Tag Archives: Julie B

The Awakening by Denise K Rago-review

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The Awakening: Or The Plight of Vampire Christian Du Mauré by Denise K Rago-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: October 13, 2026

“I was not always a bloodthirsty monster …”
In eighteenth-century France, Christian Du Mauré’s world collapses after the woman he loves is whisked away to marry another. He watches helplessly as his best friend, her brother Michel, is seduced by both the charms of Paris and a mysterious woman. When Christian joins Michel in the city, he finds himself falling into a world of seductive, shadowy figures as he tries to forget all he has lost. Then Michel surrenders his life to join the undead, and Christian is left with an impossible decision: lose his friend forever, or succumb to his promise of immortality and become one of the damned.

•••••

REVIEW: Reading The Awakening: Or The Plight of Vampire Christian Du Mauré feels like sitting across from someone who has already lived through the worst night of his life and is now telling you, calmly and without excuses, exactly how he arrived there.

The novella settles into the slow, heavy rhythm of an 18th century French countryside that is already fraying at the edges. Christian and his closest friend Michel are still young, still human, still working the land around Meudon when the woman Christian loves, (Michel’s sister Leila,) is married off for money. The loss is not dramatic in the theatrical sense, it is quiet, absolute, and permanent, and it hollows both young men out in different ways.

What follows is not a rush toward fangs and immortality but a gradual, almost reluctant drift. Michel is drawn first toward the lights and possibilities of Paris and then toward a mysterious older woman whose presence carries that unmistakable undercurrent of danger. Christian follows, half to keep an eye on his friend and half to escape the emptiness left behind in Meudon.

The friendship between the two men was one of the parts of the book that I liked, its simple, loyal, and ultimately costly. When Michel makes the irreversible choice to join the undead, Christian is left staring at the only remaining path that will keep him from losing his friend completely.

The memoir style works in the book’s favor. Because we already know Christian will become a vampire, but reading about his life I really liked.

The seduction of the Parisian underworld is never glamorous in the usual romance novel sense, it is shadowy, predatory, and laced with genuine menace. Figures like Gabrielle and Gaétan feel dangerous rather than merely alluring, and the violence, when it arrives, does not surprise.

This is not a comfort read. Anyone looking for a sweeping love story that redeems the monster will find the book deliberately withholding.

The writing is patient, sometimes almost austere, and the emotional temperature stays cool even when the events grow dark. That restraint makes the final turning point land with real force.

As an origin story for a character who has already appeared in Rago’s earlier novels, The Awakening stands on its own.

For those who appreciate gothic vampire fiction that favors atmosphere, regret, and moral consequence over easy redemption, the novella offers a quietly devastating experience.

It is the story of a man who watched everything he loved slip away and then chose the only form of permanence left to him, knowing full well what it would cost.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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Widow of the Life by Viktoria Villanova-review & interview

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Widow of the Life by Viktoria Villanova-review & interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 29, 2026

Her husband betrayed the Mafia. Carolina De Luca paid the price.

To keep his secrets buried, Carolina sacrificed everything. Now she’s broke, alone, and forced to return to the one place she swore she’d never rely on again: the New York Familia.

Then there’s Alessandro Sodano.

Heir to the Familia. Ruthless. Powerful. Off-limits.

Alessandro wants Carolina. More importantly, he wants to protect her. But the past isn’t done with her yet.

When a blackmailer returns with an impossible ultimatum, betray Alessandro or die, Carolina is forced to choose between survival and the only man she’s ever trusted.

In a world ruled by loyalty and blood, one wrong move can get you killed.

And Carolina is done running

••••••

REVIEW: Widow of the Life by Viktoria Villanova drops you straight into the aftermath of betrayal and the heavy cost of loyalty in the underworld.

Carolina De Luca has already paid everything to protect secrets that were never hers to keep….. Her husband’s treachery left her stripped of safety, money, and any illusion that the life she once knew could still protect her…… Forced back into the New York Familia she once swore to leave behind, she steps into a world that remembers her name and the weight it once carried.

What I liked most is how the story refuses to let Carolina remain a passive figure. The title’s promise that she will save herself is not an empty moment. She is broke, isolated, and cornered, yet the story keeps pushing her onwards even when every option looks like a trap.

The arrival of Alessandro Sodano, the Familia’s heir, complicates everything in the expected ways of this genre 😉 he is dangerous, magnetic, and soooo off limits.

Their dynamic carries the familiar tension of power imbalance and forbidden attraction, but the blackmailer’s ultimatum raises the stakes beyond simple romance.

Carolina is forced to weigh survival against the fragile trust she has begun to place in him, and that choice makes for me, the whole book.

The writing leans into the atmospheric pressure of mafia life without drowning us in endless exposition about hierarchy or rituals. Loyalty and blood are treated as living forces that shape every decision, and the sense that one wrong move can end everything hangs over the pages.

Carolina’s determination to stop running gives the story a forward momentum that keeps it from settling into pure despair. There is heat, there is danger, and there is the slow recognition that protection and possession can look dangerously similar when the past refuses to stay buried.

I found myself hoping Carolina would find a way to reclaim something of herself inside a system designed to consume her.

The book delivers the intensity and moral gray areas that i love in a dark mafia, while centering a heroine who is actively fighting for her own future rather than waiting to be rescued.

So if you enjoy high stakes emotional conflict wrapped in the sharp edges of organized crime this one should be on your TBR.

 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

TRC:  Hi Viktoria and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of WIDOW OF THE LIFE.

Viktoria: Hi, thank you for having me—and for letting me gush about my debut!

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Viktoria: I write under the pen name Viktoria Villanova. I love romance in all its forms and have dabbled in several subgenres over the years. I recently self-published my debut, WIDOW OF THE LIFE. Although I’m a total corporate girly these days, I grew up in the Eastern Bloc, which gave me a different perspective on crime, corruption, uncertainty, and how people cope with them. I think that brings a distinct flavor to my characters and fits crime romance well. I hope readers appreciate it.

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Viktoria: My grandmother was my first influence. At seven, she had me plucking away at an old puke-green typewriter and passed her love of storytelling on to me. I took the corporate route, but storytelling followed me everywhere. Later, I found writers whose work resonated with my voice, including Kristen Ashley, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Ilona Andrews. For WIDOW, my love of earlier mafia romance brought Cora Reilly, A. Zavarelli, and Bethany-Kris to the forefront.

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first novel?

Viktoria: Time was the biggest challenge. Between work, kids, and home, I had to carve out space to write. Then came the fifth draft, weekly critiques, rewrites, and the query trenches. Rejection is part of the process, especially now that agents and publishers are overwhelmed by a flood of content, including AI-generated book-shaped files. Once I chose to self-publish, the challenge became simpler but no easier: how do I help readers find me in all that noise?

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of WIDOW OF THE LIFE?

Viktoria:  WIDOW is the book of my heart. At its core, it is about resilience and stone-cold female rage. Cara finally becomes a widow, only to be blackmailed into financial trouble and pushed back toward the crime family she hoped to escape. She fears falling into old patterns, but gradually finds her voice, confidence, and competence. Alessandro appears to be more of the same—criminal, controlling, violent—so earning her trust is on him. They both have to overcome fear and resistance to reach their happily ever after.

TRC:  Do you believe any of your characters in WIDOW OF THE LIFE has/ have a fundamental flaw that may be questionable to the readers?

Viktoria: Absolutely. They are all morally gray. There is no prince in shining armor or pure-hearted damsel in distress. Crime is simply part of life within the Familia. Cara grew up washing her father’s bloodied clothes without asking where the blood came from. She survives within the rules that shaped her. That may feel alien to some readers, but it is the reality of these characters.

TRC:  What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning WIDOW OF THE LIFE?

Viktoria: The research took years. I read first-person accounts, historical research, and fiction, watched documentaries, binged The Sopranos twice, and even watched Mob Wives for modern-day personalities. Plotting was quicker because I only needed the main beats. The harder part was resisting the urge to put my entire character bible on the page. Cutting that back took time and plenty of peer feedback.

TRC:  Mafia romance is very popular in today’s market. What do you believe makes your storyline stand out from the others?

Viktoria: I’d like to say the plot and characters, but many of my peers could say the same. I focus on realism: no gratuitous violence, forced darkness, or fantasy bubble where laws do not apply and everyone is steaming hot. I also leaned hard into Italian American food and family traditions. I hope readers finish hungry—literally and figuratively—for more.

TRC:  Do you have plans for a series focusing on Mafia romance?

Viktoria: Oh, absolutely. I have two more novels planned with Cara and Alesso, while Lucia and Adrianna deserve stories of their own. There is also a Mauro book further down the line, once he matures.

TRC:  How do you use the physical environment or the setting to heighten the tension or and psychological intimacy in your story lines?

Viktoria: Alongside the character bible, I keep a location bible with reference images and background details. Characters do not exist in empty rooms; every setting shapes the tone. The prison’s concrete, the amusement park’s rusty creak, the club’s smoke-soaked leather—the places matter almost as much as the people.

TRC:  Believability is an important factor in writing and reading story lines. How do you keep the story line believable  without sacrificing content?

Viktoria: This may sound counter-intuitive, but readers should be able to see everything coming in hindsight. That does not mean writing predictably; it means building the characters, world, and rules so the outcome makes sense when they look back. I did sacrifice content and killed plenty of darlings. Not every scene belongs in the final book, but I kept what each scene contributed and worked it into the narrative without adding another 20,000 words.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Viktoria: Of course—we do judge books by their covers. I wanted darkness and intimacy without defaulting to the familiar mafia-romance image of an alpha hero in repose. This story is not male-centred; Alessandro supports Cara, but he is not the focus. The first cover shows only her hands around him and the back of his head (that version is still available in the epub). In the second, he holds and supports her as she moves. That better reflects the story readers are about to enter.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Viktoria: Once their personalities and arcs are set, the characters take over. I’m a plotser: I set points A and B, then let their reactions and dialogue guide me between them.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen?  Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavour?

Viktoria: Consistency and growth are essential. Readers do not have to identify with a character, but they need enough understanding to empathise and become invested. Emotion falls flat when it appears without groundwork—when the author feels it, but the reader has not been brought there yet. That is why I chose a slow burn. Cara had damage to heal and Alessandro had trust to earn before they could reach the good part.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Viktoria: Sometimes, when I need a specific mood. Southern Gothic gets me through the violent scenes, rock ballads through despair, and R&B through the spicy ones.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Viktoria: Many people—including my husband—think writing means sitting down, pouring everything out, and producing a masterpiece in one go. Writers may make it look effortless, but that is not the reality. What pours out first is draft zero, and no one wants to read a stream-of-consciousness draft zero.

TRC:  What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Viktoria: I learned to take apart and clean a gun at sixteen—and even my parents do not know. It was all in a safe, legitimate environment, of course.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Viktoria: Too many things. I have a Gothic short story coming out in an anthology later this month, a romcom I’ve been finishing for the past year, and a historical I’m playing with for fun before I go dark again with WIDOW’s sequel.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Viktoria: Thank you for giving me space to talk about my book and my process. I hope readers enjoy what I’ve created and come away hungry for more.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
A fully loaded döner kebab wrap.

Favorite Dessert
New York Cheesecake

Favorite TV Show
Supernatural

Last Movie You Saw
Unabomber

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk (with nuts)

Secret Celebrity Crush
Not so secret, and probably not surprising—Jensen Ackles. I can’t wait for The Rules of Prey.

Last Vacation Destination
The island of Thasos—incredible views and lots of rocky twists and turns.

Do you have any pets?
We’ve hosted various frogs and lizards all summer, while the kids campaign for a kitten. Meanwhile, a little terrier mix at the nearby shelter keeps making puppy eyes at me, and I’m close to breaking.

Last book you read
I went down the isekai rabbit hole with This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. After six reads and listens, I tried to cure the book hangover with Long Live Evil and its sequel. So my answer is All Hail Chaos.

TRC:  Thank you Viktoria   for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of  WIDOW OF THE LIFE. We wish you all the best.

 

 

 

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The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride by Julia Justiss-review

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The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride (Soldiers to Heirs 3) by Julia Justiss-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2026

Secret courtship…With the enemy!

A Soldiers to Heirs story: Lieutenant Charles Marsden returns from war and inherits the title of marquess from a father he never knew! Unsettled by his new status, he’s more grateful than ever for the guidance of well-connected debutante Miss Emma Wellingford, even if their families are enemies…

Craving independence over marriage, Emma agreed to a pact with Charles—fend off each other’s unwanted suitors. But Emma struggles as the arrangement brings them closer than is proper, for Charles is now the kind of titled gentleman she swore never to marry. As they’re forced to hide their courtship from their feuding families, their bond feels even more forbidden…

•••••••••

REVIEW: The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride is a classic Regency romance that delivers the forbidden tension and quiet emotional story that I love.

Julia Justiss returns to the Soldiers to Heirs series with Lieutenant Charles Marsden, a man thrust into the unexpected role of marquess after returning from war and inheriting a title from a father he never knew….

Unsettled by his new status, he leans on the guidance of well connected debutante Emma Wellingford, even though their families have long been enemies.

Emma is a refreshing heroine who values independence over marriage and has no interest in becoming a titled wife.

Their pact to fend off unwanted suitors starts as a practical arrangement, but the proximity and shared secrets quickly turn it into something far more intimate and dangerous.

The slow shift from allies to something deeper with care, letting the growing attraction feel both inevitable and properly scandalous given the family feud…. The need to hide their courtship only heightens the sense of the forbidden, and the moments of stolen connection made me smile. 😊

What I liked most is how both characters are forced to confront their assumptions.

Charles must navigate the rigid world of the ton while still carrying the soldier’s sensibility that first drew Emma to him, and Emma must decide whether her determination never to marry a man of rank is stronger than the feelings she can no longer deny.

The family enmity provides solid external conflict without overwhelming the central relationship, and the 1830s setting is rendered with the author’s usual attention to social detail and period manners.

As the third book in the series it stands comfortably on its own.

The tone is warm, the romance is properly restrained yet simmering, and the resolution feels earned.

If you enjoy fiery debutantes, honorable soldiers navigating sudden titles, and a secret courtship that defies family expectations, this one offers a satisfying, well crafted escape into the Regency world.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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The Rake Effect (Of Rogues, Rake, Scoundrels 1) anthology-review

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The Rake Effect (Of Rogues, Rake, Scoundrels 1) anthology-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 22, 2026

Rakes, Romance, and Seduction

In the ballrooms and shadowed gardens, a lady’s heart is never truly safe—and neither is her reputation. From cunning dukes to mischievous viscounts, the most charming rakes know exactly how to bend the rules…and bend the hearts of the ladies who dare to catch their attention.

In this collection of sizzling, irresistible tales, scandalous gentlemen will tempt any lady they choose. With stolen kisses and whispered promises beneath moonlit skies they will use all the charm they possess to gain what they desire. With the ever-present threat of discovery, each story explores forbidden desire, reckless courage, and the thrilling power of desire.

Will these rakish gentlemen find love, or will they throw away their only chance at happiness? Enter a world where scandal is inevitable, passion unavoidable, and every rake has a story worth stealing.

All-new stories by:
Amanda Mariel
Aubrey Wynne
Beverley Oakley
Dawn Brower
Eliana Piers
Jane Charles
Rachel Ann Smith
Ramona Elmes

••••••

REVIEW:

When a Miss Goes Amiss by Amanda Mariel

This charming Regency romantic comedy is pure delight.

Genevieve’s talent for “improving” situations she wasn’t asked to fix lands her in the middle of delightful chaos at a charity fête, and the arrival of the rigid, capable Viscount Woodmere only heightens the fun.

Their clash of personalities crackles with witty banter, while the underlying mystery of a missing ledger and a pointed note keeps the stakes interesting without ever overshadowing the romance.

Warm, clever, and full of heart, it’s the kind of story that leaves you smiling at two people who are wonderfully impossible for everyone else and perfect for each other.

_____

LOVES CURIOSITIES: DINAH AND CORNELIUS by AUBREY WYNNE

This sweet Regency romance had me smiling with its childhood friends to lovers heart.

Dinah’s shift from wide eyed girl to cynical young woman after her father’s death feels authentic, and watching her step in to save Cornelius from a cold marriage of convenience is quietly heroic.

Neel’s determination to help her rediscover the wonder she lost while proving their union means far more to him than duty, gives the story its feel good factor.

With a touch of whimsy from Mr. Peabody, Cat, and that special quizzing glass, the tale balances gentle humor and genuine feeling. A warm, hopeful read that left me rooting for these two to finally see each other clearly through the lens of love.

_________

The Governess’s Forbidden Love by Beverley Oakley

I came to Entwined Against All Reason by Dawn Brower expecting a classic forced marriage clash and left thoroughly charmed by how thoughtfully Dawn Brower handles the power balance.

Elena’s fierce determination not to be traded like currency felt immediate and real, and Damian’s unexpected restraint, the three days, the honest offer to let her walk away won me over pretty quick.

Their verbal sparring crackles with intelligence rather than mere stubbornness, and the slow reveal of his carefully guarded tenderness made the growing attraction feel earned instead of inevitable.

By the time the chapel waits and society watches, I was fully invested in whether Elena could risk the freedom she has fought so hard to keep.

The story never loses sight of that central question, and the answer lands with quiet satisfaction.

A short, well paced romance that treats its heroine’s autonomy with genuine respect while still delivering the story that had me smiling.

_________

The Rake’s Second Chance by Ramona Elmes

The Rake’s Second Chance by Ramona Elmes had a solid second chance story that drew me in, and found myself unexpectedly invested in the quiet ache of old wounds.

Julian’s return after eight years, still carrying the weight of what he left behind, felt authentic, and Sophia’s wary strength as a widow and innkeeper struck a chord, she has built a life that doesn’t need him, yet the past refuses to stay buried.

When the shocking secret finally surfaces, 🤫 the story deepens rather than simply resolves, forcing both of them to confront how much time has changed them and how much it hasn’t.

Their cautious reconnection is tender without being soft, and the house party backdrop never overshadows the personal stakes.

By the end I was rooting hard for them to risk another try, and the resolution left me satisfied in that bittersweet way only a well handled second chance can.

A short, emotionally honest romance that trusts its characters and their complicated history.

___________

A Rake’s Kiss by Jane Charles 

A Rake’s Kiss by Jane Charles delivers exactly the kind of slowburn Regency tension I love.

The premise is simple and delicious… one forbidden kiss bought with a secret, a clean break that was never supposed to be revisited, and then the inevitable collision eight months later in a London ballroom.

Nicoll’s reluctant fascination with Cecil’s charm feels genuine, and his struggle to keep his distance from an innocent while still protecting what matters to her gives the story real emotional weight.

It’s the kind of romance that lingers on the almosts and the quiet moments of restraint, making every charged glance count.

I finished it wanting more of their particular brand of temptation.

______

–>Author Rachel Ann Smith –This one didn’t have a title or blurb<–

We start with a dancing lesson for twins Felix and Reginald, then they meet the quiet but prickly Nicole… and Felix is smitten 🥰

Ten years later they are all attending the same ball. But they aren’t friends anymore. Felix’s duties as estate manager and his studies at Oxford keep him busy, too busy to write. And he thought Nicole could do better.

Staring at the young woman who owns his heart, Felix needs to come up with a plan to talk to her…..

And then game of cat and mouse begins…

She won’t be an easy catch, but Felix had loved her for so long, he can’t see anyone else.

He has a month to woo and convince her.

I smiled through this short story.

It was quirky and the banter hit the right notes.

I could have read this all night.

______

The One With the Rakish Duke by Eliana Piers

Tilly and Leland have known each other forever.

So when she asked him to teach her how to kiss, she thought he’d agree. Obviously he didn’t. Then in a heated argument Leland finds out that a prince wants to marry her, and all those feelings he’s tried to keep hidden come to the surface….

This short story had me chuckling throughout the whole book.

Tilly is so accident prone, and it seems Leland is always there to catch her.

This is a miscommunication trope through and through.

They stumble through incidents and accidents all the while ignoring their feelings for one another.

I really didn’t want this one to end.

Copy supplied for review

🦋 Reviewed by Julie

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Vile Acts (Legacy of Deth 2) by Crea Reitan -review tour

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Vile Acts (Legacy of Deth 2) by Crea Reitan -review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2026

The missing black paint told of horrors…

Sometimes rescuing someone once isn’t enough to banish their demons. This is something that has haunted the Deth brothers for a decade. Erez can’t let it go.

It took him ten years to prove that his baby sister didn’t die accidentally. Ten years to uncover horrors that he never imagined plagued her behind the smile she wore.

Now that he’s discovered the truth, Erez and his family are ready to usher in the days of reckoning for such vile acts committed against his sister.

***

This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

••••••

REVIEW: This is the second installment in the Legacy of Deth series, it picks up the threads of family, grief, and justice that began in Dead Nights and weaves them into something darker, more intimate, and ultimately more devastating.

This book is about Erez Deth and his ten year long refusal to accept that his younger sister’s death was accidental.

The story digs into the horrors that hid behind her smile and the slow, relentless work of uncovering the truth.

What follows is not a simple revenge tale but a careful story of trauma, loyalty, and the kind of love that waits patiently while someone else learns how to see it.

Erez is consumed by what happened to Alice. His grief has shaped him so thoroughly that almost everything else in his life exists in its shadow.

Fade, his best friend of five years, has been right there the entire time, offering quiet constancy without ever demanding more than Erez can give.

Watching that dynamic unfold is both frustrating and deeply moving. Erez’s obliviousness never feels like a cheap plot device, it grows naturally out of the way his trauma has narrowed his focus.

Fade’s patience, seems infinite. He stays, he supports, he softens the edges of Erez’s pain without ever trying to fix him.

And when the shift from friendship to something deeper finally arrives, it feels earned rather than sudden, the natural result of two people who have already built a life around each other without fully naming it.

The revelations about what Alice endured are heavy, sometimes nearly unbearable, yet they were handled with care and a seriousness that never slips into exploitation.

The involvement of the wider Deth and Van Doren circles, along with the unexpected presence of Aven, an AI figure tied to Van Doren technology, adds layers of both practical help and quiet philosophical unease. These elements never overwhelm the central story, instead they expand the world in ways that feel consistent with the larger Creaverse while still keeping Erez and Fade at the heart of the story.

I would say that Vile Acts is one of her darker stories.

I loved how this book shows us that love does not require perfection or immediate clarity, only presence. The banter, the found family warmth, and the moments of genuine tenderness keep the darkness from becoming total, but they never pretend the darkness is not there.

This is not a light read, and it is not meant to be. It is a story about reckoning, about the cost of looking closely at what people suffer in silence, and about the possibility that even the most broken among us can still be met with patience and care.

Vile Acts delivers exactly what her best work always does, characters who feel real, emotions that land hard, and a conclusion that leaves you both gutted and strangely hopeful. I

finished it feeling drained and grateful at the same time, already eager for whatever comes next in this series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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The Daft King by Daphne Ryan-review & interview

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The Daft King (Whispers & Fates 1) by Daphne Ryan-review & interview

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 18, 2026

In the kingdom of Myren, King Nicolas Brennan is dismissed by his council as “The Daft King”—a ruler more interested in camaraderie than the mounting pressures of the throne. But when an assassination attempt shatters his complacency and a dark entity stirs within the kingdom’s depleted mines, Nic can no longer afford the luxury of playing the fool.

Amidst a court swarming with ambitious noblewomen—each vying for the crown and the duty of securing his line—Nic finds an unlikely guide in the mysterious Wyn. A constant traveler with a tragic past and uncanny wisdom, she offers him something the other ladies cannot. Under her influence, the “Daft King” begins to shed his persona, finally embracing the heavy burden of leadership he has long avoided.

Yet, as their bond deepens, ancient secrets and courtly betrayals threaten to tear them apart. With Apronia’s armies encroaching and a forgotten evil rising from the roots of the earth, Nic is caught between his heart and truths better left buried. In a kingdom teetering on ruin, he must navigate a court where every smile hides a blade and decide whom to trust before the darkness claims them all.

•••••

REVIEW:The Daft King opens with a ruler who has spent years carefully performing the part of a charming, slightly foolish king, more at ease among friends than under the weight of a crown.

Nicolas Brennan’s carefully maintained persona is shattered by an assassination attempt that forces him to confront the real dangers closing in on Myren, dangers that run deeper than political intrigue and into the very earth of the kingdom itself.

What follows is a story that had me turning those pages as Nic begins the slow, reluctant process of becoming the leader his people actually need.

Wyn arrives as an unexpected constant in a court full of ambitious noblewomen who see the king primarily as a means to power. She carries her own quiet tragedies and an almost unsettling wisdom that cuts through the noise of court life.

And with her guidance, Nic starts shedding the protective mask of the “Daft King,”.

And the relationship that grows between them had me firmly rooting for them both. It never felt forced or purely romantic, instead it develops through shared understanding, sharp conversation, and the gradual realization that each is offering the other something the rest of the court cannot. Their bond becomes a rare steady point in a world where every smile can hide a blade and every alliance is temporary.

The larger threats in the book…. we have the encroaching armies of Apronia and the ancient darkness stirring in the depleted mines. And even the court itself is a pressure cooker of ambition, secrecy, and carefully veiled betrayal, and Nic’s growing awareness of how little he can truly trust anyone makes every decision heavier.

The story balanced political and supernatural elements really well, and add the quieter moments where Nic is finally accepting he needs to actually rule and not play!

What i liked in the story was how Nic changed. He does not suddenly become a flawless hero, he grows in fits and starts, still capable of missteps, still haunted by the easier path he once chose. And Wyn’s presence helps that growth, offering both challenge and unexpected steadiness.

By the end, the first book in the Whispers and Fates series has set a fascinating stage, one of fractured trust, rising darkness, and a king who can no longer afford to play the fool.

I’m eager to see how the secrets already buried will surface, and whether the fragile connection Nic and Wyn have formed can survive the storms still coming.

Next book please 😜

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

TRC:  Hi Daphne and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release THE DAFT KING.

Daphne: Thanks!

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Daphne: I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, a no-stoplight town with the closest hospital 90 miles away. Nowadays I’m in a decent-size city, but I must admit I miss the not-having-stoplights part. I’ve been writing since 2nd grade, which maybe makes sense when you remember there wasn’t anything else to do!

TRC:  Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Daphne: Oh jeez, I don’t know. I always just liked to write. My third-grade teacher used to bug me for stories all the time. And as an 80s child who read everything I could get my hands on, I have to go with the great cliché answer of Stephen King! I’m not in the horror genre, but I always knew I wanted my stories to stick with people like his stuck with me. Anyone else picture The Stand every time they’re in a traffic-heavy tunnel?

TRC:  What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first novel?

Daphne: Finding the time. The Daft King is not the first novel I’ve written, believe it or not, it’s just the first one I’ve published. I got a bit of interest from agents with a prior book, but once I realized all the marketing and what not would fall on me anyway, I decided to look into self-publishing. I tried my hand at a couple different genres before settling on fantasy and really putting in the work to try and sell it. Not easy, especially with a job, and a husband and kids and dogs, all of whom expect me to make dinner every day. It’s been a years-long process even though I actually write pretty fast. It’s the rest of it that’s the problem!

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of THE DAFT KING?

Daphne: The basic premise is simple: A king must marry to ensure he has a successor. But, while he’s tasked with finding a bride, he also discovers war is brewing amongst the kingdoms outside his borders, as well as something strange happening in the mines. I like to think it’s a love story, but only half the love is for another person—the rest is for the kingdom itself.

TRC:  Do you believe any of your characters in THE DAFT KING has/ have a fundamental flaw that may be questionable to the readers?

Daphne: Well, Nic, the main character can be a bit on the dumb side sometimes, but most readers have found him likeable anyway. They all have flaws though—how boring if they didn’t. The princess of Pineria, Lylie, is one of my favorite flawed characters, but by the end of the book, I swear you’ll understand why she is the way she is, and by the end of book two if you’re not rooting for her, I don’t know what to do with you.

TRC:  What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning THE DAFT KING?

Daphne: Most of my research was just reading other fantasy books. Everyone said Brandon Sanderson had great fighting scenes, and as a person who rarely gets into sword fights, I read a lot of his books. I read all of Game of Thrones and a lot of Leigha Bardugo, plus whatever else Amazon and/or the library recommended. I also researched a bunch of historical events, like the story of Anastasia, and a little on radium. Yes, radium. But weirdly, I didn’t do any of that until the first draft was already written, and the plotting itself took me almost no time. I had the idea for the last couple of chapters first, so I guess it was kind of easy getting there.

TRC:  How many books do you have planned for the WHISPERS AND FATES series, and will each successive story line feature a new romance couple?

Daphne: There are five books, but romance is not really the main focus. I find friendships and changing alliances just as interesting as romance. Next up is The Dire Queen, which mostly focuses on old romances, but includes one new one I found particularly intriguing. I’ve already written through most of book 4, so I can assure you there’s lots and lots of relationship drama, regardless of whether it’s romantic. 😊

TRC:  How do you use the physical environment or the setting to heighten the tension or and psychological intimacy in your story lines?

Daphne: A lot of times I think tension is made worse in real life by sound—or the lack thereof. But that’s hard to put into a book! I do my best to incorporate noise for tense moments. On top of that, I like to add memories into places new to the reader. A room that means nothing to a stranger might mean a whole lot more to someone who’s experienced life events there.

TRC:  Believability is an important factor in writing and reading paranormal / fantasy story lines. How do you keep the story line believable without sacrificing content?

Daphne: I think the main thing is just making sure the characters react to fantastical elements properly. If magic is normal in their world, it shouldn’t surprise them when someone does it. If a character is a shapeshifter and they don’t know any shapeshifters, they should probably freak out if they see one shift. My husband and I say we stopped watching The Walking Dead when zombies existing became more realistic than the humans’ decisions, so that’s always my main focus: making believable humans no matter what is going on around them.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Daphne: Yep. I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but how else are we going to choose what to read? You expect certain things out of a book when you see its cover, the same way you judge a vegetable by its color or a brand by its logo.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Daphne: I direct them when I’m outlining. When I’m drafting, they like to surprise me. With this series, though, I’ve written so much in their voices, all of us tend to agree on what’s going to happen next.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Daphne: First of all, consistency in voice. You can’t be emotional with a character if by the middle of the book, you still aren’t sure who they are. I have multiple POVs, so I do a readthrough of each POV on its own to make sure their personalities are consistent. This is a spot where I truly think a lot of writers fail – their characters just kind of blend together, which makes it hard to get emotional one way or another.

Second, you have to be wary of where you change POVs/end chapters. Again, I have a lot of POV characters, but if one of them falls down almost dead (very vague spoiler), the next chapter can’t be about someone else entirely or you lose the emotional momentum.

TRC:  Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Daphne: I can’t. Music just distracts me.

TRC:  What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Daphne: Do people have misconceptions about authors? I don’t know. That they walk around covered in ink-stains maybe? Lol.

TRC:  What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

Daphne: Oh, no, no! I can’t give away my secrets that easy. Hmm… how about… I go by my middle name. Even my husband forgets that one.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

Daphne: Besides tax extensions at my day job? Lol. I’m wrapping up the draft of the fourth book and working with a copy editor on the second. I occasionally try to fit in a short story or two, but I’ve been really, really bad about that since giving myself a firm deadline for The Daft King.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Daphne: Stick around for the next books! I waited to publish until I was sure I could finish the whole series, and I’m really excited for what’s coming. I’m also still taking advanced readers, so if anyone is interested, head to my website and send me a note. 😊

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food

Cheese!

Favorite Dessert

Also cheese.

Favorite TV Show

Oh, so many. Friends is the standby comfort show, but I love Mare of Easttown and The Good Place too. And for current shows, Ghosts, John Oliver, and Taskmaster.

Last Movie You Saw

Dear Zachary: A Letter from a Father to His Son

Dark or Milk Chocolate

Neither… weird, I know.

Secret Celebrity Crush

Jason Manzoukas. I will not explain myself.

Last Vacation Destination

Washington DC

Do you have any pets?

Yes, three dogs. Luke (Skywalker), Daisy, and Chloe

Last book you read

One of us is Back by Karen M. McManus

TRC:   Thank you Daphne for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of THE DAFT KING. We wish you all the best.

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Yours Truly, Fall by SL Scott-review tour

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Yours Truly, Fall by SL Scott-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 14, 2025

There are worse things than being stuck alone in a cabin with a hot as sin firefighter who’s good with his hands. A lot worse . . . This should be fun.

Agreeing to help Brandon Culver recover from his injury seemed harmless enough.

Sure, he’s a firefighter and Mountain Laurel Cove’s most eligible bachelor. But I’m too busy focusing on my nursing career to be distracted by a handsome face.

Unfortunately, Brandon is a lot more than a great face.

He’s steady. Dependable. He’s the kind of man who remembers the little things and shows up when it matters. His easy confidence is comforting. His quiet strength makes me feel safe. And the way he looks at me makes me question everything I thought I wanted.

But I’m in his home to care for him, not fall for him.

One tiny slip could ruin all the plans I’ve meticulously made for my life. Romance is a fool’s game and if I’m anything, I’m level-headed. Until his heated gaze and lingering touch threaten to turn the electricity between us into a five-alarm fire.

If I’m not careful, I might be the one getting burned.

••••••

REVIEW:From the moment Autumn agrees to help Brandon Culver recover from his injury, the setup feels deceptively simple… a level headed nurse focused on her career, a steady firefighter who’s the town’s most eligible bachelor, and the kind of forced proximity that turns a quiet cabin into the only place either of them wants to be.

What starts as professional care quickly becomes something far more complicated.

I found myself completely drawn into the way Brandon is written, not just the physical appeal of a man who’s good with his hands and even better at showing up when it matters, but the quiet reliability that makes Autumn’s carefully constructed plans start to crack. He’s the kind of hero who remembers the small things, whose confidence never tips into arrogance, and whose gaze carries enough heat to make the whole five alarm metaphor feel earned.

Autumn, meanwhile, is the perfect counterpoint…. She’s ambitious, guarded, and determined not to let romance derail the life she’s meticulously built.

Watching her resistance slowly melt under the weight of lingering touches and the safety he offers is one of the book’s greatest pleasures. The forced proximity never feels over done, instead it becomes the natural pressure cooker that lets their chemistry simmer until it finally boils over.

The small town setting of Mountain Laurel Cove adds just the right amount of cozy without overwhelming the central relationship.

The workplace element, (nurse and firefighter) grounds the story in a shared world of duty and care, while the friends to lovers progression and the way Brandon falls first give the romance a tender, almost inevitable quality. There’s a second chance undercurrent and a hint of memory that deepens the emotional stakes, yet the story never loses its feel good heart.

The writing is smooth and immersive, the banter light enough that it made me smile, and the slower, more intimate moments charged enough that it kept me turning pages long after my bedtime 😜

Autumn’s internal conflict feels real, the worry that one slip could undo years of careful planning.

The author lets the connection between these two grow until the idea of walking away becomes the greater risk.

And by the time the story reaches its satisfying close, the cabin no longer feels like a temporary arrangement, it feels like the place where two people finally stop fighting what was always meant to happen.

If you’re in the mood for a romance that balances heat with heart, that celebrates the quiet strength of a man who shows up and the courage of a woman learning to let someone in, Yours Truly, Fall delivers exactly that.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling, avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She’s obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist.

Scott writes character driven, heart-racing, and swoony romances to suspense that will leave you glued to the page. Her stories are regarded as emotion-filled and soulful. With stories ranging from light and witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, Scott has a story for all readers. Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

Connect w/S.L. Scott:

Website: www.slscottauthor.com or https://geni.us/slscott
Newsletter: https://geni.us/intheknow
Amazon: https://geni.us/SLSAm
Goodreads: https://geni.us/SLGR
Instagram: https://geni.us/IGSLS
Facebook: https://geni.us/SLSPage
Bookbub: https://geni.us/SLScottBB
Facebook Reader Group: https://geni.us/SLScottBooks
Twitter: https://geni.us/SLTwitter

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A.I. Human (Leitvia Galaxy 2) by MK Stephenson-review

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A.I. Human (Leitvia Galaxy 2) by MK Stephenson-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 16, 2026

She was never artificial. Their love was never supposed to be real.

After spending weeks trapped in a cage, Lyssa is sold in her sleep to a telepathic, purple-scaled alien looking for the latest in A.I. technology. She’s forced to play the role of a companion android or be liquidated by a shady dealer to make room for new inventory.

Returning home with a synthetic companion for their lonely household, Terrold and his mates believe their new toy is defective. It can’t communicate and resists their commands. The moment they learn she can hear their mindvoices, they realize that they have purchased a living being.

Now Lyssa is stranded on an alien planet with three reptilian males who claim they want to protect and cherish her. But trust does not come easily to a woman who has been treated like merchandise. Should she leave and rebuild her life in the safety of a human sanctuary, or take the risk of opening herself up to the males who are determined to own her heart?

•••••

REVIEW: Lyssa’s situation is harrowing from the first pages…. weeks spent caged, then sold while she sleeps to a telepathic, purple scaled alien who believes he is purchasing the latest in companion AI technology.

Forced to perform the role of a defective android or face liquidation, she is thrust into a household with Terrald and his mates, three reptilian males whose initial disappointment at their “toy’s” resistance quickly turns to horror once they realize she can hear their mindvoices and is very much alive! 😮 (they are telepathic so don’t speak out loud)

What I liked about this story beyond standard captive to beloved trope was the dawning realization that lyssa was in fact not an A.I “toy” but a living being! and the emotional fallout that follows had me wanting Lyssa to escape, then hoping she realises that why only want to care for her. The males’ determination to protect and cherish Lyssa collides with her deep seated distrust, born of being treated as merchandise. And the fact this was an already established relationship between Gareth/Kahnnan and Terrold could they make room for a fourth?

The author does not rush the healing or the attraction. Trust is earned slowly, through small acts and the gradual understanding that these aliens, for all their possessiveness, are not the same as the dealers who sold her.

The telepathic element adds an intimate layer, making every shared thought feel both invasive and strangely binding, and the reverse harem dynamic (definitely an era I’m deep in 😜) is woven in naturally rather than forced for novelty.

The writing leans into the darker, steamier side of the genre, yet it never loses sight of Lyssa. Her internal debate, whether to risk opening herself to these three or seek the relative safety of a human sanctuary, gives the story that two sided decision.

The world building (alien world and culture) gave me glimpses without overwhelming the story, and the why choose structure allows each male’s personality and relationship with Lyssa to develop distinctively. Gareth had the “puppy vibes” Terrold was the caregiver/peacemaker and our dominant (we have to have one 😜) was Kahnnan.

As the second book in the Lietvia Galaxy series, A.I. Human stands well on its own while expanding the universe established in the first book.

It is not a light or purely escapist read, the early trauma and the constant tension between ownership and genuine care linger. They want to cherish her, I got the feeling that Lyssa just wanted to escape!

But for us who appreciate dark, steamy scifi romance that prioritizes emotional recovery alongside heat, it delivers a compelling, character driven story that had me thinking about for the next few days.

The author has written a story about finding connection in the most unlikely and complicated of circumstances.

I loved it and can’t wait for more in this universe. 👍🏻

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

Social media: Website / Goodreads/ Instagram/ Facebook/

I grew up in a small town in the southeastern U.S. Like many sci fi writers, I’ve been a sci-fi/fantasy nerd most of my life–books, movies, games, etc. Writing is still a side gig for me, but I’d love to do it full time some day. When I’m not writing, I spend my free time reading, cooking, and traveling. I love learning about new places and meeting new people.

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