Book Blitz ~ The Awful Truth - The Glass Houses Collection by Melanie Summers

 

The Awful Truth
Melanie Summers
(The Glass Houses Collection, #2)
Publication date: September 24th 2026
Genres: Adult, Suspense, Thriller, Women’s Fiction

They have money. Status. And terrible judgment.

It was supposed to be the ultimate escape. A curated guest list. A luxury yacht. A week on the crystal-clear Adriatic, far from everyone’s real lives.

Except no one is there for the view. Careers, contracts, and futures are all quietly in play.

Antonia and Ted have built a global brand on their perfect marriage, which would be more convincing if they could still stand each other. Mercy has spent years smoothing over the worst instincts of her powerful husband, convinced the man she fell in love with is still there. Winslow is hiding a secret that could end his career, while his husband, Miguel, is carrying news that will change everything between them.

And then there’s Charlotte—the assistant everyone overlooks. Which gives her an excellent view of everything.

The first night, the drinks flow, the gossip gets vicious, and everyone shares far more than they should. But what’s a little indiscretion among new friends?

The trouble with a yacht is that there’s nowhere to go once you’ve said too much. No separate hotels. No quick exits. Just the same people, fewer places to hide, and another breakfast together in the morning.

By the third day, one marriage is as good as over. One guest is desperate enough to do something irreversible. And Mercy is realizing the man she loved was all for show—and the man she fears is who he really is.

Before any of them set foot on solid ground again, one of them will be dead in the water.

Privilege has protected them from consequences for years. But desperation can make even very comfortable people do terrible things.

The Awful Truth is a sharp, warm, wickedly funny domestic suspense novel about marriage, power, and the spectacularly bad decisions people make when they have everything to lose. For readers who love the wit and heart of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth, with the glamor and menace of The White Lotus.

Heat Level: Open door, spicy not explicit
Tone: A fast-paced, suspenseful, emotional, character-driven drama
Series Type: Standalone, part of a collection of domestic suspense novels
Ending: Emotionally satisfying, book club / upmarket resolution
POV: Multi-POV, third person
Content Notes: Infidelity, emotional abuse dynamics, death, suicidal ideation, brief sexual violence, psychological tension

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Charlotte sat back, tuning out the conversation while she stared out at the hills and smattering of buildings along the highway. So far, the city wasn’t much to look at. A lot of low brush and an irritating bank alongside the road that only allowed the briefest glimpse of the water. But soon, she’d be surrounded on all sides by the clear blue Adriatic Sea, and she felt a surge of excitement. It was her first time in Europe. As a teenager, she always thought she’d go right out of high school—backpacking and staying in hostels for a few months, really living, as her mother, who’d never gone farther than Niagara Falls from their home in Muskegon, would say. But in the end, Charlotte met a boy and decided he was more exciting than Italy and France and England combined. Only he wasn’t. He was a huge disappointment, and by the time she realized it, it was already move-in week at the University of Michigan.

So here she was, at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, getting her first taste of the ‘old world.’ This wasn’t how she imagined it (few things were)—sandwiched between her lover and her lover’s wife in the back of a limo—but this was how she had arrived. Charlotte was sleepy and mixed up and felt guilty as all hell, but she was here. She had made it. She’d take as many glamorous pics as she could to post on her Instagram account. Her friends would be filled with envy which they would mask with comments like, ‘Looking hot, mama!’ and ‘You deserve it. You work so hard. Have an amazing time, girlie!’

But she wouldn’t be having an amazing time, would she? She’d likely be working long hours—maybe even through the night—to liaise between the studio and her bosses, not to mention having a front row seat to the ‘Ted and Antonia pretending to be blissfully happy’ show, which she’d much rather skip. She knew it was all bullshit, at least on Ted’s part. An act meant to keep the multi-million-dollar ruse going. It was bad enough when they were on set and she had to watch them gaze into each other’s eyes and act like they were still in the playful honeymoon phase. Ted had warned her that they’d have to lay it on extra thick around Mr. and Mrs. Bishop, but not to let it get to her. Because he only wanted her.

None of that was stuff she could share on Instagram, or tell her friends, for that matter. She’d keep her secret and smile, like she always did. But at least she could pretend she was having a wonderful time.

Author Bio:

Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.

Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.

In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally - then she'll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for 'K' Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn't require makeup and/or nylons).

Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she's not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken 'from above'. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something--more like just staying until they turn the lights off.

She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.

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Teaser ~ Taken by the Angel of Death by Megan Slayer

 

 

(Taken 14)

Fantasy Romance

Date Published: October 2, 2026

Publisher: ChangelingPress

One touch sends her victims to hell. But he’s already been there. Would not recommend. 0 stars.

Loren knows her job. She’s an angel of death. When she allows herself to be seen, there are no survivors. She drives too fast, has no filter, and bows to no man. Then she sees a vampire crumpled on the ground. It’s not his time. She can’t leave him to die, but she won’t get involved with him. Too bad he’s cute.

Michel never wanted to be turned. Never wanted to offer his services. Terminal illness? You’re going to perish anyway? Want to do it on your terms? Then he can help. It’s part of his death wish. But he can’t die. When he finds himself in the presence of the most beautiful, moodiest woman he’s ever seen, he can’t forget her. But she won’t touch him. He makes it his mission to get to know and melt her defenses so they can both have their heart’s delight.

If nothing else, he’ll die trying.

She kills. He can’t die. They shouldn’t work, but what if they did and the results are fire?

Excerpt

Copyright ©2026 Megan Slayer

You are to report to Beelzebub immediately, a voice said in her head. Loren scrubbed both hands over her face. She hated when he called her. He never wanted anything good. Someone had to die. Always.

She rolled her shoulders, then waggled her head to stretch her neck before she ambled into the fiery man’s office.

“You called, Bubsy Baby?” she asked. She never referred to him by his preferred name. It just didn’t suit him. Or maybe it was to annoy him that she wouldn’t use the name he preferred.

“You know my name,” he snapped.

“Look up the number?” She folded her arms and sighed. “You’re not exactly menacing or scary behind that desk. You’re like a red-tinged middle management clown.”

His eyes blazed and he snarled. Flames licked his horns. He drummed his fingers on the desk. “Someone has to be in charge.”

“And you do it so well.” She sighed again. “What do you want? You only call when you want something.”

“You have a job to do.” He pointed to the screen behind him. “You have three, actually.”

“We’re still using screens? Isn’t that so last century?” She read the information and filed it away in her mind. She could be counted on to complete her mission without fail or issue.

“Why are you such a pain in my ass?” he asked. His glare deepened and he gritted his teeth. “You can’t just go along.”

“No, I can’t.” She shifted her weight from her left foot to her right. “I have to be your torture because you were a shit when you still had your wings. I’m your punishment.” She didn’t care that she gave him such grief.

“Just bring me the souls I deserve.”

“You don’t deserve anything,” she replied. “But it’s my job.”

“If I could find someone else and give you a different one, I’d do it.”

“You love me,” she snapped, knowing full well he didn’t care for her at all. “I’ve got the orders.” She turned on her heel and strode back out of his office. If he were removed from his post tomorrow, she’d be just fine. Hell, she’d be happier.

“Don’t you dare leave this office until I give you permission,” Beelzebub shouted. “Wait, I haven’t told you where your targets are. You don’t even know where you’re going.”

“I don’t?” she said over her shoulder. “Eerie, it would appear.” She didn’t turn around but kept going. She wasn’t stopping until she got out of his disgusting palace. No one should have to look at so much death and suffering.

The display of bodies and souls in distress always churned her stomach. Sure, the humans could be dicks to each other.

She flicked her hand and opened the portal to the roughest bar in Eerie. Few beings were strong enough to withstand a night at Just One More. If there wasn’t a fight in progress, there was one about to start. Bottles were routinely thrown at anyone for just about any reason. There weren’t any waitstaff. Just three vampires who tended the bar. They barely spoke but expected high tips. She nodded to Stacy, the head vampire, then closed the portal and headed out to the cooler air of the night.

The smattering of lights on the building flickered. The parking lot hadn’t been paved in years and the potholes could prove dangerous for anyone under the influence. Sweat practically poured from the interior and the sound of laughter could be heard for a good mile from the place.

A hulking figure shielded her from the glare of the colored lights. “Hi, Jack. Get out of my way.” She’d been involved with him for a whole month and he thought he owned her. The fool. She barely let anyone get close to her. Jack had been a decent roll in the sheets, but he wasn’t relationship material.

“You’re here.” Jack Robideaux stood in her path. “Who are you here to collect?”

“Not you.”

“Anyone here?” Jack asked.

“Nope.” She sidestepped him. She didn’t feel like having this conversation. She kept going until she reached the parking lot where she’d left her car, hoping no one had keyed it while she’d been gone. The vehicle wasn’t anything to look at -- a worn ‘80 Mustang with chipped paint, a woefully underpowered engine and nearly bald tires, but the old girl got her where she needed to go. She unlocked the car and slid behind the wheel.

A bottle flew over the hood and broke on the fence, sending shards of glass through the air.

She growled, then flicked her fingers, directing the glass back to the guy who’d tossed the object in the first place.

“Sorry, Loren,” he called. “Fuck, that hurt.”

“You had it coming,” she said, then drove out of the lot. Fucker needed to watch where in the Hell he was throwing things. She sent rocks flying as she pulled onto the main road.

According to her list, she was headed to the Trollville area of Eerie. The trolls never bothered her, but if it was this one’s time to go, then she couldn’t stop fate. Atropos wasn’t terribly flexible when the end of the ribbon came. The being was expected to accept her determination.

But these were chosen by Bubsy. She snorted to herself. He had to know how much it delighted her to see him squirm when she called him by that name. Call it a perverse power play. She didn’t care. It gave her a minute to best him and worked every time.

She stopped by the crossing and waited. According to the screen, this troll was meant to pass while in the middle of the street. She hated this part. Why did beings have to be so violent to each other? She fiddled with the black diamond ring she always wore.

She noticed the male and female walking toward the road. The headlights of a car shone in the distance. That had to be how he died. Loren remained in her silent vehicle and waited. The man staggered and wobbled into the woman. She laughed and sagged into him.

Loren rolled her eyes. They were going to cause an accident because they were drunk. Cute. She could shout at them and get the pair out of the road, but that’d only piss off Bubsy and string her job out. Atropos would be pissed with her, too.

Not today.

The pair lazed out to the middle of the road. The woman dropped her purse. When she bent to pick it up, the car seemed to come out of nowhere. The sound of screeching tires, the scent of burnt rubber and the shriek of breaking glass filled the air. The woman’s scream could probably be heard outside of Eerie.

“Showtime,” Loren muttered. She left the car and made her way to the pair. The woman, her face covered in blood and her hair matted against the top of her head, reached for Loren.

“Help us,” the woman begged. “Call someone.”

“They’ve been called.” Loren shrugged, extending her black wings. Her leather jacket crinkled and creaked, and her boots thudded on the asphalt. “I should say I’m sorry.” But she wasn’t. She touched the man, who’d stopped breathing not more than thirty seconds after the car hit him.

“Go home,” Loren whispered. “Time for your ultimate reward.” She left her index print on his head, sending his soul to the depths of Hell. He dissipated into dust and his body was gone.

The woman screamed. “You killed him.” She swatted at Loren but missed. “You destroyed him.”

“It was his time,” Loren said and stood. She flexed her wings before tucking them away. “Now you’ll have to live with the guilt and anger for what happened. You’ll have to accept that you’ve done this. He’ll never come back.”

“Bring him back,” she said and lunged forward, grasping the front of Loren’s jacket. “He wasn’t supposed to die. I was. I’m the one who cheated. He was just along for the ride.”

Fuck. She hadn’t thought the drunken woman would’ve been so strong or fast. She swatted her away, then stepped back. “Talk to the devil. Your boyfriend is in his hands now.”

“Boyfriend?” She flopped backward onto her ass and her matted hair fell in her eyes. “He was my john.”

“Now he’s your gone.” Loren straightened her jacket and left the scene, almost as if nothing had happened.

One down, two to go…

Loren cleaned the blood from her hands once she settled behind the wheel of her car. She didn’t bother to watch the woman or call for help. That wasn’t her job. Besides, what would she say? The Angel of Death is calling and would like an ambulance to be sent to the corner of Oak and Elm? Yeah, that wouldn’t do much good. No one would believe her.

She drove away, leaving the scene. In the regular world, she’d be in trouble for fleeing the site of an accident. But no one saw her, save for the drunken woman and no one would believe her, either. They’d think Loren was a figment of her sloshy mind.

Loren flexed her fingers on the steering wheel. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a conversation with someone who wasn’t at Just One More. Certainly not with someone who wanted to speak to her.

Not that she wanted to have deep discussions with anyone. Most people annoyed her. She stopped at the traffic light and a thought occurred to her. If I’m not careful and don’t rein in my sarcastic attitude, I’ll turn into Bubsy.

She gagged.

No one is as insufferable as Bubsy.

She drove for two hours before reaching her next destination near Pittsburgh. She spied a man crossing the dark street. He had his hands stuffed in his pockets and his head down. His gait was quick, like he was hurrying away from someone. She kept watching. This guy wasn’t on her list. Was he perishing tonight? This wasn’t exactly a great area and people did die here.

Another being rushed up to the man. Something glinted. A knife? She wasn’t going to be a witness to this. Loren parked and surged from her vehicle. She lunged between the men, pushing the first one out of the way.

About the Author

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on various e-tailer sites.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

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Teaser ~ It's All About Love - Lorna & Tristan by Cynthia Hilston

 

 

 Women's Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance

Date Published: 11-10-2026

 

 San Francisco, 1967. The Summer of Love promises radical freedom—but for twenty-year-old Juliette, it becomes a dangerous trap.

 

Desperate to escape her conventional family, Juliette shocks her parents by announcing her engagement to David, a long-haired free spirit. When her father, Tristan—a famous novelist harboring a tragic past—vehemently forbids the union, Juliette acts on impulse. In the dead of night, she climbs out her window and flees with David to the counterculture epicenter of Haight-Ashbury.

 

But beneath the cloud of incense and rock 'n' roll, independence carries a steep price. As David drifts into a haze of drugs and broken promises, Juliette’s bohemian dream shatters. Back home, her flight reopens old wounds. Her fiercely protective mother, Lorna, must help Tristan confront the shadows of his past as they desperately try to pull their daughter back from the edge before it's too late.

 

It’s All About Love is a poignant coming-of-age story about the fragile line between rebellion and destruction and the enduring, messy grace of family.

Excerpt

“I’m getting married!” Juliette burst through the door, holding her ring finger up for the world to see. Well, for my dear husband of twenty-two years and me to see.
            Said dear husband rose from his chair with such gusto that the poor chair clattered to the floor, victim of his temper. “What?!”
            The humid June air clung to the back of my neck as I stood. Pushing my graying hair out of my eyes, I took a step toward my husband and placed a hand on his upper arm. I recognized the fear that flashed beneath his anger. I’d seen that look far too many times lately as she missed her curfew night after night all summer long.  “Tristan, dear, just...calm down, okay?” I cast a pleading glance between him and our daughter. I could see the words on the edge of his tongue. Don’t follow in my footsteps. His own impulsive marriage led to a tragedy that impacted both our lives. I knew the thought of Juliette repeating his mistakes kept him awake at night.
            “Calm down?” Tristan tossed his hands up; then his arms flopped to his thin torso’s sides.
            “Your heart,” I said, stepping in front of him. “Please.”
            He released a sound somewhere between a growl and a groan, then righted his chair and sat. “So, who’s the lucky guy?” he shot at Juliette. “Don’t tell me it’s that long-haired hippie.”
It wasn’t just the hair. David's casual attitude toward drugs reminded Tristan too much of his own dance with addiction, though he'd never admit that to her.
            Juliette stood just inside the open door. Only the screen separated her from darting outside and the darkness swallowing her for another late night. Another night without a curfew. Another night we hoped we could trust her judgment. Another night our little girl proved she wasn’t so little anymore.
            She crossed her arms over her chest and sent her dad a glare worthy of one of his own. Her blue eyes held the same spark that challenged, much like Tristan’s eyes. “Seriously, Dad? Like you should talk.” She gestured toward his messy, longish hair.
            “That’s not the point,” Tristan said, teeth clenched. “You can’t just go running off with the first guy who puts a ring on your finger. If he had any decency, he’d have asked us first.”
            Juliette closed the door and scoffed. “It’s 1967, Daddio.” She popped her gum as she leaned against the table. “I don’t need your permission.”
            “Like hell you don’t.” Tristan stood, the menacing tone creeping back into his voice.
            I came between them. “Okay, both of you… Can’t we talk about this?”
            Juliette shifted her gaze to me. “Mom, please. Can’t you make Dad see reason?”
            I held back a sigh and lifted my hand. About to place it on her shoulder, I resisted and let my arm drop. “Juliette, this isn’t a good idea. David isn’t—”
            “Isn’t what, Mom?” A tremor ran through her voice. She blinked rapidly, then stepped away. She headed for the door to the dining and living rooms, stopping before she exited. “Why can’t you just be happy for me for once?” Her footsteps banged through the house and up the stairs. A slam of her bedroom door and I knew it would be unwise to knock anytime the rest of the night.
 

 

About the Author

Bestselling and award-winning author of the Lorna & Tristan Series, Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she has stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.

In her spare time–what spare time?–she devours books, pets her kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.

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Week Blitz ~ The Glass Moth by D. Lieber

 

Dystopian Fantasy

Date Published: 09-15-2026

Publisher: Ink & Magick

Her magic comes naturally. His is synthetic. Their different approaches could get one of them killed.

 

Wisconsin, 2050. Kallista Marquis doesn’t expect much anymore. When poor air quality and undrinkable water are everyday problems, the pessimistic gardener is just glad to have a roof over her head. But when a handsome glassblower informs her she’s a natural witch, she eagerly learns the illicit craft as she discovers her ability to finally impact the world.

Fort Meade. Evan Wells should be thrilled with his special assignment. Desperate to keep taking the wish-granting drug that makes him feel invincible, the Army specialist focuses on hunting down naturals and avoiding the snarky yet attractive private who hardly gives him a moment’s peace. But when his lack of progress again threatens a court-martial, his spiraling anxiety endangers more than he's willing to risk.

Trapped by the economic, governmental, and environmental pressures of their time, these opposing sides believe magic is the only glimmer of hope either of them has. But is that power worth it? Is it worth dying for? Is it worth killing for?

 

Uncertainty, love, secrets, and sorcery tangle the threads of fate in this slice-of-life dystopian fantasy.

 

 

About the Author

 

 D. Lieber writes character-driven stories for every mood. Her characters breathe as if they have souls, and her effortlessly immersive worlds hold inner harmonies that cleverly tie everything together.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox). 

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Book Tour ~ Altered - Justin Wright Suspense Series: Book 1 by Rob Kaufman

 

 

Book Details:

Book Title: ALTERED (JUSTIN WRIGHT SUSPENSE SERIES Book 1) by Rob Kaufman
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +), 270 pages
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Suspense 
Publisher:  Rob Kaufman
Release date:  May 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: ALTERED has a few profanities and alludes very subtly to abuse but never gets graphic or says the words. "Trauma" is used by Justin, the psychiatrist.

Book Description:

When Frank Devlin walks into Justin Wright's office, the renowned New York City psychiatrist decides to take on one of the most challenging cases of his career. 

Justin is determined to help Frank, a young man with multiple personalities (“alters”), live a happier, more fulfilling life. Little does he know that Frank and his alters are secretly weaving themselves into Justin’s life in ways that will affect the Wright family forever. 

A suspense-filled story driven by emotion, angst, and the ultimate revenge, “Altered” takes readers down a twisted path of uncertainty and mind games—leaving them shocked, heartbroken, and questioning what could possibly come next...

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Book Tour ~ Miya's Mooncakes - Written by Crystal Z Lee & Illustrated by Allie Su

 

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Miya's Mooncakes by Crystal Z. Lee
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  40 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Balestier Press
Publication Date: June, 2026.
Tour dates: Sep 8 to Sep 28
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

It's almost time for Miya's favorite holiday, the Mid-Autumn Festival. She loves all the holiday traditions: moon gazing, lighting lanterns, and best of all, baking and eating mooncakes! Miya notices that many in her town seem to have lost the holiday spirit lately, including those in her school and in her family. Miya has an idea to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in a more meaningful manner this year. It will involve some extra special mooncakes and the entire neighborhood. Can Miya pull it off in time for the festival?

This is a story of ingenuity, empathy, creating new traditions while honoring old ones. It's also an ode to neighbors, immigrants, and all those that make up a community!

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Meet the Author:

Crystal Z. Lee is a writer who divides her time between the U.S. and Asia. She is an avid traveler. Her favorite travel memories include island hopping in Italy, hiking the Ever White Mountain near the border of North Korea, sipping afternoon tea in Portuguese palaces and Irish castles, admiring Peranakan tiles in Singapore, sailing in the Aegean Sea, trekking on a biblical archaeological expedition in Türkiye, voyaging to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and making mooncakes and pineapple cakes in Taiwan. Her stories are often inspired by her journeys. Besides children's books, Crystal's other published works consist of poetry and a novel. She is also the author of Pei's Pineapple Cakes, Mei's Mermaid Mission, Kai the Dancing Butterfly, A Unicorn Named Rin, and Love and Other Moods.

connect with the author: website ~  instagram ~ goodreads

Meet the Illustrator:

Allie Su grew up in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She often finds her illustration inspiration from the great outdoors. One of her favorite places to hike in Taiwan is Sun-Link-Sea Forest in Nantou. She adores Taiwanese cuisine and night market foods, such as stinky tofu, vegetarian noodles and taro pastries from Taichung. Allie also illustrated Mei's Mermaid Mission and Kai the Dancing Butterfly.

Book Blitz ~ In The Frame by Hayden Stone

 

In the Frame: A Fake Dating Queer MM Romance
Hayden Stone
(The London Arts Club, #2)
Publication date: August 29th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

An artist. A developer. And an art gallery which they both want—for very different reasons.

When recent uni grad Matty Gowen-Smith, a talented painter and not so talented bartender, spills a tray of drinks on a hot-shot investor, Florian de Ligt, he’s left with no choice to make amends. Especially after Matty ruins Florian’s suit on a big night out for Florian’s birthday.

Trying to make things right, broke artist Matty offers Florian his only suit in a desperate effort to not get fired from his job. Conveniently, Matty is flat sitting around the corner, where his one prized suit awaits his friend’s wedding next weekend. Not so conveniently, they are soon trapped together in an elevator at Matty’s flat, and things rapidly go from bad to worse until landing on an uneasy truce.

Which is where a pact is born to come right from this mess. Florian needs a date for an upcoming art gala, a world he knows little about. Matty desperately needs a respectable date for his friend’s Brighton wedding to prove he’s a success in his new London life.

Two fake dates and an unexpected kiss later, fake feelings begin to feel a bit too much like real feelings. Which wouldn’t be a problem if Florian wasn’t so determined to dismantle Matty’s art community by redeveloping a popular local art gallery into luxury condos. An art gallery which may give Matty the solo exhibition he’s dreamt of to launch his art career. And now Matty must choose between his community or what might be a real chance at love…

In the Frame, the second book in the London Arts Club series, features forced proximity, boy next door, and fake dating in a fun new adult romcom.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

The fact is I’m kind of a shit bartender in a not-so-shit London bar. A popular bar full of discerning hipsters with deep pockets and others who want to be seen. It’s my first Saturday night working here at my new job. Which is exactly what I need to be doing to bring in some cash, and not spending money I can’t afford on supplies from the local art shop around the corner in Soho.

Forget that my new boss has all the makings of a tyrannical dictator—one who already has me nestled comfortably in his crosshairs. It’s not all smooth sailing despite the luxurious queer glamour of Ivan’s. Dramatic high-coffered ceilings soar overhead with gleaming chandeliers, and chic paintings from highly successful contemporary artists hangs on dark walls. The last part’s like artisanal sea salt in a career-shaped wound.

I have no idea why they hired me. Aside from me technically being qualified for the job. And also technically having the right references.

I mean, they obviously needed another bartender, after one of their old ones left. Which is a reasonable thing for a bar to want to keep running smoothly and keep their customers in suggestively named cocktails, like Get Your Freak On or Banger Baby or classics like Sex on the Beach. But just because I gave them my resumé doesn’t automatically mean I’m the best man for the job.

Never mind. I’m here now and I need to get on with it. The paycheck will make up for my current suffering, and, at best, low-key competence.

Around me, the upscale bar glows with burnished wood counters, gleaming glassware, and a stylishly imposing pink neon display (saying you have arrived and it reminds me a little of Tracey Emin’s works in neon), accompanied by a thousand bottles of premium, backlit spirits on the brick wall behind me that the finest of London’s equally premium queers will enjoy. Backlighting optional.

Clenching my jaw, I wring the bar cloth into the sink, rinse it, and give the counter in front of me a quick wipe, because I inadvertently slopped some ale when I should have slid the glass over with a certain panache expected of a bartender in a place like this. With every last drop of said ale staying within the confines of its glassware.

Except I panicked, because nerves.

Because Saturday night. Because there are hot men everywhere, where the hotness per capita rating is off the charts—to the point there should be a public health warning and an exclusion zone for the susceptible to distraction, like me. It’s definitely the sort of hotspot in London where people go when they want to be noticed. The occasional celeb makes their way through here too, tipping off the paparazzi who wait outside. There’re regularly high numbers of influencers in Ivan’s, all vying for social media clout.

Meanwhile, the remaining froth I missed looks obscene on the walnut bar. I wring out the cloth one more time for luck.

People in the queue for drinks are thankfully looking at the mess and not at me. In my crisp white shirt and black waistcoat and pressed trousers, I at least look the part like the rest of the wait staff, if not the clientele. In fairness to me, I do tidy up quite nicely when I try. Except I’ve got no chill, especially not tonight.

Author Bio:

More animal than mineral, Hayden Stone (he/him) is a writer of fun queer fiction, especially with kissing. Hayden is the author of the When Snow Falls, Being Royal, and The London Arts Club romcom series. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. You can find out his latest news on Instagram or his website: haydenstonebooks.com

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In the Frame Blitz

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Book Tour ~ Reclaim by Heather Henderson

 

How to Stop Scrolling Through Your Life and Start Living It

Personal Development / Digital Well-Being (Narrative Nonfiction)

Date Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Publisher: Fernlight Books

 You’re not broken. You’re overstimulated.

They sat on the beach with their backs to the ocean, faces in their phones, watching clips of someone else’s vacation. As Heather Henderson stood a few feet away, ready to capture the perfect Cabo moment, she realized we were promised more: more connection, more freedom, more possibility — not a life spent refreshing feeds.

Handed devices before we were taught how to live with them, most of us inherited this algorithmic world. We learned to let notifications and endless recommendations choose for us in small, quiet ways, until the choices no longer felt like choices at all, and we found ourselves scrolling through life instead of living it.

The problem goes beyond casual screen time. It is unconscious time — the moments we surrender without realizing the cost.

Drawing from her years inside major tech companies, including Google and Uber, Heather Henderson invites readers to ask:

Did I choose this, or was it chosen for me?

If you feel wired but tired, connected but lonely, or busy but empty, this book is an honest look at how we lost presence — and a guide to reclaim it.

 

These days, our lives feel more like a game of mental Tetris, one that can never be won. Clear one email, three pop up. No matter how hard we try, the notifications keep stacking.

Right now, I have 33 tabs open on my laptop. Thirty-three. And that's not a metaphor, it's my actual browser. But it might as well be my brain.

Our minds jump from thought to thought, mentally everywhere and yet emotionally nowhere. We're so sucked into our phones that we can't remember the last time we looked up. Let alone what we just scrolled past. Perhaps you're like me; I tried turning off notifications, but I ended up checking my phone more often. A feeling reminiscent of the yo-yo diet culture of the early 2000s, where Special K was sold as the "answer" but only left us hungrier. This isn't distraction, it's deeper. We're fragmented, overstimulated, and always somewhere else.

It's what I call open-tab mind. The mental default of the digital age. But it isn't just a metaphor. It's how technology is impacting our brains and everyday lives. This became impossible to ignore when I learned how the people who built these systems live with them.

Jack Dorsey — the co-founder of Twitter, a platform designed around constant updates and real-time attention — now practices some of the most extreme digital boundaries I've ever heard of.

When I first heard this, I had two immediate reactions: That's insane. And — of course. That makes total sense. Because why would someone need monk-level discipline unless they'd built something so compelling it required monk-level discipline to resist? That isn't hypocrisy. It's evidence.

At the airport, you refresh your gate info, check texts, and scroll on repeat. You were supposed to journal, but you got distracted by the buzz of a notification. Instead, I got lost in the scroll, only half hearing my boarding call. Twenty minutes later, I still hadn't pulled out my notebook, and my phone hadn't left my palm.

Here's the thing: it wasn't just me. And it isn't just airports. Digital distraction has seeped into every aspect of our lives. It’s in classrooms, boardrooms, even the conference rooms of the most innovative companies in the world.

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Book Blitz ~ Forever Her Cowboy - Silver Creek Ranch by Peyton Banks

 

Forever Her Cowboy
Peyton Banks
(Silver Creek Ranch)
Publication date: September 22nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He came to Silver Creek Ranch planning to drift on.
A fearless diner owner gave him a reason to stay forever.

Trent Lawson has spent years drifting from one job to the next.

Since leaving the Army, staying in one place has never felt possible… until he discovered the Silver Creek Ranch, a healing ranch for military veterans.

Then he met Frankie Carpenter.

The beautiful diner owner with the tempting curves, a stubborn streak a mile wide, and a smile that will make a hardened soldier start thinking about things he hasn’t allowed himself to want in years.

But when wealthy developers start pressuring her to sell the diner that’s the heart of the town, things quickly turn dangerous.

Frankie refuses to back down.

And Trent refuses to let her stand alone.

Protecting Frankie was never part of his plan—but the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes Ironhaven might finally be the place to put down roots.

Because some things are worth fighting for.

Forever Her Cowboy is a steamy small-town romance featuring a protective cowboy, a fierce heroine, and a love worth fighting for at Silver Creek Ranch.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

She loved what she did.

Even when she was tired.

Even when her feet throbbed and she desperately wished she had someone to rub them when she was at home.

She loved knowing people chose her place to start their day.

“Order up for table nine!” Chris called out.

She grabbed Trent’s plate before Tabby could. She didn’t know why. Maybe she did. She carried it out carefully and set it in front of him.

“Now this should keep you going,” she said. She rested her hands on her hips and smiled at Trent. “Or are you planning to nap in the barn after this?”

The corner of his lips lifted. “Depends. You offering to tuck me in?”

She blinked.

The laugh that erupted from her came from the gut. She hadn’t expected such a response.

“Well, now. A big strong man like you needs help?” she asked.

His shoulders relaxed. His eyes crinkled in the corner as he reached for his fork.

“Figured I’d try something new.” He shrugged.

Her pulse skipped a beat.

Try something new.

Was he talking about her? It had been a long time since she’d been in the dating pool. She bit her lip and leaned slightly closer to him. She watched him take his first bite of the biscuit and gravy.

“I’m sure you’ll be okay. The food will give you energy you need. Buck’s been running y’all hard this week.”

His eyebrows rose as he chewed. He swallowed and motioned to her.

“Keeping tabs on me, are we?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she said softly.

The air between them shifted.

This was dangerous and exciting.

She’d dated here and there since moving back, but nothing serious. Most of the men in Ironhaven were either married, uninterested, or too eager in ways that made her wary.

Trent was different.

He appeared to be a good guy. The others from the Silver Creek Ranch spoke highly of him. Melah, one of the female hands, had been in the other day, and from what she’d said, Trent was single.

Not that she’d asked.

Okay, she had. She was just curious. She knew he wasn’t from Ironhaven and she didn’t know if he commuted back and forth since Ironhaven had ample ranches and farms that needed good workers.

She couldn’t remember the last time a man’s gaze took her breath away. That happened almost every time Trent looked her way.

“Dinner tonight,” she heard herself say before she lost her nerve. “The special is chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and honey butter rolls.”

His eyes widened. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. You should come back.” She tilted her head.

There was something about watching a man enjoy a good meal. Trent was steadily packing away the food that was on his plate. She couldn’t tell where it all went. He was solid muscle and fit.

Her? All of the food went to her hips.

“Unless you are scared of a food coma,” she teased.

“I can handle it.” He huffed a laugh.

She just about fell over at the sound of it. She knew he smiled, but it wasn’t often she heard him laugh when he was here eating.

“I’ll even throw in a slice of cheesecake, on the house.” She lowered her voice just a bit.

He stared at her like he wasn’t sure if she was serious. Her stomach flipped. Was she really flirting this openly?

Apparently, yes.

Was she failing at it?

“Hard to turn down free cheesecake,” he said.

“Good.” She straightened to her full height. “Don’t forget we close early on Mondays. I’ll be expecting you around six.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded.

“I’ll be here at six.”

Her heart slammed into her ribs. Behind her, Libby called her name. The place was filled to capacity. She stepped back and, before she could stop herself, she winked at him.

“Don’t be late.”

She turned and walked away so she couldn’t see his reaction. The second she reached the counter, she sucked in a deep breath.

What on earth had she just done?

Author Bio:

USA Today best selling author, Peyton Banks, is the alter ego of a city girl who is a romantic at heart. Her mornings consist of coffee and daydreaming up the next steamy romance book ideas. She loves spinning romantic tales of hot alpha males and the women they love. She currently resides with her husband and children in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Forever Her Cowboy Blitz

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Book Blitz ~ Hidden Words by Christine Roy

 

Hidden Words
Christine Roy
Publication date: September 22nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Mystery

A Novel by Award-Winning Author Christine Roy

Some secrets don’t stay buried. They wait for the right mind to hear them.

In 1994, on the rocky shores of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, Ben Barrows begins his senior year at Masters’ Preparatory like a dead man walking, half his friendships already over, just not yet buried. Then Dana Kirkland arrives: a new student, a rival dancer to his powerful ex-girlfriend, and the one person who might save him. Together, Ben and Dana try to hold on to love against a tidal wave of pain and treachery neither of them saw coming.

In the present, Joey Barrows is drowning in grief. As he crosses the graduation stage, a terrifying gift awakens, the unspoken words of everyone around him, pouring uninvited into his mind. When Joey discovers his distant, unstable father shares this same curse, the door to a devastating past swings open, releasing secrets, obsession, and ghosts that refuse to stay silent.

Told across two timelines, Hidden Words is a gothic, speculative mystery about the inheritance of trauma — and the terrible cost of truths left unspoken.

Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, Black Swan, and The Turnout.

Hidden Words deals with mature themes including trauma, family abuse, and sensitive interpersonal relationships. Recommended for mature young adult and adult readers.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Raising his head, he approached the distinguished, black-gowned dean. The ringing in his ears pitched higher. With cold dread sluicing through his veins, he shook the dean’s hand. His mind crackling with a storm of energy, he looked the man straight in the eyes and took his diploma.

Guess scholarship kid didn’t waste our money.

“I’m sorry, Sir. What?” He squinted up at the unsmiling man. A distorted hum circled around him as the man’s words echoed in his head—clear, yet unspoken, not the shadowy wisps of noise he’d experienced before.

“Keep it moving, Barrows.”

“It’s just that I…” Joey stammered, his breath ragged. Shame bubbled up through the scars on his body like oil from the ground. He gaped at the dean’s stone face. “I heard you.” The words slipped from his lips.

“Christ, just move Barrows.”

I’ve had enough of your pathetic sad-boy act.

Joey nodded, stomach twisting. His thoughts raced and twisted in his head. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. He wasn’t psychic; nobody was. Withering beneath the dean’s glare, he flicked his tassel to the left and stumbled to the end of the stage. Desperate, he scanned the crowd, fairytale hope rising in his mind.

Maybe he was there.

Not likely.

Ben Barrows worked and hid. A son’s graduation didn’t fall into either of those categories, especially since these were the halls of Ben’s past. Traces of that Ben, shining and connected, existed in pictures behind glass cases like an extinct museum specimen.

They looked so similar, with their dark hair, wide-set green eyes, and lanky frames.

But that Ben was a ghost.

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Hidden Words Blitz

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