About Books

  • ‘Tis the season to read holiday romances …

    We are in the thick of the holiday season. Some of my favorite things to do this time of year are read holiday romances and watch holiday movies. Here are some holiday books that I’m hoping to add to my TBR pile. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.

    The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

    In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…

    Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…

    As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?

    My thoughts: I like Morgan’s contemporary romances, and I’m interested to read her take on what sounds like more of a women’s fiction book.

    Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen

    A family crisis brings him home…

    Just in time for Christmas

    Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas, until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time.

    Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?

    My thoughts: I haven’t read Fossen before, but I like holiday western romances, and this one sounds like a fun read.

    Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas

    A small-town Texas Christmas story, where hearts are lost, love is found, and family always brings you back home.

    Griffin Holloway is desperate: the Maverick Ranch has been in his family for generations, but lately, it’s a money pit. He’d sooner marry one of his horses than sell the ranch. Marriage, though, could be a solution. If he can woo a wealthy bride, he might save the ranch—just in time for Christmas.

    Jaxon O’Grady likes his solitude just fine, thank you very much. But when a car accident brings the unexpected to his door, he realizes just how much one person can need another.

    Crossroads is the perfect place for Jamie Johnson: avoiding nosy questions about why she’s single, she’s happy to keep to her lakeside home. So she’s baffled when she gets the strangest Christmas present of all, in the form of a Mr. Johnson, asleep on her sofa. Who is he, and why does everyone think he’s her husband?

    In this uplifting novel, three unlikely couples discover just what Crossroads, Texas, can offer: romance, belonging, and plenty of Christmas spirit.

    My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed some of Thomas’s other books, and this one sounds interesting.

    Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne

    It’s a long way from New York to Idaho…but could they have found a home at last?

    Dani Capelli has never truly belonged anywhere. And from her earliest days as a foster child in Queens, she would have been lost if it weren’t for her love of animals. Until high school, when she fell hard for the wrong boy, and found herself pregnant—and married—by graduation. Two daughters later, Dani realized her mistake and filed for divorce, and with the help of scholarships and loans—and a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners—she enrolled in vet school. Things were finally looking up…until her ex-husband became her late husband, in the most notorious way possible.

    Now Dani and her daughters need an out-of-town pass more than ever. So when the retiring Haven Point veterinarian offers her a chance to settle in the small Idaho town and take over his practice, she jumps at it. But adjusting to the charming mountain community isn’t easy; thirteen-year-old Silver begins acting out while six-year-old Mia is growing too attached to Haven Point and everything in it, especially their next-door-neighbor, Deputy Sheriff Ruben Morales. And Dani can’t blame her. Ruben is everything she’s secretly wanted—and everything she can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

    As the holidays draw near, their shared concern for Dani’s daughters brings them closer together, giving Ruben the chance to show this big-city woman just how magical Christmas in Haven Point can be…and that the promise of a home at last is very real in the most wondrous season of the year…

    My thoughts: This sounds like another fun holiday romance.

    Snowed in for Christmas by Noelle Adams, Zoe York, and Samantha Chase

    Three all-new holiday novellas about couples finding love while trapped together in the snow.

    Stranded in the Snow (Holiday Acres, Book 2) by Noelle Adams

    Olivia Holiday doesn’t expect to spend the weekend stranded in a romantic cottage during a snowstorm with the one man she dislikes the most. Scott is a player and holds a grudge against her family, and she’s determined not to give in to the deep feelings for him she’s been hiding.

    A Christmas Rescue (Silver Bell Falls, Book 4) by Samantha Chase

    Saving a litter of puppies right before Christmas was incredibly rewarding for Bailey Walsh. But getting snowed in with her sexy-yet-grinchy veterinarian boss turns out to be rewarding in a whole other way.

    Love on the Edge of Reason (Pine Harbour, Book 8) by Zoe York

    Tom Minelli doesn’t know why Chloe Davis has fled Pine Harbour, but she’s pregnant with his baby and he wants her back. But a winter storm rolls in just as he finds her, trapping them together in a cabin on the lake.

    My thoughts: I like anthologies because they give me a chance to check out different authors all at once, and the theme of this anthology sounds really fun.

    A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates

    It’s Christmas in Gold Valley, and this wounded widower is about to get another shot at love…

    Grant Dodge didn’t expect to find a woman sleeping in an abandoned cabin on his family ranch. Or to find her so intriguing. Unlike every other woman in town, McKenna Tate doesn’t know Grant’s a widower. There’s no pity in the looks she gives him. McKenna wants him, and Grant has forgotten what it’s like to feel like a man. A no-strings fling for Christmas might be the kind of holiday cheer Grant needs…

    With only a suitcase to her name, McKenna came to Gold Valley to confront her birth father. She didn’t plan to work at the Dodge ranch or fall for the gorgeous cowboy who keeps his heart roped off. But there’s no denying the way their broken pieces fit together. Hope brought her to Gold Valley—but will it be the gift that could finally heal Grant, and McKenna’s own wounded heart?

    Also includes a bonus Gold Valley novella, Snowed in with the Cowboy!

     
    My thoughts: I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for Yates’s books, and I’ve been meaning to check them out. And this one has a bonus novella. 🙂
     
    What about you guys? What holiday books do you want to read this year?
  • · · ·

    Winter’s Web — a brand-new Elemental Assassin novella — to appear in Seasons of Sorcery fantasy anthology …

    I’m pleased to announce that Winter’s Web, a brand-new Elemental Assassin novella, will appear in the Seasons of Sorcery fantasy anthology on Nov. 13. Woot! 🙂

    The anthology also features novellas by Amanda Bouchet, Grace Draven, and Jeffe Kennedy. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? It was created by the awesome Ravven.

    SEASONS OF SORCERY EBOOK:

    You can pre-order the anthology for $4.99. On release day, Tuesday, Nov. 13, the price goes up to $5.99.

    The anthology will also be available on Apple Books and Google Play (I think). There will also be print versions available through Amazon. I’ll share all those links as soon as they are online.

    SEASONS OF SORCERY DESCRIPTION:

    WINTER’S WEB BY JENNIFER ESTEP
    An assassin at a renaissance faire. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, if you’re Gin Blanco. This Spider is trapped in someone else’s icy web—and it seems like they don’t want her to leave the faire alive . . .

    A CURSE FOR SPRING BY AMANDA BOUCHET
    A malevolent spell strangles the kingdom of Leathen in catastrophic drought. Prince Daric must break the curse before his people starve. A once-mighty goddess trapped in a human body might be the key—but saving his kingdom could mean losing all that he loves.

    THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER BY JEFFE KENNEDY
    As unofficial consort to the High Queen, former mercenary Harlan Konyngrr faces a challenge worse than looming war and fearsome dragons. His long-held secrets threaten what he loves most—and he must make a choice between vows to two women.

    A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY GRACE DRAVEN
    The stretch of sea known as The Gray rules the lives of those in the village of Ancilar, including widow Brida Gazi. In the aftermath of an autumn storm, Brida discovers one of the sea’s secrets cast onto the shore—a discovery that will change her world, mend her soul, and put her in the greatest danger she’s ever faced.

    MORE ABOUT THE SEASONS OF SORCERY ANTHOLOGY

    Note #1: There will NOT be an audiobook version of the anthology.

    Note #2: Winter’s Web is Elemental Assassin #17.5, so it takes place after the events of Venom in the Veins, book #17.

    Note #3: I will be releasing Winter’s Web as an individual ebook later on, but I hope that folks will check out the anthology. I think readers will enjoy the fantasy novellas by all the authors.

    LONGER WINTER’S WEB DESCRIPTION:

    An assassin at a renaissance faire. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, if you’re the Spider . . .

    I might be Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, but even I need a break from the bad guys every now and then. So when Owen Grayson, my significant other, suggests a trip to the Winter’s Web Renaissance Faire, it sounds like a perfect distraction from all my problems.

    The faire starts off innocently enough, but something seems slightly off about the cheery atmosphere and costumed characters. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I can’t help but feel like I’m trapped in someone else’s icy web—and that they don’t want me to leave the faire alive . . .

    Note: Winter’s Web is a 27,000-word novella that takes place after the events of Venom in the Veins, book 17 in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Winter’s Web first appeared in the Seasons of Sorcery anthology in 2018.

  • · · ·

    Haints and Hobwebs, Elemental Assassin #4.5, to be re-released Nov. 27 …

    I’m pleased to announce that I am re-releasing Haints and Hobwebs, Elemental Assassin #4.5, as a stand-alone ebook.

    Haints and Hobwebs is my take on a ghost story. The 11,000-word story first appeared in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance anthology in 2012.

    Note: There will NOT be an audiobook or a print book of this story.

    Over the years, several folks have asked if/when I was going to release Haints and Hobwebs as a stand-alone ebook, and I’m happy that it’s going to be available for folks who want to add it to their Elemental Assassin collections.

    If the demand is great enough, I might also consider releasing some of the free short stories on my website as stand-alone ebooks or perhaps as an ebook bundle. We’ll see what happens.

    Fun fact: The awesome Tony Mauro designed the cover art for Haints and Hobwebs. He is the cover artist for the Elemental Assassin series, as well as for Kill the Queen. I love the spider rune on the tombstone, and I think it’s a great look for a ghost story.

    HAINTS AND HOBWEBS DESCRIPTION:

    Even the Spider can’t escape a ghost’s web . . .

    I’m being haunted.

    As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to being haunted by all the bad things I’ve done over the years. I suppose it was only a matter of time before an actual ghost came back to haunt me. But for once, I’m not the bad guy, and I wasn’t the person who sent this ghost—this haint—into the afterlife.

    But this haint definitely wants something from me, and I can’t help but think that it’s revenge on the person responsible for her untimely demise.

    Good thing revenge is my specialty, whether it’s among the living or the dead . . .

    Note: Haints and Hobwebs is an 11,000-word story that takes place after the events of Tangled Threads, book 4 in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Haints and Hobwebs first appeared in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance in 2012.

    I hope that everyone enjoys revisiting the ghost story. Happy reading! 🙂

  • · · ·

    Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1, available now!

    Kill the Queen, book #1 in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy series, has been published today, Oct. 2. Woot! Woot! 🙂

    I’m so excited to finally be able to share the book with readers, I hope that everyone enjoys getting to know Evie and the other characters in Kill the Queen.

    GET THE EBOOK

    GET THE PRINT BOOK

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK

    Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, N.C. is offering signed copies of Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1. Malaprop’s is the ONLY BOOKSTORE offering signed copies. 

    Fun fact: Lauren Fortgang, who narrates the audiobooks for my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, will also be the narrator for Kill the Queen. I know many of you guys love Lauren’s narration, and I’m excited to hear how she brings Evie and all the other Kill the Queen characters to life. You can get a sneak peak at Lauren’s narration by clicking on the SoundCloud excerpt box below:

    It’s a trilogy: As of right now, there will be three books in my Crown of Shards series. Protect the Prince, book #2, will probably be out in summer 2019. I’ll share more information about that book as it becomes available

    Epic fantasy: I’ve gotten some questions about the book genre. Kill the Queen is adult epic fantasy — NOT YA fantasy.

    There is sex, language, and violence in Kill the Queen, just like there is in my Elemental Assassin series.

    That being said, if you like my YA books, especially my Mythos Academy series, you will probably enjoy this one too. There are some nods to Roman, Norse, and other mythologies in the book, but this is much more of an adult read than my YA series. And like all my other books/series, Kill the Queen features a strong heroine, lots of action/fight scenes, a hint of romance, and magic/worldbuilding, among other things.

    Book description: And here is the book description.

    The thrilling first novel of the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when a member of the royal family becomes a contender in a clash for the crown… 

    In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

    But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

    Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

    But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

    In other words: I’m pitching the book as Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kickass heroine.

    PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

    KILL THE QUEEN is the definition of epic fantasy: exciting, original, and filled with characters who jump off the page. Jennifer Estep enters the arena and takes no prisoners. Long live the Winter Queen. — Ilona Andrews #1 New York Times bestselling author

    KILL THE QUEEN rocked my world! With court intrigue, a cast of fantastic characters, epic political sweep, and a slow-burn romance to die for, this book had me rapt. I only regret I devoured it so fast. And that I didn’t write it. More please! — Jeffe Kennedy, RITA® Award winning author of The Pages of the Mind

    Jennifer Estep takes the world of high fantasy by storm with a book so perfectly plotted and executed that I gasped out loud at each new reveal and unexpected turn. Evie is the heroine we all want to read about: as compassionate as she is ruthless, as cunning as she is kind, and as fierce and focused as anyone must be in order to KILL THE QUEEN.
    Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles
     
    Read the first chapter: To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.
     
    I hope that everyone enjoys the book. Happy reading and listening! 🙂
  • · ·

    Pre-order Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1 …

    Don’t forget to pre-order for Kill the Queen, coming Oct. 2. This is the first book in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy series.

    Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, N.C. is offering signed copies of Kill the Queen, Crown of Shards #1. Woot!

    CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY OF KILL THE QUEEN

    Malaprop’s is the ONLY BOOKSTORE offering signed copies. Kill the Queen will be out on Oct. 2, so get your pre-order in ASAP.

    PRE-ORDER THE EBOOK

    PRE-ORDER THE PRINT BOOK

    PRE-ORDER THE AUDIOBOOK

    Fun fact: Lauren Fortgang, who narrates the audiobooks for my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, will also be the narrator for Kill the Queen. I know many of you guys love Lauren’s narration, and I’m excited to hear how she brings Evie and all the other Kill the Queen characters to life. You can get a sneak peak at Lauren’s narration by clicking on the SoundCloud excerpt box below:

    Epic fantasy: I’ve gotten some questions about the book genre. Kill the Queen is adult epic fantasy — NOT YA fantasy.

    There is sex, language, and violence in Kill the Queen, just like there is in my Elemental Assassin series.

    That being said, if you like my YA books, especially my Mythos Academy series, you will probably enjoy this one too. There are some nods to Roman, Norse, and other mythologies in the book, but this is much more of an adult read than my YA series. And like all my other books/series, Kill the Queen features a strong heroine, lots of action/fight scenes, a hint of romance, and magic/worldbuilding, among other things.

    Book description: And here is the book description.

    The thrilling first novel of the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when a member of the royal family becomes a contender in a clash for the crown… 

    In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

    But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

    Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

    But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

    In other words: I’m pitching the book as Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kickass heroine.

    PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

    KILL THE QUEEN is the definition of epic fantasy: exciting, original, and filled with characters who jump off the page. Jennifer Estep enters the arena and takes no prisoners. Long live the Winter Queen. — Ilona Andrews #1 New York Times bestselling author

    KILL THE QUEEN rocked my world! With court intrigue, a cast of fantastic characters, epic political sweep, and a slow-burn romance to die for, this book had me rapt. I only regret I devoured it so fast. And that I didn’t write it. More please! — Jeffe Kennedy, RITA® Award winning author of The Pages of the Mind

    Jennifer Estep takes the world of high fantasy by storm with a book so perfectly plotted and executed that I gasped out loud at each new reveal and unexpected turn. Evie is the heroine we all want to read about: as compassionate as she is ruthless, as cunning as she is kind, and as fierce and focused as anyone must be in order to KILL THE QUEEN.
    Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles
     
    Read the first chapter: To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.
     
    I hope that everyone enjoys the book when it is released. Happy reading and listening! 🙂