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A supernatural thriller of vengeance and occultic magic.
A powerful American leader is reborn as a black child in an African hut.
A dark farce and a supernatural thriller of rebirth, betrayal, vengeance, occultic magic, mysterious invocations and creepy rituals–from Nuzo Onoh, recipient of the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement and “the Queen of African Horror.”
Set both in Nigeria and the USA, The Fake Ghost follows the whacky and sinister travails of the President of the United States, reborn as a black child in a tiny African hut. As the child grows, he insists on being called POTUS and hears disturbing voices in his head that often cause him to be cruel and selfish. Until one day an accident separates the linked souls. With the help of a medicine-man, the president must find a way to free his trapped soul and return to the United States to prevent a dastardly political plot against him. But first, he must enter a diabolical blood pact, which might return to haunt him with devastating consequences.
“Sometimes shocking, fantastical and hilarious, but also tinged with hope, this ghost will haunt you long after the final page.” —Tim Lebbon, author of The Last Storm
Nuzo Onoh is an award-winning Nigerian-British writer of speculative fiction She is a pioneer of the African horror literary genre. Hailed as the “Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts and anthologies, as well as in academic studies. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London. She is a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Nuzo holds a Law degree and Masters degree in Writing, both from Warwick University, England. She is a certified Civil Funeral Celebrant, licensed to conduct non-religious burial services. An avid musician with an addiction to JungYup and K-indie, Nuzo plays both the guitar and piano, and holds an NVQ in Digital Music Production. She resides in the West Midlands, United Kingdom.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Whether you experienced foster care or adoption or neither, this story will encourage you to keep believing that good will find you.
As I began to head upstairs to my bedroom, my adopted father abruptly asked, “Where have you been?” I responded with, “What do you mean? I called you at 3:15 p.m. and told you I had a game this evening.” He said, “No, you did not. I did not talk to you today!”
I stood there, frozen, thinking, you’re crazy as hell. Mr. O’Neal proceeded to tell me what my future was going to be, and I didn’t agree with anything he said. “You will not participate in sports; you will come directly home from school, cook dinner, clean the house, etc.” As he yelled, I began plotting my next move. When I tuned in, he said, “You will have no outside interaction with anyone.” I recall thinking, This is my last day in this hellhole. It didn’t matter where I ended up, I knew anything had to be better than this. I wasn’t living at all. His home felt like prison, and I was ready to be free. This wasn’t about me trying to sneak around and see boys. It was about a robbed childhood. I didn’t have many answers, but I knew living with Mr. O’Neal was suffocating. He wasn’t equipped to be an adoptive parent. The system failed. Providing a roof wasn’t enough.
This story is written to inspire individuals. To move when you don’t have all the answers about what lies ahead, but you know if you stay where you are, you will die. To trust your gut and to not copy anyone’s life, you are an original. It just so happens this story is about a little girl’s journey from an orphanage to a failed adoption to charting her path forward. Whether you experienced foster care or adoption or neither, this story will encourage you to keep believing that good will find you.
When Monica was born, the doctors said, “If she makes it overnight, she will survive.” Monica spent approximately nine years in foster care and then ran away from her adoptive family. She strives to empower women to actively address whatever is holding them back from leading fulfilled lives. You get one life. Live it. Monica completed her undergraduate studies at Niagara University and has a masters degree in health administration from Central Michigan University and a masters in human resources development from Villanova University. She completed Emory University’s executive coaching program and coaches women who are unfulfilled in their careers. Monica loves trying vegan recipes, animals, exercising, and reading James Patterson novels. She has three furry friends.
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I stood there, frozen, thinking, you’re crazy as hell. Mr. O’Neal proceeded to tell me what my future was going to be, and I didn’t agree with anything he said. “You will not participate in sports; you will come directly home from school, cook dinner, clean the house, etc.” As he yelled, I began plotting my next move. When I tuned in, he said, “You will have no outside interaction with anyone.” I recall thinking, This is my last day in this hellhole. It didn’t matter where I ended up, I knew anything had to be better than this. I wasn’t living at all. His home felt like prison, and I was ready to be free. This wasn’t about me trying to sneak around and see boys. It was about a robbed childhood. I didn’t have many answers, but I knew living with Mr. O’Neal was suffocating. He wasn’t equipped to be an adoptive parent. The system failed. Providing a roof wasn’t enough.
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Liliann Varga had been too young the first time she met and fell head-over-heels in love with the Blackfeet Medicine Man, First Rider, the man who saved her father’s life. Besides, he was newly married to a woman of his own tribe. But years later, when Liliann’s husband has committed a terrible aggression against her, it’s First Rider who once again is called upon to put his healing skills to use.
First Rider has come to heal Liliann, not to seduce her. But his reaction to the grown up Liliann, the little girl who used to be his shadow, is entirely masculine and sensual. Though he’d vowed to bring his first wife back after her capture by an enemy tribe, he’d failed and she had died, causing First Rider to nearly lose his mind. Could Liliann be his second chance at love?
Enacting a “scout’s revenge” against Liliann’s cruel husband would leave the man alive but broken, and it would also set Liliann free. But, just as their love deepens, a report emerges: First Rider’s wife is still alive. To discover the truth or lies of the rumor, they both embark on a dangerous journey through the Backbone-of-the-world Mountains.
But, with little more than a bow and a gun, can they survive the beautiful but treacherous snows to find a world where they both belong?
Warning: Sensuous Romance that could cause a gal to climb the highest mountain to find true love.
**On Sale For Half Off Now! Get it for Only $2.99!**
Bestselling author of Native American Historical Romance, KAREN KAY is a multi-published author of romance and adventure in the Old West. She has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing insights into the everyday life of the American Indian culture of the past.
As Reviewer, Suzanne Tucker, once wrote, “Ms. Kay never fails to capture the pride, the passion and the spirit of the American Indian…”
KAREN KAY’s great grandmother was Choctaw, and she is adopted Blackfeet. Ms. Kay is honored to be able to write about the rich culture of a people who gave this country so much.
“With the power of romance, I hope to bring about an awareness of the American Indian’s concept of honor, and what it meant to live as free men and free women. There are some things that should never be forgotten.”
Would you like a chance to win aPrint Copy of She Belongs In My World (US only) or a $20 Amazon gift card (WW) – 1 winner each!Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Journey back to the Tudor Times with these standalone historical women!
Shy, plain Lady Jane Parker feels out of place in Henry VIII’s courtly world of glamour and intrigue–until she meets the handsome George Boleyn. Overjoyed when their fathers arrange a match, her dreams of a loving union are waylaid when she meets George’s sister, Anne. For George is completely devoted to his sister, and cold and indifferent to his bride. As Anne acquires a wide circle of admirers, including King Henry, Jane’s resentment grows. But if becoming Henry’s queen makes Anne the most powerful woman in England, it also makes her highly vulnerable. And as Henry, desperate for a male heir, begins to tire of his mercurial wife, the stage is set for the ultimate betrayal. . .
Encompassing the reigns of four of Henry’s wives, from the doomed Anne to the reckless Katherine Howard, The Boleyn Wife is an unforgettable story of ambition, lust, and jealousy, of the power of love to change the course of history, and of the terrible price of revenge.
In the wake of King Henry VIII’s death, England’s throne is left in a precarious state-as is the peculiar relationship between his two daughters. Mary, the elder, once treasured, had been declared a bastard in favor of her flame-haired half-sister, Elizabeth, born of the doomed Anne Boleyn. Yet the bond between the sisters was palpable from the start. Now reinstated, Mary eventually assumes her place as queen. But as Mary’s religious zeal evolves into a reign of terror, young Elizabeth gains the people’s favor. Gripped by a tormenting paranoia, Mary is soon convinced that her beloved Elizabeth is in fact her worst enemy. And the virginal Elizabeth, whose true love is her country, must defy her tyrannical sister to make way for a new era. . .
A brilliant portrait of the rule of “Bloody Mary” and her intricate relationship with Elizabeth I, the adored “Virgin Queen,” here is a riveting tale of one family’s sordid and extraordinary chapter in the pages of history.
Praise for Brandy Purdy and The Boleyn Wife
“Recommended for readers who can’t get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory’s books.” —Library Journal
Accused of conspiring with rebels to steal the throne, Princess Elizabeth is relegated to the Tower of London by her half-sister, Queen Mary. There she finds solace in the arms of a fellow prisoner–her childhood friend, Robert Dudley. Certain their days are numbered, their bond deepens. But they are spared the axe and Elizabeth soon wins the crown, while Robert returns to his wife and the unhappy union he believes cheated him of his destiny to be king. . .
As a daughter of Henry VIII and the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth knows firsthand the cruelty marriage belies and roundly rejects the many suitors eager to wed the “Virgin Queen”–with the exception of the power-hungry Robert. But her association with him will carry a risk that could shake the very foundations of the House of Tudor. . .
A captivating story of loyalty and betrayal, duty and freedom, The Queen’s Pleasure is a fascinating portrait of both the rise of Elizabeth I and one of the most compelling periods in history.
As cousins of history’s most tempestuous queens, Ladies Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey were born in an age when all of London lived beneath the Tower’s menacing shadow. Tyrannized by Bloody Mary and the Virgin Queen, the sisters feared love was unthinkable–and the scaffold all but unavoidable. . .
Raised to fear her royal blood and what it might lead men to do in her name, Mary Grey dreads what will become of herself and her elder sisters under the reigns of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. On their honor, they have no designs on the crown, yet are condemned to solitude, forbidden to wed. Though Mary, accustomed to dwelling in the shadows, the subject of whispers, may never catch the eye of a gentleman, her beautiful and brilliant sisters long for freedoms that would surely cost their lives. And so, wizened for her years, Mary can only hope for divine providence amid a bleak present and a future at the whim of the throne–unless destiny gains the upper hand.
A gripping and bittersweet tale of broken families and broken hearts, courage and conviction, The Queen’s Rivals recounts an astonishing chapter in the hard-won battle for the Tudor throne.
From carefree young woman to disillusioned bride, the dazzling lady who would become mother and grandmother to two of history’s most infamous queens, has a fascinating story all her own. . .
At sixteen, Elizabeth Howard envisions a glorious life for herself as lady-in-waiting to the future queen, Catherine of Aragon. But when she is forced to marry Thomas Boleyn, a wealthy commoner, Elizabeth is left to stagnate in the countryside while her detested husband pursues his ambitions. There, she raises golden girl Mary, moody George, and ugly duckling Anne—while staving off boredom with a string of admirers. Until Henry VIII takes the throne. . .
When Thomas finally brings his highborn wife to London, Elizabeth indulges in lavish diversions and dalliances—and catches the lusty king’s eye. But those who enjoy Henry’s fickle favor must also guard against his wrath. For while her husband’s machinations bring Elizabeth and her children to the pinnacle of power, the distance to the scaffold is but a short one—and the Boleyn family’s fortune may be turning. . .
Praise for the novels of Brandy Purdy
“Recommended for readers who can’t get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory’s books.” —Library Journal on The Boleyn Wife
“Purdy wonderfully reimagines the behind-the-scenes lives of the two sisters.” —Historical Novel Reviews on The Tudor Throne
Genre: Dark Historical LGBTQ Romantic Suspense, True Crime
Nathan “Babe” Leopold was a socially awkward genius who used arrogance as a shield. He cultivated a philosophy of absolute selfishness cherry-picked from his reading of Nietzsche and indulged himself with vivid sexual fantasies about kings and slaves.
Richard “Dickie” Loeb was the brightest of the bright young things, a social butterfly as fragile as glass inside, hiding his insecurities behind a dazzling smile and a mouthful of lies. He found escape in thrilling tales and fantasies of crime.
They were two brilliant and privileged boys, each harboring secrets it would have been social suicide to reveal in their 1920s world.
When Babe met Dickie, it was like his favorite fantasy had stepped out of his dreams into real life.
When Dickie met Babe, he thought he had found the accomplice who would help make his criminal dreams come true.
Dickie was willing to give Babe what he wanted, if Babe would give him what he wanted. Quid pro quo. Until Dickie wanted something more, leaving Babe desperate and willing to do anything to hold onto his dream. Even if it led down a dark path to the Crime of the Century and infamy as the thrill killers Leopold and Loeb.
I have read all but one of Brandy Purdy’s novels, since 2010 and I have enjoyed them all including Ashes on the Wind. Brandy spends extensive time doing research and has the knack for telling a great story. ~CelticLady Reviews
Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels including The Ripper’s Wife, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, The Boleyn Wife, and The Tudor Throne.
Would you like a chance to win aWin a $10 Amazon gift card (WW)or a kindle ebook of Ashes on the Wind (US only)? 1 winner each! Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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Blood is the link between humans, demigods, and demons—and is the Blood Queen’s domain.
Three childhood friends meet in the Scottish Highlands. Two hold secrets. One may be a monster.
As Gràinne reached for the still warm heart, tendrils of the red mist preceded her. When they touched the heart, she felt power drawn from the blood. She steeled herself and bit into the organ. Such was the curse of the Blood Queen.
Brianag is the sequel to The Blood Queen. It is 384 B.C. Ten years have passed since Sidheag’s execution. Gràinne Ni Fearghal, the Blood Queen, has ruthlessly consolidated her grip on the eastern tribes and reigns as High Queen. Meanwhile, her daughter imprisoned in a gilded cage grows in beauty and power and terrifies her guardians—the demigods of the Aes Sídhe. She must escape. Her grandma, the powerful Sídhe, Mongfhionn, agrees.
Brianag trembles at two questions: how will her mother receive her, and can she be redeemed?
Sidheag, was not the only Blood Drinker. Two others, Áine and her daughter, Leannán want vengeance for Sidheag’s death. Both claim to be Sidheag’s mother. Yet is Sidheag dead?
Can Cassán, Dùn Brion’s king, control his temper and work with the demigods to defeat the Blood Drinkers? Will the beast known as the Hound destroy every living being with three barks or will the ancient Cait People awaken and intercede?
Content warning: Brianag: The Blood Queen Chronicles contains scenes of sex and violence appropriate to the time it is set in (400 B.C.). It is not recommended for readers under 16 years of age without parental agreement.
“It is a king’s decision,” said Brion. “It will not be you who deceives and delivers the lamb to the butcher’s block,” retorted Eimhir.
True evil is a persistent and tenacious beast. Its desire for existence is eternal and insatiable. It needs to infect only one mind for its insidious philosophy to take root and spread.
It is 394 B.C. At a remote loch in the highlands of Northern Albu, a priest sacrifices nine innocents. Below the water’s surface, a shape feeds on their blood and begins to take form. Soon, it becomes sentient and begins to hunt. Sidheag has risen.
Humans cannot defeat the abomination. Neither can Mongfhionn, the powerful demi-goddess of the Aes Sídhe.
The only remedy is the Blood Queen, and Gràinne is the reluctant heir to that throne. Will the Blood Queen stand alongside Mongfhionn to confront Sidheag? The cost for Gràinne may be too much—unless her daughter, Brianag, is in jeopardy.
Passions, always near the surface of the Gaels, burst into flames in The Blood Queen, where father is pitted against son, mother against daughter, sister against sister, brother against sister, and father against daughter.
The Blood Queen contains scenes of sex and violence and uses language appropriate to the period it is set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended for those under 16 without parental consent.
5/5 ★★★★★ Genre: Fantasy, Historical fiction Review by Jan Foster/History Quill: Last updated Jun 12, 2023
A must-read Celtic ‘Game of Thrones meets Bernard Cornwell’, blending history with dark fantasy and a truly terrifying villain. The Blood Queen will keep you turning the pages deep into the night.
The Blood Queen is a dark fantasy nominally set in 400 B.C. Scotland, wherein a misguided priest sacrifices innocents in the hope of bringing forth an entity that will do his bidding. This starts a tale of ‘be careful what you wish for’, as the entity – Sidheag – forms a corporeal being and a consciousness complete with dark desires for domination. No one can resist Sidheag’s allure and subsequent enslavement, and few will survive her rampage across the land as she builds an army to fulfil her calling.
Aside from the descriptive prose and the brilliant battle scenes, the equality of the sexes feels genuine rather than a nod to political correctness. Women rule, fight, murder and fornicate as violently and passionately as the men and the female characters are badass!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Blood Queen, even at its most uncomfortable. The historical accuracy of weapons and battle strategies blended perfectly with the epic and fantastical storyline. I loved the tiny moments of humanity within the bleakest moments. Reading the novel felt like watching a horror movie unfold, compelling you to turn the pages in the hope that somehow, against the odds, humanity will win.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and award-winning author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and author-in-residence of A Wee Publishing Company—a business formed to promote Celtic authors and literature.
David is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall series and the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.
David resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family members, tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.
There’s something especially delicious about a dystopian or sci-fi book that makes you think you’ve got it all figured out… only to pull the rug out from under you in the final chapters. You turn the page expecting one thing, and BAM — plot twist. And if you’re anything like me, those are the stories you’ll be thinking about days (or years) later.
So if you’re craving a read that messes with your head in the best way, here’s a list of dystopian and sci-fi books with jaw-dropping twists — including one from yours truly. 📖✨
Twist Factor: ✨ Darrow’s mission isn’t what he thinks it is
This brutal, high-stakes society built on color-coded castes seems straightforward — until Darrow infiltrates the elite Golds. Midway through, the real scope of the rebellion, hidden agendas, and the betrayals of those closest to him turn everything upside down. By the end of book one, you realize the war Darrow thought he was fighting is just a pawn’s move in a much bigger game.
Twist Factor: ✨ Who’s really behind the experiments and why
My Sector C series takes what seems like a survival-against-the-leadership scenario and flips it into a deeper, darker conspiracy. As the characters navigate a world dominated by deadly experiments and dangerous technology, the real enemy isn’t who (or what) they believed. Loyalties shatter, and hidden connections between characters and the program’s origins turn every assumption on its head.
Twist Factor: ✨ The Glade isn’t a prison… it’s a test
The kids trapped in the maze believe they’re escaping a punishment. The reality? They’re unwitting subjects in a twisted survival experiment designed to find humanity’s last hope. And when the walls come down, the world outside is far worse than the maze itself.
Twist Factor: ✨ The AI you fear might be the only thing keeping you alive
Told through hacked files and intercepted messages, this book pulls off multiple twists. What seems like an evil AI slaughtering a spaceship’s crew turns into one of the story’s most complicated, even sympathetic characters. It plays with reader expectations about villains and heroes in a smart, subversive way.
Twist Factor: ✨ The outside world isn’t what they’ve been told
In this bleak, silo-dwelling society, citizens are taught the surface is toxic and deadly. The shocking twist? The truth about what’s outside — and who’s been controlling that narrative — will make you rethink every rule the characters have followed since page one.
Twist Factor: ✨ Who the real villain is, and what immortality has done to humanity
A world without death sounds like utopia, but the elite Scythes tasked with population control carry dark secrets. As apprentices Citra and Rowan dive deeper, they uncover a chilling conspiracy within the Scythedom that rewrites the story’s entire moral landscape.
Humanity’s been devastated by four waves of alien attacks. The fifth? It’s already here, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Trust no one. The moment readers (and characters) realize who the real invaders are is genuinely unsettling.
The best dystopian and sci-fi books leave you breathless — not just from action, but from those shocking moments where everything you believed about the world, characters, or conflict gets flipped. And whether it’s a secret identity, a hidden agenda, or a dark truth about the world outside, those twists are what turn a good story into a great one.
Got a favorite mind-blowing dystopian plot twist? Drop it in the comments — I’m always building my to-read list.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
He’s a prince with more than a thousand-year-old lineage, but he’d burn down the planet for her.
He’s a European prince with over a thousand-year-old lineage and he hates her as much as he craves her
Alyssa
When I’m introduced to Prince Carl-Theodor Frederick Maximillian Christoph Albert Maria Johann Anselm 17th Prince of Saxony-Bremer and Lautenburg-Bornheim an-der-Elbe, I’m as breathless as his endless name. Something savage twists inside me. Gorgeous and charming as he might be, I don’t trust men like him, men who believe they’re a superior species, who wield near-unlimited power with the license of ancient nobility.
Instinct warns me to keep away or I might get burnt to a cinder.
It’s easier and safer to pretend he doesn’t touch me. So I use my imagination to dream up insults, abusing and defaming him and his family. Meanwhile, I try to avoid him.
Until I can’t, because he turns out to be irresistible. Soon, he has me on my knees before him, which, alas, is exactly where I want to be. But what does he want? Prince Hot and Cold, arctic ice and lava, he brings me to the edge of insanity.
Prince Carl-Theodor of Saxony-Bremer
At first sight, Alyssa blinds me with her beauty.
Then she wrecks my being like a derailed express train.
Never has anyone so deeply insulted me or my family. Rage transfixes me, my pride so deeply injured that it seems my heart bleeds into my innards.
Since my father died, I am Head, Protector, and Defender of the House of Saxony-Bremer. I won’t endure hearing my family slandered, then do nothing about it. I vow to avenge my bloodline, to pay her back in kind for her vicious words. I’ll make her hurt, make her taste her own medicine.
But hurting her f*cking turns around to hurt me. I can bend her to my will, but once she’s tamed, once she hurts like hell, her pain reaches out to me. Have I committed myself to a vow I can’t keep?
NOTE: This book has content for mature readers 18 and over.
A glimpse of her in the opera house made me a walking calamity. A dismissive smirk instead of her name scorched me. I’d hunt her down till I find and claim her as mine.
My fearless woman goes after her tormentor behind my back. A dangerous criminal who eludes Europol and Interpol. I must eliminate the enemy before he harms her.
I’m going to hurt her, but I’d rather kill our love than have my empress bound with the chains of a dead man who’d been her nightmare for more than ten years…
A P von K’Ory writes romance, psychological thrillers, and nonfiction. She loves diversity – it’s in her aristocratic DNA. She has won more than half a dozen prizes and awards from four continents. Her family stretches from the Nilotes of the Eastern African Nile Delta to Germany, France, and the Walloons (Belgium). She lectures Economics and Sociology in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. She’s married and has a son. Being migratory – and weather willing – she lives in Germany, France, Cyprus, and Greece.
Writing New Adult steamy romance novels, I lend words to some pretty “hairy” relationships. Conflict by the heaps because that’s what it’s all about, or I wouldn’t have a story readers want to devour.
But all roads of the character arc preferably lead to HEA, right?
So when the HEA is reached, my heroine is aware that there are still rules to adhere to because we’re all very different individual beings. Compromises must be made where called for. I never allow my heroines to make sacrifices or tolerate anything purely to “make him happy”. Nor do I let her suffer in silence “in the name of love”. Secretly, I actually believe that my hero has the “duty” to be the one making sacrifices and being tolerant to make her happy. Yes, I’m totally woman, old- or new-fashioned. I love those doors being opened for me, I adore being helped out of and into my coat, or having hubby and his male friends rise and button up their jackets when I enter a room, or when I get up to go powder my nose. And when I come back from the powdering too, of course.
I’m not a fan of misogynists in whatever veiled shade, shape or inclination. I’ve seen my bestie heartbroken and in bitter fights with her own child because the pubescent girl (thank internet and our smart kids) asked mother dear whether rape, beating, tying up, burning with candles and letting the boy/man wrap his hands around her throat and choke her was the norm in sex? And was that how dad and mother dear made her? The girl, in resolute disgust, swore off sex forever.
But I do get weak-kneed and love strong dominant men who are perfect gentlemen – until they get to the bedroom.
That said, my heroines don’t fall into that trap so many women end up in: That when he does something good or loving, it cancels out all the bad. Like in real life, that never works in the end, it simply becomes a habit and with that comes resignation. Mutual consent is not the equivalence of a restaurant’s “all you can eat”. I make sure my heroine has an alternative ‘safeword’ for “this isn’t what I thought it was or imagined it would be like”, when a situation crops up that hadn’t been anticipated and shouldn’t happen in any circumstance. A heroine’s consent isn’t “all inclusive”.
And compromises are not made solo.
Here are ten things I make sure my heroine’s man would never, ever dream of doing:
1. Prince Charming or Bad Boy, he’d never hold her past against her.
2. Despite his family, himself or (if he has them with someone else) his children, she remains his Numero Uno of all Numero Unos. She comes first and at his side when he needs to take care of the family, children, or needs some alone time for himself. She’ll never be the spare wheel, never left in the back seat.
3. He’d never wrinkle his nose, accuse her or call her names because of her sexual desires or preferences. Of course she’ll tell him about them. It’s where the relationship runs healthy on mutual compromises.
4. Likewise, he’d never expect her to fulfill all of his fantasies. People are too individual as human beings and will never end up with a loved one who is precisely like them in the fantasy department.
5. Even while angry, he’d never turn that anger on her by belittling or humiliating her. If he’s stewing within, he’ll still treat her with respect. He’d never talk down to her or speak to her with total disregard of her feelings. Even in a BDSM relationship, fundamental humanity is prerogative in the couple’s shared life. It’s why people describe it as “role playing”. Shared normal and everyday life and love isn’t role playing.
6. He’d never toss the I’m-not-talking-to-you BS at her. I’m personally very averse to withdrawal as a form of physical and emotional punishment and I project this on my heroines. Whatever stress, quarrel or disagreement he’s had with her or with someone or something else, using coldness as punishment is one of the unhealthiest traits in a relationship. In a non-toxic relationship, he’ll tell her why he wants to be alone, however long that might be. She might fret with concern but she’ll be aware of the reason why he wants his privacy.
7. He’d never be frivolous or cavalier about her feelings. A man intent on a healthy relationship will not discount her feelings constantly, making her wonder if there is something wrong with her.
8. He won’t make fun of her in front of friends. My heroine jolly well knows the difference between fond teasing and malicious commentary, however jocular.
9. He’d never skirt around soothing her fears or insecurities. Instead, he’ll help her face her fears head-on particularly after a confrontation between the two of them, or a nasty situation or occurrence that unsettled her. The unhealthy man doesn’t have time to make you feel better, nor does he care why you’re upset. I never let my heroine tolerate any of this but rather speak out about her feelings on the subject.
10. My heroine will never tolerate a selfish man. A good loving man can give back without any selfishness wedged in. He wants to give her his all, and is willing to give up what doesn’t make her happy. He wants to be his best self to her. He’s healthy enough to take but also give back, and ready to apologize if he acts selfishly. Best of all, he’s ready to change his behavior exclusively for her happiness.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Running is easier than facing my mistakes, than facing him.
Despite all my good intentions and a metric ton of dry shampoo, my life is always one step away from falling apart. What’s a girl to do? Run. Hide. Pretend like all my mistakes never happened.
Running is easier than facing my mistakes, than facing him.
Tall, tattooed, and built like a concrete wall, Puck Kelly is the sexiest man I’d ever seen. He’s also a Desert King and I’m pretty sure he killed…for me.
The messed up part? That only makes me want him more.
Candi Scott is the ultra steamy pen name for award winning author Leslie Scott.
Author of Two Hearts, One Stone and the Black Water Magic Series, Leslie Scott has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. The happier the ending, the better. Currently, she lives and writes amidst her own happily ever after with her soul mate, son, and domestic zoo. http://www.lesliescottwrites.com
You’ve been thinking about it for months — maybe even years. That story idea that keeps tugging at your imagination. The characters who live in the back of your mind. The plot twist you dream about late at night. But for one reason or another, you keep putting it off.
Sound familiar?
If so, it’s time to stop procrastinating and finally start writing your novel.
Why Do We Procrastinate?
Let’s be honest — procrastination isn’t about laziness. It’s about fear.
Fear of failure. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of starting something you might not finish. It’s easier to plan to write a book than to actually sit down and face a blank page.
But here’s the thing: every writer — from bestselling authors to first-time novelists — feels that fear. What separates those who finish a novel from those who don’t is the decision to write anyway.
The Myth of the “Perfect Time”
If you’re waiting for the stars to align, for a long weekend of uninterrupted silence, or for inspiration to strike like lightning — you’ll be waiting forever.
Life will always be busy. The dishes won’t wash themselves. Emails won’t stop. There’s no perfect moment to start writing.
But there’s always this moment.
And if you can commit to showing up for your story now, even for just ten minutes a day, you’ll be amazed at how quickly those words stack up.
5 Simple Ways to Start Writing Today
Ready to finally get those words out of your head and onto the page? Here are five easy, actionable tips to kickstart your writing habit:
1️⃣ Set a Tiny, Achievable Goal
Forget about writing an entire chapter. Start with 250 words. That’s one page. One scene. One conversation. Small goals build momentum.
2️⃣ Schedule It Like an Appointment
Carve out a specific time each day to write — even if it’s just ten minutes. Put it on your calendar. Treat it like a commitment you can’t break.
3️⃣ Silence Your Inner Critic
Your first draft isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to exist. Let yourself write badly. The magic happens in the revision process.
4️⃣ Create a Distraction-Free Zone
Find a quiet space, silence your phone, and let those around you know you’re off-limits for a short while. Even brief, focused sessions make a difference.
5️⃣ Find Your Writing Tribe
Join a local writing group, an online community, or find a friend who loves books as much as you do. Accountability and encouragement matter.
Your Story Matters
Someone, somewhere, is waiting for the story you have to tell. Whether it’s a reader looking for escape, connection, or inspiration, they won’t find it if you never write it.
Stop waiting for the perfect time. Start writing today. Your future self (and your future readers) will thank you.
📖 Need a little guidance on outlining or planning your novel? I’ve written two indie author guides to help you along the way.
Check them out below and get started on your writing journey today!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Princess Evangeline has an insatiate lust for power. As her kingdom’s most feared warrior and heiress to the throne, she plans to one day rule in her father’s place, just as she rules over countless men during secret nights of sin.
But when the castle falls to a new enemy, Evangeline becomes a slave in her own kingdom, forced to obey the heartless queen’s commands to honor her father’s dying wish: to protect her people.
The princess craves vengeance, but can she resist the carnal magnetism between her and Prince Rune, the queen’s son and royal pawn? And as rebellion brews, can she trust Rune, the man with the power to quench her torrid flames, to be her greatest ally?
T. Pike grew up in Northwest Arkansas where she swam competitively for more than 17 years. After graduating from Texas A&M University with an English degree and All-American honors, she returned home to pursue her master’s in English and write her debut novel: Some Call Me Eve. Now a law student, she enjoys running and hiking with her dogs and exploring the mountains with her partner.
Nina Soden 