This Week in Indies
Week of Jan 8th to Jan 15th:
This week we have Eleven books releasing from our 2024 Indie Release list!!
Make sure to check out the blog at the end of the month to see the full list of Releases from the month of January!
Tues 9th:
Haunted (The Amplifier Chronicles Book 2)
By: Jillian Rink
Genre: Romance
For the last two years, the past has haunted Addison, and now there’s nowhere left to hide. With a close betrayal ending in an attack on the night of her handfasting, Addison and her men must prolong completing the other mating bonds and rush toward Denver, which could be more dangerous than what they left.
But the past is not done with her yet.
While pack politics delay Sammie’s release to travel with them, painful truths are catching up to Addison. Ones that could change her whole world, and ones that could further deepen her trauma. Meanwhile, nightmares of a foreboding future plague her every night, and her son’s health is progressively declining, all pointing toward an end she doesn’t know how to stop.
Her three Shifters—the men she’s grown to love—have protected her thus far, but now, Addison needs to be ready to protect them
CW's:
Gun Violence, explicit sex, discussions of grooming, discussions of SA, blood magic/intentional wounding
That Bitter Sting
by Melissa Polk
Genre: adult, contemporary, gay (mm) romance, urban/paranormal fantasy
Soren, code-name Anubis, is part of an elite group of mercenaries beholden to the alpha of the Vasco pack. Trained from childhood, he is a skilled thief, assassin, and spy--but his true worth lies in the magic that allows him to kill with a single touch. Given an assignment that feels like a test of loyalty, Soren suspects there is more at work in the Vasco pack ranks than he knows. Not that it matters. Soren always gets the job done. That is, until he encounters a gorgeous tattooed man whose touch negates his magic.
Dominik Prince is a simple man. He just wants to run his coffee shop in peace and remain off the radar for anyone who might connect him to the past he's worked so hard to escape. But simple isn't in the cards when you're a witch in hiding. Especially not when the past you've run from always seems to be nipping at your heels. When Dominik finds himself wrapped around a handsome man on his night out, he doesn't expect to be drawn into the business of the local wolf pack; after all, the man in his arms clearly isn't a wolf.
Fate and duty pull Dominik and Soren in directions neither anticipate, but the attraction between them can't be denied any more than Soren's orders or Dominik's independence. But like a bad penny, the past has a way of turning up when least convenient and might well tear any hope of a future apart.
CW's:
Explicit sex Torture / abuse (physical and psychological) Alcohol use Gun use Violence Drugs / needles Abduction / forced indenturing
The Black Samurai
By: Jalen Tellis
Genre: Action Adventure
Genji Sato is an African-American samurai raised in the Japanese culture. He has a tragic past, which leaves him feeling hopeless and lost as a child. But now as an adult, he tries to forget most of it. Growing up in Koawa, his father Ken Sato, the protector and leader of The Majo Clan, helps guide him to become a samurai when the time is right.
Years later, a tragedy happens between them and the enemies " The Rudo Clan" and Takashi Kuri, the ruler. the tragedy led to the death of Ken Sato, making Genji go through a journey of vengeance.
Genji is now a vicious, blood lusted, rageful human being, who seeks revenge for his people and his father's death. He wants to honor his father's legacy, he feels that going through this vengeful mission will help achieve that.
CW's:
Explicit language, and violence
How to Share a Cat and Other Life Lessons
By. Evelyn Flynn
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQIA
Seventeen-year-old Nessa Clarkson is full of questions and confusion. How does she fit into the new household Dad is forging with his partner, Cindy, and Cindy’s son? What will being a lesbian mean in practice? And why is their neighbour so reluctant to talk about her past?
Moira Cavendish had been famous for a while, in the 1980s. Then she fled the bright lights of London, leaving only a mystery behind her.
Moira and Nessa shouldn’t have anything in common. But when their paths cross, and they bond over their shared love of knitting and the ginger tomcat that can’t decide whose home is best, they find themselves on intertwining journeys of discovery.
CW:
Mention of past violence, drug addiction, and overdose
Weds 10th, Jan:
The Stars Would Curse Us
By: Stephanie Combs, Valerie Rivers
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
The Iris were sent to us from the stars, but their rule is controlling and oppressive. Every season, we send our brothers and sisters to the marriage drafts . . . but the selected never return.
Aella
My world falls apart when my best friend and I are drafted to compete for the hand of Esterra’s most eligible bachelor, the devastatingly handsome Iris prince. As an elemental fae, it should be the greatest honor, but the competition is filled with violence. I question my true purpose as we fight to survive in games rigged against us.
Arianwen
Life should be simple—go on my rite and return to marry a man I’ve never met—but when a handsome stranger falls from the sky, everything is turned upside down. Secrets and lies unravel, leading me to question everything as I find myself pulled into a rebellion. My heart longs for a better world, but am I willing to forsake duty in pursuit of it?
We both face choices:
LOVE or DUTY
LOYALTY or ADVENTURE
FIGHT or SURRENDER
Is fate truly written in the stars, or have they abandoned us?
CW's:
The main characters are faced with death, violence, and attempted assault. There are also references to children dying (off page), minor domestic abuse to side characters, and victim blaming. There is also mild (non-graphic) sexual content.
Within the Solstice Cages (The Mage Book 2)
By: Sadie Hewitt
Genre: Urban Paranormal Fantasy
In the action-packed sequel to As the Fallen Rise, friendships are tested, enemies are around every corner, and one woman has the weight of three realms resting on her shoulders.
The only person who can help is the one she hates the most. Driven by a gut-wrenching tragedy, Delia agrees to embark on a mission to Vatican City in hopes of finding answers about a secret society. And, even though the only person who can help her is her enemy, being constantly reminded that she made a deal with the devil herself is painful. There's more to the investigation than meets the eye, though, and Delia risks losing everything she loves if only to find out the truth.
The true heir to the fae throne must face the courts after two hundred years of hiding. Odette Milne would have stayed hidden forever, if not for the sinister disappearance of her only friend's father. But the home she returns to is nothing like the one she left behind. Ruin, slavery, and devastation are the rule of the land. Odette must make a choice; escape into hiding once again or sacrifice her life for a place she'd run away from for centuries.
The mage has it all- until her life crumbles from underneath her. A bright career, powerful magic, a found family...but Greer Myers is watching everything fall apart. And worse, she has no one to blame but herself. An involuntary visit to the underworld leaves her resolute and vengeful, but her only focus now is getting back home. She'll do whatever it takes to make things right, even if it means crossing Samsara to get there.
Three worlds on a collision course. Battles looming on the horizon. War is coming...or it's already here.
CW's:
Battle, hand to hand combat, blood, slavery, kidnapping, graphic violence, death of all kinds (including a drug OD), graphic language, exploration of grief after the loss of a loved one, on-page consensual sex, and mention of off-page non-consensual sex
Memoirs of a Lyrical Man: A Time Travel Historical Thriller (Tapestry of Time Book 1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy/ Hx fiction
In 2014, Jay Hagaki's life as a famous actor and musician is filled with fame and fortune. But when a brush with death sends him back to 2007, the world of celebrity fades, replaced by a seemingly average life—until the danger and intrigue begin.
Hunted by shadowy forces, Hagaki is sent on a wild ride, taking him deep into the unknown. Amidst the chaos, he's drawn to a woman who haunts his dreams, her connection to his life a tantalizing mystery.
While the present and the future tango in his brain, memories of an ancient life resurface to join the dance. Do these memories hold the key to a cryptic puzzle that threatens to consume him?
In this electrifying time-traveling, historical thriller / urban fantasy, Jay Hagaki will stop at nothing to escape his relentless pursuers, uncover his past's secrets, and discover a love that transcends time. Dive into Steven Templar's mesmerizing debut novel, "Memoirs of a Lyrical Man," and embark on an epic journey in the Tapestry of Time.
CW's: Author Chose not to include CW's
Thurs 11th, Jan:
Fables of Hope and Light : A Collection of Whimsical and Contemporary Stories
Genre : Contemporary Fantasy
Hardships can be found anywhere. On royal grounds and in the countryside. Inside dreams and books. Or perhaps in another realm. Despite the location—trust, courage, and love can always be found to overcome adversity. A group of authors have come together, alongside Havelah McLat and editor Jannette Fuller, to share their heartwarming and whimsical stories. This collection of contemporary and fantasy stories is a must-read for those in need of hope along with a touch of the fantastical.
CW's:
Anxiety, war, death loss, and abandonment.
Sat 13th, Jan:
Need Your Midnights
Genre: Spicy hockey romance
Blake Stuntz, pro hockey player, has been having the time of his life being single. So when he announces at dinner with friends he is ready to settle down, it rocks Lucy’s world, his best friend he misses like crazy who has given him the cold shoulder for years. (Photo is a placeholder)
Lucy Campbell, ER nurse, had her heart broken by her best friend Blake, when they drunkenly hooked up and he went on like it never happened. After he drops that news at dinner, she impulsively jumps into a relationship to prove a point. How long can Lucy pretend with Wyatt before her feelings for Blake shine through?
When their friend group takes a trip together Blake tells Lucy “I am sorry for being an idiot and treating you like you weren’t… aren’t one of the most important people in my life.”
After the trip, at the weekly family dinner, tension rises as Wyatt pieces together who Lucy has lingering feelings for, and that he is sitting right at the table with them.
Will these two ever find a way back to each other? Or does the bad blood run too deep?
Read Need Your Midnights to find out.
CW's:
Mention of off page physical abuse
Jan 15th:
Gold & Shadow: A Sweet & Spicy Goldilocks Retelling (Enchanted Hearts Book 1)
by Madeleine Eliot
Genre: Fantasy Romance
When Lis is hired to steal a valuable amulet by her unscrupulous employer, she doesn’t anticipate that she will be coming face-to-face with an angry bear-shifter.
But it’s not just the possibility of a big pay day that attracts Lis to the job, and getting snowed in with the bossy shifter in his secluded cabin leads her to question all of her life choices.
Gold & Shadow is the first in a series of seven spicy fairy tale retellings, each featuring a different magically gifted Nightshade sister as she finds both intrigue and romance.
CW's:
Sexual Content
Voyager
by Jay Tompkins
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Dystopia
In the 2190's, Earth has become a foggy, distant memory for most of humanity. But for the unlucky survivors on the surface, every day reminds them of the atrocities that led to Earth's downfall. The great cities of Earth have descended into a complex, interweaving web of gang wars and despotic opportunists. In the remnants of Malibu, a small group of young people, orphaned by the great tragedy, have created a humble commune, where they live collectively and act as a peacekeeping force for the ruined city of Los Angeles.
A young woman named Sarasvati, who grew up in the commune, has made a name for herself as a ruthless warrior who fights for justice. Her relationship with her girlfriend, Zoe, is strained when the Vanguard, the hate group that persecuted her when she was a teenager resurfaces and wants her, and the rest of the commune, dead.
Among the chaos, an affluent family from the planet Venus, seemingly falls out of the sky and begs Sarasvati and her friends for help in escaping the dangers of Earth and going to Titan, where patriarch Everett Lambert hopes to find a promising career in politics.
When the Vanguard learns that the Lambert Family is on the surface, they focus all of their efforts into eradicating them, lest they escape with the fugitives and spread word of the conspiracy keeping Earth's demise a secret from the rest of humanity.
CW's:
Bigoted characters, gun violence, character death, medical malpractice, amputation, war crimes
