Love through the Ages: Every Generation has its Story
25 Years To Life
The Hopeless Romantics Book 1
by CJ Ives Lopez
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
In a heartfelt journey through small-town Iowa, a forbidden love challenges destiny, unveiling secrets that could alter the course of many lives.
The emotional, family drama romance "25 Years to Life" captures the essence of forbidden love and the relentless pursuit of truth. Shelly and Esteban, torn apart by societal norms and personal sacrifices, leave behind a legacy of mysteries and unspoken promises that threaten the fabric of their family.
The story unfolds in the lush fields of Iowa, where Shelly and Esteban's love blossoms against all odds. Their deep and undeniable connection faces the ultimate test when external forces and cultural divides pull them into separate worlds. As the years pass, the silence around their separation grows heavier, casting long shadows over their loved ones.
Without revealing the identity of their offspring or the intricacies of their hidden past, the narrative weaves through the challenges and emotional scars left in the wake of their unresolved romance. The ripple effects of their love story set the stage for a powerful tale of discovery, identity, and the enduring strength of love.
"25 Years to Life" is a poignant exploration of love's complexity, the weight of secrets, and the healing power of truth. This novel invites readers into a world where past and present collide, offering a lens into the hearts of those bound by love and separated by circumstances. For fans of deeply emotional narratives and stories of love against all odds, this book promises a journey of heartache, redemption, and the infinite possibilities that come with uncovering the truth.
CJ Ives Lopez, a proud 20-year Air Force veteran, originally hails from Festus, Missouri, before relocating to Indianapolis, Indiana. After her distinguished military service, she founded The Authors Porch, leading the organization for four years before refocusing on her writing. As a best-selling, multiple award-winning author in various genres, including heartwarming children's stories under her Pen name Auntie Nann, CJ's literary journey is a testament to the transformative power of pursuing dreams. Explore CJ's captivating literary world and inspiring journey as she dives into diverse worlds with multiple pen names. at www.cjiveslopez.com.
Jerico is about to meet two figures from his past.
One filled with love, the other consumed by vengeance.
Blurb
Andy Quinn is content with his life. He has a great job managing Quay House, the popular waterfront hotel, and a peaceful home with a cat called Patches. Andy spent his twenties working in the cruise industry, exploring the world and has finally settled in his home town of Nyemouth. Those years at sea were a time of adventure and discovery, including a ship bound romance with a young Jerico. After fifteen years, Andy doubts the famous chef will even remember him, but from the moment they reconnect, the time they spent apart falls away.
Andy isn’t the only figure from Jerico’s past. A week before the restaurant is due to open, an act of reckless sabotage puts everything he cares about in danger, including Andy. Jerico has made an enemy, someone who will stop at nothing to see his long-realised dream become a nightmare. As a plan for vengeance is played out, who will survive until the end?
Fall in love with compelling new characters and rediscover some old favourites in the fifth and final instalment of the Jagged Shores series.
Excerpt
“It reminds me of all those sunsets we saw when we were at sea,” Jerico remarked.
Andy nodded his agreement. “I come up here a lot when I have the time, if I get finished at the hotel early enough. It helps me to relax. At this time of year, there’s nothing I like more.”
“It seems like you’ve always been drawn to the sea.”
“Mmm, probably. I grew up at the coast, worked on ships. I can’t imagine ever being far away from it.”
He was aware of Jerico watching him and tried to keep his gaze on the path ahead, though the temptation to turn and feast his own eyes was huge. Instead, he filled his lungs with the salty air coming from the water. Up here, the sticky heat of the hotel and the town centre was forgotten.
“What did you do?” Jerico asked. “After we lost touch. You have me at a disadvantage. You can find out about me online, everything I’ve ever done is there. But you, apart from your professional CV, there’s nothing.”
Now Andy could not resist looking at him, raising a bemused eyebrow. “So, you’ve been cyber-stalking me?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
His brown skin looked glorious in the evening light. Andy’s mouth was dry. Jerico looked more handsome than he’d ever known him. How had they come to be here, after all this time? Andy knew he wasn’t dreaming. This was very real.
He wet his lips. “It’s a similar story to your own. I kept working at sea until I was around thirty.”
“Doing the same as before? Excursions and tours?”
“For a while, yes. But when I moved to another cruise company, an opportunity arose to join the hotel management side of the ship, and I found I enjoyed that even more. I became Deputy Hotel Manager after just two years. I loved being on the ships. I’m so glad I did all that. For a young guy in his twenties to travel the world and see all those places, how many people are lucky enough to do that?”
Jerico nodded. “It was great, though I don’t miss the force-eleven gales and ten-metre waves.”
Andy laughed. “Yeah, I think I’ve pushed those to the back of my mind and just remember the calm waters and sunsets.”
“I remember some really bad nights, trying to sing and dance while the stage was going up and down beneath my feet.” He gave a dramatic shudder and chuckled.
“But look at it now,” Andy said, gesturing to the peaceful North Sea. Tonight, there wasn’t even a white cap to ruffle its surface. “When I see it like this, I do miss being out there.”
“Would you ever go back? To working on the ships?”
“Nah. Been there, done that. I’m happy here. I’ve got my dream job and my family close by. I’ve seen almost all the world has to offer, so now I’m content to stay home. How about you?”
“I’ve done a couple of themed culinary cruises in the last few years—guest speaking and cookery demonstrations, that kind of thing. It’s a lot different on the other side. The guest staterooms are a lot nicer than those tiny crew cabins we had to stay in.”
“I’ll bet. That’s something I’ve never done, experiencing a cruise ship from a passenger perspective. I imagine it’s a different world from what we were used to.”
“Yeah, but when you’re young, you don’t care, do you? You just need a place to sleep and shag. They could have put me in a cupboard, and I’d have been happy.” He gave Andy a flirtatious wink.
“I remember what you were like, all right.”
They paused and stood side by side and looking out to sea together. For a moment, Andy lost himself in those memories…of standing on the deck of a ship or the shores of exotic countries with Jerico. Were those the best days of his life? No, he decided. The best days were still ahead of him. Be positive and keep moving forward.
It had gone eight o’clock. “I’m getting hungry,” he said. “Do you fancy something to eat?”
NO HALO REQUIRED just won First place in Literary Fiction in the Incipere Awards presented by Entrada Publishing!
No Halo Required
Carolina Callings Book 1
by Travis Casey
Genre: Thriller
*First Place winner in Literary Fiction in the Incipere Awards presented by Entrada Publishing
Isaiah Hightower has everything a forty-nine-year-old man could want: respect as a high school principal; admiration as a leader in the black community; and a wife who would do anything for him.
Despite his shining public image, Isaiah's life is plagued with indiscretions. When these threaten to unravel his world, he silences the threat by any means necessary.
When his wife, Yvette, witnesses her husband's greatest sin, her life is about to change forever. But it doesn't have to. One lie will protect her lifestyle and save her husband's reputation.
Cory Logan retired from boxing after winning millions of dollars, but he never won a world title. When he dies, all he'll have is a headstone that no one will visit. To live in infamy, he wants a sports facility named after him. The only thing that stands in his way is the mayor of Hilton Head, who insists it be named after an African American.
Yvette Tyson is frustrated since she divorced her cheating husband. She struggles with her new life, embarrassed by her past and unable to gain the respect she once had. Does she really have to spend the rest of her life working the graveyard shift at the supermarket?
When Cory runs into Yvette, their past lives converge. It soon becomes clear that Yvette winning the mayor's office would benefit both of them.
Yvette Tyson is making a run for the governor’s office. Her goal is clear. Win.
She has the backing of her boyfriend, Cory Logan. He is kind, gentle, and determined— and offers the kind of support an unmarried black woman needs to get into office. Their relationship has grown over the past year, and she had been seen arm-in-arm with him in public numerous times. She is proud to show him off, and him, her—so there is no color issue—or is that exactly what it is?
Does Cory need a black governor to get a sports center named after him?
Does Yvette need a white boyfriend to win that demographic to get elected?
All bets are off as convicts, ex-husbands, mistresses, unscrupulous family members, secret club affiliations, and manipulating the media are all part of the ammunition at a candidate’s disposal.
Travis was brought up in Midwest America before embarking on a nine year Navy career that allowed him to travel the world and learn about life. He has ping-ponged across oceans moving from mainland United States to Hawaii, to Scotland, to Seattle, to England, to Minnesota, back to England, and back to Minnesota where he currently resides ... for now
He writes easy-reading, light-hearted fiction and true stories about his own experiences that even the best fiction writer couldn't make up. Relax by the beach or curl up on the couch on a rainy day while Travis takes you on fun-filled adventures that let you forget about life for a while and have a laugh.
The Stepford Wives meets Get Out in Nicola Yoon’s first adult novel, a terrifying and thought-provoking look at what it means to be truly free in America.
When Jasmyn and King Williams move their family to the planned Black utopia of Liberty, California, they hope to find a community of like-minded people, a place where their growing family can thrive. King settles in at once, embracing the Liberty ethos, including the luxe wellness center at the top of the hill, which proves to be the heart of the community. But Jasmyn struggles to find her place. She expected to find liberals and social justice activists striving for racial equality, but Liberty residents seem more focused on booking spa treatments and ignoring the world’s troubles.
Jasmyn’s only friends in the community are equally perplexed and frustrated by Liberty’s outlook, a frustration that turns to dread when their loved ones start embracing the Liberty way of life. As Jasmyn learns more about Liberty and its founders, she discovers a terrible secret that threatens to destroy her world in ways she never could have imagined.
The Sexy Nerd Review. . .
When I first read the synopsis for this novel, I knew I had to find out what it was about. My fans know how much of a horror fan I am and especially when it comes to the classic horror stories, which I find are the absolute best, so I had to try this. And I’m so happy I did.
Immediately I began thinking about The Stepford Wives, which is one of my all-time favorite books and Yoon had me from the first paragraph. King and Jasmyn Williams are a typical black family trying to better themselves and get out of the ghetto. They were all too familiar with the struggle and the senseless killing of black people at the hands of white police officers. At some point, they almost became immune to the police brutality, but not so much that they decided enough was enough.
As luck would have it, King was promoted and began making a huge bank roll and decided to remove his wife and son, Kamau, from the ghetto and move to a beautiful black oasis known as Liberty. Dare I say it, but is there a such of thing? Hmm? Jasmyn certainly had her misgivings about Liberty. When she first got there, everyone and everything appeared to be on the up and up. Her son flourished in school, and they seemed to be settling in well. Jasmyn worked as an attorney in the public defender’s office trying to help the young black youths and the legal troubles, they found themselves in. King used to volunteer in the hood to be a role model for the young black males and give them hope. But little by little, King stopped doing those things and Jasmyn became more worried about his outreach.
It appeared that the more they obtained within this solely black community, the more things seemed off. For instance, everyone enjoyed going to the Wellness Center. King spent a great deal of his time there. He often asked his wife to accompany him, but Jasmyn felt something was terribly wrong with the popular spa. Even though she knew in her gut something wasn’t quite right, she managed to make a couple of friends, Keisha, and Charles. They were the only three that still got upset over seeing the horror of what was happening to their people daily. Until one day, Charles and his wife went away on a vacation, that Charles’ wife insisted, and when he returned, not only were Charles’ dread locks gone from his head, but his whole vibe had changed. Jasmyn was convinced there was “something in the water” perhaps or in the air that was changing her friend.
The more Jasmyn protested to her husband that they needed to leave, it seemed Liberty clutched its teeth deeper in Jasmyn’s soul forever binding her and her family where they were. Wow! I must say this story was a lot to take in. It was very exhausting because I could identify with every point that was made among the characters. One major point this story will undoubtedly do is make for conversation. You will be discussing this story through and through. It wasn’t hard to figure out what was happening to the black community, but to witness and feel it along with the characters, was spine tingling. Much like The Stepford Wives, I was left with that same terrified reality.
The Sexy Nerd gives One of Our Kind four more fist pumps in the air. Overall, this was an amazing story that will scare the hell out of you. I couldn’t get enough. Yoon wrote one compelling horror story that will most definitely stay with me for years to come. One of Our Kind goes on sale Tues., June 11, 2024, at your favorite book retailers or wherever books are sold. I highly recommend you grab this book and get to reading. You are going sit there with your mouth hanging open. Way to go, Yoon! You’ve made me a fan!
The true story of how one married couple made an impulse purchase blind off the internet: a 24.5-tonne vintage army truck. Their plan: to convert into a unique off-grid tiny home on wheels ready for an expedition to Mongolia.
Bulding the Beast:
How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper
The Wayward Truck Book 1
by Jacqueline Lambert
Genre: Comedic Travel Memoir, Nonfiction
Featuring ‘The Beast’, an expedition truck, as seen on TV*
A Vintage Truck: An Amateur Team: An Immovable Deadline The Comic Memoir of a Crazy Idea
In this captivating true story, join an intrepid married couple as they take another wild leap into the world of nomadic living. Four years previously, Jackie and Mark gave up work to embark on a permanent road trip with four dogs. However, one Friday the 13th, forces beyond their control cause them to throw caution to the wind and buy a 30-year-old army truck sight unseen from the internet.
Their goal: to create an expedition truck fit to drive overland to Mongolia. Follow them as they dive headfirst into the daunting but thrilling task of converting this rugged vehicle into a perfect off-grid tiny house on wheels. Yet their first ever DIY van conversion proves to be a rollercoaster ride, when they sell their house to fund the build, and Friday the 13th comes back to haunt them. Is their confidence that, ‘there’s always a solution,’ misplaced?
With their relationship, sanity, and finances on the line, can they navigate the pitfalls of their first-ever build and avoid becoming homeless? Filled with quirky van life friends and unexpected twists, this is an inspiring tale of perseverance, friendship, and finding the courage to conquer the challenges that face those who dare to chase their dreams.
* The Beast made a guest appearance on Ben Fogle’s New Lives In The Wild
ARC Reviews:
“An honest and often funny account of the realities of when people actually begin to live their dream.” Anna Rashbrook, Author
“A page-turner!…You never know what will happen next!” Carrie Riseley, Author
“The trials and tribulations of building a home on six wheels, told with laughter and insight… a must read – even if it’s just to stop you making the same mistakes!” Maximilian Sam, Award-Winning Author
“This book is a fantastic look at designing a unique project and going for it with humor and perseverance. If one is tired of another ‘chucking it all and renovating an old house’ story, this is a quixotic twist that will keep you entertained.” Kari Iverson Lane
“Hugely inspirational, because I think many would have just given up trying, with all the things they had to put in place to get their dream of owning and converting The Beast off the ground. What a story – and a fabulously entertaining book/read.” Julie Haigh, Goodreads Librarian and Top 1,000 Amazon reviewer.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Lambert is an award-winning travel writer, adventure traveller, and dogmother, who loves history and curious facts.
BC (Before Canines) she rafted, rock-climbed, and backpacked around six of the seven continents. A passionate windsurfer and skier, she can fly a plane, has been bitten by a lion, and appeared on Japanese TV as a fire-eater.
AD (After Dog), she quit work in 2016 to hit the road permanently with her husband and four pooches. Initially, they were Adventure Caravanners, who aimed To Boldly Go Where No Van Has Gone Before.
Now, they’re at large in a self-converted six-wheel army lorry, with Mongolia in their sights.
All her books and the anthologies that include her travel stories are available on Amazon:
Photo: Mark, Jackie & The Fab Four with The Beast. Photo courtesy of @Liveration, who made a short film about the crew and their lifestyle on YouTube.
Once upon a time, an evil faerie queen traveled through the looking-glass with the cruelest of intentions…to curse a baby.
A Court of Broken Promises & Nightmares
Courts & Curses Book 2
by Michelle Helen Fritz
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy Regency Romance
Once upon a time, an evil faerie queen traveled through the looking-glass with the cruelest of intentions…to curse a baby.
When Alora meets her prince at a masquerade and shares a moonlight dance, her life is forever changed. As her heart longs for his promised return, she can't get his amber gaze far from her mind.
The Faerie Prince of the White Kingdom doesn't remember the night he fell in love with his true mate. Debauchery and unrest are twisting the subjects of Wonderland into sinister faeries, and the prince is suffering right alongside his people. With time ticking down to preserve the wonder of his land, he’ll need to battle his greatest foe and regain his lost memories or risk sacrificing everything.
With the help of the Resistance and a tutor with style and sass, Alora is destined to save the two kingdoms, but she’ll need to embrace the darkness in order to fulfill the prophecy. What Wonderland needs most is a savior. But she’s only ever been a simple English girl. No pressure there.
This is book two in a Regency fairytale re-telling mash-up series Courts & Curses with guaranteed happily ever afters and surprising twists to the tales you thought you knew. Adventure through the six Courts of Faerie in this shared universe as they battle the darkness that seeks to destroy their existence. Each book is written as a standalone with interconnecting characters and themes.
Michelle Helen Fritz began her literary career as a personal assistant to Indie authors. She enjoys being immersed in the process of turning an idea into a complete and published book. Michelle loves to write about dashing heroes and the compelling women that tempt them with a bit of intrigue and an abundance of romance, creating swoon-worthy characters and stories for her readers to enjoy. Occasionally, her characters talk to her and change the entire plot. Maryland is where her humble abode resides, housing her four home-schooled children along with her jaunty hero-husband who makes all her dreams come true. Michelle fully believes in happily-ever-afters and wishing upon stars.
My parents would lose their minds if they found out their precious daughter lost her virginity to the town’s notorious bad boy and ex-convict.
Ranger Adams might have been a dangerous pariah after he was released from prison, but he was the only man I wanted. And after I convinced him to take me on a date, I got exactly what my body…and heart desired.
I spent my entire life trying to get away from my parents’ overbearing grasp. They’ve tried to control every part of my life, even down to the man I was supposed to marry. That was the price of being born into one of the South’s richest families.
The second I had a chance to get away, I did. Ten years of pissing them off and making my dreams come true was worth the sacrifice. No fun. No relationships. And no sex.
My life had been all work until Ranger came back into town. Everyone whispered about what he’d done to land in prison. But I didn’t care.
He was rough around the edges, wild, and free.
And I wanted every bit of what he was willing to give me.
“Ranger,” she breathed, my name was a prayer on her lips.
I let her wrist go and reached down to pick her up. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as she kissed me, opening up fully and dipping her tongue into my mouth. She was so warm and sweet. Her little moans vibrated against my tongue making me want her mouth on another part of me.
I settled us on the couch and watched as she leaned back, threading her fingers through my hair. “I love that you have long hair.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked before bringing my thumb to her lower lip wondering what it might feel like to run the head of my cock over it.
Her tongue darted out between her lips and she took my thumb in her mouth, her cheeks hollowed as she sucked. “Mmhmm,” she mused. “It’ll make it easier to keep your head in place when it’s between my legs.”
My cock jolted. I yanked my thumb from her mouth and snagged her bottom lip between my teeth, suckling it with my tongue and lips before letting it go with a pop. When I smacked her ass, she ground her hips into me, another moan slipping out of her mouth. “You won’t have to keep me anywhere, babe. I’ll gladly feast on your sweetness for the rest of my fucking life.”
Her lids fluttered, eyes dazed with lust. “But what if I want to be the one to taste you?”
Fuck. Me.
Grabbing the back of her neck, I brought her closer so I could whisper in her ear, “You wanna taste me?”
Tendrils of her hair tickled my cheek as she nodded.
“Then let me give my girl what she wants.” I lifted her off me and stood before her. The fear I’d seen in her eyes before was gone. Erased with the heady need we felt for one another and I was thankful for it. This I could do. Watching her eyes trace my body as I unbuckled my belt and undid my jeans. Seeing her in pain had been too much for me to bear. My chest had felt like it was caving in.
But this. Just the two of us together. This I could do all fucking night. Hell. All day and night.
Her breathing quickened as her eyes darted to where my fingers slid under the edge of my boxers. “You’re sure?” I asked.
Those molten eyes looked back up at me. “Yes, I’m sure.”
With her permission, I hooked my thumbs into the band of my boxers and pulled them down. My cock was heavy, pulsing upward as she took me in.
She swallowed. “I’ve never done this before, Ranger.” Those beautiful eyes I loved so much were wary like I might flee from her admission. What she didn’t know was that I didn’t give a shit about her being experienced. I only wanted her.
“We’ll take it slow. Whatever you don’t want to do, just tell me, okay?”
She nodded again as I grabbed her hand and sat back down on the couch.
“Kneel,” I commanded and I watched as she lowered herself to her knees.
“Good girl.” Seeing her kneel between my legs nearly had me seeing stars from how much my dick throbbed. Dark eyelashes fanned over her cheekbones when she looked down at my length.
Author Bio:
Brianna Remus is a Florida-based author who lives with her husband, three pups, and terrorizing cat. She started her writing journey in 2016 to ward off the woes of graduate school. The light-hearted hobby quickly turned into a passion filled dream that consistently distracts her from the real world.
When Brianna isn't working as a psychology resident or writing books, you can find her getting lost in the worlds created by others (through writing and movies), spending a day at the ocean, or taking a walk in the forest. She loves to spend her days outdoors surrounded by the beauties of nature.
A true Tolkien nerd, she also spends a lot of her time immersed in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as praying that Amazon doesn't completely fuck up the new LOTR series.
Part of The Knights’ Missions. Sir Leopold’s first mission is supposed to be a chance to prove his valour. But, tasked with safely escorting Lady Arianwen to her husband-to-be, Leo finds he is little but a glorified bodyguard. Only the seemingly simple mission goes awry when Ari proves that she’s willing to do anything to get away from her impending nuptials. As attraction sparks between them, can Leo choose knightly duty over love and deliver Ari to her wedding?
Ella Matthews lives and works in beautiful South Wales. When not thinking about handsome heroes she can be found walking along the coast with her husband and their two children (probably still thinking about heroes but at least pretending to be interested in everyone else).
The Hand of the Gods has held all those who survived the Battle of Grandfather Mountain. Now, another has been born under the Fire of the Gods.
Fire of the Gods
The Sahra Chronicles Book 3
by Miriam Newman
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
The Hand of the Gods has held all those who survived the Battle of Grandfather Mountain, and now another has been born under the Fire of the Gods. Is it a sign of favor or does it mark him for death?
Sange, sister of Arak clan chieftain Javrik, has followed her husband, Arman, to his native land. But her people half a world away are occupied by forces of the mighty Empirate of Omana, and now she is in Alcinia, an ally of Omana. The Emperator’s sisters hold powerful positions there and, belatedly, she realizes that she and her infant son are hostages.
I fell in love long ago with fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends, as well as stories of heroes and battles. Ancient Celtic writings were my special passion, along with the Roman Empire, Roman Britain, the Norman invasion of England, and tales of the Vikings. My first book emerged when I was an...ahem...youthful 52. Well, I’m not 52 any more and up to 34 books and it’s been a great run.
Retired from many years in social work, now I pass my days writing, researching and living with a pack of highly demanding rescue dogs. I write in every genre I please, usually with a good dose of romance, and you can see my books at www.miriamnewman.com.
