BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - ROM-COM - ROPED INTO PARADISE: A Sweet Cruise Rom-Com by Shanna Hatfield

Roped Into Paradise: A Sweet Cruise Rom-Com

by Shanna Hatfield

Publication date: January 29th 2026

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

BLURB

A cowboy, a cruise, and a meddling grandma—what could go wrong?
JJ McKade expected to spend two weeks with his grandmother at her condo in sunny Florida, celebrating her birthday. Instead, he got shanghaied by his mischievous grandma on a Caribbean cruise—complete with hot pink luggage, a gaggle of giggling octogenarians, and a humiliating childhood nickname haunting his every move.

Between meddling matchmakers, unexpected friendships, and the endless chaos of cruise life, JJ can’t help being drawn to Kinsley Kline, the ship’s enchanting horticulturist. There’s just one catch: crew fraternizing with passengers is strictly forbidden.

With only a few months left in her contract aboard The Affinity, Kinsley can’t let anything rock her boat or derail her plans. Then the arrival of a hunky cowboy on the ship makes her question if some rules are meant to be broken, and a little boat rocking is a good thing.

From sun-drenched beaches to moonlit strolls, JJ and Kinsley must decide if an onboard romance can last on land, and if love is worth risking their hearts.

Packed with laughter, longing, and a grandmother who refuses to play by the rules, Roped Into Paradise is a heartwarming romantic comedy about family, hope, and finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and cruise ship escapades that sweep you off your feet.

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EXCERPT

They moved off the elevator and had only taken a step when Trudy’s air-raid siren voice alerted him to the presence of his grandmother’s friends.

The gazes of everyone in the vicinity swiveled to them as Trudy and Marsha gave Grams big hugs, then all four women turned to JJ. The scrutiny in their gazes was enough to unsettle him, but from the corner of his eye, he saw something move and shifted just slightly to see Kinsley pressing moss inside a planter filled with colorful blooming flowers.

“Yoohoo! Girls! If you’re looking for a great guy to date, this one is single!” Trudy shouted, then she and Marsha made exaggerated pointing motions at JJ.

The heat searing from his neck to the top of his head made him momentarily question if he might implode. The mortification he felt was indescribable, particularly with Kinsley staring at him wide-eyed, as though she wasn’t sure what to make of Trudy’s declaration. He certainly had no idea what to do with the big-mouthed old woman.

JJ closed his eyes and wished Neptune would rise from the sea, reach into the ship, and drag him under. Where was a good, solid iceberg when you needed it for a distraction?

At the very least, maybe they’d sail straight into the Bermuda Triangle. After all, this doomed adventure had felt like a trip through a nightmarish alternate universe from the moment his grandmother had announced they were taking it. Right now, with dozens of passengers laughing at him and a few women passing him scribbled notes with their room numbers, he forgot about the fun he’d had earlier in the day.

It was hard to focus on anything when he wanted to simply disappear.

JJ had never enjoyed being the center of attention. Sure, he’d played sports in high school and even participated in rodeo a few years after he graduated, but the attention wasn’t solely on him, like he’d stepped into the glaring center of a spotlight.

Grams and Shirley were madly whispering something to Trudy and Marsha, but before he could kick his brain back in gear enough to hear what they said, a hand settled on his shoulder. He looked over to see Ted, who nodded once to him. Wynn offered a commiserating look of encouragement.

Afraid to glance at Kinsley but needing to know if she had joined those laughing at him, he turned his head, and their gazes connected. She smiled and winked at him, and that one little gesture made him feel better than anything anyone else could have offered.

“Let’s get these cackling hens to the restaurant before they humiliate every male on the ship,” Ted said quietly, moving forward to stake his claim beside Grams.

 

Author Info

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.

Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - CONTEMPORARY - THE REWRITE by Beth Rinyu

The Rewrite

by Beth Rinyu

Publication date: January 29th 2026

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

BLURB

How long would you hold a grudge?

If you’re Eloise Hendrickson, the answer is twenty-five years. After being humiliated by her overseas pen pal in seventh grade, Eloise, now a successful writer, has never quite let go of that one mortifying moment. One bad breakup, a late night of drunken internet sleuthing, and a half-baked excuse to bust through writer’s block send her straight into the path of the boy she’s hated her whole life.

Her plan? Turn him into the villain of her next novel.
The plot twist? He’s not the jerk she remembers.

Instead, he’s a charming chocolatier, a devoted family man, and awkwardly, a huge fan of her books. But as Eloise reconnects with the past, it’s not him who captures her attention, it’s someone else entirely. Someone unexpected. He’s rude, infuriating, and gets under her skin like no one else. He’s the exact opposite of the heroes she creates and the men she dates.

With new friends, a fresh perspective, and possibly the beginnings of something romantic—Eloise must decide if she’s finally ready to let go of the perfection she’s always demanded from herself as well as everyone around her, and embrace the unpredictable, wonderfully flawed life waiting for her. Maybe her next bestseller won’t be about righting the past after all. Maybe it will be about rewriting the future instead.

Warning: This book may contain chocolate and possibly a happily ever after.

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EXCERPT

“Okay, so if booty calls are off the table. What about a friendship? Seeing he’s such a decent guy? You’re a lonely woman in a strange country. He’s an available strapping man. Maybe it would be nice to have someone just to hang out with. I mean… not someone like you and me someone. Let’s face it, I’m irreplaceable.”

“No,” I cut in. “Like I said, he’s nice. For someone else. Whether it’s sex or friendship, I’m not interested. And for the record, I’m not lonely.”

“Yes, yes, how could I forget, your social circle now includes preteens and senior citizens.”

“I happen to like my new friends, both young and old.”

“Ella, honey.” Charlie gave me that look that was equal parts exasperated and concerned. “All I’m saying is, maybe this is your moment to let your hair down a little. You’re always so tightly wound, and this breakup didn’t exactly loosen the screws. Maybe it’s time to expand your horizons. Try something different. Someone different. Maybe this guy is the kind of non-Kent energy you need.”

“Okay, when did you get a PHD in Psychology?” I snapped.

“Reading radar maps and reading the human psyche are kind of the same thing. Both are temperamental and can change in a heartbeat,” he teased.

“Charlie, I love and appreciate you, but stick to doing the weather. You’re much better at that!”

“One last question, and then I promise I’ll ixnay the subject.” “What?” I didn’t even try to hide my annoyance.

“Do you call him Mr. Moreau or Grace’s daddy?”

“Goodbye, Charlie!” I blew him a kiss and disconnected our call.

 

Author Info

I've always had a passion for Creative Writing. There's something special about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen—or in today's world, a tap of the keyboard. Maybe it all started with the soap opera-level drama I used to script for my Barbie dolls. Plot twists, emotional arcs, surprise twins... it was basically a writer’s room before I even knew what one was. Whatever the spark, storytelling quickly became my favorite creative outlet. I craft stories that keep me on my toes and constantly push me beyond my comfort zone. Deep characters you either root for or love to hate are the ones I’m most drawn to.

Exploring new places helps me uncover fresh and exciting settings for my books, but there’s nothing quite like a quiet walk in the woods or sitting by the ocean close to home. Turns out, plot twists and inspiration arrive just as easily with a sea breeze—or a few curious squirrels.

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RELEASE DAY - PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER - NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH by Britney King

Neighborhood Watch

by Britney King

Release Date: January 29th 2026

Tropes: The Man Everyone Trusts; The Woman No One Believes; Gaslighting as a Group Sport; Suburbia that Eats its Own; Social Erasure

Genre: Psychological Thriller

From bestselling author Britney King comes a razor-sharp psychological thriller about a street built on secrets, a neighbor who knows too much, and the woman who learns—too late—that the most dangerous lies are the ones everyone else is willing to believe.

“You’d be surprised how easy it is to disappear someone.”

That’s what Clint says. Always with a smile. Always like a joke.

But Nora knows better—jokes don’t leave bodies.

Nora Givens runs the salon where the cul-de-sac comes to confess. She knows who’s day-drinking, whose marriage is composting under the patio lights, and which neighbors wield kindness like a weapon. What she doesn’t know is why things on her street suddenly feel wrong.

A break-in with no motive.

A Peeping Tom no one can describe.

A woman who never makes it home.

The neighborhood responds the way they always do—with performative concern. Meetings. Patrols. A nonstop group chat. And Clint, the charming new arrival, is suddenly everywhere: taking notes, volunteering, appearing even before the sirens.

Everyone adores him.

Everyone trusts him.

Everyone but Nora.

When her police statement disappears, her dog vanishes, and her tire fails in a place she’d never survive a crash, the cul-de-sac decides she’s the problem—another “overwhelmed woman” who should calm down and stop making waves.

But Clint keeps offering help.

The kind that looks generous to everyone else—

and strategic to her.

As Nora closes in on the truth, she realizes the quiet horror of suburbia:

Some neighbors want to keep you safe.

Others want to keep you quiet.

And on this street, the simplest way to disappear someone…

is to make sure no one believes her first.

Dark, addictive, and knife-edged, Neighborhood Watch delivers jaw-dropping twists, a psychological chess match in plain sight, and a villain hiding where you least expect him. Perfect for readers who want a thriller that gets under your skin and stays there.

 

Britney King lives in Texas with her family, two literary dogs, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge in a pear tree. When she’s not wrangling these characters, she writes psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers that dive deep into the complexities of human nature.

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - CONTEMPORARY - LIFESTYLE: Trust Fall by Kasey Fallon

Lifestyle: Trust Fall

by Kasey Fallon

Publication date: January 27th 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

BLURB

She needs a Dom.
A stalker wants to own her.

And once you’re in it, the LifeStyle never lets go.

On the outskirts of Philadelphia, the LifeStyle Club caters to those with certain… tastes.

Grayson is a born Dominant – and owning LifeS is exactly where he belongs. With a new underground fight arena ready to launch, he’s missing only one thing: a fighter strong enough to survive it.

Lexi has survived worse.

Haunted by PTSD, Lexi trusts no one but herself. She runs her own gym, makes her own rules, and refuses to submit – to anyone. But beneath her iron control lies a perilous secret. One that threatens to consume her… unless she can find a Dom.

When Grayson and Lexi collide, desire isn’t the only thing at stake.

Someone is watching.
Someone wants Lexi.
And in the LifeStyle, submission can be salvation – or a deadly mistake.

Welcome to the LifeStyle.

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EXCERPT

LEXI

She couldn’t seem to find the clasp, and her breath was coming in short bursts. Her shirt felt too tight, her scalp was tingling, and in some part of her brain she was dimly aware that she was having a panic attack.

The gentle ding of the door opening didn’t register with her until a tall shadow fell across her. Attempting to breathe in a four-count, Lexi glanced up for less than a heartbeat at the baritone hello. She grunted in return and went back to hyperventilating, wishing they would walk away.

GRAYSON

For a moment, he was confused why she was hunched over on the bench. She was struggling with something… a necklace? Her breathing was coming in quick, uneven pants, and her gaze went straight through him.

“Good morning,” he tried casually.

He still had in mind that perhaps something he’d done or said the other day had been too much and she’d run. He had to be a little more tame, he thought. Casually being stalked, even for just one morning, was bound to put anyone on edge. At least until she was one hundred percent in, and he figured out what to do with her. But his good morning went unanswered.

Lexi made a garbled sound in the back of her throat, and he wondered if she was the opposite of a morning person. Or maybe-

“Do you need help?”

Her only response was those quick panting breaths. Her movements got more frantic, and she went to stand. Grayson placed a hand as gently as he could on her shoulder.

“Alexis. What’s wrong?”

She knocked his hand away and took two running steps to get past him. Panic. Without thinking it through, he caught up to her in one step. Spinning her around by her shoulder, he ignored the elbow that skimmed his diaphragm as she flailed behind her.

Using his forward momentum, he walked her backward until her back was against the wall. The white concrete must have been cool on her back, but her breath continued in short pants and a red flush was spreading across her chest and up into her face. She brought her hands up in fists and he thought for a heartbeat he might have to hold them down or he’d get hit. But her fingers just curled themselves into the edges of his t-shirt, grabbing on to something unidentifiable inside him. He ignored it.

She was looking at him, but she wasn’t seeing him. Her dark eyes were wide and wouldn’t focus, looking everywhere but into his. Both of his hands pushed her back against the wall by her ribcage.

“Alexis. Breathe.”

He used a deeper voice, mindful of startling her. Of course, he mused, she couldn’t get much more worked up than she already was. Maybe there was no harm in using his Dom voice. Much deeper than his speaking voice and sharp, he tried to reserve it for situations that needed it. This qualified.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he commanded.

Lexi jumped, but still didn’t look him in the eye. Her hands made their way to her throat, scratching at where her necklace lay. Grayson winced at the scratches. His voice whipped out.

“Stop.”

She stopped clawing at her own neck, but her breathing was still too fast.

“Breathe.”

It wasn’t working. He leaned forward, putting more of his weight against his arms. He slid his left forearm up between her breasts against her sternum, until his hand was splayed at the base of her throat, but he made sure to not actually touch her neck. She was having enough trouble breathing as it was.

One of her knees came up, and he pushed her thigh back with his knee against the wall, but it seemed like she didn’t even notice. Like the knee had been a reflex. He reached his right hand up to cup the side of her face and forced her face up to his.

“Look at me.”

It got through. Her breath was still heaving with shallow gasps, but she was looking straight up at him with wide eyes.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Lexi shuddered slightly.

“I can’t breathe. It’s too tight.”

His eyes flicked down to the thin silver chain at her neck. It was actually a very long chain, and held only a thin butterfly at the end. His lack of response seemed to agitate her, and she clawed at her neck again, this time not even hitting the chain. He raised his left hand a couple of inches to block her own hands.

“Stop moving.”

Her eyes were watery, but she stopped moving. For someone who might not be an actual submissive, she was certainly… responsive.

“I don’t want to die again.”

Her voice came out in a strangled whisper. Her eyes pleaded up at him. Shocked, Grayson could only stare at her for a moment.

“Breathe. I won’t hurt you. Stop moving.”

His voice had gotten slower with the commands, and she seemed mesmerized by his unblinking stare. She finally stopped pushing against his hands and relaxed against the wall, taking rapid, shallow breaths.

With his left forearm holding her still up against her sternum, he used his left hand to grab at the chain’s little clasp. He didn’t want to look away from her. It was working; he was completely in charge. She was breathing more steadily, and he didn’t want to break their eye contact.

Grayson finally got it to release, although he thought some part of it might have snapped. He slid it off her neck and held it loosely in his hand, but he didn’t move otherwise. He didn’t think she’d noticed that the necklace was gone.

“It’s gone. Breathe.”

Lexi inhaled deeply, and he was finding it difficult to back away. She had responded so perfectly; exactly as he’d wanted her to. Maybe she wasn’t a Domme? Could she really be submissive under all this fight? His body took that moment to recognize that he had her securely pinned against a wall, and she was staring up at him, waiting. He could see the exact moment when she fought it off as her eyes snapped with clarity. Grayson heard footsteps coming at them fast as she blinked rapidly.

“Lexi! What the fuck? Who the fuck is this? Are you okay?” Eddie jogged up, his short dreads bouncing.

 

Author Info

Kasey grew up on the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. She loves two things above all in nature: the water, and the forest. While she might not love her nightmares, they do inspire many of her works. A recipient of the Editor's Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry, she writes across several genres. She and her dog can be found investigating new hiking trails, or curled up on the couch as he pushes her computer off her lap to make room for himself.

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SPOTLIGHT - ROMANTASY - THE OATH OF BLOOD AND ROSES by C. M. Hano

The Oath of Blood and Roses

Hearts Of Dalaria, #1

by C. M. Hano

Date of Publication: May 6th 2024

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press 

Cover Artist: Lea Schizas 

Genre: Romantasy

ISBN: 9781509254347

ASIN: B0CW1JZGN4

Number of pages: 322 Word Count: 95,000

 

Tagline: Love was never part of the oath.

BLURB

Charming and arrogant, elite Ashana, Calian, has one serve his prince. He has never considered breaking his oath...until her.

Clover Celestia. The High Princess with a stubborn streak and a spark that incinerates his oath to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he needed.

Inch by inch, she slowly incinerates his defenses until he faces the truth—that all he wants is to mark his princess.

Because she’s his.

His goddess. His Fated.

Bound by the chains of her past, Princess Clover dreams of living freely. But when her parents are murdered, she’s suddenly thrust into a war she never knew existed.

As she navigates the choices—and betrayals—of her new role, she must also confront her desire for the man who forced her hand.

The Ashana. Her protector. Her Fated.

Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a realm... and doom them both.

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Excerpt
My parents are dead. I can be free if I go with him. Even if it means being bound to him until death. Alma will be safe. She is brave, selfless, and I know she will take care of the kingdom. This was a chance for me to get away from here. I won’t give him the satisfaction of kissing me. I will learn who that shadow man was and why he killed my parents.
A sacred bond that can only be enacted by using blood magic. That confirmed the suspicion that magic had come back to the realm and our goddess will be reborn again. There was a lot I didn’t know about this oath, but what I knew was that once I agree to it, I won’t be able to lie to him, kill him, or betray our original vow. That was the full extent of my knowledge of this oath, but he didn’t know that.
“Blood oath,” I spat.
“This will hurt, which is why I preferred the kiss.” He held out his right hand and then ran his blade across his palm, then across my right. I didn’t wince, and I saw the flicker of amusement on his face. I have withstood far worse pain in much more sensitive places on my body.
“Intriguing,” he said.
“Chloe, you don’t have to do this,” Alma pleaded, reaching for my left hand.
“It’ll be all right,” I told her. I am not a ruler or leader. Mother burned any chance of that out of me the day she made the first cut. But Alma, she is. That is why my next order can be said so easily.
“Once we leave, you will assume the throne. Cancel the ball and inform the other kingdoms that the entire royal family is dead because of an unforeseen accident. This man will let me make an official document having you take the throne because of my death. This is an order and not a request.” Snagging my left arm, she turned me toward her.
“Don’t do this,” Alma begged. I jerked my arm from her grip, handed her the dagger, and then turned back toward the man.
“Get on with it.”
“As you wish.” We joined our cut palms, blood mixing, and then he pulled me into him.
One hand gripped my waist, and I felt the hardness of his body against me.
“Do we have to be this close?” I asked. Completely ignoring me, he began the oath, and my mouth filled with the flavor of magic as our joined palms burned.
“Under the rights of the Blood Oath, I swear we will leave your people unharmed if you come with me willingly and without complication. If you break this oath, your people will pay with their lives. Do you swear by it?”
Our gaze didn’t falter. “Under the rights of the Blood Oath, I swear to come with you willingly and without complications, and you will leave my people unharmed. If you break this oath, you and your people will pay with their lives.” It came out a lot easier than I thought it would.
“Sheathe your swords,” he ordered his men, our eyes still locked onto each other.
“Lower your weapons,” I ordered. “Leave these quarters and don’t follow us. Don’t come after me, if any of you disobey me, you will be executed.”
“Chloe.” Alma sounded defeated, and it broke my heart.
“Draw up a parchment willing the kingdom over to her and then stamp it with the royal seal,” I ordered the man.
“You heard her.” The entire time, our bloodied hands, bodies, and eyes never faltered from their positions. I knew he was trying to intimidate me into submission, but I have been through worse with Mother. Alma and the guards left the chambers. The man stepped back from me, our embrace broken, but not our eye contact. One of his men brought over the parchment. He examined the message, and then went over to my stationary and sealed it with the royal crest that belonged to me.
“Bring that to the one called Alma. We need to get going.” He then approached me. “You are a very brave woman.” He snapped his fingers and one of his men brought over some rope.
“Is that necessary? I just swore to you I wouldn’t escape.”

“I don’t want you getting any wicked ideas about stabbing me, Princess.”

Author Info

C. M. Hano is a Fantasy Romance Author who aspires to write strong female driven, hot and magical adventures, and being a good mother. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three beautiful children.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with . . . C. M. Hano . . . 

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work? 

I haven't been asked this before, but I have been told that my writing style reminds readers of Anne Rice's. Given her immense talent, I take that as a compliment. I believe this similarity arises from my immersive writing approach. By that, I mean I create detailed scenes that allow readers to see the world through my main character's eyes. It’s like watching a movie in your head while also being the main character of that film. I tend to be quite detailed and use exposition more than I probably should.

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? 

When I am thinking about the characters of my story it is very important for me to figure out there family first. Are their parents alive or dead. Do they have siblings? Is there extended family. This helps me establish their backstory. How they grew up? Because in my honest opinion, I have to know about their parents relationship with them as well as with each other. I then figure out where they are in their life. Meaning, are they happy, sad, angry, lonely, anxious. Then why? What caused them to feel this way? 

Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper? 

Yes. I have a story I have been working on for about a year now. The story hasn’t started yet, but the plotting is nearly finished,d and I am getting super excited to get started.

What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year? 

My main writing/publishing goal for this year is to finally get a literary agent. More importantly, I would love to connect with more readers. A book deal would be amazing. All of this I am manifesting every day. 

If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional characters, who would they be and where would you spend that time? 

The five fictional characters would have to be as follows: 

1. Dean Winchester from Supernatural, 
2. Netyri from Avatar, 
3. Mulan from Mulan, 
4. Belle from Beauty & The Beast, 
5. Evelyn O’Connell from The Mummy. 

We would likely all spend time in a library and gym so Evelyn, Belle, and I can learn how to fight from the other three. And these five fictional characters resonate with me on a personal level. 

 

Thank you C. M. Hano for giving a little insight to you. Your work is appreciated.

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