#BookTeaser

[delphina2k]

Redid one of my favorite pages from the first chapter of Sombulus for the new omnibus edition that's on Backerkit right now! Still one of my favorite comic bits of dialogue. We love a stupid disaster wingboy.

[nealshustermanreal]

Something exciting is brewing… ALL BETTER NOW is just around the corner. Here’s the scoop—are you ready for what’s next?

[clinko]

Mizuhana (水花) -- Post Card Series - The World of When Red Meets Blue

Kofi preview---Access More world building notes like this on Kofi!

[xariaseesred]

Novel by Xaria Ryu

chapter one

GENESIS

Brief: In the opening chapter of 'Cursed Shores', we're introduced to a world brimming with challenges – a cityscape plagued by the consequences of unchecked super-powers. Keitaro, navigating a hazardous environment, seeks refuge in a bar, surrounded by a populace drowning their sorrows in a daily struggle for survival. As the night grows darker and the rain starts pouring mercilessly, we witness a mysterious encounter, a brief yet intense confrontation, and a glimpse into the Keitaro's internal struggles. We are then taken to a basement filled with aged books, where a complicated dynamic with Haruki, is explored. The chapter ends where stage is set, not with grandeur, but with a quiet intensity, inviting us to a world where survival is an art and secrets lurk in the shadows.

CHAPTER LIST:

chapter two: FLAME

Chapter starts below the break: keep reading! :)

Monsters, genetically modified plants trying to kill us all, abuse of power that leads to massacres and wars or incurable diseases, would all be perfectly good and logical reasons as to why I am plastered at a bar scanning for someone who might know a way off this island. The people here are nearly all understandably drunk out of their minds, none of them able to live their daily lives for longer than a work day. Children darting between tables without supervision, while lurking hazards stand poised to exploit even the slightest misstep. The place is loud, save for the moments when someone gets too reckless with their curse and gets dragged off the premises. The silence that washes over the room feels like a cold blade threatening to slit your throat. At least to anyone with something to hide. Once that is revealed, you can kiss this hell goodbye and welcome another one right after hours and hours of wishing you were never born. 

Gloves hide my curse, but my temper needs more than gloves to be concealed, and it is rising by the second. The alcohol stench and the soldiers posted up in every corner of the place are not helping. 

“Fresh meat, huh?” a velvety voice asks in a hushed tone standing next to me. 

“Walk along,” I nearly snarl, keeping my head down and not sparing them a glance. Whoever it is does not let up and slides closer to me, alcohol reeking off their person. 

“I know what you are,” they go on, voice sounding almost like purring now that we are standing shoulder to shoulder. With swift movements, I have spun them around, grabbed both their hands and pinned them behind their back under the bar’s edge so no unwanted eyes witness what just went down. It is a woman covered in rain protective gear looking a little younger than she sounded. Former military employee I would assume. No one else could get their hands on anything like that. Half my body covers hers and I tighten my grip around her wrists. 

“Eager to end up in jail I see,” she laughs. Drunk, I make out of her behavior. I will spare her the questioning and I tell her as much until I have convinced her that she is out of her mind. I let her go, leaving her giggling by the bar as I walk out into the neonate night. Cannot risk someone taking her seriously. I would rather have my trial that is barely two days away than get beaten to death in a jail cell. 

With no plan to ever return and risk my identity being outed, I make my way to a place I have learned to love and despise.

♦

The basement, crammed with thousands of books, exudes an icy chill between its shelves covering just a few square meters. I wish slamming the book shut in frustration was enough. Throwing it across the room would be a crime in here. Burning it up into ashes is out of the question, but painfully desired. You cannot win in this dreadful city, let alone the whole Island. Leaving is not an easy feat either. 

The flame dancing between my index finger and thumb, dies down gradually, turning a transparent pastel blue as it gets smaller and morphs into faint smoke. Rather than reigniting the flame, I allow the darkness to envelop me, accompanied by a deafening silence. I sit there by my miserable self until I hear indistinct footsteps grow louder and louder evoking a curse from deep in my chest. I don’t have the patience for this right now. I glance towards one of the shelves. It doesn’t take long for the inconvenience to step into my little corner and lean onto one of the coarse wooden shelves sporting a sad smile. Calling him an inconvenience is wrong on my part but not entirely untrue. I try too hard, way too often to avoid him only to have my night end like this. 

“You okay in there?” he asks after a heavy sigh. His tone is just light enough to come across as friendly. It has been a skill people have to learn to master around me since they know better than to step out of line with me. 

“I’ll need you to keep your mouth shut.” In the weak light that is seeping through the window from a street light, his staple black cap casts a dark shadow across his face at all times so all anyone ever sees is his mouth, which is now shaping a strained line in reaction to my words. 

“Always a ray of sunshine, yeah? I’ll need you to leave. Now.” Too pure for his own good. 

I am a walking hazard to these preserved books. I should in fact not be here in the first place, is what he should say. He is just too nice to say it. 

“Haruki…” I know it is nothing I can say that really helps my case but it is not like me to hold back what I truly feel around anyone either. Be it complaints or hateful remarks. There is not much on the good side of things around this one since his very existence has been a deep sorrow to endure dating back years. The only defense my brain seems to have against that is spite. 

“Light this candle, will you. Can’t see shit in here.” My body temperature and temperament is irregular as it is, but right now I can feel the blood sizzling far beyond its boiling point. He knows better than anyone that riling me up could have dire consequences. None that I will ever be proud of. That should also keep him away from me. Why he lets me stick around is beyond my ability to comprehend. Words do not suffice these days, but I’m willing to bet good fortune that unimaginably mean things would come out of my mouth to someone who’s never truly wronged me. 

After much inner turmoil I decide to light his candle. Haruki had started getting antsy as well, eyes glowing a terrifying dark red shining through the shadow as if ready to strike any second. People might think he is perfect but even he is not immune to impatience. 

“That’s not really your color, Ki,” I tell him under my breath, but still making sure I also don’t cross his boundaries. That nickname is one I gave him when we were just toddlers, playing in the tunnels under the city, both of us, along with a couple dozen other kids, having been strictly told to never show our faces on the surface until we were deemed ready. We were naive souls back then. Not our fault, but we could’ve never guessed what challenges awaited us. 

“What on earth did I do to get you actually talking, huh?” Fake smile or not, it could rival the sun in its brightness, teeth gleaming like the most expensive pearls. In the dim light of his candle the sharper angles of his youthful face get the spotlight. No wonder people idolize him the way they do. It’s almost aggravating how beautiful he is. Sometimes I think holding a grudge towards him for that reason would make more sense. That him always turning heads, getting what he wants all the time and people praising him for damn near everything is annoying enough. Him in his whole casual suit and tie get-up should be annoying enough.

“I’ll leave,” I exhale sharply before I make a fool of myself. While I grab my things I see Haruki’s eyes lose their color and disappear behind the shadow, his smile fading back into a strained line.

“Help me put these books back, Keitaro,” he utters firmly and I get the feeling that he could sense I did not want to be around him anymore. “Please?” The place is a mess and it is too late to argue with anyone at this hour.

I sort the books for him to the best of my ability, just to make it easier for him to put them back on the shelf. They are all old and torn. Most of them are missing pages, some have been found under water so the pages are uneven with the black words faded. Haruki finds this aspect of the library-keeping very intriguing. As illegal as it is for him to keep these books here in this region, he would protect them with his life and he has made that much unmistakably clear for me. He knows this place as well as his own bedroom. Down to every nook, secret passage and whatever people back then decided to hide within the books. Even theft is completely out of the question since he would know within a second if a thought like that appeared in someone’s head.

As we inch closer to being done with the books, my thoughts drift deeper into darker territory, further down memory lane and I once again see how close Haruki was to losing everything he ever held dear. Haruki senses the shift in my aura and makes the mistake of looking up and meeting my eyes. His now gleaming a concerned gray. The candle that he had set on the table lights up the rest of his face. Big innocent eyes asking questions I cannot answer and the burn mark I feared making an appearance from his temple down to his cheekbone. Still covered in angry, deep scars. The work of which I caused.

Until now, the anger I held earlier had started to subside. Now it awakened like a tiger held captive for too long, ready to kill anything that moves. I freeze for a second knowing that if it gets too intense, I am totally in the wrong place. I put the last book into Haruki’s cart to dart out of the library and into the night’s thunderstorm. Before Haruki gets completely out of earshot for me, I hear a barely audible “good night” as an overdue apology is stuck, heavy on my tongue. 

Heavy raindrops fall against my hair feeling cold everywhere it is parted as I make my way off the streets out toward the fields. The houses there are safer since these thunderstorms are constant. Sometimes accompanied with rain and sometimes not. They destroy more in a matter of minutes than what we can build in years, and that’s not to mention the relentless flooding this city goes through weekly. It has been like this for years and years so it is hard to remember what a normal day was like. 

As I approach the coast, a sense of unease washes over me like the tidal wave crashing against the shore. Something is different tonight, as if the air itself is charged with an electric energy that prickles my skin and sets my nerves on edge. It’s eerily quiet and in the distance I hear the whispers of patrol getting closer. Not a good sign.

And then, I see it.

Hovering above a small lonely piece of land on the horizon, a strange craft hangs suspended in the air like a phantom from another world glowing red. Its sleek contours are illuminated by the faint glow of the city lights, casting eerie shadows that dance across the water's surface.

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch in awe and terror, the sound of helicopters cutting through the air like a knife. With trembling hands, I raise my scope to get a better look, my breath catching in my throat as I witness the craft unleash three beams of light that stretch for miles in every direction.

I duck behind a nearby rock, my heart racing as adrenaline courses through my veins. This is no ordinary sighting; this is a warning, a sign that something far more sinister is at play.

As the echoes of the craft's arrival fade into the night, I know that I can no longer ignore the call to action. Whatever awaits me once I am away from this island, I must face it head-on, for the fate of my sister and those I hold dear hangs in the balance. But come hell or high water, I will not rest until I uncover the truth behind this mysterious intrusion and put an end to the chaos that threatens to consume us all...

>>> CHAPTER TWO <<<

[agneeshikhawrites]

Bride of Ashena (Excerpt) Part 1

In the realm between slumber and consciousness, Neith found herself adrift in a dreamscape, illuminated by the ethereal moonlight and enveloped by the icy shadows. The cold embrace of the forest brought her comfort despite the chilling towering trees that seemed to stretch towards the heavens as if beckoning her into a mystical realm. Under the spellbinding scarlet light of the blood moon, the woods took on an otherworldly allure, where long, meandering shadows waltzed across the forest floor.

Neith wandered into the enchanting forest, her feet now sinking into the soft carpet of autumn leaves, filled with a sense of awe and intrigue. The night echoed with the melodies of nocturnal creatures, their harmonious voices creating a symphony that reverberated through the tranquil air.

As Neith went deeper into the depths of the woods, her senses came alive from the sights and sounds of the forest. The gentle whisper of leaves dancing in the breeze, accompanied by the night bird's call, lured her deeper and deeper, further into the unknown.

A cliff came into view as she looked into the distance, its rugged edges standing tall against the moonlit sky. Curious, she ran towards the cliff, her dark brown curls dancing on her shoulders with each step she took on the uneven grounds. She had no fear but rather a profound sense of intrigue as she stood on the precipice of the abyss. Lost in the charm of the night, she felt an undeniable connection, a familiarity to the wild allure.

As she cast a longing gaze behind her, the tranquillity of the night was abruptly shattered by a haunting howl that echoed through the old trees, filling the air with a mournful sigh. Neith's heart raced as she surveyed the shadows, her senses heightened and prepared for whatever may come.

And just like that, her dream came to an end. The quiet tranquilly was broken as Neith was startled awake by the sharp sound of her alarm clock.

Neith released a weary breath as she blinked away the remnants of her dream, her heart still racing from the thrilling nocturnal adventure she had just experienced. As she reached out to stop the alarm, she had a lingering impression that her dream had a deeper meaning beyond the confines of her imagination. It exuded a captivating charm that straddled the line between wistful reminiscence, a tantalising taste of fantasy, or perhaps a whisper of what lies ahead.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

She's in danger... can he save her?

Isla They can laugh at me all they want. But treasure hunting is my passion. Could I find the last piece of the puzzle at Danger Bluff?

About The Authors: Becca Jameson is a USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books. She is most well-known for her Wolf Masters series, her Fight Club series, and her Surrender series. She currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and Goldendoodle. Two grown kids pop in every once in awhile too! She is loving this journey and has dabbled in a variety of genres, including paranormal, sports romance, military, and BDSM. A total night owl, Becca writes late at night, sequestering herself in her office with a glass of red wine and a bar of dark chocolate, her fingers flying across the keyboard as her characters weave their own stories.  During the day -- which never starts before ten in the morning! -- she can be found jogging, running errands, or reading in her favorite hammock chair! 

Becca loves chatting with fans on social media! Reach out, and she will respond! Ever just gone for it? That's what USA Today Bestselling Author Pepper��North did in 2017 when she posted a book for sale on Amazon without telling anyone. Thanks to her amazing fans, the support of the writing community, Mr. North, and a killer schedule, she has now written more than 70 books!

Enjoy contemporary, paranormal, dark, and erotic romances that are both sweet and steamy? Pepper will convert you into one of her loyal readers. What's coming in the future? A Daddypalooza!

Stay up on the latest news and get insider updates and previews of Pepper's stories... http://BookHip.com/FJBPQV

Connect With Becca & Pepper:

beccajameson.com 4peppernorth.club

[sunnyanddumb98]

BLURB TEST 1 "Emma, a cynical film editor, takes a spontaneous trip to Spain with her emotionally unstable college friend, Valentina, where, during the hot summer, her resourcefulness is tested as old and new friends challenge her rigid ideals, offering rewarding opportunities in her career and personal life, leading her to assert herself against her grief, fears, and ideals of loyalty, friendship, and life plans."

[pumpupyourbook]

📽Watch Jens Boele’s URBEX PREDATOR Book Teaser Trailer!

https://youtu.be/av01SUpU-n0?si=zmaR5EKaZLBjDggG

[tastoryteller]

Discover more

This week marks the reveal of The Shogan. I’ve begun ramping up my social media platforms to give everyone a look into the upcoming release. This has been a long time coming if I say so myself. From writing in the wee early hours to sometimes getting no sleep at all, I am happy to say, the release is making its way to the light soon. Beyond the pages is a universe waiting to be explored! Sign up…

[nealshustermanreal]

Just 5 days to go! Are you ready for 'Break to You'? This introspective love story, which I co-authored with Debra Young and Michelle Knowlden, unfolds in a juvenile detention center. Step into the intense journey of two teens daring to love against all odds. Secure your copy today! Pre-order links below.

📚 Bookshop → https://bit.ly/4aiHhYz

📚 B&N → https://bit.ly/3TXsfBA

📚 Amazon → https://amzn.to/4azg5Ez

🙌🏼 HarperCollins → https://bit.ly/4cGBltL

[ksfd892]

Reading The Holy Barbarians and thinking about how it's set in Venice Beach and how Rory couldn't read it after Jess went there, and even if she didn't know it's where he ended up, it's become a sad association because of the 'booktease' thing. And how when Jess walks around there he thinks of the places mentioned in the book and his heart hurts because he can't show any of them to Rory, and Venice Beach feels hollow.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

He's too smart to need anyone... except for her.

Love a rockstar romance?

Preorder Noah: Smoke and Mirrors by Quinn Marlowe now!  https://geni.us/QMSmoke

Noah I never expected this life to be an easy one. My band needs a new deal, and our next tour is our best and maybe only time to find it. I've got plans, though. Good ones. I just need everything to go right. Molly Rush, my best friend and Girl Friday, was supposed to be on hand to help me with them. But when she gets a new job as a magazine photographer, that goes sideways. When she returns to photograph our tour, she's suddenly mouth-wateringly sexy. Confident. Shining. Irresistible. And I can't keep my hands off her. No matter how much I know I have to. Molly Noah Michael has been my best friend since we were kids, growing up in the same orphanage, and I'd be lying if I said I never loved him. Honestly, I've loved him my whole life, and it's always been a bad idea. Which is why I take a new job, far from him and his bandmates. But when my new employer sends me right back to him, camera in hand, he starts looking at me different. Looking at me like he actually wants me. But I'm too smart to give in to that sort of thing. I know him too well to take the risk. At least my brain does. My heart, on the other hand… Noah: Smoke and Mirrors is the third installment in the Trouble Next Door series, and promises angst, spice, a damaged rockstar and the girl he secretly loves, and a guaranteed HEA. Tissues not included!

About Quinn:

Quinn Marlowe is the bestselling author of the Rossi and Southern Heroes series and a certified California girl. After studying English and film at UCLA, she decided to pursue storytelling full time. She loves red wine, cheesecake, perfect hash browns, really good punk rock, fast cars, autumn, and cooking, but she is most likely to be found spending time with her horses, snuggling her dogs, or taking orders from her small army of cats. She is a professional eye roller with a penchant for swearing like a sailor, and some of her favorite people (her nephews) are convinced she is a spy. She makes her home in San Diego with her prized collections of books and lipstick, neither of which ever fail to lift her spirits when she's feeling down. 

Follow Quinn Online! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qoxxq9 BookBub: https://bit.ly/3x9iX9Y Facebook: https://bit.ly/3BpUy2g Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Qvq2s2 Instagram: http://instagram.com/quinn.marlowe.smokeshow TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quinnmarloweauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/quinnmarlowe Web: https://quinnmarlowe.com 

[twyrch]

The whispers of the ancients echo through the ages...

Can the Scions of Faerie decipher the prophecy and save their realm?

The Scions of Faerie is available on 12/5/2024

Preorder today: https://a.co/d/3OSEgYc

See you in Faerie 💫

#ScionsOfFaerie #Prophecy #FantasyAdventure #fantasyprophecies #bookteaser #ParagraphTeaser #fantasyfiction #booklover #readingcommunity #JDEdwardsAuthor #NewRelease #editingleindiehouse

[cocktailsfairytales]

We're celebrating the release of The Wolf King by Lauren H. Salisbury! Make sure you get your copy if you love:

Enemies to lovers

Fable retelling (Three Little Pigs)

Evil male lead (think Darkling or Kylo Ren)

Forced marriage

Only one bed

Touch her and 💀

Siblings

Banter

The Wolf King

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

Genre: Fantasy Romance/Fairytale Retelling

She's captured the king... but can she capture his heart before it's too late?

Madeline Dalbot rules the peaceful kingdom of Tyrrath on her ailing father's behalf. When their borders are attacked and her guards capture the notorious Wolf King, she is left with an impossible decision.

Unable either to release him or keep him prisoner without risking a full-scale war, she agrees to marry him instead, allowing his army access to her lands in exchange for the freedom to rule as she sees fit. But he ignores their bargain. His army strips Tyrrath’s resources, and her people go missing.

With the Wolf King intent on destroying everything and everyone Madeline loves, she must break through to his cold heart before her entire kingdom is enslaved. But the only way may be to risk everything she has.

The Wolf King is a fantasy romance inspired by The Three Little Pigs.

GET IT ON AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-King-Lauren-H-Salisbury-ebook/dp/B0DC5C2Z3Q/ref

Organized by R&R Book Tours

IG: @laurenhsalisbury @rrbooktours

Tags:

#rrbooktours #rrbtTheWolfKing #fantasyromance #fantasybooks #booktropes #romantasy #newadultfantasy #fantasyromancebooks #romantasybooks #fantasytropes #tropes #nospicebooks #bookteaser #booktropes #touchheranddie #onebedtrope #enemiestolovers #fantasyretelling #bookboyfriend

[jossyreadssmut]

ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴇʟɪᴊᴀʜ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ʜᴏᴍᴇ

Are you ready for blood & chaos?

I am.

𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴; The Devils Society X The Exodus

This Is Book 2 of Elijah’s Duet

Releasing Friday Sept 13🐈‍⬛

PREORDER 👉🏻 https://books2read.com/u/b6YeQ0

ARC Signup 👉🏻 https://gforms.app/hH3BUVb

🦇 Step Siblings

🕯️ Secret Society

🦇 Initiation

🕯️ Torture Rooms

🦇 Extreme Violence

🕯️ Psychopath MMC

🦇 Greta

Graphic 🏷️ @occult.goddess

Also in The Exodus Shared World by Theme

@authorkinsleykincaid

@author_harleighbeck

@avina.stgraves

@danaleeannhunt

@author.willow.mcquerry

@authoramdavis

@laurenbielauthor

#darkromance #darkromancebooks #darkbooks #bookseries #romance #romancebooks #secretsociety #secretsocieties #booklover #booklovers #booklove #bookcommunity #bookclub #bookish #bookquote #bookteaser #bookblogger #bookblog #bookobsessed #haunted #homecoming #spookyseason #fridaythe13th #maskedmen #spicybooks