New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: MAGE OF THE DRAGON PRINCE by Ariella Zoelle writing as Zarina Aston (Bonded Hearts #1)

Mage of the Dragon Prince
By Ariella Zoelle Writing as Zarina Aston

Bonded Hearts, Book 1

A twist of fate brings a human mage to the past to fall in love with a dragon shifter prince. But will it also tear them apart before they can bond as fated mates?  

Auslin accidentally steps back in time, where he crosses paths with Kitaro, a charming dragon shifter prince. Forced to rely on the alluring stranger, Auslin places his trust in the hands of Prince Kitaro.

When they embark on a perilous journey to return Auslin to his rightful era, the fated mates discover a love that transcends time. But dangers lurking in the shadows conspire to keep them apart, threatening to unravel their fragile bond before it fully forms.

As they navigate treacherous challenges and powerful adversaries, Auslin and Kitaro must confront the ultimate question: can their love withstand the twists of fate that brought them together, or will it ultimately be the force that tears them apart? 

Mage of the Dragon Prince is the first book of the Bonded Hearts series and part of the Talwyn Saga universe. Full of dramatic twists and turns, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The story continues in future books, which will lead to a happily ever after.

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Excerpt

Chapter 3: Auslin

Sleep was slow to leave Auslin in the morning. He lingered in an unaware state, enjoying the warmth embracing him. It was a comfort he was loath to let go of in favor of wakefulness. He snuggled deeper into the comfort with a contented sigh, loving when he was held tighter.

It had been so long since Kio had held him like that—and that’s when Auslin remembered it couldn’t be Kio behind him. His eyes flew open, and he saw a pale arm around him with silver shifter markings. Auslin scrambled back with an alarmed noise as he turned to see a naked man.

Brushing his long, silver-white hair from his face and opening his eyes, the shifter blinked sleepily as he looked at Auslin questioningly with startlingly familiar ice-blue eyes. Auslin’s heart raced when their gazes met. The shifter in front of him looked like a much younger Kitsuki. But unlike the ruler, the person in front of him had both arms, different colored hair, and a brighter aura.

Although the dragon monarch looked to be in his thirties in human years, Auslin knew he was over a thousand years old. The shifter in front of him appeared to be equivalent to a twenty-something-year-old human male in age, but he was probably still several hundred years old.

He was a stunningly beautiful creature in seductive repose, which made Auslin’s heart pound for a different reason altogether. The shifter had shimmering silver markings that sensuously caressed his entire body. They were proof that he was an immensely powerful shifter.

Auslin knew Kitsuki had similar lines on the back of his hand, the sides of his neck, and chest, but they were much darker and didn’t swirl with energy like he had seen with other shifters before. He had always assumed Kitsuki had markings on the rest of his body, like a shifter of his rank was supposed to. But Auslin had no way of knowing how extensive they were since he had never seen him undressed before. And for some reason, thinking of the dragon monarch naked brought heat to his cheeks.

But none of that changed the fact that Auslin was looking at an impossible person. He couldn’t make sense of it at all.

When he continued silently staring, the shifter propped himself up on his elbow. He asked in a rumbling voice deepened by sleep, “Is it a human custom to awaken with such fear?”

It was not the reaction Auslin had been expecting. “It is when you wake up in bed naked with a stranger!”

“You fear me as a man but not as a dragon? What sense does that make? Humans are such curious creatures.”

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Enter the Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Mage of the Dragon Prince, Zarina is giving away copies of the release!

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Check out the Prequel:
Enchanter of Dragons

Bonded Hearts, Prequel

A unicorn shifter is the last of his kind. Can a royal dragon shifter save him from being hunted?

Captured by a cruel king, Fersen is close to succumbing to the shadows of despair. But hope flickers to life when General Jaega is his unexpected savior.

After Jaega’s mate was murdered during the Necromancer War, the dragon prince had given up on love. The last thing he expects to discover is his new fated mate is the last living unicorn shifter.

Fersen is finally free, but the danger isn’t over yet. The sudden arrival of his heat makes a bad situation even worse.

Jaega knows he should keep his distance like a gentleman, but how can he resist his instincts demanding they consummate their mating bond?

Enchanter of Dragons is the prequel to the Bonded Hearts series and part of the Talwyn Saga universe. It is a complete story that can be read as a standalone.

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About the Author

With a pen as her wand and a heart full of mischief, Zarina Aston conjures up fantasy worlds where queer love knows no bounds. Her stories are like a kaleidoscope of emotions, filled with passionate encounters and heart-stopping adventures with shifters. From the first page to the last, Zarina's books are a whirlwind of dramatic twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning pages long into the night.

But sometimes Zarina’s in the mood for something with a little less angst and drama. If you’re craving light-hearted fluffy works of heart, then check out her Ariella Zoelle books as well.

For real time updates on Zarina’s writing progress, please join her Facebook group for exclusive teasers or follow her on Twitter or Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter to gain access to bonus chapters, previews of upcoming books, and more.

Newsletter - Website - Amazon - BookBub - Facebook Group - Facebook Page - Goodreads - Instagram - Twitter/X

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New Release & Giveaway: METHOD ACTING by N.R. Walker (Franklin University, Season 2 Book 7)

Method Acting
By N.R. Walker

Cover Designer: Natasha Snow
Model: Paolo  Photographer: Xram Ragde

Franklin University Series Season 2, Book 7

Chase Soria

Every budding actor knows acting is a difficult gig. There will be grueling auditions and punishing rejections. If you’re lucky, there’ll be roles that pay the bills and even roles that won’t.

Roles we don’t believe in.

But that’s what acting is—acting as if we do believe in them.

So when the semester’s production project is announced and I’m cast as one of the leads, I’m ecstatic. A lot of responsibility, a lot of work, but I’m up for it. Even when I find out what my role is and who my partner is. Amos, the brooding James Dean wannabe, is my on-screen boyfriend. Which is great, except for the fact he hates me.

I can do this. It’s just acting.

Nothing more.

Amos Beddington

The 90s are back, apparently. 90210 and Friends, but with a reality TV spin, which means cameras following us around as if they’re capturing the everyday lives of Franklin U students.

Me, but not me.

Me, with no more than a character description, no script or screenplay. Method acting, being the character 24/7, not just when the cameras are rolling. With a campus boyfriend.

Method acting is immersive and intense, and it can be confusing if the lines begin to blur. I mean, I’ve dreamed of being with the irritatingly gorgeous and annoyingly popular Chase Soria, and now I have to be his on-screen boyfriend?

I’m a good actor, sure. But how can I be convincing when I’m not sure I can even convince myself?

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Enter the Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of  Method Acting, N.R. is giving away 2 e-copies of the release!

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About the Author

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love.

She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Connect with N.R.:
https://nrwalker.net/

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Excerpt & Giveaway THE KEEPER by Aimee Nicole Walker (Redemption Ridge #5)

The Keeper
By Aimee Nicole Walker

Redemption Ridge, Book 5

Sabotaged brakes didn’t kill Rueben Sanchez, but waiting for his assailants’ trial to start just might. A potential witness for the prosecution can’t explore his lusty feelings for the hunky sheriff who saved him, but that doesn’t stop his imagination from running wild. Rueben has already shaped his traumatic mountainside meet cute with Seth Burke into a happily ever after to tell their future grandkids. When the delay threatens to stretch on for years, Rueben feels his dreams slipping out of reach. Should he surrender gracefully or fight for his man?

Pressure and scrutiny are nothing new to Seth, but shouldering his duties has never felt like a burden until they keep him from the man he wants most. Cracking an unsolved murder, safeguarding a high-profile trial, and winning re-election should be enough to keep him busy. But he can’t stop thinking about the perfect weekend he shared with Rueben before everything careened off course. Are they as good together as Seth remembers, or is his memory swayed by the allure of the forbidden? And does he dare to find out?

Late-night phone calls and shared secrets lead to stolen kisses and a lakeside cabin rendezvous. But one encounter isn’t enough, and the two men will risk everything to explore their deepening bond. When a series of chilling events rock the county, Rueben and Seth must put more than their hearts on the line because one misstep could prove fatal.

The Keeper is book five in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. The Keeper contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

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Excerpt

Seth scanned the hallway again, and his gaze landed on the stockroom. “In here.” He curled his fingers into fists to avoid doing something stupid like reaching for Rueben’s hand. Seth opened the door and turned on the light. The space wasn’t huge to start with, and rows of tall metal storage shelves aligned both walls, leaving only a narrow aisle between them. Seth shut the door and gave in to the urge to take Rue’s hand, guiding him past stacks of toilet paper, napkins, and nonperishable food items. They stopped by a section of table condiments toward the back of the room. The aisle was barely big enough for one person, let alone two, and Seth ended up crowding Rueben against the metal shelving. Body heat drew him in, or maybe Rueben gave Seth’s heartstrings a little tug. Either way, it was nearly impossible not to react to the energy pulsing between them. “I want to apologize.”

Rueben’s gorgeous mouth curved into a wicked smile. “I can’t fault your style.”

Seth almost laughed and replied with a snappy comeback, but they didn’t have much time. He went for a direct approach instead, though he didn’t step back to put distance between them. How could he when Rueben smelled so damn delicious? Seth tried not to be too obvious when he inhaled a little deeper on his next breath. Mmmm. Sunshine and clean clothes. “And clear the air,” he added.

“I’m trying to decide if your growing erection is making things clearer or if it’s muddying the water,” Rueben said.

Seth’s exhale came out sounding more like a needy whimper than the heavy sigh he’d intended. Rueben’s warm chuckle was such a small sound, but it rippled over him like a seductive caress. Seth needed to take a step back, screw his head on right, and put things in proper perspective, but he settled his hands at Rueben’s hips and held on for dear life. Being together was so wrong but felt so fucking right.

“Not that I’m complaining, but I’m getting mixed signals from you today,” Rueben said. “You iced me out at the prosecutor’s office and wouldn’t even look at me. And now, you’re a few heartbeats away from rubbing one out against me.” Seth hadn’t moved his hips so much as an inch, but grinding against Rueben’s answering hard-on was the only thing on his mind. “Use your words, Burke. I don’t have enough emotional spoons left in the drawer to guess where your head is.” He raised his hand and caressed Seth’s jaw with two fingers. “This one, I mean. The other head’s desires are pretty self-explanatory.”

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Enter the Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of The Fortunate Son, Aimee is giving away 3 e-copies of the release!

 

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Join us for Book 1 in the Redemption Ridge Series with:
Guys Like Him

Redemption Ridge, Book 1

Kieran Sullivan is broken when he arrives at Redemption Ridge. A wrongful conviction and twenty months in lockup will do that to a man. The ranch is a place for second chances and fresh starts, but for him, it’s an opportunity to discover who set him up. Get in, get answers, and get out. The plan sounds easy enough until Kieran meets an equine specialist whose sunny smile could warm the coldest heart.

Finley Ashe is a sucker for bruised spirits and sad eyes. The horse whisperer and broken-boy magnet is six months into a hiatus from love when Kieran, the king of emotionally unavailable men, gets assigned to work under his supervision. Mutual attraction is gasoline on proximity’s flame, testing Finley’s resistance in new ways.

Priorities shift, shields come down, and truths get exposed. Will the inevitable combustion redeem Kieran and Finley or consume them?

Guys Like Him is book one in the Redemption Ridge series. Though each story features a different couple, reading the series in order is essential. Guys Like Him contains mature themes and is intended for adults.

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About the Author

Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she gets paid to tell those stories to other people. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and animal lover are just a few of them. Her absolute favorite title is champion of the happily ever after. Love inspires everything she does, music keeps her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.

I’d love to hear from you.

You can reach me at:

BookBub - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Blog

Want to be the first to know about my book releases and have access to extra content? You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/dlhPYj

My favorite place to hang out and chat with my readers is my Facebook group. Would you like to be a member of Aimee’s Dye Hards? We’d love to have you! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AimeesDyeHards/

Connect with Aimee:
https://linktr.ee/AimeeNicoleWalker

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New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: STRAY AWAKENING by F.A. Ray (Rainbow Rescue Cat Café #1)

Stray Awakening
By F.A. Ray

Rainbow Rescue Cat Café, Book 1

I fled my hometown seven years ago. I never planned to come back. I never planned to give up my city life for a small town. And I definitely never planned to fall for another man.

Henry

Tripp Lake, the place I love the most. Working at a cat café on Main Street gives me a chance to get some deserving cats their forever homes.

But when a blast from the past walks into my café, I’m not sure what to feel. Alex was always hot and popular in high school – and straight.

So it’s a shock when he keeps accepting my invitations to hang out. I don’t think I’m imagining the spark between us, but is Alex actually interested in me, or am I letting this straight boy break my heart?

Alex

Tripp Lake, the place I hate the most. I’m only here because of my father’s heart attack. But the second I return home, I remember all the reasons I ran away.

My parents are overbearing. This town is small and boring. And I want nothing more than to flee back to my new life in San Francisco - a life that doesn't come packed with any surprising new feelings about a guy I went to high school with.

Henry is a ray of sunshine amid this bleak journey home. But I've never been interested in a guy before. When a relaxing hike results in my first timid kiss with another man, I start questioning a lot more than just my decision to leave Tripp Lake. Is Henry worth staying in this crappy town for?

Stray Awakening is a small-town MM romance with first-time gay experiences, a sweet ray of sunshine winning over a jaded grumpy, spicy open-door scenes, and, of course, lots of cats. Go to linktr.ee/faraywrites for CWs.

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Excerpt

I don’t dare move, even when Alex rises to his feet and closes the distance between us. He doesn’t touch me, but he could, and that awareness thrums between us like electricity crackling in the air. Air I’ve forgotten to breathe in far too long.

I suck in a startled breath. It would be hard to miss the way Alex’s eyes flicker to my parted lips. But he’s straight, isn’t he? This can’t possibly be happening.

He steps even closer. The crackle is a lightning bolt spitting and sparking before it strikes. Alex raises his hands, lowers them, opens his mouth to speak but says nothing.

Then one single word escapes his lips: “Henry.”

I leap forward without thinking, falling against his mouth. Alex catches me, hands going to my shoulders. Even as he clings to me, Alex kisses me back. This isn’t some light, accidental brush this time, a mistake easily dismissed. His mouth presses hard against mine, and when I gasp for breath Alex tilts his head and goes in deeper. His mouth massages mine, his tongue glancing along my lips. It nearly takes me off my feet, so hungry, so passionate that it’s like a hurricane tearing down the walls to leave me windswept and exposed.

We finally break, both flushed and panting. I cling to my damp towel while Alex clings to me.

“Yeah?” he says.

“Yeah,” I agree. “Yeah.”

I drop the towel and grasp the front of his shirt, tugging him to the couch only a couple steps away. I’m too scared to attempt the longer hike to the bedroom. What if the frenzy fades? What if the distance sobers him up, makes him change his mind? I don’t know what’s happening, but I definitely don’t want it to stop.

I hit the couch hard and drag Alex down with me. One of my legs hangs off the furniture, giving Alex space to lay atop me. His weight presses me into the cushions, and I grab at his shirt, eager to pull him down and feel even more of him on me. The solidity of his body heavy against me is as strong an enticement as his mouth when it finds mine again. My hands sneak around his broad back, fingers curling in his shirt as he kisses me into the couch cushions with a hunger I wouldn’t have dared to expect when I invited him over here. Because seriously, what’s happening right now? I thought he might hate me for kissing him on Saturday, and here he is sucking the breath out of my lungs and licking into my mouth.

And he’s hard.

He shifts, and suddenly I can feel it. I gasp — or I try, anyway. It’s difficult with the voracious way he keeps his mouth against mine. He wants this. He really wants this.

His body’s blunt proclamation inspires a surge of confidence within me. I push at him, flipping us over on the couch before he has time to react. Alex lands on his back and blinks up at me, and the flash of startlement in his dark eyes sends me scrambling.

I shimmy downward to his jeans before he can overthink this, then start undoing the clasps. I glance upward before I pull his pants down. He has one last chance to tell me he’s straight and this is a huge mistake. But there’s no hesitation in his face. He watches me with rapt attention, cheeks and eyes bright, and I don’t delay any longer.

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Enter the Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Stray Awakening, F.A. Ray's giving away 2 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author:

F. A. Ray started writing fiction as a child and has never stopped. When they aren’t writing, they enjoy rock climbing and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where they live with their partner and cat.

Visit linktr.ee/faraywrites to find out more. You can also sign up for my Patreon, where I post WIPs, updates, bonus scenes, deleted scenes and short stories that don’t appear anywhere else.

Linktree - Patreon - Newsletter - BlueSky - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

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New Release-Review & Giveaway: TONGUE TIED by Christina Lee (Franklin University Season 2, Book #6)

Tongue Tied
By Christina Lee

Cover Designer: Natasha Snow
Model: Matheus Amaro  Photographer: Xram Ragde

Franklin University Series Season 2, Book 6

Confessing feelings for your best friend takes being tongue-tied to a whole new level.

AUSTIN

Dex has always been my best friend, so it’s no surprise that we attend Franklin U together. We’re complete opposites. Dex is charismatic and outgoing. Me? Let’s just say I wish I could infuse some of his confidence into my veins. Making friends is hard enough, but trying to meet guys, even with Dex’s help? I’m useless. Maybe it’s because Dex is all about hooking up, but I want my first time to be straight out of the pages of the romance novels I read.

DEX

After a string of mishaps, I swore off helping Austin land guys. But when he asks me to show him the ropes with practice sessions, I get the feeling he’s desperate. Our dates are pretend, so why am I getting so into them? I want to make Austin happy, but the line between friendship and something more is getting really damned blurry. The fluttery feeling, that electric energy every time we touch…it’s addicting. I’m getting overprotective, not only of my time with Austin, but with douchebags who might break his heart.

Eventually, the pretending has to end so Austin can strike out on his own. But how do I tell him I’m not ready to let him go, when every attempt at confessing leaves me tongue-tied?

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Carra's Review

Best friends to lovers is always a trope that will catch my eye.  I thought Austin and Dex were sweet together.  Even though we know how their fake dating will end up, it was fun watching Dex help Austin gain more confidence so he can talk to other guys without turning into a crazy mess.

Austin is adorable when he’s flustered by his interactions with any attractive guys.  Dex is the total opposite, able to hook up at the drop of a hat, and turns out to be a great teacher to help Austin become more comfortable around any guy he might be interested in.

Was this predictable?  Pretty much.  But for me, this story made for several hours of easy entertainment with two guys that were a great match for each other.  They were both great characters, and for me it was easy to identify with Austin (yep, I’m the shy, socially clumsy one) which helped me become invested in how things would turn out.

Overall, Tongue-Tied was a 3.5-star read for me, and I think any M/M romance fan would enjoy Dex and Austin’s story.  Once things move from just platonic dates to the physical, they definitely have plenty of chemistry  together to spice things up too.  Even knowing how things will turn out between them, it’s still fun getting to that point.

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Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Tongue Tied, Christina is giving away 2 e-copies of the release!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

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About the Author

Once upon a time, Christina Lee was a wardrobe stylist in New York City. She spent her days schlepping clothes, hailing cabs, and on the hunt for the perfect lip gloss, which became a bit of an addiction—along with books and coffee. You could always find her perched in a corner booth of a favorite diner sipping a dark roast and reading.

She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and kiddo—her two favorite people in the world. She’s been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher and while very rewarding, they still didn’t feel like an exact fit. It wasn’t until she began writing a weekly column for the local newspaper that the bells went off in her head. She could finally draw from her real-life experiences and vivid imagination to write fiction—and she’s never looked back.

Christina writes romance in different sub-genres, but mostly with LGBTQ characters because representation matters and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.

Connect with Christina:
https://christinalee.net/

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