The Rat King Aj Skelly Publication date: November 3rd 2026 Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Retelling
Save the Kingdom. Break the Curse. Don’t fall in love.
When Clara Seibert unwittingly humiliates a boy with a limp the first day of her senior year, she doesn’t expect him to become one of her closest friends. But when befriending Jakob Ratowitz leads to things she can’t explain, circumstances spiral into something much more sinister with Jakob at its heart.
As their friendship deepens, Jakob’s bone degeneration condition worsens, and so do the secrets surrounding him. When they’re thrust into the Land of Sweets-a magical realm of ancient danger-they must face a harrowing journey, insurmountable odds, and a growing attraction that could have deadly consequences.
Worst of all is a vengeful queen from Jakob’s past who will stop at nothing to see Jakob and everything he loves destroyed. With time running out and a kingdom at stake, can Jakob and Clara save the endangered realm and each other? Or will the Rat Queen’s curse descend on the Land of Sweets forever?
Writing books full of murder, mayhem, sometimes magic, and always kissing, AJ (also writing as April J. Skelly) is an author, reader, and lover of all things fantasy, medieval, and fairy-tale-romance. And werewolves. She has a serious soft spot for them. As an avid life-long reader and a former high school English teacher, she’s always been fascinated with the written word. She lives with her husband, children, and many imaginary friends who often find their way into her stories. They all drink copious amounts of tea together and stay up reading far later than they should.
You can read more about her stories, shenanigans, random factoids, and new books at www .ajskelly. com
The family he
didn’t know he wanted might be the only thing worth dying for.
Baby ConSEALed
SEAL & Shelter Book 1
by Leah Miles
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Baby ConSEALed won
the 2024 Georgia Romance Writers’ “Maggie Award”!
Rissa Parker struggles to support herself and her daughter
by working overnights as a home health nurse. After witnessing her employer’s
murder, she has no choice but to grab her two-year-old and run toward the one
person strong enough to protect them, the Navy SEAL who fathered her child
during a one-night stand.
Navy SEAL Bernard “Burn” Cruz is a straight arrow,
approaching work and play in equal parts. He doesn’t regret much in life,
except for one woman he’s never forgotten. Nearly three years after their
initial encounter, she shows up in San Diego at the bar his team likes to
frequent, and he believes Forever might have knocked on his door. Until a child
cries, and all hell breaks loose.
As bullets fly and bodies drop, Rissa must outrun a killer
whose connection to her past threatens to destroy any chance at a future with
the father of her child, and Burn discovers the family he didn’t know he wanted
might be the only thing worth dying for.
Baby ConSEALed, an award-winning contemporary
romantic suspense novel, is fast-paced, steamy and suspenseful. Pick up your
copy today!
“A tightly
plotted, fast-paced whirlwind of a ride fraught with secrets, danger, and an
emotional love story that focuses on family—the kind you choose.” —Lena Diaz,
Publishers Weekly best-selling author
“With a
to-die-for hero, sizzling tension, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this romance
delivers all the feels in an unforgettable, heart-pounding read!” – Charlee Allden,
Goodreads Review
“A fast-paced,
slow-burn romantic suspense where danger, secrets, and second chances collide…. With
bullets flying and hearts on the line, Leah Miles delivers high stakes and
emotional impact in equal measure.” – Cam Torrens, Goodreads Review
Burn was admiring Jackson, the newest family member, when a
wide-eyed Rissa burst out of the kitchen and sprinted into his arms.
“Hey, beautiful.” He was glad he hadn’t demanded to hold his
nephew because now he had an armful of a warm, welcoming woman.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Rissa said breathlessly.
He was gratified that she’d missed him. “I was only gone an
hour, but that’s a nice welcome.”
She pulled back, but not away. “Sorry … I …”
He cupped her cheek to catch her gaze. “Did you have a problem
while I was gone?”
“No, but I need this,” she said, winding her arms around his
neck and leaning on her toes to kiss him.
That was an invitation that he wasn’t going to turn down. He
pulled her closer and slid his hand into the hair at her nape to slant his
mouth more firmly over hers.
“Let’s keep this PG. The baby is watching,” said Clare, smirking
at him from where she stood with Jackson on her shoulder.
Burn chuckled and gently tucked Rissa against his side. “Give us
a break, Clare bear. We’ve been apart all afternoon.”
“More like an hour, Bernie Cruz,” Clare said, pointing a long
finger at him. Then she shifted her gaze to Rissa. “Don’t let him bully you.”
Rissa straightened. “Burn wouldn’t do that. He’s kind, and I’m
here because I want to be.”
He liked that his little Texan was ready to come to his defense.
“Easy, Tiger. My sister-in-law is an attorney and has strong opinions regarding
male testosterone.”
Clare arched a dark brow, “As long as everything is consensual
and safe, I have no problem with it.”
Burn chuckled. Their little PDA had probably already given Clare
plenty of ammunition for the next family dinner lecture, but damned if he
cared. “Rissa, this is my sister-in-law, Clare, and my nephew, Jackson. Clare,
this beautiful woman is my girlfriend, Rissa Parker,” He grinned at
Rissa when he said girlfriend, wondering how she would react.
She didn’t pull away or even look annoyed. Okay then.
Leah Miles writes romance and paranormal fiction from her
small-town in South Georgia, where she lives with her husband and cocker
spaniel while running an insurance agency and Airbnb business.
After a dozen
years in news production at CNN, Leah Miles now manages an insurance agency and
an Airbnb business in rural Georgia, while writing romantic suspense and
paranormal romance featuring take-charge heroes and fierce heroines.
(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 14)
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE
USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where NOTHING is normal.
Mae West is busy this Christmas season. She’s running around Normal getting the town ready for the first Winter Festival, which she hopes will become an annual event for the tourist town. The freshly fallen snow sure does make the Daniel Boone National Park beautiful and ready for Santa’s arrival, but it also makes the curvy roads through the forest very slick.
Unfortunately, Mae finds out just how slick the roads are after her car slides off the road and hits a tree, putting Mae into a deep coma. Mae is one of the lucky patients who does wake up and happy to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. One of the patients in the emergency room with Mae didn’t die that night of natural causes, and Hank Sharp has himself a new homicide case on his hands.
Mae starts having memories about the fire that took her family and a memory of a murder plot that she thinks happened when she was in her coma. Only, she’s having a hard time distinguishing between the two memories and the clues seem to have blurred lines. There’s one thing she does know for sure, both incidents come with clues that neither were accidents. Once again, Mae West with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies put on their ameatur sleuth cap to help solve the mystery of the murders before the killer sends her Christmas gift she can’t return.
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What happens when a quirkier than normal girl meets a hunky doctor from New York?
It’s not that I have subpar intelligence, or that I’m a total weirdo. In fact, I would consider myself kind, creative, and an all-in-all great catch—if you can get past a few peculiarities.
I love soft things. ALL soft things, and I surround myself with them to help self-sooth my way through the day. I have very particular opinions about sand, aluminum foil, and gum snappers. You wouldn’t believe how many men find this odd. In short, being on the spectrum has not exactly done wonders for my love life.
Enter Dr. Thomas Culpepper. Never in a million years would I have predicted someone like him would move to tiny little Elk Lake, Wisconsin. Then he gets sent to my photography studio to have his picture taken. I misunderstood the assignment, and instead of taking a boring old headshot like the hospital wanted, I forced him to take sexy pirate photos.
As far as meet cutes go, it was awkward. I won’t even mention the baby oil …
Pity Prank is a laugh-out-loud, small town romantic comedy featuring misunderstandings galore, a tiny bit of fake dating, a lot of fuzzy sweaters and socks, and oh, yeah, some sexy pirate photos.
Perfect for fans of Hallmark vibes. Book eight in a feel-good series of standalones.
As soon as I enter, I notice a man sitting on one of the two overstuffed shabby chic chairs by the window. He looks up and makes direct eye contact which causes every thought in my brain to pour out like sand in a sieve. Holy. Hot stuff. Batman. This man is extraordinarily handsome, but his appeal is more than just physical. He emanates a kind of golden energy that’s positively intoxicating.
“Hi there.” As soon as he stands up, I can feel the room start to sway. I stagger to the counter, so I don’t fall over. He’s well over six feet and from what I can tell he’s built like he spends hours at the gym every day.
“H…h…hi, yourself. Thomas Culpepper?” I ask, both hoping he is and isn’t at the same time. How in the world will I be able to take sexy pictures of this man and keep my wits about me? I can’t even look at him fully clothed without stuttering.
“That’s me.” He flashes a brilliant smile which makes me wonder if he’s ever starred in toothpaste commercials. His hair is the softest looking wavy chocolate brown I’ve ever seen. My hand lifts of its own accord like it’s trying to reach out and touch it. Which of course I know I can’t do. At least until it’s time for me to style his hair for the shoot. I practically drool at the thought.
Thomas looks at my hand suspended in mid-air before copying the gesture and waving at me. “He-llo.” He breaks the word into two syllables like I’m new to the English language and might not understand otherwise.
I drop my hand immediately and try to regain my composure. “Constance is very excited about these shots.”
“Really?” He looks confused, like he doesn’t know who I’m talking about.
“Really,” I assure him. “She’s ordered the basic package to start but if she likes what she sees…” In lieu of finishing my sentence, I give him an exaggerated wink.
“I didn’t realize this was such a big deal to her,” he says. I wonder if I got it wrong and they aren’t a couple? Darn it, that’s the thing with me, I have an awful time reading people.
“Oh, it’s a very big deal.”
Thomas’s hazel eyes narrow in confusion before he bends down to pick up the bag he brought with him. “I brought some different shirts.”
“Oh, we won’t need shirts.” There’s no way, I’m covering up this man in unnecessary clothing. No way. Unless of course it’s a pirate shirt, wide open, and billowing in the wind. Lucky for him, I have such an item in my costume collection.
Thomas’s gorgeous brow furrows, drawing my attention to the golden flecks in his eyes. “I brought a doctor’s coat too, if you prefer that.”
“A doctor’s coat?” I love the idea of turning him into a sexy doctor. It’s decided then, we’ll do a pirate look and a doctor one. Constance is going to love these.
Motioning to Thomas, I tell him, “Follow me into the backroom and you can get ready there.”
As he approaches, I inhale his spicy aftershave. Cloves, cinnamon, and orange, oh my! “You smell great.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. That’s another fun thing about me, I don’t always think before speaking, which can sometimes make other people uncomfortable. Like the time I told a woman in the grocery store that her pants made her butt look amazing. While meant as a compliment, it was clear she wasn’t used to such a forthright comment from a stranger. I figured that out when she walked out of the store, leaving a full cart behind.
The last thing I want to do is make Thomas nervous, so I hurry to tell him, “You smell like my favorite Christmas cookies.”
“Huh. I’ve never heard that one before.”
“It’s a compliment of the highest order,” I assure him. “My mom makes the best orange spice shortbread you’ve ever tried.” Just when I think I’ve saved the moment from getting too awkward, I groan suggestively and declare, “Yummy!” Thomas’s eyes pop open wider in an expression I once again worry is fear.
The backroom of my store is one big unfinished space with a variety of backdrops scattered about. I point toward the barber-style chair in front of a big lighted mirror in the corner and tell him, “Let’s start there. I’ll get your hair and makeup done first and then we’ll settle on wardrobe.”
“Hair and makeup?”
“Yeah, you know, so we can get the look we’re after.”
“I thought I was okay the way I am.”
“You’re fantastic,” I assure him. “Really great! But I want to make sure we capture your character to the fullest.”
“I’m a doctor,” he tells me. I’m starting to think Thomas might be the one new to the English language.
“Doctor, pirate, sexy duke with a superiority complex… you can be anything you want and I’m here to make that happen.”
Thomas sits down in the makeup chair looking highly uneasy. “I really am a doctor.” Then he asks, “Do you get a lot of pirates and nobility in here?”
“Tons,” I assure him.
Thomas sits down with the same amount of enthusiasm he might have knowing he was about to be electrocuted. “I’m pretty sure I don’t need hair and makeup,” he says again.
“I’m not putting lipstick on you, Thomas.” Picking up a bronzing palate, I tell him, “Just a bit of contrast to sharpen your angles.”
“Why exactly do I need sharper angles?” How is it possible that he’s even sexy when he’s acting stupid?
Turning to look him square in the eye, I ask, “Why do you think you’re here?”
“I’m here to get my picture taken for …”
“Constance,” I finish his sentence for him. “You’re here for Constance. And you want to make her happy, don’t you?”
“I… suppose?” He isn’t selling it.
“You suppose? She’s paid me four hundred dollars to take very specific pictures of you and that is exactly what I’m going to do. Do you understand?” He nods his head almost imperceptibly, so I tell him, “This is my job, Thomas. My job. It’s what I do for a living. It’s how I pay my bills.”
“Yes, but…”
“Constance came in here herself to tell me what she wants, and as she is my client. I’m not going to let her down.”
Thomas sits as still as a statue while I brush bronzer on his cheeks and jaw. By the time I’m done with him, he could have posed for a Michelangelo statue of a Greek god. I can’t take all the credit for that though; he practically is one on his own.
Once I’m convinced his face couldn’t look any better, I put the makeup brush down and face my model once again. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. After turning the chair so his back faces the mirror, I lift my hands and run all ten of my fingers through his hair. Holy heck. It’s even softer than it looks. It’s better than all my furry sweaters combined. It’s like running my hands through a litter of baby minks. It’s softer than the Barefoot blanket I spent way too much money on. But only because it lost some of its softness after being washed. Until then, it was worth ten times as much.
Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is to rub Thomas Culpepper’s head every day of my life until I die.
Reluctantly, I remind myself that Thomas is Constance’s boyfriend, not mine. Yet I don’t understand how that can be because this man is so vital and alive. Constance has the warmth of a vampire bat in winter. But they got together somehow and now it’s my job to give my client the best fantasy material I can.
She never has to know it’s doing the same for me.
Author Bio:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries — not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers’ Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
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(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 13)
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE.
USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where NOTHING is normal.
Mae West is bound to prove she deserves the seat she was appointed to on the National Park Committee when she brings a big car show to Normal during the slower fall month. But, when Wendell Holliday’s body is found dead in one of Happy Trails Campground bungalows and one of the rentable campers is burning to the ground, Mae along with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies once again put on their sleuthing caps to figure out who is trying to sabotage Mae and her new position on the committee.
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