Author Spotlight - Max Vos

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT and BACKLIST PROMOTION

MAX VOS

BOOK 1

Book Title: Going Home (Book is also available in French and Italian)

Cover Artist: A. J. Corza

Length: 47 021 words/ 122 pages

Release Date: February 14, 2016

Pairing:  MMM

Genres: Menage

Tropes: Forbidden Love

Heat Rating: 5 flames    

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads 

Buy Links

Author's Website  |  B&N  |  OverDrive

Kobo  |  Paperback

 Is Love truly ‘Love is Love’?

Blurb 

Journalist Carter Roberts was required to interview Carl Foltz and Matt Evans for an article on their lives. It was not an assignment he relished: he just wanted to get there, get it done and get out. Thinking about the subject matter made his stomach churn. The interview reveals as much about himself as about the two men, and for the first time, Carter learns what a real home feels like. He never would have expected that meeting the two men would change his way of thinking - and his life - forever.

BOOK 2

Book Title: Play Chopin for Me

Cover Artist: A. J. Corza

Length:  222 pages

Release Date: May 2017

Genres: M/M  Fairy Tale

Themes: Music, Cuisine

Heat Rating: Three flames

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon  |  Everand  |  Smashwords

Fire ignites love with music and food.

Blurb 

After a devastating fire, Dale Lusk shows up at his sister’s door in nothing but his boxers and a raincoat, desperately needing her help. Losing both his restaurant and home has left Dale without direction or a place to live. While pushing her handsome brother into a new wardrobe to match his model looks, Chrissie introduces Dale to Al Borkowski. Al is in desperate need of a roommate before his grandmother takes more control of his life. Little did Chrissie know when she pushed the two men together the sparks that would fly and the changes that would happen in all of their lives.

BOOK 3

Book Title: The V Unit

Length: 83 866 words/290 pages

Release Date: July, 2014

Genres: M/M Romance

Themes:  Military, Paranormal

Heat Rating: 5 flames

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Content Warning: This books contains a scene of sexual assault.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |  B&N  |  Smashwords

Blurb 

Only a select few in the human world knew of the existence of the V-Unit, a small group of highly trained Marines - who happened to be vampires.
And it would have stayed that way.
But when events in the vampire world threatened the stability of the human world, the powers that be called for the unit's specialized services.
An intrepid war correspondent, Bronson Rudan, who'd seen more than his fair share of fighting, stumbles across the unit by accident, and is drawn into their world.
Bronson has no problem with that, given that he gets to spend time with a hunky Marine Lieutenant, Sarge. Although he won't remember any of this when they're through.
At least, that was the plan...

BOOK 4

Book Title:  Life After Living

Length:  96 350 / 300 pages

Release Date: June, 2016

Genres: MM, Romance, Military, Fiction, Contemporary, Drama, Disability 

Themes: PTSD, Male Bonding

Heat Rating: 5 flames

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Smashwords 

Blurb 

Two men: each trying to cope with PTSD. 

Vance Spence is suffering from yet another loss. The episodes are becoming more and more frequent. Only time will tell if he will be able to cope with yet another person leaving him. 

Wade Farmer recently returned from Afghanistan only to have his family disown him for loving another man. He also is suffering from loss. When the two are put together, neither are comfortable with the situation, but agree to give it a try. 

Two different lives. Two different men. Two different experiences, but common ground gives each of them understanding. Are they strong enough to battle their own demons as well as the others? Only time will tell.

BOOK 5

Book Title: A Christmas Memory

Length: 22 293 words/ 55 pages

Release Date: November 2013

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, Christmas, Holiday Romance, Short Story

Tropes: Teacher falls for the football coach.

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 Santa Claus Delivers

Blurb 

J.J. has always hated the holidays. Presents, decorations, the traditional family Christmas…It’s all his colleagues in the staffroom can talk about. J.J. avoids these conversations like the plague. He’d do anything to keep his co-workers from seeing the real J.J, the gay man who doesn’t want to be noticed. When he slips up and reveals that he is all alone with no plans for Christmas, the well-meaning ladies of his high school want to take him in for the holidays.
Oh hell….
Enter Coach Adam Sutton who comes to his rescue—and now J.J. is trapped by this hulk of a man who won’t take no for an answer. And he would have to be someone J.J finds attractive, wouldn’t he? Too bad he’s straight and J.J’s not about to step out of the shadows and make a move on him. He likes his arms where they are, thank you very much.
But Adam has a secret, one which is going to turn J.J’s world upside-down. Adam wants to give J.J. a Christmas to remember, but as it turns out, both men’s lives are never going to be the same again…

About the Author 

Max Vos is best known for his ‘inappropriate’ side. Bringing readers a range of stories with an unexpected edge. His bestselling novel My Hero is a hot and steamy romance, while his banned book Going Home questions what you know of love. With something for everyone, there is a Max Vos book for you.

 Creativity has been a lifelong passion for Max, who retired from being a chef in 2011 and turned to writing. His strong relationships with the women in his life influence his stories and Max’s Southern charm shines through. Each new book will give you something to explore and love.

Author Links

Website  |  Blog  |   Facebook  |  Instagram  

Giveaway

Comment on this blog post to win your choice of ebook by Max Vos.

Say which book you would choose and why.

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Leaving Winter for a Desert Sky by Skylar Lyralen Kaye

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Leaving Winter for a Desert Sky

Author and Publisher: Skylar Lyralen Kaye

Cover Artist: 100 Covers

Release Date: January 2, 2025

Third person/Past tense/Single POV

Genres: Literary Queer Fiction

Tropes: Recovery, family dysfunction, queer friendships

Themes: Mother/daughter, homecoming, recovery

Length: 68 000 words/234 pages

Heat Rating: 3 flames

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links 

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK 

B&N  |  Walmart  |  Kobo

A reluctant prodigal queer daughter returns to her dysfunctional alcoholic family and struggles to climb out of her familiar role of savior.

Blurb 

Erin has spent the last six years abroad, teaching English in Spain, France, Japan. Now, she’s back home in Maine for Christmas, for the first time in years. Her abusive father, Thomas, made it clear that Erin, a lesbian, was not welcome in the house, but her mother, Janet, recently ended the marriage, then invited Erin to come home for the holiday. “Just us three girls,” says Janet, including Erin’s younger sister, sixth grader Beth—though Thomas tends to show up at night drunk and sit in his car in front of the house. Erin bickers with Janet even as she helps her mother get on her feet—setting her up a bank account, making her a resume to apply for jobs—but when it becomes clear her father is trying to reconcile, Erin—who isn’t ready to forgive—leaves for Mexico. She takes a bus to Arizona, where her drinking and her guilt over abandoning Beth get the better of her. She stops in Tucson to attend some Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. With the help of her no-nonsense sponsor, Maggie, Erin attempts to make sense of her life up to this point, beginning with the tumult of her parents’ marriage. As Janet plans to come down to Tucson to visit her, Erin must consider the possibility that she didn’t have one abusive parent, but two. Kaye captures Erin’s complex emotional journey with elegant, salt-of-the-earth economy. “They have a saying about people who keep running away,” Janet tells Erin at one point. “Things catch up with you sooner or later.” While many aspects of Erin’s situation and her reactions to it—substance abuse, sabotaged love, solo travel, motorcycles—may strike the reader as slightly predictable, Kaye fashions her in such a way that she feels like an individual rather than a cliche. It’s a breezy read despite the dark subject matter, and the reader quickly gets swept up in Erin’s redemptive saga.

KIRKUS REVIEWS
Our verdict: Get it!
A raw, emotional novel of recovery and familial reckoning. 
A reluctant prodigal daughter returns to her dysfunctional family in Kaye’s debut literary novel.
It’s a breezy read despite the dark subject matter, and the reader quickly gets swept up in Erin’s redemptive saga.

MELIZA BANALES, Lambda Award Finalist

Skylar Lyralen Kaye’s “Leaving Winter for a Desert Sky” is a striking and rebellious coming of age story. With every pit stop, AA meeting, and second chance Kaye’s raw portrayal of Erin—a complex survivor turned adventurer— offers a snapshot of a young Queer finding her way through trauma and leaving room for hope, even in the most unexpected places. 

TINA D’ELIA, Award-winning poet and Solo Performer
Riveting and timely! In Leaving Winter for a Desert Sky Erin, a young world traveler returns home, where ghosts, family, and unexpected arrivals challenge her in ways to which any reader can relate. Erin travels through lovers’ beds, desert skies, and looming memories in this novel of relationship cliffhangers.

Excerpt 

Erin stood in the school hallway, shaken out of the six years of her life in Spain, France, and Japan by her mother’s voice. She could feel the moment like a snapshot, a stilled image before everything shifted away from her toward an end she couldn’t see. Until now, Erin had told herself it was easy to endure her mother’s hostility on her yearly visits, easy to stay with friends and sneak to see her sister, and easy, always, to leap again onto the wide sweep of road she’d taken to get away from home.  In the beginning of December, the secretary at the language institute in Madrid where Erin taught English had come into an empty classroom and handed her a message. She stood dumbfounded at first, blonde eyelashes shading her pale blue eyes, almost too shocked to recognize her mother’s name. She had looked at the secretary’s dark skin, into her darker eyes, before turning to the classroom window. Fumes from the cars blew up from the street; the gray Madrid sky shifted so a brief glimpse of light slipped through as if by mistake. She opened the note. It said to call whenever she could. Now.

The secretary waited. Erin extended her lower lip and exhaled, blowing up the bangs that hung over her forehead. She spoke in her native American. “Shit,” she said. “What does she want?” She stuffed the note in the pocket of her Oxford shirt and spun so fast her long red gold braid flew over her shoulder with a soft thud.Halfway out the door she stopped and turned around. The white blue of her attention washed over the secretary, bathed her and held her up as Erin smiled an apology, her face changing from bone-hard to a gentle mirth, as if she and the 

shared a secret, as if they were the only people in the world. The secretary had smiled back. People usually did.

Erin walked around with the message in the pockets of different shirts for almost a week. She’d didn’t want to zoom on her iPad; her mother didn’t know she had one. She’d dumped her last burner—too many women calling after one-night stands—so she could truthfully email her mother and say she didn’t have a phone and didn’t plan to get one. After all, she didn’t plan. She usually just procrastinated for a week or two between burners. She’d avoided her mother’s calls as she did those of the stalker women. The sound of her mother’s voice sent stitches of cold threading through her stomach. She didn’t want to call back.

About the Author  

Skylar Lyralen Kaye, fae/they is a queer social justice and award-winning writer as well as a lifelong activist. They have a BA in English from the University of Arizona and an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College. They were nominated for a Pushcart Prize in Fiction in 1997 and were a finalist for the 2005 Massachusetts Cultural Council of the Arts Awards in Playwriting. They have published in literary journals such as Calyx, Persona, Phoebe, Girlfriends, Happy Magazine and the anthology Out of the Ordinary, Children of LGT Parents as well as winning the Boston Amazon Poetry slam finals and performing on the slam team.  Their foray into filmmaking brought awards that include the 2021 NE Film Star Award as well as 12 film festival awards for the web series Assigned Female at Birth. In theater, they won 2018 Best in Fringe at the San Francisco Fringe for the one person show My Preferred Pronoun Is We, in 2017 the Moth Story Slam and 2018 the Boston Story Slam. Some other awards include: the 2015 Meryl Streep Writers Lab for Screenwriters and the 2002 Stanley and Eleanor Lipkin Prize in Playwriting. Kaye’s memoir, Bachelorx, will be released in 2026 For a complete list of awards and credits please visit https://lyralenkaye.com/

Author Links

Facebook  |  Bluesky  |  Instagram  |   Substack

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Falling for the Professor by Colette Davison

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Falling for the Professor (Falling for You #1)

Author and Publisher: Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Colette Davison

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Tense/POV: First person, present tense/alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Age-gap (8 years), professor/university student, secret relationship

Themes: Self-discovery, learning to love again

Heat Rating:  4 flames    

Length: 50 000 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal link

I wanted to distract the professor; I didn’t expect to fall for him.

Blurb

Richard’s wife cheated on him, and his marriage has fallen apart. He’s in desperate need of a distraction, and I volunteer. 

The problem?

He lectures at the university where I study. Fooling around with students is frowned upon. But with my graduation right around the corner, it’s a risk we’re willing to take. Besides, it’s only one night. Isn’t it?

As one night of passion turns into several, will we be able to keep our relationship secret until after graduation?

Falling for the Professor is a high-heat, 50,000-word contemporary M/M romance, with an eight-year age-gap, lots of sneaking around, encounters in semi-public places, and a lecturer who discovers he loves being called ‘Professor’.

Excerpt

“Still alone?” I ask casually.

Richard glances at me and then nods.

“I could be wrong, but isn’t whisky best drunk cold? I’m not much of a whisky drinker myself.”

“You prefer beer?”

I smile. “Yeah, although I’m on non-alcoholic stuff tonight.” I tap my pocket so my keys jangle.

“I was intending on getting so drunk I wouldn’t be able to drive.”

“How’s that going?”

He picks up his glass, sloshes the warm whisky, and sets it down. “Terribly.” He glances over his shoulder. “Where are your friends?”

“They left.”

“And you didn’t go with them?”

“I can still catch up with them. I wanted to make sure you were okay, first.”

He frowns. “Why?”

Because he’s gorgeous and I hate seeing him sad? “Want to talk about it?”

He stares at me, lips quivering as though he’s having an internal debate about whether to confide in me or not.

“I won’t tell anyone.”

“Gossip has a habit of spreading on campus.”

“It won’t come from me.” I cross my fingers over my heart. 

He holds up his left hand and wiggles his bare ring finger. “I caught my wife cheating on me.”

I suck in a breath. “Shit. That’s rough. Sorry.”

He drops his hand. “Which is why I had every intention of getting shit-faced.”

“But—?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I got here, ordered the drink and…” 

“Didn’t feel like getting drunk after all?”

“Exactly.”

“What do you want to do?” 

He drags his stare away from his drink and pins it on me. He has the most beautiful honey brown eyes. Breathless, I’m helpless to do anything but stare back.

“I don’t want to be alone,” he whispers.

I grin. “Then you’re in luck.”

He raises his eyebrows. “I am?”

“Yeah. It just so happens I’m great company.”

He chuckles softly and raises his lips into the faintest hint of a smile. “Are you now?”

“Want me to stick around so you can find out if I’m telling the truth or not?”

He’s silent for a moment, searching my eyes for something. “I’d like that.”

About the Author 

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

BookBub   |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  |  Instagram: @colettedavison

Mailing List  |   Newsletter Sign-Up

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The Heaven Trilogy by Reni Stankova

SERIES TOUR and NEW RELEASE

The Heaven Trilogy by Reni Stankova

A Queer Fantasy of Angels, Demons, and Forbidden Love 

MM Gay Epic Fantasy 

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 2 - 3 flames

The stories are best read in order.

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1

Book Title: The Enemy of Heaven

Cover Artist: GetCovers

Length: 100 000 words

Release Date: second edition, February 2025

Tense/POV: third person, past tense, alternating POV.

Genres: MM Gay Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Tropes: Political intrigue, forbidden love, power couple, slow burn

Themes: No homophobia (sexuality doesn’t play a role in the plot), however, there’s in-world racism and police brutality

It can be read as a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. It's a Happy For Now ending

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

In a kingdom ruled by angels, falling for a demon is treason.

Blurb

As an angel prince of Heaven, Raphael has spent his youth fighting for demon rights. His efforts are fruitless until he meets Dante, a demon with dangerous powers.

Seeing potential, Raphael recruits him as his royal guard, scandalizing the court, and turning a demon into his closest ally in a mission to dethrone the King of Heaven.

Dante has always hated angels, but after Prince Raphael saves him from execution, he couldn’t help but follow him. Being the only demon among the angel elite is unbearable, but for the first time, he has hope for the future.

But a coup is a dangerous game. Can Dante protect Raphael long enough for him to ignite real change? And what does it mean for the Kingdom of Heaven when an angel and a demon dare to fall for each other?

Finalist of the 2023 Indies Today Awards.

BOOK 2

Book Title: The Secrets of Heaven

Cover Artist: MiblArt

Length:  105 000 words

Release Date: second edition, February 2025

Tropes: Quest fantasy, established couple, power couple, couple on the lam

Themes: more classism than racism in this one, travel adventure vibes

It is not a standalone story and ends on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

 An angel and a demon defied Heaven. Now Heaven hunts them across the world.

Blurb

Five years of stolen peace in the mountains ends when Archangel Remiel, Heaven’s most elite investigator, finds Raphael and Dante’s sanctuary. Tasked with sending the fugitives to their lawful executions, she forces the couple into a life on the run.

Meanwhile, Raphael stumbles upon a clue to his mother’s lost legacy—the archeological artifact that caused her murder all those years ago might be within reach, and it might throw all of Heaven into chaos.

So, the chase is on.

Raphael and Dante travel through three continents, on their way to a secluded island in the Holy Land while evading Remiel’s elite guardian squad. With a prize for their capture, they’re forced to clash with old friends and foes, all eager to exploit their situation for personal gain, and their bond is tested in ways they never imagined.

But the closer they get to the truth, the higher the stakes become. What secrets lie buried in the Holy Land? And will Heaven survive what they uncover—or will it burn?

BOOK 3 - NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Children of Heaven

Length:  115 000 words

Release Date: November 1, 2025

Tropes: Angels and demons, rebellion, married couple, power couple

Themes: Themes of belonging, family, tragedy

It is not a standalone story. It does not end on a cliffhanger. A Happily Ever After.

Goodreads  |  Buy Links

To build a better world, they must first burn the old one down.

Blurb

Michael Azelys has awakened a long-forgotten power, and for the first time in a thousand years, angels, demons, and virtues clash in a brutal uprising, reminiscent of the Great War.

Determined to stop his brother, Raphael becomes the key to ending the centuries-long oppression of demonkind. He will return free will to the demons, or die trying.

Far away, Dante braves the desolate Impact Land in search of other awakened demons like himself. What he discovers exceeds his wildest hopes. But will he return in time, with an army strong enough to stop Michael Azelys, and save his loved ones?

As Heaven crumbles and distance tests their bond, Raphael and Dante must face their greatest fears and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice.

Will they survive long enough to meet each other again?

Excerpt From Book #1: The Enemy of Heaven

Without saying a word, Samuel Mitrigard sunk the knife deep into Dante’s side. Piercing pain ignited his senses and weakness spread through his body. He gritted his teeth and glared at the bastard, not giving him the satisfaction of hearing his anguish. Samuel pulled the blade out without even twisting it to finish the job. He was playing.

“Drop him,” he ordered, ever so casually.

The arms pulled away and Dante fell face-first into the dirt. So, this was the end. Dante could never imagine his death, even though he had many close brushes. There were many things he hadn’t done in his life, but at least he took solace in knowing that Peter and Dianna were safe.

Samuel Mitrigard grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled Dante’s head. The edge of an impeccably clean sword lowered to his exposed throat.

“Halt!”

The guardian angels froze and gawked as a hooded figure appeared. Dante could swear he saw this hooded figure, but his vision was blurring quickly. The man walked closer and removed his hood, exposing a blond head and blue angel eyes.

“Don’t kill this demon! I order you to release him in the name of Raphael Azelys, Third Prince of Heaven!”

What did he say? Dante couldn’t trust his ears, or any of his other senses at this moment. A royal heir could not be in the ghetto. It made no sense. Though the guardians were suddenly standing to attention. Everyone but Samuel Mitrigard still held his prey by the hair, his sword still ready to slice.

“Your Highness, I don’t know why you’re here alone, but this is not the place for royalty.”

“Please, guardian Samuel, tell me exactly where my place is.”

Dante felt the body behind him tense. The soles of ridiculously expensive boots stepped close enough for him to smell the leather.

“Remove your weapon,” demanded the prince.

His voice was so calm, as though an owner was asking his dog to drop its favorite toy. The guardians were looking at each other, clueless as to what to do. Samuel Mitrigard pressed the blade against Dante’s throat, enough to break the skin, but no further. He simply did not want to let go, not even when his sovereign demanded it.

“Your Highness, this is a convicted murderer. He killed a guardian on duty—”

“Any demon’s crimes are erased should they become an honorary angel,” the prince interrupted. “I’m here to make him into one.”

“What?”

“Give him to me, guardian Samuel.”

The guardian tugged on Dante’s hair—one last act of defiance before he reluctantly let him go. Dante’s face planted back into the dirt, but the prince caught him in time.

His vision was blurry, but he could see him. His Royal Highness Raphael Azelys was kneeling before him, supporting his chin in his palm, enough so they could establish eye contact.

“From now on, you’re mine,” he said, and the world sank into darkness.

About the Author 

A bilingual author from Bulgaria, a dreamer, a traveler, and a gentle soul who loves writing about diverse power couples, original worlds, wholesome romance and political intrigue.

Author Links

Website  |  Newsletter sign-up 

Instagram  |  BookBub

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Of Dungarees, Wellies, and Wedding Dresses by Alexa Milne

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Of Dungarees, Wellies, and Wedding Dresses

Author: Alexa Milne

Publisher: Fictionwide

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Release Date: 21st October

Tense/POV: first person/past tense/alternating POV 

Genres:  Contemporary FF Romance

Tropes: Break-up, new life, plus-size rep, working women, independent women

Themes: Bi-sexual awakening, strong women, family life

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 63 906 words/228 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.  HEA

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon  |   Kobo   |  B&N 

Blurb 

My name is Chrissy Wychling. I’m a divorced clothes designer and tailor in my mid-thirties. I've recently made a momentous decision and moved from Kent to the Yorkshire Dales to start a new business selling wedding dresses for larger brides. I didn't come to this new place looking for love, or even a relationship, but then I met Beth, and a whole new world of possibilities beckoned.

My name is Beth Nethering. My family has farmed this land for hundreds of years. As a child, I dreamed of getting away, and I did. I went to university, found a great job, got married, and had a child. I had my life mapped out then, ten years ago, everything changed. I made some tough decisions. I moved back to the family farm with my daughter then I set about rescuing the place. Now, we milk sheep not cows, we have glamping pods for tourists, and I've just rented the barn to Chrissy who sells wedding dresses. Me, I'm more used to wearing dungarees and wellies. I’m surprised but strangely flattered when Chrissy flirts with me. It's only a bit of fun, isn't it?

Excerpt

“So,” Beth began. “As you can see the barn is substantial, and there’s plenty of room for parking. You’ll have your own separate entrance, so your customers won’t have to come onto the farm. We didn’t want to turn it into another house so close to ours, so this seemed the perfect use. The place has undergone significant changes in the last ten years.”

“I suppose farmers have to diversify to make ends meet these days.”

“We do. If we depended on farming, we wouldn’t manage. It’s as simple as that.” I noted Beth didn’t explain further. Well, she doesn’t know me from Adam yet, so fair enough. “Right. Shall we go in?”

 I followed Beth up the ramped entrance, noting the low threshold doors that opened wide enough to let more than one person enter. The space we stepped into was huge.

“As you can see we’ve left the insides for you to configure, though there is a small kitchen and toilet facilities at the other end. We’ve made it so people can plan for themselves. I’m not sure what you’ll need, but Stan, our builder will sort everything for you. We’ve added a good security system too, which I’ll explain later.”

 I stepped to the middle of the space and turned slowly, imagining where everything I needed could go.

“What do you think?” Beth’s question interrupted my thoughts.

“I need a space for changing rooms, storage of the dresses, and a space for the customers to show off to their friends and family. Prospective brides hardly ever shop alone, and some bring a large entourage. I want this place to be a destination for women in the north. Each visit will be especially for them. Each person will have an appointment though I won’t stop people just dropping in. Each will get fitted by me. Each will get advice. Each will be able to feel confident they will get the dress which makes them look as incredible as they all deserve.” I stopped. 

Beth stared at me, eyes wide, with a blush on her cheeks.

“Sorry. I can go on. My sister-in-law had a terrible experience from haughty women staring down their noses at her until I found a designer who catered for someone her size. I saw the joy on her face the day she first put on the dress, and the same joy the day she wore it to marry my brother.” I didn’t explain how my ex-wife thought specialising in large sizes was financial suicide.

“I understand,” Beth said. “And I think it’s a lovely idea. I lost weight to fit into my dress.”

“I didn’t realise you were married,” I blurted out before my brain kicked into gear.

“I’m not. Not anymore. Divorced ten years ago. We still keep in touch, and he does all the farm accounts, but he lives in London with his second wife. Our daughter spends time with him during the holidays.”

“How old is she—your daughter?”

“Amy is seventeen going on thirty-five like most teenage girls. Unlike a lot though, she has a sensible head on her shoulders.” Beth glanced out of a window. “And she loves this place.”

“Just like you do?” 

Beth sighed. I have no doubt there was a whole history in that sigh. “Me?” She shrugged. “I grew up hating it. Couldn’t wait to get away. But you don’t always get what you want from life, do you?

About the Author 

Originally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over forty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions.

Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing.

She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.

Social Media Links

Blog   |  Facebook  |   Bluesky  |   Twitter/X

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The Missing Sentinel (D’Vaire, Book 45) by Jessamyn Kingley

COVER REVEAL

Book Title: The Missing Sentinel (D’Vaire, Book 45)

Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley

Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: November 6, 2025

Genre: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Trope: Fated mates

Themes: Love

Heat Rating:  3 flames 

Length:  86 500 words

It is a standalone story. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Ducarius is determined to find the missing sentinel. 

When he succeeds, both men are stunned to discover they are mates.

Blurb

Skeleton Lord Ducarius Daray lives in a beautiful home with his loving family. Formerly a sentinel who had been stripped of his humanity, Ducarius does not dwell on his past. He finds fulfillment in his job, training with his daggers, and spending time with the Darays. But a mystery plagues his people, and Ducarius often searches for the lone missing sentinel.

In a realm far removed from the Council, Drexley dwells in a peaceful castle alongside the necromancer who was once tied to his soul. His days are spent ensconced in a library, refining his mind with a myriad of books. But his life is no longer idyllic, and Drexley fears the future. The land is crumbling. And his only family member is dying. 

On yet another hunt for Drexley, Ducarius notices a magical anomaly and promptly falls into a decaying realm where he discovers his prey—who happens to be his mate. The attraction is strong, but they have little in common. Drexley is unlike other sentinels, and proud of his differences. However, his memory is poor, and there are things he cannot explain. Like why neither man can leave.

Together, they traverse a perilous path—one with secrets waiting to be revealed. Love is a noble goal, but it will take more than determination for these men to embrace Fate’s promise of a happy matebond.

Excerpt 

Frustrated that he’d spent hours gaining no information about whatever nefarious plans the Consilium Veneficus had, Ducarius nearly missed the ripple in the air. It was an odd wave in the sky that immediately reminded Ducarius of the magical anomalies found in the former compound that had boxed in skeletons like himself. Ducarius stood still and waited patiently to see if he was somehow hallucinating or if he’d indeed noticed a glitch in his surroundings.

For countless minutes, Ducarius remained motionless. But his fists clenched in triumph, and he held in a cheer when he noticed the irregularity again. Perhaps my entire evening wasn’t wasted after all, Ducarius thought as he inched closer to the abnormality. It took far too long for the stupid variance to repeat itself. 

But Ducarius was ready for it. He kept his hand lifted and slipped his fingers through the subtle wave that probably would’ve gone unnoticed by anyone not familiar with the way magic distorted if left too long without the original spell being repaired. Thankfully, Ducarius had a bit of experience with the like, and he grinned like a fool as his fingertips disappeared through the anomaly. 

Ducarius tugged his phone out of his pocket to record what he’d witnessed so he would be able to bring it to Alaric and Chander’s attention as soon as he arrived home. In his haste, Ducarius dropped the damn device and cursed his unusual awkwardness. He bent forward to grab the phone and, to his horror, tumbled forward.

The world spun, and Ducarius barely bit back a shriek as the world disappeared beneath his feet. Suddenly dizzy, he squeezed his eyes shut. He was being teleported somewhere. That much was clear. But where? Thankful to be invisible, Ducarius hit the ground. His teeth clacked together, and he braced himself to stand.

Several things hit Ducarius at once. But the most irritating was the tug on his mind. It was a spell he recognized. At the now-destroyed compound, his memory had been drained without his permission. This version wasn’t as strong, but Ducarius immediately resented the manipulation.

Setting aside his anger, Ducarius noted he was in a small realm. There were others present. A necromancer. Ducarius’s lips curled into a smile as he recognized one of his own—there was a sentinel in the realm too. Had he found Drexley? There were a few other muted presences. Temporary resurrections done without bringing forth the personalities of the people in question. Their tiny life force reminded Ducarius of the reproductions Chander often did to add to the atmosphere of their annual All Hallow’s Eve party.

Desperate to know more about where he was, Ducarius stood and took in his surroundings. The realm was tiny. A large castle was set in the middle, and the gardens were eroding. Whoever had created it was incapable of keeping up with their spells or no longer cared to continue the practice.

Fully prepared to investigate the structure and adjacent land before introducing himself to the people inside, Ducarius wasn’t prepared for the castle door opening. His blood surged south, and his dick filled in his first erection. A sense of euphoria danced through him. Instead of a single scent, Ducarius was bombarded by everything he liked, and it coalesced into an indescribable but beautiful smell he immediately loved.

His mate was feet away. The sentinel was over six feet, like nearly all their people. But instead of a gray uniform, the man wore a long velvet robe that had been considered fashionable by sorcerers centuries ago. His blond hair was short and combed away from his face. Unlike any other sentinel Ducarius had met, his other half had a goatee and mustache. 

Ducarius thought the contrast was wonderful and was suddenly eager to learn everything that made this man special. With his heart racing and his palms sweaty, Ducarius dropped his invisibility, moved forward, and noted the light brown eyes rounded in shock.

“Are you Drexley?” Ducarius asked as he closed the short distance between them.

The surprise disappeared and was immediately replaced with suspicion. “How do you know my name?”

“Every sentinel knows your name. You have been missing for five hundred years.”

“What are you doing to make me feel so odd?”

“I do not understand.”

Drexley’s cheeks pinkened, and he broke eye contact. “It would be disrespectful to mention such things to a stranger.”

“Oh, your erection. It is because we are mates.”

“Sentinels do not have mates.”

“Fate appears to disagree with whoever gave you that information,” Ducarius stated briskly. The last thing he wanted was to hear that Drexley was not his gift from Fate.

“There was no evidence to suggest sentinels could be mated.”

“If you have been here for the last five centuries, you would have missed much about the Sentinel Brotherhood. Most of our people are mated, including our leader.”

“The sentinels do not have a leader. We are meant to be governed by the Order of Necromancia.”

Ducarius’s mouth twisted in an immediate snarl, and he was thankful he remained under the hood of his cloak so his expression wouldn’t upset his mate. “Tell me where I am.”

“That is none of your affair, and you should leave immediately. You are not welcome here.”

About the Author

Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.

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