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Monday, March 30, 2026

Read Copperhead 2 by Steven A Coulter #MMRomance #Singer #Lover #Spy

  

Copperhead 2

Book 2

Key Words: 

SciFi, LGBTQ, Speculative Fiction, Sex Off Page, Fade to Black, Action, Love Story

Synopsis:

Hero. Heartthrob. Hustler. Prey.

Abel Torres is now one of the most famous young men in America, a national hero, a sophomore in college with a musical career beginning to launch.

As he prepares for the opening of Les Miz, a stranger threatens to make public his life as a prostitute with multiple clients, not just the congressman, which could crash his future and humiliate his family. Dirksen could be in trouble. Prince Ali could be implicated; his uncle powerful and ruthless. Who betrayed him? Who can he trust? The white supremacist underground, enraged that a mixed-race gay man thwarted their revolution, has him in their crosshairs. The pressure and violence begin to unravel Zachary’s mental health. Abel signs a major record contract just as a militia group spoils the announcement.

And, as always, his voice soars.

Get It Now:

Amazon

Excerpt:

FBI Agent Guillermo Diaz was sitting next to me on a sad stained and ripped wheelie chair in my dorm room at SF State. An FBI stakeout room was across the hall, not exactly subtle but maybe that was the idea. Killing me would take extra effort.

“Feel proud of what you did, Abel. What you’ve done for your mom and dad. Hell, what you did for your country.”

He was handsome with curly black hair, maybe ten years older than me, always armed and with a confidence that made me feel safe, was part of a group of law enforcement officers providing round-the-clock protection. We’d become friends during the past months.

“I do.” Leaning back, a sigh escaped. “But it all still has me screaming most nights. I stabbed a man to death.”

“And took out the white nationalist trying to launch dirty bombs on major cities.”

“Yeah, yeah. No need to pile it on. Back at you—I’m grateful on what you’ve done to keep me and Zachary safe. I just want the threats to end. I want to launch my music career. Mama and my dad are adamant about me getting a college degree. I’m getting ready to take the lead in a major college musical. For better or worse, my only current source of income—perhaps surpassing my stellar past careers as a below-minimum-wage dishwasher and night janitor—remains the same. I’m down to just one client who keeps me solvent even as he wants more of my time and certain body parts.”

“You’re funny. Until we know the threat’s gone, I’m part of your reality. I make no judgement on what you’re doing or have done to help your parents. I admire your reasons for doing what you did and still do.” He leaned forward in his chair, reaching over, patting my knee. “My advice…take it one day at a time. Simplify. Make your life less complicated. Focus on all the little issues that need to get done. Concentrate on what you have control over to improve your life and those around you.”

He looked at his watch and we both stood. “Time for your math class.”

I gave him a hug. “I’m glad you’re my friend. Any interest in taking this class for me.”

“I’d take a bullet for you, Abel, but bonehead math is asking too much.”

He texted another guard that we were about to exit. Getting all clear, he stepped out first and I followed. Simplify. Yeah sure. 


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More in the Series


Book 1
Student. Singer. Lover. Spy.

When his family is torn apart, a college freshman uses his charm and looks to infiltrate the world of the rich and powerful risking his life for a greater cause.

Abel Torres knew hardship growing up but with his high-octane singing voice the young man dreams of a bright future with a scholarship to San Francisco State.

A mentor at the university, knowing his desperation, makes an unusual introduction and soon the handsome 19-year-old is performing at a swank party, charming California’s political and social elites. The wealthy host offers to connect him with rich gay men who would pay handsomely for his attention. Battling his conscience and pride, he accepts the offer. Complicating his life, he begins dating a sassy waiter who just might be the love he is seeking.
The FBI approaches him after he begins seeing a gay Congressman, asking him to work undercover to help bring down a terrorist plot on U.S. soil.

As Abel faces ever greater dangers, can he juggle his various identities as a student, singer, lover, and spy? Or will he lose everyone he loves if they discover just how far he’s gone to save them?




Who am I?

Steve writes speculative fiction. He explores issues of consequence embedded in fast-paced adventure, exotic settings, nasty bad guys, reluctant heroes, and the audacity of love. His work is enriched by his varied careers – soldier, teacher, journalist, state legislator, corporate executive, and library commissioner. He has a BA and MA in Journalism and was a Lambda Literary Fellow in 2008 and 2013, later spending two years on the Board. He lives in San Francisco with his husband, Greg. They favor bittersweet chocolate.

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Sunday, March 29, 2026

DISCOVERING THE MARQUESS by Lexi Post has released!

by Lexi Post 

has released!

His secret is dark. Can she bring him into the light?

Amazon Amazon UK  | Amazon AU | Amazon CA 

Free on Kindle Unlimited

Lady Eleanor is convinced she will never be asked to marry, and not because she loves astronomy. Her bright red hair, tendency to speak loudly, and penchant for clumsiness has only the oldest lords bothering to even talk to her. So as the Belinda School for Curious Ladies closes for the holidays, she accepts a marriage proposal sight unseen from Lord Darius Taylour, the Marquess of Ferncroft—a widower. All she knows about him is that he is looking for a mother for his two children and is younger than her father.

Darius’s “black moods” are a secret known to only a handful of people, and he plans to keep it that way. Since his first wife was not what she’d first appeared, he is pleased that his younger brother arranged a marriage for him with an intelligent woman who will welcome his two children. It doesn’t take long for him to discover that Ellie is not only nothing like his first wife, but also not like other women.

As Ellie disrupts his house, plans an elaborate Christmastide, and takes over the education of his children, he finds himself too distracted to become melancholy. Just as he begins to appreciate her many attributes, he’s reminded of why he must never relax his guard. His wife may well reach for the stars, but his feet are stuck deep in the mud, and he can see no way out.


About Lexi:

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. Whether it’s sizzling cowboys, dashing dukes, hot immortals, or hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend,
loves bright colors, and you’ll never see her without a hat.

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Saturday, March 28, 2026

Read The Sand Prince by Kim Alexander #Fantasy #Adventure #EpicFantasy

  



The Sand Prince
(The Demon Door Book 1)


Synopsis

Two worlds.
Bound by magic.
Divided by a Door.
On the barren, war-ravaged demon world of Eriis, the fierce queen Hellne fights to keep her people alive and her son Rhuun's heritage a secret. On the green and gentle human world of Mistra, demons have faded into myth. Only a handful of old men and fanatical children still guard The Door between the worlds.
Different and shunned by his demon kin, Rhuun finds refuge in a book that tells of a human world of water and wonder. Forced by his mother's enemies to flee Eriis, he finds himself trapped on the other side of The Door in the very place he has read and dreamed about—Mistra.
Chained to the deadly whims of a child who guards The Door, Rhuun must balance serving and surviving, even at the risk of exposing his true identity. Riskiest of all is his task of kidnapping an infuriating young woman who is about to find out that the demons of Eriis are much, much more than just an old bedtime story.






What are the other books in the series?

The Heron Prince


The Demon Door can be opened...but the price is deadly.

Prince Rhuun has found acceptance among the humans on Mistra, something he could never have in the demon realm of Eriis, not even as heir to its throne. What's more, he has even found love with the prickly, passionate heiress, Lelet va'Everly.

The idyll can't last. The prince has enemies who are after more than his throne. They are out for his blood…which holds the key to unsealing The Door between the two worlds, and the demons want in. When Rhuun is lured into a trap on Eriis, Lelet has no choice but to turn to a motley group of exiles, children, and madmen to help save him.

Lelet soon discovers that, like all things, rescuing the prince comes with a price. The secrets in Rhuun's blood may be worth killing for, but are they worth dying for?



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The Glass Girl


Love opens all doors…but betrayal locks them forever.


Newly blessed (or cursed) with wings and fire, Prince Rhuun of the demon realm of Eriis sees hope for his life in the human world of Mistra with his fierce human lover, Lelet va'Everley. She literally went to hell and back to save him, and she's not about to let anything—or anyone—ruin their perfect future.


All too soon, the claims of family, duty, and justice force Rhuun and Lelet to confront new griefs and old mistakes as they attempt to restore balance to the throne of Eriis. But, with every jealous rumor and each vengeful whisper, friends turn, family schemes, and forgotten enemies creep from the shadows.


Treachery in Eriis and betrayal in Mistra jeopardize what Rhuun and Lelet have fought so hard to build, threatening to tear apart the two lovers, their families, and even their worlds.



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The River King

SOMETIMES LOVE DOESN’T CHANGE THE WORLD. SOMETIMES IT CHANGES ALL OF THEM.

Rhuun, the half-human and wholly reluctant prince of the demons has finally reunited with his fiery Lelet. It’s too bad they must hide behind a facade of icy indifference to fool those who are determined to keep demons and humans apart...by any means necessary.

There is more at stake than bringing the miracle of rain back to Eriis. It's not just sand and lost royals poised to come through the newly-opened Door. Something ancient is hungry, and fat, complacent Mistra won't stand a chance. Even worse, whispers and shadows speak of blood magic that could destroy not just The Door, but all Doors—forever—barring the way home for lovers and enemies alike.

Will the love Rhuun and Lelet have moved worlds to share be the very thing they must sacrifice to save their worlds?



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Who am I?

Kim Alexander grew up in the wilds of Long Island, NY, and slowly drifted south until she reached Key West. After spending ten rum-soaked years as a DJ in the Keys, she moved to Washington DC, where she lives with two cats, an angry fish, and her extremely patient husband who tells her she needs to write at least ten more books if she intends to retire in Thailand, so thank you for your patronage. 



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Friday, March 27, 2026

Havercakes from Wuthering Heights

Taking a departure from Regency posts this month, to proffer a recipe first mentioned in one of my first historical reads - and remember, while Emily wrote Wuthering Heights in 1846, it's set slap-bang in the English Regency era.

This food is mentioned by Lockwood in the first chapter of the book, when he first enters the farmhouse. Also known as oatcakes, havercakes are traditional Yorkshire fare and while I will die on the hill that Wuthering Heights is absolutely not a romance in any way, shape or form, Emily Bronte has been my inspiration for writing for many years - and no, I did not like the recent film. It disrespects the novel - but my opinion is only one of many.

One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, interspersed with silver jugs and tankards, towering row after row, on a vast oak dresser, to the very roof. The latter had never been under-drawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye, except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef, mutton, and ham, concealed it. Above the chimney were sundry villainous old guns, and a couple of horse-pistols: and, by way of ornament, three gaudily painted canisters disposed along its ledge.

Wuthering Heights,  Chapter 1

Yorkshire Oatcakes

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup (250 ml) warm water, divided plus extra
  • 2 ¼ tsp (7 g) traditional active dry yeast
  • ¼ tsp (1 g) sugar
  • 1 ⅓ cups (134 g) oats, quick or large flake
  • 1 cup (128 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp (3 g) salt
  • 1 cup (250 ml) milk, warmed
  • 2-3 tbsp (28 – 42 g) butter, as needed

Instructions 

1. Pour half a cup of the water into a small bowl and warm it until it reaches approximately 105°F to 115°F.

2. Add the sugar and yeast, stirring lightly to combine. Set aside and allow the yeast to activate. After about 5 minutes, when it becomes foamy and risen, continue with the recipe.

3. Using a food processor or blender, pulse the oats until they form a coarse flour. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground oats, plain flour, and salt.

4. Whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the yeast mixture, the remaining half cup of water, and the milk. Whisk until a smooth, thin batter forms. Cover with a tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hour.

5. Melt the butter in a small dish and set it aside with a pastry brush.

6. Gently stir the batter and assess the consistency. It should be thin enough to pour easily from a ladle, similar to crepe batter. If needed, whisk in an additional 3 to 4 tablespoons of water to achieve this texture.

7. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, lightly brush with melted butter. Pour in one ladleful of batter, tilting the pan to spread it into a thin, crepe-like layer. If it does not spread easily, add a little more water to the batter.

8. Cook the oatcake until nearly set. Turning it too soon may cause it to break. When the surface appears mostly set, flip and cook for a further 1 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned on both sides.

9. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter.

These oatcakes go well with a savoury dish such as stew, but I like mine slathered in butter and honey for tea.



Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Read Fake it 'til You Make Out by Isla Olsen #MMRomance #RomCom #FakeBoyfriends #Free

  


Fake It 'Til You Make Out

Love & Luck Series Book 1

Key Words: 

MM Romance, Rom-Com, HEA, Best Friends, Fake Boyfriends, Bi-Awakening

Synopsis:

Heath
It’s a classic story: Boy meets girl, girl breaks boy’s heart, boy pretends to be gay to get back at girl, girl outs boy to everyone on Facebook…
Okay, maybe it’s not that classic. But it’s what happened to me.
When I bump into my cheating ex and catch sight of the moon-sized rock on her finger, there’s only one option to save face: pretend to be dating my gay best friend, Declan.
And when she outs me on Facebook and everyone I know sees it, there’s still only one option: keep pretending to be dating Declan.
And when Declan and I have to kiss to keep up the ruse and it turns out there’s actually a spark between us (more like a blazing inferno, if truth be told) there’s once again only one option…
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More in the Series



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Who am I?

Isla is a cocktail-loving, history-obsessed Aussie who writes low-angst, high-heat queer romantic comedy.

She is best known for the Love & Luck series and P.S. I Loathe You.

Some of Isla's favorite tropes include: Friends to lovers, queer-awakening, age gap, enemies to lovers, best friend's/sibling's ex, secret fling...and many more!

Fun Facts about Isla:
If she had a time machine she'd go to London on July 13, 1985, to see Live Aid.
She's travelled to 44 different countries 
If she could re-live any year of her life it would be 2000
Her all-time favourite books are Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters world
Her all-time favorite movie is Gladiator
Her all-time favorite TV show is Friends
Her all-time favorite song is "Live Forever" by Oasis, and she has the title tattooed on her forearm
The five people she'd invite to a dinner party are Neil Patrick Harris, JFK, Courtney Act, Miranda Hart, and Freddie Mercury

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Monday, March 23, 2026

Spring: The Most Romantic Season of All

As you might suspect from my branding as the Celtic Romance Queen,

 I’ve written Romantasy set at the Summer Solstice.

The longest day of the year. 

The Unicorn and the Druidess

At Summer Solstice, people aren’t what they seem—they could be… a unicorn …a god…or someone you fall in love with.

Druidess Maelona pursues a unicorn into the woods and returns with a runaway slave boy she takes under her wing. Before she can go back to look for the unicorn, a handsome stranger ignites a fiery attraction within her. But she can tell he's keeping something from her. She suspects that he may be a Roman spy.

God Epon’s blood burns at first sight of the gorgeous Druidess. Goaded by his desire for her, he passes through the portal from the otherworld as a unicorn. Then he runs into the forest and she gives chase. There, he shapeshifts into human form to get to know her better. Plus, to win her trust, he fights the Romans and saves her tribe. 

But even then, will he and Maelona be able to overcome the insurmountable odds of a romance between a mortal and an immortal being anything more than a summertime tryst?

And I've written Romantasy set at the Winter Solstice. 

The longest night of the year. 

The Bear and the Druidess. 
Sometimes a secret must be revealed to move from the winter of love into its spring.

Romans stole all the winter grain from Druidess Bronwen’s tribe. Now, pursued by Romans, she ducks into a cave to hide. There she finds a handsome warrior who offers to help. He ignites a fiery spark of attraction within her but she can tell he’s keeping something from her.

The prayers of a beautiful druidess he can’t resist lead the Bear God Artaois into the cave where Bronwen is hiding. He pretends to be asleep until she finds him.

Artaois (Art) is determined to spend the longest night of the year with her. But Bronwen doesn’t realize he’s a god. He keeps his secret from her and even though he can transform into a bear, he only reveals himself in human form.

With the Winter Solstice upon them, can Artaois (Art) find a way to save her tribe from starvation? And, when Bronwen finally discovers his secret, will she leave the romance building between them out in the cold?

But I’ve never written about the Spring Equinox—Ostara.

That may change after attending an Ostara celebration the other day at Lark & Owl Bookstore in the Austin, Texas area.

Ostara falls at the spring equinox, usually between March 19 and 22, when day and night stand in perfect balance before the year tips toward the sun.

The name comes from a root meaning to shine, to rise, to bring light. Eostre was a dawn goddess tied to the east, where the sun rises after darkness. That is where we get Easter from—the Saxon name for the goddess, Eostre—which means east.

The festival honors rebirth and new beginnings, but in a gentler way—a slow unfolding. The first green breaking through the cold. Life stirring, even before it’s fully seen.

Its symbols—hares and eggs—reflect that same sense of new life.

This is a video of a recipe for a soothing salt bath you can make at Lark and Owl for Ostara.


Lark and Owl also has a book of Love Spells. 

In my enemies-to-lovers novel, The Celtic Prince, which takes place during the Saxon Wars, my heroine, Alefreada, is a Saxon and would have celebrated Ostara as a child. She also has a love potion of her own. 


Happy Ostara to Everyone.