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Shelley Adina’s Magnificent Devices series

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Hi everyone! I’m delighted to be here—what a cool place! Pull up a comfortable armchair here in the gondola of our airship, have a cup of tea (or a thimble of something stronger), and join me for a cozy chat among friends while we sail among the clouds!

Lady_of_Devices_ShelleyAdina_cover_500x800In the fall of 2011 I made the decision to leave the day job and write full time, and have never looked back. Since 2002 I’d been working full time in marketing in Silicon Valley, while writing three books a year for publishers such as Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette. Needless to say, something had to give! The first book in my Magnificent Devices  steampunk series, called Lady of Devices, had been turned down by ten publishers, so in a life-changing moment, I decided to take my friend Bella Andre’s advice and self publish it.

Before I knew it, I was getting reader letters saying how much people loved my spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan. Book two in the series hit #14 on the historical fantasy bestseller list. Book one hit #1 on the free list (it’s still free until January 30!) Two universities have added the series to their reading lists for their literature classes, and book clubs are reading the series now, too.

Who’d have believed it? I’m so grateful to readers who love a little adventure in their reading—steampunk with spirit, if you will.

What does steampunk mean to you?

For me, it’s the endless possibility of the worlds you can create in this subgenre. If you can imagine it, you can write it—and readers will go with you if they trust you to give them a good read.

What is your favorite thing about steampunk or writing about steampunk?

I just love the “maker” philosophy and the sense of wonder that the Victorians had about technology. For them, technology was about making life better, and they seemed to have no boundaries in their imagination of gadgets and gizmos to accomplish all kinds of things to that end. Whether they actually worked in the physical world or not, the point was that someone could think of it, and the only limit was their imagination. Writing a book is a little like that!

Her Own Devices by Shelley AdinaWhat is your favorite steampunk accessory?

I simply can’t manage without my temporal decay monitor. Or one of my many hats. Not to mention a bustle pad with a concealed pocket. A lady can never have too many pockets.

What turned you on to steampunk?

Back in the sixties my favorite show was The Wild Wild West. Every week, Artemus Gordon invented a cool new device, and of course, the train was packed full of them. Instead of playing house, we neighborhood kids would re-enact the episodes from the week, and since I was the oldest, I got to be James West. But I secretly wanted to be Artemus. In my book, brains outshone brawn any day. That outlook still pervades my Magnificent Devices series, where a lady of intellect can make a success of herself no matter what her economic status.

Do you have any upcoming steampunk stories you can tell us about?

Brilliant Devices, the fourth book in the series, will be released at the end of February. It will wrap up the adventures of Lady Claire, who will go on to do great things offstage during the next three standalones in the series. I’m planning seven in all.

Magnificent Devices by Shelley AdinaWho is your favorite character of all from one of your steampunk stories?

I just adore the Mopsies—ten-year-old twin girls who have been living on the streets since they were very small. Maggie and Lizzie are smart, quick on the uptake, slightly cynical about human nature … and can fleece a toff in less time than it takes to smile at him. The Mopsies are the scouts and watchers of the gang of children that Lady Claire takes under her wing. And in watching her, they learn what it means to really be a lady—to trust in their own resources and make their own luck, while at the same time putting others first and helping those who are less fortunate. This ragtag group becomes a family over the course of the books … and it’s the Mopsies who feel that connection most deeply.

At Christmas I did something I’ve never done before—I wrote a short story featuring the girls, which I posted on my blog. Even in a few hundred words, those girls just walk right off the page and take over. I’m looking forward to giving them a book of their own, fast forwarding five years to the time when they are young ladies. Though it’s hard to be a young lady when you’ve grown up a pickpocket …

What’s the hardest thing about creating a steampunk universe?

In any genre, one of the things an author fears is being derivative—consciously or unconsciously repeating what has gone before. I’ve read widely in this genre so make a focused effort not to repeat what others have done while still enjoying the tropes that we readers love: airships, ray guns, goggles … and the subversive nature of it.

Brilliant Devices by Shelley AdinaWhat’s the easiest thing about creating a steampunk universe?

I have the greatest fun imagining how something that we use now—say, a car—would function in a steampunk universe. In the Magnificent Devices universe, the combustion engine has been a failure, and in fact was the incident that changed Lady Claire’s life. So if cars run on steam, what do they look like? How are they steered? Do you have to throw wood under the hood to heat a boiler to create steam, or can you use another method? A person could spend a lot of time researching these things instead of writing, so it’s a fine line to walk. It’s a fun one, though!

What does steampunk allow you to do as a writer that no other genres can?

What I like best about it is that the morals and conventions of Victorian society provide a backdrop for the outlandish devices and the strong personalities that we enjoy in the genre. The tension between “stiff and strait-laced” and “wildly imaginative” gives you a play zone that is really interesting to me. And it’s how I can have a well-brought-up young lady learning to shoot a ray gun in one scene and teaching the Mopsies the proper way to pour tea in another.

How much research does it take and how much imagination?

All my books, no matter how imaginative, are underpinned by research. I went to London a couple of months ago and photographed locations in the books, such as Bedlam, Belgravia, and the Thames at low tide, so that I can use the details and the physical experience in the books. Google Earth can take you a long way, but there’s nothing like actually going to the Imperial War Museum, which was originally the Bedlam insane asylum, and walking that circular drive, seeing the wall at the back over which my characters escaped, and feeling the atmosphere of the place. For the Lady Lucy, an airship that figures prominently in the stories, I referred to a huge old book on Zeppelin airships with floor plans and cabin layouts. I spoke with an expert on steam engines to make sure that my trains operated properly. Yes, the “science” behind the Selwyn Kinetick Carbonator, a device in the books, is made up, but the steam that runs it is not. Writing steampunk is a fascinating balance between the world of reality and the world of imagination. I think that’s why I love it so much!

Author Shelley AdinaAnd now our ship is being secured to its mooring mast and I can hear the crew lowering the gangway.

Last thing—I’m giving away the first three books in the Magnificent Devices series in whichever format you prefer to read. Just leave a comment to be entered!

PRIZE UPDATE:  Congratulations to Martha!

It’s been such a pleasure sailing with you—do come and visit me at www.shelleyadina.com!

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0 COMMENTS

  • Liz S

    I enjoyed your first book very much. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

  • Marilee

    I love this series! I have to to say it’s so intriguing with so many wonderful and unique elements. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful world with us!

  • Charise

    Really enjoyed this article, Shelley. So impressed with the diversity of your writing. (Hope I win!)

  • Valarie P

    I love these books, they are among my favorite steampunk reads. Keep writing them.

  • Brandi Boddie

    Love your books, Shelley! Can’t wait for the next release! Thanks for sharing your process of writing steampunk.

  • Amber Belldene

    Shelley, it’s so much fun to hear about your writing process. Thanks for sharing!

  • Gloria Harchar

    Hi Shelley! Your books sound marvelous!! And I love your book covers! Thanks for doing this interview so that I can learn more about you and your series. 😉

  • Peggy Hacker

    Have never read this type of story, sounds fiscinating, would love to have them!

  • Aleta Pardalis

    I love your Magnificent Devices books and can’t wait to read the 4th one.

  • Alice Gaines

    I loved The Wild, Wild West, too. What a creative show. Love your covers. It sounds like a fabulous series.

  • Rachell Nichole

    What a great post, Shelley.

    I love this series. It was my first introduction to Steampunk, which has now become one of my favorite genres.

    Also – I have all three books, so I don’t need to be entered in the contest. Just wanted to stop by and share the love. 🙂

    I’ll have to go check out your short story about the Mopsies. They’re great characters.

  • Katie Vorreiter

    Love your robust story-world: the wit, the romance. Love that you took the self-publishing plunge, else we would be high and dry–steamless, in a word–without Lady Claire!

    Keep ’em coming!
    ~Katie

  • Susan Mitchell

    Shelley, I sent print versions of your first two books to my brother and his two daughters for Christmas. Upon the clerk’s advice, I ended up repacking them in a cheaper flat-rate box. She noticed the gorgeous covers and wanted to talk about them, so I got to tell her how wonderful the books are! Your steampunk is great!

  • Meg

    I was a fan of your writing LONG AGO and knew you’d shoot to the top in that airship!! CONGRATS on such a wonderful series. I LOVE IT!! Looking forward to the Mopsies’ book and to the next adventure of Claire.

  • J.Ed

    Thanks for sharing

  • Shelley Adina

    Thanks for joining me on the voyage, everyone! You’re so kind 🙂

  • Ariella Moon

    So happy for your success, Shelley. You’ve created a fantastic series for steampunk fans. Love your world-building!

  • MarthaE

    Ha- I never thought about Wild, Wild West being Steampunk but of course it was! These books look like titles I would enjoy. Please include me in the chance to win. mesreadsATgmail.com

  • Annie Seaton

    Shelley… congratulations on you success and having the courage and faith for going it alone. The reading world s a richer place because of your decision. I am looking forward to reading your series. Sounds fabulous!

    • Shelley Adina

      Thanks, Annie! It was a scary decision, but it turned out to be an amazing adventure and put the joy back into writing. Now I play in both fields!

  • Renee

    So glad I got this blog and found you. I cant wait to read more!

  • Laura/Readerwoman

    I have been enthusiastic about Steampunk for sometime now – and have even started being crafty with jewelry in a steampunk mode. I too loved Artie and WWW on TV… watch reruns even now! I have been reading on my Kindle, but since I am still very much a book lover, enjoying the sensile part of reading “real” books, I would love to have a set of the first three books. Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Ron Rosewood

    Excellent promotion Shelley,
    The industry needs originality to break away from the “cookie cutter” novels that have dominated the scene for the past 60 years.
    It appears you have achieved that here with your series.

    Ron Rosewood

  • Rachel

    I dream of the day that my husband has received enough annual pay raises for me to be able to only take a select amount of cases and spend more time on my other passion, crafting. The Mopsies are my favorite characters too, because I am a child dependency and neglect attorney and they remind me so much of my kids I represent every day! Wise beyond their years for the life they’ve lived and resourceful beyond belief.

  • Michael Vannoy

    Shelly,
    I really enjoy your books. The Steampunk Lady at the top looks like your character.
    Lady Clair!
    Mike

  • Reggi

    Hi Shelley,
    Intriguing info, thanks for sharing!
    Reggi

  • Susan Lyons Fox

    I just finished Lady of Devices, the very first steampunk novel I’ve ever read. The concept of the genre had intimidated me a little and I thought it would be all about gimicky tech stuff. Instead, I found a lovely character-driven story. Thanks for the great read, Shelley. I look forward to reading the rest of Lady Claire’s books.

  • Christina

    Shelley,
    Steampunk is not something I am very familiar with. I have read one book that was considered steampunk but never knew that was what it was considered lol. Your books sound intriguing and fascinating. I definitely think your stories are something I would enjoy reading. I hope you continue to have success doing what you love to do.

  • Lisa McManus Lange

    Fabulous post/interview! Shamefully, I don’t even have the first one, but this post sure lures me in! Fantastic covers, btw……Thanks for this great interview! Lisa McManus Lange

  • Carol

    Good interview! You are a new author to me so I’ll start looking for your books. The descriptions sound intriguing.

  • Susan

    Thank you for your information. You have me hooked. I want to dive it and read right now. Wishing you much success – you deserve it.

  • Lori

    Great interview! I’m intrigued & want to read your first book Kobo style!

  • Ros

    Lady of Devices was my first introduction to Steampunk (although I used to watch Wild, Wild West, too), and just fell in love with Lady Claire and the entire world you’ve built. So glad to hear there’s more books coming!

  • Pat Amsden

    I read your book shortly after taking an on-line course on Steam-punk and was blown away. With wonderful characters you showed me what steam-punk could be.

  • Debbie

    What a great interview Shelley — on the ground research sounds like a very good idea and I agree that it gives an athenticity that’s hard to get with only Internet travel. And I love the names of your characters – would enjoy hearing more about your inspiration for finding names that work and are memorable.

    • Shelley Adina

      Debbie, what a good idea! And here I was looking for a topic for the next blog post 🙂

  • Heather K.

    Great post! I love Steampunk but have never read your series. It looks fantastic and I’m definitely putting it on my TBR list. The covers are gorgeous as well! Thanks for the giveaway!:)

  • BarbRose

    I just love this series. Congratulations, enjoyed the interview very much. Glad I’m retired, no guilt about the nose in the book and who cares when the supper is ready (lol). Look foreward to the rest of the series as I do appreciate your authenticity and imagination. Good on ya. I’m one of your favorite fans!

  • bn100

    That sounds like fun research.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(Dot)Com

  • Denise Z

    Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to share with us today. Now my brain is busy trying to figure out how they got the steam under the hood LOL I recently picked up Lady of Devices on your free Kindle offer and thank you for your generosity. Looking forward to the read 🙂
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

  • Celia Lewis

    Well – this is a new genre to me – I had to come and try to figure out what on earth was involved in Steampunk! Sounds like fun and very intriguing, the way you describe it. I’m sure you’ll do well with your writing – and having fun while writing, even with all the research, seems like an ideal writer’s life! Cheers.

  • Jane George

    Great interview, Shelley! I love this part:

    “Whether they actually worked in the physical world or not, the point was that someone could think of it, and the only limit was their imagination. Writing a book is a little like that!”

  • Cristina

    Just starting to get into steampunk… These books sound wonderful!!

  • MK

    I’ve just downloaded your first book to check it out. Thanks so much for the giveaway opportunity!

  • Kris

    This series sounds wonderful! There’s no limit to where you can go in this steampunk world and I look forward to the ride! Thanks! PS It was a great interview and an inspirational publication story!

  • Cathryn Cade

    Shelley,

    Glad to know steampunk is still doing well as a genre, and that you had the courage to self-pub your series. I downloaded the first one and can’t wait to read it.

    best of luck,
    Cathryn Cade

  • Pamela Aares

    Great interview! Love the Mopsies!

  • Nancy

    What a wonderful site and a great interview. My daughters devour steampunk. I’ll send them to this site to read your post. The books sound like something they would love to read.

  • Lee McKenzie

    Wonderful books with wonerful covers by a wonderful author! Your success with this series is so well deserved, Shelley!

  • Theresa Rogers

    I’ve dressed steampunk and now obviously I’m going to have to read steampunk. 😉 You’re books sound awesome! I’m dying to know how you managed a steam-powered car–I’m an American Heavy Metal kinda gal. 😀 Even if I don’t win, I want this series–how do I get them in paperback?

    And that pic of you all steampunky is fabulous!

    • Shelley Adina

      LOL! I made the skirt and bustle using TrulyVictorian.com patterns, and then topped them with a Victorian blouse I found in a tiny mountain town in Austria. It all works!

      If you don’t happen to win the drawing, the paperbacks are available on Amazon, or via CreateSpace, the printer. Either way, thank you!

  • Hannah Violette

    Shelley, I love these books and your blogs and you continue to be an inspiration to me as I continue write…I hit the pages every morning and someday, something will arise! Best wishes as you continue the saga and I can’t wait to see what brilliant devices Claire has up her sleeve!

  • Rich Bullock

    See, I could spend ALL my time researching the fun devices and never write a word! I heard yesterday that Steam Punk began with H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Never thought of that.

  • JoAnn Ainsworth

    Thoroughly enjoyed this post. What a terrific world you created.

  • Jasmine Haynes

    Love your covers Shelley! They’re fabulous. And the books themselves are even better! Congratulations on the upcoming release!

  • Alyssa

    I haven’t heard of your books before, but I love Steampunk. Steampunk is very intriguing to me and I would very much enjoy reading your books sometime. 🙂

  • Bill Tillman

    I really enjoyed Lady of Devices and gave it 5 stars.

  • Margaret Alexander

    Shelley is such a great writer, I really enjoyed Lady of Devices. It was probably my first steampunk read and she painted a fantastic world. I agree that the hardest part of writing is creating something original, and she did a great job.

  • Barbara E.

    I really enjoyed the post and I’d like to let you know Shelly, that I adored Lady of Devices and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

  • Susan Mitchell

    And speaking of pickpockets, here’s an excellent article that could give a writer ideas: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/01/07/130107fa_fact_green?currentPage=all

    • Shelley Adina

      Susan, this article is amazing. I’m going to print it out as research for the Mopsies’ book. Thank you!

  • Shelley Adina

    It was lovely to talk with everyone and I’m so glad you stopped by! I threw all the names in my riding hat (though the veil kept getting caught in my goggles) and drew one. The winner is:

    MARTHAE!

    Congratulations!

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Phaedra is selling the house that has been in her family for decades. As her friends-to-lovers relationship with Harlan escalates, she’s forced to choose between her way of life or his, even though she risks losing him forever.

After a stranger comes to town, weaving her web of deception, hell-bent on correcting an old grievance connected to the house, dark revelations of the past implode the present. Harlan and Phaedra are plunged into a dangerous mystery, risking their love, their future, and their lives.

Want to read the first chapter? Click HERE



Book 3
NN Light Book Heaven 2022 Winner Romantic Suspense

Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.

Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can`t return...
...

5 1
Changeling Press, LLC #Maddog by @marteekakarland - Who knew we’d get ambushed by the cartel on our way to a village deep in the Amazon jungle?

Holly: I was sick as a kid. Leukemia. Felt like someone always had to drop everything to take care of me. Hate being dependent on people now, so I try to do everything myself. When my best friend takes up with a creep and won’t believe me when I tell her something’s not right with the man, I decide it’s safer (for her) if I go with her on a trip to Columbia he’s organizing. Bad news: I’m right. Fortunately the most annoying man I’ve ever come to count on thinks it’s his job to rescue me. This time, I might just let him. And that’s where the trouble starts…

Jax: I’ve known Holly nearly all her life. I’ve been her protector and the person she wants most when things go horribly wrong, which they do, more often than not. To say we have a contentious relationship is an understatement. I put a claim on Holly she never accepted, but it’s time to force the issue. Not because she doesn’t love me. Because she’s afraid history is doomed to repeat itself. She’s wrong. I’ll always come for her when she needs me. Like it or not, Holly’s more than my responsibility. No matter the cost, she’s mine.

 Fae-ry Tales by @mychael_black - Author When the Houses of the Fae collide, the paranormal community is rocked to it’s core #sale 

When the Houses of the Fae collide, the paranormal community is rocked to it’s core…

Firewalk With Me (Fae-ry Tales 1)
Kyle Stafford had anything a young man could want, until a single lapse in judgment changed everything. When Roen stumbles -- quite literally -- into a human sleeping right at his realm’s front door, his duty requires him to take the young man prisoner -- back to House Vakeor.

Broken Spell (Fae-ry Tales 2)
Kirof, formerly of House Vakeor, has no idea why Wizard Micah Norwood was exiled, but it’s only a matter of time before the wizards or the Dark Fae find them. Desperately trying to keep one step ahead 

Glamour (Fae-ry Tales 3)
Prince Erilan always performs his duties with unflinching loyalty, but when he meets a Dark Fae scout, 

Dawning (Fae-ry Tales 4)
https://bit.ly/CPsNewRelease

Changeling Press, LLC #Maddog by @marteekakarland - Who knew we’d get ambushed by the cartel on our way to a village deep in the Amazon jungle?

Holly: I was sick as a kid. Leukemia. Felt like someone always had to drop everything to take care of me. Hate being dependent on people now, so I try to do everything myself. When my best friend takes up with a creep and won’t believe me when I tell her something’s not right with the man, I decide it’s safer (for her) if I go with her on a trip to Columbia he’s organizing. Bad news: I’m right. Fortunately the most annoying man I’ve ever come to count on thinks it’s his job to rescue me. This time, I might just let him. And that’s where the trouble starts…

Jax: I’ve known Holly nearly all her life. I’ve been her protector and the person she wants most when things go horribly wrong, which they do, more often than not. To say we have a contentious relationship is an understatement. I put a claim on Holly she never accepted, but it’s time to force the issue. Not because she doesn’t love me. Because she’s afraid history is doomed to repeat itself. She’s wrong. I’ll always come for her when she needs me. Like it or not, Holly’s more than my responsibility. No matter the cost, she’s mine.

Fae-ry Tales by @mychael_black - Author When the Houses of the Fae collide, the paranormal community is rocked to it’s core #sale

When the Houses of the Fae collide, the paranormal community is rocked to it’s core…

Firewalk With Me (Fae-ry Tales 1)
Kyle Stafford had anything a young man could want, until a single lapse in judgment changed everything. When Roen stumbles -- quite literally -- into a human sleeping right at his realm’s front door, his duty requires him to take the young man prisoner -- back to House Vakeor.

Broken Spell (Fae-ry Tales 2)
Kirof, formerly of House Vakeor, has no idea why Wizard Micah Norwood was exiled, but it’s only a matter of time before the wizards or the Dark Fae find them. Desperately trying to keep one step ahead

Glamour (Fae-ry Tales 3)
Prince Erilan always performs his duties with unflinching loyalty, but when he meets a Dark Fae scout,

Dawning (Fae-ry Tales 4)
https://bit.ly/CPsNewRelease
...

5 0
Stryker by Marteeka Karland (Audio) (Salvation's Bane MC Audio 6) A Bones MC RomanceGenres:  Action Adventure, Audio, BDSM, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance, Suspense

Themes:  MC Romance, Medical Romance, Military, Veterans, and First Responders, New Adult, Organized Crime

Series: Salvation's Bane MC Audio (#6)

Multiverse: Bones MC (#10)

He thinks I'm a magnet for trouble. I'm going to prove him right.

Stryker-Challenge accepted

Glitter: Yes, that’s my real name. Born stripper name, I know. I’ve been on my own since I was 14. When I tried to get a job with Salvations Bane MC at their strip club, Salvation’s Angels, their security saw right through my fake ID. Lucky for me, the club sent me to Beach Fit, their fitness club, until I turned 18. Now I work at Angels, and the crowd here loves me. Stryker’s still looking out for me. For some reason he thinks I’m a magnet for trouble. Now that I’ve got his full attention, I know what I want, and I’m going to prove him right.

Stryker: We try our best to keep things at the club legit. Last thing we need is an underage dancer attracting too much attention. OK, so she’s legal now, has been for nearly two years, but that girl’s everything this old man doesn’t need -- and can’t afford. But there’s another club encroaching on our territory, setting up a BDSM club on the other side of town, as a front to run drugs. Now I’ve got word there’s even more going on at The Dark than drugs. I was right. And who do I find right in the middle of it but Glitter. Only, she’s not involved with the thugs at The Dark. She’s their prisoner -- a sub who has no idea what it means to be a sub, but she thinks she wants to learn. Challenge ’effin accepted.

WARNING: This book contains scenes of an intense physical relationship between an older man and a younger woman, as well as extreme, graphic violence. These men aren’t angels and neither are the women. They love as hard as they fight. As always, you can expect a HEA with No Cheating.

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2024 Marteeka Karland

There was no possible way for Stryker to ignore the little pixie dancer twirling around the pole half naked. He’d been watching her every f...

Stryker by Marteeka Karland (Audio) (Salvation`s Bane MC Audio 6) A Bones MC RomanceGenres: Action Adventure, Audio, BDSM, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance, Suspense

Themes: MC Romance, Medical Romance, Military, Veterans, and First Responders, New Adult, Organized Crime

Series: Salvation`s Bane MC Audio (#6)

Multiverse: Bones MC (#10)

He thinks I`m a magnet for trouble. I`m going to prove him right.

Stryker-Challenge accepted

Glitter: Yes, that’s my real name. Born stripper name, I know. I’ve been on my own since I was 14. When I tried to get a job with Salvations Bane MC at their strip club, Salvation’s Angels, their security saw right through my fake ID. Lucky for me, the club sent me to Beach Fit, their fitness club, until I turned 18. Now I work at Angels, and the crowd here loves me. Stryker’s still looking out for me. For some reason he thinks I’m a magnet for trouble. Now that I’ve got his full attention, I know what I want, and I’m going to prove him right.

Stryker: We try our best to keep things at the club legit. Last thing we need is an underage dancer attracting too much attention. OK, so she’s legal now, has been for nearly two years, but that girl’s everything this old man doesn’t need -- and can’t afford. But there’s another club encroaching on our territory, setting up a BDSM club on the other side of town, as a front to run drugs. Now I’ve got word there’s even more going on at The Dark than drugs. I was right. And who do I find right in the middle of it but Glitter. Only, she’s not involved with the thugs at The Dark. She’s their prisoner -- a sub who has no idea what it means to be a sub, but she thinks she wants to learn. Challenge ’effin accepted.

WARNING: This book contains scenes of an intense physical relationship between an older man and a younger woman, as well as extreme, graphic violence. These men aren’t angels and neither are the women. They love as hard as they fight. As always, you can expect a HEA with No Cheating.

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2024 Marteeka Karland

There was no possible way for Stryker to ignore the little pixie dancer twirling around the pole half naked. He’d been watching her every f...
...

1 0
Fall in love with Rowan & Diana Passion’s the pot when Rowan Kerr draws the Wildcard @angelaknight #new #book #Wildcard #scifi #romance #Action #Adventure, #BDSM, #Futuristic #Romance #Suspense https://bit.ly/AKWildcard

Fall in love with Rowan & Diana Passion’s the pot when Rowan Kerr draws the Wildcard @angelaknight #new #book #Wildcard #scifi #romance #Action #Adventure, #BDSM, #Futuristic #Romance #Suspense https://bit.ly/AKWildcard ...

2 0
Fresh Fiction Contest - January 2025

 	Win a copy of YOU WILL KNOW ME BY MY DEEDS from Mike Cobb!
 GUEST POST GIVEAWAY! Christine Knapp | MURDER AT THE WEDDING
 	Win a Print Copy of THE GROOM LIST from Ella Quinn – Enter Now!
 Guardian Angels & Dangerous Love from Sharon Buchbinder – Your Prize Awaits!
 Wrangling Love and Prizes from Leah Vale – Enter to Win!
 A Special Giveaway for You from Daryl Wood Gerber!
 Win a copy of THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW and Amazon Gift Card from Mary Ellen Taylor!
 Book and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway from Mary Burton!
 Sweat, Sparks, and a Story from Kris Jayne – Grab Your Ebook!
 From Bath with Love – Win Cheryl Bolen’s Giveaway!
 Marine Romance Awaits from Debra Parmley – Grab Your eBook Copy!
 Chocolates, Love, & a Giveaway from Jennifer Faye– Enter Now!
 Burn Bright with FIRE AND IRON – Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card from Andrew Grey!
 Win TRAINED TO PROTECT + $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card from Terri Reed!
 Win $25 Amazon Gift Card from Fresh Fiction

https://coffeetimeromance.com/fresh-fiction-contest-january-2025/

Fresh Fiction Contest - January 2025

Win a copy of YOU WILL KNOW ME BY MY DEEDS from Mike Cobb!
GUEST POST GIVEAWAY! Christine Knapp | MURDER AT THE WEDDING
Win a Print Copy of THE GROOM LIST from Ella Quinn – Enter Now!
Guardian Angels & Dangerous Love from Sharon Buchbinder – Your Prize Awaits!
Wrangling Love and Prizes from Leah Vale – Enter to Win!
A Special Giveaway for You from Daryl Wood Gerber!
Win a copy of THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW and Amazon Gift Card from Mary Ellen Taylor!
Book and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway from Mary Burton!
Sweat, Sparks, and a Story from Kris Jayne – Grab Your Ebook!
From Bath with Love – Win Cheryl Bolen’s Giveaway!
Marine Romance Awaits from Debra Parmley – Grab Your eBook Copy!
Chocolates, Love, & a Giveaway from Jennifer Faye– Enter Now!
Burn Bright with FIRE AND IRON – Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card from Andrew Grey!
Win TRAINED TO PROTECT + $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card from Terri Reed!
Win $25 Amazon Gift Card from Fresh Fiction

https://coffeetimeromance.com/fresh-fiction-contest-january-2025/
...

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Enter to Win a Double Dose of Romance Books

NEW BOOKS | EVENTS | MEET THE AUTHORS | STAFF PICKS

OUR FEATURED READS

ONE LAST RAINY DAY
Kate Stewart
“We love rainy days, don’t we, baby?”

The deliciously steamy, internationally bestselling Robin Hood retelling that set Tiktok on fire continues with the first in The Ravenhood Legacy, an irresistibly edgy spin-off series shedding a new light on the secret, morally gray brotherhood – this time from the brooding and magnetic perspective of Dominic.

AMAZON

APPLE

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BOOKSHOP

KENSINGTON

KOBO

LOVE STORIES YOU CAN’T MISS:

HER SOUL TO TAKE
by Harley Laroux

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by Amy Matthews

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Already read some of these thrilling books? Share your thoughts with us on Goodreads, your favorite online bookseller, or join us at the Between the Chapters Book Club. Or show us your books in the wild on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Connect With Us
Follow Kensington Publishing and get the latest updates on books, authors, sweepstakes, and more.
Have anything you want to share with other Kensington fans? Join the conversation.

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https://coffeetimeromance.com/enter-to-win-a-double-dose-of-romance-books/

Enter to Win a Double Dose of Romance Books

NEW BOOKS | EVENTS | MEET THE AUTHORS | STAFF PICKS

OUR FEATURED READS

ONE LAST RAINY DAY
Kate Stewart
“We love rainy days, don’t we, baby?”

The deliciously steamy, internationally bestselling Robin Hood retelling that set Tiktok on fire continues with the first in The Ravenhood Legacy, an irresistibly edgy spin-off series shedding a new light on the secret, morally gray brotherhood – this time from the brooding and magnetic perspective of Dominic.

AMAZON

APPLE

B&N

BOOKSHOP

KENSINGTON

KOBO

LOVE STORIES YOU CAN’T MISS:

HER SOUL TO TAKE
by Harley Laroux

BUY NOW

SOMEONE ELSE’S BUCKET LIST
by Amy Matthews

BUY NOW

Already read some of these thrilling books? Share your thoughts with us on Goodreads, your favorite online bookseller, or join us at the Between the Chapters Book Club. Or show us your books in the wild on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Connect With Us
Follow Kensington Publishing and get the latest updates on books, authors, sweepstakes, and more.
Have anything you want to share with other Kensington fans? Join the conversation.

View email in browser

https://coffeetimeromance.com/enter-to-win-a-double-dose-of-romance-books/
...

4 0
Shattering Dawn (The Lost Night Files Book 3) by Jayne Ann KrentzAmelia Rivers, a member of the Lost Night Files podcast team, hires private investigator Gideon Sweetwater to catch the stalker who has been watching her. Amelia suspects the stalker may be connected to the shadowy organization responsible for the night that she and her two friends lost to amnesia—a night that upended their lives and left them with paranormal talents.

Gideon suspects that Amelia is either paranoid or an outright con artist, but he can’t resist the chemistry between them. He takes the case despite his skepticism. For her part, Amelia has second thoughts about the wisdom of employing the mysterious Mr. Sweetwater. She is wary of the powerful attraction between them, and deeply uneasy about the nightmarish paintings on the walls of his home. She senses they were inspired by his own dreamscapes.

Amelia knows she doesn’t have time to find another investigator, and Gideon is forced to reckon with the truth when he disrupts what was intended to be Amelia’s kidnapping. Now the pair is on the run, with no choice but to return to the haunting ruins of the old hotel where Amelia’s lost night occurred. They are desperate to stop a killer and the people who are conducting illegal experiments with a dangerous drug that is designed to enhance psychic abilities. If they are to survive, they will have to trust each other and the passion that bonds them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CWG29RGF?ref_=pe_91833030_1168681820_clc_nr_af&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xQiwggWF6N8SjQ28IhLATQ.-iJG28q2qP6Il7rRHemejZQU48pTukCK1YXlVDGFSig&dib_tag=rs&pd_rd_i=B0CWG29RGF&pd_rd_w=aGUsZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.a280cff3-e0bc-4f21-ac8d-ce79fea3657d&pf_rd_p=a280cff3-e0bc-4f21-ac8d-ce79fea3657d&pf_rd_r=null&pd_rd_wg=51SVJ&pd_rd_r=aa538c8f-8985-41e6-b7bc-01889c977bc7&nodl=0

https://coffeetimeromance.com/shattering-dawn-the-lost-night-files-book-3-by-jayne-ann-krentz/

Shattering Dawn (The Lost Night Files Book 3) by Jayne Ann KrentzAmelia Rivers, a member of the Lost Night Files podcast team, hires private investigator Gideon Sweetwater to catch the stalker who has been watching her. Amelia suspects the stalker may be connected to the shadowy organization responsible for the night that she and her two friends lost to amnesia—a night that upended their lives and left them with paranormal talents.

Gideon suspects that Amelia is either paranoid or an outright con artist, but he can’t resist the chemistry between them. He takes the case despite his skepticism. For her part, Amelia has second thoughts about the wisdom of employing the mysterious Mr. Sweetwater. She is wary of the powerful attraction between them, and deeply uneasy about the nightmarish paintings on the walls of his home. She senses they were inspired by his own dreamscapes.

Amelia knows she doesn’t have time to find another investigator, and Gideon is forced to reckon with the truth when he disrupts what was intended to be Amelia’s kidnapping. Now the pair is on the run, with no choice but to return to the haunting ruins of the old hotel where Amelia’s lost night occurred. They are desperate to stop a killer and the people who are conducting illegal experiments with a dangerous drug that is designed to enhance psychic abilities. If they are to survive, they will have to trust each other and the passion that bonds them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CWG29RGF?ref_=pe_91833030_1168681820_clc_nr_af&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xQiwggWF6N8SjQ28IhLATQ.-iJG28q2qP6Il7rRHemejZQU48pTukCK1YXlVDGFSig&dib_tag=rs&pd_rd_i=B0CWG29RGF&pd_rd_w=aGUsZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.a280cff3-e0bc-4f21-ac8d-ce79fea3657d&pf_rd_p=a280cff3-e0bc-4f21-ac8d-ce79fea3657d&pf_rd_r=null&pd_rd_wg=51SVJ&pd_rd_r=aa538c8f-8985-41e6-b7bc-01889c977bc7&nodl=0

https://coffeetimeromance.com/shattering-dawn-the-lost-night-files-book-3-by-jayne-ann-krentz/
...

1 0
Forced Proximity (Bluebell House Duet Book 1) by Jaymin Eve & Tate JamesNew College. New Start. New Life.

Or at least a second chance at life after almost dying at my last school.

Meadowridge College was supposed to be a fresh start at the safest college in America. I'd be rubbing elbows with the elite of the world, while trying to complete my degree and find a path to a brighter future.

My trauma had other ideas though. When the panic attacks send me into the arms of a gorgeous stranger in the library, it sets off a chaotic chain of events that end with me being kicked out of my dorms and forced to live and renovate a rundown old house on the edge of campus.

With five of the schools richest, most arrogant, controlling men.

Men who are filled with secrets.

Secrets I was starting to think might be to do with me.

Being forced to share Bluebell House could turn enemies into friends, and maybe even lovers... but will we all make it out alive?

https://www.amazon.com/Forced-Proximity-Bluebell-House-Duet-ebook/dp/B0DNM2RRHM?crid=Q8ZC6RGO1O2Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KKpx6KblMYg7zq2Cy8BQpA.DlFZV03Np6h_b9z8QTCBs0wfwjkXwXVHu76UwuyedRo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Forced+Proximity+%28Bluebell+House+Duet+Book+1%29+Kindle+Edition+by+Jaymin+Eve&qid=1736349253&s=digital-text&sprefix=forced+proximity+bluebell+house+duet+book+1+kindle+edition+by+jaymin+eve+%2Cdigital-text%2C284&sr=1-1https://coffeetimeromance.com/forced-proximity-bluebell-house-duet-book-1-by-jaymin-eve-tate-james/

Forced Proximity (Bluebell House Duet Book 1) by Jaymin Eve & Tate JamesNew College. New Start. New Life.

Or at least a second chance at life after almost dying at my last school.

Meadowridge College was supposed to be a fresh start at the safest college in America. I`d be rubbing elbows with the elite of the world, while trying to complete my degree and find a path to a brighter future.

My trauma had other ideas though. When the panic attacks send me into the arms of a gorgeous stranger in the library, it sets off a chaotic chain of events that end with me being kicked out of my dorms and forced to live and renovate a rundown old house on the edge of campus.

With five of the schools richest, most arrogant, controlling men.

Men who are filled with secrets.

Secrets I was starting to think might be to do with me.

Being forced to share Bluebell House could turn enemies into friends, and maybe even lovers... but will we all make it out alive?

https://www.amazon.com/Forced-Proximity-Bluebell-House-Duet-ebook/dp/B0DNM2RRHM?crid=Q8ZC6RGO1O2Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KKpx6KblMYg7zq2Cy8BQpA.DlFZV03Np6h_b9z8QTCBs0wfwjkXwXVHu76UwuyedRo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Forced+Proximity+%28Bluebell+House+Duet+Book+1%29+Kindle+Edition+by+Jaymin+Eve&qid=1736349253&s=digital-text&sprefix=forced+proximity+bluebell+house+duet+book+1+kindle+edition+by+jaymin+eve+%2Cdigital-text%2C284&sr=1-1https://coffeetimeromance.com/forced-proximity-bluebell-house-duet-book-1-by-jaymin-eve-tate-james/
...

2 0
Dear Presti: the Prince's Pen Pal by Karrie RomanPrince James lives a life of stifling duty behind the walls of Buckingham Palace. He keeps his secrets and his stiff upper lip while dreaming of the day he will be free to find the man of his dreams. It's a day he believes might never come. Until Prestidigitation Jones, an ethnobotany student from a small town in Australia, bursts into his life.

Prestidigitation marches to his own beat along with his small group of family and friends. He long ago accepted most people found him a little eccentric, but that won't stop him from living on his own terms. Though happy enough, Presti dreams of finding a man who accepts him as he is and loves him unconditionally.

A fated meeting throws them together. An attraction blooms, and a friendship begins. Distance keeps them apart, but destiny brings them together.

Through a trail of exposed secrets, false starts and unfathomable tragedy, James and Presti's feelings for each other grow stronger. Does James have the courage to fight for his dream? Can Presti face the public scrutiny of being the plus one of the spare to the throne?

Surely, together, they can find their way to happiness/find their happily ever after.

Excerpt

Dear Presti: the Prince’s Pen Pal
Karrie Roman © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Some people have a unique gift bestowed on them at birth. Perhaps one they enjoy bragging about or showing off at parties, performing these oddities like show ponies. The only gift I possessed seemed to be attracting unwanted attention.

Unlike many in these strange days of reality TV and phone cameras, I preferred to remain unnoticed. Anonymous. Out of the spotlight. Thank you very much. My dearest friend, Astrid, delighted in pointing out how I drew attention as if I were a magnet. She blamed the fantastical way I’d entered the world. She claimed that it was simply not possible for me to remain in the background after I’d burst onto the world stage in such a public way at my unusual birth.

I adored my best friend even if she did have an annoying tendency to be correct.

Though I attempted to move wraith-like through my days, I tended to stand out like a rainbow on a grey day. ...

Dear Presti: the Prince`s Pen Pal by Karrie RomanPrince James lives a life of stifling duty behind the walls of Buckingham Palace. He keeps his secrets and his stiff upper lip while dreaming of the day he will be free to find the man of his dreams. It`s a day he believes might never come. Until Prestidigitation Jones, an ethnobotany student from a small town in Australia, bursts into his life.

Prestidigitation marches to his own beat along with his small group of family and friends. He long ago accepted most people found him a little eccentric, but that won`t stop him from living on his own terms. Though happy enough, Presti dreams of finding a man who accepts him as he is and loves him unconditionally.

A fated meeting throws them together. An attraction blooms, and a friendship begins. Distance keeps them apart, but destiny brings them together.

Through a trail of exposed secrets, false starts and unfathomable tragedy, James and Presti`s feelings for each other grow stronger. Does James have the courage to fight for his dream? Can Presti face the public scrutiny of being the plus one of the spare to the throne?

Surely, together, they can find their way to happiness/find their happily ever after.

Excerpt

Dear Presti: the Prince’s Pen Pal
Karrie Roman © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Some people have a unique gift bestowed on them at birth. Perhaps one they enjoy bragging about or showing off at parties, performing these oddities like show ponies. The only gift I possessed seemed to be attracting unwanted attention.

Unlike many in these strange days of reality TV and phone cameras, I preferred to remain unnoticed. Anonymous. Out of the spotlight. Thank you very much. My dearest friend, Astrid, delighted in pointing out how I drew attention as if I were a magnet. She blamed the fantastical way I’d entered the world. She claimed that it was simply not possible for me to remain in the background after I’d burst onto the world stage in such a public way at my unusual birth.

I adored my best friend even if she did have an annoying tendency to be correct.

Though I attempted to move wraith-like through my days, I tended to stand out like a rainbow on a grey day. ...
...

1 0