Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Book Blast ~ The New Hope Series by Britney King


 ★ ★ π—£π—˜π—₯π—™π—˜π—–π—§ π—Ÿπ—œπ—©π—˜π—¦. π—£π—˜π—₯π—™π—˜π—–π—§ π—Ÿπ—œπ—˜π—¦. ★ ★


She saw their life online.

That’s where it started.

A perfect couple.
A perfect feed.
A version of reality that felt…achievable.

All it took was one search.
One follow.
One decision to get closer.

Because watching isn’t enough.
Not when you know you could do it better.

But perfection has a cost.

And the people who look the most put together?
They’re usually hiding the most.

A replacement wife.
A curated life.
A system built on control.

And behind it all— someone pulling the strings.
The only question is:
Who’s really in control?

π“π‘πŽππ„π’
✔︎ Obsession / stalking
✔︎ Social media faΓ§ade
✔︎ Anti-heroine
✔︎ Identity manipulation
✔︎ Cult / control dynamics

πŸ“– The Social Affair Series — @britney.king.982
πŸ“ Read it now in Kindle Unlimited
πŸ“š π—₯π—˜π—”π—— π—œπ—§ π—›π—˜π—₯π—˜ ➜ https://readerlinks.com/l/5242933

🏷️🏷️🏷️

#psychologicalthriller #thrillerbooks #thrillerreads #kindleunlimited #bookrecs

Hosted by Enticing Journey Book Promotions 

Book Tour ~ A Real Collusion - A Novel & Expose by Stu Strumwasser

 



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stu Strumwasser will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



A Real Collusion is about the secret conspiracy between the Republican and Democratic parties to control the US government through an illegal duopoly.

From the author of the bestselling novel, The Organ Broker, (hailed by Lee Child, New York Times # 1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series as, "Exciting and thought-provoking--the perfect package") comes, A Real Collusion, a stunning political thriller and expose.

A Real Collusion is a David Vs. Goliath(s) story about a man who accidentally becomes the leader of an independent political movement that nearly takes down the two-party system in America, while exposing a conspiracy that affects the results of the 2016 election. It explores universal and deeply human themes of loss, and the tension between justice and power. In the opening sentence the narrator points out that, “Ordinary people often do extraordinary things.” The characters in the book do, and the action is driven by the fantastic events of a unique political satire. It is also the heartfelt story of regular people struggling with lost love, alienation and nearly universal disaffection who find strength in enduring loyalty and friendship

This is the story of John Campbell (a regular guy from the lower east side of Manhattan) as recounted by his friend Skip Winters. Skip becomes John’s campaign manager and later, a congressman in his own right. He narrates the stunning-but-plausible story of how John Campbell and The American Coalition race to popularity, raising over a hundred million dollars from grassroots contributors—and become a threat to the political duopoly of the Democratic and Republican parties. The book sprinkles in references to real events from recent history, and real political leaders including Trump, John McCain, and more. This imbues the novel with a sense of realism, albeit one of an alternate reality. Skip discovers a deep-seated conspiracy within our political system whose leaders orchestrate a murder, destroy his friend and tip the scales of the election. The novel turns out to be Skip’s exposΓ© of the secret collaboration between the two major political parties in our country—a cooperation to protect the duopoly that is, in part, real.


Read an Excerpt

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is John Campbell, from the lower east side."

The crowd responded with another enthusiastic round of cheers, but this time John held up his palm and said, "Please, please…." And that threw a quasi-hush over the audience.

"Thank you for coming to this little park tonight to hear me speak. Three nights ago, on the evening of July 10th, I attended our local Community Board meeting to propose that cigar smoking not be allowed on the sidewalk in front of bars and restaurants. That's all. I was not there to critique our government and I didn't ask for any of the attention that I have since received. I'm just like most of you, and I never anticipated that newspapers and newscasters would ever solicit my opinions on political issues. But now they're asking, and I have decided that I have a responsibility to answer. I am not embarrassed to say… I care."

Then, John paused. He had their rapt attention and he knew it. He looked directly at me, suddenly brimming with confidence. It might have been the kind of glance that Keith and Mick sometimes give to the roadies right before they go into the encore. I think that the feeling which washed over me then was pride. John turned back to the crowd and loudly said, "So, would you like to hear my answer?!"

Thunder from the crowd. "Yeah!" they yelled, some pumping their fists in the air.

"I won't give it to you!" John shouted, but then quickly added, "Instead, I will give you my proposal for OUR answer!" which elicited yet another roar.

"In recent years our system of government has broken down. Everyone knows it. Washington has become caught up in never-ending partisan fighting. It was on display during the recent government shutdown. The two major political parties no longer represent us. Frankly, how could they represent the spectrum or sum total of the thoughts, feelings and will of three hundred million citizens? There is a reason that more young people now choose "Independent" than either party when they turn eighteen. The political parties today exist as little more than machines for the never-ending raising of money to combat the enormous amount of money raised by their opponents (their "enemy counter-party" or, as I prefer to refer to them: "fellow Americans.") Let's stop standing for it. The Democrats and Republicans currently run our nation like two petulant children fighting over which show to watch on TV and who gets to hold the remote. When one party chooses the program, the other storms out of the room. Is that really the way we want to be led?

About the Author



Stu Strumwasser is a modern-day muckraker who writes literary novels that address important sociopolitical issues. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) and shortlisted as one of five finalists for the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing. Strumwasser was also the primary songwriter and drummer for the indie rock band Channeling Owen. He is a longtime investment professional (investing in sustainable technology that improves the manner in which we make food) and hails from Brooklyn NY. His new novel, A Real Collusion, is both an exposΓ© and analysis of broken government and a fictional David Vs. Goliath(s) story of the man who almost took down the two-party system in America.

WEBSITE: https://www.arealcollusion.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244895746-a-real-collusion
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stuthemeddler
Tik Tok: http://www.tiktok.com/@stuthemeddler
To read the first two chapters of the novel please visit: https://arealcollusion.com/first-two-chapters/

Amazon Link to pre-order Amazon EBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5K3BJ1K
Amazon Link to pre-order Amazon Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCCR2XMS
BN.com EBook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-real-collusion-stu-strumwasser/1148954359?ean=2940185040737
BN Hardcover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-real-collusion-stuart-strumwasser/1148954359
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-real-collusion
Google Play EBook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=NxSlEQAAQBAJ&hl=en_US
Google Play Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEDqp1LnqM&hl=en_US
Apple Books: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6757249400
Payhip for the book: https://payhip.com/ARealCollusion

Book Blitz ~ The Essence of His Soul by Mya Kay

 

The Essence of His Soul
Mya Kay
Publication date: March 20th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When Essence Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Music Group, steps into Mocha Tea & Trends—a new upscale coffee shop in Old City Philadelphia—she’s focused on business, not romance. But when she overhears the manager scrambling after an artist cancels last minute, Essence seizes the opportunity to showcase her newly signed songstress.

That’s when she meets Shane Bishop.

Philadelphia’s basketball sensation and the shop’s owner, Shane is instantly drawn to Essence. Their eyes meet, sparks fly—and Essence immediately shuts it down. A ball player is the last thing she needs distracting her from her purpose. But Shane can’t ignore the connection he feels as he watches her confidently seal the deal for her artist.

Later, one bold DM changes everything.

What begins as a cautious friendship between two preacher’s kids slowly unfolds into a God-ordained romance neither of them expected. But just as their bond deepens, their lives are shaken by family secrets, resurfacing past relationships, and a devastating incident that threatens to destroy both of their careers.

As rumors swirl and pressure mounts within the entertainment and sports industries, Essence and Shane must decide if their love is strong enough to withstand the weight of old wounds, public scrutiny, and painful truths.

Will they be able to hold on to what God brought together—or will the cost be too great?

Goodreads / Amazon / Girls Anthem

EXCERPT:

I looked at his face, then slowly walked over to him.

“Clayton wants to know when you guys can do dinner.”

My heart dropped in my stomach. I had been ignoring Clayton, literally not responding to any of his messages, but I also hadn’t blocked him.

“Babe, it’s not like that.”

He placed my phone down. “What is it like, Essence?”

I raised an eyebrow. Since we’d been dating, he barely called me by my first name.

I walked over to him, grabbing his hands. He let me. “My father thinks Clayton is the guy I should be dating. I told him I was dating but haven’t told him who, but my mother knows. Clayton and I went on a date four years ago and I haven’t talked to him since. My father thought giving him my number when he ran into him was a good idea.”

He stared at me intently. This was the first time he was looking at me, and I didn’t feel the warmth I usually felt. “Baby, I promise, you have nothing to worry about.”

“You know Rayna DM’d me about a week after we started dating. I blocked her because, even though we weren’t that deep yet, I knew we were on to something.”

I swallowed. I knew he was all in when we were on our third date. Shane was a one-woman type of man. I picked up my phone and blocked Clayton in front of him. Then I showed him the text thread.

“You can see I never even responded.”

“Then why not block him sooner?” he said, scrolling through the texts.

I started chewing on my bottom lip. I brushed my hair behind my ears, trying not to speak too soon.

“If I’m honest, this is scary for me. I’m afraid that this thing with you and I won’t work out. That’s not to say Clayton was a backup, because he knows that even if he was the last man standing, there would never be an us. Trust me.”

He smirked, placing the phone back on the counter. “He’s that bad?”

“Horrible.”

I laughed. He was still staring at me, but his smile faded.

“I don’t always feel safe,” I continued, hoping the rest of this would come out making sense, “and some of it has to do with what happened when I was younger. I also feel like my father’s controlling ways plays into how unsafe I feel. It’s like he would never let anyone else hurt me, yet he does it all the time; and then, there’s what my ex did.”

His face scrunched up. “Dixon?”

Author Bio:

Mya K. Douglas (Mya Kay) is an Amazon bestselling author, dynamic speaker, magazine publisher, and literary leader born and raised in North Philadelphia. Since 2012, she has authored and published fifteen books spanning genres from Christian romance to memoir.
In 2017, she co-authored Before Empire with Andria Mayberry, mother of Empire actor Bryshere “Yazz The Greatest,” featured on The Real. In 2022, she was selected as a semi-finalist for America’s Next Great Author, standing out as one of only 100 from over 800 applicants to pitch to judges including Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and Victoria Christopher Murray.
That same year, Mya made history as the first Christian romance author signed to B. Love Publications. Her work includes The Storms of Love series, Fumbled Your Heart, and The Essence of His Soul. She has earned nominations including Christian Fiction Author of the Year by AAMBC (2023) and Best Christian Book for The Essence of His Soul at the 2024 Literary Gem Awards. She is currently signed to Black Legacy Publishing under B. Love Publications.
Beyond writing, Mya is the founder of Girls Anthem Magazine, a faith-forward media company inspiring girls and women to pursue purpose without compromising their values.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / TikTok / Threads / X


GIVEAWAY!

The Essence of His Soul Blitz


Teaser ~ Devil's Man by Kira Stone

 



LGBTQ+ Dark Romantasy

Date Published: April 10, 2026



Research at Loveland College has never been quite so productive...

Devil's Man: Roman vows to have Carter, a reclusive professor, one way or another. Roman's devilish scheme to seduce Carter succeeds, to the great pleasure of all involved, but their tryst ends with dire consequences. To stay alive, Roman and Carter will have to face their deepest fears.

Between the Covers: Leah has to discover why Loveland College students are obsessed with having sex in her section of the college library. Leah turns to Sam, a Campus Security Detective, for expert advice. Together they seek the truth... Between the Covers.

Mayan Destiny: Professor Patrice Valez dreams of Mayan ruins and gods of old. When she wins a grant to study an obscure Mayan temple, she's stunned, and not entirely happy, to discover her Mayan obsession has a purpose -- and a price.

Bump in the Night -- "Department of Paranormal Research." Wade's colleagues laugh at the title on his office door. But if he can debunk the ghosts of the famed Hoag Mansion, he'll finally start getting the recognition he deserves. What he finds instead are things that go bump in the night...




EXCERPT

"Over here."


There was an impatient huff before a woman said, "I thought you said you knew where it was."


Leah Spencer paused in the act of replacing a book into its proper Dewey decimal order on the shelf. She looked around but didn't see anyone. Still, the sounds of heavy breathing were coming from a nearby location.


"I do. It's right here." Teeth of a zipper were parted.


"That is not what I'm looking for." This time instead of sounding aggrieved, the female's voice dripped with amusement.


Oh, crap. Not again. Her section of the library had to be the hottest make out spot on campus lately.


"Suck me," a male voice hissed.


"Like this?"


"Oh, yeah. That's it."


He started to moan. Wet sounds slipped between the logically ordered tomes to reach Leah's ears. Her face heated, and so did her feminine core.


"Lick it."


Apparently his lover complied because inarticulate encouragement ensued. Leah considered peeking around the spines to catch a glimpse of their faces so she could give a description to campus security, but as soon as she moved, the book in her hands rasped against the ones on the shelf at her waist.


"What was that?" the woman asked, suspicious.


Leah froze, her heart beating frantically at the thought of being discovered. It would certainly get her fired if the administration learned she'd been listening to, rather than interrupting, the copulating couple. Assuming, of course, that she survived the humiliation of being labeled a sexual voyeur.


"It's nothing. Ignore it," her partner replied.


"I really think --"


He cut her off. "No one ever comes up here. No one except people like us. Might get crowded, but we're not going to get in trouble."


His partner seemed reassured by his explanation. "Yeah, I guess you're right."


Safe for the moment, Leah carefully stepped out of her shoes so her feet wouldn't make a sound as she dashed down the main corridor, away from the action. Once she'd reached her miniscule office, she picked up the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.


"It's happening again," Leah said as soon as Campus Security Detective Samuel Zheng answered.


"Damn. That makes the fourth time today."


The husky tenor of his voice jumpstarted the lust already simmering in her veins. Leah wished she were brave enough to intimately touch herself during one of these conversations. So far, she hadn't dared. But to come to the sound of his voice, to be that close to him whether he knew it or not, would be... would be... pathetic.


"Leah?"


She sighed, dismissing the fantasy and zeroing in on reality. "Yeah, I'm here."


"I'm on my way. Don't let them leave."


Right, she thought as the dial tone echoed in her ear. Even if Sam ran the whole way, it would take him ten minutes to arrive. She was a five-foot-nothing couch potato. How was she supposed to restrain two healthy adults if they were determined to go? Keep them riveted with a discourse on the finer points of fellatio?


Assuming they hadn't already left, she'd have to stay where she could monitor them. Listening to their passionate directives. Picturing them...


Enough!


As quietly as she could, Leah tiptoed back to her hiding place. Again, somehow she betrayed her presence. Damn Sam for asking her to do his job!


"There's another noise," the woman hissed. "Someone's coming."


"No one is coming but me, baby. Suck me a little harder, would ya?"


The woman chuckled softly. "Mmm, you're such a big boy. Gonna have to find something special to do for you." In the quiet, close quarters, Leah detected the rustle of fabric, followed by the snick of a bra being undone. "How about this, stud? Does it do anything for you?"


"That... is so... hot."


Images of what they might be doing flickered through Leah's mind. She closed her eyes. Their out-of-sync heavy breathing fueled the white-hot lust pulsing between her legs. She envisioned a pair of plump breasts surrounding a hard shaft, the rosy head peeking up from the deep, lily-white valley.


"Gonna let me fuck you?" the guy panted out.


"No, I want you to come like this. All over my breasts."


"Oh, yeah."


The smell of sex permeated the air. Leah's clit throbbed. She didn't want to risk moving around too much for fear of scaring them off, but she had to do something to soothe the ache in her swollen clit. Using the only option that came to mind, Leah placed a heavy tome between her legs. As quietly as possible, she ground against it so the rigid spine rode over her pussy, sending ripples of pleasure through her body.


People often teased her about getting off on books, but this was the first time she'd actually attempted it. The thought almost made her giggle, but she choked it off.


"That's it. Fuck my tits, stud."


"Gonna come," he announced.


"Do it for me. Do it now."


Leah was near the edge herself. As he grunted through his climax, Leah rubbed the book between her legs. Given the volume's size, it took both hands although she badly wished one were free to pluck at her pebbled nipples.


She'd never felt so wanton in her life. She imagined semen coating the woman's breasts, his hands rubbing it in. Her mouth licking him clean. All the while, her BOB substitute stroked her into a frenzy of wet, hot need.


"Here, let me get that." Whatever the man's offer entailed, his partner seemed to enjoy it. Her cry of pleasure triggered Leah's release. It wasn't the best orgasm of her life, but her reaction was intensified by the fact that she'd made it happen at all. In the library. Where she could have been caught at any second.


What in the hell had she been thinking?


As she pondered the depths of her recent depravity, the lights overhead dimmed for a full ten seconds, then brightened again. It signaled the five-minute warning before the staff started herding students out of Loveland College Library. Shit! Where was Sam?



About the Author

Kira Stone has been around the block…the writer’s block, that is.

From vamps and witches to historical heroes, from futuristic scientists to paranormal corporate executives, from Canadian werewolves to off-world shifters, Kira has written about them all. Manlove has sparked hot and heavy in many of her plots, but Kira also finds a lucky lady to keep the sexy heroes company from time to time. While Scotland remains her favorite place in the world, Kira is constantly in search of new adventures to add to the creative primordial ooze where her best stories are born.

 

Author on Facebook

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Author’s Website


Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15




RABT Book Tours & PR

Book Blitz ~ Unbroken - Life Outside the Lines by Adriene Caldwell

 


 

Trauma Memoir

Date Published: February 10, 2026

Publisher: Unbroken



“Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines” plunges you into Adriene Caldwell’s childhood—a world of grinding poverty, mental illness, and violence—then lifts you back out on a fierce up‑draft of resilience. Page after page, she peels back the polite veneer of society to reveal the systemic betrayals that let children like her slip through every safety net, yet she never relinquishes the fragile ember of hope that keeps her alive. Her voice is unflinchingly honest—at turns raw, lyrical, and darkly humorous—as she chronicles the horrors she endured and the instinct that urged her to fight for her little brother, and for herself, when no one else would. By the final chapter, you will understand why she can say, without irony, “We are not defined by our damage… We are Unbroken,” and you will close the book convinced that survival, in her hands, is its own quietly triumphant art form.

 


About the Author

 

 Adriene Caldwell is an author and advocate from Houston, Texas. Her memoir, Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines, traces the quiet aftermath of childhood trauma and the long arc of healing. Through writing, talks, and UnbrokenCaldwell.com, she champions hope, resilience, and storytelling as tools for recovery.


Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn


Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N


RABT Book Tours & PR

Release Blitz ~ FORGE - Iron City Knights MC by ML Nystrom

 


Title: Forge
Author:  ML Nystrom
Series: Iron City Nights MC, #2
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: March 19, 2026
Cover Designer: Booksmith Design

Available now!

He’s a craftsman who craves peace. She’s a storm with secrets. Together, they’ll forge something stronger—or shatter beyond repair.

Camshaft just wants to keep his head down—making knives, fixing engines, and keeping the Iron City Knights running in their new direction. With the club fighting to clean up its reputation, he’s sworn off drama and distractions.

Then Sabrina barrels into town. Sharp-tongued, fearless, and hiding a past she doesn’t fully understand, she turns Cam’s quiet world upside down. Rumor has it she’s the daughter of Scrap, the club’s disgraced ex-president—and if that’s true, she may be the key to the Knights’ future… or their undoing.

As violent vandalism rocks the neighborhood and innocent people get hurt, the Knights are forced to hunt the ones responsible. But danger isn’t only found in the streets. Secrets swirl around Sabrina, threatening to unravel everything she’s built—and everything Cam has tried to hold steady.

When the truth explodes, Cam must decide: cling to the safety of solitude, or risk it all for the fierce, unpredictable woman who’s stolen his heart.

Explosive chemistry. Hidden legacies. A fight for love in a world built on steel and fire.

Perfect for fans of gritty MC romance, Forge delivers a blend of suspense, steam, and raw emotion in the next chapter of the Iron City Knights saga.

Now available!

“Walter Arborough. Is he in here somewhere?”

Cam jumped at the authoritative yell. This woman wasn’t messing around.

The blonde huffed and rolled her eyes. Camshaft tried to stop her once more. “Look, lady, this is a private club. I don’t know of any Walter — “

“He’s the owner, from what I understand.”

Cam blinked. “You mean Scrap?”

She flipped an impatient hand at him. “Whatever. I’m here to meet the owner of the bar. He’s supposed to be the president of the Iron City Knights, so someone here has to know him. You gonna find him for me, or do I need to keep hollering until he shows up?”

Camshaft’s inner alarm bells started ringing. Something told him he was going to regret his next action, but like a mudslide rolling down a hill, there was no stopping this. He pointed to the back, where Scrap and Baghouse were engaged in a game of chess.

“That’s him? The president?”

Cam nodded. “Ex-president, but yeah, that’s him.”

She shook herself before dropping her self-confident mask back in place. Her steps were sure and steady as she clomped across the wood floor toward the two men.

“Are you Walter Arborough?”

Scrap scowled at the interruption to his game. He raised his head from the board at a sharp angle, partially hiding the black eyepatch that covered the empty socket. He stared at the woman with his one good eye. “Who the fuck are you?” he sneered with such contempt, Cam thought the woman might burn from the acid.

The woman spat back with as much ire as Scrap. “I’m your fuckin’ daughter. That’s who, asshole!”





Ignite
(book 1)
https://books2read.com/ironcity1


I've had stories in my head since I was a child.  All sorts of stories of fantasy, romance, mystery and anything else that captured my interest. I'm a voracious reader, and have spent many hours in my life devouring books, therefore it's only fitting I should write a few myself!  

I've spent most of my life as a performing musician and band instrument repair technician, but that doesn't mean I'm pigeon-holed into one mold. I've been a university professor, belly dancer, craftsperson, soap maker, singer, rock band artist, jewelry maker, lifeguard, swim coach, and whatever else I feel like exploring.  As one of my students said to me once, "Life's too short to ignore the opportunities." I have no intention of ever stopping so welcome to my story world.  I hope you enjoy it!

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Book Tour ~ In Her Own Backyard by Ashley Hanna

 



Thriller

Date Published: March 26, 2026

Publisher: Acorn Publishing



Every street holds a secret . . .

 

New to the neighborhood and reeling from the traumatic birth of her second child, Marlowe Moore is barely holding it together. Battling postpartum depression and anxiety, she’s desperate for stability.

But when she learns that a woman who once lived in her family’s new home vanished without a trace, Marlowe becomes obsessed. As strange things happen and neighborly smiles feel like veiled threats, Marlowe can’t shake the feeling that someone is hiding something.

She spirals further into paranoia, fixated on the abandoned case and determined to seek justice. But how can a woman who feels lost find a missing person?

Juggling the demands of her beloved family and her harrowing mental illness, Marlowe doesn’t realize she is caught in a cat-and-mouse game that could cost her everything … including her life.

 

Prologue

I don’t think it through. I run out the door, my body instinctively kicking into survival mode and compelling me to move. Fast. Away. Now.

Outside, the cold night air hits my face and stings furiously. I peel off my shirt, bloody from a busted nose, but I never stop running. Everything escalated so quickly. Unsure of how it all happened, I don’t trust anything except my bare feet beating against the asphalt to the rhythm of the blood pounding in my ears.

A sharp pain shoots through my ankle. I don’t stop until I make it to a public place: the loop around Virginia Lake. At this hour, I am alone. Still, I stay out of the streetlamp’s glow. Glancing around in case he followed me, I limp over to the shore, splash water on my bloodied face, then heave the contents of my stomach into the cattails whispering wordless warnings to me. Straightening, I reach into my pocket to discover something disastrous. In the mayhem, I left my phone behind.

I can’t call for help . . . but I’m also unreachable. Maybe that’s a good thing? Maybe no one knows where I am. I sink back down, trying to think straight. The throbbing in my head drowns out reason. I can’t go anywhere, not like this. I’ll wait it out here for a while, then make my way back home. He has to leave at some point.

With no watch or phone, my only clues to the passage of time are the amber moon rising in the cloudy sky and my legs cramping in this crouched position. Surely, he’s cooled off by now, gone to his place. I hobble home hugging the shadows, shivering from low blood sugar and wondering who lives within the darkened windows looking down on me.

Should I knock, ask to call the police from someone’s phone? Would you, neighbor with the red door, risk the late hour and open to a woman you barely know? If you did, would you look suspiciously at my disarray, or would you lean in for a closer look at the bruises forming on my body? Would you ask, “How can I help?” Or would you convince yourself you shouldn’t get involved, that your eyes are probably playing tricks on you in the darkness?

My feet shuffle forward, leaving the impulse behind. At the sight of my garden gate, exhaustion descends heavily over my whole body. All I want is to crash into bed. I sleepwalk through the entrance, down the path, and reach for my door. Still ajar…?

In one swift motion, someone knocks me backwards off my feet. I land with a sickening thud. My vision blurs to blackness. And now, like the last lingering notes of a song your ears strain to hear, I am gone.

 

About the Author

 


 Ashley Hanna-Morgan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, she writes about mental health to advocate for change and inspire hope. In 2016, she wrote The Afterglow, a mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy curriculum that supports parents with postpartum depression and anxiety. In 2017, she published I Gave Birth to My Heart, a collection of poems about the secret anguishes and innumerable joys of reinventing oneself after postpartum depression.

When she isn’t counseling clients or volunteering with Postpartum Support International, Ashley loves to experiment in the kitchen and spend as much time outside as possible in San Diego, where she resides with her family. In Her Own Backyard is her first novel.


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