restaurant in Bath, Maine, the town turns out in full force—even if half the guests secretly can’t stand him.

After all, Dominic has a talent for taking credit, crushing dreams, and making enemies with a smile.

So when he’s found dead before the final course, nobody seems entirely shocked.

Not even antique dealer Penelope Sinclair.

Penelope helped design the restaurant and had access to every corner of the building. Now she finds herself tangled in a murder involving bitter kitchen rivalries, broken business deals, stolen ambitions, and secrets someone is desperate to keep buried.

A furious sous chef with everything to lose.
An ex-wife armed with legal threats.
A charming nephew who knows more than he says.
And someone watching Penelope far more closely than feels comfortable.

Because in Bath, Maine, revenge is simmering...and somebody isn’t done cleaning up the mess.

Goodreads ~ Amazon


My Review:

Celebrity chef Dominic Hale has come to Bath to launch his new restaurant. Everything seems to be going well until Dominic is discovered dead just before the third dish is served. Penelope and her sidekick, Teo, are present at the opening because she contributed to the restaurant's design.

Numerous individuals harbored animosity towards Dominic and possessed their own motives for wanting him gone. Among them are his ex-wife, who has been silent since their divorce; an enraged sous chef facing significant stakes; a charming nephew who seems to know more than he reveals; and an enigmatic man whose presence is unaccounted for, with no known background or justification for being there.

Tessa Aura has skillfully created a deeply engaging atmosphere, presenting a group of highly suspicious characters. Penelope is intelligent, relatable, and easy to support. Motivated by her curiosity and a strong sense of community, she dives right into the investigation.

If you're seeking the ideal weekend read, this book is just what you need. It offers a clever, captivating puzzle devoid of the intense gore or harshness typically found in standard crime thrillers.

A cozy mystery at its finest! It is a comforting, clever, and highly entertaining whodunit you won't want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of lighthearted, character-driven mysteries.

Check out all the books in the Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery series I’ve read.

Shop 'til you Drop Dead #1

Goodreads

Amazon


Dead Man's Hand #2

Goodreads

Amazon


Signed, Sealed and Stabbed #3

Goodreads

Amazon


Scooped, there it is...Dead #4

Goodreads

Amazon


Life of Pie...Cut Short #5

Goodreads

Amazon


Deck the Halls...Dead #6

Goodreads

Amazon


Do Not Disturb...For Good #7

Goodreads

Amazon


Shaken, Not Stirred...To Death #8

Goodreads

Amazon


Legend Has It...Murder #9

Goodreads

Amazon


Well Done and Dead #10

Goodreads

Amazon


Connect with Tessa Aura

Review: The Petal Once Fallen (The Girl Once Known #6) by R.M. Demeester @rmdemeester

The Petal Once Fallen

The Girl Once Known #6

by R.M. Demeester

Published: June 26, 2026

Genre: Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Women's Fiction

 

Blurb:

Jody Oliver believed perfection was power. Her mother had possessed it, and one day, Jody would too.

But how long can control survive the truth?

In the upper-class South of the 1960s, Jody marries Robert Oliver and claims the life she was raised to want. His parents disapprove, but Jody is determined to become the kind of wife, mother, and woman society expects.

For decades, she rules her family with charm, judgment, and control. But when her son Joseph grows into a man with his own desires, choosing a blue-collar life and a woman Jody despises, the illusion begins to crack.

As love twists into obsession and pride hardens into cruelty, Jody retreats into a world where every betrayal is someone else’s fault, and perfection is the deadliest lie of all.

This is a bonus origin story from The Girl Once Known trilogy.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub


My Review:

Jody Oliver aims to be the ideal person. The ideal daughter, friend, wife, daughter-in-law, and mother. She puts in her utmost effort to become who she thinks the people around her want her to be. Jody believes that perfection means being in control, and that is her goal. She knows what she desires in life: a family, a husband, and a baby.

Jody encounters the perfect man for her ideal husband, Robert Oliver. Robert is the best match for her perfect life. He understands who Jody is; he knows who she is with her parents, who she is with his parents, and the person she is when they are alone. He loves her regardless because he thinks he knows her true self, but does he really?

The Petal Once Fallen is the sixth installment in The Girl Once Known series by R.M. Demeester. It is a wonderful addition to the series. Once I began reading, I couldn't put it down for a second because I needed to find out how Jody and Robert's life together would unfold. I was eager to see if it would be the perfect life Jody envisioned. How long could she maintain this kind of life?

The suspense in The Petal Once Fallen kept me turning the pages, racing to the end to discover how all my questions would be resolved. As I mentioned before, I adore this series and can't get enough of it, hoping for more stories in this world.

I wholeheartedly recommend picking up a copy of The Petal Once Fallen, along with all the books in The Girl Once Known series, today!

Check out all the books in the The Girl Once Known Series I’ve read.

The Girl Once Known #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Bond Once Broken #2

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Name Once Erased #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Flower Once Wilted #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Vine Once Twisted #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


The Petal Once Fallen #6

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub



Connect with R.M. Demeester

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Review: Murder by Meringue (A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery #12) by Greta Sinclair

Murder by Meringue

A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery #12

by Greta Sinclair

Published: June 26, 2026

Genre: Cozy Culinary Mysteries, Mystery, Crime, Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery


Blurb:


One glowing honeymoon. One stolen secret. One deadly dessert.

Newlywed food critic Darcy Finnegan has waited two months for her Sydney honeymoon, harbor lights, winter romance, and pavlova under the dazzling glow of the Vivid Sydney festival. With her Interpol husband Marcus finally at her side, she's determined to keep this trip blissfully murder-free.

But trouble has a way of finding Darcy, especially when her best friend and photojournalist Lizzie turns up unexpectedly in Australia, Schnoodle Mozart in tow.

At the worst possible moment, Mozart dives beneath a nearby table just as celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom drops dead mid-event. Darcy freezes, because beneath that same table are Lizzie's unmistakable shoes, sticking out far too neatly for comfort.

Now Darcy must race through Sydney's glamorous culinary world, from elite dessert festivals to dockside sugar fraud, unraveling stolen recipes, bitter rivalries, and a deadly frame job built to destroy everything she loves, including her marriage, her best friend's freedom, and the instincts she has always trusted.

Bonus Recipe Included!

Award-Winning Cozy Mystery Author Greta Sinclair Wins Silver Medal at 2025 Global Book Awards for A Very Sticky Murder.

Each book in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series delivers a complete standalone cozy culinary mystery set in a stunning international destination, from Sydney's Vivid festival to Copenhagen's hygge-lit cafés.

No cliffhangers, no prior reading required, and no loose ends.

Perfect for readers who love culinary cozy mysteries, travel mystery fiction, foodie mysteries, and pet cozy mysteries with clever female sleuths, exotic settings, and irresistible food descriptions.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, Laura Childs, Joanne Fluke, Lucy Burdette, or Krista Davis, you'll feel right at home in Darcy's delicious, dangerous world.


Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub


My Review:

Darcy is currently in Australia with her charming husband, Marcus Evans, celebrating their honeymoon. Meanwhile, Mozart, her Schnoodle, is at home being cared for by Darcy's close friend, Lizzie, who is dog-sitting. However, this arrangement takes an unexpected turn when Lizzie, a photojournalist, arrives in Sydney for an assignment.

As Darcy and Marcus indulge in the culinary delights of Australia, they are startled by a noise and look up to find Mozart joyfully charging towards them, leaping onto Darcy in excitement.

Later, Lizzie becomes distressed upon spotting her ex, the celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom. While she captures images of Jules during a competition, Mozart dashes under the table, with Lizzie in pursuit. All Darcy can see are Lizzie's shoes and Mozart's tail protruding from beneath the tablecloth just as Jules tumbles face-first into the pavlova.

Consequently, Lizzie is deemed the prime suspect in Jules's unfortunate incident. Determined to exonerate her best friend—who is undoubtedly innocent—Darcy embarks on a mission to clear Lizzie's name.

Murder by Meringue kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, despite my suspicions regarding the true perpetrator. Someone was attempting to frame Lizzie for a crime she did not commit. I had my theories about who might be behind the framing, yet the numerous twists and turns kept me guessing.

I found myself racing to the conclusion to uncover who was responsible, how they operated, and why they sought to harm Lizzie and implicate her in a crime she did not commit. Was it due to her past with the victim, or was it simply a case of being in the wrong place at the right time?

What I do know is that the suspense had me eagerly turning the pages, anxious to discover what truly transpired with Jules. What actions did Jules take against the real culprit? What motives did they harbor against him? The tension certainly fueled my desire to continue reading. I eagerly anticipate more of Darcy and Mozart's delightful escapades in future installments of the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series.

I strongly suggest that all fans of cozy animal mysteries read Murder by Meringue, the twelfth installment in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series by Greta Sinclair! Make sure to obtain a copy of Murder by Meringue today to enjoy another thrilling adventure with Darcy and Mozart!


Check out all the books in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series I’ve read.

Murder at Blackrock Castle #1

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder at Moulin Rouge #3

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder at the Museum #4

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder in Munich #5

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Lanterns Masks & Murder #6

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Moonlight, Matcha & Murder #7

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder, Marigolds & Mezcal #8

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


A Very Sticky Murder #9

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder at Christkindlmarkt #10

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Death in Denmark #11

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Murder by Meringue #12

Goodreads

Amazon

BookBub


Connect with Greta Sinclair

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub ~ Facebook