Eye of the Beholder by Linda Shenton Matchett

Eye of the Beholder

by Linda Shenton Matchett

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Book Blurb:

Shunned for his appearance, a disfigured veteran encounters acceptance and love where he least expects it. 

Left with physical and emotional scars after the Great War, Hank Drake has been shunned by polite society as the Ugly Duckling. Fine by him. He’d much rather be alone. Until he meets the kind proprietress of a tea stand at New York’s World’s Fair who isn’t repulsed by his appearance. Can he hope for acceptance…or even love? 

Grace Sutton has no interest in marrying and is tired of her parent’s snide comments that she’s still single on the eve of her 40th birthday. After she loses her job thanks to budget cuts, she decides it’s time to follow her dream of feeding others. Armed with Mrs. Canfield’s cookbook, she opens a refreshment stand at the World’s Fair unaware how one man will turn her life upside down and upset the apple…er, tea cart. 

Excerpt:

 Crash!  

Grace’s cart shifted, and a stack of plates fell off the counter, shattering as they hit the ground. She flinched, then whipped up her head to see a cup teetering toward the edge. Heart racing, she grabbed the teacup as her gaze bounced over her displays. Nothing else seemed in danger of falling.  

A groan sounded, and breath ragged, she craned her neck to find the source of the noise. Nothing. Careful not to walk through the shards of china, she circled the cart and gaped at the burly man dressed in an expensive-looking brown suit, lying on his side. His face was a deep red, and he scowled as he struggled to sit up. Pointing at her, he shouted, “This is all your fault.” 

“My fault?” Grace cocked her head as her pulse ratcheted up again and a crowd formed. Would this man’s accusations close her down? “How is this my fault?” 

She backed up as he pushed himself to his feet and snarled, “Your stupid cart, or whatever you call this thing, is in the middle of the walkway. You have no right to be here.” His words were slurred, and even from a distance she could smell alcohol on the man’s breath. 

Knees threatening to buckle, she straightened her spine to appear brave. “I was assigned this location by the fair’s committee, sir, so in fact, I do have a right to be here.” 

“Look, missy, I don’t know who—” 

“Good afternoon, sir. Is there something I can do to help?” 

Grace gaped as a man dressed in navy-blue pants and a light-blue long-sleeved shirt embroidered with WFC above the right breast pocket approached. A charcoal-colored fedora was pulled low on his forehead, and a blue-and-white handkerchief covered the lower portion of his face. A canvas bag was strapped over one shoulder, and he carried a trash hook. One of the fair’s custodial staff. He sent Grace a silent question with his eyes, and she nodded in response.  

The guest swayed as he narrowed his eyes at the employee. “And who might you be?” 

“Hank Drake. I’m employed by the World’s Fair Corporation. And you are…?” 

“None of your business.”  

“All right, but I must tell you that the World’s Fair Corporation takes the safety of its guests and vendors seriously, so I can help you find somewhere to rest, or if you’re able to walk, I can lead you to one of the medical facilities to have you looked at after your fall.” 

Face mottled, the man growled, “I don’t need help, especially from someone like you. A janitor. Someone who cleans up trash. Someone who is apparently so ugly, his boss told him to cover his face. How dare you talk to me like an equal. Do you know who I am?” 

“No, sir. You wouldn’t give me your name.” 

With a loud huff, the man brushed off his suit, ignored Grace, and shot Hank a condescending glare before shoving his way through the throng of people who’d gathered. 

Grace’s eyes prickled with unshed tears, and she blinked. How awful for Hank to be treated so poorly, and apparently it was a regular occurrence. What was wrong with people?  

Author Bio:

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.  

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she has lived in historical places all her life. Now in NH, she is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum, immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors, and drinks copious amounts of tea. 

Social Media Links: 

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com 

Facebook Reader’s Page: www.facebook.com/groups/lindashentonmatchettsreadersgroup/ 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lindamatchett 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett 

The Half Kasst by Delilah Belvedere

 

 

An ancient bloodline.

A forgotten war.

A woman destined to awaken both. 

The Half Kasst

by Delilah Belvedere

Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance, Urban Fantasy 

After a charged encounter ignites something ancient in her blood, Sarai Davis becomes entangled in a world of hidden magic where pleasure and danger are inseparable.

A shocking prophecy shatters her reality: Sarai is a Half Kasst, descended from an erased bloodline and born to stand against a secret network of aristocratic vampires.

Now hunted, Sarai must reclaim a legacy meant to be wiped from history, and embrace her power before the forces hunting her finish what they began millennia ago. But power always demands payment.

 

**NEW RELEASE!**

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Kate adds, “She is right, Sarai. You must feed. If Half Kassts are anything like vampires, you don’t want to experience what starvation is like. My father…”

She pauses, looks around the room, then continues.

“My father punishes vampires who don’t follow his rules by locking them up, and he does not provide them any blood. It’s terrible. They wither away for years; their screams get weaker in just weeks, and after a few months, you don’t even hear them anymore.”

Delilah Belvedere is a Kenyan-born, Washington, D.C.–based author and keynote speaker whose stories weave together mythology, sensuality, and power. Her writing blends African-inspired mythology with nontraditional vampires, witches, immersive worldbuilding, and unapologetically sensual storytelling, exploring themes of identity, legacy, and self-discovery through bold, unforgettable characters. Drawn to the spaces where ancestral magic, forbidden desire, and hidden histories collide, Delilah creates worlds where passion is transformative, power is inherited, and destiny is written in blood. Through every story, she champions authenticity, body positivity, curiosity, and the courage to embrace one’s truest self. When she’s not writing, Delilah is exploring new cuisines, hosting backyard BBQs, or binge-watching her next favorite series.

 

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Four Brides, Four Journeys: Bride Brigade Books 1–4

 My mother, Caroline Clemmons, built the Bride Brigade series around a simple but powerful idea: seven women, each carrying a different wound, each finding her way to a small Texas town called Tarnation in search of a second chance. Today I want to take a closer look at the first four books in that series—Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, and Ophelia—and the very different journeys each woman travels on her way to love. 

Josephine: flight to freedom 

The series opens with Josephine Nailor, a young woman raised in a home where her father made every decision and left no room for her own voice or choices. Alongside her best friend Ophelia, Josephine lives under that kind of rigid control until she spots a newspaper advertisement offering an escape—a chance at a new life, first in Richmond and eventually in Tarnation, Texas. 

What strikes me most about Josephine's story is how deliberate her courage is. She doesn't run blindly; she brings Ophelia with her, refusing to leave her best friend behind. That loyalty defines her character from the very first pages. 

In Richmond, Josephine meets Lydia Harrison, the widow who becomes the quiet architect behind the entire Bride Brigade, and eventually, in Tarnation, Michael Buchanan, the town's mayor and mercantile owner. Michael holds real power in the community, which should terrify a woman who has only known men who use power to control. Instead, Josephine slowly discovers that authority and respect aren't opposites. Her arc is fundamentally about trust—learning that a man in charge can also be a man who listens, and that freedom doesn't have to mean being entirely alone. 

Angeline: healing from trauma 

If Josephine's wound is oppression, Angeline Chandler's is something far darker. She arrives in the Bride Brigade already carrying the aftermath of a brutal attack, disowned by her own family and pregnant, with almost no options left in the world she came from. 

Where Josephine had to learn to trust a good man, Angeline first has to learn to believe she deserves one at all. Her healing doesn't begin with romance—it begins with work, as she takes a position as nanny for Grady McIntyre, the town's widowed minister. Only slowly does she let herself imagine that his growing feelings for her might be real, rather than something that would vanish the moment he learned her full story. 

Reading Angeline's book right after Josephine's, you can feel how deliberately my mother raised the emotional stakes. This isn't simply another woman needing rescue—it's a woman who has survived the unthinkable and must decide whether she's allowed to want more than survival. Grady's own faith and his willingness to risk his reputation for her becomes just as important to the story as Angeline's healing itself. 

Cassandra: mutual deceptions 

The third book shifts the emotional terrain again. Where Josephine and Angeline are victims of others' cruelty, Cassandra's story centers on deception—not one-sided, but mutual. Both she and the hero enter their relationship with secrets, each hiding something the other doesn't know, which raises a much harder question than the first two books: can love survive when both people have been less than honest? 

This is where the Bride Brigade series starts asking readers to sit with more complexity. After two books built around heroines who did nothing to deserve their circumstances, Cassandra's story asks for more nuance. People make imperfect choices when they're desperate or afraid, and my mother believed that those choices didn't disqualify anyone from love or belonging in Tarnation. Watching Cassandra and her hero untangle their mutual deceptions—and choose honesty even when it's frightening—makes this one of the more emotionally layered books in the series. 

Ophelia: the search for respectability 

The fourth book circles back to where the series began. Ophelia is Josephine's best friend, the woman who fled the same oppressive hometown at Josephine's side. But where Josephine's arc centers on trust, Ophelia's centers on something quieter and, in some ways, just as difficult: respectability. 

How does a woman without status, family standing, or a spotless reputation find her place in a community that measures worth by propriety? This was a real question for women of that era, and my mother didn't shy away from it. Ophelia's journey asks whether love and belonging require a flawless reputation, or whether a community—and a particular man—can see her worth beyond whatever the town happens to be gossiping about that week. 

Her story reinforces a theme that runs through the entire series: Tarnation is a place where people are given the chance to be judged for who they are now, not just for their past or their circumstances. That idea meant a great deal to my mother, and I think it's part of why readers connect so deeply with Ophelia's book. 

Four brides, four distinct journeys 

Read together, these first four books trace very different emotional territory: 

• Josephine: learning to trust after escaping oppression. 
• Angeline: rebuilding self-worth after trauma. 
• Cassandra: finding honesty after mutual deception. 
• Ophelia: claiming belonging despite a lack of respectability. 

What I appreciate most, looking back at these books now, is how carefully my mother avoided repeating herself. It would have been easy to write four variations on the same "wounded woman finds love" story, but instead, each book asks something genuinely different of its heroine—and of the reader. 

Reading them in order (or not) 

Each of these four books stands completely on its own. You can pick up Cassandra's story without having read Josephine's, and you'll still find a complete, satisfying romance. But there's something special about reading them in order. Lydia Harrison's presence connects all four women, and small details—friendships formed, town gossip, familiar faces at the mercantile or the church—deepen with each book you read. 

Starting with Josephine and moving through Angeline, Cassandra, and Ophelia lets you watch Tarnation itself grow more familiar, the way a real town would if you kept visiting it season after season. My mother built these connections carefully, and I think readers who take the books in sequence get to see her craftsmanship in a way that's easy to miss if you jump around. 

Whether you're new to the Bride Brigade series or revisiting these four brides for the first time in a while, I hope you'll find in them what I still find every time I reread them: proof that a wounded woman, given the right kind of second chance, can build a life far richer than the one she left behind. 

Secrets of the Cryptids by Sharon Buchbinder

 

 

She never belonged to the pack—until fate led her to him.

Secrets of the Cryptids

Cowboys and Cryptids Book 1

by Sharon Buchbinder

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantasy

She never belonged to the pack—until fate led her to him.

Cybersecurity expert Hayil Rufus Rose has spent her life hiding one impossible truth: she’s a werewolf who has never shifted, a failure by her pack’s rules and a woman on the brink of exile. A solo hike in Glacier National Park is meant to clear her head—but instead, a chance meeting with Will Penn, a guarded federal agent with powerful instincts and secrets of his own, changes everything.

As Hayil becomes entangled in a missing persons case involving Will’s brother, she uncovers corruption, cartel money laundering, and violence threatening the Blackfeet Nation. She forms an unexpected bond with a Bigfoot family, who are not monsters, but an ancient people who recognize her latent power. Through trauma, loyalty, and near‑fatal danger, Hayil finally undergoes her full transformation, claiming her identity at last.

Secrets of the Cryptids launches a thrilling paranormal romance series about found family, fierce hearts, and the courage it takes to become who you were always meant to be.

 

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Hayil had the advantage of excellent night vision—super vision compared to other humans. Plus, she possessed an almost uncanny ability to connect with most wild and domestic animals. Hayil mentally grimaced. She could also thank her grandmother for her long overdue ability to shift. What would it take to trigger her body into the lupine version of herself? Was it like a growth spurt that hadn’t hit her body yet? Or was Hayil destined to remain the one person in her pack who wasn’t able to wolf out?

 

Once again, her mother’s constant refrain came back to her: “You’re a late bloomer, like your grandmother. She was older than you when she shifted. All in good time. You’ll see.”

 

Sure, Mom.

 

Hayil knew her mother wanted the best for her, but found her cheerfulness a bit forced. Beneath her mother’s optimism, Hayil sensed an undercurrent of concern about her thirty-year-old daughter’s ability to integrate into the red wolf clan. This missing piece of Hayil’s identity called to her like a siren’s song, demanding she complete herself. Would she ever be a true part of the pack? Or would she forever be the unmated one? What then? She was an anomaly, something the pack didn’t tolerate well. Tradition dictated that if a pack member didn’t shift by the end of their third decade, they were banished.

A chilling thought struck Hayil mid-stride.

 

If I don’t shift this year, will they force me out of the pack?

 

They were the only family she’d ever known. Her mother would fight for her to stay and would probably win. But at what cost?

 

Hayil would be an outcast. She’d never be invited to pack meetings, deliberations or celebrations. Those were reserved for shifters. If she married a non-shifter, the pack would drive her out, of that she was sure. What if her offspring were able to shift? Would that make things better? Would the pack let her stay then? It wasn’t as if she could go to a genetic counselor and ask for a DNA test for werewolves.

 

The thought of losing her extended family through no fault of her own made her gulp back tears. Angry at herself for allowing her thoughts to go down that dark rabbit hole, Hayil reminded herself she was a scientist. Review the facts, not the fears.

 

Fact one: Grandma had been in labor with Hayil’s mother when she’d shifted for the first time.

 

Fact two: The majority of the pack members had shifted when they’d hit puberty.

 

Fact three: Hormones! It had to be related to hormones! The rush of hormones at puberty and the flood of pregnancy hormones had to be related somehow.

 

Hayil was long past puberty and the associated mood swings and acne, thank you very much. She was not ready to be pregnant. For starters, she would need a romantic partner in her life. She’d had zero luck on that score so far.

 

“I still have time. It’s not too late. I won’t give up hope.”

 

Shaking her head to clear her mind, Hayil double-checked her wild animal deterrents. All in place. Then she tugged her knit cap down over her ears and pulled her hands-free headlamp into place. She zipped her fleece jacket against the breeze and adjusted her twenty-five-pound backpack. With an altitude gain of almost nineteen hundred feet, she planned to take her time, pacing herself for the strenuous four-hour hike. She grasped her lightweight hiking poles and took a last look up at the stars. Time to see that spectacular view at the top.

 

As promised by the trail blog, the dirt path was well maintained. The morning air was cold and crisp, layered with the woodsy scent of damp earth and pine needles. An owl hooted, and Hayil spotted movement in the brush between the thick pines beside the trail. Her headlamp reflected in the eyes of small critters, all of whom skittered deeper into the woods.

 

For three hours, all she heard was the crunch of her hiking boots on dirt and gravel, the rasp of her own breaths, the glug of water when she drank and the jingle of her bear bells. She looked at yet another incline on the trail and decided she needed a hiking song for inspiration.

 

“Country roads, take me home,” she sang, belting out “Mountain Mama”—and something crashed through the bushes ahead on the trail. Something large.

 

She froze.

 

An enormous black bear stood on its hind legs at the top of the hill.

 

Shit, shit, shit. If only I could shift, shift, shift!

 

The animal had its back to her, but if it got her scent, it could turn and charge at her in a flash.

 

Heart pounding like a jackhammer, she placed her hand on the bear spray.

 

A breeze sprang up, making her eyes water with its intensity. The good news was that it meant she was downwind of the bear. The bad news was that the air smelled like a wet dog had rolled in a dead animal. The worst news was that the bear turned and looked right at her.

 

Omigod. It’s not a bear. What the heck is it?

Sharon Buchbinder is an award-winning author who has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. The paranormal romance genre is her writing home, a place where the impossible is simply the beginning, where women find their power in the most extraordinary circumstances, and where love is always worth the danger of seeking it.

A Maryland-based author with a background in healthcare and higher education that has informed her vivid, grounded storytelling, Sharon is drawn to heroines who have been underestimated — women who carry something extraordinary inside them and spend the whole book learning to trust it. Sharon believes passionately that readers deserve stories where the heroine doesn’t just survive — she transforms. When she’s not writing, Sharon can usually be found unplugging in her garden, obsessing over cryptid mythology, and convincing her pets they are not, in fact, supernatural.

 

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Nevermore Castle: Cornwall Chronicles 1 by Kelly Boggs

Nevermore Castle:  Cornwall Chronicles 1

by Kelly Boggs

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Book Blurb:

Regency inheritance tangle. Two heirs. One castle. A chorus of goats. 

Miranda Moreland has spent her life drifting from one relative to another, never quite fitting anywhere. Inheriting a castle on the Cornish coast feels like a miracle — a chance at stability, independence, and perhaps even the belonging she’s never dared to hope for. 

But Nevermore Castle is already occupied. Lance, a mysterious American with disarming charm, has taken possession, surrounded by his lively family, a raven with opinions, and a collection of whimsical animals and eccentric tenants who make the estate feel unexpectedly alive. 

As Miranda becomes entangled in the inheritance dispute, she finds herself drawn not only to the castle’s residents but to the man who may stand between her and her future. For the first time, she begins to imagine a life built on more than solitude. 

But a faulty will and an incompetent solicitor threaten everything. Can Miranda claim the home — and the love — she’s always longed for, or will Nevermore slip away before she can truly belong? 

Nevermore Castle. Healing hearts with humor.

Excerpt:

WHEN MIRANDA MORELAND finally arrived at Nevermore Castle to claim her inheritance, she was exhausted, out of sorts, and, worst of all, famished. Had anyone at the castle been acquainted with her, they would have shaken in their boots, for a hungry Miranda was a fearsome thing.   

The journey into Cornwall had been a series of disasters, each worse than the last, culminating in several missed meals.  And now that she had reached her destination at last, she could not even see the castle for the thick fog creeping in from the sea.  She had a fair idea of what it would be like, though, having heard it described often enough as “the old pile.”  No doubt it was rundown and about to slip into the sea, but it was hers, and surely there would be a hot meal waiting for her. Or a cold collation, or a side of beef —anything, really, would do. 

When she alit from the carriage and the servant went to ply the knocker, she was startled by a brush of wings so close to her face that she nearly screamed aloud. The bird landed awkwardly on a gatepost, and she saw that it was a raven. Ravens, of course, were common as mud, but this one was wearing a square academic cap — in bright yellow, complete with tassel. 

She blinked, never before having suffered hallucinations from hunger, but the ridiculous creature was still there. What’s more, it spoke to her. 

“Help! I’m Professor Quirk, and I’m trapped in a raven’s body.” 

“Of course you are, and I’m Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra.  Make yourself useful and fetch me some supper.”  

“Zenobia. Supper.” He repeated her words, fixing her with his beady little eye.  Miranda wondered if he would taste like chicken. Perhaps he could read her mind, for he flew off quite abruptly. 

The heavy door finally opened with a resounding creak.  Miranda mounted the steps quickly, anxious to get inside.  

The servant who opened the door was not only slovenly, but quite rude. He stood there, without a word, and made no move to let them in. He wore no livery—in fact, he was in his shirtsleeves, rumpled, unshaven, with a faintly oily smudge across one cheek. His eyes were like chips of ice as he stared at her, unblinking and without expression. Perhaps he was a little daft, but really—such treatment was the outside of enough. 

She snapped her fingers near his face.  “You, there.  Stand aside and let us in.  I am Miss Moreland, and I require a hot meal.  At once.” 

Somewhere in the darkness behind her, the stupid bird croaked, “Zenobia. Supper. At once.” 

“I’m Lance,” he said at last, his odd drawl grating on her ears. American servants — what next? 

“Do come in. I cannot have a lady starving on my doorstep; Nevermore hospitality would not permit such a thing. But — did you say Miss Moreland? How can that be? Are you aware this is the home of the late Sir Davian Moreland?” 

“Of course I’m aware of it, you dolt. Why else would I be here? Now see about my supper. And fetch the housekeeper. Or someone responsible. And sane.” 

“Responsible. Sane.”  The raven had flown inside ahead of her and was now perched on a suit of armor, as if for the express purpose of mocking her. 

“You!” She said, “Keep it up and you’ll be in a pie.  Four and twenty blackbirds, you know.” 

Quirk squawked and departed in haste. 

Lance stared at the woman, horrified. Had she seriously just threatened to bake Quirk into a pie?

Author Bio:

KELLY BOGGS writes seasoned not spiced atmospheric fiction that blends historical charm, a touch of mystery, and warm, character driven storytelling. Whether her books wander through Cornwall’s windswept cliffs or the quiet corners of the Regency, she builds worlds where emotion, place, and personality intertwine. Her stories offer immersive escapes threaded with wit, whimsy, and a distinctly human heart. 

Links: 

Website: kellyboggsauthor.com 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/kellyboggs 

Facebook:  Facebook Kelly Boggs Author 

Goodreads:  Kelly Boggs Author Goodreads 

 

The Belgravia Phantom by Ellis Blackwood

 

 

Victorian mystery fiction as you’ve never read it before 

– from well below stairs.

The Belgravia Phantom

The Quill & Page Victorian Mysteries Book 1

by Ellis Blackwood

Genre: Historical Victorian Mystery

How do you prove you didn’t scare Lady Pemberton to death with a phantom?

Such is Kate Quill’s quandary. The faked séance went horribly wrong, and now Inspector Hartwell of Scotland Yard has her in his sights.

Kate’s poor. Seamstress poor. But what she lacks in the pocket, she makes up for in allies.
There are her siblings. Daisy, the actress. Ned and Vi… There’s no way around this – they’re petty thieves.

There’s Mrs McGinty, their formidable Irish landlady. There are Vi’s Whitechapel Worthies, Little Till (adorable) and the Twins (quite odd).

And there is Frederick Page, former gentleman’s gentleman, chess aficionado, lover of puzzles, and now reluctant partner in an unlikely Victorian detective duo. Please, do not refer to him as Freddie, or he’ll be grasping for the smelling salts.

Can this glorious rabble somehow band together to investigate all those lofty lords and ladies who attended the séance?

And discover who really murdered Lady Dorothea Pemberton?

The Belgravia Phantom is the first in a series of irresistible Victorian murder mysteries from the acclaimed author of the Samuel Pepys Mysteries. Expect fiendish whodunits, singular characters and vivid history. Step into London’s gaslit and swirling pea-soupers, and hear those click-clack footsteps approach...

 

**New Release on July 31!**

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Ned and Vi belong to the evening, when the naphtha lamps of the costermongers’ stalls hiss and flare, and all between is subsumed in shadow. When the streets still throng with shoppers, and the trams and cabs and omnibuses are lit by oil - white light, oncoming; red light, receding - and Whitechapel Road feels interesting to know. When the cries of the chestnut roasters, the fried-fish sellers and the pie-men create a cacophony of distraction. 

This is when they thrive.

They have their stomachs set on the hawker of baked potatoes, with his lovingly polished can on four legs, its brass plaque proclaiming: “Old Original Baked Potatoes”. The old man who ran the stand for many a year lately died; his errant son has the business now, and shows rather less aptitude for vigilance.

While Ned lurks in the background, Vi sidles up. Her head tilts this way and that, apparently undecided. She plays with an unseen coin in her hand. The bait.

Glowing charcoal lights the lad’s face orange. He narrows eyes at her. Steam rises from his burner, and the earthy aroma of the treasure within.

“What can I have for a ha’penny?” she asks. It is all she could spare, but it should suffice if she plays it right.

He snorts. “On your way, missy. My prices start at a penny and no less.”

She glances up and down the road, where the sellers either side, of ham sandwiches, hot green peas and eels, have patrons queueing.

He kicks a heel. It has not been easy, taking over his father’s trade. The baker who roasts his hundredweights recently upped his fee, and the locals whose custom the old man relied upon have found new flavours elsewhere. Many deserted him for that other potato hawker in Spitalfields.

As his gaze follows Vi’s, he licks his lips. “S’pose I might be able to find a small one.”

He opens the wide half-lid, peers inside debating, and picks out the smallest spud he can find.

“Butter and salt?” she asks innocently.

“For a ha’penny? Don’t push yer luck.”

As he hands over the plain fare, she fumbles the coin. The tiniest flick of her thumb sends it skittering into a gutter, his attention trapped on its progress. By the time he has retrieved it, mumbling sourly, Ned has pounced and vanished, melting into the crowd. He moves slickly for a big lad, even one cradling stolen potatoes in an untucked shirt.

“Sorry. Butterfingers.” Vi smiles, savouring the spud’s warmth as she heads home.

Ellis Blackwood writes very British historical mysteries: fiendish whodunits packed with singular characters, vivid period detail and plenty of wit. His completed nine-book Samuel Pepys Mysteries series is set in 17th century London. He is currently working on the Quill & Page Victorian Mysteries, featuring a found family of East End misfits investigating the crimes of the upper classes who cast them out.

A former journalist, Ellis wrote features for the UK's most popular national newspapers and magazines before escaping to Cornwall with his wife, two daughters and Spike the dog. He holds an MA in Comedy Writing, which explains a lot.

He grew up on The Hardy Boys and Three Investigators, graduated to Sherlock Holmes, and has never quite recovered from Columbo. He prefers writing female sleuths, with the odd chap thrown in, and is firmly convinced that historical settings are simply more fascinating.

"Absolutely fabulous, reek of authenticity, full of intrigue and fun" – Amazon review of the Samuel Pepys Mysteries

 

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Five Series to Binge‑Read This Summer

 

Summer is the perfect time to sink into a series and stay there—one book after another, no waiting for the next release, just more stories in a world you already love. Caroline Clemmons has several Western historical series that are ideal for binge‑reading, with complete arcs, strong tropes, and plenty of cowboys and courageous heroines. 

If you’re ready to load up your e‑reader or library stack, here are five anchor series to make your summer reading feel like a trip to the Texas frontier (and beyond): Bride Brigade, Men of Stone Mountain, Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride, The Kincaids, and Loving a Rancher. 

Bride Brigade (7 books, complete) 

Bride Brigade is a seven‑book historical series set in Tarnation, Texas, following seven courageous women who journey to town in search of safety, second chances, and true love. Each heroine—Josephine, Angeline, Cassandra, Ophelia, Rachel, Lorraine, and Prudence—arrives with a different backstory: fleeing oppressive homes, escaping scandal, rebuilding after heartbreak, or simply daring to hope that life can be kinder somewhere else. 

This is a great summer read because every book feels like another long visit to the same small town with a different friend as your focus. You get second‑chance romance, friendship among the women, and a complete arc from Book 1 to Book 7, so you can start with Josephine and read straight through Prudence without worrying about unfinished storylines. If you want a binge where each book is connected but offers its own emotional journey, Bride Brigade is a rewarding series to devour on long, warm evenings. 

Men of Stone Mountain, Texas (7 books) 

Men of Stone Mountain, Texas is another seven‑book historical series, this time centered on the fictional town of Stone Mountain and the men and women whose lives are shaped by its rugged hills and close‑knit community. The series includes Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, Bluebonnet Bride, Winter Bride, Tabitha’s Journey, Stone Mountain Reunion (short story), and Stone Mountain Christmas. 

These stories blend marriage‑of‑convenience plots, wrongfully accused heroes, women on the run from danger, and holiday novellas that revisit familiar faces. You’ll see ranchers, sheriffs, and widows facing poisonings, family schemes, drought, and community gossip—classic Western stakes wrapped around romances that prioritize trust and respect. 

Men of Stone Mountain is a great summer binge because Stone Mountain feels like a town you can move into for the season. Start with Brazos Bride, meet Hope Montoya and Micah Stone in their high‑stakes marriage of necessity, and then stay to watch the town grow through later books and holiday stories. It’s perfect if you love series where rugged cowboys and determined heroines keep facing danger—and still find room for love and Christmas miracles. 

Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride (6 books) 

Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride is a six‑book series focused on couples whose relationships begin with letters and contracts rather than traditional courtship. The series includes titles like Gentry and the Mail Order Bride, Jesse and the Mail Order Bride, Quinn and the Mail Order Bride, Levi and the Mail Order Bride, Keith and the Mail Order Bride, and Sidney and the Mail Order Bride. 

Each story pairs a Texas Hill Country rancher or town leader with a bride who travels west to meet a man she has only known on paper. These heroines bring their own secrets, hopes, and fears; some are escaping trouble back east, others are simply choosing a bolder life than society offers them. The heroes must balance ranch responsibilities and local expectations with the challenge of turning an arranged match into a true partnership. 

This series is a great summer read because the mail‑order trope lends itself to quick, engaging plots—perfect for when you want to finish a book in a weekend and jump straight into the next. The Texas Hill Country setting gives you rolling hills, small communities, and frontier challenges that feel distinct from Tarnation and Stone Mountain, while still delivering Caroline’s hallmark mix of danger, heart, and happily‑ever‑after. 

The Kincaids (5 books) 

The Kincaids is a five‑book sweeping Texas family saga set in the late 1800s around fictional Kincaid Springs, Texas. The series includes The Most Unsuitable Wife, The Most Unsuitable Husband, The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Gabe Kincaid, and Monk’s Bride. 

These books follow members of the dynamic Kincaid family through dangerous journeys, marriages of convenience, and second‑chance love. Readers see the family face trials, secrets, and tangled relationships across multiple stories, creating a sense of legacy and belonging that deepens with each book. Marriage‑of‑convenience plots, redemption arcs, and humor weave through the saga, giving you both romance and the feeling of watching an entire family grow up and out. 

The Kincaids make an excellent summer binge because family sagas are especially satisfying when read back‑to‑back. You can start with The Most Unsuitable Wife and continue through Monk’s Bride, watching threads from earlier books pay off later, and letting yourself live with the Kincaids over several weeks. If you enjoy long arcs, emotional depth, and the sense of returning to the same family every time you pick up a book, this series belongs on your summer list. 

Loving a Rancher (7 books) 

Loving a Rancher is a seven‑book historical series set in Montana and the American West, following resilient women and steadfast ranchers as they build new lives on the frontier. The series includes Amanda’s Rancher, The Rancher and the Shepherdess, Murdoch’s Bride, Bride’s Adventure, The Rancher’s Perfect Bride, To Capture Her Heart, and Snare His Heart. 

Each book is a standalone sweet historical Western romance that offers a different glimpse into ranchers who founded the West and the women who loved them. You’ll find heroines on the run, men bound by promises, adventure‑driven plots, and a strong sense of frontier grit. Caroline leans into authentic Western settings, historical detail, and the emotional satisfaction of seeing couples build families and ranch communities against tough odds. 

Loving a Rancher is a great summer read because the books are easy to pick up individually yet rewarding to read as a full set. You can binge all seven for a sweeping tour of ranch life across different locations, or dip in and out as mood and time allow, knowing each installment delivers adventure, romance, and a happy ending. 

Read one series or all five series this summer season. 

Sacred Salvation by Casia Pickering

 

 

Father Sebastian has found a home in St. Augusta College.

But when that home is threatened by a student, questions arise in his own beliefs.

Sacred Salvation

Part of Sins of the Sacred

by Casia Pickering

Genre: Dark Priest Romance

St. Augusta College is known for weaving the Arts with Theology. Within its iron gates lies a prestigious education that can drive a person mad.

Father Sebastian Hardwicke is new to the position. Not once has his religious fervor been tested until he is sent to the cathedral on St. Augusta's campus. The school is not what he expected. Hymns and prayers echo within the cathedral, and the faculty are pious and helpful. Even the students held a reverence he had only experienced in seminary. On the outside, it is perfect.

But a mask is still a mask, no matter how enticing.

Emilia Trent has two goals in life: to convey true emotion into her art and to quiet the voices. But the voices have gotten louder, screaming and demanding that she keep painting. There is no freedom in her expression. With the new priest coming to campus, her urges grow to a point where she no longer knows who she is. There is an almost paranormal force growing inside her.

There is only one person capable of holding the demon at bay- Father Sebastian Hardwicke. But will he choose to face the evil head-on or fall into the deep embrace of temptation?

Part of Sins of the Sacred, a dark priest romance shared world series featuring eleven amazing authors.

 

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“I don't think there is a demon inside you,” Sebastian sighed, “that wasn't my intention-”

 

“My father died when I was starting high school,” Emilia said. "He used to drive freight trucks at night. During one night, a nasty storm happened, and, well, it crashed. He was in the hospital for weeks until we couldn't keep him on life support.”

 

“I'm so sorry,” Sebastian said. He looked off into the distance, as if heweres lost in his own thoughts.

 

Emilia shrugged. “I've had depression ever since. My painting helps with it and so did a therapist when I had one, but it isn't because of my depression that I struggle.”

 

“What is?” Sebastian asked.

 

Emilia thought quietly. She glanced at Sebastian. Without the white collar pinned into his polo shirt, he'd look like any other well-dressed man. It was that and the type of shirt that seemed out of place with his jeans and glasses that he was constantly pushing back up the bridge of his nose. She wondered what made him choose the life he chose.

 

Was he a believer, or was it pushed onto him by people around him? She remembered an argument she had with her mother about maybe joining the military to help pay for college. That was before the art contest and scholarship that got her into St. Augusta. As much as she stressed about being at the school, she wouldn't change her choices if she had the chance. But her knowledge about Father Arthur, Sister Rebecca, and Miranda would be for Sebastian. It may not be her responsibility, but it was something Emilia didn't want on her conscience.

 

“I'd rather not talk about it,” she finally decided, shaking her head, “no offense, but I doubt you'd take my life experiences into consideration if I told you.”

 

“What do you mean?” Sebastian's eyes furrowed in confusion.

 

“Imagine being abused or having a bad relationship with a friend or something,” Emilia said, “can you do that?”

 

Sebastian’s expression went still. It was as if he were seeing something from his past. A pang of guilt hit Emilia’s chest. If she had known he might’ve experienced something like what she was suggesting, she might not have said that.

 

“Okay,” Sebastian whispered, “go on.”

 

Emilia nodded. “Let’s say you told someone about that experience, but that person you told didn’t believe you because the person who abused you or the friend who was awful hasn’t shown that side of themselves to that person. Can you imagine how that feels?”

 

“I can.” Sebastian’s voice was raspy and hard. He worked his jaw and rolled his head from side to side.

 

A squirrel jumped from headstone to headstone as birds twittered. His cheeks were bulging from the collection of nuts. The leaves rustled as another autumn breeze brushed past. Emilia looked around at the quiet beauty of it all.

 

Even the voices weren’t around. Emilia looked around, this time paying attention to every small detail. There was no fog or shadows. The only brightness that held her attention, aside from the slowly dying sun, was Sebastian. It was as if the cemetery was an oasis away from whatever plagued the campus. 

 

“That’s why I’m not ready to say anything,” Emilia said. "I don’t know if you’d believe me or not, but it’s not worth saying if we end up arguing.”

 

About the Sins of the Sacred series

The Sins of the Sacred dark romance shared world series brings together standalone stories by multiple authors, each exploring the collision of faith and forbidden desire within religious settings. From medieval abbeys and dissolution-era monasteries to modern churches and theological colleges, priests, nuns, exorcists, and other religious figures face temptations that challenge their sacred vows. The series spans various time periods, incorporating paranormal elements including demon possession, angelic intervention, and exorcism that intensify conflicts between duty and desire.

With diverse pairings including M/F, MM, F/F/F, and MFM configurations, each book delivers explicit romantic content while exploring themes of religious trauma, repression, and the struggle between devotion and forbidden longing. The series features omegaverse dynamics, second chance romance, and enemies-to-lovers tropes alongside darker explorations of possession, crisis of faith, and the psychological impact of religious structures. Designed for readers seeking taboo romance that examines the tension between sacred vows and human desire in emotionally complex narratives.

 

Find them on Amazon!

Even though she claims she can write anything, the biography remains to be Casia’s arch-nemesis. Despite this, Casia has used her Writing degree to craft stories in over ten anthologies, maintained a book blog for more than a decade, and has begun to write novels. A multi-genre author, Casia Pickering, is incapable of keeping to one thing. Every story has a piece of her personality that she treasures and shares with her readers. She currently lives in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia with her biggest supporter and helper, her son, affectionately known as Bug. Previous works are under the name, Casia Courtier.

 

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Three Reasons Readers Love the Men of Stone Mountain Cowboys

 When my mom, Caroline Clemmons, started writing the Men of Stone Mountain, Texas series, she set out to create stories where courageous women and rugged cowboys face real danger, make hard choices, and still find their way to hope. Across Brazos Bride, High Stakes Bride, Bluebonnet Bride, Winter Bride, Tabitha’s Journey, Stone Mountain Reunion, and Stone Mountain Christmas, readers keep coming back for the same three things: heartfelt marriage‑of‑convenience romances, protective heroes who respect their heroines, and a small‑town Texas setting that feels like home. 

Here are three reasons those cowboys—and their stories—have become fan favorites. 

1. Marriage‑of‑convenience done with heart 

Marriage‑of‑convenience is a beloved Western romance trope, but in the Men of Stone Mountain series it’s never just a convenient plot device. The “paper” marriages Caroline writes always come with real stakes: danger, legal threats, financial ruin, or reputations that hang by a thread. 

In Brazos Bride, heiress Hope Montoya knows someone is trying to poison her and believes her father and mother were murdered. With her uncle controlling her estate until she turns twenty‑five, she realizes she may not live that long if she stays under his thumb. Her solution is both desperate and brave—marry a man she can trust, even if the marriage starts out as a strictly practical arrangement. 

Micah Stone has loved Hope from afar, but he’s been wrongfully accused of her father’s murder and turned into an outcast. His ranch is suffering from drought, his reputation is damaged, and he has no reason to expect a future with the woman he cares about. When Hope proposes a marriage in name only, in exchange for land and badly needed cash, Micah agrees even though pride and pain make it difficult. 

That partnership becomes the emotional core of Brazos Bride. As they race to uncover who is targeting Hope and why, the two of them must learn to trust each other—not just as legal allies, but as people who share vulnerabilities and dreams. Readers aren’t just watching a contract unfold; they’re watching a couple build a real marriage in slow, careful steps. 

High Stakes Bride picks up the trope and adds a different twist. Mary Alice Price is on the run from stepbrothers and dangerous men who plan to trade her away to settle a gambling debt. Fleeing into the Texas countryside, she keeps encountering misfortune until she’s rescued by Zach Stone, a rancher with no plans to wed. Their connection starts with survival and necessity, not a sweet courtship, which raises the stakes again when feelings grow. 

Across the series, marriage‑of‑convenience isn’t about bypassing emotional work—it’s exactly the pressure that forces characters to confront their fears and past hurts. Readers love seeing couples who begin with legal necessity slowly grow into genuine partners as they share danger, grief, and everyday life in Stone Mountain. 

2. Protective heroes who respect their heroines 

The cowboys of Stone Mountain are absolutely protective, but they are not overbearing or dismissive of the women they love. Caroline’s heroes step in against physical danger—poisoners, would‑be kidnappers, ruthless relatives, outlaws—but they also learn to respect their heroines’ decisions, talents, and independence. 

Micah Stone in Brazos Bride is a good example. He doesn’t just see Hope as a fragile heiress to be shielded; he understands that she’s determined to take charge of her life and discover the truth behind the attacks. When Hope proposes their marriage of necessity, Micah argues and worries, but ultimately he listens and treats her plan seriously instead of dismissing it as foolish. Throughout the story, he protects her from real danger while gradually accepting her as a partner in unmasking the villains. 

In High Stakes Bride, Zach Stone rescues Mary Alice from a perilous situation, but he doesn’t simply lock her away for “her own good.” He sees her grit and resourcefulness, recognizes the risk she’s taken in running from her stepbrothers, and respects the fact that she isn’t waiting to be saved—she’s actively fighting for her own future. His protective instincts are balanced with an awareness that Mary Alice is capable and deserves a say in how they build their lives together. 

Winter Bride adds another layer with a sheriff determined to protect a courageous woman on the run. The hero’s duty to his town and his commitment to keeping people safe never erase the heroine’s voice. As danger and grief threaten to freeze everything around them, the sheriff must figure out how to defend her without smothering her or making decisions for her. 

Across the series, readers see heroes making choices that show genuine respect: 

• Listening when heroines share fears or suspicions instead of brushing them aside. 
• Trusting heroines with critical information and involving them in plans to confront threats. 
• Recognizing skills—whether it’s managing finances, running a household, or surviving in rough country—and treating those skills as essential. 

The balance of strength and respect is a big part of why readers connect with these cowboys. They’re not perfect, but they grow over the course of each story, learning how to protect without controlling and how to love without erasing the woman at the center of their lives. 

3. A small‑town Texas setting that feels like home 

The third reason readers love the Men of Stone Mountain series is the setting itself. Stone Mountain, Texas, isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing small town that affects every choice the characters make. 

Set in the Texas frontier, Stone Mountain is surrounded by hills, ranch land, and a countryside that can be both beautiful and unforgiving. The town has its saloon, church, homes, and outlying ranches, but it also has something less tangible: memory. People remember past scandals, accusations, and family dramas, and gossip spreads quickly. 

For someone like Micah Stone, wrongfully accused of murder, that small‑town memory becomes a heavy burden. Even after years, neighbors still whisper, and his attempts to live quietly on his ranch are pinned to a reputation he never earned. Hope’s decision to marry him challenges the town’s assumptions and forces people to reconsider what they think they know. That kind of community tension gives the story extra depth—love isn’t happening in a vacuum, it’s happening in front of people who aren’t sure they approve. 

In High Stakes Bride, Mary Alice’s arrival in Stone Mountain brings another outsider into a town that already has strong opinions about the Stone family. Her past, her stepbrothers, and the dangers chasing her don’t stay hidden for long. As she and Zach build their relationship, they aren’t just dealing with private fears; they’re living in a town where every choice is visible. 

Stone Mountain Christmas offers a holiday lens on the same place. Winter makes travel and survival harder, and scarcity makes every act of kindness more meaningful. When families come together for the season, readers see how much Stone Mountain has become a true home—a place where past wounds are remembered but also healed, where traditions grow, and where love feels especially bright against the darker days. 

Readers talk often about the sense of community in the series: 

• Family loyalty and found family woven through the books. 
• Deep friendships and neighbors who step in when danger strikes. 
• Shared spaces—church, ranch house kitchens, streets—where key emotional moments happen. 

Because Caroline roots the stories so strongly in the Texas frontier, the challenges feel real: droughts, rough terrain, long distances between ranches, and the constant possibility of violence. At the same time, Stone Mountain offers warmth, support, and a sense of belonging that many readers say reminds them of the small towns they know in real life. 

From my perspective as her daughter, I see how much of my mom’s love for Texas shows up in these details: the way the land shapes people, the way communities pull together, and the way second chances often happen in the most ordinary places—a porch, a kitchen table, or a dusty street at sunset.