Hush Little Baby Release Blitz #rabtbooktours

Horror, Holiday Horror (various subgenres)

Release Date: October 31

 

 

Santa’s making a list. He's checking it twice. And if you've been naughty... run. Because Krampus is real...but the legend never told the whole story. In this eclectic anthology, multiple authors unleash the Alpine myth in unexpected ways. He's a monster. A protector. A lover. A nightmare. Sometimes charming, sometimes deadly, always unforgettable. From vivid poetry to spine-tingling terror to sinful spice, every story peels back another layer of the creature who passes judgment on the naughty ones...and what happens next. This multi-author collection features stories with varying tones and heat levels. Graphic content is clearly labeled for your reading pleasure.

ALL proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501c3 wildlife rehabilitation

 

Featuring Works By

Jodee Jean Daniels, Luna Nyx Frost, C.L. Hart, Spiros Katsaras, Jayce Maxwell, J. Noble, Jenna O’Malley, Kay Parquet, Melissa Power, Alyce Reads, E.L. Summers, Jason M. Spencer, Kyle Thomas, Cass Voit

Excerpt

Crimson Retribution by C. L. Hart

Hashim led Donata to a clear spot where a cluster of trees blocked the wind. After relieving herself, she returned to his side.

"All right, let's see the fabulous view you've been raving about."

"Would you like a pair of binoculars?"

"Certainly. I've always enjoyed pretending I was a bird flying above the world."

"Or an angel," Hashim proposed.

"I imagine I have a few more miles left in this aging body before God or whoever calls me home."

"Darling, you're always my angel."

"What are you angling for with all this flattery, Hashim?"

"I'm only trying to make things right, my love. I don't want a divorce. I love you, and even though Libby is biologically Javed's daughter, I've always thought of her as my own."

"No matter what happens between you and me, you will always be Libby's father. I'm open to working things out, but you need to understand that I will not put up with any more abuse, either verbal or physical, and I won't abide any more cheating."

Hashim handed Donata the binoculars.

"Gaze through your magic spectacles and tell me what appears to your wondering eyes, my snow queen."

"I believe this is what Santa sees from his sleigh as he swoops down on a quiet Christmas Eve night. There are fantastical decorations, and the multicolored lights make everything look festive."

"You always had an amazing imagination."

Hashim reached behind the seat of the sleigh, retrieving an axe.

"Picture being here with Libby on Christmas Eve. Imagine walking out on the deck with her to marvel at the lights and look for Santa flying overhead."

"Oh, there's a house with a life-size Santa on the roof! He and the reindeer seem so real. Rudolph's nose flashes bright red, and Santa is waving to the people below. I can almost hear Christmas carols playing and taste hot spiced cider."

 

About the Author

C. L. Hart, also known as The Terrible Old Woman, is an editor who writes. She enjoys creating holiday stories with a twist, usually in either the dark fantasy/horror or sweet romance genres. Her short stories have appeared in several anthologies, and she has self-published her own works as well, including four poetry volumes, a novella, a fix-up novel, and several short stories.

Ms. Hart lives in a tiny town on the Northeastern Colorado plains with her adult son, cat daughter, and cat grandson. She doesn't mind cooking, but she hopes one day to hire elves to do the housework for her.

Ms. Hart can be found online at naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

Purchase Today

Beltane Anthology Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Fantasy (various sub-genres)

Publication Date: March 31, 2025

 

 

The maypole has been adorned with ribbons and blossoms, the bonfire has been lit, and the music is calling you to dance the night away. Join 25 AuthorTubers as they explore the stories of Beltane in the second AuthorTube Anthology.

The magic of SPRING is in full bloom.

 

Including works by:

Rose Adam, Rachel D. Adams, Aisling Black, Sarah C. Brody, Michael Dawn Brooks, Brandy Bullock, Cassandra Byrnes, Jodee Jean Daniels, S.C. Dickinson, Robert Dorris, C.L. Hart, Katy Manz, Nil ∅, J. Noble, Jenna O'Malley, Kay Parquet, Melissa Power, Alice Reads, Megan Ryan, E.L. Summers, Kyle Thomas, Nicole Ford Thomas, M.M. Ward, Christina Whisler, Sam Wicker

 

The Beltane Laundress

 

Contemporary Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Small Town

 

Ernst Veselá is so mired in memories of his lost wife and daughter that he strolls onto a dark, rain-slick county road without looking. He is nearly run down by Annie Ainsworth, a young woman driving erratically in her hurry to escape her abusive relationship with her child’s father.

Ernst and his son Jozef offer shelter to Annie and her daughter Lizzie. Will the magic of Beltane spark healing in these four broken-hearted souls?

 

Excerpt

The Beltane Laundress

by C. L. Hart

 

The rain pounded down on a father and son walking through the tiny town of Honeycomb Grove, Colorado.

“It will be a good Mayday celebration this year, Pop,” said the lanky teenage boy. Tufts of gamboge-golden hair stuck out from his dark orchid baseball cap.

The boy’s similarly built father had graying oxide-red hair and wore a faded red baseball cap. The weary expression on his face and the look of hopelessness in sad eyes the color of a John Deere tractor matched glum words spoken with a thick German accent.

“I don’t want to dim the light in those hopeful hazel eyes. I wish I still saw life with the eyes of a tiger conquering his jungle, but today, I view the world through the eyes of an undertaker.”

The teenager was horrified to see a car barrel out of the fog as his father started across the county road.

“Pop, look out!”

The pair lost their balance on the slippery grass as the son pulled his father out of the path of the speeding vehicle. The battered cherry-red mini-SUV that pulled into the parking lot of the abandoned Honey Wash Laundromat had seen better days. A young woman no older than eighteen stepped out, regarding the pair with eyes like blue marbles peering from behind a curtain of unkempt mouse-brown hair haphazardly pulled back into a ponytail.

About the Author

C. L. Hart, the owner and sole employee of Naughty Netherworld Press and Ornery Owl Ventures, is spoken of in hushed tones. She is an editor who writes or a writer who edits. She is also described as The Mad Scribe of the Northeastern Colorado Plains, The Terrible Old Woman, and The Author That Should Not Be. She is a member of ACES Editing Society, the Denver Horror Collective, First Coast Romance Writers, the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Passionate Ink (writing as Lil DeVille), Regency Romance Writers, and Rocky Mountain Romance Writers.

Ms. Hart shares a home in a remote rural town of 134 souls with her adult son and three cats. Her sense of fashion is best described as Early Twenty-First Century Unmade Bed. This disabled former nurse can usually be found arguing with herself about subplots or rehabilitating eldritch horrors.

When not penning sanity-destroying works of dystopian fiction, Lovecraftian fantasy, or old-school horror with the occasional sweet romance thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart, Ms. Hart enjoys creating baked goods she hopes will be considered palatable by someone besides eldritch horrors.

Follow C. L. Hart

Need a professional alpha or beta reader or editor?

 

Purchase Links

ebook

paperback

The Real Beltane Anthology Cover Reveal

 

Hi Roosties! Yesterday's Beltane Anthology cover reveal was an April Fool's Day prank. 

https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/2025/04/beltane-anthology-cover-reveal.html

This is the real cover. All proceeds from the anthology support Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501C3 nonprofit dedicated to rescuing orphaned wild animal babies.

Everybody wants one. You want one too! Here's how to get yours.

ebook: https://a.co/d/duijxRE

paperback: https://a.co/d/5tjydhf

In the meantime, enjoy a sample from my real anthology story. The prank post's story excerpt is just tarted-up notes for a potential future tale.

The Beltane Laundress

by C. L. Hart

The rain pounded down on a father and son walking through the tiny town of Honeycomb Grove, Colorado.

“It will be a good Mayday celebration this year, Pop,” said the lanky teenage boy. Tufts of gamboge-golden hair stuck out from his dark orchid baseball cap.

The boy’s similarly built father had graying oxide-red hair and wore a faded red baseball cap. The weary expression on his face and the look of hopelessness in sad eyes the color of a John Deere tractor matched glum words spoken with a thick German accent.

“I don’t want to dim the light in those hopeful hazel eyes. I wish I still saw life with the eyes of a tiger conquering his jungle, but today, I view the world through the eyes of an undertaker.”

The teenager was horrified to see a car barrel out of the fog as his father started across the county road.

“Pop, look out!”

The pair lost their balance on the slippery grass as the son pulled his father out of the path of the speeding vehicle. The battered cherry-red mini-SUV that pulled into the parking lot of the abandoned Honey Wash Laundromat had seen better days. A young woman no older than eighteen stepped out, regarding the pair with eyes like blue marbles peering from behind a curtain of unkempt mouse-brown hair haphazardly pulled back into a ponytail.

Want more stories supporting a good cause?

Pick up your copy of the Bog Hag Anthology today!

https://amzn.to/4h9fQUD

Beltane Anthology Cover Reveal

 

I am so excited to have a story in this forthcoming charity anthology! The theme is Beltane, and it is a collection of magical stories and poems all about May Day, or Beltane.

One of my favorite things about this anthology is the beautiful cover. The participating authors crowdsourced to pay for the services of a professional artist to create a truly stunning design to showcase our work. 

I will have a preorder link soon. In the meantime, please enjoy an excerpt from my anthology story.

Elderwood Hollow 

The moon hung low and heavy in the sky, spilling silver light over the twisted oaks of Elderwood Hollow as the May Day revelry began. Bursting with laughter and stilted courage from the dregs of their mead, two sloshed revelers stumbled into the clearing where the coven of witches had gathered, their ancient chant rising like smoke into the chilled air. With a loud, braying whoop, one of the drunks tripped over a gnarled root, crashing into an ornate altar of herbs and bones, sending cackling black feathers swirling into the night. The witches, wrapped in shadows and disenchantment, paused mid-spell, their fiery eyes narrowing at the intruders who brightened this dark night with nothing but drunken folly and the promise of chaos.

Dragon Flight Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Fantasy

Date Published: January 23, 2025

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

 

Caution: Dragons ahead.

Prepare to delve into fiery worlds full of dragons. From hatchlings to ancients. From tame to wild. Many have their own goals, and most want to see the world reduced to ash. To reshape the world in their own reptilian image. Others struggle to survive, but heroes rise among them.

Which side will you choose?

Featuring 27 stories by the following authors: Vicki Erwin, Bruce Buchanan, Demi Michelle Schwartz, Sadie Lielle, Andreas Flögel, Desirae Gracyn, C.L. Hart, Kristen Argyres, Sandy R. Stuckless, Jessica Lee Minneci, Rae Evans, S.E. Reed, Larry Hodges, David O'Mahony, Mae Thorn, M.L. Quinn, Racquel Sims, Sierra Jackson, Daniel DiQuinzio, Ana Cordoba, Gabriella Balcom, D.J. Elton, Ann Stolinsky, Charles Barouch, Arwyn Sherman, Kiera Kearsey, Binod Dawadi, and J.E. Feldman.

 

A Night In the Magical Menagerie

Can creatures with radically different motivations get along?

In this fantastical tale a fox named Tod and a tortoise named Torte are brought to the Forest Environment of the Magical Menagerie of Celephaïs by the Outer God Nyarlathotep and his daughter. The friends encounter a wheelbarrow full of peculiar fruit and several exotic creatures. Will they enjoy a good life in their new home, or is this strange place as filled with peril as the one they escaped?

Excerpt

In the Forest Environment of the Magical Menagerie of Celephaïs, a fox and a tortoise gave one another a puzzled glance as they examined a wheelbarrow filled with strange yellow fruits.

"Before Nyarlathotep and his daughter left us here last night, they assured us that King Kuranes' gamekeepers would care for us," the fox said. "I am not sure the gamekeepers know what they are doing. What are these, and how is one meant to eat them? They are covered in spines like a hedgehog, and the green growth on the top poked me in my nose! Come to think of it, Torte, I'm not sure I trust Nyarlathotep or his daughter. After all, he is the great Cosmic Trickster, and surely, the apple does not fall far from the tree."

"This is only a name imparted to him by humans, Tod," Torte said. "Humans are a peculiar lot. Nyarlathotep was forthright with Captain Sammy, and he has been forthright with us."

"I defer to your intuition, my friend. You are slow to anger and take the time to thoroughly assess situations. Very well, rather than postulating malice on the part of Nyarlathotep, I postulate that he does not know what my kind eats and nor, apparently, do King Kuranes' gamekeepers."

"Perhaps these were left here for those animals that eat fruit," Torte said. "I have never before seen the like of them, but they have a pleasant scent. On the other hand, perhaps they were left here inadvertently. Upon discovering their mistake, the gamekeepers will return with the correct foodstuffs."

"If you believe they have a pleasant scent, I will knock one to the ground for you," Tod offered.

About the Author

C.L. Hart had a stormy start to her life. She was born at 6 A.M. the morning after Valentine’s Day in 1965 during a raging blizzard.

She has been a fan of horror and weird fiction for as long as she can remember. She used to read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight as a child.

She started reading Edgar Allan Poe when she was six years old. In her early teens, she discovered H.P. Lovecraft. She pretended to lose the copy of At the Mountains of Madness that she borrowed from the school library and paid the fine so she could keep the book.

Ms. Hart blames the team at Chaosium Role-Playing Games for renewing and strengthening her obsession with Lovecraft’s writing. She lives in a small town on the northeastern plains of Colorado in an appropriately old and storied house with her son and cats. She enjoys watching the normal people pass by as she records the happenings in the weird worlds of her imagination.

C.L. Hart writes poetry and nonfiction as Cara Hartley, and erotica as Lil DeVille.

 

http://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

Purchase Today

Beltane Charity Anthology #8Sunday #CharitySunday #MFRWHooks #RainbowSnippets #SnipSun

 

I am sharing this post with multiple blog hops and hope the hosts will indulge me when they understand its purpose. 

The weird and wonderful souls who brought the Bog Hag anthology to life are collecting stories for another charity anthology to benefit Quill Cottage Wildlife. Authors, this is your chance to simultaneously share your words and contribute to a worthy cause. Submissions are open until March 28. Please contact Nicole and Sarah at AuthorTubeAnthology@gmail.com for more details.

If you can and would like to, please contribute to purchasing the stunning cover depicted above for the Beltane anthology. 

https://ko-fi.com/authortubeanthology

I intend to donate a dollar for every comment received on this post. Unless I receive, like, a thousand comments. I won't be able to donate that much.

Let's be real. I won't receive a thousand comments. I'm shocked if I receive more than five comments on any post. 

Here is Super Anna back in 2010 when I adopted her.

Here are a few sentences from my story, which is dedicated to a four-legged furry family member who lost her battle with kidney failure on January 27. We didn't know she was sick until she went into sudden decline. Cats often hide the fact that they are feeling poorly until they can't anymore.

The Beltane Laundress

by

C. L. Hart

The rain pounded down on a father and son walking through the tiny town of Honeycomb Grove, Colorado.

“It will be a good Mayday celebration this year, Pop,” said the lanky teenage boy. Tufts of gamboge-golden hair stuck out from his dark orchid baseball cap.

The boy’s similarly built father had graying oxide-red hair and wore a faded red baseball cap. The weary expression on his face and the look of hopelessness in sad eyes the color of a John Deere tractor matched glum words spoken with a thick German accent.

Ornery Owl's Note

I actually did not end up sharing this post with Charity Sunday, Rainbow Sunday, Snippet Sunday, or Weekend Writing Warriors, as my son and I were over at the hospital and then the hospice center since Friday. I had pre-scheduled this post earlier in the week. 

My mother didn't answer the phone after 3 tries on Thursday nights, so I had her neighbor check on her. When she got no response, she called 911. The firefighters found an open side window over the stairwell, and one of them dropped in with a flexible ladder and then let the others in. 

They found Mom conscious but unresponsive on the floor. She was transported to the hospital, where they found she'd had a massive stroke in the occipital lobe. We were also shocked to learn that she was in end-stage colon cancer. None of us knew. She may not have known for sure, but we think she suspected. We kept trying to convince her to go in for GI symptoms, but she wouldn't do it.

She died at 8:45 this morning. My son and I got the call from my brother, who had stayed at the hospice center while we went home to change and for me to restock on my medications. He said she waited until he went into the bathroom to make the shift to the other side. 

She was 85 years old.

I'm now a 60-year-old orphan. 

So, I didn't end up sharing with most of the blog hops. But please visit them anyway because they are cool.

http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com

https://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets

https://www.facebook.com/groups/401643826588474

http://wewriwa.blogspot.com

For those interested, here's information on the Bog Hag anthology.

https://amzn.to/4h9fQUD

Infernal Delights Book Blitz #rabtbooktours

Psychological Horror

Date Published: January 16, 2025

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

 

Zombies, reapers, and more monsters.

In a world where so many dark things go bump in the night, terror awaits around every corner as these authors take horror stories to the next level. Discover ghosts, demons, and your worst nightmares. Read at your own risk.

 

Featured stories by C.L. Hart, Mae Thorn, S.E. Reed, Kristen Argyres, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Demi Michelle Schwartz, Adele Liles, C.L. Storm, Benjamin Kurt Unsworth, Desirae Gracyn, Rob Nisbet, Anwen Redlake, Kat Craig, Gabriella Balcolm, Lianne Robinson, David O'Mahony, Andrew J. Lucas, Binod Dawadi, Daniel DiQuinzio, Arwyn Sherman, Stephen Johnson, Kelly Barker, and J.E. Feldman.

 

The Darkness Within

When does the time come to give up the fight?

 

When her husband leaves their hardscrabble homestead in the remote Arizona territory to pick up their daughter and granddaughter from the train station in Tucson,  Kine Šimonis is left alone to deal with the ghosts of her past. She knows from experience that humans are the worst of monsters, capable of committing actions with lifelong repercussions for the victim.

This story is based on a real incident in the author’s family.

 

Excerpt

 

“I’ll be back this afternoon, mijn liefje. Back home with our daughter and granddaughter. You and Hema will comfort one another, and spirited Miss Emina and I will enjoy adventures together. Things will be good now, you will see.”

Kine Šimonis regarded her husband standing near the door with an expectant look in his forest green eyes. Though time had weathered his face and turned his once-thick rusty brown hair silver, he still stood tall and powerful. Tygo Šimonis had an adventurous spirit and tended to look on the bright side of things. This rugged land was an ideal match for him. Although she was a sturdy woman with the physical stamina of someone half her age, Kine was not as well suited to her environment and circumstances.

A smile turned up the corners of Kine’s mouth but didn’t reach her eyes. She embraced her husband. She still loved him deeply. She didn’t blame him for the darkness inside her.

About the Author

C.L. Hart had a stormy start to her life. She was born at 6 A.M. the morning after Valentine’s Day in 1965 during a raging blizzard.

She has been a fan of horror and weird fiction for as long as she can remember. She used to read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight as a child.

She started reading Edgar Allan Poe when she was six years old. In her early teens, she discovered H.P. Lovecraft. She pretended to lose the copy of At the Mountains of Madness that she borrowed from the school library and paid the fine so she could keep the book.

Ms. Hart blames the team at Chaosium Role-Playing Games for renewing and strengthening her obsession with Lovecraft’s writing. She lives in a small town on the northeastern plains of Colorado in an appropriately old and storied house with her son and cats. She enjoys watching the normal people pass by as she records the happenings in the weird worlds of her imagination.

C.L. Hart writes poetry and nonfiction as Cara Hartley, and erotica as Lil DeVille.

http://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

Purchase Today

Friday Book Blogger Special: A Murky Reckoning

 

Genre:

Dark Fantasy

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/4h9fQUD

Publication Date:

October 14, 2024

Ebook Price:

$0.99

Paperback Price:

$5.99

Book Blurb:

Whether she’s crawling across a sweltering bayou or swimming languidly through a swamp, the bog hag watches and waits.

Join sixteen AuthorTubers as they explore the allure and mystery of the Bog Hag, turning her from a villain to a gal with a social calendar, a vendetta, or even a need to be the best she can be.

Any and all proceeds from the sales of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501C3 nonprofit.

Story Blurb

Author: C. L. Hart

Garwick Greedgill is a fisherman desperate to become a legend in the realm where he dwells. When he pulls a horrific creature up from the polluted sea, he sacrifices it to the legendary sorceress who is said to live at the center of the bog near which he dwells.

Yadira of the Roots is said to be the daughter of Nyarlathotep, the Wish-Bringer From Beyond the Stars. Will Garwick’s actions earn favor from the storied Bog Hag, or does another fate await him?

The First Line/Book Beginnings

https://www.rosecityreader.com/

https://readingismysuperpower.org/

In his wildest nightmares, the fisherman could never have imagined the horror he dragged aboard his boat from the Gloomwater Sea.

The Friday 56

http://www.fredasvoice.com/

Gleamscale handed Garwick a glorious grimoire. Despite its captivating rose ebony cover, the book was unsettling. It smelled like dead flowers in a mausoleum.  

About the Author

C. L. Hart, the owner and sole employee of Naughty Netherworld Press and Ornery Owl Ventures, is spoken of in hushed tones. She is an editor who writes or a writer who edits. She is also described as The Mad Scribe of the Northeastern Colorado Plains, The Terrible Old Woman, and The Author That Should Not Be. She is a member of ACES Editing Society, the Denver Horror Collective, First Coast Romance Writers, the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Passionate Ink (writing as Lil DeVille), Regency Romance Writers, and Rocky Mountain Romance Writers.

Ms. Hart shares a home in a remote rural town of 134 souls with her adult son and three cats. Her sense of fashion is best described as Early Twenty-First Century Unmade Bed. This disabled former nurse can usually be found arguing with herself about subplots or rehabilitating eldritch horrors.

When not penning sanity-destroying works of dystopian fiction, Lovecraftian fantasy, or old-school horror with the occasional sweet romance thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart, Ms. Hart enjoys creating baked goods she hopes will be considered palatable by someone besides eldritch horrors.

Book Blogger Hop

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/p/blog-page.html

1st-7th - Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November, and do you have any favorite books that were born from this writing challenge? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

To the best of my sometimes questionable recollection ability, I believe 2008 was the first year I attempted NaNoHellNo. Not to put too fine a point on it, but aside from poetry, everything I churned out during the gods-forsaken month of No-No-No-vember was irredeemable shite. Years after the fact, I tried giving this verbal vomit a second chance but ended up tossing it aside only slightly less quickly than I DNFed both Twilight and 50 Shades of Nope. 

Once I became a NaNo Rebel, things went much better. I create one horrible, sanity-scarring document into which I dump everything I write in November. Voila, 50 thousand words, and I can actually work with some of them. It's a win!

I am not getting into all the controversy surrounding NaNoHellNo. This was my name for it long before the current scuttlebutt. I'm still counting words in November. I am embroiled in the Dabble 60-Day Novel Challenge and Novel 90 from AutoCrit. There are a lot of challenges going on in November. Pick your poison.

Don't fight the November weather; stay in and listen to an audiobook!

If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial. You’re welcome.

https://amzn.to/4bIRSgg

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.

https://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

Friday Book Blogger Hop Special: Finding a Date for Christmas

 

Genre:

SWEET, HUMOROUS, CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS ROMANCE

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/3ASUIBq

Publication Date:

September 24, 2024

Ebook Price:

$3.99 

Paperback Price:

$24.99

Book Blurb:

Warm your heart with nine enchanting tales of love. From historical winter celebrations to modern sizzling New Year's Eve encounters, this anthology spans sweet to spicy romance across different eras and realms. Whether you prefer gentle courtship or steamy embraces, this collection has something for every romance reader.

Mistletoe Magic, by Leah Miles: A holiday romance rekindles when Navy SEAL Michael Rodriguez runs into his old flame, Nora Geller, and invites her to his family gathering. Will they mend old wounds and find love again, or will misunderstandings leave their hearts out in the cold?

Happily Ever After, Take Two, by Sara Walker: Will Dino and Hilde's second chance love overcome family doubts and past mistakes for a lifetime of happiness?

Love Under the Cold Moon, by Vanessa Kilmer: A headstrong Celtic woman and a reluctant Roman heir clash and connect in an arranged marriage during the Alpine winter festivals of 193 AD.

Finding a Date for Christmas by Vickey Wollan: Joan’s going to a Christmas gala and hires Mack on Rent-A-Date. If he reveals his secret, will he get a second date? Can two lonely hearts find romance in time for Christmas?

Snowbound Hearts, by C.L. Hart: When a divorced couple ends up stuck in a snowbound lodge in the Sierra Nevada mountains, it could either be the worst Christmas ever or a second chance to make things right.

A Fluffy White Christmas - A Tail of Love, by Sally Murphy: Can a half-starved stray dog help a lonely woman open up her frozen heart to a new love this Christmas?

Maiya’s New Year’s Wish, by Marie Morton: Maiya Collins finds herself swept into an unexpected holiday romance in the sun-kissed paradise of St. Croix. Yet, a misunderstanding threatens to shatter her dreams. As the New Year's countdown approaches, she must confront her doubts. Can love prevail, or will her island romance become another broken resolution?

The Naughty List Nightmare, by Erika Kilmer Freidley: Love, traditions, and a mythical menace collide as Thea and Bash get involved in a festive fight to save Pittsburgh's children.

Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Edgar: Cinderella made her own gown and found her Prince Charming, but will they get their fairy tale ending?

Don’t miss your chance to purchase this collection while it is available.

Proceeds benefit First Coast Romance Writers, an independent non-profit organization that helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the publishing industry.

Story Blurb

Author: Vickey Wollan

ABOUT FINDING A DATE FOR CHRISTMAS

Could her date be any more entertaining? He is an actor after all. Historian, Joan Wagner, hires Mack Carter from a Rent-ADate app and lands the deal of the century. He’s so handsome it’s all she can do to keep herself and everyone else from staring.

Attending a black-tie Christmas Gala to honor her boss––a History Channel documentarian––is the highlight of her year. Mack fills the role of leading man with ease. But, their accidental kiss on the dance floor makes her wonder if he is interested in her or just acting. His antics keep her laughing, but can he earn her heart?

Mack has a secret. He changes characters and plays the jester to keep it hidden. Joan gains his trust without trying. If he tells her the truth, will he get a second date? Can two lonely hearts land romance in time for Christmas?

Note:

The featured story is suitable for all audiences. The heat levels of the stories in the anthology range from mild to spicy. 

The First Line/Book Beginnings

https://www.rosecityreader.com/

https://readingismysuperpower.org/

Joan Wagner expected the doorbell to ring but about jumped out of her skin anyway when the clang sounded.

The Friday 56

http://www.fredasvoice.com/

“At some point, I want to ask you on a real date. But today I’d like to ask you to come with me to my family’s annual Christmas party. It’s this Saturday night.”

About the Author

Always a rambunctious child, Vickey Wollan brings that energy and curiosity to her sweet adventure romance writing. In the Lainey Shea’s Treasure Quest series, travel along as her archeologist heroine, Lainey Shea, takes you with her into the wilderness and beyond finding hidden treasures a plenty.

Lainey is book and street smart but often lands herself in dangerous situations. Luckily, she attracts many kinds of heroes to assist her in her arduous quests. As an entrepreneur, she must always fulfill her client’s dreams by finding the treasures they seek.

In addition to adventures, Vickey’s original works have Christmas themes because she likes to keep her inner child alive. Whether it is her three-novel series: A Snowflake Christmas – The Series set in a mountainous small town or her short stories in A Cheery Christmas Collection, these tales can best be described as festive, wholesome, and heartwarming.

Vickey lives in Florida with her business partner-husband. Together they’ve travels to many countries and a great deal of America’s National Parks. Hiking the outdoors is a great way to allow one’s imagination to run free. Those experiences fuel her creativity as she plots her next story.

Thank you for your curiosity and interest in Vickey Wollan’s creations. Please check back often for her most recent story that will transport you on an adventure. She appreciates hearing from readers. Reach out to her at vickeywollanauthor@yahoo.com

For a complete list of her published works, go to: https://vickeywollanauthor.com/vickey-wollan/books/

Book Blogger Hop

https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/p/blog-page.html

18th-24th - What novel would you recommend that blends characteristics of your favorite genre with horror concepts, and why? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

With sixteen stories about bog hags featuring at least some horror concepts, you can't go wrong picking up a copy of this brand-new anthology. It's here just in time for Halloween, and there will surely be something for any reader who enjoys horror and hags. 

Blurb

Whether she’s crawling across a sweltering bayou or swimming languidly through a swamp, the bog hag watches and waits.

Join sixteen AuthorTubers as they explore the allure and mystery of the Bog Hag, turning her from a villain to a gal with a social calendar, a vendetta, or even a need to be the best she can be.

Any and all proceeds from the sales of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501C3 nonprofit.

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/4h9fQUD

But that isn't all! Here's an exclusive sneak peek from C. L. Hart's spine-tingling tale, A Murky Reckoning!

A Horror From the Deep

In his wildest nightmares, the fisherman could never have imagined the horror he dragged aboard his boat from the Gloomwater Sea. He'd heard tales of this monstrosity but had never imagined seeing one. The Abyssal Leviathan spanned nearly ten feet, its oily, swollen body undulating from side to side on the deck of the Nautical Requiem. Its skin was a mottled blend of moldy blues and sickly greens covered in parasitic barnacles.

The creature had a broad, flattened head, a mouth filled with rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth, and bulbous eyes that reflected a bioluminescent glow, mesmerizing and horrifying. A milky white eye remained stationary, while a brilliant crimson eye darted about, observing its surroundings with suspicion and rage.

Tentacles lined with venomous barbs oozing a noxious glowing chartreuse secretion sprouted from the beast's head. These appendages writhed like snakes preparing to strike. Its serpentine body tapered into a long, whip-like tail covered in spiny protrusions. Sharp ridges ran down its spine along its dorsal edge, pulsing with an eerie blue glow. The creature emitted a miasmal stench of decay and brine. The fisherman covered the beast with a tarpaulin and lashed it to the mast.

With Halloween coming up, it's a great time to select some spooky bedtime stories!

If you don’t already have an Audible subscription, click the link below to get started with your 30-day free trial. You’re welcome.

https://amzn.to/4bIRSgg

Follow our Start page to keep up with the latest from the Naughty Netherworld Press crew.

https://naughtynetherworldpress.start.page