Posted in #BookTours

Love at the Fiesta

Love at the Fiesta: A Kwentitas Romance Anthology
(Kwentitas Romance Anthologies, )
Publication date: May 26th 2026
Genres: Adult, Romance

Return to Hacienda Luz—the world of Pasko Na, My Love and Forevermore—as the beloved Moore family opens the gates once more for a dazzling Santacruzan Fiesta in the heart of Napa Valley.

For two vibrant days, the vineyard comes alive with music, food, pageantry, cultural traditions, and unforgettable moments beneath the spring sky. But amid the beauty and celebration, hearts are on the line.

Some will fall in love.
Some will fall back in love.
And some will risk it all for the love they’ve been waiting for.

From acclaimed and bestselling Filipino American authors comes Love at the Fiesta, a joyful romance anthology filled with family, longing, second chances, and love.

Featuring stories by the Kwentitas:
Cat Santos
Celeste Dador
Elle Cruz
June Gray
Kaye Rockwell
Liz Durano
Maan Gabriel
Maida Malby
Mia Hopkins
Preslaysa Williams
Tif Marcelo

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Apple Books / Kobo

SNEAK PEEKS:
Rice – Mia Hopkins

“Look at us,” she whispered. They were wet up to their thighs. Their clothes and shoes were a mess of sand and seawater. Ace’s wet T-shirt clung to his torso. Pinky longed to strip it off him, to run her hands all over his skin.

“Guess we didn’t see that coming,” he said, breathless.

Overthinking was her specialty, but right now she didn’t allow herself to think at all. Pinky reached forward and placed her hands on his chest. She looked up at his lips. The wind almost carried away her whisper.

“Can I?”

Ace nodded slowly.

Blood rushing, she kissed him. A gust of cold wind whipped at them, but Ace’s lips were as warm and soft as she’d hoped. She tasted salt and smelled his skin—woodsy and clean, with something delicious in the background. Tea with honey. A gingersnap? No—hot salabat. Spicy and sweet.

When Ace finally closed his eyes, Pinky embraced him, and her brain lit up like a chandelier. She felt everything—his hands on her waist, the soft moan in his throat as she lightly pressed the tip of her tongue against his. He held her tightly, quieting her nerves but setting a fire deep inside her. The wind cut through her wet skirt and bit at her bare skin. The waves crashed. In the distance, seagulls called to each other, back and forth.

After a long, long time, Pinky broke their kiss. She snuggled against him and closed her eyes, overwhelmed with pleasure. His arms were cold, but his chest through the T-shirt was hot, and his heart was beating fast. They both could feel that he was hard as a rock, but he didn’t push himself against her. Horny, but polite—a refreshing combination.

“Do you…” she trailed off.

“Do I what?”

She winced. “Please don’t judge me.”

He stroked her hair. “I won’t.”

“Do you…live nearby?”

Bring Back The Love – Tif Marcelo

Two days of pretending.

That was all Emmy Briones had to endure. That shouldn’t be hard, right? After all, she’d done harder things in life while on stage as a wedding singer, as a mother to actual grownups, and as a wife in a twenty-two-year marriage that was in a weird stage of limbo.

Granted, it was two days under the watchful eye of the legendary Lola Naty, her husband’s grandmother and matriarch of the famous Hacienda Luz.

No big deal.

Emmy employed the box breathing she’d learned in couples therapy—because yes, she and Aaron were at that stage—and crossed over the threshold of Hacienda Luz while dragging their carry-ons, where the glimmer of the marble floors and the sparkle of the chandelier above took her breath away.

Already decorated for the fiesta, a traditional Santacruzan, the lobby was filled with multicolored flowers. People milled about, talking in hushed voices, many of whom wore shirts that bore the familiar logo of Hacienda Luz.

A step behind Aaron, she swallowed against the enormity of it all. Living in the DC area hadn’t exposed them to this grandeur on the daily, unlike the rest of the Briones and Moore families living in and around the Bay Area. Though she and Aaron had been engaged here, Emmy only kept up with the property’s happenings through social media posts from Aaron’s family.

At the remembrance of their engagement, of Aaron getting down on one knee and pledging his life to her, her chest welled with sorrow.

“Em.” In front of her, Aaron offered his hand. His brown eyes had a message in them, though she couldn’t quite discern his intent.

They’d been in sync, in their thoughts, in their hearts, and in their voices, until they weren’t.

Emmy was just hoping they could pull off this ruse, collect their fee, go back home to their life, and somehow move on from it. It was Aaron who was worried. That his family—specifically Lola Naty—would notice that she and he were not the happy couple everyone made them out to be.


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Love at the Fiesta Blitz


Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots 

(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 42)

Welcome to NORMAL… where nothing is normal!

It’s a not-so-merry Christmas in Normal, Kentucky! When bossy Gingerbread Gala chairwoman Harper Stewart is found strangled with holiday garland, campground owner Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies swap cocoa for clues. From feuding bakers to a fake fundraiser—and even Mae’s mother-in-law landing on the suspect list—Happy Trails Campground becomes ground zero for one festive whodunit.

Packed with small-town charm, Southern sass, and Christmas chaos, Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots is the perfect cozy mystery for sleuths who like their holidays sweet…with a dash of murder.


Jeanie D
5 out of 5 stars
Just Another "Normal" Christmas?
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2025
Format: Paperback
Christmas is coming to Normal, Kentucky! Mae, Hank, and the Laundry Club Ladies are busy preparing for their gatherings, and there is enough snow to result in a beautiful snow globe effect with an occasional drift. It wouldn’t be Christmas, however, without a mystery! Come to Normal to get your sleuthing itch scratched, and enjoy being with Mae, Dottie, Betts, Queenie, and Abby!


Mae, the Laundry Club Ladies, and several other ladies were helping decorate The Barn venue for the Gingerbread Gala. Harper Stewart was, for the very first time, in charge of everything for the Winter Festival. She wanted everything done perfectly, her way, but was sadly lacking people skills. She even accused Christine, owner of the Cookie Crumble Bakery, of using a box kit for her gingerbread house! Harper’s words were harsh, insulting to everyone helping out. Rather than argue, the volunteers left.


Later that evening, Mae was concerned when Harper missed her big moment to light the tree, and didn’t seem to be anywhere at the festival kickoff! Mae and Dottie went back to the Barn to help Harper finish. The lights were on, and Harper’s car was in the parking lot. Inside, they found a couple chairs tumbled over, and other items broken on the floor. Just beyond that, Harper lay on the floor, dead. Strangled by garland used for the decorations.


On behalf of the sheriff, Mae and Hank went to tell Harper’s husband, Levi, what happened. The evening ended with Mae agreeing to complete the decorating according to Harper’s plans. Levi wanted it done in her honor. They also discussed an unusual event. There was an ongoing fundraiser to put a bench downtown in Harper’s honor. It was never requested for review at the National Park Committee, where Mae worked. When she saw the amount raised, Mae added it to her to-do list.


Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies had much to do, and so little time! Mae picked up all the plans Harper had made at their home. They were also trying to help solve the murder and the phony collection for Harper’s bench. The suspects were primarily everyone Harper insulted or argued with at The Barn venue. Bev, Hank’s mom, was one of the primary suspects, especially since she and Harper had a long, stormy history.


While Bev was not one of Mae’s favorite people, she didn’t want her to be a police suspect, especially when Sheriff Al questioned those decorating the Barn. The night they went to cut the Christmas tree for Normal, Bev and Mae actually had a few shared moments of fun – for the first time! Then, one innocent action resulted in an over-the-top reaction until Bev realized that Mae wanted to get her off of the suspect list, not accuse her.


Mae, Betts, Dottie, Queenie, and Abby did their best snooping to discern who the killer was. Harper was not popular with most folks in Normal, so, like the police, they focused on those who she insulted at the Barn. There were as many twists and turns regarding the murder and fake fundraiser as the roads in the nearby mountains, but they persevered – but would Mae survive the cost of the search? I highly recommend Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots, and hope that you have as much fun reading it as I did!


Many thanks to the publisher, Tonya Kappes Books, who provided a pre-publication copy of this novel. This is my honest review.
Posted in #BookTours

The Flames of Soulflare

The Flames of Soulflare
La Kayshal
(Hell’s Fire Dragon Series, )
Publication date: May 27th 2026
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Fourth Wing meets From Blood and Ash in this Dark Paranormal Romantasy where dragons fear prophecy—and love may be the final weapon.

Everin Haydon was stolen, tortured, and reshaped into the dreaded Hell’s Fire Dragon, bound as a weapon for a Dragon Council that calls itself righteous.

Across the realms, Lord Tynan, the Demon of Darkness and Chaos, has ascended. His arrival heralds the Three Days of Darkness, and he will burn heaven and earth to reclaim what fate bound to him—his power, his vengeance.
But one question if the demon has risen, where is the god meant to stop him?

As the dragon world waits for divine intervention, Everin must decide whether she will remain a weapon—or become the fate of the realms.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Apple Books / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Dark themes including captivity and experimentation

Emotional conflict and intense character struggles
Violence and battle scenes
High-stakes situations involving power and survival

This book is best suited for readers who enjoy emotionally intense, character-driven romantasy.
Read Before You Decide

Before committing, please read the prologue.

This will give you a clear sense of the tone, pacing, and writing style.

Prologue:
Present Day

The moon hung quietly above Helldreth Fort, its pale glow spilling through the tall windows and brushing the chamber with soft silver. A cool breeze drifted in and stirred the white curtains, their edges sweeping lightly across Everin’s skin. She pulled her silk gown closer, grateful for the warmth of the room. It felt comforting, far more so than the terrible, dark place she had left behind.

Her steps carried her to the mirror in the corner. The reflection staring back looked thinner, as if her body had been carved down to something she hardly recognized.

The neckline of her nightie dipped too low to her liking, drawing her eye to the faint scars across her chest. The lamp light traced their uneven lines, pale and unsettling.

She touched them gently. Everin barely remembered how or when she got the scars.

She pulled the outer robe around her until it covered more of her chest. At least the scars were low enough to stay hidden unless she wore something too revealing.

A sound of footsteps behind her made her turn.

Tariel Fenwick, her first love, stood at the doorway.

Everin froze for a moment. He looked different—stronger, more defined, more man than the boy she remembered. His dark hair rested just above his shoulders with two thin braids at the sides of his head, framing a face sharpened by a faint stubble. His amber eyes, once so warm, now carried a deeper, shadowed intensity.

His shirt hung open across his chest, revealing sculpted muscle that rose with each slow breath, and a leather gauntlet, more like an open finger glove, hugged his left hand like a seamless extension of his skin.

Her gaze lingered longer than she meant it to. He saw that. A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips.

She straightened quickly. “We need to talk, Tariel.”

“Yes,” he replied, approaching her, “but not now.”

“There is a lot I want to understand,” she said quietly. “So much I don’t remember.”

“Later.” He reached her, lowering his voice. “I’ve long waited for this moment with you.”

He stepped closer.

She stepped back.

“You waited for me?” she whispered, searching his face.

“I did,” he said. “More than you know.”

He brushed a fingertip along her arm. She stiffened but felt a flicker of the old pull toward him, a warm memory trying to surface. Her eyes drifted briefly to his lips, those that she had kissed in the past, before she forced herself to look away.

His smirk deepened. “Are we shy now, Everin?” he murmured, amusement warm in his voice.

“It has been a while,” she managed. “Things are not the same.”

“We are,” he said, touching her jaw. “You still feel this.”

She backed away again, but he followed, closing in until she had no space left. Her leg hit the edge of the bed. She lost her balance and stumbled, falling backward onto the soft covers. Instantly, she pressed her elbow into the mattress as she tried to push herself upright and pull her short nightie into place, but she barely had a second.

By the time she braced herself, Tariel was already on the bed. One knee pressed into the mattress, and in a swift movement, he trapped her between his legs. His body loomed over hers, leaving her nowhere to go. His hand slid behind her back and pulled her closer. The other moved to her neck, his fingers settling at her pulse, firm enough to hold her from looking away.

His control was precise and deliberate.

“Tariel—” She sucked in a breath, fear slipping into her voice. “What are you doing?”

His lips hovered above hers, so close she could taste the hint of warmth in each breath he released.

“You belong to me,” he whispered, his voice shifting, deepening, curling around her like smoke. His eyes burned brighter, molten gold spilling across the darkness of his gaze. “You always have.”

Everin’s heart thrashed in her chest. Something ancient stared back at her through his eyes—something demanding, something claiming.

She tried to pull away. “You’re frightening me.”

He leaned closer, lips brushing the edge of her jaw. “You love me,” he whispered.

“You always have. And you will give yourself to me again.”

His mouth dragged slowly toward hers, teasing, commanding, his breath warm against her parted lips.

“I want you,” he said, low and certain. “I want all of you.”

“No.” Everin gasped, turning her head away as panic surged. “Stop. You’re not—”

His fingers tightened at her neck.

He didn’t stop. The Tariel she loved would have.

“I am yours,” he murmured.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Then her voice broke in a whisper—

“You’re not him. You’re not Tariel.”

The room fell silent. And everything inside her knew she was right.

Author Bio:

La Kayshal is an Australian writer of romance, YA, and children’s fantasy novels. She lives with her husband, daughter, and a playful Malshi puppy in the coastal plains of the Sunny State.

Her debut novel, The Lost Crown, is an adventure romance set in the exotic landscapes of India. She also created the much-loved Sylph Series, a whimsical children’s collection that introduces readers to the amazing world of Sylphs, with each book carrying a gentle moral lesson.

A lifelong fan of wizards, magic, dragons, swords, and elementals, she poured all these passions into her YA fantasy Ariston Baker in the Weird Picture Book, a fast-paced journey filled with realms, riddles, action, and adventure.

Her latest project is the Hell’s Fire Dragon series. Book 1, The Flames of Darkness, is a YA Romantasy full of dragons, and Book 2 is set to be released soon.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


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The Flames of Soulflare Blitz


Posted in #non-fiction

An Inspirational Quote a Day

Inspirational quotes about Life (Quotes For Every Occasion Book 4)

Experience a richer, fuller more inspired life

Some of the greatest inspirational quotes to help motivate the reader to be more positive about life and gain greater success and happiness.

  • A great book for those who want to be inspired or motivated
  • Makes a beautiful and inspiring gift
  • It may be that one of these quotations will enable you to change your life for the better
  • Use the quotes as you talk and write to friends

Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you – Mary Lou Retton


Greg Brandon
5 out of 5 stars
Great quotes! Great teaching tool!
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
I love a good quote and this book is full of them. I enjoy reading them but also intend to use the book as a teaching tool for my grandchildren. I plan to share a quote a day with them and select certain ones for discussion to get them thinking. I will also encourage them to study the author of the quote. It’s important for them to see things through a different lense and learn about a wide variety of people and how they made history. I have high expectations for my grandchildren and want them to realize that they, too, can achieve great things.

Ryan H. - Wichita, KS
5 out of 5 stars
Great resource for writers or speakers
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2024
Format: Paperback
I received this book as a stocking stuffer for Christmas 2023. I've made it a practice at the end of each month to go through and read the previous months quotes and highlight the ones that speak to me. There is such a wide range of subjects covered in these quotes. They have led me to new ideas for my writing and have helped to enlarge the scope of my thinking.


If I could offer one suggestion for improvement it would be an appendix at the back of the book with a short description of each of the people quoted in this book, including historical significance and years of birth and death.
Posted in #BookTours

Rainy Day Rescue


Deciding to take a second chance at love is an act of courage! 


Rainy Day Rescue

Seattle Lost Lovers

by Josie Malone

Genre: Contemporary Second-Chance, Fake Romance



Real estate broker, Claire Rocklin, buys distressed properties, rehabs, and sells them to support her pet project, ‘Senior Housing Apartments’. She believes nobody has time for the elderly–and no one ever had time for her. After the death of her mother when Claire was a child, her serial-cheater father remarried several times, but those marriages didn’t last more than two years each.

Three years ago, Claire’s once-upon-a-time stepbrother, Master Sergeant Tony Baldusi, retired from the Army and became a fulltime business partner in Claire’s brokerages. The son of a single mother who divorced Claire’s father, Tony learned how to survive long before he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He’s been packing a proverbial torch for Claire, along with a diamond engagement ring for three years.

When Claire’s grandparents invite them home for Thanksgiving, Tony suggests they pretend to be engaged. After all, they’re already business partners, and their families would easily believe the relationship runs deeper. But can he convince commitment-phobic Claire that she deserves real happiness? Will their little deception turn into something real, or will she run from love again, breaking both their hearts in the process?

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

 



Ghost Writer’s Inn

Baker City: Hearts and Haunts

by Josie Malone

Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance


Former Army Ranger, Mac MacGillicudy served his country for almost twenty years, fighting in one hotspot after another. Since he retired from the military, he’s roamed the U.S., unaware he’s accompanied by a woman with a hidden agenda. He enjoys writing action-adventure romances which never turn out the way he plans or expects or designs. Still his agent, publisher, and readers love them. Learning he’s inherited the old family hotel, Mac heads to Baker City, Washington for Christmas. He’ll help restore the hotel, write his next book which will hopefully end the way he wants, and perhaps discover a home.

Registered Nurse, Lillian Bryce didn’t hesitate to answer the call when her country needed her after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She joined the US Army and went off to war but didn’t return home, at least not alive. Since she loved books, she went back to the Seattle Public Library where she’d spent so many happy hours. She was perfectly content studying, researching, observing and enjoying the other patrons—the live ones, until she saw Mac MacGillicudy. She was fascinated, focused on him—well on his writing, on his books, except he had them all wrong! So, she fixed them, not once, but again, and again, and again regardless of how many times he tried to change them while they traveled the country! Now, they’re off to Baker City.

Will the two of them find love in a place where ghosts are real or just continue writing about it?

 

**can be read as a standalone!

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Bookbub * Goodreads

 




Josie Malone lives and works at her family business, a riding stable in Washington State. Teaching kids to ride and know about horses, she finds in many cases, she’s taught three generations of families. Her life experiences span adventures from dealing cards in a casino, attending graduate school to get her Masters in Teaching degree, being a substitute teacher, and serving in the Army Reserve – all leading to her second career as a published author. Visit her at her website, http://www.josiemalone.com to learn about her books.