What do a mercenary and a mortician have in common? Dead. Freaking. Bodies. ___ Callum Walker kills people for a living. Although he doesn’t get a say in who his boss puts on his list, he likes to hunt people who hurt children in his spare time. After a misunderstanding that leads Callum to believe Ryan Fairview - a local funeral director - is responsible for hurting one of the neighbourhood children, he finds his next target. However, Ryan isn’t like other morticians. He can see dead people. So, when Callum breaks into Fairview Funerals ready to kill him, Ryan is shocked to find that his would-be murderer is haunted by all the people he’s killed. Ryan might be just the man to help Cal get rid of his little ghost problem. The only problem is, these two are polar opposites and Ryan can’t seem to get over the small issue of home invasion and attempted homicide. Will Cal win over the stubborn and neurotic mortician? Or will Ryan refuse to be swayed by the impulsive yet charming mercenary? Read and find out! __ The Mercenary and the Mortician is a dark paranormal MM romance. It is an interconnected standalone in the Silent Hollow Series. This is a dark romance and contains heavy and disturbing content. Please check content warnings. This book is not suitable for readers under 18.

Taking self-love to a whole new dimension… August Blackthorne: Pitifully broke? Check. Fresh from a messy breakup? Check. The apparent object of some weirdo stalker’s affection? Unfortunately, also check. But everything changes when I finally get the chance to confront the guy who’s been terrorising me, only to discover that he’s actually… me. From a parallel universe. A smarter, more confident, sexy quantum physicist version of me. And for some reason, he wants my help. You’d think a super genius like him could find a better way to say hi, wouldn’t you? August Blackthorne (the other one): This was supposed to be simple: find the version of me in this reality, put our two genius brains together, and fix the problem I’ve created. Only this August isn’t a quantum physicist like I am. He’s a body-building, music-loving, karate-teaching absolute sweetheart. And I’m falling hard for him. The kind of hard that could destroy the universe. Because unless we can find a way to undo this mess, his whole existence will be torn apart, atom by atom, him included. But when he finds out who I really am, and what I’ve done, I know he’ll never want to see me again. How am I supposed to save the universe when doing it will destroy the one person I truly care about? Doppelbänger is the mind-bending, world-ending, utterly outrageous, action-packed, spicy sci-fi MM rom-com of your most warped daydreams. The ultimate story of self-love, weird science, and romance that defies the barriers of time and space, HEA guaranteed.

***DETAILS TO COME - PLACEHOLDER DATE ONLY***

Standing at the foot of my comatose crush’s hospital bed is not how I envisioned becoming Hayden’s partner. First I needed to find out if he’s even into the theys, then hopefully some flirting, a cute date up in the valley or at Taco Bell, a kiss. The normal cutesy stuff, but this? No! Hayden wasn’t supposed to get hurt, especially not a trauma-induced extended nap from slipping on a wet floor at my job. On top of that, one of the nurses told his family we’re dating. Sure, it might have been because that's what I told her when I was trying to get to his room to see him…but it’s not true. The wild part is his family believes it! They really think I’m the Hayden Marcus’s short little curly-haired enbyfriend. His partner! With one little lie, now they think he isn’t straight, and I’m terrified he actually is. So now I’m having Thanksgiving with a family I barely know because, as far as they’re concerned, I’m “dating” their son. I can’t tell if this is a sign my love spell worked, or if I royally messed up and I’m being punished. I mean this family is amazing. It’s everything I wish I had, and honestly more. But it’s all based on a lie. Oh, and as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, my comatose crush has an even cuter brother who I think I might be falling for…

Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

In a crumbling world where nothing grows naturally, Maple Treow struggles to care for her younger siblings amidst escalating government oppression. Desperate to secure medication for her ailing sister Willow, she resorts to dangerous methods to keep them afloat. When the government triples the cost of Willow’s medication, Maple enlists in the army, risking her life for her family’s survival. As she navigates the challenges of training, she grapples with loyalty, friendship and the haunting history of her world. Alongside new friends, she uncovers a dark truth about the government, her family’s past and the true nature of their society. As tensions rise, Maple faces betrayal from those she’s trusted most. Now Maple must decide whether to flee or fight, and who she can trust along the way.

Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family. . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned.  Teia Carthan abandoned her morals long ago, and now there’s nothing she won’t do to stay alive. So far she has survived her parents’ deaths, the ire of the Council, and innumerable attempts on her life, orchestrated by Jura, her half brother and soon-to-be king of Erisia. Teia’s rare control over two elements marks her as both an outsider and a formidable opponent—but once Jura is crowned king, there will be no way to survive him. Not for Teia, not for anyone.  When Jura moves to crush the rebellion that seeks to overthrow the monarchy, Teia sees one last opportunity to ensure her own safety. She can infiltrate the rebels, locate their base . . . and betray them to Jura, trading their lives for her own.  Yet when Teia meets the rebels, she gets far more than she bargained for. And when she gains not only their trust but their friendship, she begins to have doubts. Perhaps the rebels are right. Perhaps the Golden Palace should be torn down and the monarchy destroyed.  But then again—what if there is another possibility? What if Teia were on the throne instead? 

There can be no victory without betrayal. Hara Duja Gatdula, queen of the island nation of Maynara, holds the divine power to move the earth. But her strength is failing and the line of succession gives her little comfort. Her heir, Laya, is a danger—a petty and passionate princess who wields the enormous power of the skies with fickle indifference. Circling the throne is Imeria Kulaw—the matriarch of a traitorous rival family who wields recklessly enhanced powers of her own—with designs to secure a high-ranking position for her son and claim the crown for her family. Each woman has a secret weakness—a lover, a heartbreak, a lie. But each is willing to pay the steepest price to bring down her rivals once and for all. Filled with passion, romance, betrayal, and divine magic, Black Salt Queen journeys to a gorgeous precolonial island nation where women—and secrets—reign.

"History isn't just a reminder of where we came from. It's a warning of who we should never again become. And the present doesn't just demonstrate what we've learned, it sets the tone for who we aspire to be ... " The people of Nephelus hail from Earth. In droves, men sailed through a portal to her pristine and uninhabited shores. Nephelus' beauty was an inspiration, the landscape a beacon, and the planet's resources a prize to be won. It didn't take long for blood to run through its rivers or drain into its soils. Lucky were the ancient societies whose wars were quick. Others spent lifetimes claiming the dirt under their feet. When men finally laid their weapons down, the portal long since closed, they were no longer people of Earth. They were Nephelians. Towns turned into civilizations, trade ensued, government formed, and society advanced. Peace was the common language. Sadly, some habitsnever break. The belligerent exploitation of the planet led to the Nephelian Apex. Resources spent, and half the planet's life lost, a war again waged; this time not for claim, but for blame. 150 cycles post Apex, Nora awakes. Instinct keeps her calm, sharp, and prods her to evaluate her surroundings. The sounds are rhythmic and alarming. The room is sterile and foreign. She's bruised, battered, and restraints bite at her wrists and ankles. Worse, she has no recollection of why she's there, and her hold on rising panic begins to weaken when strangers arrive. A consolation-something courses through her veins. The pulsating under her skin craves a fight, demands blood ... but whose blood will be spilled?

Ambrose, a trans knight serving the medieval witch king, spent his life trying to be a hero. Instead, he died a villain in the name of a love he hungered for in secret. That would have ended his story, except a suspicious necromancer, Emery, resurrects him and gives him two things: a second chance and a job. He needs Ambrose to kill Morcant, a cult leader who is terrorizing a small group of students. Ambrose thought he was done with killing, but this modern world whet his appetite. If he can bring his king back from the grave, they could finally enjoy the love they’d been starved of. The witch king’s voice tells him how it can be achieved: kill Emery. But while Ambrose’s magic might hunger for Emery’s blood, his heart hungers for Emery another way entirely . . . Another delightful MM romantic fantasy from Alistair Reeves, A Hex for Hunger promises to captivate with more magic, wonder, and adventure.

For fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, What You Are Looking for Is In the Library, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop comes an enchanting novel that will linger in your heart long after the last page is turned. As the last petal falls, the final page is turned… Welcome to The Cherry Blossom Bookshop, a haven for book lovers that only appears during the fleeting cherry blossom season. Nestled amidst the bloom of delicate petals, you’ll find a sanctuary for those burdened by regrets and past sorrows. Here, Sakura, the mysterious young owner, and her wise calico cat, Kobako, patiently await the arrival of souls in need of solace and healing. Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present, guiding them towards understanding and acceptance. Within the antique charm of the shop and the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Sakura and Kobako help their guests confront their lingering sadness through the power of stories, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope.