In a moving story of love and loss, a corporate consultant leaves her life behind to care for her dying friend’s children—and finds hope with the small-town coach who steps up to the plate with her.
From the author of The Art of Starting Over comes a heartfelt portrait of what it means to build a family, as a young woman navigates grief, guardianship, and the bittersweet gift of falling in love.
The only thing that could pull Antonia Bernardi away from her high-powered career is her lifelong best friend. And with two children and a cruel prognosis, Miriam Vaughn needs her now more than ever.
Antonia drops everything—her job, her relationship—to be there for the Vaughns. Playing mom to Miriam’s teenage son and seven-year-old daughter is a tall order made heavier by grief. But the kids need her, and she needs them.
Then there’s the boy’s coach and mentor, former MLB star Weston Schmidt. He’s a pillar of support, a safe space for Antonia to rest. But there’s too much going on to even think about romance … or maybe that’s exactly why they should.
Adjusting to life without her best friend, Antonia leans into her new role as guardian, doing work she loves and repairing the old farmhouse Miriam cherished. Nothing can stop the world from spinning—but Antonia has every reason to keep on going.
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.
Dwight Holing is here to tell us about The Yellow Hair, a Nick Drake Novel - book 10, mystery, contemporary Western, Native American literature.
Read on for details...
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A Nick Drake Novel, Book 10
Mystery, Contemporary Western, Native American Literature
Date Published: 04-30-2026
Publisher: Jackdaw Press
New Badge. Old Blood.
Nick Drake traded his past for the Sheriff’s star, but Harney County
doesn’t do election honeymoons. His tenure kicks off with a double
homicide staged as a murder-suicide—a lie Nick isn't buying. As he digs
into the crime’s rotting core, the rookie Sheriff finds himself fighting
a war on two fronts: a lethal learning curve with unproven deputies and a
political recall designed to bury him. In the high lonesome where secrets
kill, Nick must strike first and strike hard. Because in this office, the only
thing shorter than his term is his life expectancy.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Potholes on a road I’d never traveled before grabbed at the wheels like
a bad conscience seeking redemption. It led to a ranch east of Burns
surrounded by withered hayfields scratched out of a dead sea of sage scrub.
Tumbleweeds hung on rusty strands of sagging barbed wire. The wind-scoured
house and barn looked ready to give up the ghost. If the call that brought me
out proved true, the owners already had.
A brand new 1980 Cadillac Sedan de Ville was parked out front. The color made
me think of the old saw about red skies in the morning. The driver’s
door opened and released a cloud of cigar smoke followed by a big man wearing
a pearl snap-button shirt and stockman boots. He set a summertime Stetson atop
his crew cut and eyed the seven-point gold star on the door of my rig.
“I take it you’re the new sheriff,” he said. “I heard
Harney County had a special election to fill the boots of the old one who got
hisself killed.”
“Nick Drake,” I said. “And you are?”
“Red Caldera.” He chuckled. “Yup, I know, heckuva moniker.
My folks idea at being clever. Pleased to make your acquaintance, though the
situation inside is none too pleasing. Couple been dead a week, be my
guess.”
When I didn’t make a move toward the house, he clicked his cheek.
“I woulda thought you’d charge right in, but maybe you don’t
know you’re s’posed to on account you’re new to
sheriffing.”
“If they’re dead like you say, what I need to know first is why
you went inside uninvited.”
The straw cowboy hat reared back as he aimed his double chin at me.
“Now, hold it right there. I didn’t do nothing wrong. I’m
the one called it in and I’m the one been cooling my heels on a hotter
than a firecracker morning waiting for you to show up.”
About the Author
Dwight Holing is the award-winning author of twenty books, including the
bestselling Nick Drake Mysteries and the popular Jack McCoul Capers. He is a
member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Western Writers of
America. He lives beside a coastal river in California with his wife and two
dogs who’d rather swim than walk.
Zoe Forward is here to tell us about Can't Shoot Whiskey, a contemporary romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
________________
Can’t Shoot Whiskey
Zoe Forward
Publication date: April 6th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Josh Hurst was supposed to be my forever. Instead, he became the villain in my origin story.
I gave him my heart. He broke it without flinching. So, I did what any self-respecting, heart-shattered girl would do—I declared war.
Our revenge game? Legendary.
Until I left for college and swore I’d never look back.
But life doesn’t care about vows made in the dark.
When my father dies unexpectedly, I’m dragged back to the hometown I outgrew, handed guardianship of my grieving kid brother, and forced to take over my father’s struggling veterinary clinic.
And waiting for me—like karma with a smirk—is Josh.
Not as a memory.
Not as a ghost.
But as my new business partner.
Avoiding him? Impossible.
Forgetting what we were? Laughable.
He still looks at me like I’m his. Like we’re a story paused instead of over. Like one spark is all it would take.
I pressed my lips tight to fight the smile dying to break free. “What happened to your face?”
He took off his glasses and shoved them in the white lab coat he wore over a green scrub top and khaki pants. “You’re late.”
“You’re blue.” I bit back a snicker.
His cheeks flushed.
A snort giggle escaped me. “Did you have a Braveheart re-enactment after baseball? I’ve never heard of that kind of kink, but to each his own, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s Blu-Kote.”
“The old fogie wound treatment stuff? Do you use that?”
“No.” He wiped ineffectively at his face. “This morning, a horse owner poured it on the hoof while I was looking at the abscess before I could stop him. The mare kicked it all over me. It won’t come off my skin, and it ruined my shirt.”
“Oh.” I compressed my lips to stop the laughter bubbling. A head duck helped while I threw my oversized purse on the client sofa. I reached for the bottle of alcohol off the shelf above the sink and grabbed a few cotton balls. “Hold still.”
“Stop laughing.” He waved at me when I got close to keep me away.
“I’m going to help you.” I saturated a cotton ball in alcohol and wiped his cheek. It didn’t come off easily since it had set into the skin. I rubbed harder.
“Oww.” He tried to bat me away. “Are you trying to peel off my skin?”
I held up the cotton ball to show the blue coming off. “Stop being a wuss. How many clients did you see like this?”
He put the laptop on the counter and crossed his arms. “A few.”
“You need to come up with a better story than some horse kicking it all over you.” I kept rubbing.
“I’m not going with kink as my story.”
I laughed so hard I had to step away from him and put down the cleaning items. I rubbed my eyes. “You’d have the ladies wondering.”
“I’d rather not be known as the Blue Man of the bedroom.”
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Zoe Forward is a parent, wife, veterinarian, and unapologetic chocolate lover. She writes spicy paranormal and contemporary romances that blend action, adventure, humor, and a touch of magic.
Zoe lives in the South with a lively menagerie of four-legged beasts and two slightly wild kids.
Stacy Eaton is here to tell us about her contemporary small-town romance Lance, book 4 Loving a Lancaster.
There's also a great giveaway.
______________________
When her world
loses its color, he’s the only one who can help her find the brush again.
Lance
Loving a Lancaster Book 4
by Stacy Eaton
Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance
As a Forensic Accountant, Lance Lancaster lives on facts and
the small details that get overlooked. When his firm takes on a new client, and
Aurora Moonshadow enters the room, the facts he lived by and relied on quickly
begin to vanish, leaving him in the unknown territory of protective gemstones
and Navajo folklore.
Aurora Moonshadow believes in signs and living every minute to the fullest.
After her father passes and she takes over the family business, she finds
herself unable to understand the dire situation her father left behind. That is
until Lance arrives to help her. The creativity that has been hidden by grief
quickly emerges after meeting him, and Aurora is on top of the world until her
protective bracelet breaks.
When Aurora goes missing, Lance returns to Sedona and will do just about
anything to help find her. Learning that she started painting again after their
one night together makes Lance even more determined to locate her and bring her
home safe.
Will they be able to find Aurora before everything she loves is destroyed,
including herself? Or will Lance be left with only her final painting?
Lance is the fourth book in the Loving a Lancaster Series.
This series spin-off of the Loving a Winston Series, which spins
off the Loving a Young Series.
Stacy Eaton is a USA Today Bestselling author and began her
writing career in October of 2010. Stacy took early retirement from law
enforcement after over fifteen years of service in 2016 due to a second serious
concussion. Her last three years on the job were in investigations and crime
scene investigation. She now writes full-time.
Stacy resides in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband,
who works in law enforcement. She has a daughter in college and a son who is
currently serving in the United States Navy.
Stacy writes a variety of genres, but mostly romance. She
enjoys writing real-life stories that people can relate to with real-life
problems, emotions, and solutions.
Her favorites: Classic cars, photography, Disney, music,
coffee, and her favorite sweatshirt that says, You are dangerously close to
getting killed in my next novel.
Miloa Scape is here to tell us about Broken Wings, Enchanted Series book 1, fantasy - steampunk.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Broken Wings
Miloa Scape
Publication date: April 7th 2026
Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk
When a city begins to fall, the truth rises.
On her tenth birthday, Marty Oakley expects comfort and celebration, not a city tearing itself apart. As Velarisca trembles and steam-powered defenses spiral out of control, Marty flees through chaos with her father, only to discover he is not who she believed him to be.
With the city collapsing around them, long-buried secrets surface and a hidden legacy awakens. Caught in a conspiracy stretching from the depths below to the skies above, Marty must face truths no child should ever carry, or lose everything she loves.
Broken Wings is a heartfelt steampunk fantasy prequel filled with wonder, danger, and unexpected adventure.
Why the kickstarter collector’s edition is special.
This is not just a book. It’s the beginning.
Broken Wings is a 20,000 word prequel novella and the very first story in the Enchanted Skies universe. It introduces Marty at age ten and her father who tried to protect her from a truth that was always going to catch up.
This edition will never be sold through retailers. It is only available through this Kickstarter, and later Miloa’s direct store. No algorithms. No middlemen. Just readers who chose to be here from the start.
Backers of this campaign will have their names printed in the book as founding readers, permanently recorded as the ones who helped this world take its first breath.
Miloa Scape is a speculative fiction author writing genre-blending stories that combine fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk with a strong emphasis on found family and character-driven storytelling. With an engineering background and extensive gaming experience, she brings a systems-focused approach to worldbuilding and narrative structure. Her debut project, Broken Wings, introduces a steampunk-inflected world that serves as the foundation for a larger speculative fiction series in development.
Megan Slayer is here to tell us about The Snob, dark romance, age gap.
Read on for details...
______________________
Dark Romance, Age Gap
Date Published: April 3, 2026
Carley Mathers isn’t just the “party girl” daughter of
a congressman. She’s more. But these days, in a world of fake friends,
she’s determined to keep only true ones close. Because she puts them at
arm’s length, her classmates at college refer to her as “The
Snob.” But she comes from wealth and means -- she shouldn’t be
able to mix with her bodyguard, right?
Dacre Jennings has been given the job of protecting Carley while she’s
off at college. The same classmates who make light of her silence also make
fun of him, too. He doesn’t care that they think she lives with the old
man. He’d rather she lived with him than alone. He sees the real woman,
and he’s been in love with her for as long as he’s worked for the
family.
With threats on her life, Dacre refuses to let Carley be used or abused.
He’ll put his life on the line for her, as long as he knows he’s
got her heart as well.
EXCERPT
Carley Mathers closed her notebook and put her pen back in the front pocket of
her backpack. She wasn’t a fan of taking notes, but the only way
she’d keep the dates for all the paintings straight was to write them
down.
“Going home to Grandpa?” Selena, one of the girls Carley thought
she might become friends with, asked. “Hang around people your own age.
Do some gambling. Party or something else that’s normal?”
“Would it kill you to go to the frat party?” Missy snapped.
“You like to drink. Guys like you. Might get us some action and we could
win some money, since you’ve got tons. You can spare some. Any of that
ring a bell?”
Carley rolled her eyes and zipped her backpack. She’d had enough of
those vices. It was time to grow up and settle down -- or at least take her
education seriously. Growing up the daughter of a politician and influencer
was bad enough, but she’d exploited her position for years.
She grabbed her backpack and turned on her heel, ignoring the women. She
hadn’t come to the University of Nevada to be sucked into a gambling
situation. She’d wanted to further her education.
“God, she’s such a fucking snob,” Missy said.
“Won’t talk to anyone.”
“That old man is her boyfriend,” Selena said. “Probably
won’t let her go out. Has to keep her on a leash.”
If they only knew… Carley left the lecture hall and met Dacre in the
lobby. “Hiya, Grandpa.”
“Grandpa?” Dacre left his post by the doorway and fell in step
with her. “That’s a new one.”
“Not all that new.”
“Who said it?”
She stopped near the entrance doors to the art building and nodded over her
shoulder. “The two brunettes over there. They wanted me to go to a frat
party and make a damn fool of myself. I’ve had it with those
days.”
He held the door for her as she stepped into the early October sunshine.
“It’s warmer than I thought it would be.”
“I don’t mind. I like the warmth.” She elbowed him as they
walked together. “They said I’m a snob.”
“You are.”
She jabbed him again. “Take that back.”
“Sorry, but no.” He kept walking. “You don’t talk to
anyone, don’t mix with your peers, and keep to yourself.”
“That doesn’t make me a snob.”
“No,” he said. “But you come to class wearing expensive
stuff and not talking much. It allows people to make up their own stories
about you. They know what you’ve done and expect you’ll keep doing
it.”
She sighed. She’d been such a bad girl in her younger days. Younger
days… who was she kidding? She was only nineteen. But in her short
years, she’d drunk most everyone under the table. She’d partied
more than anyone her age should’ve been doing and tried too many things
that should’ve been forbidden for someone underage. Being the child of
wealth meant no one kept her in line -- certainly not her parents. As far as
she was concerned, her parents used her bad behavior to further their own
causes.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to touch a
nerve.”
“It’s okay.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I can
hide my past. I can’t hide my name, either. Everyone thinks they know
who I am, but no one takes the time to get to know the real me.”
“You don’t exactly open yourself up to it.” He joined her at
the truck. “You’re a wonderful person and cute as a button, but no
one sees it. All they see is you keeping tight-lipped and away from
everyone.”
“Wouldn’t you?” She fell onto the passenger seat. She waited
for him to do a quick search of the vehicle before he joined her in the cab.
“All clear?”
“Clear.” He closed the driver’s side door. “I
don’t blame you for being guarded. I told you, it’s perfectly
fine. You’ve had a lot of attention, and I get why you don’t want
it.”
She clicked her belt into place. “But?”
“But you’re not going to escape it. Unless you change your name or
completely change your face, you’re going to have to put up with the
attention.” He put the truck into gear. “The girls said
you’re a snob?”
“And wanted me to go to a party to act the fool and get them
guys.” She arranged her backpack between her feet, then withdrew her
phone. The device buzzed, drawing her attention. “Sorry. I won’t
be your circus animal.”
“I’d like to think that’s not the case, but I’m sure
it is.” He drove across the student lot. “It doesn’t help
that I’m following you around and trying to keep you safe. They see me
around and think I’m some kind of old pervert.”
“My grandfather.” She swiped through the screens to her texts.
“You don’t look that old.”
“Grandfather?” he asked. “I’m only twenty years older
than you. Yes, I could be your father, but grandfather? I’m hurt.”
“You don’t look thirty-nine.”
“Forty, but who’s counting?”
“When did you turn forty?” She put her phone down and stared at
him. “Why didn’t I know when you had your birthday?”
She’d been oblivious for years, but this was inexcusable.
“Two months ago.” He shrugged and flexed his hands on the wheel.
“It’s okay. I try not to remember it.”
“That’s not right. We should’ve had a party.”
“You were moving into school. I had better things to do and you
didn’t need to be concerned with me.” He kept driving through
campus to the condominiums.
“I don’t care. I would’ve liked to have known so we
could’ve had a party, even if it was just you and me.” She
would’ve done something nice for him and even bought a present.
“Your father told me to keep it quiet.”
“He’s a jackass.” She wasn’t the biggest fan of her
famous father. “I hate that he said that.”
“It’s okay.”
“Stop saying that.” She picked her phone up again. “This
stupid thing won’t stop buzzing. I don’t have anything due or
reminders set.” She’d been careful to note when she had to turn in
projects and if she had tests so she didn’t blow her grade point
average. She refused to keep riding her parents’ coattails.
“What’s up?” He parked in the garage of the condo they
shared. “Another test?”
“Nope.” She scrolled through the message, then swiped to her email
where she read the rest of the information. “Fucking hell.”
“Watch your mouth.” He put the garage door down and took the key
from the ignition. “What’s wrong?”
She sighed and scrolled through the mandate again. “It would appear my
father is being considered for a role in the president’s cabinet and he
-- my father -- has decided to have a party. He’s dictating I show up at
said party and that I wear something slinky, he says, so I can attract a
husband. The president’s son will be there, as well as the son of a
diplomat and some dipshit who has an artificial intelligence startup. Why is
he throwing me at these men? What if I don’t like them?”
“You don’t.”
“Duh.” She turned her phone over on her lap. “He’s
sending the private jet to come get me.”
“Don’t you have a test on Monday?”
“I do. Art history.” She folded her hands on her phone. “I
don’t want to go, but I can’t refuse him.”
“I know.” He opened the driver’s side door. “But it
would’ve been nice if he’d have told me.” He rounded the
hood to her side of the truck.
“You didn’t know?”
“Nope.” He slid his phone from his back pocket. “Not a
word.”
“You’re coming with me.” She insisted on it.
“I’m not going if you don’t.”
“I’m not leaving you to those wolves.” He opened her door
for her. “Sweets, I’m stuck to you like glue.”
“You’re good glue.” She grasped his hand and squeezed his
fingers. She’d had a crush on him for years but kept that to herself. He
didn’t see her as a desirable woman. She was “cute as a
button.” What young woman wanted to hear that? It was a kiss of death.
Like telling her she was one of the guys. She allowed him to help her from the
truck, then stumbled forward into his arms.
“Hi.” He crooked his brow. “You okay?”
She’d always felt a tingle when he touched her. Now, that tingle had
turned into full electrical jolts. Her pussy throbbed and she longed to kiss
him. He didn’t look forty. Hell, he barely looked thirty. What he did
look like was sexy enough that she wanted to wrap herself around him. He was
just her type -- older, tall, slightly graying at the temples, a weathered
look around his eyes and just the right amount of stubble on his cheeks and
chin to abrade her skin. Plus, he had killer blue eyes.
“Carley?” He tipped his head. He’d started wearing a
baseball cap and zipped hoodie to blend in more with the college students.
“You’re staring at me.”
“What’s not to stare at?” She stayed in his arms and sighed.
“You’re…” She almost said dreamy, but that
wasn’t right. He was dreamy, but he was more than that. With him, she
felt safe. Respected. Heard.
“Not me,” he said. “I’m not supposed to be touching
you.”
“Do you want to?” She stood and righted herself, trying to look
less flustered. “Sorry. I should behave.” She grabbed her backpack
before hurrying into the condo. She’d made a fool of herself and hated
that she’d allowed herself to be vulnerable, even if only for a second.
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.
Mya Kay is here to tell us about The Essence of His Soul, a contemporary romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
____________________
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?
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.
