**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**
Beneath the Burning Sky
Ruby Valladares
(The Ashfall Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: October 6th 2026
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
He never wanted a wife. But marrying her is the only way to keep his little sister alive.
Five years after the world ended, David has one job: keep Grace alive.
Food is rationed. The water is contaminated. Marauders roam beyond the fences. And the Drange is turning ordinary people into violent, purple-veined monsters.
When a deadly infection breaches their refugee camp, the rumored Sanctuary may be her only chance of survival.
There’s just one problem: Passage is reserved for families.
So David makes an impossible choice: he marries his nemesis.
She doesn’t trust him. He doesn’t trust her. Their marriage is supposed to be nothing more than a means of survival.
But once they leave the fences of Camp Orange, surviving each other becomes the least of their problems.
Because the wasteland is hungry.
Beneath the Burning Sky is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel blending survival horror, a deadly outbreak, infected humans, forced marriage, reluctant allies, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
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EXCERPT:
So this is what the end of the world looks like.
The thought ran through David’s mind as he trudged along next to his father and sister, bumping shoulders with hundreds of other desperate survivors who had escaped the wrath of Yellowstone.
Just fourteen days ago.
His dad had driven them hundreds of miles before the gas stations ran out of fuel.
It hadn’t been far enough.
They’d been walking ever since.
They’d crossed into Kentucky two days ago, but it didn’t look any different than Wyoming. Any different than Missouri four days before that.
The fingers of devastation reached here as well. The volcanic eruption had come out of nowhere, shattering the land and blanketing everything in gray.
Ash rained down from the sky, a silent, relentless shroud that smothered everything in its suffocating grip. The smell of sulfur and smoke lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the chaos and destruction that had been unleashed upon the world.
David opened his bag and pulled out a granola bar. Three days ago the group had run into a military unit handing out bags of food, urging them to keep going.
“We’re setting up camps in the south,” they’d said. “We’ll have shelter, food, everything you need until we can get back on our feet.”
David counted the bars he had left. Five. That was it.
He dropped the bar back into his bag.
His feet dragged through the ash like freshly fallen snow, leaving deep imprints behind. The horizon was filled with ruins of buildings and broken trees, the sky a gloomy mix of gray and red as the sun attempted to peek through.
East. Go east. And then south. Get to Georgia, Alabama, Florida.
That’s what everyone around him said. Like somewhere magical and untouched by the eruption existed if they just went far enough.
His home, his entire life, had been taken from him in an instant.
His mom.
Don’t think about what you’ve lost.
Fabric stained with soot and sweat covered his mouth. He trudged on, his mind numb and his body achingly tired.
Thirteen days of walking.

Author Bio:
Ruby Valladares writes adult speculative fiction filled with catastrophic disasters, impossible choices, complicated relationships, and ordinary people discovering just how far they’ll go to survive.
Her worlds are dark. Her characters are messier. And hope—when it comes—has to be fought for.
GIVEAWAY!
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The Forgotten Bruja
Johanny Ortega
Publication date: March 16 2027
Genres: Gothic, Horror
Freedom has always meant leaving.
For Isadora Espinal, escape was the only way to survive the life her mother tried to force upon her—a legacy built on silence, blind obedience, and a responsibility Isadora never agreed to carry. So she left Willowshade behind and built a future far beyond her mother’s reach.
Twelve years later, Altagracia Espinal is dead, and Isadora has been summoned home.
What awaits her is not an explanation but a trail of unfinished warnings, fractured family histories, and whispers that seem to seep from the walls themselves, blurring the line between guidance and manipulation.
The deeper Isadora searches, the more she suspects her mother’s secrets were never meant to protect the family. They were meant to bind it.
Now the house remembers her. The land is watching her. And the inheritance Isadora once rejected may not allow her to leave a second time.
Set in late-1960s Ohio, The Forgotten Bruja is a slow-burn gothic horror novel steeped in Dominican folklore, Spanglish dread, and magical realism.
It is a story of inherited obligation, buried history, queer love, and the devastating cost of deciding which parts of a legacy deserve to survive.

Author Bio:
Johanny Ortega is a Dominican American author who writes across genres—blending psychological horror, literary fiction, magical realism, and thrillers that punch you right in the gut.
Whether writing about haunted hills, generational trauma, or the quiet unraveling of everyday life, her stories center marginalized voices, morally complex women, and the messy truth about survival.
She is the founder of Have a Cup of Johanny, a creative platform where she blogs, podcasts, and advocates for inclusive storytelling. Her award-winning middle-grade and adult fiction has resonated with readers who crave depth, grit, and emotional honesty.
When she’s not writing, she’s raising kids in a blended military family, reading books that wreck her soul in the best way, and saying what others are afraid to.
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Love Languages for Quinn
May Wynn
(Cromwell-Hastings Series, #2)
Publication date: December 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
A story of: Billionaire Brothers, Family Secrets, Hidden Identity, and Second Chance at Love!
I’m excited to introduce you to Quinn & Magdalaina.
Quinn Cromwell is a workaholic not looking for love. But he is blindsided by his one-night stand with a mysterious woman with multiple accents who complicates his life.
As Quinn and his best friend, Nathaniel Hastings, work together against their greatest business rival, Quinn discovers a connection between this mysterious woman and his rival.
As Magdalaina tries to stay under the radar, her multiple identities emerge, forcing her to deal with her past, answer questions in the present, and determine who she wants to be in her future.
Has Quinn finally met his match? Will he discover his mystery woman’s true identity? What Cromwell Family secrets will emerge?

Author Bio:
May Wynn writes contemporary romance novels known for their emotional depth, engaging characters, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. A lifelong reader, her passion for storytelling began early, inspired by a close mentor who introduced her to a wide range of authors and genres. Together, they shared their own version of a book club before book clubs were even a trend.
After a successful career in the corporate world, May turned her focus to writing, bringing her love of romance to the page. She is an enthusiastic world traveler. She and her husband share a love of culture, history, and adventure, having traveled to more than 60 countries together. She draws inspiration from the places she has visited, weaving them into the stories she creates.
May lives in Florida with her family, where she enjoys writing on her lanai with a latte in hand, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
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**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**
Sweet Harmony
Ellie Noor
(A Blue Spruce Hills Novella)
Publication date: October 22nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Who knew placing second in national baking competition would flood your inbox with opportunities?
Not Clara Whitman.
A third-generation baker, Clara knows that businesses like hers are entrusted, not merely handed over. But with options beyond Blue Spruce Hills suddenly in the mix alongside a looming rent increase, she’s at a crossroads. She can afford to keep the bakery going, but not while pursuing something new.
In a small town where beloved establishments are slowly disappearing, however, even the idea of leaving feels traitorous.
When an up-and-coming violinist comes to town to settle the estate of his estranged grandfather and sell the music shop, he is both a distraction and a reminder that sometimes the real challenge in life is deciding how much of it you’re willing to change.
Sweet Harmony is a spirited celebration of a woman who believes every problem has a solution—set against a backdrop of small-town loyalties, beloved holiday traditions, and the romance that sneaks up on her.
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EXCERPT:
“Thanks for coming, Rye. I know this is early for you.”
“This is important.” Riley bites into the gingerbread and lets out a blissful sigh. “Mmm… just the right amount of spice.”
She cradles the mug in both hands, inhaling deeply.
I know that look, and instinctively brace for whatever she’s going to say.
“You won’t forget me when you make it big, will you? If I have to keep sharing you, I’m afraid there won’t be anything left just for me.”
Her fear comes out the way it always does—half joke, half confession—and I respond the way I always do.
With humor.
Not because I want to minimize her feelings. She has good reason to feel the way she does. But if I take her words too seriously, we’ll spill over into territory that neither one of us can handle at six o’clock in the morning. Not when we have something important planned five minutes from now.
So I stick my tongue out instead.
“Judging by the way my Instagram numbers jumped overnight, that might just be a possibility.” I wait a beat, then tone it down a notch just to be on the safe side. “Joking aside, it’s wild, considering I came in second.”
“I think America is affronted on your behalf.”
I almost snort. “Maybe they’re sympathy likes. Anyway, the winner deserved it.”
“Only you would be genuinely glad for someone else winning when we both know you needed that first place prize money for a refurb and the rent increase. What a wagon that Mrs. Wallace is, serving a rent increase to the bakery and the bookstore and who knows how many other businesses.”
Wagon. This time I snort for real. “You are so Irish, you know that?”
Riley gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry you came in second. You deserved to win.”
“It’s okay. Someone on the show told me that contestants who come in second are often more popular than the winners and, you know what, they might be right because… ” I pull my cell phone out of my apron. “My inbox has been blowing up.”
“Oh..?”
“Listen to this. A cruise line wants me for a holiday residency next year. Live baking demonstrations while influencers sip champagne. Can you imagine?”
Riley starts picking at her sweater. “On a ship like… on the open seas?”
“No, ‘fraidy cat. They operate on the Hudson, the Mississippi, and other rivers. But that’s not all.” I scroll through more emails. “There’s a seasonal TV show, an invitation to teach at a new culinary institute and, wait for it, an offer to consult on a script for a Hallmark show about a baker. I haven’t even looked at the rest, and there are a dozen more since I last che—”
“Clara.” Riley’s mug lands on the table with a soft thud. “These are big-time offers.”
I don’t even try to stop myself from pulling a face.
“I know right?”
“It’s not surprising, though. You were definitely the fan favorite, and that smile of yours at the end…”
“Crying on national TV wouldn’t have fit my brand.” I laugh softly as I bite into my own gingerbread slice. A personal victory, considering half the town showed up at the community center to watch the finale last night. “Besides, I was genuinely happy for the winner.”
GIVEAWAY!
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**This post contains Amazon affiliate links which will allow me as an associate to earn a small commission on any purchase made through the link of the products I share. This commission in no way changes the pricing of any items for the buyer.**
Finding Zaide
Kim Deister
Publication date: October 19th 2026
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Life had gotten comfortable for Amara Addison, maybe too comfortable. Fabulous job, great friends, even an amazing ex-boyfriend who was her ride or die for life. Then Zaide Rossi sauntered into her life and suddenly everything changed. But no matter how crazy life became, finding Zaide made every last moment of chaos worth it.
___
This book, from concept to edit to design, was created without the use of generative AI.
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EXCERPT:
I found the new photographer wandering around the top floor, occasionally lifting her hands and moving them around in what looked like a rather lame fight with a ghost. My own skills in photography started and ended with my phone’s camera, but I’d been doing this job long enough to know exactly what she was doing and that I shouldn’t interrupt. She was framing shots in her mind’s eye to find interesting plays of light, good angles, unique backgrounds.
A stepstool stood nearby, so I sat on it to wait for her, watching her as she moved around the open space. She’s younger than I expected. Even though I’d known when I hired her that she was younger than the more established photographers we usually used, I’d still somehow had it in my head that she’d be older than she clearly was. But now that I saw her in person, I realized that she had to be about my age, give or take a year or two.
Young or not, however, she looked the part of a creative type. Her chocolate brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun, skewered into place by three jewel-toned chopsticks. The sunlight filtering through the dirty windows glittered off the one ear I could see from where I sat, the cartilage armored by a stack of tiny silver hoops, a bigger one threaded through her nostril. She wore a pair of olive green Army-esque cargo pants with a black camisole left loose over them. On her feet were a pair of purple Chucks that had probably seen better days. More silver encircled her fingers, her wrists, her neck. Tattoos encircled both arms from wrist to shoulder. Another tattoo, a peacock, nestled its head just beneath her ear, the rest of it disappearing beneath her top. What I could see of it was beautiful. Then she turned toward me, and I realized she was beautiful.
My mouth went dry as our eyes met. The world instantly dropped away, and I forgot how to breathe. Then she smiled brightly, and the world settled back into its rightful place. My breath
stuttered, and I fervently hoped she hadn’t noticed the effect she’d had on me. What the hell is wrong with you, Mara? Get your shit together. She crossed the room toward me, dust motes flying up in her wake. When she stopped in front of me, I almost lost my ability to breathe all over again.
Zaide Rossi was even more beautiful up close.

Author Bio:
My name is Kim and my last name, Deister, is pronounced “Die-ster.” I always tell my husband I should have kept my married name, Ingram. So much easier to to pronounce!
I am a writer thoroughly in love with words. Reading them, writing them… I love that words can take you outside of your world and let the unimaginable become imaginable. I love them so much that I decided I needed to create some worlds and stories of my own!
Besides being a writer, I am an Army veteran (and Army wife) and a mom to four sons. I grew up in northern New York in a tiny college town called Potsdam. Over the years, our Army life has taken us all over the place and I have been lucky enough to work and live in some pretty amazing places. Right now we live in Hawaii on the island of O’ahu, minutes from the North Shore.
GIVEAWAY
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